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What a Difference a Bid Makes (12.03.04)
Is doormat actually written on our foreheads? Things didn't use to be this way. Back in the good ol' bid days Squamish was wined and dined and honestly I don't think there were bigger boosters. We announced loud and proud to the world; "We're here and we're ready to be a part of the solution," turns out our solution is their problem.
Back in those days we were wholeheartedly encouraged to wave the "Heart of 2010" banner. Now of course the Vancouver Olympic Committee / IOC has decided to arrogantly protect the numbers 2010 as if it's the most vulgar of four letter words. If that's the case those Olympic committee 2010ers can just go 2010 themselves!
Meanwhile, back at banner headquarters, the Squamish Chamber of Commerce continues on their chosen unwavering mantra "don't rock the boat." Not a bad plan but at best you can hope to get a few crumbs as the big pies are passed to the north and south. Unfortunately, to some it would appear that our ferocious brown nosing may be backfiring.
Even the provincial Liberals are sensing weakness. How else do you explain their unrelenting Squamish bashing. We're excluded from the big Olympic payout and now they're taking their sweet time with the Adventure Center funding. I suppose you have to look at it from their position. They've taken so much from our community with us barely raising a peep. Granted bitching doesn't always help but in a "squeaky wheel gets the grease" world I truly hope that we have something more to gain from saying "thank you sir may I have another."
I'll admit when I heard our Mayor was in bed with the BC Liberals I was apprehensively encouraged. Sure we're selling out BC Rail for a song but there may be some sweet backroom deals going on that will eventually help Squamish. Well one thing's for sure, when it comes to the highway "improvement" project we're going to need all the help we can get. From the beginning the highway "improvement" project made it clear that Squamish is an obstacle, rather than an asset. Now with our railroad ability showing it appears the improvement project will go through in spite of Squamish.
Then as if it simply couldn't get any better we have the proverbial cherry on the cake. It appears that Squamish is now being eyed up for the illustrious position of the landfill of the corridor. How's that for writing on the wall. Here we are trying to assert our identity as a player while the big money powers that be already have our nametags made out. Welcome to Squamish, the toilet between towns.
Luckily at the end of today there is still relief knowing that Squamish isn't your normal town. We can be pushed only so far before they realize that as a community the only thing we have more than passion and pride is monkey wrenches, and we know how to use all three.
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