The fundamental question is, should we LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or should we follow?
We have in Oceanside an exciting opportunity to become a regional, national or even international model for water supply management, using environmentally sound, energy neutral and sustainable practices.
This location provides us with the perfect components, i.e. an abundance of some of the purest water on the planet, and the elevation of up to 1,600 metres within 25 kilometres of every home in the area.
We are currently at a very tenuous crossroad in Oceanside history, UNESCO and the Canadian Biosphere Organization has given this region an ultimatum, that could give Oceanside a permanent international black eye.
The drinking water supply situation is serious and without a clear plan to resolve the bigger picture.
We do however have a window of opportunity to prove that we can get together and work this out and both of the aforementioned could put Oceanside on the map for the right reasons.
Just think of the headlines: Oceanside boasts some of the purest drinking water in the world ... Biospheres look at Mount Arrowsmith as the model for sustainable water management model ... Oceanside the first region in Canada to have an energy neutral drinking water supply.
Or will we continue on our current course in the opposite direction?
Trevor Wicks
Qualicum Beach