The Day I Went to the Ocean for Peace — and Found a Floating Nightclub

 🌊 The Day I Went to the Ocean for Peace — and Found a Floating Nightclub 🌊

Yesterday was KitsFest.
It was one of those scorching Vancouver days — my apartment was boiling, every fan running, but it still felt like an oven. I thought, I’ll escape to the ocean. I’ll find some peace and quiet.

So I packed water, sarong, and a book.
The beaches were crowded it's Kitfest— volleyball games, shouting, music from the festival. Fair enough, it’s a celebration. I kept riding until I found a little stretch of shoreline away from the noise. I sat down, took a deep breath, and felt the cool ocean breeze. Finally… peace.

And then it started.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM.
Bollywood dance music and rap blaring from a boat anchored close to shore — so loud it was like being inside a nightclub. The sound carried over the water and bounced back from the seawall. There was no escaping it.

I looked around:

• A baby in a stroller woke up crying.
• An elderly couple, holding hands, packed up and left.
• People trying to read or nap just gave up.
• Even the gulls flew further down the beach.

That’s when it hit me — this wasn’t just annoying. It was selfish.
The beach isn’t a private dance floor. It’s for everyone — families, seniors, wildlife, people who need peace for their mental health.

And here’s the thing:
Vancouver does have laws about this.

• Noise Control By-law No. 6555 bans unreasonable disturbance from amplified sound, even music from portable speakers.
• Boats close to shore can be reported under Transport Canada’s Small Vessel Regulations and federal disturbance rules.

If this happens to you, here’s who to call:
📞 Vancouver Police Non-Emergency: 604-717-3321 (shore or boat noise)
📢 Park Rangers via 3-1-1: for noise in parks and beaches
⚓ Port of Vancouver Operations Centre: 604-665-9086 (boats in Burrard Inlet / False Creek)
🚤 Transport Canada (Marine Safety): 1-888-463-0521 (boating violations)

My message to boaters and beachgoers is simple:
🎧 Use headphones for your own music.
🔊 Keep speakers inside your group.
🛑 Don’t turn a shared, peaceful place into your personal party zone.

I left after 20 minutes yesterday.
Not because the beach was crowded — but because one person decided their playlist was more important than everyone else’s peace.

Don’t be that person.
Respect the beach. Respect the ocean. Respect each other.