.

BOLLOCKS!!

To whom it may concern,

Thank you for your time,

Hi Dave,

Regarding your enquiry on inflatables at our Vancouver beaches. There
are many reasons why they are not allowed:

– it is usually children who use these devices and many of them
are non swimmers. It gives a child the false sense of security that
they are now swimmers. Many children paddle over their heads and jump
or fall off or out of inflatables believing they can still stand. Most
often they can’t and need to be rescued.

– often people get caught in an out going current or an offshore
wind and can’t get back. Sometimes they panic and jump off or out of the
device again creating a rescue situation. Others who do stay within the
inflatable have often been rescued amongst the freighters in English
Bay, or on their way to Vancouver Island if it is on the western
beaches. I have made many such rescues as a lifeguard when I worked at
Spanish Banks back in the 60s and 70s when the devices were allowed.

– too many people depend on the 99 cent beach ball or arm bands
for their child’s well being. It is not wise to have your son’s or
daughter’s life in the hands of a cheap toy when drowning is a real
possibility.

– many of these toys deflate when people get over their head. I
had many rescues in my day when this happened.

– I know that some people like yourself may be OK in an
inflatable but it entices the non swimmers to bring their inflatables in
the water once they see yours in there and then they can become the
problem.

– When the Park Board banned the inflatables many years ago it
cut the drowning rate to almost zero. With good education and
preventative guarding the beaches are much safer today in the water than
from many years ago when these devices were allowed.

Having said all this, we do discourage the dollar store inflatable boat
as well. If it has many compartments and is CSA approved we will allow
it offshore as a boat. We also allow most inflatables in our swimming
pools where they can be controlled and the weather elements and other
factors are not an issue.

I hope I clarified the situation enough for you to realize why we have
the by-law. I certainly hope you enjoy your inflatable in a safe manner
with lifejackets, etc. if it is CSA approved for boating.

If you wish any more clarification you can contact me or the Supervisor
of Aquatics at 604 665 3422.

Regards,

Glenn

Glenn Schultz
Supervisor, Beaches and Outdoor Pools
Vancouver Park Board
Tel: 604.738.8535
Fax: 604.665.3455

Original Message—–
From: mailpost@vancouver.ca [mailto:mailpost@vancouver.ca]
Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 2:45 PM
To: pbcomment
Subject: No Inflatables Bylaw – Inquiry

Feedback from Park Board website
—————————

texting

i thought this text string was pretty funny this morning. Lola’s had some jager promo going so matty got a fake tatoo on his arm. Then:

DK to Stef (matt’s brother): Matty just got a tatoo!!
Stef: No please tell me you’re joking
DK: So serious. It says “Jagermeister”
Stef: Wow. awesome
DK: Matt also told me he’s gay, loves gambling, and hates condoms and black people
Stef: Sounds like you two are having an awesome night
DK: There’s hot men everywhere!!!