By Emma Taylor
Published: Nov. 17, 2012
Are you passionate about living in Squamish? Would you love to see your community win $5000 as the best destination in Canada?
Long term resident Victoria Marchant is gunning for it, and has put pen to paper to help her beloved town win as ‘Canada’s Most Interesting Town’ in a Reader’s Digest online contest.
Her task was to write 250 words describing why Squamish is THE best place to live in the whole of the country. Although the contest opened on September 18th, Victoria only entered recently after browsing the website and was surprised that nobody had, at that point, represented Squamish.
The contest is divided into 7 categories: Best Destination, Greenest, Healthiest, Best Cuisine, Most Community Spirit, Most Artistic and Most Entrepreneurial.
While Squamish could well win in any of these categories, Victoria’s focus was clear: to write about Squamish as the ‘Recreation Capital of Canada’ in the ‘Best Destination’ category. What exactly makes Squamish stand out for her?
‘Squamish really does have it all, in one neat little package. No other community in Canada can have such a claim,” she says.
Her story, entitled ‘My Home Town: The Recreation Capital of Canada’, summarises Squamish’s appeal, describing the variety of outdoor activities on offer here.
The prize is divided into two parts: $5000 for the winner personally, plus another $5000 for a community improvement project for the winning town. The contest is open to enter until December 18th, with all entries being assessed by a panel of judges, based on the following criteria: originality (35%), adherence to the contest theme (35%)and persuasiveness (35%).
Is Victoria were to win, she would donate $1000 of her personal winnings to the Squamish Food bank. Why does she feel so passionately about giving back to her community?
“This community has showed its support to many organizations and families over the years. We always manage to pull together to help those out in their times of need. Right now, our food bank is in dire need of food and money, every little bit counts.”
How would she like to see the $5000 donation to a community improvement project spent?
“Is feeding the hungry a ‘community improvement project’? I would love nothing more than to help feed the people of Squamish. I would also like to see it support a child based project.”
She thinks that the people of Squamish should vote to voice how proud they are to live in Squamish. “This beautiful piece of paradise is our home town!”
A retired Mom and housewife, Victoria has lived in Squamish since she was a kid, when her family relocated from Winnipeg in 1966. And 46 years later, she is still grateful to her parents for making Squamish their home.
She still remembers the journey to Squamish along the old pot holed Sea to Sky highway, wondering where in the world her parents were taking her and being very afraid of the mountains!
Is she a lucky person?
“I have never won a competition but I still think I am lucky…to live in such a beautiful community.”
To vote for Squamish, go to www.readersdigest.ca and find Victoria’s entry in the ‘Contests’ section. Type in the code at the bottom and hit ‘vote’. Voting is allowed as many times as desired on any given day. At the time of press Squamish has 950 votes.
Michael Enders says
FOR YOUR INFO (FYI): Courtenay is the Recreation Capital of Canada… Squamish is the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.
“While Squamish could well win in any of these categories, Victoria’s focus was clear: to write about Squamish as the ‘Recreation Capital of Canada’ in the ‘Best Destination’ category.”