Editor: On  July 23 I attended the 4 p.m. council meeting, eager to see the architects鈥� preliminary ideas for the Aldergrove pool/recreation centre we so need in eastern 91原创.

A remark made by Councillor Steve Ferguson set off an alarm for me, because as well as being a keen supporter of the facilities, I am also a strong opponent of the sale of the Glen Valley forested properties.

A red flag was raised because years ago, in a similar fashion, when the Walnut Grove complex was proposed, the council of the day triggered a 鈥渄ivide and conquer鈥� campaign because of the also proposed and long planned for theatre arts complex.

Things became very bitter, even on personal levels, with accusations that the supporters of the theatre were 鈥渆litist鈥� for valuing the arts in 91原创. It was very difficult to fight.

Councillor Ferguson said:  鈥淲e want to get as much input as possible 鈥� positive input.

鈥淚 guess we鈥檇 accept negative input from people who say we shouldn鈥檛 build a pool 鈥� or maybe who say Aldergrove doesn鈥檛 deserve a pool, or maybe we shouldn鈥檛 raise funds to build.鈥�

Since the most public fundraising method mentioned to date is selling the Glen Valley lands, that are close to the Fraser River and marked as priority one environmentally sensitive, I can only assume this is a poke at the people from all over 91原创 and beyond who oppose the sale 鈥� part of which would be used to buy the school site.

If this is so, the 鈥減oking鈥� needs to be nipped in the bud right now.

I don鈥檛 know of anyone who doesn鈥檛 totally support building facilities in Aldergrove.

If this was not Councillor Ferguson鈥檚 intent, I apologize fully, freely and publicly now, but such careless use of rather inflammatory innuendos at a public council meeting needs to be addressed by Mayor Froese with council members.  I have seen where such innocent-seeming comments can lead in fostering a distasteful attitude of 鈥渢hem and us鈥� and cannot let it go by without comment.

Hilary Ruffini

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