Letters | Direct flight to London is not so direct
My wife and I were quite delighted to learn that Fredericton would have a direct flight to the U.K.
However, we were even more disappointed to learn that it is just marketing hype.
In fact, we called a travel agent and also Canadian Affair and found out that this so-called direct flight stops in Halifax - both going and returning. You actually have to get off the plane in Halifax to clear customs.
When speaking with the Canadian Affair agent whom, by the way, gave terrible customer service and was pressuring beyond belief to book, I asked why their advertising is stating it is a direct flight, when it is not.
Her reply was that it is not their advertising. It is the Fredericton airport that is advertising the flight.
This is very misleading.
Don Gallant
Fredericton
What will the headline be?
I'm wondering if anyone has picked up on the irony of the David Suzuki/Heather Eaton Environmental Conference being derailed by the huge environmental disaster Fredericton is experiencing.
This daring collaborative effort of Wilmot United Church, the City of Fredericton and many, many local partners will probably go unnoticed (along with carbon neutral day), as reporters scramble for the best photos and a soundbite.
Are we missing the big picture?
Isn't this the point - that all over the world, countries are experiencing these cycles of extreme weather.
We, in Fredericton, will cope, at great expense and inconvenience. Those in poorer countries are literally starving as they suffer cycles of flood and drought, lose precious crops to weather and biofuels and watch the world's drinkable water disappearing.
Will the real headline looking back in 50 years be "the flood of 2008," or the year we really started to notice and be harder hit by how we'd been using up our planet?
Kathryn Downton
Fredericton
UNBSJ has sports teams, too
I read your paper the other morning and wanted to point out that UNBSJ has its own sports teams.
Your article kept talking about UNB's teams and they were UNB Fredericton teams. You should always make that distinction.
They do not do that in Fredericton but they do it in Saint John. Our teams are called the Sea Wolves; their teams are called the REDS.
It is rather arrogant of them to think think they represent everyone. I hope you know the difference.
UNBF is very different than UNBSJ (UNBSJ is bigger than MT. A, St. Thomas and Mount St. Vincent and almost the same size as X and Acadia) and we have our own sports teams.
CBC sports said metro Halifax was bigger than Saint John/Moncton/Fredericton together. This is not true.
Metro Halifax is 380,000 people, the three metro areas of Saint John/Moncton/Fredericton is 520,000 people.
Metro areas have grown and the tri city area of N.B. is the largest urban area east of Montreal and north of Boston.
John Roberts
Saint John, N.B.
Everyone has a value
The N.B. Association for Community Living has been working with and on behalf of children and adults with an intellectual disability since 1957.
The Association began with a small group of concerned parents and we have since grown into a provincial association with 16 local associations throughout New Brunswick.
NBACL offers many programs and projects that support children and adults with an intellectual disability to live, learn, work and participate fully in every aspect of community life. As a non-profit organization, it would be impossible to provide this support without the hardwork and dedication of our volunteers.
Whether it is contributing your free time to help with family retreats, or the many workshops we offer, or volunteering your expertise to help promote our cause, NBACL owes a debt of gratitude.
It goes to those who give so much of themselves to ensure that children and adults with an intellectual disability are supported to reach their full potential and to help ensure that families have a place to turn for strength and support.
To the volunteers, committee members and community members who have supported us, thank you.
Thank you for your commitment to ensuring that all people, including children and adults with an intellectual disability, are valued, accepted and have opportunities to participate fully in community life.
Krista Carr,
Executive Director
NBACL
Fredericton
Devon reunion set for August
Because of the great response to the upcoming Devon reunion, we are putting the information out there again.
It will be held Aug. 23 at the Kinsmen Centre on School Street.
We are targeting the age group who are approximately 43-63 years.
Late registration and meet and greet will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; tour of Devon School, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and the silent auction from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
A dance will be held starting at 8 p.m. with music from the 50s, 60s and 70s. There will also be refreshments.
To register early, please send a cheque or money order ($25 for single, $40 per couple) payable to Devon Reunion, 156 Friel St., Fredericton, E3A 2P4, by May 31.
For more information, contact Brenda Taylor ev@nbnet.nb.ca or 450-9491, or Judi Norris malsum99@nb.sympatico.ca or 472-3751.
All proceeds go to palliative care unit at DECH.
See you there!
Brenda Taylor
Judi Norris
Fredericton
Gravity of situation missed
Mr. Matin Yaqzan's April 21 response to my letter regarding murder is appreciated. However, I have to disagree with his claim that I misused the English language.
Mr. Yaqzan correctly defines the dictionary definition of murder as being "an unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought."
But, he claims that since "a drunk driver seldom knows the person killed, and that they (he or she) do not enter the car with the thought of killing someone," it is not murder.
Firstly, the dictionary does not state you must know the person for it to be murder.
Secondly, because it is against the law to operate a vehicle while impaired (as you might kill someone), and it is your responsibility to be aware of the laws of this country, one does have malice aforethought, or the "will to do harm," when one decides to drink and drive.
It is a premeditated act to drink and then drive.
On this basis of logic, a drunk driver who kills is, therefore. a murderer.
To be honest, Mr. Yaqzan, I find your attitude toward such a serious matter far too relaxed.
I think you would be singing another tune if it was someone you cared about who was "not murdered" by a drunk driver. Too bad you missed the gravity of my thoughts by parting hairs about my alleged misuse of the English language.
What is needed is legislation enacted that lengthens the sentencing of offenders. The purpose of sentencing is to act as a deterrent and a majority of drunk drivers who kill are repeat offenders of impaired driving.
Their sentences obviously are not deterring, nor rehabilitating them.
Unfortunately, Mr. Yaqzan, we cannot punish people before they commit a crime under our law, as you suggest we do, "before they kill someone."
Alcohol is a drug that seriously impairs a persons ability to perform, and if the government did not make as much money as it does off the sale of it, it would be just as illegal as heroin or cocaine.
Imagine the drop in murders by drunk drivers then!
Proper use of the English language or not - less dead people.
Erika Warnhammar
Fredericton Junction, N.B.
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