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Letters to the Editor: August 8, 2012

Musicians deserve pay To all those people who think that musicians shouldn't be paid for their contributions to community events, give your head a shake [“Speak to the Peak,” August 1].

Musicians deserve pay

To all those people who think that musicians shouldn't be paid for their contributions to community events, give your head a shake [“Speak to the Peak,” August 1]. If you were asked to work for free, I bet you would be pretty indignant.

The core group of our local musicians have invested a lot of time, effort and money to reach their respective levels of talent. I do not think it is fair for the public to minimize our musicians just because the average Joe would perform for free. Believe me, it is not the same.

David Lockyer

Nootka Street


Library worth investment

There appear to be three main arguments against the proposed Willingdon site for the new Powell River Public Library: 1) technology has changed and libraries are no longer needed; 2) the proposed location is parkland; 3) we can’t afford it right now [Council commits to library vote,” July 11].

In terms of the first objection, by the same logic one could argue that new technologies such as indoor home treadmills, ThighMasters and Wii video games have combined to eliminate the need for publicly-funded sports fields and Powell River Recreation Complex. They haven’t.

The second objection might carry more weight if the Willingdon site was actually green. It isn’t and never has been. And what land the proposed 15,000-square-foot library would take up would still leave plenty of space to create new genuine green parkland on the remaining old arena site.

The final objection is really just a matter of opinion and priorities. If a new community learning commons (also known as a library) is a priority, let’s make it happen. The sad fact is that those who would most immediately and directly benefit from a new library at the Willingdon site (the financially less well-off and the town’s school-age youth) are on the one hand the least likely to vote, and on the other hand too young to vote. Isn’t that why we elect mayors and councillors so they can lead and govern without having to refer matters to referendum?

Modern libraries (as proposed for Willingdon) are spaces where people can gather, share knowledge and learn for free. In my opinion that's worth the investment.

Keith Carlson

Saskatoon, SK


Plenty of space for library

What was my favourite part of Sea Fair? Seeing the gravel lot at Willingdon South being used and enjoyed by so many people. It was hard not to notice, from standing on Highway 101, that even with the midway rides there, there was a big empty unused space in the south east corner of the lot.

Imagine having a new Powell River Public Library there. It would allow our entire community to enjoy that space year-round [Council commits to library vote,” July 11]. A library at Willingdon South would provide the next generation of children with countless fond memories of that location--just like the children from the days of the old arena have.

Another thing I noticed is that parking does not seem to be as dire of an issue as it is made out to be surrounding the Willingdon South library site. My wife and I counted 200 cars from the Beach Hut to the corner of Alberni Street, Abbotsford Street and Marine Avenue on Saturday, at the height of Sea Fair. This isn't even including the main parking lot (closed) or the lot on the corner of Willingdon Avenue. Even with all these cars, we still had no trouble finding a spot.

I'll admit that some of those cars were parked rather haphazardly, so even if we were to cut the number in half to 100 cars, that's still an awful lot of parking within a five-minute walk of Alberni and Marine. Remember, this isn't even including the two actual parking lots.

Mobility seems to not have been an issue either as all groups of our community were healthily represented throughout the weekend. Well, most groups. People in their 20s and 30s were notably absent, but that's for a different letter.

Trevor Mervyn

Sycamore Street