Re: “Mount Edwards wrong facility in the wrong place,” comment, April 26.
On April 24, I attended a land-use meeting hosted by the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association regarding Mount Edwards Court. As a parent, I listened to the presentation by Cool Aid, hoping I would get assurances for the safety and well-being of my child. Yet again, I did not.
We know the provincial government is hoping a watered-down plan will appease the neighbours and parents. But you don’t just buy a building because it’s vacant and disrupt an entire community.
Cool Aid representatives gush when they say everything is fine with the 38 people housed there now. Yet we heard from many neighbours who told us about illegal activities taking place on their property and seeing the police and other emergency vehicles arriving on a frequent basis. The number of residents is to be doubled, and the CEO of Cool Aid said there will be no screening for criminal records.
Finally, chairman David Biltek asked the crowd: “Do you support the project as proposed by Cool Aid?” While some supported it, including half a dozen people wearing official Cool Aid badges, the rest opposed it. Biltek said he would be conveying to Victoria’s mayor and council that there was “overwhelming opposition” to the proposal.
I urge the government to listen to this community and find a more suitable place for this project.
Sandi Love
Victoria
