An open letter to White Rock council.
Last month I happened to experience the misfortune of your overzealous and unforgiving bylaw staff during the festive season.
On the rainy morning of Dec. 17, I had to go again to White Rock Medical Clinic for attention to my recent cancer surgery. As a fourth-time cancer patient in recent years, I know how dreadful and aggressive the effects of cancer can be, and to those near and dear to us.
As the surgery was recent, on this particular morning, I was still in a great deal of physical and emotional discomfort. The parking bays right opposite the clinic on Russell Avenue were full, and with resident parking on the opposite side of Russell Avenue, I wasn’t taking any chances of parking there.
I drove around the block twice without seeing a vacant parking bay within 50 metres or so from the clinic, so when I got around to Finlay Street, opposite the hospital, I decided to park in the last bay at the corner with Russell Avenue.
It was about a two- to three-minute walk to the clinic, and I had allowed for 30 or so minutes on filling the meter with my coins.
While I waited alone at the clinic to see the nurse, and then was helped by the nurse, she, at her call, unexpectedly decided to solicit the opinion of my doctor who then came to see me. There was a delay before the doctor arrived.
With the pain and attention to my surgery site foremost on my mind, and being alone at the clinic for treatment, the thought of being late did not enter my mind while I was sitting there waiting.
By the time I exited the clinic I realized I was running a minute or two late, and hastened back to my parked car. I couldn’t run for the shooting pain in my head and besides, it had been raining and I didn’t want to slip on the wet sidewalk.
On approaching my car, I immediately noticed the citation on the windshield.
I looked around to find the bylaw officer parked on the other side of the street. As I crossed the street to speak to the officer, the officer pulled away in his vehicle and left.
I proceeded directly to the city hall, where I wrote an appeal for the citation received. This appeal has subsequently been rejected by City staff. Reason given: we can’t treat anyone differently.
Was this a wilfull act of negligence or a disregard for the city bylaws? Absolutely not!
Now, I ask you, mayor and council, how much punishment do you want to mete out to a cancer patient during the past festive season, who alone is dealing with the physical and emotional scars of cancer?
Please be sensitive to those in your community who suffer from cancer. I didn’t ask for it, nor did I ask for the unreasonable issuance of a citation while seeking treatment.
People who are in pain and in need of medical attention can’t always think of all the probabilities in life, including being a few minutes late – while an overzealous bylaw officer waits to prey on us.
Gordon Botha, Surrey
