Now that it has been acknowledged, at least by one, that the Molly Bannister Extension is not about the wildlife corridor, as 19 Street and 32 Street have grown to the point of being a barrier to animals. The emphasis is on hikers, cyclists and skateboarders not having to cross a road and 24 families backing onto Molly Bannister.

32 Street is a much broader issue than ever given credit for. It splits neighbourhoods; it creates hardships for seniors and children in Mountview and Sunnybrook for example.

32 Street will run from Highway 2 to the proposed ring road (20 Ave). The church just south of 32 Street decided to expand but the city declined any expansion on the north side due to future expansion of 32 Street. So the city has plans to widen 32 St.

There are, as previously mentioned, 24 families backing onto Molly Bannister. My last count showed 292 families backing onto 32 Street. This is a larger number of families, than discussed, backing on to Molly Bannister.

The issue about the road east of Piper Creek is a smoke and mirrors game. That road will be built, anyways, with or without the Molly Bannister connection. Without the connection the road will be built with 50 houses on the west side backing onto Piper Creek.

With the connection, a busier road will be built, but with only about one lot being used for entrance onto a bridge. The bridge will actually be less intrusive on the park, than the road without the connection.

The trail will remain in the field on the other side, west side, of the creek, and I am sure the city can put in a crosswalk with flashing lights for hikers, cyclists and skateboarders to cross the road.

Air quality has to come into this equation. The developer wants to build 600 to 1,000 homes on the east side of the creek. Their only entrance/exit will be 40 Ave. So instead of going 500 metres to Gaetz Ave they will now have to drive over 2 kilometres each way, as they have to drive on 19 Street or 32 Street. The extra distances also apply to all current and future neighbourhoods along 22 Street.

The $10 million estimated to build the bridge is nothing compared to cost of compensating for not building a bridge. The proposed traffic circle on 19 St will be twice that. The widening of 32 Street will be many times that. Widening of 19 Street will cost more. The toll on 40 Ave from 19 Street to 32 Street will be costly, to maintain and expand.

This bridge will not be built for decades. It is meant for the time of the city having a population of 188,000. The city has grown by 195 residents since 2015, so it is a long way off.

I believe that the right of way should be kept, and left as green space until the bridge needs to be built. That gives everybody decades to adapt.

The Mayor and city council knows this extension is needed or will be needed. If not this issue would have quietly disappeared, long ago. The city should keep the option open and not handicap further development.

The environment has been tossed to the curb after being abused. Habitats will be inundated with fences, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, lawns, foreign non-native weeds, trees, shrubs and plants, if 50 houses are allowed to be built along Piper Creek.

It has now become about numbers. It has become about profits for a few, pain for the many. The 1,000 out of 1800 submissions supporting the extension cannot be discounted because the question was troubling, the city staff compensated for that and studied the responses to ensure of intent.

I think that allocating a lot for a bridge is less intrusive on our parks than 50 lots for houses. Would you not agree?

I think it is better to have it (right of way) and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Inspired to be Healthy

I have had high blood pressure for a number of years along with fatty liver disease, a bad back, excess weight and have ankles that swell and hurt upon standing for a length of time or during travel. I had been trying to lose weight for some time through eating a bit better and some exercise when I could. However, I wasn’t as committed as I could be, and I needed a push to make progress. When I went to my doctor and discussed my health, she suggested I attend Health Basics.

I loved the program! It inspired me to take my health more seriously and showed me great results for doing that. The coaches were not judgmental at all and really made you feel good about yourself. I learned lots and have implemented lots that I learned. Over the 8-week program, I lost 4 pounds and 3.5 inches off my waist. My blood pressure has come down and stayed down. I am to the point where my medications can be lowered.

My back was sensitive and when I did too much, it would hurt which kept me from engaging in too much exercise. Now I find with increased exercise, I have strengthened my core and have very few back pains. For the longest time when I would stand for shopping or travel on a plane, my ankles and legs would swell and cause me a lot of pain for a few weeks. That is pretty well gone now, likely due to improved circulation. I do a half an hour exercise class online every day. I have started an exercise group once a week with 6 friends, so we keep each other motivated. I have shared my success story with many who also want to take Health Basics. As a result of taking this program I am all enthused and fired up for life and I really want to be healthy. It feels great!

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Dealing with Distress