Editor:
Piers can be categorized into different groupings according to their principal purpose (working pier, pleasure pier, etc.).
In the early days of Davis Bay life, the Davis Bay pier accommodated the loading and off-loading of passengers and cargo from the old Union Steamship boats and the off-loading of oil company products. The pier was very much a working pier even though the kids of the day used it as a swimming locale.
Around the world, many working piers have been demolished or remain derelict, but some have been recycled as pleasure piers.
The Davis Bay pier's purpose has been changed from "working" to "pleasure." Citizens and tourists will now be using the pier for fishing, swimming, crabbing, viewing, musical entertainment, etc.
Some would prefer to highlight the heritage aspect of the Davis Bay pier (i.e. the working past). It makes more sense to celebrate the future use (i.e. recreation and amusement) and, as such, referring to it as a pier, rather than as a wharf, is logical.
Historically, people have gone to piers for fun and games, not to wharfs.
Doug Reid, Sechelt
