Editor,
Buildings can become sacred but only if their context makes them so. The Sea to Sky Adventure Centre has all the potential of achieving sacred status and the Squamish community seems dedicated to create the right context to make it so.
I learned how a community can make a building sacred when I studied in Poland in 1978. Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) was not yet Pope but he had already left an everlasting imprint on the hearts and souls of Polish people. He had defied the Communist Party's ban on erecting a church in a newly-constructed city, Noway Huta, which the Communists had intended to have factories, community centres, office buildings - but no places of worship.
Despite active opposition from the government, the doughty Polish leader inspired people from all over the country each to bring a small rock to place in the walls of the church. People responded and overwhelmed the government's attempts to stifle their project. The church which resulted lacks the natural glory and symmetry of the Sea to Sky Adventure Center - but both buildings have something in common. Created by the community in the face of adversity, they have the ability to rally people around common cause and to inspire the people to do great things in the service of their community.
Squamish citizens, you are both to be commended for the creation of the Centre and to be inspired to seize an opportunity. Continue to serve one another with pride and your community will only continue to prosper.
Congratulations!
John Weston
Squamish
Editor's note: John Weston is a candidate for the Conservative party nomination for the next federal election in West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea to Sky Country.
Businesses go Wild for festival
Editor,
I have never written a letter to the editor before, but I feel it is important at this time to let people know what a tremendous new business community is beginning to evolve in Squamish. Businesses are beginning to open up in town that are going above and beyond their daily opening and closing routines. Among these fresh new faces showing a sense of spirit and community involvement are concerned proprietors downtown such as Greg Fischer of Gelato Carina, and Eric Armour of Trinity Romance Shop who helped set the wheels in motion for this year's spinoff of the Wild at Art festival.
Another individual demonstrating this wonderful sense of spirit is Jonathan Kun, general manager of Fastenal. His business is not even in the downtown core but he jumped in help out when needed simply for the sake of supporting a community event.
The concerned merchants in the Squamish Town Centre Association were in need of a tent in their efforts to make something happen downtown and draw people into the town centre during the Wild at Art Festival planned for the Adventure Centre. They had a minimal budget allotted, but the one very large requirement they did require was a tent large enough to house a stage in the Women's Centre Parking Lot where there were plans for entertainment all day, along with booths and food services. Jonathan stepped up to the plate and volunteered to provide the much-needed tent. Then when the cost ended up being considerably more that initially anticipated, instead of backing out, he enlisted the support of another business (Cloverdale Paints) to share the expense and ensured that the show would go on. Three cheers for Jonathan Kun and Fastenal for their support!
Carolyn Grass
Squamish Town Centre Association
