Two-term Squamish Councillor Jenna Stoner has announced she is running for mayor in the Oct. 17 municipal election.
Stoner was born in Squamish and grew up along the Sea-to-Sky corridor. She moved to Squamish with her husband in 2014 and now raises two young children here, according to a press release announcing her campaign.
The release highlights several projects completed during her eight years on council, including 446 below-market homes built, with 300 more on the way; more than 125 new childcare spaces; two new fire halls; and an expanded wastewater treatment plant. Outside council chambers, Stoner has served as a director of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, chair of the Sea to Sky Hospital District and first vice-president of the Union of BC Municipalities.
“Squamish is an amazing place to call home. This is a place people choose to be and choose to stay because there’s something genuinely special here,” Stoner said.
“But I also know Squamish isn’t always an easy place to live right now. The cost of living keeps climbing, our amenities and infrastructure feel stretched, and our municipal systems haven’t caught up to how fast we’re changing.”
She said her time on council has taught her those challenges aren’t solved by one person alone. “They take real collaboration, a clear vision, and the discipline to make hard calls for the long term. That’s the leadership I want to bring to the mayor’s chair.”
Her campaign rests on four priorities, the press release notes: being a strong and effective voice for Squamish from day one, earning residents’ trust through more open and consistent communication and engagement, disciplined investment in the infrastructure that keeps Squamish running while making room for the amenities residents want, and modernizing local government so it is more responsive, easier to navigate and keeps the community at the centre of its decisions.
Stoner describes the town as being in its “awkward teenage years.”
“We’ve grown tall, but we haven’t filled out yet,” she said. “We can’t stop that change, but with a clear vision, experienced leadership, and hard work, we can help shape it.”
The press release notes she brings 15 years of experience across business, government and environmental conservation in addition to her council work, and has also sat on the board of the Squamish Community Housing Society.
Stoner is urging residents to make a plan to vote, whoever they support. Local government touches almost everything in daily life, from housing and roads to services and taxes, she says, yet it is decided by the smallest number of voters of any election.
“Every vote in a municipal race carries real weight. I’m asking Squamish residents to use theirs,” she said.
The District of Squamish will release details on voter eligibility, advance voting dates, and polling locations as the election approaches. More on Stoner’s campaign is available at jennastoner.com.
If Jenna wants votes she could actually mean what she says..”open and consistent communication ” includes responding to emails from constituents. She can’t be bothered to do that.
As for Squamish being in it’s awkward teenage years??? Honey, Squamish existed long before you showed up…are you only counting the years you’ve been here?
Do not give this woman the top job. Look around you, has Squamish been made better for us all during her 2 terms on council?? No, it has not!
Well said. We need to return to competence. If we maintain our current course, which puts feelings above all else, we’re all going to end up eating dog food.
Love this. We have someone here who is passionate about Squamish and prioritizing growth with necessary infrastructure. Happy to know more about Jenna and her campaign.
It’s misleading to frame these accomplishments as things you personally delivered. Many were collective Council decisions, supported by years of staff work, and some were already approved or underway before your term. What specifically did you initiate and lead?
Agree
Jenna reminds me of a career politician, being a director here, a vice chair there doesn’t necessarily scream experience, she is just good in getting herself into these positions to get the top job. Young and ambitious, but clearly tone deaf as to the real needs of Squamish. It’s always like this, get yourself to be a council member then apply to be the mayor. Building more apartments and no they are not below market value. Same old diatribe, rinse and repeat.
You need to address the severe lack of parking in Squamish.
There is nowhere for employees or their customers to park.
What has she lead herself independently? And accomplished in two terms for the town?
The Jenna Stoner promise to proceed with a cost analysis for a secondary rink with a tent like structure to keep user groups dignity and health alive and well…. just words with no action.
A quick look around this town reveals that we are in desperate need of massive change.
Keep in mind this is a council that has lockout employees blown the rec centre over budget, refused to take any money from Wood fiber, is currently the subject of a $30 million lawsuit from Wood fiber, has overseen a period of rapid growth that have sold out to developers, been responsible for a massive increase in violent crime, petty crime, firearms offenses, motor vehicle collisions a hospital that is overrun, an ambulance service that is at capacity, 80% increase in property taxes to go along with all of the decreasing public safety and increasing cost-of-living.
The privilege of young healthy, wealthy people and the influx of foreign money have kept this town afloat, but we’re reaching a tipping point where the quality of living is dropping rapidly. Jenna bills herself as pragmatic, but was part of the refusal to do anything with Wood fibre until it was federally mandated. She is a counsellor who has refused to return emails and hides behind the lens of secrecy. I have personally reached out to her multiple times with no response.
Any rational citizen can see that this town needs massive change and voting for Jenna will mean more of the same incompetence and ideological suicide that this current council has engaged in.
This needs to be posted on every facebook group, every lamp post, every store window and everywhere else you can think of!