Squamish, the self-appointed outdoor recreation capital of Canada, has a new Mayor.
Lawyer Greg Gardner, owner of a local car dealership, was voted in overwhelmingly last night over challengers Terrill Paterson and John Erickson.
Gardner received 3,557 votes; Paterson got 715, and Erickson 146.
The result came as no surprise as both Patterson and Erickson were not considered serous contenders for the one-term councillor.
Priorities for the new mayor will include planned and balance growth in the face of job loses due to the closures of the B.C. Rail shops, Interfor and the giant Woodfibre operation owned by Western Forest Products.
He plans to support business diversity and foster growth in the community, which with an improved highway link to the North Shore and big plans for housing developments, is on the road to become a commuter hub for the Lower Mainland.
Gardner wants to move forward with well-balanced development that includes residential, commercial, industrial, park and natural habitats. He has stated that he is concerned with the manner in which the publicly-owned Oceanfront property is being developed.
He is the founding president of the Squamish Community Foundation, Co-Chaired the Olympic Bid Task Force, is a director of the West Coast Railway Heritage Association, Past President of the Squamish Rotary Club and he has been instrumental in completing Rotary International projects in Guatemala. As a result of his community work, he was named Business Person of the Year in 2004.
Councillors are Doug Race Corrine Lonsdale, Bryan Raiser, Patricia Heintzman Rob Kirkham, and Paul Lalli.
School trustees are Rick Price and Andrea Beaubien.
