Editor:
Re: Don't let tranquil community turn into Coquitlam, letter to the editor, May 15
Firstly, I would like to point out that Tsawwassen could not possibly develop into a Coquitlam.
All you need to do is look at the geography of Tsawwassen. We just do not have the area to grow to anywhere near the level of Coquitlam.
I am glad Al Anderson discovered Tsawwassen and realizes it is a great place to live and raise children.
I think everyone who lives here fully realizes what a gem the area is.
I would like to offer another view to Anderson's comments. I moved here in 1966. Can you imagine what it was like then?
I moved to a street where only four houses were located. The street wasn't completed and we were surrounded by old growth for-est. In the spring we would go to sleep to the sounds of the frogs croaking. It was wonderful and very serene.
We used to commute to Vancouver to work as there was no bus service whatsoever. Along with low population came very little facilities or infrastructure.
There were no restaurants except the old Tsawwassen drive-In, located where the Dairy Queen is now. No library, hardly any shopping and one bank.
We had no hospital and were forced to go to Richmond. I experienced a death in my family that was partially due to the poor proximity of a hospital.
We raised our children here and we always knew the area had to grow. We did not picket or complain about newcomers to the area or continued growth. It was a fact of life. Change happens.
However, my prime reason for this letter is to ask Anderson to consider the older people, like myself, who have contributed greatly to the community we live in. We have paid taxes for years, which has contributed greatly to the improvement of facilities.
Families are benefiting from the growth and added infrastructure in our area because people like me contributed. Consider this: If we had shown the same attitude to development that you are now expressing, 80 per cent of Tsawwassen would still look like Point Roberts and you wouldn't be living here to lodge your complaint about further growth.
There are people who have lived here a long time and now wish to end their days here, and not in an old folks home. Our children have grown and have families of their own and in a lot of cases have been forced to move away due to the high prices of homes in our area.
We, the older lot, would like to live in one of the smaller structures being planned for the Southlands. For older people, it would be great to be able to shop in the local square without having to use our vehicles.
At the same time, it would suit younger people as well. The European-style proposal is an excellent plan.
I would suggest everyone avail themselves of the opportunity to see just what is being planned for the Southlands. It is not all going to be paved over and completely covered with houses.
I would also suggest newer people to the area consider what Century Group and the Hodgins family have done for this community for many years. If they had not developed the area in the first place, it is doubtful any of us would be here.
Pam McKinnon
