Will the feud ever end over Testalinda vs Testalinden? Probably not.

Once again people are disputing the use of Testalinden in our reports on the fire.

Longtime residents argue that the area has always been called Testalinda, and using the word Testalinden is akin to blasphemy.

But the fact remains that the BC Geographical Names Office identifies the area as Testalinden Creek. It gives specific latitude and longitude, with a “decision date” of 1932-06-07.

According to Carla Jack, provincial toponymist, Testalinden Creek is the official name, though it appears that Testalinda Creek was a historical name.

Like other credible newspapers in BC and Canada, the Oliver Chronicle strives for accuracy in all place names. We rely on credible sources such as the Geographical Names Board of Canada and its BC counterpart.

Just because a lot of people use the term Testalinda doesn’t make it technically correct.

But we do wish that the BC Geographical Names Office changes the term to Testalinda to spare the Chronicle grief every time it uses “Testalinden.”

Park controversy

Sorry, this is not about the national park (thank goodness). This is about the much cherished Skaha Lake Park in Penticton.

Many of us have strolled through this beautiful piece of public property, either to have a picnic, go swimming, or take our kids to the splash park.

But if city council has its way, a section of this park will accommodate a new waterslide development . . . to the dismay of many residents.

It’s a very controversial issue, much like the national park feud here.

The waterslide will certainly attract more tourists and revenue for the city, but at what cost? Once you lose park space, you won’t be getting it back. Like Joni Mitchell said . . . “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”

Council has taken a ton of heat over this decision, and judging from all the negative feedback, those who voted in favour of the plan may find their re-election dreams shattered.

Park lovers don’t care if the waterslide will only take up 10 per cent of Skaha Park. They don’t care if the waterslide location is underutilized. And they don’t care if the existing splash park will be relocated. They don’t want to see a commercial enterprise take up public park space. Period.

A new waterslide development can be located elsewhere in Penticton where it won’t encroach on green space, which is hard to come by these days.

Money isn’t everything. Tourism isn’t everything.

“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.”