Goose is cooked
In regard to the proposed cull of Canada geese in Powell River [“Mayor keen to cull goose population,” March 8], I can say that this is a regular practice in the Okanagan where beaches, playgrounds, schoolyards, parks and golf courses are fouled (no pun intended) every year.
Canada geese reproduce by the thousands and approach vermin status in many locations. Yes, they are somewhat regal looking, graceful in flight, and it is encouraging to see their successful breeding, but it is scary to imagine what they would amount to if left unchecked.
I happened to make the acquaintance of one of the few hunters in BC with a licence to shoot these birds. He was occasionally employed in the Kelowna area to carry out a cull, usually of several hundred at a time. I was encouraged by the fact that these birds were properly processed for free by volunteer butchers, who removed the breasts and supplied them to local food banks.
As far as I know, they were greatly appreciated, and apparently delicious.
Bill Lytle-McGhee
Maple Avenue
Bad idea
His worship City of Powell River mayor David Formosa is championing the idea of culling the resident Canada goose population [“Mayor keen to cull goose population,” March 8]. The only thing that needs to be culled is the idea itself.
Steve Perkins
Van Anda
Troubling trek
I see that sitting judges have to come to Powell River less frequently now [“Court not in session,” February 22]. How relieved they must be to not have to make that six-hour trek from the Lower Mainland and sit in those aggravating ferry lines along the way so often. Ah, such a relief for so few.
So, justice is delayed by your antiquated and frequently unreliable ferry system, but that’s not all, so is the economic development and diversification of your community, the largest city on the BC mainland without a connecting highway system. Less obvious is the limitation imposed on personal freedom by the lack of a permanent road.
Whether you’re well off or not, your personal freedom to move around your province and beyond is limited to only a few times a day, and your two options, by air or by water, are also expensive.
So if you want to travel beyond Powell River with any frequency you better have a lot of extra money, and if you’re late for your plane or the ferry line is unexpectedly full, that’s just too bad folks, you’re going to miss that wedding, funeral, medical appointment, college graduation or birthday party.
Still, we should be happy for those judges. For the thousands of others who live or visit, transportation options will remain few and expensive until the government paves the way for the same level of freedom it provides other BC residents.
Robert H. Brennan
Chicago, Illinois
