Editor:
Since the Burke Mountain Naturalists are mentioned in your May 28 article, “Port Coquitlam censures councillor who ‘unlawfully disclosed confidential information’”, we feel a comment from us is justified.
Coun. Laura Dupont was once a member of our organization and served on our board of directors prior to joining Port Coquitlam council in 2014. During the time she was with us, and subsequently during her time on council, she has been a consistent and strong voice for nature.
For years, Laura has been an ardent proponent of keeping salmon wild and she worked hard to ensure the protection of urban streams. Most recently, Laura has worked to preserve Port Coquitlam’s large heritage trees and to increase the city’s tree canopy as a means of carbon sequestration and erosion control. Laura has always been a dedicated advocate of protecting natural spaces in Port Coquitlam. As one example, she recognized the need for continued conservation efforts at one of PoCo’s jewels, Blakeburn Lagoons Park, and she coordinated the efforts of city staff and several of our members to accomplish this.
We do not know the circumstances leading to her censure, but we want it known that we continue to consider Dupont a knowledgeable, effective and passionate defender of the Tri-Cities’ natural environment.
Victoria Otton, president, Burke Mountain Naturalists
