Downtown walk a frightening experience
To the editor:
I believe that our experience in Kelowna’s downtown area graphically illustrates the reason why Kelowna’s downtown does not attract people.
On Labour Day our company found the downtown extremely lively. We planned a leisurely walk, prior to our dinner at a restaurant on Ellis, with family from Calgary and Saskatoon.
I suggested that we walk through the Japanese Garden. At 5 p.m. on a Labour Day Monday, Sept. 3, it was closed. It soon became very apparent why it would be closed.
On our way to the walkway near The Sails, two very inebriated young ladies swayed across the sidewalk.
Across the street, at a bar entrance, a middle-aged man was screaming. There was no one within half a block of the man except the five of us.
My brother-in-law, who is very fit, looked at me and stated, “This is very uncomfortable…this is worse than downtown Calgary.” He works in the heart of Calgary’s downtown.
On our way to the restaurant we passed the bus shelter where six to eight young teens were very loud and very rowdy.
To my surprise, I noticed three security people sitting on the bench adjacent to the bus shelter watching—baby sitting (at the taxpayers’ expense) this boisterous group of kids.
This is not the lively downtown that some request.
Is it possible that this is the reason why people avoid the downtown?
Bob Dyck,
Kelowna
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