Let’s see how MMBC can succeed

Re: “Museum will be tough sell,” editorial, Feb. 5.

It’s good to see that the proclamation from the Maritime Museum of B.C. is having the desired effect: Opening up the conversation about the future of a Victoria cultural and historic resource.

I was surprised and dismayed that the editorial was so crushingly negative and dismissive. The National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, U.K., is more than a kilometre from the Thames River and many more kilometres from the sea. They seem to do all right.

Since its eviction from 28 Bastion Sq., the exhibits have been dismantled, and the exemplary collection has been dispersed widely to warehouse and basement storage in several places. Its security is questionable. The public access to the museum is now a storefront on Humboldt Street.

When I think of the time and energy I spent at the museum in the 1980s, working for minimum wage to enhance the maritime history of the province, now gone as if it had never been, I get very angry indeed.

The best way to destroy an older building is to leave it empty and unused for a long period of time.

That is an irresponsible waste of a city, provincial and national historic site.

I want to hear about how this new vision for the MMBC can succeed. Perhaps Victorians can see how they might work to bring a positive attitude to bear and undo a wrong done to the maritime heritage of our province.

John Wiznuk Saturna Island