By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Feb. 16, 2012
Quite a few little stories are being attached to the adventure centre and the buzz seems believable.
You are sure to find tourists wandering aimlessly, locals engrossed in business meetings and young moms busy with kids.
As the visitor stats show (see related story), the adventure centre might finally be becoming the hub of commerce and social activity.
Should we allow this fancy to soar?
Yes, if you see it as providing a public service, like the swimming pool or the library.
No, if you think it should have paid for itself by now.
And the latter doesn’t seem like a possibility any time soon.
Last year, council gave SSC $151,770, while also paying almost $300,000 to retire a line of credit guaranteed by the district.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
In 2011, the then SSC chair Cameron Chalmers coaxed the district to give $192,000 to the organization.
When the councilors resisted, the budget was slashed, and a promise was made.
“We should be able to come in at about half of this next year,” Chalmers said at that meeting.
That hasn’t happened, and it doesn’t seem like it would in the next budget either.
Why isn’t adventure centre profitable? Why does the local government still have to pump tax payers’ money to keep it afloat?
Perhaps, the answers can be traced back to the political meddling and political mishandling of Squamish Sustainability Corporation (SSC), an ambitious organisation created by former Mayor Ian Sutherland and his council.
SSC was supposed to be an engine of economic development, and making the adventure centre sustainable, and profitable was one part of its mandate.
But when the Gardner administration arrived on the scene, its slow dismantling began. The business lead position held by Dave Thomson was terminated as a cost-saving measure.
Then, the entire board of SSC resigned, saying the council wouldn’t even grant them an audience.
In one fell swoop, an organization whose entire purpose was to generate economic development had vanished.
Former Mayor Ian Sutherland said if SSC had been allowed to do its job, the adventure centre might have been profitable.
“They were completely gutted, they just didn’t have time to complete the job,” he said.
He also said there was an unrealistic expectation about the adventure centre costs.
“Like any visitor centre in B.C., there is a cost attached to running a service,” he said.
Former mayor and councillor Corinne Lonsdale has a different take on it.
Lonsdale said there was not enough thought put into both the construction of the facility and its long term operation.
“Was it meant to be self sustaining? I believe those that supported the initiative, and I was not one, thought it would generate enough to cover it’s costs …both capital and operating,” Lonsdale said.
In the last council, the reins of economic development were taken over by Coun. Paul Lalli, and in this new council, by economic development committee headed by Coun. Patricia Heintzman.
Once again, a councillor heads an area that should be ideally operating under someone with years of experience in stirring economic development.
The more things have changed, the more they seem to remain the same in economic development, arguably the most important issue in our town.
Ted Prior says
Economics was one of the key issues in the last election yet most on council seem happy with not trying any thing new . We need more resources
in that department if we MAKE things happen.
Larry McLennan says
If you think pigs can fly, I have an Adventure Centre in Squamish you might be interested in buying.
Dave says
There will always be facilities which unfortunately don’t pay for themselves completely as predicted….like Transit, Bridges, Arenas etc. but that doesn’t mean they should be scrapped for another possible, white elephant…for some). Live with it and move on….Perhaps with better planning for next time. I like the building and think it is an iconic asset for Squamish, but then that’s just me.
I like the BC Place roof, the speed skating arena and the rapid transit system in Vancouver, the Port Mann bridge…all financial losers…ah well!
If we had been too conservative in the past , Squamish would not have a pool, civic centre, bus system, all-round soccer fields and so on. Actually, Debt is the price of progress throughout the world….think about it. What it also does, is give food for the complainers. This is OK if you are one of them.
Council: Attract new clean industry, reduce your red tape and silly blocking of new ideas and we will all be much better off!
Larry McLennan says
Dave- all the other facilities you list in Squamish-pool civic centre, bus system, soccer fields etc. are used extensively by the people of Squamish- Adventure Centre ?- not so much- if a meeting place is needed- there are plenty of them other than the AC- bottom line, in my opinion, its a non-essential drag on public funds.
Dave says
So start by turning off the waterfall…that will save a bit….. certainly not essentual. Revamp the interior use but don’t tear it down. I suggest selling it to Cap College or the like…..perhaps a private school might like it. Whatever, it has got to be used all day by a full house to make it pay.
Dottie says
It’s a great spot that I frequent often and I really hope we don’t lose it. It’s taken a bit, as everything does in Squamish, but it’s becoming a “beautiful” landmark where many now meet. Hikers and cyclists stop in, and although winter months are slow, summer months certainly are not. It needs to be utalized for much more than a hub for those travellers charging their electronic devices onroute between Whistler and Vancouver. Needs differ and what may be non-essential for one may not be non-essential for another. I, for one, have never used the pool civic centre, bus system or soccer fields. Not sure who needs to drum up business to keep it afloat but I cerntaly hope it happens. Would be sad to lose such a beautiful building while we open yet another dollar store!
Jean says
OK .. time to reflect.
What was the original intent and the spark? Was it a gift, or, a thank-you for the Logging industry that just lost the sawmill with over 180 well paying direct jobs involved? …Some say it was to be some kind of a legacy that was proposed and somewhat paid for by some logging fund. It was thought even, that it might rekindle the love of wood industry but who knows what or who was actually pushing for it. The laid-off sawmill and woodworker thought it was something, that, in the long term would help or at least reflect the contribution they did for Squamish.
