Segregation in any way is unacceptable

To the Editor:

I just read the Aug. 30, 2007 Hants Journal piece regarding the segregated recreation activities put on by West Hants. I’m pleased that the municipality is testing different approaches to recreational programming with pilot projects.

However, although I appreciate that participants enjoyed the events that were held, municipal council seems to have missed the point of Ms. Houck’s complaint.

Segregation or discrimination of any kind limits access for people to enjoy the activities being provided. I have no doubt that those who attended the segregated events enjoyed themselves, but if public money is being used to support recreational activities they should not be segregated in any way and should be open to all genders.

In terms of assessing the success of these events, it troubles me that council appears to only measure success by the satisfaction of participants and appears satisfied that there was only a single local complaint regarding someone’s inability to participate.

A measure of success should rather be that there is no cause for anyone to complain about an issue as fundamental to our society as access regardless of gender.

I hope municipal council takes not that I wish to be counted as another dissatisfied citizen with respect to their apparent denial of access for all genders to such programs. I sincerely hope that more pilot projects are held, that success is measured in multiple dimensions and that issues of segregation do not recur in the future, regardless of the content of recreational programs being offered.

Sincerely

Jim Pyra

Hants County