Casino lighting is a light pollution worry

The following is an open letter to Mayor Sandy Larson.

I am writing to express my concern with the proposed lighting at the new Living Sky Casino. I have had discussion with Lionel Tootoosis and he has advised the 'Tee-pee of Light' they are constructing will follow the design of the lighting at the Dakota Dunes Casino near Saskatoon. However, the Living Sky Casino will consist of 11 lights instead of seven.

Not only do the residents around the Dakota Dunes Casino notice the 'Tee-Pee of Light', there are approximately 124 - 500 watt lighting fixtures in the parking lot that are mis-guided and produce glare that can be seen for miles. These lights will not only shine up into the atmosphere, destroying our views of the night sky, they will also be seen for hundreds of kilometers and will 'trespass' into the homes of the residents of Swift Current and surrounding area. I feel this lighting is nothing more than advertising and a gross example of sky graffiti.

The design of the 'Tee-pee of Lights' is not only a concern for light pollution, it is a slap in the face to all citizens who are doing what they can to reduce their 'Environmental Footprint' These proposed lights are 4,000 watts each and will consume approximately 14,000 kWh of electricity per year resulting in about 11 Tonnes of CO2 emissions. I want you to think of that the next time you put a Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) in your home.

Why is all the advertising and responsibility of saving the environment directed to individuals? Although I agree that individuals should do what they can, it is also the responsibility of businesses and municipalities to do what they can to save on electricity use and reduce their CO2 emissions. Maybe it is time that City Light and Power takes a look at how it 'lights up' our City. I have seen many areas around the City where lighting is either over used or improperly used. How much could the City save in reviewing its lighting practises? Maybe it is time for a study.

Many communities in Canada and the United States have passed by-laws to control 'Light Pollution'. The City of Calgary for example, has seen the benefits of this. With their 'Streetlight Retrofit Program', they have:

- reduced energy costs by $2,000,000 per year.

- helped the environment by lowering CO2 emissions and light pollution.

- made Calgary roadways safer for drivers and pedestrians with 'low-glare' light fixtures.

I will forward to you a page from The City of Calgary's website with information regarding their retro-fit program and light pollution by-law. If the City of Calgary can see the benefits, why not Swift Current? Let's be progressive, let's be a leader in the Province, after all, this is Where Life Makes Sense.

Bob Armstrong

Swift Current