Letters

Telus is forcing everyone in our neighbourhood to adopt their high fibre optic cable. While this will likely provide an improvement/upgrade for internet and TV service, the main reason for it is it saves Telus money. This is, however, a huge step backwards in emergency preparedness for our rural community.

This is in reference to the letter titled “Saanich housing strategy leads to conflicting policies.” We moved to Saanich from North Vancouver recently. My background includes seven years volunteering with community policing in North Van (business liaison and speed control). Separate from that, I was on city hall’s traffic calming committee. I am not anti cycling.

There is nothing more annoying than listening to the thwack of pickleball being played, unless you are playing yourself. I think concentrating Oak Bay pickleball at Carnarvon Park is fine – no need to expand to Henderson where tennis courts remain in high demand.

With this letter I would like to acknowledge the professionalism, commitment to public safety and prompt actions of a small group of Saanich employees whose work, sadly, may often go under appreciated.

Good governance and a thriving economy become extremely difficult to achieve when residents are preoccupied with crime and their personal safety.

Last week, the Community Association of Oak Bay (CAOB) wrote to council to express our significant concerns about the extremely limited opportunities for public visioning and engagement in the process to establish the next 30-year lease for the Oak Bay marina and redevelop the Spewhung/Turkey Head site, foreshore and waters.

All ages and demographics are feeling the strain of the housing shortage, yet our governments continue to allow age-based discrimination by allowing buildings reserved for only those who are 55-plus.

I recently encountered a lady who was struggling to breath through her mask in the drug store. I asked her if she was OK, to which she responded that she had terrible asthma and found it very hard to breath through a mask. I suggested that she not wear one. To which she replied, “It is so hard to cope when people are constantly telling her to ‘Wear a mask!’”

As a music educator and school principal in the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) I had the privilege of working in an era (10 years ago) when music programs from K-12 were valued and supported as an integral component of our students’ education. Our district was proud to be a leader, recognizing that stable music programs provide a multitude of benefits to our students, to our community, and to our society.

Saanich has seen a significant increase in visitors – human and canine – to our 171 parks over the last year. That’s great news. However, we need to find ways for everyone to enjoy their experiences in parks, respect the environment and mitigate potential negative situations involving dogs. We aim to support responsible dog owners and provide comfortable spaces for those without dogs. It’s a balancing act.