Dear Editor:
Re: 2015 Shaping Up to be the Summer of Noise, July 19 Viewpoint
I must give you my view to the Other Voices submission by Trevor Gibbs.
I emigrated with my family from Scotland to Vancouver and lived overtown, my dad’s goal in our new country was to some day live in West Vancouver, and soon the family did.
I grew up in West Van and must respond with my thoughts of the little seaside village of West Van of 50 years ago. There were six gas stations, four grocery stores, five butcher shops, two fish stores and half a shopping centre — it was far from a little seaside village then.
When married 48 years ago, our first apartment looked down at the police and fire station, at 13th and Marine, and that meant not only police sirens through the day and night but fire trucks. As well, the fog horn blew every night that it was foggy, lulling me to sleep sometimes.
So here is what I see...
I see eagles perched in the trees at Ambleside, I see seals bob their heads off the piers at Ambleside and John Lawson Park, not to mention the killer whales under Lions Gate Bridge. But I also see the wonderful enjoyment of all the children in John Lawson Park, my five grandkids as well.
I see the excitement of visitors and residents when the cruise ships come and go, sometimes the ships play music, and you can hear it from shore.And the Disney ship on a Monday going under the Lions Gate Bridge, playing “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Yup. That’s noise. And the (Coast Guard) hovercraft zooming by our shores, exciting everyone that sees it.
How about the geese flying by in unison? The little otters at Lawson Creek. The heron standing at attention patiently on the shore. The anglers fishing off Cap River and Dundarave Pier.
And how about the wonderful flower plots where West Van residents wait on a list to get one? The seawall (Centennial SeaWalk). Every week thousands of residents and visitors walk the “Royal Mile” from Ambleside to Dundarave — meeting friends and just generally loving everything about the seaside village.
I take full use of the West Vancouver rec centre and attend Fitness Fellows three times a week with longtime residents,with over 100 pals (four of them in their 90s) — funny they don’t happen to be on the same page as Mr.Gibbs.
My wife and I have touched almost every person at one time or another in West Van, our boys went to West Van High, and my oldest grandson was born here.
Gee, our own police force, our own bus drivers, bylaw officers that prefer to give warnings for first-time offences, and our West Van firefighters — many of them grew up or live here.
I love West Vancouver, and recognize that there is always room for change in any community.
Peter Black
West Vancouver
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