I always thought that the purpose of the recreation department was to encourage, not discourage, people to exercise. Apparently I was mistaken about this with respect to the Abbotsford recreation department.

I am speaking of the new schedule for ARC that begins July 1st and runs until Centennial Pool opens or the Whalers competition season ends – whichever comes first. In keeping with the operating behaviour of the City of Abbotsford the decision about this schedule was made behind closed doors and without consultation with or consideration of patrons.

I accept that some inconvenience must result from the need to accommodate the Whalers due to the failure of Centennial Pool to be opened in time for the Whalers to begin training for competition. I made the necessary, though personally inconvenient, changes to my exercise (swimming) schedule to get my needed exercise in around the Whalers schedule.

This was possible because for May and June the Whalers finished by 9PM leaving the 1 hour adult swim available to those displaced swimmers and water-cisesrs. However in the proposed new (indefinite) schedule this time has been reduce to a ½ hour – inadequate time for a proper exercise regimen.

I think it only reasonable that the proposed schedule be amended to ensure at least one hour as the minimum time for an exercise workout. If it is not possible to reschedule the Whalers so that they continue to finish by 9PM, then the pool should be kept open until 10:30PM until the Whalers are able to move to Centennial Pool.

Should it be suggested that this extra expense is to onerous I suggest that the money should come from the salaries of those in City management who, lacking the common sense to hire someone who had experience in pool construction, are responsible for the need to accommodate the Whalers.

Not only would this be an equitable sharing of the pain the Whalers and patrons of ARC have had to endure for no justifiable reason, but it would hopefully serve to encourage common sense and good business practices as future behaviour from senior management.

As his neighbours can tell you Mark Taylor has sold his home in Abbotsford and purchased a larger new home in Langley.

While I cannot say that Langley’s lower taxes are what have drawn Mr. Taylor there, it is certainly ironic that after playing a leading part in inflicting a heavy tax burden on the taxpayers of Abbotsford Mr. Taylor is himself fleeing to the lower taxes of Langley.

Perhaps it is merely that Mr. Taylor is seeking a community where he will have no problem finding a public pool to cool off in should our weather ever heat up to summer temperatures. Langley and many other smaller communities, have more indoor and outdoor pool facilities than Abbotsford. They probably also have enough common sense to hire people who have experience building pools and know what they are doing, thus avoiding extended shutdowns as is happening with Centennial Pool.

Possibly it is the many other sports and recreation facilities and programs that the citizens of Langley enjoy that the citizens of Abbotsford lack that motivate Mr Taylor’s relocation. If so perhaps Mr. Taylor should be raising the matter or these recreational inadequacies with …… himself as Abbotsford’s parks, recreation and culture head honcho.

Undeniably his move does suggest that a white elephant of an arena is not a deciding factor, even someone responsible for foisting it upon Abbotsford, in making Abbotsford is a “must live” community. Just as clearly Langley’s lack of said white elephant is no deterrent to people moving there.

Apparently Abbotsford is fine place to take an exorbitant salary from, just not somewhere you want to live. A comment on Mr. Taylor’s opinion of the outcomes of the actions he and the rest of Abbotsford City Hall have wreaked upon our poor (much poorer) City?

It transpired that the other day I was listening to Councillor John Smith bloviate the Legend of Compassion Park:

In the spring of 2006 Mayor Ferguson stayed the hand of the City then met with the poor unfortunates of Compassion Park, rallied the resources of Abbotsford, finding jobs and housing for those forced to reside in the Park. When all had jobs and housing, when the Park was no longer needed, the City cleaned up the area and all lived happily ever after. Thus it is that the Legend of Compassion Park recollects the events of the spring 2006.

I have heard the Legend told many times; a tale used to show the city is addressing homelessness wisely and effectively.

I decided it was time to acquaint the reader with the actual events and outcomes in order that they can make their own judgment about what transpired. In all fairness I must admit that I am tired of hearing the legend, even more I am worried that the legend is allowing procrastination and complacency on the issue of homelessness by the City.

Mayor Ferguson did indeed hold off on sending in the police and city workers. Whether this was because he recognized the pointless expense of continuously chasing those with nowhere else to go from point to point around the City (although the police and City quickly resumed this chase after the closing of the Park) or whether he was motivated by the front page picture in the Abbotsford News I cannot say.

Mayor Ferguson did focus resources such as Income Assistance on the problem and some jobs were offered. It is from this point in the events of last spring that Legend and Reality begin an ever-widening divergence.

Reality is that finding jobs and housing for the homeless is not fast and easy. However, rather than invest the time (months) required for getting the residents of the Park housing and employment, the City made arrangements for them to be “sheltered” while the efforts of others continued to find housing and employment. Having covered its a** in this manner the City set a deadline for leaving the Park and encouraged compliance by moving in at the deadline confiscating, that is, “cleaning up” any possessions remaining in the Park.

Not only had the City managed to divert public attention from homelessness and avoid any adverse media coverage, the Legend was born giving the city an answer to give when questions of homelessness and poverty arise. Sheer luck or political brilliance it matters not, the result was the same either way.

What were the actual outcomes for the seemingly forgotten residents of Compassion Park? Well the jobs disappeared with the end of media attention and accolades for the employers. With one exception the homeless are still homeless, returning to the streets after exhausting their time in shelter or being unable to sustain themselves in housing.

For the one person who found and remains in housing, it was as much in spite of, as because of the city’s actions. If it had not been for the citizens who gave their time and caring to help, even this single resident of Compassion Park would not have a home today. It is this type of ongoing community support that is a key ingredient to ending homelessness.

A Success? A Failure? I suppose that depends on whether you are listening to the “Legend” of Compassion Park or what actually transpired. For the City of Abbotsford the Legend is a tale that makes it appear the City is doing something or has a handle on the question of homelessness. It allows them to avoid taking any responsibility or actions to help those with so great a need for compassion and a helping hand on city streets.

Lest you think the City is merely delusional and in denial about the Legend and the homeless on its streets let me show you evidence of the fear that Abbotsford has that public attention and concern could force them to provide leadership and action on homelessness.

Below is the City’s demonstrated solution to Homelessness. When in the early spring of this year 2007, it came to the city’s attention that once again there were homeless forced to take shelter in the area that was dubbed Compassion Park, they quickly posted No Trespassing signs, moved in and confiscated the tarps, tents and belongings of the homeless.

The fact that we were in the midst of a 10-day deluge and taking everything left these homeless exposed to the elements made no difference. It was apparently more important to the City that there be no opportunity for news coverage and public attention to return to Compassion Park exposing the unpleasant truth behind the Legend. But then Legends seldom truly correspond to Reality.