Paris, Florence and... Port Moody?
Resident Linda Balzer wants to put Moody on the map by introducing "love locks" to the Rocky Point pier.
It's a tradition that has taken off in romantic locales around the world: Lovers write their names onto a padlock, then fasten it to a public structure like a bridge or a fence before throwing away the key, binding their ties forever.
Balzer first witnessed the romantic ritual recently while travelling in Italy and decided a similar initiative in Port Moody could turn the city into the lovers' Mecca of the Lower Mainland.
"The pier in Italy was almost identical to what we have in Port Moody and so I thought, 'Why not? It's perfect,'" said the happily married PoMo resident.
Balzer brought the idea to city council last Tuesday and received explicit support for the idea.
Coun. Mike Clay even expressed interest in establishing love-lock locations in other areas around Port Moody and Rocky Point Park.
"Hopefully, when we find out what's going on with this, there's other spots as well," Clay said. "I really like the idea."
Balzer even envisioned the installation as a matrimonial magnet, attracting couples - and their cash - to the City of the Arts and, perhaps, the new city of amour.
"There should be a brochure that would go to the wedding shops, for sure, the hotels that are around and any of the restaurants that would put up bulletins," Balzer said.
It was the play for tourism that Mayor Joe Trasolini saw through to its unsentimental end.
"Port Moody's going to become the place where proposals are made and then hopefully the engagement party and the wedding party," he said, "And you never know, maybe even divorce parties."
If council approves the locks for the pier, it would mean the installation of an iron railing in front of the existing wooden one, with iron hoops on which people could fasten their love locks.
Balzer sought a quote for the installation from Raybern Erectors of Port Moody, which estimated that a railing at the end of the pier could be made and installed for $2,500, or one could be put in place all the way around the pier for $4,500, she told council.
And lovelorn locals need not worry, Balzer said, as love locks are not just open exclusively to romantic pairings but also to friends, family members and even pet owners.
PoMo council will discuss the idea further at the next council meeting on May 24.
tcoyne@tricitynews.com
