Editor:
I recently had the pleasure to spend a few days in my old stomping ground of Terrace. The Terrace-Kitimat area has many similarities to the Coast. The permanent population is close to the same with two major centres and a number of outlying communities.
And there are differences, including easy access to post-secondary education. Not only is there a campus of the University of British Columbia, there is also Northwest Community College that offers both trades and two years of university transfer courses.
The Coast cries out for a university. It would allow better access for local students, and a residential campus would add vibrancy to the area and be a source of permanent jobs.
In my opinion, every candidate for local office should be asked his or her position on pursuing this. They should be asked whether they are prepared to allocate staff time to draw together a broadly based working group of people from the arts, the native community, organised labour and others to design a feasibility study. The study could determine what the emphasis of the institution should be and where it should be located. As well, it could seek out funding to carry out the work.
Education is key to real community development. Let’s make it happen.
Paul Johnston, Roberts Creek
