Editor:
You, as well as I, are familiar surely with the old saw: The reason Jesus could not be born in Tsawwassen or Delta is simply because there would be great difficulty in finding Three Wise Men.
It has started already, all the doomsayers and prognosticators are rushing to find their pencils to tell us the sky is falling. Even our arch independent, MLA Vicki Huntington, is leading the charge, telling us our birdies are in danger, farmland is being gobbled up and Delta is going to be paved over. People are casting glances towards Deltaport expansion and the Tsawassen First Nation, which is showing initiative, and you know they are not supposed to even talk about that.
It appears the natives have got the correct idea about building in the present for a sustainable future, and they are not supposed to do that. What of the future?
At present in Ladner or Tsawwassen there is nowhere one can get an ABC dry powder fire extinguisher filled on any of the many ships that will visit Deltaport have to go elsewhere. There are no dedicated fire-fighting training facilities close by or on site. No enclosed vessel entry training, where ships crews can get training with fall arrestor gear and enclosed vessel entry protocols. A new business opportunity, folks.
There is no marine ship chandlery service capable of serving the needs of the big ships. There are no large marine engine repair facility close by Deltaport. Another big business opportunity, folks.
Think Wartsila repair facilities and spare parts could locate here? There is a valid reason big box stores are locating here because they are the guys who will supply bonded stores (Duty Tax Free) to these ships by the truck load.
There are very few shipping agencies right down in Deltaport. Can you see all these agencies having office space on site or in Ladner-Tsawwassen to better serve their vessels? High school graduates would have opportunities for a future right here close to home. We presently have people commuting from White Rock to Deltaport.
I could go on and write a book on the glorious opportunities for businesses locally to investigate linkages between their businesses and the shipping fraternity and our native brethren and keep in mind the words of the Rev. Robert Schuller: "Find a need and fill it."
What is happening now is simply that others all around us north of the river in the Lower Mainland are winning all these opportunities, and the experienced, skilled trades are ploughing through traffic to get to Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, when they would love to work south of the river where they reside in the main.
Lastly change is inevitable, but wise men anticipate change, get ready for it and embrace it. They are too busy building for the future, and have little time to whine about the present. I am confident that Delta in the main has the moxy to meet the future that is coming as sure as tomorrow.
Remember that stupid English git if a King who brought his throne to the sea side with his attempt to stop the tide, and had to be rescued. Remember poor King Canute? A Scot would never think that he could stop the tide or would he?
David Serry
