VERY Exciting News! Your Voice Made a DIFFERENCE!
I am reaching out with very exciting news! The Vancouver Park Board has just drafted a motion, to be voted on at their upcoming June 1st meeting this coming MONDAY - to restrict high-speed personal watercraft in Burrard Inlet!
The motion also calls upon senior governments and marine regulatory agencies to prioritize Burrard Inlet as an urban marine conservation and stewardship zone!
This is wonderful news- but we need to REALLY communicate ASAP to the Park Board Commissioners that we want them to vote in favour of this motion TO ENSURE IT PASSES.
Please send an email ASAP to all the Park Board Commissioners at once (in one email), and cc the clerk. You can use this sample below. Don’t forget to include your name :)
Also please feel free to personalize it to make an even greater impact!
Every voice matters, and these emails actually make an difference – so please take thirty seconds and send an email to make your voice heard! - And please share widely!
SAMPLE EMAIL:
TO: Brennan.Bastyovanszky@vancouver.ca; Laura.Christensen@vancouver.ca; Tom.Digby@vancouver.ca; Angela.Haer@vancouver.ca; Marie-Claire.Howard@vancouver.ca; Scott.Jensen@vancouver.ca; Jas.Virdi@vancouver.ca
CC: pbgmo@vancouver.ca
Subject: Please Support the June 1st Motion to Protect Burrard Inlet
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to strongly urge you to support the June 1st motion calling for restrictions on high-speed personal watercraft in Burrard Inlet.
The increased presence of grey whales, orcas, humpback whales, and other marine wildlife has been deeply meaningful for me and many Vancouver residents. These animals are not here by accident; Burrard Inlet and the Salish Sea have become important feeding grounds and transiting zones for many species. At a time when whale populations are increasingly vulnerable to so many threats, we have a responsibility to ensure their safety and protection.
High-speed watercraft pose serious risks to whales, seals, seabirds, and other marine life through noise, harassment, shoreline disturbance, and collision risk. Their excessive speed is also a public safety concern for swimmers, paddlers, beach users, and families trying to safely enjoy Vancouver’s waterfront areas. This is especially significant considering how crowded our waters have become.
The recent whale strike incident in Vancouver was heartbreaking and should be a wake-up call for all of us – the time to act is now. We must not wait for more whales or wildlife to be injured, or for other public safety incidents, before taking decisive action.
I also strongly support the motion’s call for Burrard Inlet to be prioritized as an urban marine conservation and stewardship zone. Vancouver’s waterfront is not just a recreational space; it is a living ecosystem that provides habitat, feeding grounds, biodiversity, climate resilience, and invaluable opportunities for connection to our natural world.
Your support of this motion is critical to ensure not only the protection of marine wildlife, but also that current and future generations can experience a thriving ecosystem in our coastal waters. With this step, Vancouver has the opportunity to become a North American leader in urban whale and wildlife protection and recreational water safety.
I respectfully urge you to vote in favour of this important motion on June 1st.
Sincerely,