Canadian Common Sense
Who's Racist?
November 11,
2003
| About a year ago in the Fraser Valley (BC) the federal government chipped in approximately $1.5 million to renovate the first Sikh temple in the valley. It was declared a historical landmark, yet notice it was not restoration, but renovation. It was done to improve it's functionality as a Sikh school. Now, less than a year later, there has been an effort to save the first Catholic church in the valley. They were planning on moving the building on to land at the local heritage museum and get the church the historical landmark status. After restoring it, the building would become a non-denominational wedding chappel and banquet hall. All funds raised would go to the museum and city council. The total cost of moving and restoring the building would have been around $60 thousand, of which there was already $10 thousand raised in just two weeks. Both buildings were firsts for the Fraser Valley, the temple costed 25 times more and was renovated, not restored. After the work was done the temple is only accessable to Sikhs, and it is a private group who make money from the building whereas the church would have been open to everyone and made money for everyone. As I sit here typing this I read in todays paper that the Catholic church has been demolished because the Feds wouldn't cough up a cent. I wonder if the Sikh students will read the same article while trying to learn English in their newly renovated building? |
