After lunch with my Aunt and Uncle just outside of Powell River, we drove to down the beautiful Sunshine Coast, weaving our way through Arbutus and Cedar trees along one of the most beautiful coastlines on the planet. It turns out however, that we’re not the only ones who have discovered the warmth and beauty of the small communities dotting this coast. In recent years there has been an influx of people purchasing homes and setting up local businesses as well. While many locals in towns such as Sechelt and Gibsons seem a little concerned with the impact an increasing population will have on the coast, they are extremely worried about the unsustainable development that is bringing big box stores including Wal-Mart. And as we have seen, the big box stores bring increased traffic, pollution, and sprawl. Folks in Gibsons have learned that a large piece of land has been purchased on the outskirts of the municipality and that the mysterious owner has plans to “develop” the site into a 116,000 square foot store with a parking lot to match. A local organizer with the group Sunshine Coast Citizens Concerened for Responsible Development described the potential opening of such as store as the equivalent of 100 small stores opening simultaneously in Gibsons. Just the environmental impact alone seems to be enough for residents to wary, especially in a community where the largest stores – such as London Drugs – are around 20,000 square feet.

And while Wal-Mart continues to neither deny nor confirm the information that points to the US giant as the landowner, we’re certain it’s them, and so are the people of Gibsons. The corporation rarely strays from its cookie-cutter template of purchasing parcels of land with First Pro Realtors, then sitting with it until there is a pro-unsustainable development council in place municipally. This time, however, the community has got wind of Wal-Mart’s plans and may be able to stop them. With so many in the community devoting their time to the fight and applying pressure to local politicians, we’re hoping that Gibsons will be added to a growing list of communities who have successfully kept out the big box from their town.

At our event in Gibsons the little theatre that can hold 160 people, was filled to capacity, and around another 50 latecomers had to be turned away at the door. Inside people were energized and voiced their concerns and ideas with conviction. Our little event worked as a catalyst to further unify citizens in the area in their fight against Wal-Mart – a role we are honoured to have been fortunate enough to have played. There were even some big shots in the audience, including reporters, councillors, the land developer, a former big-box developer from the UK, and the Mayor of Gibsons who was recently quoted in Vancouver and coastal papers as saying Wal-Mart would go in only “over my dead body.” If that kind of conviction and drive continue to define the Gibsons movement, then Wal-Mart’s days are indeed numbered.