This past year I have gotten to know the Riverview site more personally, as my mother was being cared for in its Valleyview hospital.

This amazing ecological and historical treasure offers such solace to patients and families when it is most needed.

As we work to understand mental health, we are learning more and more about the importance of the natural environment in good health. As we rise to the challenge of an aging population, we must be realistic about the types of facilities and options that will be needed in the not-very-distant future. Approximately one-third of people over 80 develop dementia and other problems and require extensive eldercare. In seeing this first-hand, I am convinced that it would be a mistake to convert the Riverview lands, adding to sprawl in the local area, destroying ecological and historical treasures and terminating an excellent care facility that is able to offer specialized care not offered anywhere else in the province.

Let's redevelop our greyfields; let's infill where we have shops, services and mass transit; but let's also make sure we've retained some good public space for current and future needs. The oldest botanical garden in our province is one such site that should not be redeveloped for any use other than the current use.

Cynthia van Ginkel

Port Moody