Shaun Veltkamp for District of Squamish Council 2026
Shaun
Veltkamp
"Prepared to do the hard work - we have to make good decisions"
Shaun is a Squamish resident, a successful business owner for over 20 years, and a two term elected Director on the Board of Tourism Squamish running for District Council with a commitment to keeping Squamish liveable, affordable, and connected to its working roots while protecting the natural environment that makes our community special. Having run over 100 successful international projects, Shaun feels Squamish needs strong decision makers on council to realign its priorities and focus on responsible, effective governance. Critically important issues start with hiring the best possible Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), reviewing and refocussing our Official Community Plan (OCP), and aggressively pursuing provincial and federal funding opportunities to address critical infrastructure needs including a new community centre, hospital and an alternate access route to downtown. We also need to revitalize our Economic Development Department. Council must work together, listen to qualified experts, use reliable data, and carefully evaluate costs and benefits before making major decisions. My goal is to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, priorities are clear, and important projects move forward efficiently and with long-term value for our community.
About Shaun
A Squamish Resident Who Gets It
Shaun and his wife Juvarya moved their family to Squamish years ago and never looked back. After moving to the Sea to Sky Corridor in 1990, he's watched this town grow from a quiet community into one of BC's fastest growing municipalities.
That growth has brought opportunity but also real pressure on housing, infrastructure, and the character of the community. Shaun has seen it firsthand, and he believes District Council needs more voices that that have a strong business sense and can manage the tough issues and decisions that Squamish is facing right now being one of the fastest growing communities in the Province. We all need to work together and leverage provincial and federal programs and funding to put our infrastructure first.
Having a young family, he's a volunteer Coach with local sports leagues, served on the Board of Directors of Tourism Squamish for 2+ years, and spent years talking to neighbours about what they actually need and expect from their local government. Now he's ready to take that to the table and push for effective, informed decision making to make Squamish work towards its potential.
"Squamish is a spectacular place for so many reasons. I want to make sure it stays that way — Council needs to work hard to make Squamish affordable, liveable and safe for working people and families, and welcoming for tourists."
Platform
Objectives for Squamish
Seven clear commitments to make Squamish more accountable, more prosperous, and better planned for the decades ahead.
Strengthen Leadership & Accountability at the District
- Restructure and realign the District of Squamish (DOS) to better serve residents and taxpayers.
- Conduct a broad search for a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Council's only employee.
- Introduce meaningful performance reviews for senior management and District leadership.
- Ensure the organisation is accountable, efficient, and focused on delivering results.
Deliver Sustainable Economic Growth
- Rebuild and strengthen the Economic Development Department.
- Recognise economic development as essential to Squamish's long-term financial sustainability.
- Attract new investment, businesses, and industry while protecting the environment and community character.
- Grow our economic base, expand employment opportunities, and strengthen municipal revenues.
- Improve communication between the district, local businesses, industry, and the community.
- Grow and strategically manage Squamish's visitor economy in partnership with Tourism Squamish — recognising the reported $400 million in economic activity and $85 million in direct tax revenues in 2024.
Federal and Provincial Funding
- Establish strong relationships between district leadership and our provincial and federal partners.
- Re-establish a grant writer to work on funding from provincial and federal sources.
- Push hard to continue the requests for the infrastructure we need immediately and into the next 15, 20, and 25 years.
- Maximise outside investment rather than relying solely on local taxpayers to fund major projects.
Rebuild Community Partnerships
- Re-establish respectful, productive working relationships with Squamish advocacy groups and community organisations.
- Move towards strong collaboration — we are all community members.
- Work together to find practical solutions to shared challenges.
- Re-establish a dedicated District grant writer to help local organisations secure provincial and federal funding.
Update Our Long-Term Planning
- Fast-track an updated Official Community Plan (OCP) — Squamish needs a clear VISION.
- Develop a comprehensive Tourism Master Plan (TMP) to strategically manage and grow Squamish's visitor economy.
- Recognise that many existing plans date back to 2017–2018 and need to reflect today's realities.
- Establish a clear 15-, 20-, and 25-year vision for Squamish.
- Balance long-term planning with the immediate priorities facing residents and businesses.
Make Downtown Safer
- Work alongside the RCMP to develop and implement a new downtown safety strategy.
- Improve coordination between the district, law enforcement, businesses, and community organisations.
- Focus on practical, measurable improvements to public safety and downtown vitality.
Invest in Critical Community Infrastructure
- Advocate for a new community centre that meets Squamish's growing needs.
- Aggressively pursue provincial and federal funding to help deliver this critical infrastructure.
- Continue working with MP Patrick Weiler and MLA Jeremy Valeriote to secure government investment.
- Plan infrastructure proactively to support sustainable growth and affordability.
The Priorities
Six Issues That Matter to Squamish
Housing Affordability
Squamish workers and families are being priced out. We need more attainable housing options, sensible density near transit, and protections for renters — not just luxury condos.
Environment & Green Spaces
Our mountains, rivers, and trails are what make Squamish home. Responsible development must protect the natural environment and maintain public access to the outdoors.
Trades & Local Jobs
Support local contractors, tradespeople, and small businesses. Cut unnecessary red tape so Squamish workers can build their futures right here in the Sea to Sky corridor.
Transit & Infrastructure
Better bus service, safer roads, and reliable water and sewer infrastructure. The basics matter — and working families deserve a council that prioritizes them.
Families & Community Services
Invest in childcare, recreation, and community programs. Squamish families need a council that understands the real cost of living and fights for services that make a difference.
Transparent Local Government
Open council meetings, clear budget decisions, and a councillor who actually shows up and listens. Your tax dollars deserve accountability.
Get Involved
Join the Campaign
Local elections in Squamish are decided by neighbours talking to neighbours. Whether you can knock doors in your area, put a lawn sign out front, or just share the word — every bit of support counts.
Sign Up to Help
This Campaign is 100% Self-Financed
Shaun Veltkamp is funding this campaign entirely out of his own pocket. No corporate donations. No special interest money. No strings attached. This campaign will not be accepting donations of any kind — because the only people Shaun will answer to are the residents of Squamish.
Land Acknowledgement
We recognize that the region we live, work and play in is on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation.