Dear editor,
Congratulations to Comox town council for finally reminding the other participants in regional recreation that the funding for regional facilities was meant to be reciprocal.
It is about time that the others ponied up for their share of the Filberg Park, regionally used green space that鈥檚 in town boundaries or whatever.
However, there is part of the formula that has been overlooked. When the sports complex was built and Comox was convinced to participate regionally, there was a perceived promise 鈥� if not an actual agreement 鈥� that Comox would get a swimming pool and an arena at some time in the future.
Well, the future came and went. The decision as where to put the second pool and arena came but the other participants refused to acknowledge the agreement, even denying its existence. So the second pool and arena were built in Courtenay as well.
Then there was a discussion about the Sid Williams Theatre and whether or not it should be replaced with a new theatre or rebuilt. A committee was formed and decided that a new theatre in Comox would better suit the need of the whole Valley.
That wasn鈥檛 good enough for Courtenay and they insisted on rebuilding the Sid.
Then came another opportunity in the form of a skateboard park. At Shirley McLaughlin鈥檚 invite, a small group of kids came to Comox council wanting a skateboard park in Comox.
Once again regional forces intervened and we now have to go to Courtenay for that activity as well.
The part of the formula that is now being overlooked is that now is the ideal opportunity to have the other participants in regional recreation facilities commit to having similar facilities built in Comox.
I encourage Comox council to continue to demand that the program be made truly regional and reciprocal by insisting on similar facilities in Comox.
D.W. (Don) Davis,
Comox
