Douglas Day dinner a reminderthat Langley is one community
Editor: The celebration of Douglas Day on Nov. 18 and 19, and British Columbia being 149 years old, was very impressive. Next year (2008) we will be 150 years old.
Over 300 Langley pioneers and other citizens attended the Douglas Day dinner at the George Preston Civic Centre on Monday evening.
It was very evident that all those involved were proud to be living in Langley and also proud that the declaration creating B.C. was read in Fort Langley back in 1858.
The fact that some of those in attendance live in the City and others in the Township, in areas such as Aldergrove, did not seem to divide anyone. We were one until the City and Township split in 1955.
We are still one school district, we have one hospital, we have one federal electoral district and our provincial electoral boundaries do not recognize municipal boundaries. Even the post office does not make a distinction.
I believe most people think about where they live only when they pay their municipal taxes.
As we will all be living in a place that is 150 years old and mature in 2008, it may be an appropriate time for the City and Township to think seriously of getting back together. The pros and cons should be defined by an independent authority, and the people should intelligently debate the issue.
The people, by a majority vote in each jurisdiction, should then decide if amalgamation would be in our best interests.
I hope the above suggestion will start responsible people thinking about possible amalgamation and I hope some good thoughts, on both sides of the issue, will be put forward. It would also be nice to know if our councils are willing to let the people decide by way of the democratic process.
Eric J. Bysouth,
Langley
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