You’re deeply touched professor? Pray tell.

Yeah, I am deeply touched by the Sooke Economic Development Committee’s sudden interest in we Golden Oldies but unless these blokes can do better than come up with some of those dumb ideas that came out of that so-called Age-Friendly Sooke Forum they should leave us alone to stumble through life along Sooke’s uneven streets and get on with what they are supposed to do attract business to our community.

Something has got your goat professor?

The results of that forum as printed in last week’s Sooke News Mirror were hailed by Councillor Brenda Parkinson as, “totally awesome.” Her next comment, “it would have been nice if there were a whole lot more people there,” speaks volumes about the turnout.

 Those young whippersnappers Councillors Parkinson and  Rick Kasper were the biggest boosters of the event, which will no doubt be noted in their election brochures.

 Councillor Parkinson believes it is “totally awesome” that we doddering oldsters should have a separate swim lane in the Sooke pool to  keep us out of the way as we dog paddle along.

 How about this classic: loud background music at restaurants, “makes it difficult for older people to hear and enjoy their social situation.” The forum didn’t specify classical or hard rock.

 Most patronizing of all was the suggestion that we aged and infirm should be provided seating so we can sit down instead of having to stand in lineups at local businesses. And while we are at it why not have someone standing by to help carry the oldsters’ parcels to their cars. Any takers Frank Gertsma?

 Instead of indulging in such nonsense the Sooke Economic Development Commission should  tackle some real issues like seniors’ mobility, specifically the woeful lack of sidewalks in this community.

 But all is not lost when it comes to council action on sidewalks and we must be thankful for that. A few feet of brand spanking new sidewalk has miraculously appeared in front of a new waterfront development along Whiffen Spit Road at Wright Road. The fact that it starts nowhere and goes nowhere is a prime example of most council policies but it is a start.

 Bits of sidewalk have also appeared along West Coast Road in front of new developments and the plethora of for sale signs in front of commercially-zoned waterfront properties along the harbour indicates that some day, in the next century, we will see sidewalks along West Coast Road.  

 Curiously, there is no sign of a sidewalk leading to and from our new multi-million dollar Ayre Manor Lodge seniors’  project and if anybody needs access to the town  for shopping and other services they do. That is an age-friendly project council should get onto right away.

 The next most age-friendly thing council can do is lobby for some kind of traffic signal light to allow cars to exit to the left onto Sooke Road out of Evergreen Plaza. We seniors aren’t as swift as we used to be behind the wheel and the game of Russian roulette we play while trying to turn left into traffic as we exit the plaza is scary.

 And council itself could do something age-friendly for seniors by speaking clearly and not mumbling during council meetings or at least using the microphones for the lousy public address system. The few members of the public who attend the meetings could then at least have some idea of who is saying what.

 While I can understand that the Sooke Economic Development Commission which has teamed up with the Chamber of Commerce to no demonstrable success is looking for projects to justify their existence, they also goofed on this one by setting the age limits for the forum at 50 years and older.

 The gold card which we all receive at age 65 should be the ticket of entry to any discussions about age-related issues

Other wise

Judging by the lineup of familiar council faces pictured in last week’s Sooke News Mirror everybody is running for re-election with the exception of Jen Smith, so there will be at least one seat up for grabs. Incumbents have a huge advantage in seeking re-election so they will likely get back in, which isn’t all bad because continuity in office has been greatly lacking in our council, and this council overall has done a pretty good job during a rookie term. The mayor, of course, is a shoo-in for re-election. She was even noted recently jogging along Whiffin Spit. No sign of her group on the  boardwalk though.

Thank you professor.

Y’re welcome.