Cetacean ban will thwart rescue of marine mammals
What a shame that the aquarium has to put up with such ill-informed people. While an aquarium might not be the most ideal conditions for cetaceans, the opportunity to understand their habits can provide insightful information to improve the future of all mammals in their natural habitat.
I know that the aquarium staffs are devoted to the best of care for all its inhabitants, which is evident from their rescue missions. If you want to plead the case of cetaceans, take on the for-profit aquariums elsewhere, where the bottom line is profit, not the health and well-being of the animals.
If a referendum were done, I would hope that it would be provincewide as the Vancouver Aquarium belongs to B.C., not just Vancouver. Terry McLeod, Langley
Don’t fire our chum Shum
I just read Bryan Wilson’s letter about firing the entire Vancouver park board for its decision to ban cetaceans at the Vancouver Aquarium.
He’s right, except for one fact. Independent board commissioner Erin Shum voted against the ban. She should keep her job; can the rest!
Peter Lovegrove, North Vancouver
Go it alone, Greens
I have no data but I believe that Green party Leader Andrew Weaver should not ignore the adage that you are judged by the company you keep. I also believe the loss of Liberal support suggests the additional Green MLAs were part of the call for change or rejection of Christy Clark’s Liberals. Those who voted Green will feel betrayed if the party forms a formal alliance with Clark — or John Horgan of the NDP, for that matter.
The Greens should vote independently following their principles on legislation.
Dennis Rankin, Surrey
Diversity is our strength
I would like to commend you for profiling outstanding Canadians as part of your coverage of Canada’s 150th anniversary.
To their credit, your reporters and editors identified and profiled very deserving people representing the diversity of Canada. The common thread throughout is their dedication and commitment to making Canada a better place to live. It shows diversity is this country’s greatest strength.
Two recent subjects — Wally Oppal and Dr. Gurdev Singh Gill — are respected pioneers and trailblazers not only for the Indo-Canadian community, but for all Canadians. Balwant Sanghera, Richmond
Ferry reservations unfair
The new rules to protect airline passengers are a good start, but let’s apply to same rules to B.C. Ferries.
When we buy a ticket on B.C. Ferries for a particular ferry and are lined up in the lot, it should mean you’ve bought that space for your car. The ferry corporation shouldn’t be able to sell that space to someone else with a reservation. All they are doing is bumping people off the ferry to accommodate reservation passengers because they make more money. We’ve been at the terminal an hour early and about 10th in line and still didn’t get on the ferry.
Don McWhirter, Campbell River
‘Smile on your brother’
Until now, I always thought Canadians were kind and would never pass a person in obvious need of help. Sadly, an experience earlier this month has tainted this belief.
I was going up the escalator at the Scott Road SkyTrain station, hurrying to catch a train, when I fell. I cried out in pain but not one person on the busy escalator offered to help. I reached the top and limped to a bench, where I noticed my jeans were literally soaked in blood from a gash. With a hanky, I applied pressure until the bleeding stopped but still no one offered help. I rode to Central City where a SkyTrain employee provided a bandage.
I am a student of truth at Unity Church and we believe that we are all one — individual waves in the Ocean of God. Despite the event, my belief has not changed but, as the song says, “Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now.”
Ron Yorston, Delta