Outdoor recreation isn't all fun and games, some council hopefuls learned at the Outdoor Recreation All-Candidates Meeting hosted by the 麻豆社国产Off-Road Cycling Association on Sept. 26.
It was a very 麻豆社国产event, with some council candidates realizing just how often council grapples with recreation concerns.
For some candidates, it was apparently a night of learning, while for others 鈥� particularly those with council experience or a background in the outdoors community 鈥� there was less catch up to do.
鈥淚t was about 50-50 [whether candidates were aware of the issues],鈥� said Melissa Sheridan, now acting president of SORCA. 鈥淚 think they all understand the value of mountain biking and what it brings to Squamish.鈥�
Mountain biking wasn鈥檛 the only issue candidates had to answer for at the meeting.
The event was also attended by the 麻豆社国产Dirt Bike Association, 麻豆社国产Windsports Society, 麻豆社国产Yacht Club, 麻豆社国产Access Society, and 麻豆社国产Trails Society.
Each organization had their own table, where members queried candidates on their knowledge of specific issues and concerns. The remaining tables had members of the public seated to ask general questions.
Two candidates had around 10 minutes to answer questions at each table, before swapping to the next. It was the third election in a row that SORCA has hosted the event.
鈥淚 think the night went really well, I think it was a really great format, where we get to speak one on one, asking a number of different questions,鈥� said Sheridan.
鈥淲e won鈥檛 vote for them just because they鈥檙e a mountain biker, by any means,鈥� she laughed when asked if sporty candidates have the edge among voters. 鈥淏ut it is a general understanding of... our main focus, and our main concerns, that鈥檚 the biggest thing.鈥�
To open the evening, candidates were invited up for a 鈥渙ne minute intro鈥� including 鈥渢heir top priority for outdoor recreation here in 麻豆社国产and what they鈥檇 like to achieve.鈥�
Mayoral candidate Susan Chapelle shared a story of going into labour on Diedre 鈥� a six pitch climb up the apron on the Stawamus Chief 鈥� to establish her outdoor credentials, noting that she arrived in 麻豆社国产to mountain bike and climb.
Mayoral candidate Paul Lalli said growing up in Squamish, he remembers the BMX track and dirt biking through the back trails. He said his priority, as a father whose children enjoy the trails, is to channel funds into youth-focused recreation.
Candidate Jeff Cooke 鈥� former president of SORCA 鈥� didn鈥檛 mention his past with the organization. Instead, he spoke generally about taxes, infrastructure debt and why previous council experience wasn鈥檛 necessary for his run.
鈥淚鈥檇 really love to be able to stand up here tonight and tell you that I鈥檓 a super athlete 鈥� but I鈥檓 not,鈥� aknowledged mayoral candidate Karen Elliott in her introduction.
Despite her 鈥渨eekend warrior鈥� status, Elliott stressed the value of recreational amenities and addressed tourism management in her introduction 鈥� including low-cost campgrounds, trailhead services, signage, and parking.
Councillor candidate introductions were similar 鈥� deferring to general concern for trails if they couldn鈥檛 put forward their personal experience with garages full of bikes and backcountry adventures.
Candidates Jacquie Menezes and Terrill Patterson were not in attendance.
The topic of managing tourism was a hot item around a number of tables, as were financial contributions from council to different groups.
In 2017 SORCA received $75,000 in a large community grant from council. Each year they are required to apply but have repeatedly asked council to make multi-year commitments.
Each group in attendance also have specific concerns regarding development and municipal decisions.聽 For example, the Yacht Club recently renewed its lease for the next five years, while the Dirtbike Association is concerned that new development is being considered for riding areas like Brohm Ridge.
At the table for the 麻豆社国产Windsports Society candidates were able to look at a map, showing the current orientation of The Spit launch and the 鈥済olden triangle鈥� of favourable winds for launching and landing.
Access to the area, including the grading of the gravel road, was discussed.
Toby Foord-Kelcey, representing climbers as president of the 麻豆社国产Access Society, said just over half the candidates were able to name a climbing route in Squamish. Burgers and Fries, a popular and easy climb in the Smoke Bluffs, was named by four candidates.
Foord-Kelcey said on a more serious note, establishing low-cost campsites to manage summer camping issues is a pressing concern that the Access Society has been involved with.
鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted that the District has engaged with that, and we have a working group that Natasha Golbeck has been running since May,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t involves provincial people and District people and a few non-profit representatives like me.鈥�
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 encouraged by is when we talk about this to most people here, I would say perhaps as many as 90 per cent of the people we鈥檝e spoken to get it. That this is something that is presented to them on council, they are going to understand it and solve it. I鈥檓 encouraged by that,鈥� he said.
