Young people give us hope
After attending a very fine Remembrance service at Berwick Royal Oak, I returned to my suite and there was a letter from a student under my door.
This well-written letter from Piper thanked veterans for their service. I personally felt very good about this.
There are some bad things going on in the world today. But there is hope.
The kindness and thoughtfulness of students and teachers are an inspiration to all. On behalf of all the veterans at Berwick Royal Oak, I say thank you.
Jim Williamson
Victoria
Honouring those who fought for Canada
I was at the Ross Bay Cemetery cenotaph at dusk on Nov. 11, on what was a rare calm day. I was very touched to see the tea lights that had been lit in front of each of the war graves. Each grave also had a carnation placed on it as well as a poppy and small Canadian flag.
It is so nice that even when we can’t gather to remember, people still take the time to honour those who fought for our country.
Alanna Wrean
Victoria
Getting away from Victoria’s woes
If Victoria businesses want to know where all their visitors are, they have only to look in Tofino.
We were there on the weekend and you couldn’t swing a cat without hitting someone from the mainland, Ontario and Quebec. Amongst the hundreds of cars parked along Lynn Road at Chesterman Beach, I noted quite a few American licence plates as well.
Hotels and RV parks are full and most of the restaurants are packed when they are open.
While most visitors are there for the surf, I suspect that many others might be there because Tofino has far fewer problems with panhandlers, druggies and all the other potential nuisances that plague Victoria. At least for now.
Len Dafoe
Nanoose Bay
COVID-19: Pay now, or pay more later
Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, recently announced that: “This pandemic has demonstrated that inequities in our society place some populations — and ultimately, all Canadians at risk. No one is protected from the risk of COVID-19 until everyone is protected.” This doesn’t mean only within Canada. As long as the virus circulates, it can return as quickly as it first arrived, and so those nations that cannot afford to battle the virus on their own need help.
The World Health Organization has suggested rich countries provide just one per cent of their total COVID-19 expenditures to defeat COVID-19 everywhere.
The most recent studies suggest that COVID-19 immunity lasts less than six months; unless Canada steps up with our one per cent share of funding, COVID-19 will return again and again, an outcome costing far more than the current one per cent request.
Tracy Koebel
Victoria
Don’t confuse rights with habits
It seems to me that anti-maskers are confusing “rights” with old habits, social norms and privilege. When I was young, it was people’s “habit” to drive without a seatbelt, to get drunk and get behind the wheel and to burn plastic garbage in the backyard.
Social “norms” included racist jokes, smoking in restaurants and testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.
It was a white man’s “privilege” to deny renting a room to people of colour, gay couples or those of a different faith.
Thankfully, safer, more mindful conventions have replaced those more dangerous, mean-spirited ones, but it would be foolish to argue that “rights” have been stolen.
Truth is, habits, norms and privileges do not constitute a “right,” and during a pandemic – when your breath might mean death to the person beside you – the practice of entering public spaces unmasked should be suspended.
It’s simply a matter of respect.
Mike Ward
Duncan
Return Beacon Hill to the rest of us
My walk through Beacon Hill Park the other day was so incredibly depressing.
Before COVID-19, it was an oasis where I sought refuge. It was also one of my favourite go-to places for nature photography.
I will never understand how or why Victoria city council ever thought it was the right place to accommodate the homeless 24/7.
The most disturbing aspect was how long council let people camp in the eco-sensitive areas. While it’s no longer allowed, the damage has been done.
This urban oasis that once provided enjoyment for so many people, young and old, has been taken away from us. Signs have been posted with new rules.
Without looking hard, I can already see so many infractions of those rules. If they’re not going to be enforced why waste the taxpayer’s money on the signs in the first place?
Our elected officials are supposed to make decisions in the best interests of all the people they serve. They have failed miserably. Homelessness is a complex issue. I get that. I’m sympathetic to it. I try to do my part.
There has to be a better solution. How much longer is this going to be allowed to continue? How much remediation will be needed once 24/7 camping is no longer allowed?
I implore more people to speak out so this beautiful park can once again be enjoyed by all.
Cathy Wood
Victoria
Too many ferries crossing the strait
Now that non-essential travel in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley is discouraged, it is also time for B.C. Ferries to be pro-active and to once again reduce the number of sailings between the mainland and Vancouver Island.
Louise Manga
Victoria
Losing a football game like losing an election
As an aside to our neighbours’ woes; what would American football fans do if a team lost a game and refused to acknowledge the winners?
a) Have them committed?
b) Try to convince other fans (who weren’t at the game) that the losers were really the winners?
c) Block their ears because a large minority of fans liked the losers?
d) Change the rules so that the losers could be considered winners? (I guess that would signal the end of the game.)
d) Hope that delusional fans would eventually catch up with reality?
I’m not too knowledgeable about sports. Just curious.
Thelma Fayle
Victoria
A special thanks to the Times Colonist
As a member of the family that Ross Williams never knew or at least didn’t for so many years, I would like to thank the Times Colonist and especially Jack Knox for his story of family re-unification.
It was the Times Colonist that played a vital role in bringing our families together and we are so grateful.
Our newspaper fulfils so many roles in the community and perhaps, we should all pause and give thanks for the service it provides. I certainly do.
Captain Kevin M. Carlé
RCN Ret’d
Victoria
High praise for Island Health
I feel I need to inform our community of the efficiency and effectiveness of Island Health. On Nov. 9, my primary health care physician recommended I have a COVID-19 test due to the symptoms I was experiencing.
My virtual appointment with my physician was at 3:15 p.m. and during that call, she gave me the number to call for Island Health. I immediately called that number and the automated recording offered a call back option which I accepted. At 4 p.m. I received a call back and the professional on the line offered a testing time of 10:10 a.m. the next morning.
There has been a fair amount of negative reporting on the response time of Island Heath, but in my case, the response time was immediate.
The next day I drove to the Island Health testing site on Cook Street and was amazed at the logistics, organization and efficiency during the testing process.
You are kindly directed where to drive, informed on how to receive the test results and the best part, greeted by a very compassionate nurse — in my case, Emily – who explains the test, and makes a very anxious and uncomfortable experience, enjoyable. Well, maybe not enjoyable, but certainly tolerable.
Thankfully my results were negative, and I am grateful to my primary care physician for proactively suggesting I get tested.
But I want to praise the Island Health team, from the professional on the hotline to the gentlemen directing traffic, to the nurses and finally those evaluating the test results. You are a class act.
The residents of Victoria need to know how extremely lucky we are having such a well-run Island Health Authority.
Francine Schnabel
Victoria
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