Public Input Process CLOSED
Posted on | February 19, 2009 |
It’s official. The public process that allowed Anmore residents the opportunity to provide input to Mayor and Council is now officially over.
Anmore Public Meeting
I’m very disappointed to see the lack of respect for each other shown by the over capacity crowd at tonight’s public meeting.
This type of forum is uncomfortable for most people. Public speaking is the people’s biggest fear.
As I sat, listened, and took notes, I applauded all points of view even those that I disagreed with. I did this with out making comments as people were speaking, and without whispering out loud to my fellow citizens.
For those who were brave enough to speak who received dead silence instead of roaring applause like most others, I’m sorry. But thank you for speaking up.
I found this a very interesting study of people, their fear of loss, I want it my way regardless of how it affects you, and I don’t really care what you say unless you agree with me.
What’s most interesting is children emulate what they see from their parents. So I should expect to see new students showing up that don’t respect others who’s opinions differ from theirs, those that don’t listen with an open mind, and those that don’t respect others and their feelings.
I will over the next days and weeks to come, provide updates and additional on the data gathered from the many who posted comments on this blog.
For example, today I was pleased to see British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) have staff and or a student posting at Submitted on 2009/02/19 at 10:09am and Submitted on 2009/02/19 at 10:24am (more details to come).
Have a great day!
Go Canucks!!!!
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For more information regarding the proposed building of Heritage Middle School please contact:
Village of Anmore - Anmore Mayor Hal Weinberg, Councilor John McEwen, Councilor Kerri Palmer Isaak, Councilor Mario Piamonte, Anmore Councilor Chris Sedergreen. 2697 Sunnyside Road, Anmore, BC, V3H 5G9
School District 43 – SD43 - Tom Grant Superintendant of Schools, Dan Derpak, Assistant Superintendant of Schools, Holly Butterfield School Trustee. 550 Poirier Street, Coquitlam, B.C. V3J 6A7
Comments
5 Responses to “Public Input Process CLOSED”
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February 19th, 2009 @ 11:43 pm
Doug,
You really are self-righteous. When I consider how you excessively harassed a dear friend of mine over a two week period disrupting her family’s happiness because she is of an opinion different than your own, all that I can say is shame on you for so harshly judging the behaviour of those around you. You may wish to spin your silence as respectful and attentive, but be assured that most people in the room perceived it as cowardice.
I have been extremely disappointed in your “I want it my way regardless of how it affects you, and I don’t really care what you say unless you agree with me” attitutde (you see how this statement works just as well for me as it does for you). You showed no concern for the wishes of more than 450 households that desperately want this resource in our community for the benefit of our children.
I am sure you realize that this process would have been significantly less heated if you had not taken it upon yourself to misrepresent an entire group of people, for most of whom access was and still is their only issue. I am happy to say that many of the people on the petition that circulated this evening are, and will remain, cherished friends. Perhaps tomorrow after you remove your rude signs our community can get back to the business of moving forward.
One last comment, how dare you suggest that the children of those who disagree with you are being done a disservice (again, I could say the very same of you, but I wouldn’t). You know nothing about the people that you criticize we are a very diverse group that resists easy categorization.
In the end, if the school is built you will be unhappy and if the school is not built I will be unhappy, but more importantly the education of thousands of children will be impacted (most of whom have no choice other than public school).
Good night.
February 19th, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
Incidentally, what ever became of the environmental study you promised?
February 20th, 2009 @ 4:48 pm
My name is Nicola and I have lived in Anmore Green for 7 years. I did know about the high school and I knew the school district had purchased the lots behind us. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the school district would not consider our community when building the high school, but they did not. No trees were left as a buffer or a sound wall put up. I understand that the noise by-law in Port Moody is 10pm for residents but for sports fields it is 11pm. I now listen year round to soccer till 11pm at night. Sometimes the men’s leagues use nice language, sometimes they do not. I did not realize this would be my reality in buying a house in Anmore. On weekends it is not the voices of children I hear but the voices of their parents cheering them on or screaming at the top of their lungs to GO SALLY GO, TAKE IT ALL THE WAY, depending on how you want to spin it, as many people do at any sporting event.
