Re: “Civic engagement turned into mob behaviour,” comment, Nov. 13.

As a resident of Saanich and as an attendee at the recent “community open house” that was put on by the developer of the proposed project, I take exception to the recent headline on your opinion page implying that it was an example of “mob behaviour.” This meeting was not “supposed to be a conversation about the future of our neighbourhood” but, to many of us, seemed to be an effort by the promoters to “tick the boxes” of community consultation in order to proceed with a development that many in the community feel is out of place in form and in function.

The meeting was attended by about 200 individuals, most of whom appeared to be of a “mature” age. They seemed to listen intently to the presentation by the developers who painted their proposal in the most rhapsodic terms. Yes, some of the hyperbole elicited laughter and expressions of displeasure. In general, this proposal was met with apprehension and anger about what it would mean to an established neighbourhood in terms of densification, massing and traffic.

There were representatives from the Save Our Saanich group at the meeting. I was offered a slip of paper with a link to their website, where the reasons for their opposition to the project were detailed. This group did not appear to be encouraging or inciting “intimidation or verbal abuse.”

Many people chose to express their well-reasoned concerns with the proposal. One individual at the back of the room did yell out inappropriately, but that went no further. Another attendee was able to express her support for the proposal.

This was not a formal meeting where decorum and protocol should rule. It was an open meeting where people who felt strongly about the issue were able to voice their opinions, and those who supported or were opposed could react and express themselves, as well.

Don Gunn

Saanich

Re: “Civic engagement turned into mob behaviour,” comment, Nov. 13.

I attended my first Saanich council meeting in February of this year. I was expecting to hear well-informed discussions about the future of Saanich. Instead, I noticed a well-organized group of young people who had obviously had the ear of most council members. I had a brief discussion with one of their supporters about my objection to all the borrowing that Saanich was about to embark on, only to be told that the government........

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