Dear Editor:

This letter is written in response to the halfway house controversy in the Town of Osoyoos, where the Osoyoos Indian Band wants to open a new residential correctional facility for aboriginal offenders.
Isn’t the main purpose of a home to protect one’s family from the environment and other dangers?
Stan Kelliher has a very legitimate concern for the safety of his family as it relates to the potential opening of this halfway house.
The most important issue here is the layout of these two properties. There is an unobstructed, close view of the entire Kelliher property.
The Kelliher home is only about 200 metres away from the facility and the nearest neighbour is about one-half of a kilometre away.
The fact is the occupants of the halfway house will naturally be attracted to amenities on Mr. Kelliher’s land.
Also, the Kelliher family have a very vulnerable daughter that I am certain greatly concerns them.
In my opinion, men are not improved by going to prison and their lack of self control got them there in the first place.
I agree that criminals should be given a chance to correct themselves, but there is no correction for any tragedy that might occur here.
The criminals are serving sentences for serious crimes they have committed, but why are the Kellihers now being punished?
The authorities assure us that the halfway house will be perfectly safe and they point to the cities of Kelowna and Kamloops, both which run halfway houses without serious incidents.
But they don’t mention the halfway house in Vernon, where a recent escapee murdered an old age pensioner with a hammer and almost killed his wife as well.
There was such a cry of outrage in Vernon that the halfway house is now closed.
The point is that the only certainty in this entire situation, in my opinion, is that something will go wrong.
If you doubt this, simply check the records of many other similar cases.
I sympathize completely with the Kellihers. It must be terrible living with this fear.
I appeal to OIB Chief Clarence Louie, who has a reputation for being a just man, and staff with Corrections Canada, to reconsider their decision to locate this halfway house on this property.
I wish to start a petition and will try to contact as many residents as I can.
If anyone wishes to support me or the petition, or has further questions, please feel free to call me at 250-495-6969.

John Zupan
Osoyoos, B.C.