Why prefer an empty gravel lot?
Having seen quite a few “Save Willingdon Beach” buttons around town worn by library site opposers [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22], I am compelled to write my thoughts.
The site, as I see it, is currently a gravel lot. Not a beach, not a greenspace; an empty gravel lot with a path in front of it. I go there every day on my way to the nature trail, and I don’t see large numbers of the community enjoying what is being called the greenspace and communing with nature of the gravel lot. I do see a few people walking by on the path toward Willingdon Beach Park, which is real greenspace and not under threat.
Right now for most of the year the lot stands empty. I know some people are worried about the Sea Fair midway being pushed out. The last planning meeting clearly stated that only about 30 per cent of the site will be the building, and that the (private enterprise) carnival rides would indeed continue if the people so desired. The planners were also very clear about creating an outdoor park space that could be used for picnicking, gardens, even food gardens and a farmers’ market. The building plans I saw so far promote much more of a parkland feeling and community space than what is currently there.
That said, when I read the information put forth by opponents of the site, it sounds to me that there is a real desire to have a public space, accessible to all, to be enjoyed by future generations, that promotes nature and, dare I say it, culture. I can understand that there is a huge resistance to a potential threat of privatization of this land. What I can’t understand is why the concept of a public library/cultural space/garden/park hybrid that will enhance Marine Avenue, bring more people to Willingdon Beach proper, promote local arts and business and still allow for Sea Fair and other events, is seen as such a threat to the community, yet leaving an empty gravel lot is seen as a boon to the community.
Claudia Medina-Culos
Marine Avenue
Teachers work less for more
For anyone with a computer, look up an article about what teachers really make. If not, here are some facts [“Teachers’ strike closes schools for three days,” March 7].
School is to be in session 193 days with 186 days of instruction. A paid work day for a teacher is 6.5 hours. Even with added time for professional development or report card preparation, a required work year is 1,265 hours. The standard work year in BC (with two weeks’ holidays if you’re lucky) is 1,928 hours.
Teachers work 663 fewer hours, get paid three weeks’ holiday (Christmas and spring break), make between $36 to $56 per hour, have full benefits and have the eighth highest pension in Canada.
This is what this strike is all about. The teachers always pull a strike either at the start of a school year, after the Christmas holidays of just before graduation.
Students seem to always be off on pro-D days. Remember when you were in school? Only one day a year for a teachers’ day, Easter long weekend was included in spring break which was one week not two and the same went for Christmas. Class size was 30 as well as in my parents’ day and still held a standard quality of work.
Today, students can’t write properly, spell, do long division on paper. Some can’t even recite their times table. With technology they don’t have to.
So where is the gripe that a teacher spends 3.5 hours a night in preparation work? Why bother with grades 11 and 12?
Cindy Ling
Serendipity Road
Book haven awaits
Recently I learned of a petition about the proposed Powell River Public Library [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22]. In the petition it states that the library will “ruin the view from Breakwater Books” and “will be bad for business for Breakwater and other Marine/Alberni corner businesses.” I was flattered and happy to see that people are concerned enough about my business to circulate a petition to oppose something that could harm my business. I was also disappointed that no one contacted me before they included my business name on the petition.
I believe both sides of the issue on the location of the library have legitimate concerns and strong beliefs about the location. I think there are other locations that could have been chosen that might have been better for some reasons, but the planners have chosen this one for a number of equally valid reasons. I think protesting the proposed site is an important part of our democratic process and I believe that everyone should be entitled to voice their own opinion about the location. That being said, I do have some concerns about constructing a library anywhere at this time due to city hall budgetary constraints.
As a business owner I think having the library there would be a strong boost to the businesses on the corner of Marine Avenue and Alberni Street. It would create a hub where more people would come and I think businesses on this corner would thrive. I don’t view a library as a competitor, but as an asset to our town and my business. The library sends people to our store frequently, and we have referred people to them as well.
People from all over North America go to Sidney, BC, because it is a “Book Town” with many bookstores. It would be great if when people thought of books, they thought of Marine and Alberni. I do think the view might be impacted to a small degree, but the view from our café would still be better than almost any coffee shop I have ever seen in any part of Canada.
Sean Dees
Breakwater Books and Coffee
Manson more pressing
It would be sad to put a library at Willingdon Beach, a landmark where the old arena once stood [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22]. Keep it green—Powell River does not need a new public library.
Powell River needs a new Manson Avenue. It looks worse every time I visit Powell River. There are parts of a sidewalk at the Cranberry Street end, no sidewalk at all between Cranberry Lake bird sanctuary to Edgehill, just a piece north of Edgehill Store then bare again. People want Manson to be an avenue that they can enjoy walking safely on with children.
