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Letter: If you didn't walk the Steveston boardwalk, don't talk

Dear Editor, Re: “Enough already of the Onni versus city council fight,” Letters , Aug. 10. If you didn’t walk the walk, don’t talk about the boardwalk. I am getting sick and tired of these people complaining about the City of Richmond vs.
Onni development
The commercial area of the Onni development in Steveston sits vacant, as council reject Onni's $4.75 million rezoning offer and defer a decision to the next public hearing.

Dear Editor,

Re: “Enough already of the Onni versus city council fight,” Letters, Aug. 10.

If you didn’t walk the walk, don’t talk about the boardwalk. I am getting sick and tired of these people complaining about the City of Richmond vs. Onni dispute.

Where were they during the B.C. Packers rezoning, when we were fighting for more heritage, a better commercial fishing economy, including a world class fish market, for a better community in general and for the environment?

I am a 59-year citizen of Richmond, (I’ve lived here all my life), and proud of it. I am also a proud defender of the commercial fishing industry, the environment and the community’s heritage.

I’m embarrassed by the boardwalk, as well. An ersatz boardwalk, where cracks from the dyke below still appear far more than not.

The aluminium outline of one small part of the once immense Imperial Cannery, (the largest cannery in the British Empire), disgusts me.

If we had had more support from the public at large, we could have saved the entire original building, and then some.

I’m saddened by the large amount of density that was amassed by B.C. Packers and that the only heritage offered to the city and community was a net loft building, now in a questionable state, regarding restoration.

I was, and still am, disgusted that several First-Nations burials were bulldozed in the name of profit and that there is still no mention of the fact that there were two First-Nations villages along the waterfront, one in the Imperial Phoenix area and the other at Garry Point.

Again, where were these now complainers when we tried to save all of it? Were they beguiled by the B.C. Packers support group and the company’s high-powered public relations team, bent on parading smoke and mirrors throughout the community to get what they want?

Well, they got it, and the community was left with nothing but a few scattered artifacts located on this still crumbling edifice of a boardwalk.

And what amazes me is that the City of Richmond gave them a heritage award for it. For what? I ask. Again, there’s very little heritage to speak of.

The latest letter writer, says, “I have reviewed and considered the numerous to and fro arguments published in the News. I appreciate the issues.”

Well, that’s all very well and fine, but I think he should also bone up on the history of the property, to show what was there and what we could have had.

We wouldn’t have the empty retail space that we have there now because people wanting to establish businesses in the community would have lined up to get a place in the heritage Imperial area. Granville Island and Gastown are classic examples of what we could have had. We even tried to get the community’s historic streetcar up and running to all the heritage sites, but thanks to that same negative portion of the community, it now sits static and soundless as a stuffed grizzly. Well at least it’s preserved, and I still believe it will run again.

The Trans-Canada Trail was looking at coming into Steveston, but with the company’s scorched-earth policy regarding heritage on the property and the obliteration of all but one of the heritage buildings, the TCT went elsewhere.

Why the spaces sit empty is that the price per square foot lease, is very much prohibitive to most businesses that would fit in the area.

And high-end businesses we don’t need here, but rather businesses that the community can use. No more souvenir shops or restaurants and no chain stores either.

This community built itself on local businesses.

A high price example is that of McDonalds, who left because their lease became too expensive for them to continue operating. Well when a multi-billion-dollar corporation pulls out because their lease it too high, what chance have individual businesses?

Our latest writer also makes these statements. “The city’s main argument appears to be “We can’t let them get away with this.” To that, I say, who are you acting for when you take this position? The press refers to many members of council that say “we need to hear more from the community.” Where are the surveys? Who is asking us what we want? Do a few town hall meetings suffice?

The City is trying to defend the fishing industry and the community at large (which is why the community is here in the first place). There are some within the city who feel that Onni got too much and I’ll totally agree with that. Thank you Packers.

He also states. “Onni has built for us an amazing addition to Steveston that all its citizens and guests can enjoy,”

I think not.

“We need to hear more from the community?”

Again, where was our latest writer and all the other complainers during the BCP hearings? Where were they, to fill out the numerous surveys that were handed out at the equally numerous town hall and community meetings back then. Where were they to add their names to the numerous petitions in support of the fishing industry, the environment and heritage.

I’ll let them answer that question.

All of our supporters wanted what was right for the community, but because the company got what it wanted, we were left with what we have now. But I and others are prepared to continue to take the fight as long as it takes, to get what the community needs. I’m not suffering and I don’t think the community is either.

It’s because of people who didn’t come out and support the industry, the environment and the heritage of the community, and those who were beguiled by the company and others, that we have a legacy of nothing on the boardwalk and an almost ghost town of retail space.

A friend of mine says “If you don’t get out and vote, you have no right to complain.” Well these people didn’t come out, so what right have they to complain?

Somewhere lies the skeletal remains of the once proud salmon of industry, environment and heritage and I can certainly refer to what is now boardwalk as much the same.

Gordon Kibble

Richmond