The dock: Phase I

July 27, 2011.  An excavator was driven onto the beach and went to work digging out those huge boulders I had watched for 25 years and hauling them to the site of the new wharf.  We were shocked that such equipment would be permitted to mangle the shoreline.

 Jim spoke to the operator of the excavator questioning his right to operate on the beach.  His inquiries were not well received.  I took a couple of pictures as I felt certain it was all a terrible mistake and we would soon be speaking with environmental officials to sort this out.

Surprise!  We had a visit from an RCMP officer, in response to a complaint from the dock owner. He agreed we had committed no offense, but suggested we avoid further conversation with those building the dock.  We felt intimidated.  Was it worth bringing trouble on ourselves by contacting authorities to see whether they really had authorized the mutilation of the beach?  Others in the neighbourhood came by and expressed their dismay over what was happening.  No one intervened.

Within a few days there were a fixed wooden platform, a floating dock and two mini breakwaters.

Material was scooped from the ocean and from the nearby land to complete the structure.