Dear Sir:
I agree and support Thornhill Area E Kitimat-Stikine regional district director Ted Ramsey who was not happy with the ‘Welcome to Terrace’ sign being located on Thornhill property.
It is unfortunate that history is so easily lost. When I was the Thornhill director during the early 1980s, I experienced the same conflict. I was upset that the Terrace Rotary Club decided to put up the same messaged sign, at the same location in Thornhill, with no prior discussion or consultation. We asked them to take the sign down or alter the wording to acknowledge the existence Thornhill.
After I was told the sign had been completed, they agreed to add “and District” at the bottom of the sign. I later realized I was much too accommodating. The additional wording was not enough of a change to recognize Thornhill.
It is obvious that anyone travelling along Highway 16 east would not have had any idea what the word “District” meant. I was never happy with the wording.
When the new, very attractive sign went up I could not believe my eyes, the same old original wording with no reference to Thornhill.
Carrying out more important business during the 1980s and now, was and is a priority that was not then or likely now to be unduly affected by a sign controversy.
The controversy is about ethics and parochialism. A very important future decision has to be made whether Thornhill should be incorporated as a municipality or be amalgamated with Terrace.
One would think that Terrace would bend over backward not to ruffle any feathers or stir up any controversy before that decision is made.
It is not in the best interest of either community to strain the relationship before a final decision is made by Thornhill residents over how they want to be governed.
They should not be swayed by such a trivial issue but there is little doubt the Terrace position smacks of a “I am bigger and more important than you attitude”.
Such an attitude causes resentment. Like it or not, Thornhill is a separate and distinct community.
My suggestion would be for the Terrace city council and director Ted Ramsey to sit down and determine if they can find a more accommodating wording for the sign that recognizes both communities and First Nations.
Build it on a new concrete base at the same location. The sign could say “Welcome to Thornhill, the City of Terrace and the Territories of the Kitselas and Kitsumkalum First Nations.”
Jim Culp,
Terrace, B.C.
(Editor’s note: Formerly of Thornhill, Jim Culp now lives in Terrace.)
