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Council Watch Squamish is an independent, unofficial summary of publicly accessible meetings in Squamish. This special issue covers an all-candidates meeting hosted by the Joint Engagement Committee (Downtown Squamish BIA, Tourism Squamish and the Squamish Chamber of Commerce) with the Squamish Chief, not a meeting of Council. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the District of Squamish, the hosts or any candidate. Brought to you by the Business Innovation Society of the Sea to Sky.

Watch the All Candidates Meeting of October 5, 2026 (Don Ross Middle School; recording about 2 hours 54 minutes). The video player does not support links to a specific time, so the timestamps below are for reference: use the player's scrub bar to find each moment.

Overview

Council candidates and then mayoral candidates gave opening statements, answered questions and gave closing statements. Some questions were set by the hosts and the Squamish Chief; the rest came from the audience through the Slido app, where attendees voted questions up or down. Ryan Kinghorn, chair of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce board, moderated. Answers were limited to 45 seconds, and not every candidate answered every question. Each candidate could use one rebuttal and one "wild card" to redirect a question.

Who took part

• Mayor: Daniel Deal, Sean Easton, Jenna Stoner
• Council: Ian Brown, Andrew Hamilton, Anders Ourom, A. John Lowe, Sean Goodwin, John French, Laura Prosko, Luc Perreault, Eric Andersen, Chris Pettingill, Kieran Brownie, Sarah Ellis, Janice DesJardins, Shaun Veltkamp. Chris Ryan was travelling; the moderator read his statement.
• School trustee candidates April Lowe, Leanne Roderick, Dalia Shehata, Lisa Turpin and Robyn Walters were introduced but did not take part in the discussion.

Council candidates: opening and closing statements

Listed in speaking order (set by draw). Each summary reflects only what the candidate said at this event.

• [00:21:11] Ian Brown names better traffic flow and parking, expanded recreation facilities, and visible arts, culture and heritage. In closing he calls for fewer restrictions on bed and breakfasts, an arts and culture hub downtown and better use of the Eagle Eye Theatre.
• [00:22:34] Andrew Hamilton, a current councillor, cites his physics research background and says the next council's biggest challenge is how to deliver what the community needs. In closing he points to hundreds of millions of dollars in planned capital projects, including a landfill expansion.
• [00:23:50] Anders Ourom, a retired lawyer who worked with non-profits, names hiring a new chief administrative officer, a stable long-term relationship with Woodfibre LNG and phased renewal of Brennan Park as critical. In closing he asked for past mayors and councillors in the room to be acknowledged.
• [00:25:03] A. John Lowe describes living in Squamish since before the highway to Vancouver was built and negotiating agreements in the logging industry. He says higher taxes are not the only answer and calls for negotiation and funding from business, partners and senior government.
• [00:25:41] Sean Goodwin describes 40 years in the community and six years of volunteer work. He names parking, neighbourhood access and spending priorities, citing $1.8 million spent on one street's bike lanes, and calls for more public engagement.
• [00:26:49] John French, a current councillor, describes himself as a team player and says he will keep returning residents' calls and emails. In closing he cites his attendance record and says he can work with any of the candidates.
• [00:27:58] Laura Prosko cites 15 years of senior leadership on major projects and a five-point plan covering parking, small business and Woodfibre LNG. In closing she cites her familiarity with provincial legislation and commits to being active in the community.
• [00:28:35] Luc Perreault names three priorities: core infrastructure (a second access to downtown and fixing water system leaks), a combined tourism and recreation master plan, and supporting staff while improving permitting. In closing he cites his work as an engineering technologist and former firefighter.
• [00:30:13] Eric Andersen, a current councillor, calls for "smart growth that fits Squamish," a better balance of housing, local jobs and amenities, less reliance on residential taxes, and more use of committees and task forces. In closing he speaks about humility between council, staff and the public.
• [00:31:19] Chris Pettingill, a current councillor, cites his roles on the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District board and as first vice-president of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association. He names housing affordability, the infrastructure deficit and inclusivity as priorities.
• [00:32:34] Kieran Brownie introduces himself in two languages and speaks about belonging and working together. In closing he proposes quarterly community–District dialogues built into policy and process.
• [00:33:17] Sarah Ellis cites eight years as a City of Vancouver planner and her role at Squamish Community Housing Society, where she says she has brought in $17 million in outside funding. She names local jobs through economic development, planning for family and key-worker housing, and support for non-profits, recreation and culture.
• [00:34:47] Janice DesJardins describes her family's history here since 1912 and her advocacy for seniors in long-term care. She calls for a council that spends carefully and listens before deciding. In closing she names property taxes, a new arena and pool, and seniors' care in the community.
• [00:36:03] Shaun Veltkamp cites 25 years as a business owner and two terms on the Tourism Squamish board. He calls for a thorough search for a new chief administrative officer, performance reviews for senior management and a revitalized economic development department. In closing he calls for an OCP update and a tourism master plan.
• [00:37:12] Chris Ryan's statement, read by the moderator, proposes a Whistler Housing Authority-style model on a site he named. It also proposes negotiating with BC Rail for a second downtown route along Loggers Lane and Bailey Street, and an expanded Brennan Park with a two-rink arena, pool and domes.

