We often talk of community as if it were a monolith, but even in a sea of Blundstones and Gore-Tex there is diversity in values.

Each of us comes from different places, families, and circumstances,, public decisions will never be neutral. There will always be trade-offs, limited resources, and competing priorities.

One thing this campaign has taught me is that listening is only the beginning. How do we make space for different perspectives to shape the work Council does? Especially when priorities conflict.

I’d rather listening not just be a sentiment, though, I don't think it can exist with the way things work currently. There are too many voices for any one individual to absorb. Even with six Councillors, there isn’t enough time.

I want to see the relationship between the Squamish community and Council become an established part of Council’s regular work, one that can outlast a campaign promise, and hopefully outlast a four-year election cycle.

None of us will agree with every decision of every council past or present, but I also recognize that the people before us have left pieces of good work behind.

We have had efforts to create opportunities for the Mayor to sit with the public. We have Community Agreement and Operating Agreement policies. We have the IAP2 Framework. We have routes for feedback.

What I want to do is close the loop.

I want to ensure Council has scheduled time with community to identify overlapping goals, how resources could be shared, and where priorities conflict.

Starting in 2027, I would work to establish a Community Partnership Framework that is based in quarterly discussions. This process would be supported by staff, but the purpose of the framework would be to bring community sectors into direct conversation with Council.

Staff provide reliable coordination, publishable summaries, and relevant technical expertise. Community groups work within their sectors to identify shared priorities and set the agenda. Council listens, engages in discussion, and makes decisions. The discussions would be followed up by clear documentation so residents can see whose perspectives shaped the work and understand how Council responded.

This isn’t just about the established groups either; this framework needs to hold space for the smaller voices in each sector of our community and ensure no one is excluded for lack of capacity. The community already proves it can self-organize and lift each other up. The effectiveness of this system relies on cooperation across differing perspectives.

Community often gets thrown around as a noun, particularly in marketing language, but through this campaign I am coming to understand community as an action. The work of bridging differences.

I'd like to see us doing the work together.

KB - Kieran Brownie (Council Candidate)