Bike lanes will make Mann Avenue safer
Re: “Saanich road changes start without notice,” letter, Sept. 21.
Saanich must proceed with the protected bike lanes on Mann Avenue, despite the objections raised in the letter.
We have been aware of plans for these bike lanes ever since Saanich improved and installed traffic lights at Mann and Glanford nearly a decade ago. At that time, bike lanes were added on Mann, beginning at Glanford but abruptly ending at Savoy Place.
We were assured that these lanes would eventually extend all the way to Wilkinson.
Parking on Mann poses a danger for those trying to exit their driveways. We have experienced countless near misses because our sightlines are obstructed by parked cars when attempting to turn east onto Mann.
It is difficult to see oncoming traffic, much of which tends to speed, as well as cyclists travelling west. As a result, our visitors often avoid using our driveway due to the hazards involved.
The argument that bike lanes would endanger school buses and ambulances is a red herring; these vehicles already navigate Mann with cars parked on both sides.
The bike lanes would simply replace the parked vehicles.
Opponents seem unwilling to park in their driveways, despite having ample space available. Roads should prioritize mobility, not serve as personal parking spaces. Safety must be the primary consideration.
Ben Pires
Victoria
A sign that you are against democracy
Vandalizing election signs suggests that you, actually, don’t believe in democracy
Bill Carere
Victoria
No place in Canada for hatred and division
Congratulations to federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh for confronting one of the “protesters” on Parliament Hill after a racial slur was directed at him behind his back.
Tens of thousands of Canadians gave up their lives in too many wars so that we can live freely in peace and harmony with each other.
Unfortunately, a misguided horde south of our border who thrive on hate and division in their country seem to have sparked a following here.
Our elected officials should never have to be exposed to intimidation and death threats from a handful of individuals hiding behind masks and social media platforms intent on the disruption of our cherished democracy.
If you want change in Canada, vote!
Ron Merrick
Parksville
School liaison officers are there to help
Some years ago I was a Grade 6 student at Tolmie Elementary School, that is now the base of the Greater Victoria School Board, that misguided group that feels that police liaison officers should not be in schools.
During my time at Tolmie School we had a Saanich police school liaison officer, whose name as I remember was Constable Owens.
He positively interacted with students, spoke at school assemblies on safety matters, and co-ordinated the Kiwanis Safety Patrol, of which I was a member. He attended our meetings to bring us up to date on the latest traffic and safety matters.
On occasion he distributed movie passes that were probably provided by the theatres, or the business community who recognized the value of keeping students safe and out of trouble, and his role in doing this.
His visits were always welcome, and well received.
I had school friends who were First Nations and South Asians and everyone always got along, the involvement of Constable Owens no doubt contributing to this harmony.
I think that the perceived negative involvement of police liaison officers in schools is the result of school board members trying to create a problem where none exists, and one must question their motivation for doing so.
The involvement of human rights commissioner Kasari Govender has not been helpful, and she should stick to her mandate of protecting the rights of all students, not just those who she wrongly perceived as being affected.
The Greater Victoria School Board has converted my former school into a besieged castle, and has dug in for a long siege. Now is the time to bring in the battering ram, and Education Minister Rachna Singh, to her credit, has done just that.
When, hopefully, the police school liaison officers are welcomed back into our schools, I suggest that they adopt the following motto: “We’re here to help, not hassle.”
Robert J. Russell
Victoria
Victoria schools versus Saanich, Sooke ones
Re: “Board digs in on police officers in schools, after province orders safety plan,” Sept 20.
Having looked at the “research” the Greater Victoria School Board relied on to make its decision to cancel the police school liaison officer program and found it seriously wanting, I would like to suggest an alternative approach.
There are various ways of conducting sociological research, with varying degrees of effectiveness. By far the most efficacious method is the cohort study, wherein two similar groups, differing in one variable, are compared.
We have here a perfect research situation. The two groups are students in SD 61 (Greater Victoria) and students in SD 62 (Sooke) and SD 63 (Saanich).
The variable is the police school liaison program, as Victoria doesn’t have it and the other two districts do.
The student groups are similar, except that Victoria students attend schools governed by a board whose members don’t believe in science, nor do the teachers, judging by the fact that the Victoria teachers’ union agreed that the program should be cancelled, but other than that they are alike.
Divide students in each district into, say, five sub-groups, based on ethnicity. Randomly select a proportionate number of students from each sub-group and ask them how they feel about police.
According to the Victoria board and the teachers’ union, Victoria students in “racialized” sub-groups should feel far more positive about police, since they have not had contact with them in school.
If anyone would like to bet on the outcome, I’ll take all wagers offered, assuming anyone wants to bet that there will be a significant difference between the Victoria students and the students in the other two districts.
Ian Cameron
Brentwood Bay
Confront your fears, do not run away
Re: “Board digs in on police officers in schools, after province orders safety plan,” Sept 20.
