Letter to the Editor

(Note: This is a copy of a letter sent to the MBSS Parent Prom Committee 2016.)

I am writing to all of you out of concern regarding the change of venue for the (Mount Baker Secondary School Class of 2016) pre-prom reception and am concerned that this decision was made without the input of those who are most affected by it.

I have heard that much effort has been put into making Rotary Park an acceptable venue but at the same time, have heard repeatedly that the grads have opposed it since they were told that the traditional venue, St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino (pictured above), was not going to be used. The grads are in fact so opposed to the change that they have started fund raising amongst themselves to pay for it. If nothing else, this should have been enough to halt all plans to make a change that obviously is not their desire.

My daughter told me, too, that there was even a special assembly held to tell the grads to give up their quest to have the tradition maintained… Really? Who’s prom is it?

This leads me to ask the question why…why is it so important to change the venue? Why go from a backdrop of our amazing Rocky Mountains and one of the most stunning heritage buildings in the East Kootenay, to a small downtown park that will have backdrops of either an old bathroom, a new bathroom (or half finished construction site), a children’s playground, cars and plain old downtown buildings, parking meters, people in the background who are not involved, and worms hanging from the trees! The timing for our disgusting ‘worm season’ could not be worse! This is not even to mention where are all of the people going to be? Where are all of our beautifully dressed grads going to do their “walk by” so that we can take pictures? It is crowded already at St. Eugene and it is going to be changed to a park that is literally half the size?

I feel very strongly that the people who this holds the most important memory for are not being consulted and that is above and beyond the fact that this change just doesn’t make sense.

It almost feels like this is being spearheaded by a politician who, even while facing much opposition, plows ahead with his/her own agenda…have you ever seen that turn out good?

If it’s about the money, it is so important to the grads that they are actually willing to pay for it themselves… does any more than that really need to be said?

Thank you for your time.

Debbie Elliott,

Cranbrook

(Ed. note: The Prom Committee stated in a response to Ms. Elliott that it will “address all concerns at the Prom meeting on May 25.”)

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