This letter was sent to Toby Baker Squamish Nation's head of project development copied to The Chief for publication.
Mr. Baker,
It is with great distress that I learned of the Squamish Nation's proposal to put an electronic billboard at the south entrance to Squamish. As I drive the Sea to Sky Highway I have two reactions: First, pleasure: this is one of the world's most scenic drives. Second, disgust: Britannia's billboards are revolting, inappropriate and a violation of nature.
As a student, I spent two years in New England where the contrast of the impact of billboards could not be more apparent. In 1968 the Vermont legislature, spearheaded by Ted Riehle, passed the anti-billboard law. Today Vermont is the envy of a nation, with pristine views that attract tourists from around the world. It is strikingly beautiful.
Cross the border into New Hampshire, approach the city of North Conway and your eyes are assaulted, no tortured, by a billboard hell. Mountain scenery is obscured as country roads are littered with inappropriate eyesores.
After one visit I never went back to New Hampshire. Vermont I visited time and time again.
My personal preference is reflected in the economics of the two states. Data from the Vermont Travel and Tourism Industry facts sheet 2007 shows the state has a $1.615 billion tourism industry.
While the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism barometer reports a $836 million tourism industry: half that of Vermont. New Hampshire has more beautiful and higher mountains and is closer to the large population centres of Boston and Portland, yet Vermont is the destination of choice.
We owe it to Squamish, to the Sea to Sky Highway, to the world, to preserve the most beautiful highway in Canada.
Let us work to with three principles:
Enhance the natural, scenic nature of the Sea to Sky Highway from end to end.
Work to minimize artificial invasive distractions (billboards, signs, powerlines etc.).
Recognize that the economic value to the community is enhanced by building on its natural beauty
Please reconsider the action you are undertaking. I would gladly travel with you to Vermont and New Hampshire so that you can experience first hand both the opportunity and the devastation that can be caused by your actions.
Richard MacKellar
Squamish
