Letters, Victoria Times Colonist, April 30, 2024

Every small seedling could become old growth

I am not against saving old-growth trees — but I am against the ridiculous statements that keep getting thrown out there.

Every tree that is planted is on its way to be an old-growth forest. The existing old-growth forests don’t last forever, as some would like you to believe.

Some trees last a long time and others not so much. The end game is not years, but hundreds of years.

Take large areas of new forests and plan to make them old-growth forests. There is lots of Crown land for this purpose. If there are better suited areas, use them.

Compensate the owners and get on with it. All you keep hearing is how the old growth will never come back. How the biodiversity will be destroyed and never come back.

Well, think about it. Fires have since the dawn of time destroyed the forests and the biodiversity. They came back.

At one time, there was 1,200 metres of ice covering all B.C. That ice ground every tree to dust. All the biodiversity was ground to death.

That probably lasted thousands of years. It all came back, didn’t it?

Tim Young

Sooke

Enforce traffic light and cycling regulations

When will the VicPD take action on the increased numbers of red-light runners?

I can easily point out the intersections of Caledonia and Quadra, and Fisgard and Quadra, where red lights are ignored or traffic tries to beat the light at nearly every light change.

These light jumpers are causing increased near misses with pedestrians at both intersections.

At Fisgard and Quadra, pedestrians on the east side are hidden behind two telephone poles which obstruct drivers’ views of their presence.

There is also an increase in cyclists ignoring pedestrians and traffic at Vancouver and Balmoral (a four-way stop) where cyclists refuse to stop for stop signs, placing both drivers and pedestrians in risk situations.

A police vehicle could be parked at any of these intersections part-time, allowing them to observe and enforce the traffic laws while also monitoring the more aggressive addicts who frequent these areas, making it difficult for seniors and others to go out and do their shopping in the North Park neighbourhood.

James Cooper

Victoria

Even more space to offer housing and meals

A recent letter offered an excellent suggestion to “open empty churches in Victoria to provide a safe place to sleep for some of the vulnerable.”

An add-on to this suggestion: Why not open St. Ann’s Academy and its many rooms and auditorium for those needing housing and meals?

What a perfect plan to re-purpose this huge dormitory and space.

Ian Munroe

Victoria

Ban campsite fires to prevent wildfires

As human-caused wildfires have already begun in B.C., why aren’t all campfires banned now throughout the province? How much devastation must occur before action is taken?

Granted, this is not the entire solution to preventing wildfires, but it would be a good start and we definitely need to start somewhere.

Ellen Brown

Qualicum Beach

Downtown workers deserve danger pay

I had occasion to be in downtown Victoria recently, and came away with respect and sympathy for those who work there.

On Douglas Street, I visited two retail outlets. In both businesses, I found myself and other customers making quick exits because a person was running up and down the aisles, shouting and cursing.

Next, I went to City Hall hoping to talk with a parking bylaw officer at one of the wickets. The wickets have been closed down “for the safety of staff.”

Time for a break. As I was sitting in a cafe enjoying a cup of coffee, there was a sudden rush of sirens. Customers were asked to stay away from the doors.

Eventually, we were allowed to leave, and learned later that a stabbing had taken place just outside the doors.

I waited for my bus in a bus shelter on Douglas. The windows had all been broken. Thankful to get away from downtown, I thought about all the workers who have no choice. They deserve danger pay.

Marlene Lavallee

Victoria