To the editor:

I would like to comment on the proposed Waterfront Visitor Centre, by declaring first that I am not an employee or volunteer of Tourism Kelowna, nor do I know anyone connected with Tourism Kelowna or its volunteers.

Only 30 per cent of eligible voters elected °­±ð±ô´Ç·É²Ô²¹91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s current mayor and council.

The 70 per cent of eligible voters who, for whatever reason, chose to ignore their civic duty, implicitly gave carte blanche to ³¦´Ç³Ü²Ô³¦¾±±ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s decisions during their four-year tenure.

Having only 30 per cent of eligible ±¹´Ç³Ù±ð°ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ support, council is naturally interested in appearing to govern for the general good of all Kelowna residents.

That is why, I believe, we have had so many surveys on contentious issues, often enhanced with open houses and even charrettes. Anyone interested may participate in the ³¦¾±³Ù²â91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s information-gathering, and once done, the issue can lie dormant for years.

Twenty-first Century information-gathering is often the new opiate of the masses.

People trust their government to act in the best interests of its residents. Is that trust misplaced?

Having read a number of letters to the editor attempting to dissuade the city from allowing Kelowna Tourism to construct the Visitor Centre on the waterfront, I have almost abandoned hope that °ù±ð²õ¾±»å±ð²Ô³Ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ concerns will be addressed. I say almost, because if all my hopes were dashed, I would not be writing this letter.

I join others in asking Kelowna Council to direct Tourism °­±ð±ô´Ç·É²Ô²¹91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s plans away from the waterfront.

I hope their letters will inspire the so far silent residents to write or email council to say the waterfront is not suitable as a business venue.

The staff and volunteers at Tourism Kelowna could surely come up with a better location than °­±ð±ô´Ç·É²Ô²¹91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s scarce public waterfront.

Helen Schiele, Kelowna