West Vancouver council voting on naming new fitness park after drowning victim
When he ran for mayor of West Vancouver last year, Mark Sager became close friends with city council candidate Keen Lau.
“One of the things that motivated him to be on council was to see fitness facilities improved,” said Sager, who was ultimately elected while Lau fell short.
As they bonded over a love of cycling and skiing, the two men continued discussing long-standing plans for an outdoor fitness park at Ambleside beach. “I know Keen loved this idea,” said Sager.
But Lau didn’t live to see it. The 45-year-old newlywed died on May 19th after jumping in Cypress Creek to try to save his dog Loki, who’d been swept away in the fast-moving current.
As the municipal government Lau wanted to become a part of moves forward with plans to replace an abandoned concrete building just steps from the beach with an outdoor fitness park, Sager had an idea.
“It just seemed perfect to call it “Keen Fitness.” It will radiate positive energy, and that seems a fitting tribute to a truly wonderful young man,” said Sager.
The project has significant corporate support and will get a boost from a GoFundMe campaign that’s raising money for a permanent memorial for Lau and Loki.
“I’m hoping as part of the plans we can have a little dog fountain. That seems appropriate,” said Sager.
On Monday, mayor and council will vote on a motion to name the new fitness park after Keen Lau. And they will hear from Loki’s dog walker Sandra Smith, who is advocating for changes to Cypress Creek.
“I don’t want this to happen again, and it can’t happen again,” she said of the tragedy that claimed the lives of both Lau and Loki.
Smith first called for barriers around the creek two years ago after a different dog was swept away and drowned.
“I asked at the time, what is it going to take for you to put up some safety measures in this area? Another dog to die or a child to die? And I never even thought of an adult dying,” Smith said.
She is urging the current mayor and council to take immediate steps to make the banks of Cypress Creek safer.
“The area is not blocked off in any way. There are some signs saying steep cliff, but there needs to be more warning signs. There needs to be chain links up in that area to prevent any dogs from going in,” said Smith, who added she’s willing to put up caution tape and signage herself if the city doesn’t act.
Mayor Sager said signage is an easy improvement to make. As for barriers, “I’m going leave that to people that know much more than I do about what’s the right thing to do. But we are certainly going to try and find something good to do.”
He’s also hoping to fast track construction on the fitness park named after his friend.
“I’m hoping this building comes down literally in the next two weeks,” said Sager, who believes Lau would be pleased. “He was completely supportive and he would love to be here today to see this becoming a reality."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.