Dear editor,
Once upon a time, there was a quiet town nestled between the Salish Sea and the Queneesh Glacier.
It was a robust and healthy town (Bryant Cycle, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Laver’s Department store, Rexall, Crosby’s Jewellers, Searle’s Shoes, Finlayson’s Appliance, Eaton’s Department store, Peter’s Sporting Goods, Francis Jewellers, E.W. Bickle Theatre, Sears, Leung’s Grocery).
Nevertheless, the mayor and councillors diligently worried and fretted over its future. One evening as the debate proceeded, a stranger spoke.
“My name is Urr Bansprall and I am a man of magical powers. I will grant this town one wish. But, you best be careful what you wish for.”
Immediately, the mayor shouted out, “I know what our wish will be! We want our town to have growth!”
All the councillors roared their approval.
For decades that followed, successive mayors and councillors were beside themselves with pride. As more people moved into the valley, more land was opened up to new and shiny subdivisions. Large retail stores (Home Depot, Walmart, Costco, Thrifty, Rexall, Quality Foods) lined up to await their development permit approval.
Then one evening, the mayor, uncharacteristically, bemoaned the plight of the city.
“We are losing our downtown core. We have three gaping empty lots; we have three businesses closing; the Fifth Street bridge looks ugly!”
To be continued…
M.D. McArthur,
Comox Valley
