Fun for some isn’t fun for others

A few days ago, I went swimming at the university. When I arrived, there were many children in the shallow end of the pool, approximately 13-14 years of age. Of note was a group of boys situated in the far corner of the shallow end, closest to the bulkhead separating the shallow end from the lane-swimming. These boys were throwing balls at each other with some force and with the consequence that the balls would ricochet out of the pool.

I jumped into the only open lane on the other side of the bulkhead from these boys. I quickly discovered the balls were ricocheting into the lane. Fortunately, I usually swam into these balls rather than having them hit me directly. Seeing the issue, a lifeguard came and told the boys to move to the other side of the shallow end away from the lane swimmers. Did they listen? No. The balls in my lane continued to accumulate.

At one point, a ball narrowly missed hitting me. A lifeguard came by and I asked him if the boys could please keep the balls in the shallow end. He replied that the balls were being put away, that the fun was over.

The boys all paraded past me looking unhappy and resentful at having their fun curtailed. Their response to this incident caused me to think about the OHV users in the Castle Crown area. They also are unhappy and resentful that someone is putting an end to their idea of fun.

It does not seem to matter how much their fun detracts from the enjoyment of the area by others. It does not seem to matter how much destruction their fun causes the environment. It does not seem to matter that the consequence of their fun has a direct impact on our watershed. All that matters to them is that their fun is being curtailed. It seems to be all about them.

Thank you to the NDP government for acting to protect the Castle Crown area including curtailment of OHV use in the area. It is long, long overdue.

Leona Jacobs

Lethbridge