What follows is a letter I wrote, published in the local Sooke newspaper, after it was announced that one of the few public beach access points was going to be closed by the developer. I wrote the letter in February when it looked like we had no real hope of saving the beach access. The mayor (owned by developers), and the landowner (a developer) made several false claims about the whole situation -- typical disinformation.

But the community responded strongly to the mayor's backroom deal. It's legality was investigated, the engineers got involved, neighbours convened to discuss the issue, and it appears that the beach access will be saved!

What's trippy for me, and why I'm posting the letter here, is that what started for me as a supremely discouraging piece of news that I read in the newspaper in which I could have just accepted the "inevitable", transformed into something very beautiful -- for me starting with a decision to take action. Not only is the beach access probably saved, but also the community has grown much stronger.

There is a power in democracy which we tend to forget we have. I hope this letter serves to remind us of that power -- with a special shout-out to the Fernwood residents.

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We need to keep the Ella Road beach access open

My name is Shiraz Dindar. I moved to Sooke last March – a proud young first-time homeowner. The reason I moved here was to live a low-impact life in a natural environment. By low-impact, I mean that I work from home as a programmer for environmental websites, so I do not need to commute by car. Part of the reason I chose my house on Henlyn Drive is because I can walk to the beach, via Ella Road. With this potential closure, any trips to the beach must involve a bicycle on a good day, or a car in less-than-stellar weather.

Given the weather of our region, essentially this translates into more time in a vehicle – another car on Sooke’s streets. Driving to get into nature is not only environmentally questionable, it is also ironic -- in order to get into nature, we must first get into a machine!

Sooke can choose to develop according to old, unsustainable ways, or new, progressive ways that meet the larger ideals of long-term livability.

For every drunk teenager that comes down to the Ella Road beach, there are a dozen more like myself – quiet, respectful neighbours that literally leave the beach cleaner than when we arrive. Our presence is peaceful, and it is perhaps for this reason that we don’t get noticed when the partiers do.

What mark of a community is it when we deal with the problem of bored teenagers by simply cutting them off from their activities rather than addressing the root causes of their boredom and alienation? Nature in fact is the ideal place for people to come together – where socio-cultural differences fade away against a backdrop of sea, sky and mountain. With love and attention, the beach can be a place where the youth – and indeed all of us – heal and grow. It can be a place of connection.

Mr. Butler’s wealth is not only his own. True wealth is interdependent. He has gained wealth by living in this community, and he has a responsibility towards it.

Forward vision and insight is required for the healthy growth of Sooke. It is morally requisite upon Sooke Council to keep the Ella Road beach access open.
Sun, April 20, 2008 - 2:52 PM - pe