Sarah Ellis, the executive director of the nonprofit Housing Squamish, has announced she is running for District of Squamish council in this fall’s municipal election.
Ellis said she has spent more than 12 years working in and around local government, including eight years on affordable housing policy at the City of Vancouver and the past four years on affordable housing in Squamish.
“I love local government,” Ellis said. “I’ve spent over a decade working in and around local government, and I’ve seen what good leadership can accomplish when people come together around a shared vision. Squamish has big and important decisions ahead, with a lot at stake for our future. I’m ready to be part of it.”
Ellis said she is focused on building a future that works for Squamish, making sure people are not left behind, and bringing a long-term, collaborative, and accountable approach to the decisions that will shape the community.
Before her current role, Ellis volunteered with the OurSquamish Placemaking Society, which works to create public spaces, and later served as president of its board, according to her campaign. In 2023, she became the first executive director of Housing Squamish, a community nonprofit focused on affordable housing. Her campaign said that in that role she helped bring more than $17 million in funding and financing to the community to protect and expand its affordable housing supply.
“I’m running because I believe Squamish has an incredible future ahead of it, but getting there will require thoughtful leadership, good ideas and a willingness to work together,” Ellis said. “I want to be part of that work.”
Ellis, who lives and works on the traditional territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), said the community has shaped her. “Living here has taught me what it means to be part of a community,” she said. “I’ve met so many people who give their time and energy to make Squamish better, and they’ve inspired me to do the same.”
Ellis plans to launch her campaign at a public gathering at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the O’Siyam Pavilion in Junction Park. Her campaign said the event is open to anyone who wants to attend, and that more information is posted at sarahellisforsquamish.ca.
Outside of work, Ellis said she enjoys rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing, trail running, and dancing to live music around Squamish.
A summary of concrete achievements since Sara took management of the Housing Authority, would be a valuable assessment of her skills and capacity.
What are your plans for getting “forward-thinking investments in critical infrastructure to build the community we want for the future.” *copy/paste from Sarah’s website
How are you going to do this? “We need to get the basics right so people can get around town the way they choose, whether that’s car, bike or transit; access municipal services; and get help when they need it.” *copy/paste from Sarah’s website
Are you a candidate who can focus on the needs of the entire community or are you wanting to be a voice for just one segment of the population?
What Squamish needs to do is elect people who have concrete answers/solutions/ideas and who put those forward before the election.