Dear Editor:
A very enlightening letter recently from Ryan Benson, regarding life on the North Shore (Courage Needed for Housing Crisis Cure, Feb. 8 Mailbox).
With the changing demographic of the North Shore, the subjects raised now have much more cause for concern than when I lived there 20+ years ago. The folks living there were often able to walk to work because they could afford housing nearby. I could do it myself and, although I wouldn’t recommend it, could even hop a slow freight train if the weather was bad. It appears those were the “good ol’ days,” when a full-time $15/hour job left enough over after rent for a coupla beers.
With the cost of housing so high, any tradesperson, health worker, business support staff, etc. is obliged to live off the North Shore. Realistically, without earning an enviable salary, only a single child inheritor would be able to afford to live there. If that inheritor had siblings, isn’t going to happen.
So maybe it’s time for the governing bodies to look at housing local support staff in a manner that is done in ski resorts, agriculture where housing is a requirement, and many other locations that depend upon other people to provide the services we have become so used to.
Otherwise, your communities will suffer the same woes Whistler does to house their support staff. It just takes some innovation and courage from the folks who regulate our lives. I have found that opening ourselves to change is something that is worth the time and effort. I now live in a community that is growing, with new school improvements, a local hospital, and an environment that provides multiple opportunities for recreation and wellness.
It was tough to move away, but I can’t imagine the difficulties I’d face if I lived on the North Shore today. And my 40-kilometre commute takes about 35 minutes.
Dave Drought
Oliver, B.C.
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
