LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- January 29, 2008
Dear Editor:
With the world's attention on Vancouver in 2010, we now have a rare opportunity to establish and market a new and inclusive image of Canada's Shangri-La and Pacific Gateway province through a new name, which could be phased in over a few years.
A new name could be selected by our elected representatives in the legislature through free non-partisan votes on potential names put forward by residents of the province.
A new name for our province will demonstrate our solid confidence in ourselves rather than a perception that we are still clinging to the coattails of the British colonialists, whose rule ended 137 years ago. British colonial rule in what is now a Canadian province lasted only 13 (1858-1871) of the last 150 years, or just 8.7 per cent. This does not include the centuries when our First Peoples inhabited the area.
A new name would:
* erase any confusion people around the world may have of whether we are still part of Britain, as in
'British Columbia,' or part of Canada;
* be inclusive of all Canadians living in the province - while the decreasing number of Canadians of British ethnic origin, now less that 25 per cent, may insist they are both
'British,' as in 'British Columbian,' and 'Canadian,' others born in Canada or of other ethnic origin would prefer to be exclusively
'Canadian' and/or have no association with being 'British;'
* reflect more effectively, for tourism promotion, the province's awesome grandeur, its 14 diverse biogeoclimatic zones and its mosaic of multi ethno-cultures;
* be more exciting rather than the dull and downcast 'British Columbia' that has little or no attachment today to the land nor its people -
'British Columbia,' is also a long, cumbersome name that is endearing to no one and is hence commonly abbreviated to
'B.C.,' which is cold, meaningless and perfunctory.
Queen Victoria, who never did set foot on this land, unilaterally named it 'British Columbia' on July 24, 1858, without input or consultation with its residents, the First Peoples and early European settlers.
In his book, British Columbia Coast Names, Captain John T. Walbran quotes the letter of that date of Queen Victoria to Sir E. Bulwer Lytton: "If the name of New Caledonia is objected to as being already borne by another colony or island claimed by the French, it may be better to give the new colony west of the Rocky Mountains another name. New Hanover, New Cornwall and New Georgia appear from the maps to be names of subdivisions of that country, but do not appear on all maps.
The only name which is given to the whole territory in every map the Queen has consulted is
'Columbia,' but as there exists also a Columbia (sic) in South America, and the citizens of the United States call their country also Columbia, at least in poetry,
'British Columbia' might be, in the Queen's opinion, the best name."
150 years of tolerating the name 'British Columbia' is enough. It is time for a new name for the province so that it better reflects the land and its people.
Personally, as a Canadian and resident of this province, I do not feel I am fully included in 'British Columbia' because I am not of British ethnic origin.
Yours truly,
- Ben J. Pires, Victoria
To The Editor;
With regards to the doctor and hospital situation here in Princeton, things have quite literally gone from bad to worse.
How did it get this bad? The way I see it, there was a whole lot of politics involved, our so called Liberals wanted to dump on the previous NDP government, and claimed they were left a terrible financial mess.
In all their eminent wisdom they decided shutting down operating rooms and wards in several small town hospitals would save lots of loot.
No doubt it very likely did, but the only way we are going to get doctors to stay is to reopen those O/R's and rejuvenate our small town hospitals.
Doctor shortages are a worldwide problem not just in Canada, so where can we get some doctors? Perhaps Fidel Castro could spare us say, two or three hundred. Cuba has the highest doctor to patient ratio in the world. As for the long term anyone with teenagers should encourage them toward the medical profession.
Also, governments should lift the financial burden of medical training off low income families. As it is only well off families can afford medical training for their kids. If Fidel can do it what is wrong here?
- Jim Hodge, Princeton
Dear Editor;
I was shocked when I learned that Mayor Randy McLean and all but one councillor had voted to rezone Princeton Manor to become a condominium.
The residents have been informed that they either have to buy their apartments or move out.
HOW CRUEL!
Most of the residents are senior citizens and live on fixed incomes. Where in Princeton are these citizens to go?
If any rentals are available they are run down and costly.
I can't believe Mayor Randy McLean and the councillors could be that cruel and heartless. Maybe when they grow old they may face hard times and they will remember this.
The mills of God grind slowly but they grind exceedingly small.
- Isabella Johnson, Princeton
