‘Legalize sunsets’: Vancouver Park Board to consider extended beach hours around summer solstice

The Vancouver Park Board is considering extending beach hours during the peak summer period.

Beachgoers could have a little extra time to soak in the evening views next summer.

A motion going before the Vancouver Park Board next week calls for extending beach hours to 11 p.m. from the Victoria Day long weekend to the B.C. Day long weekend.

Commissioner Tom Digby said police have increased their enforcement of the current 10 p.m. closing time, and his motion aims to “legalize sunsets” during the longest days of the year.

“Police have been taking action to actually kick people off the beach at 10:01 p.m.,” Digby said.

“People are just getting to wrap up and all of a sudden a police officer shows up—in full body armour with a helmet on and a gun—and says it’s time to move on.”

The extended hours would apply to the weeks surrounding the summer solstice, when the sun sets around 9:21 p.m. and it remains light out until “at least” 11 p.m., according to the motion.

Digby said he believes officers are “failing to use appropriate discretion” when enforcing the 10 p.m. closures during that period.

His motion is for people peacefully enjoying the scenery, the commissioner added, and would hopefully cause little disruption to the surrounding neighbourhoods.

If approved, the hours would apply during next year’s FIFA World Cup, when the city will be flooded with soccer fans from across the globe.

“The idea that police would be kicking them off the beach when they’re having a modest, quiet, enjoyable Vancouver evening is outrageous to me,” Digby said.

The board is scheduled to consider the motion next Monday, along with another addressing a “pattern of absenteeism” from Commissioner Marie-Claire Howard.