-former Sea to Sky Economic Development Officer Robert Fine
A new standard in hiring was set by School District 48 this week when it decided to hire the premier's wife to act as principal at Howe Sound Secondary School (HSSS).
The decision to hire Nancy Campbell, a qualified school administrator with an impressive resume, is a sign that Squamish is on the radar of the province's elite.
It is hard to ignore the fact that Campbell is the premier's wife. In fact, it is impossible to ignore this fact. Through the week as I discussed the hiring with people around town, I consciously didn't make a reference to the premier until I could determine if the person I was speaking to could make the connection on their own. Nobody made the connection with confidence.
Most people analyzed the name and either asked me who she was or asked if she was the premier's wife. Mrs. Campbell just hasn't been in the news enough to be a household name in Squamish. There is a good chance that will change after Aug. 1 when she starts her job at HSSS.
Of course one of the risks with hiring great people with great potential is the fact that someone might come along with a better offer and scoop them away from Squamish as we find is the case this week with one of most brilliant people at the District of Squamish (DOS).
Economic Development Officer Lee Malleau was scooped by the City of Richmond and Richmond's gain truly is Squamish's loss.
Keeping Campbell at HSSS and filling Malleau's shoes will prove to be very difficult tasks.
The DOS will find a new EDO. I hope the candidate who takes the job is a star on par with the school board's recent hire. I also hope the successful candidate is up to the task of finishing what Malleau started.
As the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corp. (SOD Corp.) was in the process of hiring Michael Chin I felt it was one of the most important hires to take place in Squamish in a long time. Now I see that the hiring of Peter Hotston's replacement at HSSS was just as significant as filling the SOD Corp. CEO position. The next big hiring decision with significant influence on the future of Squamish is the hiring of Malleau's replacement.
Robert Fine really knew what he was talking about when he predicted Squamish's full potential will be realized. Quality hires will get us to where we should be.
