To the Editor,

I wish to add my voice in support of Karen Vanderwolf's letter to your newspaper dated Aug.1, 2012. As a heavily invested resident of this area, she takes issue with the "rebranding" of our region and the encouragement of recreationalists of every description to come and use unceded St’at’imc territory and privately owned land "for the fun of it."

Like the Vanderwolf family and many other residents, this is certainly not a vision that we had a hand in shaping.

In fact, when BC Rail passenger service was still operating and before our hospital and recreational services were destroyed by the government in Victoria, Lillooet was a wonderful place to retire, with jobs in the health sector, reasonably priced homes, and organic agriculture development potential to supply the resorts at Whistler. However, the opportunity to be so much more than "rugged" seems to have disappeared when the essential transportation, medical and recreation services were gutted.

Finally, when those "rugged" banners are hung throughout the town, perhaps a memorial service to mourn any possibility of a healthy and sustainable future for everyone in the community would best fit the occasion.

Joanne Drake