Editor:
Regarding “I’ll take the bridge” (M. Young, Roberts Creek) in the Aug. 4 edition of Coast Reporter, the writer is naïve if he or she thinks the Sunshine Coast will stay the same if a connecting bridge is built. We will become a suburb of West Vancouver, which will involve building strip malls, more housing, and maybe big box stores will get the OK to settle on large chunks of land which may be currently forested. Sadly, the Sunshine Coast will be forever changed. People come to the Coast because of what it is. It’s a holiday spot for many; it’s mountain biking, it’s trail walking, it’s boating, it’s beaches. All these activities are already available on the North Shore and yet people still choose to come here. It’s slower paced. It’s more relaxed. It’s welcoming. And they pay to do so. The ferry is part of the experience. The ride allows people to mellow a bit and enjoy the scenery.
And your supposition that you can have a bridge plus keep the ferry running is an absolute non-starter. You don’t get both! It’s an either/or situation.
“It’s time to grow up, Sunshine Coast?” Well, I think we have grown up. I think people like it just the way it is. People are selling their homes in the Lower Mainland and moving here because they like the slower pace and they like the small town, rural atmosphere. They already know about the ferry, so that’s not an issue. In fact, that is quaint and appealing to many.
So if you want to jump in your car and drive like a maniac over the bridge to get to West Vancouver, well I can certainly provide a handful of really good, honest realtors who will be happy to help you find a beautiful home.
C. Clark, Gibsons