Council candidates: questions

• [00:39:23] Commercial permitting times. Luc Perreault says applicants need a clear roadmap with no surprises. Andrew Hamilton points to his April 2026 motion for an external review of development permit processes. Asked for measurable results, John French points to new construction and available office and retail space. Eric Andersen calls for reducing risk for investors and restoring a business retention and expansion office. Chris Pettingill says applicants hear different messages from different departments and hopes the review will address that.
• [00:45:02] Lowering business costs. Shaun Veltkamp says the economic development department has one person and should be strengthened. Sarah Ellis names faster tenant improvement permits and keeping commercial and residential tax rates in balance.
• [00:46:45] Pressure on recreation areas. Andrew Hamilton says he supports paid parking at trailheads. Laura Prosko names a Brennan Park expansion starting in 2027 and adequate parking, and says she opposes parking variances downtown.
• [00:49:38] A vote they regret (incumbents). John French names his vote for the Eaglewind pickleball courts, which were later replaced with courts at Brennan Park. Chris Pettingill says he changed his position on short-term rentals because of their effect on housing prices.
• [00:52:10] Freezing property taxes. Candidates who support a freeze were asked what they would cut. One candidate described zero-based budgeting. Laura Prosko said she would find efficiencies, not cut essential services, and look to economic development and Woodfibre LNG. Using a rebuttal, Sarah Ellis said she has not promised a freeze because taxes fund essential services and the capital plan. John Lowe called for scrutinizing department budgets. Anders Ourom said he would be uncomfortable with further increases without very good reason. Eric Andersen said he would not cut planning for recreation and cultural facilities or for growing the business tax base.
• [00:57:10] Vehicle residents. Ian Brown says vehicle residents need safe places to park and clear rules. Sean Goodwin suggests paid overnight space with facilities at Brennan Park or the Kinsmen campground. Using a rebuttal, Luc Perreault proposes using tourism revenue to fund infrastructure for vehicle residents. Kieran Brownie supports using land around Brennan Park.
• [01:01:58] Top three priorities. Shaun Veltkamp names Brennan Park, a new municipal hall and a regional hospital, and pursuing new senior-government funding. Ian Brown says council must decide the order of wastewater, municipal hall and Brennan Park projects. Sean Goodwin suggests asking the public what to address first.
• [01:05:02] Perceived conflicts (to Sarah Ellis). Sarah Ellis says Housing Squamish's purchase of eight below-market townhomes from Polygon is a business transaction and that she does not believe it creates a conflict of interest. She says she would consult legislative services and recuse herself if needed. Using a rebuttal, Chris Pettingill says it would not be a conflict under the Community Charter.
• [01:06:50] Densification or sprawl. Janice DesJardins says council did not listen to residents in the Garibaldi neighbourhood planning process. A second candidate speaks about trade-offs for valley-bottom habitat and the growth boundary. Laura Prosko says services such as a recreation centre should come first. A candidate says that under provincial housing legislation, densification is not required until transit is in place.
• [01:10:29] Woodfibre LNG flare and air quality. Anders Ourom says monitoring equipment already exists in town and that the District's role is to gather facts and hold the regulator and senior governments to account.
• [01:11:42] Regional transit. Kieran Brownie names provincial advocacy and links it to municipal revenue. Ian Brown calls regional transit one of the highest priorities and refers to an agreement between the province and the regional district.
• [01:13:35] Bailey Street gate. John French says CN Rail installed the gate without consultation and has refused to negotiate. He says nothing on the issue has come to council in the past year.
• [01:15:23] Brennan Park. Andrew Hamilton names restoring reliable operation of the current facility and a clear capital plan for expansion. Luc Perreault names partnerships and better operations and maintenance. Shaun Veltkamp suggests a full-time grant writer and putting a municipal hall at Brennan Park.
• [01:18:28] Bus frequency for teens. John Lowe suggests smaller vehicles and coordinating with the school district.
• [01:19:56] Woodfibre LNG agreement (new candidates). Laura Prosko proposes a 10-year dedicated tax agreement, a 40-year amenity commitment and legacy projects from FortisBC and Woodfibre. Luc Perreault says he would have voted for the deal to avoid litigation risk.
• [01:22:24] Encampments, short-term steps. Eric Andersen calls for acknowledging the impacts on downtown, an RCMP office downtown and block watch programs. John French says he opposed placing temporary shelters at a park on the downtown side of the new pedestrian bridge.
• [01:24:14] Downtown small businesses. Sean Goodwin suggests District-held incubator space. Kieran Brownie suggests using the OCP's neighbourhood node policies to ease pressure on downtown.
• [01:25:27] Communities to learn from. Sarah Ellis names mountain towns such as Bend, Vail and Aspen.
• [01:27:00] Car-free Cleveland Avenue trial. Chris Pettingill supports more street closures with good planning and notice. Shaun Veltkamp says the Downtown BIA and downtown businesses should lead the decision.

