To the Editor,
An interesting debate was recently batted around in a forum on alberni.ca. The subject: should Port Alberni continue to go for big industry, or should a more diversified economy be the focus. Wes Brick’s letter to the editor (Celebrate what we’ve got here, Dec. 25) segues with this debate.
Returning to the debate referenced, I asked: “how successful has Port Alberni been in landing new ‘big industry’ in the last 20 years compared to the economic success of Coombs”? Respondents to this question said “but they have the goats on the roof”.
What a brilliant idea that was! Years ago we might have had just such an idea. Councillor Ken Hoffman, in the late 1970s suggested big rotating flashing fish to be placed, as I recall, in the Victoria Quay area. The idea was pooh-poohed. Shortly after, Ken left town and had a very successful career in Surrey politics.
Jump forward to 2007. Remember the hoop la around the Bear Tracks and Lumberjacks “branding” exercise? Great, I thought. “Make tracks in the valley” was suggested as wording. The logical shape of a sign was a bear paw. It all made sense. But instead of a refreshing “Make tracks in the Alberni Valley” welcome sign, we got a generic traditional “Welcome to the Alberni Valley”. Another missed opportunity.
The “branding process,” it seems, was a dollar wasting exercise in futility.
In crossing Canada the Wawa “big goose” or the Sudbury big nickel draw attention. The recent big fish beside the Chamber of Commerce office is interesting and humourous. A bigger one is apparently on the hook; hopefully, it doesn’t get away.
The question remains: “What will make people want to stop in Port Alberni”? Could the “grand trestle bridge” over Roger Creek gorge, as envisioned by John Mayba, become a drawing card? Does the Hole in the Wall have potential?
This council, I hope, will find the secret and courage needed to re-build a prosperous valley.
T. Lyman Jardin,
Port Alberni
