Letters to the Editor: July 11, 2012

Library and technology luddites

Apparently there are many in the community who want a new Powell River Public Library even though books are technologically obsolete [“Libraries lose touch with reality,” June 6].

It’s agreed, we have good library staff who work in a challenging location.

Our beautiful city is deep in debt. It is going to get worse. We cannot spend millions on a new library. So do we keep what little new money comes into the city, so it can be recycled and generate new wealth, and get us a new library?

My suggestion is to separate the traditional library activities (those that are 2,000 years old) from the more recently added activities (only 20 years old or so). The latter are beyond the act of an individual getting and reading a, now technologically obsolete, book. They tend to be group oriented.

Both Powell River Town Centre and Crossroads malls have large empty stores. Use one of them for our new storefront library which is focused on individual use. Both have air conditioning and are in central, easily accessible locations with lots of parking. I prefer Town Centre because when people meet in the library they can go into the mall, have a coffee and talk in comfort. This move will help local business over years. Unlike building a library which only injects cash for a short time during construction, it has the benefit of increasing mall traffic resulting in increased revenue for the mall owner and many nearby stores. A minimalist open office space design results in a minimalist cost to make this happen.

Make the current library space, which has lots of small rooms, into a special interest group (SIG) community centre, with an emphasis on its use for group library activities. Surely even technology luddites can do what activists do. Use the Internet to plan and organize and the SIG community centre as the place for action.

We immediately get a new library and a new SIG community centre at very low cost and concurrently improve many local businesses for years ahead.

Tom Hobbs

Butedale Street

If even half the money owned by the people of Powell River was invested in Powell River (the 50-mile investment portfolio) then burning Vancouver’s garbage wouldn’t even be a question [“Reps ready for outreach,” June 27].

I want to turn recycled plastic into retaining wall sections and boardwalk pieces but I need steel moulds, a plastic cooker and a place to do it. Anyone want to help? You can call me at 604.487.1119.

Rob Higgin

Douglas Bay Road

Today I am feeling very mad. I am a mother of a son who was hit by a truck while he was riding his bike. The driver did not see him and at that time there were no bike helmet laws. He received 13 skull fractures. When we got to him he was in a coma. When we saw him after he was flown to Vancouver we could not believe it—his head looked like a large basket ball even bigger and as round. I would not wish this on anyone.

I see many bike riders around town with no helmets, yet we have a helmet law [“Motorcycle rules in effect,” June 1]. From what I have found out, the police only stop bike riders if they are riding erratically.

What really made me mad today was a girl riding a small motorbike. She was riding along Marine Avenue where the stores are. She had no helmet on. I so wanted to stop and say something, but I was not driving. What if she was hit? Who would look after her children?

I see parents riding with their kids; they do not have a helmet on, but their kids do. Who would look after their children if they where the ones who had the accident?

I am just tired of watching all these people riding without helmets. If you love your children, your parents, your loved ones please wear your helmet.

Cathy Logan

Chilco Avenue

Willingdon South is the best choice as the site for the new Powell River Public Library [“Councillors discuss library vote,” June 20]. In its wisdom, City of Powell River council approved this site last year.

We’ve all heard the reasons: a benefit to Marine Avenue businesses; a visible cultural hub for residents and visitors; a place where families, seniors and individuals can enjoy a library visit in a beautiful natural setting; a visible statement to our visitors that Powell River values literacy and culture; an enhancement to Willingdon Beach by replacing the unused ugly gravel pit with a state-of-the-art library.

I applaud the work that has been done by the library board, the democratic process that has taken place and the design presented by the architects to the community.

Further arguments and site searches cost taxpayers additional money and prolong the process of moving ahead with fundraising for the new library. Council needs to support the library project and encourage the community to support the library’s upcoming fundraising efforts.

It’s time to move forward.

Ursula Medley

Dunlop Road

I am still in a state of shock and outrage. Who at city hall made the preposterous decision to cancel any celebration of Canada Day [“National celebrations,” July 4]? And why? To save money? How much money can it possibly cost to celebrate and then clean Willingdon Beach after everyone has had a great time and is bursting with pride? Instead of cancelling the celebrations, why didn’t the City of Powell River ask volunteers to do the cleanup, so the city wouldn’t have to bear the cost? There are certainly many projects going on in this city that are far more costly and, in many citizens’ opinion, not necessary. Surely, one afternoon of celebrating our great country is as important.

