Two precious areas are being vandalized
There have been heart-sinking degradations at Beacon Hill Park and Dallas Bluffs.
I fully appreciate that life is complicated at present and for some time to come. However, the degradations, overuse and misuse that I see daily at Beacon Hill Park and the Dallas Bluffs make my heart sink.
Beacon Hill Park is one of Canada’s oldest parks or protected areas. This land was proclaimed a park by the British Government in 1859. It has remarkable heritage values. It is Victoria’s heart in many respects.
The Dallas Bluffs were once among the extraordinary natural areas of urban Canada.
Now they have become a dog park trampled into oblivion. The precious area is arguably being vandalized. It has become impossible to go there to enjoy the view, the sunshine and the special plant life.
Our priceless urban parks and important natural areas deserve better treatment. A huge challenge, no doubt.
Jacques Sirois
Victoria
Few options when a neighbour burns wood
Re: “Residential wood burning one of main human sources of air pollution,” Jan. 24.
Wood burning can be a significant problem if you happen to live downwind of a house that heats with it, even if you are in a city like Victoria.
During cold periods, the prevailing wind direction is from the northeast, and if you live southwest of a house that heats with a smoky fireplace you’ll be living with smoke all winter long.
This summer we experienced bad smoke from forest fires that had many people locking themselves up indoors.
At the time, I realized that for much of the winter the localized air quality around my house is about the same. During winter, I have chronic chest and sinus congestion that only goes away once the weather warms up and the burning stops.
It would be nice if there were some legal tools to deal with this, if you happen to live in a problematic spot.
Talking with the neighbour got nowhere, calls to the city revealed that there are no bylaws covering this.
The only body with jurisdiction is the fire department, and they are concerned only with burning noxious materials. It is pretty frustrating when your only remaining option is to sell your house and move.
Walter Ash
Victoria
Yes, burning wood can cause health issues
Re: “Residential wood burning one of main human sources of air pollution,” Jan. 24.
I hope Victorians will take note of Monique Keiran’s column regarding the smoke from residential wood-burning fireplaces and stoves.
Such smoke “contains many harmful gases and fine particles that reach deep into the lungs when inhaled.” This air pollution is indeed a health hazard and nearby neighbours are essentially a captive audience, unable to avoid the smoke even while on their own properties.
I love a wood fire myself and have lived on several rural properties using wood as the main heat source. In those areas, the neighbours were much farther away and the smoke dissipated before reaching other homes.
In our cities we live much closer together so our activities have a greater impact on our neighbours.
I would also like to point out that barbecues pose a similar problem of air pollution (which is why we don’t barbecue indoors) and nearby neighbours are again captives.
J.L. Smith
Victoria
Surprised a politician kept his word?
United States President Joe Biden made a campaign promise to cancel the Keystone pipeline. He was elected president and cancelled the Keystone pipeline.
Imagine that: a politician who keeps campaign promises. No wonder that our Canadian politicians are so gobsmacked.
Sigh.
Ian MacDonell
Victoria
Information needed on COVID numbers
News that a COVID-19 case has been confirmed at a Parksville school is unfortunate in that so little additional information is provided.
The provincial government has done a very poor job on putting the pandemic information in context.
How old is this person? Is the person sick or just showing symptoms?
Just saying “case” leaves a lot of questions, the answers to which health authorities have and should be sharing with the public. How many cases have been reported in Parksville, how many sick and or hospitalized?
According to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, there are 11 hospitalized COVID patients on the Island. There are more than 1,400 beds on the Island.
Wouldn’t just that additional information of total beds provide some context? In the whole province there are 315 hospitalized, and there are more than 5,000 beds.
Wouldn’t it be nice to know the number of people with other major diseases that occupy hospital beds?
Brian Peckford
Parksville
Leadership needed to end homelessness
Alarmingly increasing numbers of people are now sleeping on our streets and in our parks.
Instead of our provincial government and municipalities fretting, meeting, scurrying and spending “helter skelter on shelter,” would it not be wise to investigate and determine how and why these unfortunate souls are homeless in the first place?
Randomly purchasing broken-down, vacated hotels and motels might work as an overnight fix, but in the long term such is tantamount to filling potholes on an unused highway that leads to nowhere.
C’mon premier, c’mon mayors, get your heads together. Seriously, why are there now so many without shelter?
Show us some collective leadership and plan of action as to determining the cause and providing justified and valid long-term correction.
Graeme Roberts
Brentwood Bay
Why does TSN block Western games?
I wonder if there are other hockey fans out there who are disgusted as am I with TSN for blocking out western NHL teams, playing in Western Canada.
On Jan. 24, there was a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets but we were unable to watch it, yet you could watch multiple NBA games from all over the United States, often the same match on more than one channel.
I feel this is lousy service from TSN. I have voiced my disgust to help@tsn but as yet, have not had a reply.
Ben G. McIntyre
Nanaimo
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