Recent letters opposing “missing middle” housing in Oaklands read less like a planning critique and more like a lament that change dared to arrive uninvited.

Let’s be clear: Cities do not belong solely to those who arrived first, nor should development be frozen in amber to preserve sunlight angles and nostalgia.

Calling a three-storey sixplex an outrage on a street of bungalows ignores the basic reality that Victoria is in a housing crisis.

“Gentle density” was never meant to imply invisibility; it means incremental growth that avoids towers and sprawl. Compared to high-rise corridors or endless suburban expansion, this is restraint.

The idea that long-time residents “know what fits” better than planners, architects, and elected councils conveniently excludes renters, younger families, and workers who have no seat on that block — or at the table. Their needs matter too, even if they don’t yet live next door.

Yes, poor builders should be held accountable, and yes, councillors should communicate better.

But branding all infill as imposition while embracing the NIMBY label as a badge of honour doesn’t strengthen the argument — it weakens it.

Cities grow. The choice isn’t between change and no change, but between thoughtful density now or far worse consequences later.

Tom Cantley

View Royal

For years, hundreds of people ran their dogs happily in the unused Cedar Hill Corners. Then the University of Victoria kicked us all out.

Then, Saanich kicked us off the parks and beaches.

Now UVic is planning to build on Cedar Hill Corners some years down the road. In the meantime, can they open it back up to dogs to have a safe place to run?

UVic should be a good citizen and share this gift of public land with its neighbours.

Ray Lazanik

Saanich

What an exhilarating New Year’s Day celebration with Victoria Symphony.

The very well chosen program was a fantastic auditory and visual treat to attend. Conducted by Giuseppe Pietraroia, the performance included several pieces of operatic music sung by soprano soloist Claire de Savigne and the Pacific Opera Chorus, and several delightful pieces of classical ballet by dancers from Ballet Victoria.

The performance began with a rousing rendition of Rossini’s Overture from La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie), and we enjoyed works from Giacomo Puccini, Gaetano Donizetti, Pietro Mascagni, Jules Massnet, Leo Delibes, Georges Bizet, Jacques Offenbach, Johann Strauss Jr., Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe and finishing with The Radetky March,........

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