LETTER: Respect the rules and protect White Rock, South Surrey shoreline
Published 7:00 am Friday, May 8, 2026
Editor,
I love living in White Rock. Paired with neighbouring South Surrey, it offers an abundance of beautiful places to walk—shorelines that stretch toward the horizon, quiet trails, and pockets of nature that make it easy to remember why so many of us choose to call this area home.
That’s why it’s so disheartening to see a growing disregard for the very rules designed to protect these spaces. At Blackie Spit, clear signage marks sensitive ecological areas as off-limits. The reasons are not arbitrary—they exist to preserve fragile habitats and protect wildlife. Yet some people read those signs, then simply step over the ropes as if the rules don’t apply to them, trampling into protected zones and onto restricted beaches.
The same attitude shows up along the White Rock Promenade. Regulations are plainly posted: no dogs are allowed except between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Still, outside those hours, dogs and their owners continue to stroll along as if the restriction were merely a suggestion. It isn’t.
Rules in public spaces are not there to inconvenience people—they’re there to balance access with preservation, to ensure safety, and to respect shared use. When individuals decide they are above those rules, they aren’t just bending guidelines; they’re eroding the collective responsibility that keeps these places enjoyable for everyone.
Living here comes with a privilege: access to remarkable natural beauty. But that privilege carries an obligation. Respecting posted rules is the bare minimum required to protect what we have. If we want future generations to enjoy the same shoreline views, the same wildlife habitats, and the same peaceful walks, then ignoring the rules simply cannot be part of the culture we accept.
Orlando Zalameda, White Rock