HASTINGS STREET'S MISERY STUNS AND FRIGHTENS IRISH VISITORS

I recently visited Vancouver with my wife and two-year-old son from
Ireland and, while we found the hospitality welcoming, we were shocked
at what we saw.

Having wandered (as tourists do) into Chinatown, we ended up by
accident on Hastings Street. The site of scores of shuffling homeless,
vacant and rambling mentally ill and drug addicts reminded me of a
scene from a George A. Romero zombie film.

My wife was immediately fearful and we fled the area.

For a city boasting the Winter Olympics, might I suggest that you take
a few million out of the kitty and use it to assist these poor
unfortunates? I have lived and worked in India and South Africa, so
the sight of human misery is not new to me.

Unfortunately, this is the lasting image I end up discussing with
friends and colleagues here in Ireland when they ask me about Vancouver.

Owen Lydon

Spiddal

Ireland