Have you ever spotted a human body part in Vancouver?
Every once in a while, locals share stories of "fake" body parts they spot on the city's beaches, streets, and parks. Some of these are obviously fake, such as the mannequin heads used to display wigs, while others are slightly more jarring.
In 2020, internationally-acclaimed Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland dropped jaws across the Lower Mainland with a photo he shared on his Instagram of what appeared to be a rotting human leg in a blue Nike shoe. The leg is lying on a rocky beach, and part of the "bone" was exposed at the top; the shoe looked squeaky clean.
As to be expected, the post sparked an intense debate in the comments about whether or not the leg was real. Many people assumed it was an art installation, while others seemed rather disturbed and thought it was an actual human limb. You can have a look at the photo and discussion in V.I.A.'s previous story.
But a recent anatomical object shared on social media by a Vancouver politician leaves less room for debate.
Green Party Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry shared an image of a fake human hand lying in a park Friday (Feb. 11) morning.
In a caption, the councillor quipped, "Know your rights! I wasn’t expecting a hands-on lesson this morning, but there’s clearly nothing left here."
Fry told Vancouver Is Awesome in a phone interview that he was walking his dog through Strathcona Park around 8 a.m. when he spotted the rogue body part.
When asked if he thought it was a real hand for a second, the city councillor stated that it looked obviously fake and "weirdly coloured" — he didn't think there was a chance it was real. If he had spotted it at night, however, that might have been a different story.
"I see a lot of weird stuff," he commented, highlighting several other strange objects he's laid eyes on during his early morning walks through East Vancouver.
What are some of the other strange things he's spotted?
Fry said he's seen everything from a jar of smashed pickles to a "weird, freaky bear mask" to a box of hairdressing heads and much more.
Have a gander at some peculiar things the city councillor has shared to social media.
