Editor:
I want to acknowledge the wonderful work that the Ladysmith RCMP and the North Oyster Fire Department provided us on Valentines evening when our A&W was vandalized and almost burned down.
I would personally like to thank Constable Bryan Sampson who by chance happened upon the fire and set in motion the acts that saved our A&W. If not for him pulling into our location, not only would we have lost the A&W but the Husky gas station as well?
The North Oyster Fire department have been regular supporters of our cruising events and did a wonderful job of getting the flames under control in a very timely manner. If it wasn’t for their prompt response and efficient work we may not have a place to go back to.
The cumulative acts including Rusty from Superior propane allowed us to not only save our business but also to be open the very next morning by 7:30 a.m.
In the midst of all this my heart was left feeling very warm and cared for when between the hours of midnight and 2 a.m. we had at least six of our staff show up out of concern. Facebook, what a wonderful thing?
Thank you to everybody involved. Your caring and efficiency have not only saved our business but the jobs of more than thirty staff members including the Husky staff. We are forever grateful.
Jason and Lori KellandA&W Ladysmith
INFRASTRUSTURE TO IMPROVE HEALTH NEEDED
Editor:
Cycling Coalitions around the province are urging governments to look seriously at our escalating health care cost, the alarming rate of obesity and diabetes in our children and adults.
It is time we all connect the dots and see that creating infrastructure that stops people from doing daily activities like walking and cycling is having an enormous impact on the health of our citizens.
More than 90 per cent of our school children are being driven to school, making physical illiteracy and child obesity the number one topic on talk shows.
In B.C. 80 per cent of our healthcare budget (15 billion dollars) is spent on the acute care of preventable diseases or diseases that could be greatly reduced by simply adding some exercise such as walking and cycling in people’s daily routine.
There are many proposed projects that can improve the opportunity of being active in smaller communities. The economic spin-off benefits are tremendous. A Vancouver Island Cycling Route is just one of them: http://goo.gl/KiGcXo
My question to the Premier is: When is your government going to start implementing province wide plans for better, healthier communities. If you are ready to act than work with our local and provincial organizations and local governments to make it a reality.
Leo BoonGreater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition
