Dear Editor,
While volunteering at a recent Bowen Legion work party it dawned on me that at least five of the regular “older” attendees at the Friday night dinners, who always sat at the “seniors’ table” (aka the Senate) no longer attend. Why? Because they have chosen to move off the island due to a lack of appropriate seniors’ housing such as Snug Cove House (formerly Abbeyfield). This “reflection” is not intended in any way to diminish the dedication of a great number of Snug Cove House directors, both past and present, for their perseverance and commitment to succeed, but rather it is to bring an important community issue to light in a comparative manner.
By comparison, the disproportionate amount of time, effort and money spent by individuals, and in turn the municipality, to prevent docks at Cape Roger Curtis and eventually/methodically other targeted areas on Bowen, interested if not concerned me. I think there is something terribly wrong with the balance/priorities of so many resources and so much energy being focused on stopping the docks, when comparatively little is being done to address the much needed seniors’ housing for the much respected elderly members of our community who are now moving on to the “next stage” of their lives, off the island!
Regardless of where one stands on the “Stop the Docks” initiative, with some for it and a great number of the silent majority against, none of us have a choice as to growing old and eventually needing the “next place” to live, as in “assisted living”. Against a backdrop of the current 2015 – 2019 Financial Plan Budget Consultation Meeting, this is a perfect time to consider the most appropriate use of our taxpayers’ monies and priorities in the community. Let’s focus more time, support, effort
Bruce Russell