A crosswalk across Manson from Barnet Street, to walk to Larry Gouthro Park and Northgate Foursquare Church, is very important for pedestrian safety.
People of Powell River would enjoy the new look of Manson if it was looked after, instead of looking at an avenue always torn up. Sidewalks from end to end would make it nice for everyone.
Clifford Lang
Squamish, BC
Covenant decrees use
Many of those who want a library at Willingdon Beach are simply unaware of the history of the property and the covenant placed on it [“Library location debate heats up council,” March 7].
Of the 3,800-plus signatures so far, wanting to save Willingdon Beach, many are people who initially wanted a library there. Once they were told of the history and the covenant, they signed our petition.
In 1955, after three years of volunteer work, Willingdon Arena officially opened on property owned by the Powell River Company. In 1963, eight years later, the people of Powell River were given that piece of land for $1, on the condition it be kept as a park for all to enjoy.
In 1975 the arena closed, and three years later, in 1978, the municipality put a restrictive covenant on the property stating:
“The Grantor covenants and agrees that no use or development of the said lands or the building situated thereon shall take place except in accordance with the following:
For Park purposes only.
The covenants herein contained shall be covenants running with the land.
Wherever the singular is used herein, the same shall be construed as meaning the plural where the context or the parties so require.
These presents shall enure to be the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and upon their respective successors and assigns.”
The covenant is specific and simple. It was placed on the land so future councils would know this property had special significance and that it must remain as a park in perpetuity.
A library can go anywhere and should be at a location like a recreation complex.
Our predecessors were much wiser than we appear to be. Let’s save our world-class greenspace for future generations and make it the park it was meant to be, with volunteers, the way the arena was built so long ago. If you’d like to be part of a community initiative to turn the “gravel pit” into a park, contact me at willingdon@yahoo.ca and we’ll let City of Powell River council know Powell River loves Willingdon Beach.
Elaine Teichgraber
View Road
From a teacher’s view
I was quite puzzled after reading the letter to the editor “Teachers’ requests out of reach,” March 14. It seems that Louise Fribance’s facts are inaccurate.
A beginning teacher’s salary is between $46,000 and $49,000 (not $52,362).
Teachers receive 15 sick days per year (not 20). Sick days cannot be used to “retire early.” Sick days taken for any length of time must be accompanied by a doctor’s note.
We have five professional development days. They are days off for students, not for teachers. If teachers choose to attend a weekend conference, they are only paid for the work day missed, not weekends.
Although it appears that teachers work “nine months” of the year, we actually work much more. Most teachers work between 50 to 60 hours per week, not including extracurricular activities.
Using 55 hours per week as average, this means that in nine months (39 weeks) a teacher will work 585 hours more than someone working a 40-hour week. This works out to 14.6 weeks (585 divided by 40 hours) of unpaid time. If summer, Christmas and spring breaks combined are nine weeks, by the end of June, a teacher has worked more than enough time to cover the breaks. One must also keep in mind, that teachers do not leave school when the children do, nor do they arrive on the first day back. They spend between two and three weeks on cleanup and preparation while on holidays.
Fortunately, we feel that most students and parents in this province understand what we are fighting for. They have experienced the large classes, the children with needs unmet, teachers working evenings and/or weekends, teachers using their own money to purchase supplies, teachers ensuring children have shoes, clothes, and food. In the past 10 years, students have been far more affected by the lack of funding than they will ever be by our six-month “teach-only” job action.
We are not looking for sympathy, we are asking for respect and support from the public and especially from our government.
Wendy Adams
Nechako Avenue
Tax reduction falls flat
I was disappointed, but not surprised, by the recent vote by City of Powell River council that will now see the regressive flat tax continue until 2083 rather than 2030 [“Hathaway does the math,” March 14].
Congratulations to councillors Maggie Hathaway, Russell Brewer and Myrna Leishman for their genuine attempt to reduce this tax, even if too slowly, at a rate of five per cent annually, until eliminated over a 20-year period, as the flat tax adds a disproportionate heavier financial tax burden onto the poor.
Mayor Dave Formosa and councillors Debbie Dee, Jim Palm and Chris McNaughton voted for a tax reduction methodology that will see the flat tax continue until 2083. The answer to Hathaway’s rhetorical question, “Are we really attempting to eliminate the flat tax or is this simply lip service?” is obvious.
Let’s have another vote on this issue.
Jack Dice
Butedale Street
