To the editor;
When I was in my early years in school, right here in Barriere, probably in 1942 or 1943, the report came out that Kamloops had reached a population of 10,000. Today, still within my lifetime, it is nearly 10 times that number.
Shortly after that announcement, Mrs. Schilling, our teacher, was very proud to tell us in class that Canada had a population of 11 million
Today we stand at more than 35 million people. This is more than a three-fold increase.
What I am pointing out here is that our population is growing at a very steady and fast rate.
As we look back over the years, we must try and learn from mistakes made, as well as great things that have been done. Many of these great things were only a dream, or a thought by one or more who grabbed onto it and went forward with it.
Some examples of things that helped make Canada and B.C. what they are today are:
• The Trans Canada Railway - which really opened things up.
• The development of the hydro dams - this brought power to many areas which used candles, coal lamps and naphtha gas lanterns. What a blessing!
Some years ago, someone was wise enough to procure land near Vancouver with the novel idea of a park. Now try to take Stanley Park away from them. The outcry would be heard around the world.
Now the time has come for Barriere to do some thinking and planning for future generations. Maybe not on the scale of Stanley Park, but something future citizens will be proud of, and will thank those who planned wisely for the future.
This is the reason the North Thompson Fish and Game Club made this presentation to the District of Barriere council on Jan. 5, 2015.
We asked council to procure one section of land, around and including Leonie Lake from the province of B.C. as parkland to be developed at a future date.
We realize development won’t happen immediately, but we are asking that the District of Barriere get this property before it is too late.
Many cities and towns in B.C. or elsewhere for that matter, would only be too glad to have a gem like Leonie Lake so close to their town.
We hope this opportunity is not allowed to slip away.
Mel Schmidt, on behalf of
The North Thompson Fish and Game Club
Barriere, B.C.