Editor:
I read with interest how New Westminster’s new pool is expected to come in on budget. What a great tribute to city staff and contractors who have been working on this project under often difficult circumstances.
But the progress raises another issue, and that is the name of the facility. I fully endorse reconciliation and support the use of an Indigenous name. My question is how do we pronounce it? I don’t even have adequate keys on my keypad to spell it.
My concern is the majority of people won’t use the official name, and just call it the city pool. And picture someone in Metro Vancouver trying to take a cab to the pool. What does the person tell the cabbie? “Take me to the ... uh ... the New West pool"?
Perhaps there could be a pronunciation guide on literature for the building or even on the building itself.
How do we properly respect our First Nations friends and their heritage if we have no idea how to pronounce the facility named in their honour?
David Lang
Editor's note: The city has a video pronunciation guide for the new təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre at its construction website.
