Only days after the Vernon Sports User Committee Group’s Vote yes signs were vandalized the Greater Vernon Advocates Committee’s, Vote No signs were equally vandalized.
Within hours of putting up the signs, 10 had either been stolen or broken. Overnight on December 3rd the large sign at Kal Beach was broken into three pieces.
Sharon Lawrence who spear headed the sign committee for the Greater Vernon Advocates Committee was dismayed. She said, “All of these signs were hand painted and took hours and hours to complete. We didn’t have a sign company mass make our signs. We just had a lot of people spend their own money and take their own time to put up a message they believed in.”
The committee is currently debating whether it is worthwhile to redo the signs. “We wonder if the same thing will happen again.” said Tom West one of the sign designers and painters. “I had two signs removed from my property. The first one was by the road and was taken. I moved the second one farther into my property, but they took that one too.”
The Vernon Outdoor Sports Committee received a donation to replace their signs from a concerned “NO” supporter. The Greater Vernon Advocates Committee is wondering whether they will receive a similar donation from a “Yes” supporter.
The anonymous No supporter for the Yes campaign signs wrote a letter that was given to Jim Garlick on Coldstream Council. The full message of that letter was not quoted in the media. It read:
“I am an active athlete and have been closely following this debate. What saddens and frustrates me is how divided the community is over the park issue. The acts of vandalism this past weekend demonstrate in brilliant colors how truly ignorant some people can act when living in a vacuum of political leadership.”
Unfortunately, unless the next municipal elections produce a miracle, it appears that GVS and GVS Parks and Recreation will continue to create these kinds of conflicts in our community through their lack of transparent political leadership and intelligent, dialogue based, long term planning. (As an example, surely it must be possible to identify and understand the needs of the various groups and propose compromised based solutions which work for all members of our community.)”
“Despite the fact that I am an active athlete, I find myself obligated (not currently in favour as reported in the Morning Star, pg. A10, Dec. 2nd) to support the “NO” side of the current debate and the vision and views of Coldstream Councilor Mr. Jim Garlick.
The author finishes by saying, “I also hope that what ever the outcome of the referendum is that all members of our community recognize the advantages for all of us to understand each others needs and reach solutions based on a ‘win/win’ mentality as opposed to the current GVSC and GVS Parks and Recreation mentality of ‘win/lose’.”
Threatening E-mails:
Gyula Kiss reports that his blog: http://coldstreamernews.blogspot.com/ received some nasty and or threatening e-mails about the sports complex issue. The writers, “unclesmelly”, “tommy shaw”, and “Pete Piichot” chose to call the ‘No’ proponents names like, “old farts”, “Birdie Brains” & “clowns”. Tommy Shaw threatened the people to “Vote yes or face a good boot in the rear”. Gareth Southgate said, “if you do not vote yes prepare for the consequences of your inappropriate behaviour.” “Gina Gershon” wrote, “maybe it is because the no side has their head up their ass”.
Tuesday, Dec. 4th another e-mail came in that said:
From: bert l pederson
Date: 12/4/2007 1:05:04 PM
To: coldstreamer@shaw.ca
Subject: YES to new park or you get boot in ass
I talk to my friend greg he say you no want park on Aberdeen road he say you hate kids . I talk to neighbout of you on kidston road the Carr's he say you have head up your ass. that you have spent too much time with old cocaine pipe . I drink at alexanders andy danyliu there one night he say to me yes park good on abereen road. he say originally he talk out of his ass now he talk out of his mouth . he got bad dope from beleize and it made him sick for awhile. I see you not vote at polling station I boot you in ass when i see you take your dog for crap in orchard. Bert
How unfortunate that in today’s supposedly enlightened world this is how people act – whether in person or through various forms of communication. Some hide behind fake names so as to not identify themselves, but their ignorance and intolerance for others views is blatant for all to see.
It is this type of mentality that leads to bullying in schools, cliques and all forms of abuse.
It is sad and just another indicator that what should have been a proposal based upon public input from all sides of the issue has turned into an ugly, name calling, threatening, vandalism laden, divisive debate and campaign.
Everyone will form an opinion. What is important is that the opinion is based upon a full knowledge of the facts. That is the goal of the Greater Vernon Advocates Committee. We encourage people to read the Greater Vernon Master Parks Plan, the actual application from GVS to the District of Coldstream, Coldstream’s Official Community Plan and ALR guidelines, facts and figures. It will give voters an understanding of what is truly happening with this application.
