Belcarra mayor says area turning into ‘Florida of Vancouver’ as many ignore physical distancing
Posted July 27, 2020 10:27 pm.
Last Updated July 28, 2020 6:47 am.
BELCARRA (NEWS 1130) — The mayor of Belcarra says the village has been ravaged by young people ignoring physical distancing rules and partying at Sasamat Lake.
With a surge in COVID-19 cases being recorded across B.C., Mayor Neil Belenkie is warning those who visit the village to be respectful after huge crowds of young people flooded to Sasamat Lake in recent days.
It’s being called the ‘Florida of Metro Vancouver’ – The Mayor of Belcarra @neilbelenkie says the village has been ravaged by young people who are ignoring social distancing rules and partying at Sasmat Lake and White Pine Beach. @NEWS1130
— Tarnjit Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) July 28, 2020
“We see the inappropriate behaviour, the littering and the fighting and everything, that’s all young adults. They’re the ones who are going to Sasamat Lake, and the families are going to Belcarra park,” he tells NEWS 1130.
“But it has become, as I’ve termed it before, the Florida of Vancouver. White Pine Beach and Sasamat Lake are packed beaches of young adults who appear not to care about safety, the pandemic, or appropriate behaviour.”
Belinkie says those people are ignoring physically distancing rules, illegally parking across the village, and throwing parties that often involve alcohol and other drugs.
“Not social distancing is being selfish, period. There are no two ways about it because whether or not they worried for themselves, the people that they potentially pass COVID onto, they do matter.”
He says over the weekend, 39 cars were towed across the village after officials closed off parking lots as they reached capacity.
“It is staggering. I’ve never it before, nor have my peers,” Belenkie says.
The mayor says instead of flooding the village, people should look at other options when it comes to vacationing.
“There are so many beautiful places to go to. If plan A isn’t going to work because it’s one of the most popular areas, plan B and C there’s so much access to beautiful wilderness, lakes, trails, forests to go visit with friends inside one’s bubble.”
