Dear Editor,
As a former resident of Harrison Hot Springs, I am sorry to hear there have been deaths at the lake this year and offer my condolences to the victims' families. In reading background stories relating to these incidents, it must be noted that people may not have been using life vests that may have saved their lives. If I am not mistaken, it is the rule to have a life vest available for each passenger on a watercraft. You can place signs all along the beach at Harrison, and perhaps elsewhere including other beaches, but you can't police people to make sure they wear life vests. I believe that people need to be responsible for their own safety on and in the water. While signage may seem a good idea after the fact, I believe the effort may be wasted. I have observed that people in watercrafts don't usually read beach signs; placement at boat launches or boat/watercraft rentals might be more appropriate.
K.C. Curry
Chilliwack, BC