PGAQ #40 by Vic Steblin, Nov 9, 2008

2570 Laurier Crescent, Prince George, BC, 250-564-1123

Thanks to Valerie Giles for her fascinating commentaries about the forestry industry. I have read the book about Ray Williston’s legacy and appreciate this account. Those times were exciting and created the Prince George we know today.

Ray Williston noticed the wood waste left by lumber companies and encouraged a pulp mill industry to use this waste. Lots of jobs and money later we have an economic powerhouse. But things eventually change and Prince George also must change.

A young hard-living community values jobs and money because youth can take a lot of abuse. An older society values health because it is hard to enjoy life without reasonable health. Many of the older folks want to get rid of pollution. Many of the younger ones would rather have jobs. It should be possible to have both with hard work, cooperation and the right approach. It is the right thing to do.

Maybe the wood waste is not really bad anymore and should be left in the bush to rot and make soil. There should also be lots of money and jobs in the technology of reducing pollution. And I am sure that many would rather have a poor healthy life than a rich sick one.