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Re-elect Chris Pettingill for Squamish Council No Donations

Platform · 2026

What matters

I'm still incredibly grateful to live in Squamish.

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Chris Pettingill standing on the granite bluffs above Squamish, with the estuary, town and mountains behind him

Odds Against Us

It wasn't an easy decision to run again. Serving on Council has not been ideal for my career, income, free time with family, or stress levels.

Just in the last four years across the world, we have seen new levels of "regular" wars, trade wars, supply chain disruptions, endless natural disasters, energy and AI transition, globally increasing inequality, globally decreasing affordability, and threats to our sovereignty — plus numerous other challenges.

We have less authority and resources at the local level than many people understand, and addressing local issues is challenging enough — never mind these major global issues.

Why I Press Forward

I'm realistic about the limits to what local government can achieve but I also understand that necessary global change takes leaders and volunteers working to improve their local communities across every place in BC, Canada, and elsewhere (a version of "think global, act local").

Being part of these efforts gives me the purpose and hope to weather the world we are faced with today. And, I'm still incredibly grateful to live in Squamish. Regardless of what's going on in the rest of the world, I can't accept the gift of being able to live here, without giving something back.

Chris Pettingill in front of a corrugated metal wall

Vote Sat Oct 17, 2026 or Advance Vote Sooner

Reflecting Back

During my 2022 campaign, I spoke about working together on issues of Housing & Affordability, Livability, and Safety & Security. I also spoke about the importance of centering Reconciliation, Equity, and Climate Action in our solutions to these issues.

Despite many challenges, Squamish continues to be one of the most desirable places to live. Likely this is because so many of our challenges are also experienced in every other community in BC. What's driving our appeal is our water, mountains, and trees, our trails and events, our citizens and businesses, and our proximity to other very desirable places.

While our challenges may not be totally unique, our desirability does make challenges of growth and affordability especially acute here.

(New) Context

The state of the world and the pace of change over the last four years have inevitably changed the context for my thoughts about Housing & Affordability, Livability, and Safety & Security.

It's important to be clear that these words don't describe tasks that will be finished — they reflect a focus and work that needs to adapt and be pursued on an ongoing basis, adjusting as the world around us evolves.

I've also become more aware that different people attach different meanings to these terms, and without a deeper conversation, they don't necessarily communicate all that much.

With this in mind, I've been asking myself whether those 2022 campaign points are still valid and useful in 2026.

Platform

Ultimately, Housing & Affordability, Livability, and Safety & Security remain valuable starting points for important conversations. Reconciliation, Equity, and Climate Action still need to guide the decisions that our community makes. The platform below includes just a few examples of what we've done since I've been on Council, what I associate with these concepts in my decision-making today, and/or what I hope the next Council will consider in the future.

Housing & Affordability

  • Continued investment in Squamish Housing's ability to become self-sufficient
  • Recalibrating the criteria for accessing below-market housing
  • Attention to all ages and abilities accessibility in development approval guidelines
  • Continued progress on our MOU with Squamish Nation (moving foreward in partnership)
  • Reducing reliance on energy system we don't control
  • Waived all Development Cost Charges and fees for Affordable Housing Developments
  • 153 New zoned or permitted rental Units (22% below-market)
  • Provincial Heart & Hearth Response program acceptance (Encampments and homelessness)
  • Focused provincial lobbying and collaboration around inadequate long-term care, homelessness, transit, and regional transit services
  • and so much more ...
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Livability

  • Matching housing development to employment development
  • Meeting provincial housing unit targets while paying attention to how the location, size, and design of those units influence price, population growth, new service demand, and community revenue
  • Access to greenspace, parks, arts, and recreation
  • Increasing all ages and abilities accessibility for indoor and outdoor spaces: Accessible parking
  • Increasing all ages and abilities accessibility for indoor and outdoor spaces: Public washrooms
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Focused provincial lobbying and collaboration around inadequate long term care, addictions, health, mental health, homelessness, transit, and regional transit services
  • Continued progress on our MOU with Squamish Nation (moving foreward in partnership)
  • Maintaining our focus on addressing decades of inadequate infrastructure even when doing so requires politically difficult financial decisions
  • Increased in-person community gatherings, engagement, and committees
  • Provincial Heart & Hearth Response program acceptance (Encampments and homelessness)
  • Community Partnership Agreements
  • BRENNAN PARK Recreation Task Force
  • $21M Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
  • MÉN̓ MENS TA SMÁNIT Childcare Facility
  • 55 Activity Centre Kitchen re-activation
  • and so much more ...
01 / 17

Safety & Security

  • Emergency and evacuation readiness: Continued FireSmart work despite provincial funding cuts
  • Emergency and evacuation readiness: Cheekye Debris Flow completion
  • Emergency and evacuation readiness: Diking
  • Emergency and evacuation readiness: Flood Hazard Management
  • Emergency and evacuation readiness: Emergency and evacuation planning and exercises
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Focused provincial lobbying and collaboration around inadequate long-term care, addictions, health, mental health, homelessness services
  • Reducing reliance on energy systems we don't control
  • Continued progress on our MOU with Squamish Nation (moving foreward in partnership)
  • Traffic calming
  • Provincial Heart & Hearth Response program acceptance (Encampments and homelessness)
  • $37.8M Flood-safe Public Works Faciilty
  • > $19.5M Diking Upgrades
  • Approved BC Housing 60-unit Government Rd. Supportive Housing Project
  • and so much more ...
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There's so much more to discuss, and we can do so during the campaign.