Some musicians choose to volunteer
I am writing in response to the letter “Musicians deserve pay” by David Lockyer, published in the Peak on August 8.
There are a great number of people who play for free. It just happens to be what they call volunteering.
Back in 1995 I had the fortunate opportunity to have a conversation with Cliff Lennox after hearing him play at the Open Air Farmers’ Market. He gave me a chance to join the Enjoyment Band with him, Martin Rossander and Georgina Lapoint. Sorry to say all have passed away.
Our main targets were Olive Devaud Residence, Evergreen Extended Care Unit and Powell River Trail Riders.
Since then, members who joined were Bev Hopkins, Larry Olson, Walt Perry and Don Sharp. Lately, Russell Storry joins us when he is available.
We still do the odd gig at Olive Devaud and Extended Care. I must say it does our hearts good to see these old-timers tap their toes or drum their fingers on tabletops or wheelchairs.
There are many types of music, most of it depends on what you grew up with as a youngster. Powell River is a great community for volunteers. Anyway, we enjoy playing for free and if elderly people enjoy listening to it, that, for us, is a bonus.
Jack Tesch
Field Street
Numbers of tourists
Tourism Powell River, in the article “Tourism receives mixed reviews,” August 15, states that its website has received more than 24,000 page views for the month of July and has seen an increase of seven per cent since last year.
These numbers are of no relevance if the searches do not convert to bookings for the various tourism-related businesses. It can have a million hits on the website per month but if it does not convert to tourism dollars for its members, then the website is not performing.
Tourism Powell River is aware of the low occupancy rates in the accommodation industry and now must ask itself this one question: why does the website have that many hits but the accommodation providers are not seeing the tourists?
Tourism Powell River talks about an upswing in visitors to its office on Joyce Avenue, but on the other hand in this same article BC Ferries reports a drop in ferry traffic.
Unfortunately, the upswing in the visitor traffic to Tourism Powell River’s office and the 24,000 page views to its website is in stark contrast to the miserable occupancy rates for many accommodation providers.
The drop in ferry traffic reflects the reality many accommodation providers are facing—a drastic drop in accommodation numbers.
Josaphine Scheifele
Desolation Resort
