Natural splendour has always been a part of the North Shore’s appeal, just as it has been part of British Columbia’s brand and even Canada’s international reputation.
Iconic destinations like Banff National Park draw visitors from around the world, while Gortex-clad throngs stampede to sites like Joffre Lakes and Quarry Rock.
But increasingly, critics worry that we’re loving our natural beauty to its detriment.
So many people are coming to enjoy our public parks at once that we’re in danger of hurting the environment, creating headaches for neighbours and lessening the very ambience that draws people to begin with.
Locally the issue is raising red flags from Deep Cove to Belcarra. While the population of the Lower Mainland has increased, the strain it places on parks hasn’t received much attention. But now is the time to get a handle on the situation, particularly in Metro Vancouver.
A start has already been made. In Deep Cove this year, limits were placed on the number of people hiking Quarry Rock at one time. More recently, concerns about Deep Cove have extended to the water, where some boaters have been overstaying their welcome, raising worries about sewage and noisy generators.
Regulating use of public spaces isn’t easy, because by their nature they are open to anyone. Enforcement often falls through jurisdictional cracks and requires staffing at times it’s not available – on weekends and evenings. But as the region grows, we need to pay attention to protect our special places and prevent us from literally loving them to death.
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