Letters to the Sun: Thank you, B.C. Ferries

There has been much ferry-bashing over the last three years. Cancellations, staff shortages, retirement of older crew members are favourite gripes. I live mid-Vancouver Island, and have been using the ferries quite frequently during this time period. Considering the size of the fleet, I think one of the largest ferry fleets in the world, and the age of some of the vessels, I think the service is excellent. I have been lucky and not experienced any cancellations or severe delays.

A week ago, I travelled to Galiano Island. I took the ferry from Crofton to Vesuvius on Salt Spring Island, then drove across the Island to the Long Harbour terminal, where I boarded a beautiful new boat to Galiano, via Pender and Mayne Island. The journey took two hours, and was most enjoyable. The fares in total amounted to $15 with a vehicle, each way. Admittedly, I am a senior and used my Experience card. In this day and age of rapid inflation, I think this is a fantastic deal. All of us who decide to live in this beautiful part of the world are extremely lucky to be serviced by such an efficient system.

Thank you, B.C. Ferries, and all the helpful, pleasant staff I meet when travelling.

Nick Squire, Qualicum Beach

Thank you to Eppa (Gerard Peters) and his explanations of the leadership among First Nations in his letter to the editor in The Vancouver Sun. As a first-generation immigrant to B.C., I have been supportive and so very interested in the very complex evolution of First Nations in this province and in Canada, and similarly in so many other countries and nations. The legacies of conflict and subjugation have taken such a toll on modern progress.

Eppa, so far as I can tell, has given the most clear and discernible explanation of the underlying differences in historical process between hereditary and elected chiefs of First Nations related to B.C. I support self-government proceeding in honourable ways to resolve the multitude of conflicting issues for all First Nations. Balancing the needs of modern society between Indigenous groups and presently established communities requires a genuine grasp of historical perspectives. Once again, thank you Eppa, for lessening my ignorance.

John de Couto, Burnaby 

No Valentine’s Day: Are they trying to take the fun out of everything?

Re: No cards, no candy: Ontario school bans Valentine’s Day, arguing it harms equity goals

This article shows just how off the rails being “politically correct” can be.

As a retired Grade 1 teacher, having taught many children from many different communities for many years, the emphasis for Valentine’s Day was on kindness, being friends with everyone, making sure that children who might be left out are included, not just on Valentine’s Day, but throughout the year.

What expense is needed? We make valentines in the classroom. They can be made from many kinds of paper that would otherwise be recycled. (A lesson on recycling can be included. This year, I wrapped my Christmas presents in The Vancouver Sun newspaper, trying to find the appropriate headlines or picture for each recipient. They loved it.) And candies need not be a part of the passing out of valentines. (Children’s names are sent home to parents with the instructions that everyone is to receive a valentine.)

We have just passed Groundhog Day. On Feb. 1, the day before Groundhog Day, I used to have the children write letters to tell the groundhog which they preferred — six more weeks of winter, or spring to be “right around the corner”, and to explain why.

One year, a little boy resisted. “I don’t believe in the groundhog,” he complained. His family were Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I had chosen alternative activities for him at Christmas and Halloween that had no connection to the day we were celebrating. I called his mother at recess, asking if there was a problem with “Tyson” participating in this activity. “No,” she answered. “And tell him he can stay after school to finish it if he doesn’t do it in class.” (I must add, we also celebrated days for children of other persuasions to bring their special beliefs into focus for them and for the whole class.)

We live in a multicultural community. Let us not throw any special days out in a misguided attempt to be “all-inclusive”.

Elizabeth Bryson, Vancouver

Letters to the editor should be sent to sunletters@vancouversun.com.

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