I find the response of the Greater Victoria School Board to an order from the minister of education distressing. It is trying to make it an election issue.
In its “Safe and Caring School Communities” document, the Ministry of Education states:
Policy statement:
“This policy guides boards of education and schools in their efforts to create safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments for all students and to develop prevention and intervention strategies for addressing worrisome behaviours including threats or risks of violence.”
Rationale or purpose of policy:
“Every child deserves an education free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, intimidation and other forms of violence. Student safety is paramount and can only be realized through ongoing focus on fostering safe, caring, and inclusive school communities and ensuring that schools have appropriate prevention and intervention strategies in place.”
One would reasonably assume that if the Victoria School Board cancelled the SLP program while other boards continued its use, the ministry would want to know what other plans it had in place to ensure student safety and security.
It has been previously stated that the SLP program was stopped as some students feared or felt uncomfortable with the police presence
One does not deal with fears by running away or ignoring them, but rather confronting and overcoming them. The Victoria School Board is only exacerbating this situation rather than addressing it in a positive way.
Daryl Grunlund
Nanaimo
Try prevention rather than reaction
One has to forgive me for my raised eyebrows when I read that the Greater Victoria School Board issued a statement saying, “…that rather than engage in continued collaborative efforts…” suggesting that the stakeholders (i.e. students, teachers, administrators, parents) haven’t tried exactly that, the government’s education minister “took this pre-emptive and unprecedented step” to order an updated “student safety plan.”
The board cancelled the program more than a year ago and has received many, many comments/advice outlining the dangers of removing police liaison officers from schools since that time.
The education minister clearly outlined the concerns (as have Police Chief Del Manak and an assortment of other well-informed individuals closely connected with schools today).
The board chose to ignore the facts of those on the front lines and assume their “take” on things (most without front line experience) as correct.
And we must remember that the Sooke and Saanich school districts have maintained liaison officers in their schools and for good reason.
Parent Lori Poppe was spot on when she said “there is not enough focus on the prevention of problems, which is what school liaison officers are skilled at dealing with.”
Prevention is far superior to reaction.
Let’s hope our school board will soon let common sense prevail and our students once again have police liaison officers making our schools safer and helping students re-establish their valued connection with these professionals.
Dave Hockley
retired principal
Victoria
Ask the people with bad experiences
Re: “Afraid of the police? Ask yourself why,” letter, Sept. 20.
The letter suggested that the only people who fear the police are people who “have a reason to.”
I witnessed police in Victoria racially profile my brother-in-law, and when asked why we were pulled over, the response was that he “didn’t look like the person who owned the vehicle.” That person was his mother. I watched — unable to change things — as my brother-in-law paid the consequences of his skin tone.
What was especially galling was watching this play out three or four blocks from where I grew up in Victoria.
After asking the officer multiple times why we were pulled over, he asked me if I thought he’d racially profiled my brother-in-law.
We weren’t speeding, weren’t swerving through traffic. No tail light out. Just driving across town. When I said yes to his question he became visibly angry, and clearly that made the consequences worse.
How often does this play out every day across Canada?
I would ask that at minimum people keep these ridiculous comments to themselves while they bask in the safety of their privilege.
Colin Fowler
Courtenay
Victoria council is doing the right things
Given the ongoing narrative that Victoria’s mayor and council are ignoring the voices of voters and following their own rogue agenda, I want to send city council a quick note of support.
I pay close attention to council goings-on, and it’s my observation that every councillor has been voting largely in alignment with their campaign platforms, and acting pretty much as I expected.
Victorians elected a mayor, and a majority of councillors, that are pro-housing, pro-active-transportation, etc. So those are the policies and decisions we’re getting. That’s how it’s supposed to work!
The people complaining that council’s decisions don’t reflect their views seem to not understand that their views were not shared by the majority of the voting public.
Unfortunately, many of our local media outlets seem determined to promote that misunderstanding in their choice of which letters and opinion pieces to publish, and how to phrase headlines and articles.
I’m part of the majority that elected city council, and I’m generally happy with the council’s direction. I just wish they were doing more, faster.
Irene Allen
Victoria
Many letter-writers are stuck in the past
I’m so dismayed at the types of letters the Times Colonist chooses to post. For example, there was a letter recently from someone who is clearly out to lunch who said that the only people who should be scared of police officers are the people who have committed a crime.
Does this person read the news?
I don’t understand why the Times Colonist continues to print letters from old, privileged people who are completely out of touch with the realities of the modern world.
This city is changing for the better. Sure, it has its problems like all cities, but the letters the Times Colonist chooses to publish seem like they’re from people who want to stay stuck in the past.
Vicky Dimech
Victoria
Is city council hard of hearing?
After so much response from the public in favour of maintaining the fountain and the tree in Centennial Square, I am astonished that council will be spending $11.2 million redesigning the square.
I believe Victoria citizens would direct our council to put all available funds into relieving the pain of people with mental health issues and homelessness.
Marne St Claire
Victoria
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