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Editer, The News; ;

We are writing regarding the
Masry Hill Ciitdren’s Centre,
which, we understand, is bidding
on the Kilmer House property.

Our two children have been
going to this day care for almost
iwo years now. Prior to that, they
were in an unlicensed day care, as
are most other children. They fall
into the age group where statistics
show there is less than one licensed
day care space for every 10 chil-
dren.

We moved to this area because
of the Mary Hill Children’s Centre
and were on a waiting list for over
a year.

Port Coquitlam council is on rec-
ord as supporting the Day Care

Task Ferce. Here is an opportunity
to reinforce that support.

We are not asking that the city

financially support the day care,
only that it look at their bid to pur-
chase the property with an open
mind and consider the following:
_ 1. Where do the children attend-
ing this centre go if the property is
sold and develaped in more heus-
ing? Where wili the children whose
parents buy one of these houses
go? Expansion in Port Coquitlam
is already so great that existing
amenities can hardly cope.

2. If sameone does put 2 bid in-
to buy the property, retaining the
house, can you honestly betieve
that they will not be approaching @
future council to subdivide and an

important heritage site will be lost
" forever.
_ 3. We believe the Gay care op-
erators are cominitted to trying to
keep as much of the heritage as-
pect as possible. Here is an oppor-
tunity for the city to retain an im-
portant heritage building without
aving to pay for it.

4. If the day care buys the prop-
erty, lam sure they would be will-
ing to entertain the possibility of
pas and recreation using the

uilding for.community programs.
It would make a wonderful place
for Saturday children’s programs.
How many buildings of this size
are left in Port Coquitlam where
one could even consider using the
space on a community basis?

Although the day care may
not have the largest bid in mone-
tary value, we believe that no other
bidder can come close to address-
ing ali the above points.

You can be sure that the sale of
this property, either for or against
the day care, will long be remem-
bered by the parents in this com-
munity. This issue will not go
asvay becatise our children will not
go away: Politicians, please re-
member this at election time be
cause we wiil.

Ken and Peggy Rigby-jones,
Part Coquitiam

(Fd. note: The above is a copy of
a letter sent to Port Coquitlam
Mayor Len Trabouiay.)

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