In support of teachers
I began my career as a teaching assistant in Powell River in the fall of 1982. I was the third teaching assistant hired and the first part-time assistant [“BC tables legislation to end dispute,” February 29].
All students with special needs, including behaviour challenges, were in segregated classrooms and joined the other students for physical education, art and electives.
In 1988 the government began to make changes to integrate students with special needs into neighbourhood schools and closed the segregated classrooms. The government guaranteed that supports would be in place to ensure students with special needs would be supported. Teacher assistants grew from three to 30 in the span of one year. At that time there were many special needs teachers who would provide support for the classroom teacher.
Class composition became an issue in the mid-1990s when the teachers’ associations across the province went on strike individually to protect class size. These strikes happened all over the province before the government created the Public Sector Employers’ Council. The government had mandated integration so it was essential that supports be put into place and guaranteed.
BC Teachers’ Federation has won the argument about class composition in court and yet it is not important to this government to ensure that proper supports are in place for students. The Supreme Court of BC ruled that the government’s action was illegal and still the government does not respond with compensation. In fact, they continue with legislation.
One student with behaviour problems can cause disruption in a classroom and those students who have mental and physical challenges must have adequate support. The classroom has evolved and changed over the last 30 years to what we have today. Teachers have had to take on more and more responsibility in their jobs due to the government’s mandates.
The removal of the class composition protection has been unfairly imposed upon teachers. Taking out this language has meant that teachers cannot expect the supports that were promised by government when the integration process began.
I believe we need to support the teachers in their struggle for fairness.
Daphne Ross
Phillips Road
Volunteers to help professionals
I have recently reviewed and commented on the Woodlot Management and the Woodlot Licence Plan number one for Woodlot Licence W2058 on Texada Island, BC [“NDP targets raw log exports,” February 29]. The registered professional forester (RPF) who created this plan followed the guidelines of the current required ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations regulations. The ministry, on its part, is mandated to accept this plan if it adheres to these same regulations.
The problem is that the current regulations allow for the creation of a hollow, generic document. These regulations allow for incomplete and even inaccurate reporting of “on the ground” information. Specifically omitted are: existing creeks and wetlands; hiking/biking/horse and ATV trails; and resource areas and features in the woodlot. Examples are mushroom picking, huckleberry and salal collection, and Douglas fir cone collection for seedling regeneration.
As a matter of fact, it is up to unpaid, volunteer, third-party intervention (the public—you and I) to provide the RPF with the precise location of the above resource areas and features. Once done, they will be included in his plan.
The recent assessment of the ministry by John Doyle, BC’s auditor general, states: “...utter lack of planning and management of our forests by the ministry.” I suggest that the current woodlot regulations are seriously flawed and that the processing of all woodlot management plans be halted until the regulations are changed so they reflect what is actually happening on the ground.
Brian Walker
Gillies Bay, Texada Island
Generate a dime spend a dollar
Desperate times does not equate to desperate measures. A waste-to-energy facility in the region will guarantee one thing: rapidly deteriorating air quality [“Global companies eye mill site for waste-to-energy,” February 22]. It is non-discriminating. It affects all of us. Human health care costs will vastly exceed any perceived economic benefits. Health is wealth.
Steve Perkins
Blair Road, Texada Island
Respect for democracy
I appreciate John Weston, MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding, taking time to reply to my recent letter and I agree that, without an active dialogue between constituents and their MP, true democracy would not be possible. It’s also nice to know that my right to an opinion is “entrenched” [“Opinions welcome,” February 8].
I doubt that it is valued, however. Which do you suppose would carry the most weight on a given issue? Myself having a blather with Weston, or some corporate lobbyist/CEO slipping a word in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s ear behind closed doors?
Respect for the democratic process? Having shut down (prorogued) the House twice in recent years in order to remain in power, Harper still shows an astonishing contempt for Parliament by raising important issues like changes to the old age pension at a European press conference. Of course, these changes seem more necessary if seen in the context of the European financial mess.
Recently he was in China selling our crude oil, which he somehow knows will be shipped through a pipeline yet to be approved by the people whose backyard it runs through. Anyone questioning this, or the wisdom of shipping it down the pristine Douglas Channel in huge tankers the size of the Empire State Building, is labelled an “adversary.” Oil companies and other multinational interests are, of course, “allies.” Is the “fix” already in, do you think?
Ron MacDougall
Westview Avenue
Woodlot better served as park
Dependence on third parties to precisely identify current resources and the non-specific, inaccurate management plan created for Woodlot 2058 reflects the “...utter lack of planning and management of our forests by the ministry,” as stated by BC’s Auditor General John Doyle’s report [“NDP targets raw log exports,” February 29].
The change from the forest practices code to the forest stewardship program transferred responsibility to identify and protect our crown forests to the forest companies. Specifically, the plan is a promise by the licensee to identify resources after the approval of the plan. According to the ministry of forests, lands and natural resource operations, and quoted by the registered professional forester undertaking this plan, there are no Fish Sensitive Watersheds (FSW) in the South Island Forest District or on Texada island.
The plan incorrectly: advertises private land within the woodlot boundaries; identifies the primary recreational use of W2058 as hunting rather than the hiking, biking, motorized vehicle trails and mushroom picking as the current primary usage of the area; understates and incorrectly identifies fish sensitive watersheds; contains incomplete location of streams and wetlands; omits all existing trails and contains inaccurate road mapping; and omits the gas pipeline.
Block one of Woodlot 2058 is entirely surrounded by private land. Although legislation does not require this acknowledgment, extensive wind throw damage to private timber occurs when the crown does not specify appropriate buffer zones. Crown land that borders privately owned land is not a good neighbour to have.
