Seniors planning Old Folks Matter mural
Re. “Artists defend anti-police slogan in mural,” Aug. 28.
Saddened by the recent COVID-19 deaths in seniors’ homes and frustrated by the disrespect of citizens who refuse to wear masks, the residents of our retirement home have applied for a grant to paint a mural in Centennial Square. Our slogan will be “Old Folks Matter!”
It might take a while to complete the mural because of bad knees, sore hips, failing eyesight and shaky hands, not to mention diminished spelling abilities — we won’t let Mabel near the F-word — but despite our frailties, we’re determined to get it done.
Once the mayor has relocated the criminals and drug addicts from Centennial Square and cleared out the tents and residual garbage, we’ll apply for the permit. If any seniors want to join us, it’s BYOB — bring your own brush.
We hope to get our permit soon, so watch for the date. In the meantime, we’ll be combing the Canadian Tire flyers for paint sales.
Mel Baxter
Victoria
‘Pavement art’ a better name than mural
This colourful piece of art is striking and meaningful, conveying its message strongly.
However, it is painted on the ground, not on a wall, and cannot be described as a “mural.”
The word “mural” comes from the Latin word murus, which means “wall,” and the Oxford English Dictionary is firm that a mural is a piece of art executed on a wall.
The Latin word for a paved floor or ground space is pavimentum, so this work of art needs a different name.
We could try “pavimental,” or it would be quite acceptable to refer to it as “pavement art.”
Nicky Kew
Victoria
Many great memories of Plasterman
I was very sorry to learn of the passing of Plasterman. He was a welcome fixture during summers at the Inner Harbour.
Thanks for the many great memories, Plasterman.
Randy Voldeng
Victoria
Why are we paying taxes for closed libraries?
Re. “Libraries not embracing patrons,” letter, Aug. 28.
Regarding the letter concerning James Bay Library, the situation here in Central Saanich is also absolutely ridiculous.
We are greeted by an incredibly small selection of books, none of which arouse the slightest interest in me, and the library is blocked off.
It is such a waste of time to even go in if you would like to avail yourself of a book.
Trips to a bookshop, or the little libraries that are at the end of people’s driveways, offer far better options.
What are we paying the library tax for, I ask? As the previous writer points out, we can go into grocery shops and pick and choose anything we want. What is different about a library?
Joan Ormiston
Brentwood Bay
Statue damage just mindless vandalism
Re. “Harbour statue of Cook splashed with red paint,” Aug. 28.
What shabby coverage the Times Colonist gave to the defacement of James Cook’s statue. The photo and captions could have told the whole story: mindless vandalism.
Instead, your reporter condones the act in her first paragraph, in her last, and along the way.
James Cook was born to a farmer, yet by study and hard work as a seaman rose to become a great explorer and map maker. (By the way, he never saw this harbour.)
His sin, it seems, was to peacefully visit Vancouver Island’s west coast.
Bill Stavdal
View Royal
Marginalized need purpose-built structures
I suspect that many people would agree that the closing of Riverview in New Westminster and of Tranquille in Kamloops are, in retrospect, decisions made in haste and without a clear idea as to where residents would thereafter be housed.
A great many individuals were released without adequate planning.
Having had the opportunity to view these two sites on several occasions, I was impressed with all the services their clients had at their fingertips. Many people who lived there were clearly unable to survive in society at large.
They lived in these two communities without the attendant loss of self-esteem and overt discrimination now facing them. Hundreds required specialized professional medical and psychological support not available now that they are homeless. Yes, many of these clients were simply thrown on the street and expected to fend for themselves.
How could they, without education or training and no path to improve their conditions, be expected to succeed?
These two purpose-built institutions were intended specifically to offer them a society among their peers.
Without the supports for their psychological challenges, they now fall further and further behind, and look to the streets to trade their few and often illicitly obtained possessions for drugs.
We don’t need to purchase hotels, motels or other structures to house them. What is needed are purpose-built structures. It would require 24/7 staffing by professionals and para-professionals.
It is an affront to these marginalized people to be thrown to the winds of chance. It falls to us all to care for those unable to do so for themselves.
It has been mentioned that using parking garages ought to be considered. I agree.
These buildings are already three-quarters built. Let us now reconfigure them to create the purpose-built structures that are so desperately needed.
The benefits to the larger society are self-evident. Families with children could once again attend parks with no fear of being stabbed by needles.
Human waste would be controlled. Downtown Victoria could be cleaned of refuse literally littering the streets, while those needing a helping hand could find it.
Eric J Ronse RSW
Shawnigan Lake
No perfect people? Name streets for plants
Re. “Harbour statue of Cook splashed with red paint,” Aug. 28.
In a vain search for perfect people whose names can be used on public buildings and statues, I’m wondering why schools and streets are not named after plants.
I like the sound of Chrysanthemum Drive, for instance. When we run out of English plant names, we can use Latin — or Indigenous languages.
Perhaps we can include breeds of animals as well. Cougar High School, for example, has a nice ring to it.
With a statue of a cougar at the entrance, perhaps.
Ruth Robinson
Victoria
Quarantine children before school starts
Raeside’s Aug. 28 cartoon is amusing, but also food for serious thought. Every family should quarantine for two weeks before their children return to school.
Malcolm Dew-Jones
Victoria
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