Now, there was an ambitious politician that actually had the nerve to ask for some play money… I think it was about 20 million dollars, with no strings attached. He did not get it, but I believe in his own way that he at least wanted to make his mark. Compare this to a previous government, that also wanted to make a mark by spending in excess of 5 million dollars for a Police Station, -slightly crooked by design. The Adventure Centre at least had some style and almost a contemporary, definitely west coast design with a waterfall feature. But for what cost? money flowing down, even in the night when nobody sees it.
I hope there are some historians that have a better memory than I those who can actually put everything in perspective before the political spin doctors get their say established as facts, and as to the present cost. I believe it does much better than they claim, against the metal waved roof downtown and with some creative thinking definitely could make money.
Even so, this is not helpful for the long gone unemployed loggers or sawmill workers that either are tour guides, bus drivers or whatever useful positions they were able to get to support their families. Maybe by placing once again, the emphasis of creating jobs here, and then inviting the developers to come in and build three story mini houses or C…..-ops to attract some individuals and families from the big smoke. Right now, they are only able to do the reverse -happily pollute the Sea to Sky due to their distant job and so, too tired to enjoy the paradise they were sold on..
Let us try to solve this! Let’s get the creative people of Squamish together! There is such a valuable purpose to this: There must be many like-minded members of our community that wish for an optimum quality of life for all of us here. We can take care of each other better than we have been. There buildings give it away… there names is well known in town….sit them in the same room and have them come up free of charge without a big study and consultants fees with an overall scheme ,to beautify the downtown especially would be in order, before more cement blocks go up and make it impossible to create an O”Conner type of atmosphere where people actually would want to come and visit. The planters in the downtown are an excellent expression of what our local municipal workers or maybe even artist are capable of. Possibly return the Steam train ride and return by Boat trips combined back could be produced; enhanced with a theatrical show of olden cops and robbers capturing the train, the re-enactment of times long gone, creating a bit of excitement….., I could probably come up with a modern time of a story but will not mention it.
And, perhaps a further idea, turning Cleveland Avenue downtown to a strictly vehicle free zone with an emphasis on sidewalk cafes and prominently featured shop area for local hand made items/(not from China). ..Organized walking tours along the wharf, the waterfront and estuaries: There is a history here to share. So much potential; ideas need to be discussed! Rickshaw pulled by bicycle; you name it! Something different, unique. More bakeries, and artists, painters, showcasing their work. How about an every day farmers market?!… I have to stop (because a natural would be to bring Walt back and listen to him: How did he start Disneyland)?
Eric Andersen says
Inspiring comments, Jean. Yes, no more heavy concrete buildings Downtown!
Elliot says
Funny thing about Squamish politics and some of the notorious characters in this small town who have been councillors and produced these many farces… Somehow the words “being held accountable” are lost or ignored. Or perhaps we were always in a wash of self back-patting via news releases from the District. Some things obviously never change.
Brad Hodge says
I’ve always been torn about this building. It’s one of those things, like movie industry subsidies, that I feel I want to have but am not, deep down, sure produces the value advertised.
Further, I wonder, as we contemplate whacking residents with new property taxes and businesses with ‘pipe size’ water fees, whether the $5.5 million ($4.7M to build and my guesstimate, which might be off, on the ‘subsidy’ we have provided in the interim) or so we’ve spent on SSC/SAC might have gone to better purpose. No doubt SAC is a landmark building. No doubt, one has to invest in one’s future. But one also has to not bankrupt themselves and abort that future in the process. I wonder if our investment in SAC came a bit too soon.
michael bigler says
Why in the heck was the adventure center built all curved and round. Labour intensive, and wasteful construction. From the onset did you see all the scrap plywood from forming the concrete. All that glass. People talk about building with a limited budget ,and they come up with that! Keep it. Deal with it! It was to early, but things are coming around. Are you all blind?
Dave says
Michael
No, but you seem to be really “square”…Would you prefer everything to be box shaped? How boring. Perhaps Squamish should/can stand a little innovation from time to time. …take a look at some of the impressive “curved” archetecture around the wolrd and open your mind a bit! I agree it is costly, but then so are parties. The building is here so let’s just move on and worry about other issues coming up. Like I said earlier…turn off the waterfall to save some power.
Tracy says
I was over on the island this past week & Courtenay has done a wonderful job with their downtown area. It’sa vibrant, busy & a cool place to be on a Saturday morning. My take on this & for their success is some of the architecture that are key focal points. The municipality renovated an old firehall & now uses it as an “Arts & Cultural Center” complete with art gallery & shop. The municipality collects rent from the gift shop owner. Kitty corner to that is the town library, again another older building that has been revamped into a focal point, situated at the head of a T intersection, the timber beams & building itself draw you in closer for a look! AND … behold, it has a parking lot for those who venture downtown. All are with a block of one another & within walking distance once you park – a key factor. Squamish is sooooo spread out, all of it’s key focal points are miles away from one another. I chatted extensively with the gift shop owner/worker & asked why their downtown works so well. In the end, it seemed to all come down to having a plan & cooperative, cohesive board of people who were willing to take risks for reward!
The adventure center is a unique piece of architecture. I think egos have struggled over management of this building AND it was over built before it’s time with a cost structure out of this world and at a time when we could least afford it. But now that it’s there, we need to build around, make the numbers work & come together to get our town on the map for positive projects, places of interest, etc.
Riun Blackwell says
The Squamish Misadventure Center is more appropriate. How much does it cost to keep those windows clean? The current operator has built a solid success as a coffee shop; couldn’t they be inspired build on that success and offer a better dining experience for the Higway 99 traffic and locals? Gosh who knows, maybe they will look down that lonely road into Downtown Squamish?