Mayoral candidates: opening and closing statements

• [01:50:12] Daniel Deal says Squamish has "a planning problem" rather than a lack of potential. He cites the 2026 tax revenue requirement of $56.1 million (12.8% higher than last year) and names infrastructure before growth, a larger commercial and industrial tax base, and an economy with well-paying local jobs. In closing he says he decided to run after watching council meetings and that doing better means prioritizing.
• [01:53:02] Sean Easton describes a decade as a youth worker and executive director. He says residents feel disconnected from leadership and that the candidates largely agree on the issues: affordability, infrastructure keeping up with growth, and parking. In closing he describes building his own house and leading Zero Ceiling through a financial crisis, and asks voters who want change to vote for him.
• [01:54:39] Jenna Stoner, a current councillor, makes four commitments: continued disciplined infrastructure investment, local government that works for residents and small businesses, redesigned community engagement, and strong advocacy. In closing she cites her role as president of the Union of BC Municipalities and her experience with how the system works.

Mayoral candidates: questions

• [01:57:20] A sustainable business ecosystem. Jenna Stoner names permit tracking, set timelines for tenant improvement applications and quarterly meetings with business groups, building on work on housing and childcare. Sean Easton says the District needs to "get out of the business's way" and line up its resources with business priorities.
• [01:59:32] Funding trails and volunteer groups. Daniel Deal says the District should rely on volunteer groups' expertise, possibly through a task force or committee. Sean Easton commits to operating agreements longer than one year with groups such as SORCA and Tourism Squamish.
• [02:02:15] Visitor demand in planning. Sean Easton commits to a tourism master plan with Tourism Squamish in his first year. Jenna Stoner points to her motion for more garbage cans and washrooms and says the 2028 OCP update should consider visitor demand.
• [02:05:41] Squamish Nation MOU. Jenna Stoner describes the 2025 MOU, a year of archival "truth" work, the Land Back Task Force and better access to recreation facilities for Squamish Nation members. Sean Easton (via wild card) thanks the current council and describes his relationships with Squamish Nation leaders.
• [02:08:24] Easton and District land. Sean Easton says a non-profit he worked with raised funds to buy District land for below-market housing, that council did not respond to its application, and that it was banned from speaking at council. Jenna Stoner says she is not aware of anyone being banned and has seen a staff response. She says the land was sold to avoid a 26% tax increase.
• [02:10:35] Land Back Task Force. Jenna Stoner says the task force does research and engagement, has no decision-making authority, and that any decisions would follow legislated processes.
• [02:12:08] Zero-based budgeting. Jenna Stoner proposes zero-based budgeting once per council term. Daniel Deal says the District should build on its 10-year financial plan and scrutinize spending every year. Sean Easton says he used zero-based budgeting at Zero Ceiling to close a $500,000 funding gap.
• [02:15:31] Easton on taxes. Sean Easton says his research found Squamish had the highest tax increase in the province, though not the highest tax rate. He clarifies that he proposes freezing taxes rather than cutting them.
