Where’s the evidence about Saanich parks?
The Times Colonist reported twice, without evidence, that “Mount Douglas Park, Cuthbert Holmes Park and Panama Flats [are] places that have seen a degradation of environmentally sensitive areas” and have “high levels of human and dog conflict.”
This statement is apparently from the mayor’s report to council and is responsible for Monday’s proposal to council that dogs must be on-leash anywhere in all three parks. The mayor’s motion was defeated unanimously, including his own vote.
There were two fatal problems with the proposal.
First, despite its major effects, there was no announcement or effort to tell Saanich residents about it. Most of us found out by word of mouth two or three days before the meeting.
Second, where is the evidence for such broad claims about three very different parks? If there were evidence for specific environmental damage by off-leash dogs and even moderate levels of human and dog conflict, I would be all for solving these problems.
However, the information at the council meeting consisted of:
(a) what “could” happen to environmentally sensitive areas; and
(b) one documented, appalling dog attack in Mount Douglas Park plus two or three negative experiences of individuals. (With great sympathy for the individuals, I don’t see these incidents as evidence of “high levels” of conflict.)
In spite of the lack of notification, there were more than 500 letters to council and hundreds of signatures on a petition.
The vast majority of letters and speakers at the council meeting were from the actual experiences of off-leash dog walkers and others (primarily in Mount Doug Park) who daily witness off-leash dogs behaving well with humans and other dogs as they contribute to COVID-safe outdoor exercise and social interaction.
If we’re going accept anecdotal evidence, the majority view is clear. However, these opposing positions need to be reconciled by documented evidence that could lead to informed action by council.
As part of defeating the ill-advised proposal, council committed informally to a better look at the issue. Let’s hope that it leads to evidence-based policy making and possible compromises.
In the meantime, the Times Colonist should refrain from reporting unproven, one-sided claims as factual.
Janet Bavelas
Saanich
Kindness is alive at View Royal town hall
I had been notified that I needed to claim my homeowner’s grant, and as is so often the case these days, was told I have to do it myself online or phone a certain number.
I had several similar instances of this situation recently and knew that the former was going to infuriate and stress me out, and the latter would immediately go to a busy signal and get me nowhere. Life is hard these days, and it is too bad that we get these things sprung on us.
I took my notice to Town Hall and explained that to the lady.
She started trying to explain how to do it but I’m deaf and had to bend over with my forehead on the counter and my ear in the gap at the bottom of the clear COVID protection screen.
I still couldn’t hear what she was saying, particularly as there was an old Russian with a strong accent at the next counter who was in the same boat as myself and who had such a loud voice that he was drowning us both out.
So we waited for him to be finished. And waited.
When it became obvious that he wasn’t going to be finished for a long time, Julie said she would do it online for me and she started.
She swung the computer around so that I could follow what she was doing (ha ha) and would slide bits of paper under the screen for me to write my private info — PIN, birth date and so forth.
When she was done, she said that everything would be sent to me on my computer, and I was overjoyed.
I went straight to the Four Mile Pub — right next door to Town Hall — and bought her a gift card for a nice meal there, went home and got a thank you card out of my cupboard, wrote my thanks in it and put them together, went back to the hall and gave them to her.
Kind Julie had a big smile for me — but not as big as the one I had for her.
It so happens that the mayor of View Royal had just arrived on his bike and was watching. I didn’t recognize him until he also smiled.
Doreen Langmead
View Royal
Everyone to blame for residential schools
Let’s be clear when discussing the residential-schools issues about who is responsible. Sir John A. Macdonald, Joseph Trutch and other white male politicians were not priests or ministers — they were secular leaders making policy for the dominant white society’s representative government.
They represented The People, who, for all intents and purposes, were in agreement with those policies, particularly as they impacted First Nations people inconveniently still present in the landscape we call Canada.
They represented us, The People. Was there any protest from anyone in the “white” tribe ( I may have missed it)?
It seems a little rich (and convenient) to blame the churches (there were three — the Catholics, the United Church and the Anglican Church).
Rather than pointing fingers (to assuage our own guilt in participation by silence), let’s all take responsibility and come to terms with our dark history, and right the wrongs committed in our name by our (white) government.
That is a duty each and every one of us is tasked with to pursue in good faith toward real reconciliation.
Simon Di Castri
Victoria
Name and shame residential schools staff
As someone born and raised outside Canada, it astonishes me how none of the perpetrators of the atrocities committed at Canada’s residential schools for First Nations children appears to have been held to account.
In other genocides — such as in Bosnia, Rwanda, and of course the Nazi Holocaust — everyone down to the local guards are hunted down and brought to justice, even into their 90s.
At the very least, shouldn’t we be at least naming and shaming the staff members involved at the schools, instead of the meaningless handwringing and lip-service expressions of sorrow, which deter no one?
Jonathan Stoppi
Saanich
Our maritime history suits the harbour
I enjoyed the recent editorial endorsing the proposal to have an active living space in the harbour area that celebrates the maritime part of our B.C. and Island story.
What a story: starting with the huge contributions made for seaborn water transportation by the First Nations, up to modern commercial and recreational technology of today.
As an island, everything we get comes either by plane or over the water, most of it being the latter.
The beauty of a new accessible space to present this ever-changing narrative is that modern presentations are engaging for all ages in a lively manner, providing a needed attraction for both citizens and tourists.
An attraction that balances the core of the store with feature themes. Let’s all work to bring this on!
A win-win for all.
Barry Rolston
Victoria
A new government? What’s the difference?
Regarding the old-growth massacre taking place at Fairy Creek, I’ve been reading much commentary from well-informed, concerned citizens wanting the B.C. NDP to put a stop to this senseless carnage.
Many have called for a change in government. On this sentiment I can certainly concur.
Premier John Horgan came in on a promise to protect our old growth and has since knelt full-time to his industry masters, like the B.C. Liberals before him.
So, who shall we vote in next to save the province? The Greens? The Conservatives? If we could be assured that whichever incoming party would in fact uphold the best interests of the people and not those of their corporate masters, the Rhinoceros Party would suffice for all I care.
Unfortunately, when the political system is corrupted from the inside, voting in a new party simply starts a fresh cycle of corporate-funded influence peddling.
I am not claiming to have the answer, simply pointing out a challenge we all are aware of, need to discuss openly and work to rectify.
I used to be employed as a shill inside this corrupt system in the office of a provincial health minister. From that vantage point, I watched a non-stop revolving door of lobbyists visit to grease the government wheels.
It was never about health. It was always about money. Fairy Creek is no different.
Michael Huber
Peachland
Be tolerant with others getting around
Re: “Learn to ride, then tackle city traffic,” letter, May 28.
The letter-writer takes issue with Victoria’s “All Ages and Abilities” (AAA) designation for bike lanes. Does this complaint about learners extend to disabled people on wheels or for that matter, any cyclist who does not meet the writer’s standard of cycling proficiency?
I’m a 65-year-old lifelong cyclist who, due to late-in-life mobility constraints, now gets around town on an unpowered (except by my feet) Alinker walking bike.
The vast majority of cyclists are patient and courteous when we encounter each other in bike lanes. A few are not.
To the few who bristle at the notion of AAA bike lanes: Consider the concept of tolerance toward those who are not just like you. Slow down when necessary.
You might then notice what a beautiful city we live in.
Cameron Schaefer
Victoria
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