Scores of Vancouverites feel the city should ease up on enforcing operating hours on beaches. But police say significant public safety challenges arise on the shores after dark.
Operating hours for Vancouver's parks, beaches, and gardens are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation works with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) to be more "proactive about educating and enforcing the rules around operating hours" during the summer months.
"This is in the interest of public safety as we tend to see larger gatherings of people during warmer months at our more popular beaches," the board told V.I.A.
Park Board staff exercise discretion depending on the circumstances and time of year. Later evening and early morning hours present additional hazards, including reduced visibility, which can cause physical risks (especially around water), and limited access to staff and other facility resources, such as washrooms.
VPD Sgt. Steve Addison said most beach-goers don't cause problems on the beach but a small group of people have made the areas dangerous after dark.
"Drunkenness, disorder, fights, and sexual assaults have become more common after dark at English Bay, as well as noise complaints from people who live nearby and deserve some peace a quiet after the sun goes down," he told V.I.A.
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in beach violence
Addison said the COVID-19 pandemic saw an uptick in violent beach incidents in Vancouver. Since people couldn't gather inside due to restrictions on indoor gatherings, they flocked to the shores.
"The pandemic restrictions have eased, but we continue to see massive crowds and significant public safety challenges around English Bay whenever the weather gets warm," he said.
"As a result, we deploy extra officers throughout the summer to maintain order and provide a sense of comfort and safety for all beach-goers."
'We’re there for everyone’s benefit': VPD
Addison noted that officers walk the beach at 10 p.m. when Park Board bylaws require people to leave.
"If you come to the beach, you may see us in reflective vests riding ATVs, on horseback, or walking along the sand. We’re there for everyone’s benefit, so if you see us, come say hello. If you need us in an emergency, just flag us down or call 911."
Vancouver criminal lawyer Kyla Lee said beach-goers may face enforcement for being at one of the 10 city-managed beaches after 10 p.m.
"If they are, they could get a ticket or be forced off if they stay out too long. If the beach is not one of those [10] locations, it would be up to provincial law. But here's the kicker: these laws in the Vancouver city limits are enforced by the police of jurisdiction (the VPD)," she told V.I.A.
"The authority for managing and controlling the land near the ocean is based on the low tide mark and anything that borders inland waters, like bays and harbour. Anything inland of the low tide mark or within inland waters is provincial jurisdiction. Everything else is federal," the lawyer explained.
Locals respond to "early" Vancouver beach closures
On June 23, a local who goes by @blurr_65 on X, formerly Twitter, shared an image of the VPD instructing people to leave the beach after dark.
"It's absolutely wild we've let VPD ban watching the sunset, something the city is literally known for and is a major tourism Top 10," they wrote.
The post has generated over 100 comments, with many people expressing frustration with what they consider an "early" beach closing time.
it's absolutely wild we've let VPD ban watching the sunset, something the city is literally known for and is a major tourism Top 10 pic.twitter.com/wB74zMg8zk
— Blair (@blurr_65) June 23, 2024
One local shared on X that they have been kicked off the beach in Kitsilano between 10 and 10:30 p.m. "They ride up on ATVs and scream at you to leave. They do this every evening."
Yup. Can confirm. The police have tried to kick me off kitsilano beach from 10pm - 10:30pm. They ride up on ATVs and scream at you to leave.
— BTC Black Cat (@btc_blackcat) June 23, 2024
They do this every evening
Just tell them you’ll leave and they’ll usually just go away
Nice use of our tax dollars and police efforts
Caitlin Green described the VPD enforcement as "nanny state behaviour," remarking, "Imagine arresting someone for literally watching the sunset?"
This is the weirdest, nanny state behaviour. Imagine arresting someone for literally watching the sunset?
— Caitlin Green (@caitiegreen) June 24, 2024
One person quipped, "Lol isn’t this sunset beach?"
Lol isn’t this sunset beach?
— memory_prism (@memory_prism) June 24, 2024
One man suggested people try standing at the water's edge to avoid the city's rules.
Pro-tip. Stand at the waters edge.
— MulbearTheAngry (@MulbearA) June 23, 2024
It's crown land. Any ticket or arrest they make will be thrown out as its outside municipal jurisdiction.
You have a right access the water.
Other people have mentioned that police must monitor the beaches due to raucous parties.
It does sort of look like the sun had already set. I think they are enforcing closed after sunset because there were huge parties last summer.
— lightning maxi (@BrianVarnerVA) June 23, 2024
Addison noted that some comments on the picture lack context and don't have correct information.
"We’ve seen lots of people react online to a picture posted on social media that shows police officers walking on the beach at English Bay on Saturday night," he said.
"Some of the comments are misinformed. Others lack important context."
