Bowker Creek deserves respect and protection
Re: “PAC group opposes plan to sell school land to hospice,” Dec. 19.
I am encouraged to learn that the Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils is asking School District 61 to halt the sale of ecologically sensitive school district land adjacent to Bowker Creek near Lansdowne Middle School.
In 2018 the district made a commitment to the Bowker Creek Blueprint, which is a long-term plan, involving many jurisdictions, to restore the ecological health, beauty, biodiversity and climate mitigating potential of this unique urban creek.
Yet somehow this commitment has gone out the window with this proposed sale.
We all support the work of the Victoria Hospice Society, but this is not the right place for a new facility. The creek cannot relocate, but a more suitable location for the hospice facility can be found.
The restoration of Bowker Creek is of profound importance to communities all along the creek, and includes the participation of many elementary and high school students.
This project involves a heavy commitment of resources from Oak Bay, Victoria and Saanich. A huge investment of time, money and, most importantly, community aspiration and dedication is already devoted to the restoration of this unique urban treasure.
The sale of this parcel of land would crush the efforts of all the communities along the creek who have invested their hearts and resources in the restoration of Bowker Creek.
Nancy Barnes
Victoria
Look both ways before crossing the road
I might not be a popular individual for saying this, but I believe it needs to be said.
It is almost impossible to get hit by a vehicle if one uses caution while crossing, whether it is a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
On the other hand, if you are in the habit of blithely crossing the street with the mindset of “I am a pedestrian, vehicles have to stop for me,” unfortunately you might get hurt eventually.
Vehicles do not fall out of the sky. One can see them coming.
Jack Sages
Victoria
If only it could be this easy to end COVID
Delta strain, and now Omicron? I say let’s cut to the Omega strain so we can get this over with, once and for all.
John Gawthrop
Victoria
Richardson planners: Car not as wide as a bus
So after months of hard work and truckloads of concrete, phase one of the contentious Richardson bike lanes is finally open at Lotbiniere Avenue.
Now I’m not sure which numpty in the planning department dreamt up this boondoggle, but sadly I have to report that if you create a lane big enough for a bus, then cars will happily sneak through. Surprise, surprise!
That’s known as human nature and is repeatedly on display every day despite the large polite sign saying Bikes and Buses only. Apparently the drivers of Fairfield are not the law-abiding and obedient Canucks one would expect, or maybe they’re simply fed up with yet another ill-advised project from the snowflakes at City Hall.
Paul Cunnington
Victoria
Quebec’s Bill 21 causing plenty of hurt
There is no justification in our country to accept, nor tolerate, legislation that jeopardizes the freedom to wear religious symbols in the workplace or anywhere else. Let’s protect the freedom of diversity, not abandon virtues that strengthen Canadians’ ability to unite rather than divide.
Removal of Bill 21 may damage political relationships and hurt reputations of lawmakers, but their pain will soon heal. However, in contrast, how does one heal from the indignation and discrimination of being forced to remove a hijab, kippah or turban?
Joe Cardle
Oak Bay
Approval of Telus tower a poor decision
Re: “Victoria councillors give go-ahead to Telus Ocean Tower,” Dec. 17.
As a downtown Victoria resident, I must protest in the loudest terms city council’s approval for construction of the Telus building on a tiny sliver of land at Humboldt and Douglas, near the centre of Victoria’s Inner Harbour area.
The design is abominable. The glass façade ensures that the Telus building will not only stand out like a sore thumb, it will blind us with reflected sunlight and dominate the downtown tourist area in a most unfortunate way.
Not to mention how the building will destroy sightlines for anyone walking in the area and views from the residential buildings that surround the site.
Mayor Lisa Helps and councillors — with the exception of Geoff Young, Ben Isitt and Charlayne Thornton-Joe — only see dollar signs whenever another ugly tower project comes up. Our streets are blocked, our peace of mind and attractive neighbourhoods ruined, all for the profit of unimaginative developers.
City councillors do not have the future livability of Victoria in mind whatsoever.
Susan Walker
Victoria
Those Christmas lights are flowers in winter
Years ago, I read a short story in Reader’s Digest about a woman who lived in Alaska. She put her Christmas lights up in October and never took them down until March.
When asked why she left them up so long, she stated that they were her “flowers in winter.”
If there was any time that we need “flowers in winter,” it is now.
Thank you to all of those who have brightened their streets with lights to help lessen the darkness during this time we are living in. We could also look at the lights as flower bouquets to all of those who have worked so hard throughout 2021 in the service industry, trade industry as well as truck drivers who are working under tremendous pressure to get the goods to us we have been accustomed to.
Please do not be discouraged, as your unseen work does not go unnoticed from those of us who are grateful.
Merry Christmas and a healthy 2022 to everyone!
Wendy Campbell
Saanich
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