Dear Editor,

I have lived in Pitt Meadows since 1988, and in that time I have seen many positive changes, large and small.

The new recreation centre, the new library, the Bonson sports fields and the community garden, economic progress such as Meadowtown Centre and the growing industrial park near the river, improvements to the ice rink, the excellent design of Spirit Square, Bonson Landing, Osprey Village, and the greenway, the planters down the middle of Harris Road, the bollards and stamped concrete side-walks at the town centre intersections, and most recently, the new seniors centre: the list goes on.

All contribute to making Pitt Meadows a wonderful place to live, and all required the encouragement and support of council and staff, past and present.

Well done, all.

And on the flip side, we seem to be infested with a host of bleating whiners with nothing good to say about anything.

There is, of course, nothing easier than to criticize the efforts of others, but I would ask: when was the last time any of you made a meaningful contribution to the improvement of the community (aside from the grudging payment of taxes)?

There is one common thread I see in all of the negative letters: the arguments are never backed up with any facts or figures.

If you wish your position to be taken seriously, then do your homework first. Otherwise it is just opinion masquerading as truth.

And please, do us all a favour and delete the personal insults before you hit the send button.

Norm Dawson, Pitt Meadows