I have lived across Canada in big and small cities. Powell River is the most diversified small city I have ever experienced. This city was built by people from all over the world, literally. Ask our new mayor, he should know. One thing that binds everyone together is this country called Canada, and someone decides that this is not important? How could that be? If someone decides that it is not important to show pride in our country, are we forced to accept that? Without pride there is no country. We wouldn’t bother to defend it, we wouldn’t bother to promote it, we wouldn’t bother to grow old together, we wouldn’t bother to better it for our children and grandchildren. What a shame.

Did anyone at city hall think of checking with the citizens of this city to find out if they were in agreement with this decision? What does it teach newcomers? That Powell River doesn’t think much of Canada? What does it teach young people? That we’re not a great country?

Shame on the people responsible for this decision and hopefully it will be revised for next year.

If you agree with my opinion, please call city hall and let them know your view.

Louise Fribance

Springbrook Road

Initial argument for an incinerator usually is “Other towns have this too” [“Reps ready for outreach,” June 27]. Having been a commercial pilot, landing in such towns was like descending into soup. Landing on a sunny nice day against the sun, the runway became visible only on short final approach. In the 1970s, when acid rain became a problem, destroying forest, the company I flew for secured a contract with a university to find out about the air we breathe. Measurements were taken from North Africa to the northern tip of Scandinavia. Clean air has around 400 particles per centimetre-cubed; air in polluted regions has up to 40,000 particles per centimetre-cubed.

The whole northern hemisphere is compromised. Dead polar bears are toxic waste, pregnant Inuit women are advised not to eat the liver of seals and Inuit elders will tell you “It’s not our sky anymore.”

An incinerator in Powell River for 500,000 tonnes of garbage from the Lower Mainland would make it like so many other towns.

It would not be a healthy place to raise a family or retire to. A 50-kilometre diet would be out of the window; that’s just the radius you would not like any food from; it would be a slap in the face to people dreaming of a more sustainable lifestyle; end of the farmers’ market, end of oyster growing, clam digging and fishing. The pearl of the Sunshine Coast would become “Trash River.”

Does anybody think of informing the good people in Tla’amin (Sliammon) First Nation, or Cortes Island, that they will get an extra-concentrated dose of poison?

Growing up in such a town, my sister and I developed severe allergies and asthma. I left, my sister stayed and died struggling the remaining 40 years of her life fighting for air.

Who promotes such an outrage, which will endanger the health of our children for generations to come, shorten our days and give many of us a prolonged, agonizing death?

Having reached 400 parts of carbon dioxide per million in the atmosphere, the last thing this planet needs is an incinerator—anywhere.

Paul Knepperges

Sutherland Avenue

Canada Day in Powell River was non-existent on Sunday, July 1, at Willingdon Beach [“National celebrations,” July 4]. I am very much outraged as a Powell Riverite that there were no celebrations down at the beach. I would like to know why.

I’m ashamed with this town showing a lack of any decent respect toward Canada’s 145th birthday.

Is it that people do not care about our nation’s birthday anymore in this town? I’m truly upset that there was so much apathy shown toward Canada Day. Every other community in Canada had Canada Day celebrations except here in Powell River.

Is the reason that we did not have Canada Day at Willingdon Beach because of the extreme apathy that exists in the volunteer groups in this community?

Ken White

Harvie Avenue

So someone at city hall decided to cancel Canada Day [“National celebrations,” July 4]. Upon checking with city hall we were informed that the decision was made because they did not want to spend the money. How could anyone make such a ridiculous decision. We are talking about our national day. A day to celebrate being a Canadian. A day to rejoice that we live in this amazing little town and this equally amazing country. Festivities such as this knit the community together, strengthen it and develop community pride. And some paid employee at city hall decides that the citizens of Powell River are not worth the money to make this happen. The money comes from the taxpayers, remember.

Powell Riverites need to speak up and let city hall know that we are worth the time, effort and yes a little money in the budget. It is no secret that Canada Day falls on July 1 every year. How about some forward planning in the budget to make this important day a day to showcase Powell River. It is a total shame that the people of Powell River were denied the opportunity to do what they traditionally do—spend Canada Day at Willingdon Beach enjoying the talents of local musicians, visiting the various displays and booths of local artists, picnicking in the park and sharing all of this with family, friends and all whom we know.

Next year I fully expect to see the best Canada Day celebrations this town has ever witnessed. I fully expect to see City of Powell River councillors enjoying the celebrations at Willingdon Beach. I fully expect to wish Mayor Dave Formosa “Happy Canada Day,” and I fully expect to have Formosa wish all citizens and visitors to Powell River “Happy Canada Day 2013” as he and his family enjoy the celebrations.

Deirdre Saunders

Drake Street