Why did I start this?
Yes, I do lose sleep over this!
I've been asked multiple times why I started this campaign to restore the island rail line.
The Story
I was living my non-activist, hermit type hamster wheel lifestyle when I noticed a post on a Facebook page from a young lady looking to park her 18 foot trailer on someone's property and do landscaping in exchange. That seemed like a reasonable deal to me, because yard work gives me back pain. Sure, I suffer through it like all us "becoming elderly's," but I have a spot I've always thought to put a trailer if I ever bought one, and I thought why not?
So I messaged her!
After talking with her for a half hour or so, I was heartbroken!
It wasn't just for her, it was for her and her two young daughters!
She had recently left her partner, but couldn't find a rental in her price range. When I suggested she move up island, she said the gas difference getting to her job priced them out! After more discussion and details, I just couldn't do it and it broke my heart to tell her that. Bylaws...optics I shouldn't care about, but we have to...
I did some calculations and she was absolutely right!
at her pay rate, even with the child tax I expect she would get, she was in a pickle!..
I saw a post by https://www.vitcc.ca explaining the railway's time running out, and that island passes would be only $200/month in the https://www.islandrail.ca/ business plan.
Then I thought about my kid's and their kids future!
THAT WAS IT! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
This isn't about me, or what I might gain from doing it
I am actually really looking forward to retiring in a year!
I'll have 35 years of Service!
but...
Something inside me changed in that moment!
I reviewed the messaging going out from ICF and VITCC,
the Business case, the BC Assessments,of the railway, the State of the Island economics,
and demographics up and down the island.
I've Studied more about
Vancouver Island
since starting this than I ever have!
I created my own vision of what this could become based on the ICF plan as a foundation.
After that picture formed in my head and I started communicating it, I've been seeing,
experiencing, and interacting with the posters of
"long prefab canned posts" in Facebook conversations. But
with real information in my hands,
I could see through the thicket
of misinformation generated by local self-interested groups!
go look for yourselves! I think it's still there!
I decided to put my skills to good use!
www.restoreislandrail.com was born!
When reliable rail-based passenger service is available, particularly if electrified,
everybody saves and everybody earns because more pocket money is available to spend!
I've been to nearly every city now, and the sentiment by a landslide is that we need to develop the Corridor into a sustainable and environmentally responsible transportation network.
I have a hard time believing that a viable profitable service can't be established with the Island Corridor Foundations plan to start. They have worked with indigenous communities, business and the government to make the restoration of the line possible! Half of the Directors are First Nations!
I've spent pretty much all the time since launching, and before
to get this message across!
answering misleading or uninformed posts
* Thanks to those who answer them for me! *
IT'S VIABLE! AND THERE IS LOTS OF INTEREST FROM PRIVATE INDUSTRY!
They are only waiting for the puck to drop!
WE JUST NEED TO SAY
YES!
2 minutes of your time could mean
ALL THE DIFFERENCE!
Let's tell our kids we nailed a goal for their future!
Sign the 2023 Petition!
and before it's brought up yet again,
Reconciliation is being worked on at the appropriate level of government and due diligence checks were done up and down the railway.
Passenger services subsidized by freight revenue means passenger rates can be lower.
