’ LYNN CANYON Ranger Alberto Burrero (inset) demonstrat?” puil swimmers from the swirling Lynn Creek water. ZERO TOLERANCE. That’s the message regarding drug and alcohol use from Lynn Canyon Park Rangers - for this summer. By Jan Noble News Reporter - Rangers will be asking anyone carrying banned substances to remove them from the park, said North Vancouver parks superis- tendent Richard Boulton. Lynn Canyon, he added, is a-place for families and tourists, “not a place to come party and get wild.” According to a June ! North Vancouver -District news release, drugs and alcohol have been strongly linked to injuries, deaths and rescues in the park. —_ Although the — park’s rangers do not enforce the law, they will call in the RCMP to do so. in addition, the RCMP will regularly bike and walk through the park during the sum- met. ° Park rangers are entering their third season . patrolling Lynn Canyon Park. _ . During the two years that they have been in service, the weacher- ous park has claimed no new vic- tims. Two people died in the park last year, but their deaths occurred after rangers, who only work during the summer, had left the park for the year. In the 12 years before the rangers began patrolling, 18 people died in the park. i indy Goodman LYNN CANYON Park Rangers af@ S°eCn9 their third season of patrolling Vancouver park during the sum™ NEWS photo C! er. geaths or div: h runs The majority of the involved people swimming ing in Lynn Creek, whic through areas of sheer rock cuny on Since the park ranger prog” aor has been in operation, only ™" ‘injuries have been reported. the Quick responses from rangers and emergency agen’ . have remedied emergency ©" said the district. | “They are like the eyes for the fire department and ”s police,” Boulton said of the ranger ie Since rangers began parrolll he in 1993, their main duty has bee? Jecture daredevils who risk life ate limb diving from canyon walls 4 and eas the life-saving techniques needed to the park's natural pools on the idiocy of their endeav- ors. “Risk-takers who jump and dive will be approached and informed. persistently, on the dangers of swim- ming or diving into Lynn Creek and about the injuries and deaths which have occurred in the past due to risk-taking.” said the dis- trict. Park signs will reinforce the message hy graphically depicting hazards associat- ed with the creek’s fast moving chill waters and _ actual incidents. A Lynn Canyon Safety Jask Force. charged with Making suggestions to pre- vent the carbage in the canyon, recommended the creation of (he park ranger program in 1992. In addition to talking people out of foolhardy pursuits. rangers will also perform park maintenance and inform visitors about the park's natural history. They have been trained in park orientation, including flora and fauna, Rangers Alberto Burrero, Jennifer Heal and Mike Martinz will be on site from 11 am. to 7 p.m. seven days a week until mid- Septeniber. Burrero has five years’. experi- ence as an auxiliary firefighter, is a first aid instructor and technical res- cue instructor in swift water and rope rescue and is a kinesiology major at SFU. Ranger Marting is a lifeguard and a forestry major at UBC. Ranger Heal has past experience working with children and is a sei- ences major at UBC. Sunday, June 11, 1995 - North Shore News - WITH THE arrival of sum- mer come many of the thrills of warm weather and sunny skies. Some find spring's new life in pardening, others in hit- ting the links and still others by diving off picturesque cliffs into a cold, mountain river. While all three are popular North Shore pastimes, cliff diving in Lynn Canyon park, and other North Shore locales, sometimes results in fatal acci- dents. The activity involves tragic losses for some, and exhilarating life experience for others. It involves rescue attem inguiring reporter pts at taxpayer expense and con- tributes to health care costs. For many, access to this type of set- ting or landscape is the reason the North Shore is home. The safety of North Shore residen ts, and especially children, who make up the majority of canyon divers, is paramount. But still, cliff diving is an officially sanctioned sport in other countries. What do you think? Should cliff diving be banned in Lynn Cany Tanja Misting North Vancouver They should allow it although there are a fot of accidents. | think they involve: kids from other Lower Mainland cities. Emily Hanna North Vancouver 1 think so beciuse there's so many deaths. [t's dangerous. ut ers Horseshoe Bay Dundarave/Ainbleside ~~ Baltish Properties Norgate/Pemberton Heights Capilano/Delbrook Highlands Lower Lendale ~~ Cenirat and Upper Lonsdale Lynn Valley ~ N. Van's on Park? Joe Lavery North Vancouver I would say yes because of the accident record the place has. Jeff Teachman North Vancouver ; A possible solution would be to designate a safe area in the park for diving and ban it elsewhere. SER Th IN Reena eer ie rT YES NO gplon RNOW 16% 8% 8% 8% 1S€ 6% 6% ne 70% 16% 3% 11% 68% 16% 0% 16% 1% 12% 1% 10% 73% 15% 1% a% 1% 0%. 3% fa 75% 15% 2% 7: __BlucridgeMeep Cove 1% (3% 3% 6% 74% 13% 3% 10%