University Heights plan a disappointment
The redevelopment of the University Heights Shopping Centre is a sad and disappointing failure of community responsibility by Saanich Council.
Urban redevelopment around the world shows us the way to provide community as we change dense urban spaces.
It is economically feasible to create community developments that have living green space among mixed-use, people-scale buildings, in an environmentally responsible and esthetically pleasing manner, if the community and its elected representatives include these values from the beginning of the development process.
The densely packed, largely concrete, six-storey curbside buildings replacing the current shopping centre are a disappointing reflection of a lack of vision and imagination, and a disregard for successful urban-development principles.
In the midst of our current unsettled situation, how sad it is that we have lost an opportunity to provide Greater Victoria with some hope for the future.
Anne Kirkaldy
Saanich
Let’s demand respect for all citizens
I have been trying imagine myself as one of the Indigenous victims in recent news stories. And I can’t. I literally can’t.
As a white, educated, middle-aged, middle-class woman I cannot imagine any series of events that begins with an expired tag on my vehicle and ends with me bloodied, beaten, jailed and charged with a crime.
There would be outrage, there would be consequences, there would be other white, middle-class people thinking if it could happen to me, it could happen to them.
And they would not stand for it.
Make no mistake, I am grateful that my privilege ensures that I will always be treated with fairness and respect by the RCMP. I know, you know, and they know, there would be loud public consequences otherwise.
Let’s demand that respect for all citizens. Let’s start telling the police that every person they encounter has the same entitlement as a white, privileged, middle-class woman named Karen.
Karen McKenzie
Victoria
Legislation needed to protect leaseholders
Re: “Legal imbroglio over windows and doors divides James Bay leaseholders; they face $1M in fees,” June 7.
Nearly 3,000 residental leaseholders in B.C. have no rights as tenants. Legislation covers renters and strata owners but not residential leaseholders.
I purchased my leasehold in Orchard House in July 2007 and have a mortgage for that investment. A letter from Westsea, owners of the building, referred to my “tenancy agreement” and quoted the lease.
My monthly maintenance fee has more than doubled at $576.34, plus I have paid assessments of more than $50,000 for litigation costs as well as improvements and maintenance to Westsea’s building.
Court action against these costs is our only recourse. We have been charged the litigation fees that Westsea’s legal team has incurred even before the cases are heard.
Would the provincial government have allowed other tenants to be billed these costs?
We have lobbied the government for protection for all residential leaseholders for several years. Until that happens, at least we need a cabinet order to prohibit these costs before more leaseholders lose our homes.
Kay Walker
Orchard House
Victoria
Nothing wrong with the phrase ‘natural resource’
Re: “Natural world is not a ‘resource’,” letter, June 9, 2020.
The letter-writer is mistaken regarding the word “resource.” Anything that provides us with things we need can be called a resource.
Thus land is a resource, and so is the food we grow on it. The forest is a natural resource. Employees of a company are human resources.
Using the phrase “natural resources” has not encouraged us to be “cruel exploiters.” Our own greed has done that. And our warped sense of entitlement.
Over-exploitation and destruction of the natural world comes from “lord-of-creation” thinking, not “crown-of-creation” thinking.
Many have falsely interpreted the word “dominion” in Genesis 1:26. God created human beings to be the “crown of creation” so that we would use our God-given wisdom and rationality to be good stewards and wise gardeners of nature, for the good of the animals as well as the people in it.
Jim Hill
Victoria
There are ways to effect real change
Faced with the recent stories on systemic racism, violence and protests in Canada and the United States, I felt helpless and frustrated. So I investigated what actions could make a difference on an individual and collective basis.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given me time to stop and think about how I conduct myself and how I can effect real change.
I am now buying locally from companies that have appropriate environmental, employment, and purchasing policies. I target my purchases to diverse businesses.
I encourage all Canadians who believe in equality and social justice to contact local politicians to make change, think about the places where they do business and, when possible, make changes to the way they shop.
Together we can change the world.
Jim Rondeau
Saanichton
Time for Oak Bay to step up for homeless
Oak Bay Lodge is about to be emptied of residents who are being moved to the new care facility at The Summit.
This is a golden opportunity for the community of Oak Bay to step up to the plate and help support the homeless in Greater Victoria.
The lodge would make a great new home for hundreds of homeless men and women.
It is away from the downtown area, and in itself could provide work experience and therapy for residents who could spruce up the interior with painting, and work in the kitchens, laundry and gardens.
More importantly, residents will have the satisfaction of knowing they are managing and contributing to their home. In addition, the building is already set up with security, offices, parking and recreation rooms.
The facility is not close to schools, but it is close enough to the Oak Bay Recreation Centre which should be free to the residents of the lodge, and which could set up programs unique to the needs of these new neighbours.
Marlene Lavallee
Victoria
Racist graffiti in Victoria’s Chinatown
The perpetrator(s) who scrawled hateful graffiti on the pillars of Victoria’s Chinese Public School sought to identify and isolate those different from themselves, to dehumanize and to legitimize abuse.
In doing so, they undermined society and our community as a whole.
The history of Chinese peoples in B.C. and in Canada is one of strength and contribution, courage and persistence. My Chinese ancestors contributed to the settlement and growth of Canadian society through hard labour and many accomplishments. Just like so many other immigrant groups? Exactly!
Nelson Mandela once said: “We are human only through the humanity of others.” And we are a community only through the care and respect of others. Mandela also said: “Fools multiply when the wise are silent.”
Raise your voice on behalf of our community and denounce racism. It is the wise — and right — thing to do.
Gayle Nye
Victoria
New subs? You have got to be kidding
Re: “It’s time for us to start thinking about new subs,” commentary, June 6.
Jeffrey Collins calls for Ottawa to buy new submarines to replace the four rust-buckets we bought from Britain in 1998.
He points out that the major powers run nuclear submarines, and yet he wants Canada to repeat our mistake and buy some more expensive toys.
With a ballooning deficit, a failed care-home system, and our nearest neighbouring country going to hell in a handbucket, you have got to be kidding.
Albert Macfarlane
Port McNeill
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