To the Editor,
Re: Empire Days society plans to cancel its annual celebration, Feb. 19.
Congratulations to the organizing members for standing up for what they believe and who have worked so hard on this event every year. I don’t see churches changing their name in light of the atrocity they committed when in charge of the schools. All countries, organizations and events have issues that could be hurtful to someone. It is just too bad they could not keep the name and work something out. The city and the citizens in the end will be the loser.
Mike Allisonvia e-mail
To the Editor,
Re: Empire Days society plans to cancel its annual celebration, Feb. 19.
Our city council has done right in not contributing to the Victoria Day parade. Reconciliation with our aboriginal Canadian neighbours is more important, as is our common future. Looking back to the past, if it is to represent all Canadians, must recognize the reality of the damage that colonial empires, of whatever country, have done to aboriginal peoples and cultures all over the world. If celebrating the past does not do so, perhaps the people’s money is better spent caring for the future than in honouring a past that brought benefits to the few through the misery of the many.
Paul Biscopvia e-mail
To the Editor,
Re: Empire Days society plans to cancel its annual celebration, Feb. 19.
If this truly is the end of the Nanaimo Empire Days celebrations, then on behalf of thousands of my constituents who have enjoyed the celebration for decades, I want to express sincere thanks to the members of the society and the many volunteers who have sustained this part of Nanaimo’s rich and diverse heritage. Tolerance and acceptance is a two-way street and I would have hoped that the concept of live and let live would have been applied here. This community will not be a better place as a result of the disappearance of this part of our collective heritage.
Leonard Krog, MLANanaimo
To the Editor,
Re: Empire Days society plans to cancel its annual celebration, Feb. 19.
We should not have decades of Empire Days tradition cancelled, all because of louder voices of influence, surely of a real minority. Multiculturally mixed Nanaimoites have for so many years enjoyed all activities connected to that of the celebrations, and thousands have enjoyed the wonderful fireworks at night. Bring back our celebration, even if a name change becomes necessary.
I am surprised the elected Nanaimo mayor and council ordered a change of name, or else funding would be denied. If that is what they want, did they ever bother to find out what we want?
M.L. Conroyvia e-mail