I would like to join the thousands of people who are voicing their concern over the closure of the wonderful “Old Town” in the Royal British Columbia Museum.
Just like the architect of Old Town, the celebrated Jean Jacques Andre who received the Order of British Columbia and the Queen’s medal in 2002, I share in his sentiment, “before you do anything show us.” Why destroy a masterful achievement when adding to it would achieve the same result? Yes, you could change it, but like it or not, we do have European descent and yes, our history has been shaped by the Royal Core of Engineers building the Gold Rush Trail through the Fraser River and of course the coming of the Trans Canada Railway.
Much of our heritage is of English but particularly Scottish descent. Old Town depicts the industries upon which British Columbia’s foundations were built. There is no erasing our history or canceling what made us who we are.
That said, I would like to express a huge degree of respect and admiration for the First Nations that live among us. Before destroying Old Town, instead of consulting with an acting director, an inclusionary board comprising of many points of view should be created. This is the only way that this dilemma can be resolved.
Rachel McDonnell
Oak Bay
