Sports shrine unnecessary
I am pleased to be in the majority of Powell River residents who voted in a recent Peak poll that establishing a local sports hall of fame in Powell River Recreation Complex is a bad idea [“City considers forming sports hall of fame,” November 22].
We have Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and BC Sports Hall of Fame recognizing exploits and achievements of our Canadian athletes. We don't need a local shrine to also honour their achievements.
We in the community, especially those elected into leadership roles, have to wake up to the reality that our tax dollars can and must be better spent to start improving the makeup of our community and maybe reduce the burden on taxpayers, who annually see rising property taxes.
The addition of sidewalks, patching or resurfacing many of our streets, or other improvements to our city's infrastructure, would be money well spent and welcomed by the majority of residents rather than acting on the whim of an individual.
Merv Byers
Kemano Street
Driving test terminated
As of March 1, 2018, the provincial government will cancel its DriveABLE assessment, a program that wrongfully discriminated against non-computer-savvy senior drivers by assessing cognitive driving abilities with touchscreen testing [“Test accuracy raises senior-driving questions,” March 30, 2016].
Senior drivers over the age of 80 and those who may be deemed a public risk by a doctor will now be tested by a driver-inspector in the senior’s own vehicle.
Along the Sunshine Coast, many seniors depend on the automobile. These are reasonable people who drive when they have to and usually avoid night driving.
It is wonderful that ICBC has finally come to its senses. These changes, in no large measure, are due in part to Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, who began his advocacy on this issue by first bringing it to the attention of the provincial legislature back on May 11, 2011. Simons made it clear that the program victimized seniors and caused good drivers to be taken off the road.
Since then, Simons has risen many times during question period and budget/estimate debates regarding the unfairness of the program. He alone fought for senior-driving rights and his persistence over the years obviously did not go unheard.
I raise this point not because of partisan grounds, but because in today’s cynical view of politicians it’s great to know a voice can make a difference.
Guy Gentner
Stittle Road
