Pedestrian crossings
Do our young’uns at Powell River city hall need a change in perspective?
In the good old days when England was building new cities, city planners knew how to deal with new-fangled horseless carriages. Trams had a dedicated bi-directional rail-bed down the centre of the “transport corridor.” The tramway was tastefully protected by private hedges along its length. (Note the job creation distribution throughout the working class spectrum. Today’s economists, with their focus on cost reductions, take too narrow a view of a problem.) Roads ran along each side of the tramway and sidewalks beyond them. Tram stations were in the middle of a block. They were long blocks. Lord Belisha’s beacons (check the Internet, young’uns) were in the middle of the block. This was the safest location for people to cross [“Pedestrian solutions make mayor cross,” November 12]. Those blasted new-fangled smelly, noisy and dangerous horseless carriages used traffic lights at the ends of blocks.
Given the number of pedestrians killed and injured around Vancouver, perhaps our mayor should see our city planners eliminate left-hand turns by horseless carriages, as these are the most dangerous, at every other city block or so, and put Belisha beacons midway along the blocks.
Oh for the good old days when men were men and women were...
Tom Hobbs
Butedale Street
Spirit of inclusion
Racist posters in Powell River? We are better than that. Or are we [“Police investigate racist posters,” November 19]?
I am reminded of Tla’amin (Sliammon) Nation elder Elsie Paul telling a story from her book Written as I Remember It: Teachings from the Life of a Sliammon Elder, about how she walked with her family to the Patricia Theatre in the 1940s only to be turned away. “No room upstairs,” which is where the “Indians” had to sit. Are we back to segregation and racism?
Over many years, a new and stronger relationship with Tla’amin is emerging based on efforts to understand the history, culture and teachings of this region. It is regularly acknowledged at events that we live in the traditional territory of the Tla’amin Nation, and to treat it with respect. Representatives of Tla’amin are in China exploring potential economic opportunities that will benefit the nation and the region. They are ambassadors of Tla’amin who bring to the table important traditional knowledge, drawing on a history of surviving in harmony with nature in many areas of the BC coastline for over 6,000 years—a history that also included migrant Chinese workers in this area.
Today, we are collectively presented with the opportunity to build a healthy and respectful relationship with the Chinese as we offer our friendship in a spirit of inclusion. Going forward, the prosperity and economic growth of the region will rely on ecological balance with sustainable investment and partnerships across all sectors. Let’s learn from the mistakes of the past and forge healthy relationships by expressing kindness and compassion to all citizens.
Lesley Thorsell
Hammond Street
