Spend that energy supporting Ukraine
A thought for many of the recent Maple Leaf flag-waving “freedom” protesters who seem to have time on their hands to wail against mandates that save peoples’ lives: How about taking their obvious free time to show Canada’s support for the victims of REAL concerns about loss of of freedom — the population of Ukraine, a country whose Second World War victims have become valued citizens of our land.
Wave some flags for folks who aren’t whinging over freedoms to reject vaccines that save people lives, but for the freedom to be peaceful citizens appreciating democracy in their Ukraine homeland. No horn honking required, fuel saved, and consciences salved from wounds of recent nonsense aided and abetted by Trumpian selfishness.
Tim Ryan
Victoria
They are the real Freedom Fighters
Just a brief message to the “Freedom Fighters.” You do have a choice. No one is forcing you to be vaccinated. You have chosen not to be vaccinated. That is your right. Unfortunately, as with most things in life, choices have consequences.
So, instead of driving your behemoth trucks, honking horns, spewing noxious fumes across the city and having party time on a Saturday, try lining up across the Ukrainian/Russian border. You could show your courage by fighting against a force that outmans and outguns you, knowing that you will likely die for the right to determine the destiny of your country. Balking at wearing a mask and having a vaccination appears rather paltry in light of what the Ukrainians are facing. They are the real Freedom Fighters.
J.E. Morrison
Victoria
Protest by boycotting Russian products
I hope that all businesses boycott and remove all products produced in Russia. We need to protest this senseless war at all levels.
Paul McLauchlan
Victoria
Finding a new life in Canada
For the past month I have not displayed our flag with much pride. I thought it was being disrespected. That changed today.
A hundred years ago, four families met and I believe arranged marriages for their children. They lived in a shtetl in Ukraine, and being Jewish there was no future there (proven to be very true). They sent the newlyweds off to Canada. Never to see their parents again.
My grandparents came to Winnipeg to be fruitful and multiply. It was not easy, but they survived and a fourth generation shall soon be here.
I am Canadian! Proud and free!
Gerald Marantz
Parksville
We can all fly the Canadian flag
The Canadian flag is a piece of fabric coloured red and white. While it might mean many things to different people, it belongs to all Canadians. This is why I was surprised at the letters to this paper admonishing a group of Canadians for flying the flag at the recent protests in Ottawa. The letter-writers claiming the flag just as their own is a form of jingoism not normally seen on this side of the border. Wherefore art thou, Canada?
W.A. Stubbs
Langford
Thank the mandates for letting you protest
Let us for a moment assume that our government had adopted no measures against COVID-19; that we did not require vaccinations, we’re not required to maintain separation and that we would not have to wear masks.
With these restrictions in place Canada-wide there have been 3.2 million cases and almost 36,000 deaths from COVID-19. One can only imagine how dire these statistics would have been had our government adopted no policies to protect us from the virus.
Many of those who have been on the streets may well have died, been incapacitated and/or hospitalized for long periods and would be unable to go out to protest.
Fellow citizens are saying the protesters have made their point and should go home.
I wish to argue that their demonstrations are “pointless.” They are based on ignorance and misinformation gleaned from totally unreliable sources (trolls on the internet), and that they are acceding to mob rule.
Had we not had restrictions and vaccines to protect 90 per cent of us from COVID-19 then probably the 10 per cent unvaccinated and unmasked who are out there protesting would not have had the state of health or the luxury to do so.
Lorne Holland
Victoria
Steve Fonyo deserves praise
One of life’s special memories for me was seeing Steve Fonyo on the Pat Bay Highway, running through Royal Oak.
I had taken my two young sons to watch a brave young man trying to make a difference for all people who would be facing a diagnosis of cancer sometime in their life. Steve Fonyo was inspired by the courage Terry Fox had shown the whole country with his Marathon of Hope, and personally knowing the pain and agony involved making this commitment, Steve wanted to also fundraise for cancer by running across Canada.
For this he will always deserve our praise and gratitude. Let’s all remember him for what he did accomplish in his life.
B.J. Davies
Victoria
Langford council needs a code of conduct
The video of Langford’s last council meeting is solid proof of why a code of conduct is needed now.
A frustrated Mayor Stew Young is shown acting in a disrespectful and unprofessional manner in a tirade against Coun. Lillian Szpak’s motion to incorporate a code of conduct. Irony at its worst.
I need my council to be functional and open to all opinions and points of view, on all issues. Young has done great work for Langford but with little opposition to his personal vision and growth agenda.
Increasingly faced by residents’ legitimate concerns about issues caused by the blistering rate of Langford growth, he appears unable or unwilling to stray from his bulldoze-and-bully style.
Quotes like “If you don’t like Langford then move” sure show a clear disdain to any resident concerns. Great leaders listen to their people and adapt to the environment and situation around them. Those who can’t or won’t need to move on.
J.A. Byam
Langford
Footpath and bridge needed in hospice plan
I am sympathetic to the concept of up to 30 patient units in a new hospice facility proposed for Newton Street along Bowker Creek. I visited a cousin at a hospice in a semi-rural setting on the mainland, and agree that a quiet street, open spaces and trees and flowers help to provide a caring setting for hospice residents, and would wish it for Greater Victoria residents as well.
That said, I do wish to express a concern derived from viewing posted site plans as well as plan photos published in January.
The neighbourhood benefits from a well-used footpath and bridge giving access for pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists from Newton Street to the former Richmond Elementary School property — now Lansdowne Middle School South Campus.
Postings of the new site plan merely allude to a “bike and pedestrian path opportunity” — only on the north side of Bowker Creek, and appear to omit that footpath and bridge access from the proposed hospice site.
This development proposal will have a long-term impact on the neighbourhood. Let’s maintain important existing access aspects.
My urgent request is for a commitment to retain the existing footpath and bridge, or to commit to providing a new footpath and bridge location, perhaps along the western edge of the property as integral parts of the hospice site design.
The benefits would include: allowing continued access to a well-used local community amenity with limited impact on the hospice site or operation, and fits well into the suggested revision for a meandering Bowker Creek design. That’s a modest compensation for giving up public access to almost two acres of green space.
David M. Driedger
Saanich
Poor decisions about Beacon Hill
With the recent court ruling, we now know that camping in Beacon Hill Park is illegal.
Victoria council allowed camping there, which turned the park into a dangerous place with criminal activity, and will require the expense of remediation to the ecological damage.
Did the mayor and council seek legal advice before they allowed this situation to reach the crisis it was? If so, did they ignore that advice when they were told it was most likely illegal?
The council’s decisions around this issue all appear to be very poor and had awful consequences.
Richard Volet
Victoria
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