VIDEO – Opponents of a new library at the old arena site organized a rally at the proposed location on Sunday, May 27. About 80 people listened to speakers just after 2 pm. The rally was organized by the Save Willingdon Beach campaign.
Gordon Crawford, a former City of Powell River councillor, told the crowd that they could demand the city hold a referendum on the issue. “You know, it’s a funny thing, they spent all this money and they never went to pre-tender,” he said. “That’s how you are going to find out how much a building costs.”
Crawford spoke about how he supported building a new RCMP detachment building when he was on council. There were two referendums on that issue, he said, and both received over 80 per cent approval. He also related how he questioned the original estimate that came in from the quantity surveyors and how his estimate was correct in the end. “This library says it’s going to be built for $9.5 [million],” he said. “I tell you, it’s going to be over $12 million, $12 million, and I made a living estimating my jobs.”
Dino Ciarniello said the property should be the heart of the waterfront and all he wanted was a democratic right to vote, to say yes or no. He referred to the number of signatures on a petition opposing the location, a number that is over 5,045 and growing. “That should be an indication to council,” he said. “[The] least they can do is have a referendum and give us a vote.”
Cleve Hamilton, one of the organizers of the rally, and Fred MacLeod, who worked on building the civic arena, also addressed the crowd, while Dan Devita was emcee.
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