When it comes to local attractions in White Rock, there's no shortage of things to do for those in the know.

However, for casual visitors, a trip to the beachside city may simply consist of an ice cream, a stroll on the pier, and a walk to the white rock and not much else.

It's something resident Claude Cartelier is hoping to change by proposing to bring in a new structure that offers even casual visitors something more to enjoy.

The structure? A statue of a whale set in the spot where a whale washed up on June 12 at East Beach.

"When the beached whale came in that day I took my son down and White Rock was so busy," said Cartelier. "It was a Tuesday and people came out from under their rocks to go and see this."

Cartelier also noted the fact that East Beach was enjoying so much use and now he hopes that could be replicated by a unique and eye-catching structure.

"I thought it would be cool if we had a life-sized sculpture placed sort of inter-tidal so in high tide it would disappear and then as it receded it would start to appear again," he said. "It would be one more thing aside from just the rock and the pier that would take people down to the water."

Cartelier said he's sent his proposal to city hall and suggested if the idea does get off the ground, it may also benefit a local artist or artist group.

"If we could get a local artist or group interested, that would be great," he said.

When asked about Cartelier's idea, White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin said, "It's an interesting idea, but the practicality of it was something else."

According to Baldwin, doing any sort of work around the high water mark is subject to various restrictions by the Ministry of Environment.

"We're not allowed to put track vehicles on the beach, we can't clean up logs or remove debris using vehicles," said Baldwin. "The ministry doesn't even like us doing the sandcastle stuff because we dig up the sand. So I'm not sure, (the proposal) could be done."

Baldwin also wondered about the cost of the structure, as it would be large and have to be resistant to salt water.

For now, Baldwin said while he was intrigued by the idea, he wasn't sure how it would move forward.

"That's an idea the public art committee might look at," he said.

cpoon@thenownewspaper.com

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