Editor,
The August 5, 2005 CN Derailment of a tanker car carrying sodium hydroxide (lye) that spilled into the Cheakamus River is a condition that happens all too often with freight trains.
This material belongs to CN Rail - it is in their tanker car, on their rail line, hauled by their equipment and by their crews.Any model rail buff can reproduce this type of derailment. The tracks were not damaged, and yet the cars were forced off the track. In a curve, unloaded cars will try to move in a straight line, and will pull a loaded car off the track if the speed is not properly regulated.
CN claims it will take weeks or maybe months to figure out what went wrong. In the meantime the trains are still hauling sodium hydroxide (lye) and other hazardous materials through the Cheakamus Canyon.
This practice should be stopped immediately. Do we need to wait for a second accident to press for corrective action?
Donald Christie
Squamish
Crash pilot gives thanks
Editor,
I would like to publicly thank all of those involved in my rescue on Friday, Aug. 6 when my ultralight aircraft lost power over the Pemberton Ice fields leading me to crash land at 5,700 feet.
I want to thank the crew of Air Canada flight 257 who picked up my faint Mayday calls. I would like to thank the Hawk Air plane, the first to reach the area.
I especially want to thank the crew of the CFB Comox Buffalo SAR aircraft who spotted my parachute flare and mirror flashings, which finally led them to my location. I want to thank the pilots of the Cormorant Helicopter who included: Capt. Cam Dutnall, aircraft commander, Lt. (USCG) Chris Hulser, first officer, and Master Cpl. Brian Schoneberg, flight engineer.
These men showed precision flying in windy conditions and kept that helicopter steady as a rock as I was hoisted up and on board. Thanks to the SAR Techs: Sgt. Mike Hurtubise (SAR Tech leader), Master Cpl. Kent Gulliford, and Cpl. Mark Salesse, who provided excellent medical care both at the crash site and on my flight en route to Vancouver.
I am a RN and a non-practicing paramedic and I teach courses in cardiac emergency medicine and trauma management to doctors, RNs, paramedics, and even SAR techs. I had previously met two of the SAR techs caring for me having done training with them at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) in the ER. How the circle comes around.
Thanks to the EMS crews involved in taking me to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), and lastly a great thanks to my friends and fellow staff (I am also an ER Nurse at VGH), both the doctors and nurses who cared for me in the VGH trauma room. Thank you Dr. Meite Moser, you are a friend and excellent emergency physician and thank you Monique McLaughlin, RN, the trauma room team leader on shift that evening.
This accident has made me appreciate the dedication of all of those who care for people in need and has allowed me to see how the work of so many comes together to help the citizens of this province.
I would like to mention lastly that the news report published in The Province on Aug. 7 contained several errors. I am an avid pilot but not an experienced one, as I started flying only four years ago. What I did mention to the writer was that I am an experienced climber and mountaineer having led expeditions up the highest peaks in both Canada and the USA and that I was well prepared to survive many days in the hostile environment I had crashed in.
I also mentioned jokingly that once as a SAR team member myself, I had been chased by a grizzly bear while searching for a missing aircraft. The five occupants of that aircraft were not as fortunate as I was. I admit to two forced landings with my ultralight, the cause being finally attributed to a defective part in a new fuel system installed on my plane. One incident made The Chief's front page several years ago. nine lives? Perhaps yes. A special friend of mine once said I just won't die. She said that I would live to be an old man. Well I am very happy to still be alive to hug my children today and despite her prediction I think I will stop pressing my luck for a while.
I lastly would like to say that as the only ultra light pilot at the Squamish airport some private pilots were very quick to judge me as a new pilot and made me feel very unwelcome. Those few pilots were far outnumbered though by other kind individuals. Special thanks goes out to the pilots of Black Tusk Helicopters and the great flight instructors at Sea to Sky Air who made me feel especially welcome.
Will I fly again? Yes, but not for a while.
Michael Dare
Garibaldi Highlands
Remembering 'Smokey' Smith
Editor,
My uncle Smokey Smith died on Wednesday, a loss to all who knew him. Smokey was the last surviving Canadian to win the Victoria Cross. He won the Commonwealths highest award for bravery fighting in Italy during World War II. As a relative put it, Smokey was a "true hero - an ordinary person transformed by unusual circumstances who performed an extraordinary act." In the military context, he is the perfect model of service, someone who as a mere private led with his valor, not his rank. He served his company of soldiers against overwhelming odds, and he served his country.
As great as he was in wartime, he surpassed his military achievement as a civilian. He inspired thousands of Canadians about their country. He travelled the world extolling the values of Canada.
Smokey was modest about his wartime achievement. My aunt Rosaline Segal described him almost as reluctant to acknowledge the honour that had been bestowed upon him, humbled that he was chosen and others were not. Smokey was aware of the many others who fell in wartime, having performed great deeds, usually without medals.
I worked for Smokey and his wife Esther Smith, in their well-known Vancouver travel agency, Smith Travel, a place distinguished by service (that word again) and hard work. Smokey greeted all customers with laughter and charm. I do not recall either of them ever complaining about their workload or the stress running a business.
Smokey was one of those people who selflessly toiled for their families and communities, performing extraordinary deeds as a matter of common duty. His values - duty, loyalty, parsimony, discipline, a sense of community, patriotism, a commitment to build for the future - characterize the people who won World War II.
Lest we forget, Smokey fought for freedom but acknowledged responsibility. We Canadians must preserve the same sense of responsibility we have for the legacy we enjoy in this great country. Otherwise, Smokey's memory will be lost along with its meaning.
John Weston
West Vancouver
John Weston is the nephew of the late Smokey Smith, author of a historical book about World War II. He is also the Conservative Party candidate for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country.
Letters policy
The Chief welcomes letters to the editor.
BY EMAIL (preferred): [email protected]
BY FAX: 604-892-8483
DROP OFF: 38117 Second Ave.
BY MAIL: Box 3500, Squamish, B.C. V0N 3G0
The deadline for Friday's edition is Tuesday at 5 p.m. All letters must be signed and include a phone number for verification.