Because of the proximity and accessibility of block one to the community of Gillies Bay, the current extensive recreational use of the block, the fish sensitive habitats, and the fact that it is surrounded by privately owned land, block one should be reserved for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations of the public. Texada residents and visitors would be far better served if this was designated park rather than the relatively inaccessible park for which the Crown allowed only two days of input from Texada residents some years ago.
Leslie Goresky
Van Anda, Texada Island
Investment promises
Thoughts that the new Powell River Public Library will “cost taxpayers too much money” are pretty simplistic [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22]. Last year a study of the economic impact of five public libraries in Colorado found that the average return on investment (ROI) of these libraries to taxpayers was 4.99 to 1. That is, for each dollar spent there was additional income to the communities of $4.99 from various spinoff economic activities.
In the United Kingdom, a similar study found that what is called “halo spending” (additional foot traffic by patrons who end up shopping at neighbouring merchants) increased their sales 23 per cent.
Over the past five years, 10 major ROI studies of public libraries have been published. All of these showed substantial economic benefits to building new libraries. A study of Vermont’s public library system showed an ROI of $6.96 for every dollar spent while a study of Florida’s libraries showed an ROI of $6.54.
This does not include the real estate appreciation that occurs in the surrounding area due to the increased amenities level. Nor does this study differentiate funding sources. If Powell River were able to find matching grant funds it would increase the ROI substantially. For example, if a one-to-one matching grant were available, the ROI could be well over $10 back for every $1 the City of Powell River puts into it.
It’s called downtown revitalization and, from a business standpoint, it’s a no-brainer. Frankly, I don’t see how we can afford not to build it.
Mark Dalpiaz
Zilinsky Road
Library source of needed resources
I believe our town needs a new public library [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22]. For 15 years I was principal at Vancouver Island University Powell River campus. I’ve watched many young and old people in our town struggle to get an education, to better themselves, to get a decent job, to find job-seeking information, and I’ve seen our public library help them find what they need. It has provided books and materials, specialized materials through interlibrary loan, well-used public computers, Internet connections and capable staff who show how to find needed information.
Recently, staff showed me how to connect live online with specialists at the central public library in Vancouver. While I was online at our library, the specialists in Vancouver searched out information I needed for the book I recently published. The local librarians showed me how, and I got what I needed.
This wonderful library desperately needs a bigger space. It needs more space for its collection, reference area, conference and meeting rooms, magazine, newspaper and serials reading area, the children’s area and its new books display area. It also needs space to create a quiet, relaxed atmosphere conducive to success. At one book club meeting, we had 12 enthusiastic talkers crowded around a table for six and spilling over into the “quiet” area around the periodicals. It was disruptive for others in the library.
I’ve taught, studied and used libraries all over the world—in Canada, Germany, Japan, China and India. In comparison, our library building is inadequate. Our people deserve something much better.
Thankfully, we are moving down the road with the choice of the library site and the evolving architectural plans. Please keep on this road.
And please explain that the new library is not a danger to our wonderful Willingdon Beach park. It’s an enhancement.
Dr. Robert Butkus
Dorval Avenue
Taking heed from example
Even though I’ve not lived here all my life, a very similar thing happened in Steveston, BC, where I’m from. The fishery employed a lot of people who lived there. The mayor of Steveston had to beautify the town to bring in more businesses, jobs, professionals, better medical facilities which in turn created more housing, new schools and more families moved into the area. Eventually the fishery closed and Steveston is still a thriving community.
My thoughts on a new public library are that it will help beautify Powell River [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22]. It will draw people to come and live here and bring with them businesses to employ people. Build it and they will come. I also feel that areas from Saltery Bay to Lund should be taxed equally in this venture and improve public transit so everyone can enjoy the new library.
Then the next project: a road to the Lower Mainland.
Terri Glen
Maple Avenue
Libraries are not about the view
The recent article by Lisa Rochon in the Globe and Mail, called “The business case for beautiful libraries,” makes the case that libraries “are crucial to a vibrant civic life.” I treasure my relationship with the many different libraries I have known and have never been let down. I have been a library patron for nearly 60 years and have seen many different styles. While some pleasure is derived from good design, enjoyment of a library has little to do with the location of the actual building and none at all with the view [“Opponents protest library site,” February 22].
It is mostly the literature available that makes me happy, together with many nooks to read in, study or otherwise enjoy the content of a public library: words, sounds, movies, graphic material, Braille, I hope, for our visually-challenged tactile readers.
The well-stocked library provides enough material to compensate for a lack of ocean view and for a ho-hum structure: “Function before form.” Let us have good reading lights, and comfortable tables and chairs, please. Young readers need generous space and sturdy furniture.
That vision and a strong desire to re-use and tailor-make an existing building to serve as a new library, is perhaps more in keeping with the current financial climate. I think it also resonates with the spirit of Powell River as a city that cares little for waste.
Sonja Sundqvist
Marlatt Avenue
Meter robbery
Smart meters? What the heck is BC Hydro doing? I’ve had over 50 years of service with no problems. Now, in four months with a new meter BC Hydro has tried to rob me twice [“Smart meter installer damages home,” November 23].
January 6 I received a bill for $214.90. My previous bill was $96.09. I phoned and got it corrected to $111.38.
February 20 I received a bill for $354.75. I phoned but could not get past the recording that told me to pay.
I don’t have a computer and I hate telephones that want you to press 1, 2, 3, 4 and more and then start all over again.
Anybody else out there getting ripped off?
K.D. Scott
Manson Avenue
