I love the Stampede’s slogan: “Come Hell or No Water.” It embodies the best of the Prairie spirit.
Don’t blame, don’t complain, don’t grouse, just get on with it. We all need to imbibe a little of this Prairie fortitude.
Donna Kelly, Calgary
Just use water wisely
A letter writer bemoaning the Stampede going ahead makes one think that Calgary has no water to use when the fact is we’re asked to reduce our household usage by 25 per cent. Countries all over the world are used to conserving water. I don’t believe a 25 per cent reduction to be “drastic” or a “significant sacrifice.”
Many of the tourists coming for Stampede will be reminded to reduce their toilet flushes and shower times. Our tourism industry employs tens of thousands of Calgarians and also brings billions of dollars to our economy.
It is not helpful to hear people claiming “we shouldn’t shower,” and complaining that restaurants are handing out water or that car washes are not closed, without understanding where their water comes from.
Be careful of assuming you know what you are looking at.
Marilee Sharpe, Calgary
Where were experts before the crisis?
It’s astounding to learn that city administration has an in-house array of highly paid water “experts,” yet a main pipe still burst.
Now, the mayor has announced a panel will be convened to find out what happened. Comprising luminaries from academia, the water industry, water utility management, engineering and government entities focused on infrastructure and resilience, the panel’s job apparently will be to close the barn door after the horse has bolted.
They will be joined by the water services director, director of capital priorities and the emergency management agency chief. And if that isn’t enough expertise, the panel will naturally have to engage outside consultants to dig into the mess.
My question is, what have all these experts been doing? And with so many, why does the city have to hire costly consultants?
Wasn’t the whole thing the responsibility of in-house staff in the first place?
Nancy Marley-Clarke, Calgary
Unanswered questions on rezoning
Thanks to Chris Nelson for emphasizing one of the real issues of blanket rezoning, that is infrastructure in established areas. We have talked about water usage and how it could be accommodated in a community designed for single-family dwellings.
This break brings to light the age and condition of the water mains. How many years are left before we are in a constant state of water issues?
In addition to water, the other concern is parking. It is hard enough to have the streets all jammed up, but where do those cars go during snow plowing and street sweeping when on-street parking isn’t allowed?
Cindy Risi, Calgary