• [02:16:33] Managing finances and assets. Daniel Deal names knowing what the District owns, its condition and its maintenance cost. Sean Easton says the 2026–2028 tax increases total less than the cost overruns on the public works yard and Brennan Park. Jenna Stoner says a zero-percent increase would set back eight years of work on a $120 million infrastructure deficit.
• [02:19:51] Encampments and neighbourhood safety. Sean Easton names services, provincial funding for temporary modular housing, involving residents, and accountability. Daniel Deal names social outreach programs. Jenna Stoner says most people moved from the encampment are still near downtown, and describes the HEART/HEARTH designation, partners and added community patrol officers. Using a rebuttal, Daniel Deal questions more RCMP spending, saying it is the fastest-rising cost in the budget.
• [02:24:17] Local economy and jobs. Daniel Deal proposes "project unbundling": breaking large District contracts into smaller ones local firms can bid on. Sean Easton supports updating procurement with local business groups. Jenna Stoner cites the District's social procurement policy, a permit tracking system, guaranteed tenant improvement turnaround times and planning for employment lands on the Cheekye fan. In a follow-up, she says the economic development office was downsized because of other pressures and should be rebuilt.
• [02:29:10] Arts and culture space. All three support treating arts space as essential infrastructure. Sean Easton cites a developer-built community centre in North Vancouver. Jenna Stoner points to the 2027 real estate and facilities master plan and work on the Eagle Eye Theatre. Daniel Deal suggests art studios in a future Brennan Park building.
• [02:33:13] Opening CapU facilities. All three support it. Jenna Stoner notes the 2023 agreement was with Quest and talks are under way with CapU and should include SD48. Daniel Deal suggests an access agreement. Sean Easton calls it an urgent priority and also calls for Brennan Park to be open seven days a week.
• [02:36:24] Cheekye fan hazard mapping. All three support updating it. Sean Easton says the plan should have been developed alongside the barrier. Daniel Deal suggests insurance relief for residents and more residential building. Jenna Stoner proposes combining it with the integrated flood hazard management plan update and engaging Brackendale residents.
• [02:40:13] Giving residents a meaningful role. Daniel Deal proposes weekly walkabouts and monthly public meetings. Jenna Stoner proposes council-preview and decision-explainer updates, office hours, quarterly community connection events and a citizens' assembly for the OCP. Sean Easton proposes participatory budgeting, citing Montreal.

Public input

Most questions came from the audience through Slido, where attendees voted questions up or down. Topics included taxes, vehicle residents, encampments and downtown safety, Brennan Park, transit, the Bailey Street gate, Woodfibre LNG, the arts and resident engagement. The moderator said about 150 submitted questions went unanswered and encouraged attendees to keep asking candidates before election day.

What's next

• October 7: Advance voting begins.
• October 17: General voting day. The moderator said polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Brennan Park.
• Official candidate details are on the District of Squamish candidates page.

This summary was generated by AI from an automatic transcript and may contain errors. Watch the linked video for the full record of what each candidate said.

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