Editor:
Today is my rare crabby and tired day.
As a relatively newly minted senior, I decided to join the Canmore Public Library on Thursday. It had been many years since I had been a part of such an organization, the reason being that my chronic late fees cut into my shoe-shopping budget.
However, upon discovering that DVDs were a part of the bag of tricks, I decided to revisit the library experience. I was not disappointed. What a fantastic array of offerings. So impressive. Yes.
Then I went to pay for my membership. “Three dollars” the representative pleasantly declared. When I asked her to repeat that, she smiled and once again said “three dollars.”
“Is that per month and per DVD?” I sweetly inquired. “No, that’s per year, period, for seniors. And $12 per person for the general public.” I could not believe my ears.
Now, I’m seriously all for helping those who are financially less fortunate, be it through subsidized housing, health care, seniors’ lodges, libraries, food banks, the United Way, flood relief, taxes, and so forth…
But three dollars? I choke as I write these words…
My guess is that the majority (though certainly not all) of the current senior demographic in Canmore is well established, if not affluent. Translation: houses or condos paid for; food on the table; money in the bank; possibly investment portfolios; perhaps residences elsewhere; maybe even two vehicles in their driveways or garages. And on and on.
So. What is wrong with the Town of Canmore (and other involved governments and/or agencies)? Three dollars?
Just in case you missed it, let me repeat. Three effing dollars.
But wait. There’s more. D’ya think our taxes will increase substantially to help pay for and operate our new library? I am not a Communist. So read my lips: U-S-E-R P-A-Y. A L-O-T (M-O-R-E).
Verna Korkie,
Canmore
