Vox Populi

Editor: Yet again, residents are being asked to politely "partner" with more development as yet another major development is proposed for Harvie Heights and the Bow Valley.

Editor: One of the current proposals regarding this proposed pay parking policy is to allow Banff residents to park for free in areas that are not located downtown. But Banff residents will be charged to park downtown.

Editor: Gratitude to all involved in the fifth annual Songs for Shelter in support of the Bow Valley's Emergency Women’s Shelter. In these times of world turmoil, it is heartwarming to see locals making a difference.

Editor: Many thanks to the Rocky Mountain Outlook for highlighting the work of our group Re:Fill, which is a local grassroots group that encourages residents and visitors to reduce waste by bringing their own reusable cups to local cafés.

Editor: It is clear that it is no longer possible to live according to the standard of constant consumption and expectation of eternal prosperity that we are used to.

Instead of restrictions that will require bylaw enforcement and conflict, instead of forcing people to choose other areas to run dogs, instead of treating dog ownership as a crime, perhaps a different approach would work.

Editor While I do not generally condone acts of vandalism, I do understand why paint was plastered on the store front protesting Canada Goose.

If making the loop into an on-leash area is, in actuality, an effort to mitigate disruption to the Quarry Lake wildlife district, let us address and discuss that for what it is directly, and not hide behind imprecise reasoning.

Editor: I want to thank Reg Bunyan from the Bow Valley Naturalists for acknowledging the social consequences of overtourism along with its negative impacts on ecological systems.

The idea that paid parking will reduce local shopping, in a place where many can and do walk everywhere, where not everyone can (or wants) to drive even to Cochrane every other weekend, where many genuinely enjoy local shopping, and where tourists will continue to spend money solely because of our natural capital, is hilarious.