Editor’s note: The following is one of the letters from the students in Whitney Keyes’ class at Don Ross Middle School.
I feel that Garibaldi Highlands could use a gas station or general store. Even though we have Garibaldi Village so close, it is still around a 20-minute walk from the top of the hill. I have asked many and all said the same, “A general store in Garibaldi highlands would benefit us one hundred per cent.”
When it’s late, nobody wants to have to drive far to pick up minimal things or go out early in the morning to pick up milk.
Walking down a big hill with lots of traffic can also be a safety issue for many, even with a small trail leading to Coho Park, the trail is sketchy and has lots of bears. Personally, I think a good place for a small store could be at the end of Pia on a lot that has been owned by a developer for a very long time, where nothing has ever been developed.
There has been talk about a road connecting Garibaldi Highlands to the new neighborhood SkyRidge. Whether that happens or not, a general store could possibly be squeezed in.
Brackendale has a general store as well as multiple cafes and shops, and Valleycliffe has a small outdoor mall with a few activity centers and restaurants. Downtown is right in the centre of it all with many shops and convenient stores. I know Garibaldi Highlands is not hidden and far away but it is far enough to want a store in a more convenient area.
Alexa Mclellan
