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New Hats Old Ring (07.19.02)
This past weekend Squamish hosted yet another world class event. Bob's Triathlon was once again a roaring success due to the incredible volunteer efforts not to mention it's fabulous location.
Like all events that come to town, the triathlon's competitors and spectators were ever so eager to point out how beautiful this place is. Then comes the inevitable follow up sentence. "I can't believe no body knows it's here." You're telling me!
For as long as I can remember Squamish has been traditionally known as the McDonalds on the way to Whistler. However, a couple years back a plan was made up to make Squamish more. Remember those pretty pictures? The beautiful downtown entrance with trees and elaborate stonework, an entrance reflecting the jewel of a town just down the road. Well it's been 3 years now and those morose slabs of rock are an all too eerie reflection of what our jewel has become.
The 2000 plan was put on the back burner then I guess it fell behind the stove, because in that time the vision of Squamish has plummeted too never imagined levels. The Industrial park had a super face-lift while businesses continue to perish at the core. In three years the only perception of Squamish that's really changed is now we're not only the McDonalds on the way to Whistler, we're the guys who just got a Canadian Tire too.
So it is we're nearing the end of a politically strenuous 3 years. Three of the roughest years I believe this town has ever seen. It's blatantly obvious that the path we're on is leading nowhere and Squamish has to find a new direction and fast.
Well the first people willing to publicly step up to the bat did so just the other day. Squamish New Directions just had their first meeting and they've now officially hit the scene with 3 people tossing their hats in the ring. Because I'm sure you're curious, the hats belonged to Sonja Lebans, Dave Fenn and Ray Peters. Are they a slate? Well, only in that they are people who can see the potential in this town and are quite frankly fed up with the current lack of vision and willingness to stick to a plan. Will they succeed? Only time will tell, but the mere fact that they got 50 some odd people out in the middle of the week in the busiest month of summer shows there's a lot of fire still in the pot. That, and it's good to see people with the gumption to stand up and declare their status.
Speaking of which, Mohammed Asfar also took this opportunity to declare his candidacy.
So it has begun, the political race we've all been waiting for, now we just have to wait for the other yahoo's to state their intentions and let the mayhem ensue.
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