EDITOR,
CC: Squ-awesomites and the District of Squ-awesome.
Drawing from the inspiration and message of a funny British movie called Kinky Boot (seriously funny and worth the popcorn and movie night), I propose that our little town of Squamish find our own unique kinky boot.
This whimsical movie portrays a small town in the East Midlands of England that is faced with a shutdown of a family-owned shoe factory. Shutting down the factory will result in a lot of layoffs, leaving many residents unemployed. During the movie, one of the employees of the plant presents the idea of changing the traditional footwear factory into a plant that creates niche fetish footwear - and from here the success story is born!
Post-2010 Olympics, Squamish faced a drop in our local employment rate. In October 2010, the Chief published an article called: "Squamish tops EI claim increase list."
In this sad but true article, Mayor Greg Gardner was quoted as saying "this downward trend was expected."
"It's disturbing but not particularly surprising," he said. "We had a large amount of employment increase and economic activity in the pre-Olympic period, mostly in construction employment, whether it's infrastructure like the highway or residential or commercial buildings."
OK. So we all expected it. Perhaps we all got caught up in the excitement of the Olympics and forgot about the big picture. After all, it was a big party. But what are we doing now to prepare for the viability of our future? I currently don't see the signs from our local government. Alternatively, I see friends and neighbours that are commuting long distances - even to Port Coquitlam - for employment just so they can pay the basic bills. Not only is this environmentally wrong, it's not sustainable for families to survive (or even for marriages to survive!) and for the household budget to balance (do the simple math on gas plus car maintenance and this scenario can get scary).
If Squamish wants to be a viable community where people can afford to live, work and play we need to create jobs for locals that are based here. If we're going to maintain our existing population base and attract new residential and commercial investment, our community leaders need to demonstrate effective leadership in economic development and job creation.
I'm rooting for a creative genius in our community to come forward with an innovative kinky boot idea - something that might provide the foundation for economic development.
If you are reading this letter in The Chief and you have been harbouring a crazy idea, please do not self-censor! Tell your neighbour. Tell a friend. Get your creative juices going! And most of all put your idea in writing and send a copy to The Chief inviting partnership and support from the community.
There is no such thing as a bad idea. Just the sad reality of too many great ideas that were never tried!
If you are between the age of 18 and 34 and you have a business idea that you would like to pursue, please visit the Canadian Business Youth Foundation at www.cybf.ca. This website will provide you with resources for financing, mentorship and community partners.
Alternatively, for all ages, don't be afraid to call upon your local municipal government for resources and support. Your idea might just be the next kinky boots!
Michelle Neilson
Squamish
