Mayor and Council
District of Tofino
PO Box 9 - 121 Third St
Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0

January 15, 2008

RE: Pay Parking at our Local Beaches

Mayor and Council,

The Tofino chapter of the Surfrider Foundation respectfully requests that Mayor and Council eliminate the pay parking program at our local beaches.

The Surfrider Foundation is an organization;
"…dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans,
waves and beaches for all people”.

Surfrider Tofino Canada is a registered Canadian charity based in Tofino. We are entirely volunteer-run and rely on grassroots fundraising activities to support our various community initiatives.

Our Beach Access initiative promotes the right of low-impact, free and open access to the world's waves and beaches for everyone (not just surfers). While we have publicly encouraged people to travel car-free to the beach we recognize that this is not always possible. We are very disappointed to learn that local people in particular have had to limit visits to the beach due to concerns about parking fees.

Surfrider has become the de-facto steward of Tofino’s local beaches. In cooperation with other local environmental and community organizations such as the RES/Raincoast Interpretive Centre, Whale Festival and FOCS we undertake regular beach clean-ups and hold family-friendly community beach events.

In addition, your local Surfrider chapter has made considerable financial investment toward the enhancement of Tofino beaches. We donated $5,000.00 to the District of Tofino for the establishment of a public toilet facility at Cox Bay. We provided the funds and worked with Parks & Recreation to erect Surf Etiquette signs to promote safe behavior in the water. Recently, Surfrider has been collaborating with Parks & Rec staff on a number of new initiatives that will further improve the cleanliness, safety and appeal of Tofino’s beaches. Surfrider is contributing significant financial resources toward these projects, including a $3,100 cheque earmarked for bike racks, dog bag dispensers and surf etiquette signs.

In consideration of our financial and emotional investment in Tofino’s beach environment we feel justified to be considered stakeholders in the management of this important resource.

We also understand that as Mayor and Council, you recently voted to use part of the funds from B.C.’s Resort Municipality Revenue Sharing Program for beach access and infrastructure. If this is the case, why charge the public for the right to enjoy Tofino beaches?

As champions of the right for the enjoyment of our ocean, we are requesting that Mayor and Council reconsider the pay parking program at our local beaches. We feel strongly that it is everyone’s right, no matter the income level, to enjoy our natural heritage.

Please feel free to contact us regarding this request.

Sincerely,

Surfrider Foundation - Tofino Chapter Executive Committee
Louise Rodgers
Ron Weeks
Dawn Alex

cc. MLA Scott Fraser
Westerly News
westcoaster.ca
Tofino Parks & Recreation