About 70 years ago I was an aspiring backtender in Tasmania. It’s about as far away from Powell River as you can get.
The mere mention of the name Powell River evoked thoughts of technical expertise and production records. This was certainly true in the Americas and the western world in general.
The Powell River Company and later the MacMillan Bloedel Powell River Division was the go to place for the latest developments in newsprint production.
Until I read an opinion piece in the Peak, [“Viewpoint: Some things aren’t worth fighting over,” May 25], I had never heard of Israel Powell. We can’t rewrite history; it happened.
Powell was a child of his time and society as a whole was complicit in his policies. Expunging reference to an historical name is dishonest, and retroactive actions are hard circles to square. Powell River has a rich subsequent history that deserves to be celebrated and remembered.
We may be small on a world scale, but the fundamental principles of democracy are at stake. Democratic societies are founded on one vote/one person and acceptance of the verdict. This removes all doubts.
At present, no politicians have the electoral mandate to make a unilateral decision for a name change. Consensus decisions are rife with manipulation. It’s difficult to stand up and be counted and far easier to go along to get along.
I understand Tla’amin Nation has self government and is free to name its territory by any name it prefers, and incorporate it in the postal system.
But we have two legal separate communities. If a name change is imposed upon us, a vast number of residents will be quietly hostile. This is not reconciliation.
Avoid qathet Regional District’s mistake and take the time to do it openly and properly. The name, Powell River, provides a teachable moment, and an admonition of how we should relate with each other.
Whatever name is chosen by the democratic majority, I am bound as a resident to willingly accept it. My preference is for a name incorporating our history and geographical beauty, written or translated into plain English, and is easily pronounceable.
Ted Cooper,
Massett Court
