Closing of archery club
I was surprised and saddened to read in the Peak of the closing of the Powell River Archery Club (PRAC) [“Archery club,” May 13].
My son was introduced to archery by the PRAC through the physical education program in grade eight. Not being team-sport orientated, archery turned out to be a great option and he took to it immediately. The club became a part of our lives as he participated regularly for years, gaining skills and confidence in the sport. He had wonderful mentors who guided him as he progressed. The Christmas parties and outdoor shoots gave him an opportunity to volunteer and pass on the archery skills he had learned as he grew older. My son now lives and works down in the city and when he came home for a visit recently, he brought his bow with him. However, he was very disappointed to discover that archery had been cancelled.
PRAC is run by dedicated volunteers who give of their time and talent and have done so for many years. The location of the quonset hut in the valley is central for north- and south-of-towners alike. Archery is a sport that can be enjoyable and challenging for children, youth and adults. I feel that closing the Powell River Archery Club at the valley location is a huge loss to the community.
Sheila Noble
Lang Bay Road
Leadership needed
Now that City of Powell River Council has saved the trees in Millennium Park, I hope it will do everything in its power to defend the rest of the city’s forest land [“Nest protection best tool in fight,” May 13]. I realize it is a difficult task as council has little legal authority to stop Island Timberlands. But nonetheless, council needs to be out there leading the fight—otherwise the logging will totally transform the look of our beautiful city. Imagine driving to Townsite from Westview through a corridor of clear-cutting right to the road’s edge. This is just unacceptable and we need the city’s leadership to stop it.
Island Timberlands’ plans to clear-cut on city and Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation-owned PRSC lands violates the mandate of PRSC to “be a community minded company that respects…sustainable forest practices.”
There are precedents for municipalities asking the provincial government to intervene and trade Crown land elsewhere for the vulnerable forests within city limits. Will council approach the province and make such a request? I can’t imagine any other city where forest land is such an important feature of the community.
In the city’s official community plan (OCP) the area designated for cutting adjacent to McGuffie and McFall creeks is described as “sensitive ecosystems”. That alone should trigger a strong response from council.
Council could at least ask Island Timberlands to halt its logging until bird nesting season is over—and that would give it time to seek intervention by the province.
Christopher Heffley
Cascade Place
