Dave Dickson Comment
Nov 17, 2009
IT LOOKS LIKE THE WATERS OFF OUR COAST WILL SOON BE KNOWN AS THE SALISH SEA. THIS PROPOSED AREA STRETCHES FROM DESOLATION SOUND SOUTHWARD TO PUGET SOUND IN WASHINGTON STATE. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA THAT WILL FURTHER ENHANCE BRITISH COLUMBIA AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS NAME CHANGE TO THE SALISH SEA IS THAT WE AREN’T ELIMINATING THE STRAIT OF GEORGIA, STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA OR PUGET SOUND FROM OUR VOCABULARY. RATHER THESE BODIES OF WATER WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN ON ALL MAPS FOR THE AMATEUR CARTOGRAPHER TO THE EXPERIENCED MARINER. THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE DRAWBACKS.
WHEN YOU HEAR LAKE ONTARIO OR LAKE HURON, YOU DON’T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT. WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONS THE GREAT LAKES, YOU INSTANTLY THINK OF SOME OF THE LARGEST AND UNIQUE BODIES OF WATER ON EARTH. WITH AN OVER-ARCHING TERM LIKE SALISH SEA, THIS DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM CAN BE BETTER MANAGED. ANOTHER ASPECT IS A BOOST TO TOURSIM IN OUR AREA. AND BOY COULDN’T THAT USE A SHOT IN THE ARM. YOU DON’T THINK OF THE STRAIT OF GEORGIA AS SUCH A PLACE, BUT SALISH SEA HAS A GREAT RING TO IT. LOCAL TOUR OPERATORS COULD DEFINITELY USE THAT AS A MARKETING TOOL.
MAYBE THE KEY REASON FOR THIS PROPOSED SALISH SEA NAME CHANGE IS TO HONOUR THE 1ST NATIONS PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE LONG BEFORE THE COLONIZERS FROM EUROPE. THESE WATERS WERE A HIGHWAY FOR COASTAL ABORIGINALS AND CONTINUE TO PLAY A LARGE ROLE FOR THEM IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
NOW THERE ARE SOME NAYSAYERS OUT THERE THAT THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA? THEY CLAIM THAT THIS NAME CHANGE IS TOO CONFUSING AND THAT IT’S DISRESPECTING TO THE EURPEAN EXPLORERS THAT DISCOVERED IT. GIVE ME A BREAK. THEY DIDN’T DISCOVER ANYTHING THAT WASN’T ALREADY HERE.
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names HAS APPROVED THE SALISH SEA NAME CHANGE LAST WEEK AND AS USUAL CANADA IS TAKING A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH. HOWEVER IT’S BELIEVED THAT CANADIAN APPROVAL IS IMMINENT AND THIS BEAUTIFUL AREA WILL HAVE A NEW NAME TO HANG ITS HAT ON. AND I SAY BRING IT ON.
I’M DAVE DICKSON