Within hours of putting up the signs, 10 had either been stolen or broken. Overnight on December 3rd the large sign at Kal Beach was broken into three pieces.
Sharon Lawrence who spear headed the sign committee for the Greater Vernon Advocates Committee was dismayed. She said, “All of these signs were hand painted and took hours and hours to complete. We didn’t have a sign company mass make our signs. We just had a lot of people spend their own money and take their own time to put up a message they believed in.”
The committee is currently debating whether it is worthwhile to redo the signs. “We wonder if the same thing will happen again.” said Tom West one of the sign designers and painters. “I had two signs removed from my property. The first one was by the road and was taken. I moved the second one farther into my property, but they took that one too.”
The Vernon Outdoor Sports Committee received a donation to replace their signs from a concerned “NO” supporter. The Greater Vernon Advocates Committee is wondering whether they will receive a similar donation from a “Yes” supporter.
The anonymous No supporter for the Yes campaign signs wrote a letter that was given to Jim Garlick on Coldstream Council. The full message of that letter was not quoted in the media. It read:
“I am an active athlete and have been closely following this debate. What saddens and frustrates me is how divided the community is over the park issue. The acts of vandalism this past weekend demonstrate in brilliant colors how truly ignorant some people can act when living in a vacuum of political leadership.”
Unfortunately, unless the next municipal elections produce a miracle, it appears that GVS and GVS Parks and Recreation will continue to create these kinds of conflicts in our community through their lack of transparent political leadership and intelligent, dialogue based, long term planning. (As an example, surely it must be possible to identify and understand the needs of the various groups and propose compromised based solutions which work for all members of our community.)”
“Despite the fact that I am an active athlete, I find myself obligated (not currently in favour as reported in the Morning Star, pg. A10, Dec. 2nd) to support the “NO” side of the current debate and the vision and views of Coldstream Councilor Mr. Jim Garlick.
The author finishes by saying, “I also hope that what ever the outcome of the referendum is that all members of our community recognize the advantages for all of us to understand each others needs and reach solutions based on a ‘win/win’ mentality as opposed to the current GVSC and GVS Parks and Recreation mentality of ‘win/lose’.”
Threatening E-mails:
Gyula Kiss reports that his blog: http://coldstreamernews.blogspot.com/ received some nasty and or threatening e-mails about the sports complex issue. The writers, “unclesmelly”, “tommy shaw”, and “Pete Piichot” chose to call the ‘No’ proponents names like, “old farts”, “Birdie Brains” & “clowns”. Tommy Shaw threatened the people to “Vote yes or face a good boot in the rear”. Gareth Southgate said, “if you do not vote yes prepare for the consequences of your inappropriate behaviour.” “Gina Gershon” wrote, “maybe it is because the no side has their head up their ass”.
Tuesday, Dec. 4th another e-mail came in that said:
From: bert l pederson
Date: 12/4/2007 1:05:04 PM
To: coldstreamer@shaw.ca
Subject: YES to new park or you get boot in ass
I talk to my friend greg he say you no want park on Aberdeen road he say you hate kids . I talk to neighbout of you on kidston road the Carr's he say you have head up your ass. that you have spent too much time with old cocaine pipe . I drink at alexanders andy danyliu there one night he say to me yes park good on abereen road. he say originally he talk out of his ass now he talk out of his mouth . he got bad dope from beleize and it made him sick for awhile. I see you not vote at polling station I boot you in ass when i see you take your dog for crap in orchard. Bert
How unfortunate that in today’s supposedly enlightened world this is how people act – whether in person or through various forms of communication. Some hide behind fake names so as to not identify themselves, but their ignorance and intolerance for others views is blatant for all to see.
It is this type of mentality that leads to bullying in schools, cliques and all forms of abuse.
It is sad and just another indicator that what should have been a proposal based upon public input from all sides of the issue has turned into an ugly, name calling, threatening, vandalism laden, divisive debate and campaign.
Everyone will form an opinion. What is important is that the opinion is based upon a full knowledge of the facts. That is the goal of the Greater Vernon Advocates Committee. We encourage people to read the Greater Vernon Master Parks Plan, the actual application from GVS to the District of Coldstream, Coldstream’s Official Community Plan and ALR guidelines, facts and figures. It will give voters an understanding of what is truly happening with this application.
