Jim Hadgraft deserved better
Dear Editor:
I am appalled at the avarice and disrespect of engineering, geography, disabled, veterans, and the elderly in downtown sa国际传媒. I am ashamed that I am a resident in this uncaring city when upstanding hard-working non-profits, disadvantaged and elderly people are treated with such brutal disregard by UBCO, city engineers and provincial, regional, federal, and city politicians.
Jim Hadgraft was an amazingly kind caring human filled with joy and love. His smile was infectious, his harmlessness and goodwill were exemplary. His mental Special Needs did not limit his value to our community and world. His mother was in a care home and his father had died; he was starting to have aging short-term memory loss. His amazing team at Pathways supportively assisted him.
He loved his new home but was worried about the huge cracks in his walls and the elevators that no longer worked in his new building. He was devastated at being turfed from his building and separated from his friends. He did not deserve this inhuman treatment. He cried often as it broke his heart.
My father Berton McLean, Sr. was a decorated Second World War veteran of the Royal Canadian Airforce and was a member of the Legion for decades. The organization has done exceptional service in this community for decades but now cannot access its building to get its belongings including the many brass plates with the names of my brave and beloved father and so many veterans and upstanding citizens.
Why do the city, provincial, and university engineers that approved this disastrous university building not understand why we have a floating bridge? There is no bottom to the nearby lake at over 700 feet deep. Just many layers of water, sand, water, sand, water, and silt. Our lake is what remains of the Great White Lake from the melting glaciers thousands of years ago. All of sa国际传媒 was at one time lake bottom.
Did the engineers research that the Dolphin Towers foundations and other high buildings needed to be reengineered and strengthened after they were built because of the foundations shifting from the unstable quicksand under sa国际传媒? Why was the overly tall building approved and why allowed five floors down?
Why is the city, province, and country allowing this absurdly destructive building construction to continue with its havoc and shambles so rampant. It is obvious that nonprofits, service organizations, veterans, disabled and seniors do not count in this city. Please stop this building and fill in this gaping excavation.
Marilee Goheen
sa国际传媒
Letsa国际传媒 all get it right again
Dear Editor:
Pierre Polievre and Donald Trump are what we need to lead North America.
And here is why. With Joe Biden, the U.S. has a soaring crime rate with murderers being released with little to no bail. President Biden routinely has speaker gaffes (Trump has had a few), whereas, every time Biden has a news conference he usually has problems with clarity and continuity. Itsa国际传媒 my understanding President Biden has a life-long stuttering problem, that does not excuse his mumbling and babble, at times because I believe hesa国际传媒 becoming senile.
The U.S. economy is in the tank, (GDP at 1.6%, interest rates at 7.17%) a wide open southern border, crime is through the roof and he has a terrible reputation on the world stage. Hesa国际传媒 pissed off Israel by siding with the Pro-Nazi wackos protesting at the Ivy league colleges. Even Kim Jun Il takes pot shots at him. Nobody messed with the west with Trump.
There is no need for a war in Ukraine or the middle east. Thank Biden for that. Hesa国际传媒 overdue for retirement and he owes the world an apology.
As for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he thinks money grows on trees. I liken him to a demented cross-eyed puppy humping the legs of all taxpaying Canadians to get more and more. His economic record is dismal. His ideas about building houses is best suited for the private sector as they know what they are doing. Getting a partnership with any government is always a recipe for heartburn.
He talks about climate change like it is a punchline, Trudeau is betting on by taxing us more at the pump the greenhouse gases will go away. Meanwhile the cost of groceries continually goes up due to transport costs. Real change comes from good Conservative financial decisions, not taxing the working class to the point where they can鈥檛 afford to live here.
Mexico is looking real good these days.
Doug Rosen
sa国际传媒
Memories of the toytown express
Dear Editor:
The Kentucky Derby, for three-year old English thoroughbreds, has now run for 150 years.
The 1896 Derby winner was a colt named Ben Brush. During the 1897 racing season, a two-year old colt named Plaudit beat the four-year old Ben Brush, to win an all ages race. The 1898 Kentucky Derby win was that same small, skinny, horse named Plaudit.
Ben Brush went on to an illustrious career as a prized and sought after English thoroughbred stallion bloodline.
Meanwhile, Plaudit was fancied by the U.S. Cavalry and Quarterhorse breeders, with limited English thoroughbred breeders through his California Champion, King James, who through his son, Dr. Joe sired Canadian champion, Joey who won 55 races and $39,326, during that 1930s, to be Western Canadasa国际传媒 only top money winner for a decade.
My dad, Charles Louis Jacques owned Joey, who was known by the nickname, 鈥渢he toytown express鈥, while racing in British Columbia.
In 2006, I, along with my wife, Sue (nee: Morton), wrote a 338-page book, JOEY, with 56 pictures and a chapter on champion jockey, Johnny Longden.
Leo Louis Jacques
sa国际传媒
Fortis BC sets record straight
Dear Editor:
Regarding the article, 鈥淔ortisBC under fire for slow response,鈥 on page A4 of the May 4 edition of Okanagan Weekend, the permit sought by the District of Summerland to complete its road work on Victoria Road South was issued May 1.
There was information required to support the permit, which FortisBC received the previous week. Once we received this, we issued the permit.
We look forward to continuing to work with the District of Summerland.
Mark Falkenberg,
corporate communications advisor, FortisBC
