Save the water in winter to help you in summer
I live where I get my water from a well, not where I can just turn on a tap. Several years ago, I started collecting rain water during the winter in eight 60-gallon barrels, but that was not enough for my needs.
So I bought a 2,500 gallon tank thinking that I could keep my small amount of grass (probably smaller than most city lawns) alive through the summer. I judiciously watered only once a week for usually about 45 minutes.
Guess what, I had used my entire tank plus the eight barrels by mid-July!
I now have a second 2500 gallon tank, have abandoned the idea of grass, and use all the water for my plants. Perhaps those within the Capital Regional District should consider buying a tank or two for their grass — like me, they can then determine how important green grass is in their lives.
Les Swain
Malahat
With new technology, can we get old discount?
I often struggle with change when a way of doing things has worked well for me, like the long-standing B.C. Transit ticket system. But, bending to the inevitable, I got a loaded Umo card from a listed vendor with little problem.
However, I will miss the small but appreciated fare discount offered with a $22.50 sheet of 10 bus tickets (fare reduced from $2.50 to $2.25 per trip, and a 50-cent reduction for a day pass).
While $2.50 is still a bargain for longer trips, the loss of this discount feels like yet another way life is becoming more expensive. I’d love to see a similar form of fare discount/incentive offered via the new Umo system.
Maureen Foxgord
Victoria
Washington state ferries are not as nice
It has been somewhat discouraging to read various letters complaining about B.C. Ferries. As someone who uses the ferry service between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen at least twice a month to care for my father in North Burnaby, I have nothing but compliments for the efficient service provided.
My gratitude extends to the captain of the vessel, to the people directing traffic, the ticket agents (who most often greet me courteously and with a smile), the janitorial staff, the clerks at Inside Passage, and the workers in the kitchen.
High praises to everyone who shows up to safely transport millions of passengers (about 22 million plus to date in 2023 alone) to and from the various islands to the mainland. B.C. Ferries also offers free fare to seniors Monday through Thursday, for those who are residents of the province.
Having lived in Bellingham, Washington for 22 years before relocating to Victoria, I have first-hand experience with Washington state ferries. The average age of their vessels is 35.6 years and their service is often unpredictable.
The longest ferry ride is from Seattle to Bremerton, 13 miles, which takes 60 minutes. The distance from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay is 46.6 miles and takes 90 minutes.
That alone narrates a story when comparing service and vessel standards. In addition, most routes in Washington state are less than 20 minutes in duration.
The reason there is no ferry service from Anacortes to Sidney is due to one vessel being out of commission, with uncertain plans to replace. When friends come to visit from Washington state, many comment on the modern beauty of B.C. Ferries and its efficiency.
Next time you board a B.C. Ferries vessel, please show gratitude for the outstanding service provided by our government and the workers who devote themselves to ensuring your voyage is pleasant, safe and, for the most part, predictable.
Karen Gilda
Oak Bay
A need to move forward in the best way possible
An overly-simplistic “colonial is bad” mindset, combined with an ignorance of basic facts, has become deeply ingrained in our collective conscience.
The truth about colonialism is far more nuanced. While no one denies the many atrocities were committed, the other side of the ledger deserves attention.
Firstly, there was never a chance that a relatively tiny number of people (50,000 or so) were going to live forever by themselves on the almost one million square kilometres of what became British Columbia. The human race expanded across the globe as population grew. Colonialism was inevitable.
B.C. was colonized by the British, and this was fortunate. The Spanish were right behind, and they were far more brutal towards Indigenous populations, preferring slaughter to cooperation. Even to this day, Indigenous rights are mostly a farce in Spanish colonized countries.
Colonization improved life on numerous dimensions. Life expectancy doubled. Infant mortality fell 90 per cent. Hospitals, roads, railways and schools were built, to the obvious betterment of all. Standards of living drastically improved.
Colonization mostly ended the brutal and murderous raids by the Haida on other Indigenous groups. Slavery by the Haida was stopped.
Fast forward 150 years. We have become one of the best places on Earth for Indigenous rights, women’s rights, trans rights, gay rights, environmental protection, animal rights, justice, equality, opportunity and freedom.
All of this, it could be argued, is a direct result of colonization.
Regardless, we can’t put the genie back in the bottle. We are all here together now, and must move forward together in the best possible way.
Hand-wringing over the past, blame, and white self-flagellation leads nowhere.
Richard Brunt
Victoria
Important to discuss reconciliation efforts
The umbrage expressed by many writers concerning last Saturday’s op-ed about being a colonial is not surprising, I guess, but misses the point that the writer is in part describing a spoof, on our history and on himself.
Many of us deplore the cancel culture and general wokeness that is far too present in today’s society. This is in no way meant to deplore the laudable efforts at truth-telling and reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples.
But the pendulum has swung too far and now inhibits explanations of what happened in our past, and why, instead of just pretending it didn’t happen or was all bad. Not all of it was.
I suggest that some letter writers add a little water to their wine.
David Collins
Victoria
Impound the vehicles when butts are tossed
Kudos to Victoria Police Chief Del Manak and all the other police officers helping to keep us safe from wildfires.
It boggles the mind that these scofflaws are still not getting it. In these critical times when people in the Okanagan, Northwest Territories, Shuswap and many other regions are losing their homes these entitled smokers are treating the Earth like their own personal ashtray.
Time to add impounding their cars and doubling the fine which just might get their attention. According to the Ministry of Forests, the cost to date for fighting wildfires is a staggering $585 million and we still have a ways to go before this year is over.
Again thanks to Manak and his officers and the hundreds of firefighters putting their lives on the line everyday.
Dorothy Mullen
Victoria
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