I can understand after living here for a number of years why Port Moody left our community out of the planning but I believe the school district had a moral obligation that they ignored.
When considering the traffic impact, I do not believe that the district has a realistic idea of the number of students who would walk. The only students who will be walking to the school will be Dogwood and Anmore Green students. You only need to ask at Anmore Elementary how many students walk to school to realize that students will be driven. I have on several occasions been the walking school bus from Anmore Green to Anmore Elementary (45 minutes one way with children) and I am always surprised at how many students get driven to school when there is a school bus for them to use. The reasons these families have for driving their children to school is probably varied and needed for each family but why is middle school going to be different for these same families in Anmore?
And if this school does become more of a community centre during the evening? Then I can only assume the traffic will increase in the off school hours.
Do I have any trust left? I bought knowing, but I did not buy thinking the school district and Port Moody wouldn’t care about our community. I believe that many people are just plain scared of what the outcome will actually be. I really hope that the rest of Anmore can put themselves in our shoes and think how they would feel with the traffic coming down their quiet street and work with us to help solve some of our fears. Image a school at the end of Birch Winde? Our community is very similar with children of all ages playing on the street….riding bikes, skipping rope, playing hockey, chalking up a storm, the list is long and they do it on the street.
In closing, I am in favour of a middle school. I bought my house knowingly. I would like the rest of Anmore to have some sympathy for us as we bear the burden of yet another *nimby* thing and help us come up with some solutions that will help soften the blow.
All I really want to do these days is cry.
February 21st, 2009 @ 7:29 am
Nicola,
It is so nice to read your post. I was wondering if I was alone with my concerns. I too seem to be very emotional these days, how can I not be. Hummingbird Drive was not a well known street even to many Anmore residents. Now its going to become a very busy street 24/7. The traffic expert gave out some numbers last meeting, 300-350 cars a day! This is only morning and afternoon drop off and pick up, not even including other function the school may want to host.
I personally feel I am getting this school and its traffic crammed down my throat if I like it or not. I’ve voiced my concerns and even made some suggestions like, can we not have the one access off of Heritage Mountain? Can we re-use the two schools that were closed last year in Port Moody? Well all this has been angrily shot down by some.
I am so sick of hearing people say things like, there are 400 people in support of this school. As if to say how even dare you go against so many peoples wishes. Well look at the big picture people, the majority of the 400 people are at the stage in their lives, including myself that we have young children that will be needing a middle school and yes it would really be nice if it was in our neighbourhood. Once these children are all grown up and hopefully off to bigger and better things in life and these 400 peoples priorities now change who is left with the traffic, pollution, noise, is the residents who are being directly effected. SO WE HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK UP!
All that I ask is that SD43 and Anmore council respect the fact that we live in a quiet, safe community. I don’t think its very respectful of them to want to bring in that amount of traffic in our neighbourhood.
I would really find it interesting to see if the school was to be built at the other end of Anmore how many people would be in support of it. I have yet to see the daycare / community center up and running in its proposed location. The daycare would have come in handy for me.
February 21st, 2009 @ 11:24 pm
Hi Nicola,
I am so thankful that you posted this comment. If your fellow petitioners had taken this approach from the beginning the reaction of those of us who are in favour of the school would have been significantly different.
You are my friend and you are genuinely concerned and so, if the zoning bylaw is passed, I will join you on the committee to help persuade SD43 and council to make whatever adjustments are possible to mitigate the impact upon you and your neighbours. We still have a lengthy road ahead to tread before the middle school can become a reality.
If the zoning bylaw does not pass, all of this will be moot and I will be happy to see your tranquility preserved.