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Squamish's Silver Lining (08.15.08)
That rock slide was awesome. I’m only now able to contain my jubilation of how just how flippin’ great it was to have the city off from us. It certainly helped that I was lucky enough to do my city run the day before and had no immediate plans involving our southern metropolis. Sure some were royally screwed with work and I sympathize with businesses that were hurt, but personally it was great to actually be able to get from one end of town to the other without dealing with traffic. Not to mention the uniqueness of Whistler being pleasant on a long weekend.
If nothing else it was a nostalgic blast from the past and Squamish was slowed to a pace we haven’t seen in a long time. And how kick-ass was it to have that ‘ol time feeling’ on a logger sports weekend? I actually enjoyed the closure so much I’m actively encouraging a monthly (or at least yearly) closure. Of course I’m not encouraging anyone to blow it up, but if Mother Nature wants to remind us who’s boss, I say go for it.
On a sadder note I was hoping this slide could be blamed on our arrogant (and some claim just plain evil) Minister of Transportation, Kevin Falcon. However, the only thing that was his fault was the complete unpreparedness and the fact that this once again highlights why Squamish should have a ferry terminal to Vancouver.
But now the highway is back open and we go from peaceful pleasant, to hectic crazy with the activation of the stupidest traffic light on the highway. This Wal-Mart light, just a stones throw from an existing one, is a brilliant microcosm of just how screwed up our town is.
It’s not that we sold the land to them for next to nothing, but that our Mayor Ian Sutherland campaigned on tough negotiations with Wal-Mart. Negotiations that were obviously a pathetic failure. How else can you explain that since Wal-Mart threw a pittance in funding we’re forced to activate the light before figuring out how pedestrians can safely cross? I’ve about had it with the district’s asinine hatred for non-motorized traffic. It should be common sense that no intersection should be activated until there is a safe way for a pedestrian to get across.
Period.
Sadly this light isn’t going anywhere and if nothing else it will be Mayor Sutherland’s lasting legacy as we dub this ill-thought monstrosity “The Sutherland Stop”
Ah, but it’s not all incompetence and frustration. In fact this highlights how great our town is because while there are a few duds, somehow Squamish seems to be able to produce amazing people capable of choosing a path and literally dominating their field. The latest home town hero news was of course singing sensation Nadine McNeil who seems to have a great voice and a bright future. Good luck in October Nadine and thanks for being one of the many to give Squamish a good, if not great name.
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