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Walking club has its own side of the story

Dear editor, This letter is in response to the lady who wrote the “beef” about not being able to go on newcomer walks.

Dear editor,

This letter is in response to the lady who wrote the “beef” about not being able to go on newcomer walks.

The executive of the Comox Valley Newcomers Club was hesitant to respond to her letter, because the facts are quite different from the information contained in her letter and we didn't want to cause her further distress.

The CV Newcomers is a branch of the National Newcomers Council of Canada, a social non-profit organization helping women (within their first two years of residence) “become familiar with each other and their new homes.”

The CV Newcomers has bylaws and purchases liability insurance for members when they are participating in the variety of activities provided. Please see the article in the February/ March edition of In Focus for more information or call 250-898-0277.

The Friday morning walks are one of these activities for members and also welcomes women who are new to the valley on a one-time basis by asking them to sign a liability waiver for their first walk until they become members of CV Newcomers. While exercise is part of the walk, the main purpose is social and to acquaint members with various areas of the Valley.

This was all explained to the writer of the “beef,” when she appeared on two successive Fridays. She signed a waiver for the first walk and then it was discovered that she was a 20-year resident of the area and would not qualify to be a member and therefore, could not continue to do the walks on a regular basis.  She was, however, invited to do the walk that day as she had taken a bus to the gathering point at Walmart, and was given a ride by a member downtown to start the walk. During the walk, guidelines for the club's activities were again explained by the leader when she again asked why she was not able to join us to walk without becoming a member.

At one point in the walk of downtown Courtenay, the writer left the group at a bus stop saying she could take a bus home from here.   The next Friday, when the lady appeared again, the group leader explained the rules of the club to her quietly.

The lady became very upset and verbally angry and left the group while we were standing in the parking lot before we left for the walk.   We hope that the writer has found a friend or group with whom she can walk. The advertisement in the Record for the walks has now been changed to include the two-year rule to clarify this for future walkers.

Julie Tuepah

Editor's note: Julie Tuepah is the president of Comox Valley Newcomers Club.