Sun’s out, dumb-dumbs out.
I could be polite about this, but I don’t want to be. Civic politicians begged and pleaded with people to ignore the sunshine and stay away from parks this long weekend.
Stick with the essentials only, they said.
Too many people in Burnaby didn’t listen.
Yes, I went out on Good Friday, but only because I was out of groceries. It was my weekly run and I took a quick drive past several popular parks in Burnaby (Burnaby Lake, Deer Lake, Confederation Park, Burnaby Mountain and Barnet Marine Park) to see if people heeded the message.
Too many didn’t.
There they were, sitting close together having picnics or fishing, despite endless warnings about the importance of social distancing.
It’s time to close these parks. The City of Burnaby took action on Thursday by posting one-way walking signs at Deer Lake. On Friday, there was a strong presence from city staff guarding the parking lot, but I watched from my vehicle and saw multiple people all huddled together in the park. There were vehicles in the parking lot, but the city says it is now closed.
It’s time to pull the plug on all access. Metro Vancouver needs to shut down Burnaby Lake, too. I could see from my vehicle window in the parking lot people clumped together feeding the birds. Others were playing soccer on the sports fields at the west side of the lake.
We didn’t go the cabin this weekend because we respect healthcare workers and we want to flatten the curve ASAP.
— Graeme McRanor (@GraemeMcRanor) April 11, 2020
Also we don’t have a cabin.
I don’t care if you’re bored,” tweeted Amy Bell. “I don’t care if you feel healthy. I don’t care if you miss your family and friends. I don’t care if you think the outdoors is a healing salve for your soul. I don’t care if you hate this. We all do. Stay home. Or we will never get to leave.”
Yep.
Not enough people are listening. They need to be saved from themselves.
It’s not just Burnaby, of course.
A woman named Maggie O’Shaughnessy – who lives on Galiano Island - was busy Friday as visitors ignored pleas by health officials and island residents to stay home over the long weekend to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“It’s a small island. It’s easy to tell who lives here and who doesn’t,” the yoga instructor said on the phone. “I’m working in my garden and I’m watching these carloads of people go by. They almost look ashamed.”
Other island residents reported the number of cars arriving by ferry and called on B.C. Ferries to help.
In response, B.C. Ferries said they were not authorized to restrict travel: “That directive will need to come from the provincial (government).”
- With files from Victoria Times Colonist
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
