Meet Your Local Bylaw Team

A chat with Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bryce Fournier

Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bryce Fournier. Photo by kc dyer.

Lions Bay has a crack team of bylaw enforcers, with Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bryce Fournier overseeing the squad.

Working with him this season are Park and Parking Patrollers Tim and Gabby.

Fournier was born and raised in Kelowna, B.C., before moving with his family to Kamloops, where he earned a Diploma in Police and Justice Studies, specializing in Bylaw Enforcement. Following graduation, he worked for the City of Kamloops as a Community Services Officer.

Since taking on his position with the Municipality of Lions Bay, Fournier says he is enjoying the unique challenges that come with working in a smaller community.

"While the call volume is much lower than in a larger municipality like Kamloops, the role requires a thoughtful approach to balancing the needs of residents, complainants, and those who are the subject of complaints," he says. Fournier notes that he sees parking management, public education, and maintaining positive relationships within the community as all important parts of his job.

Officer Tim previously worked with the Langdale Bylaw Parking Team and is currently also lending a hand at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. Outside of work, Tim says he enjoys hiking and spending time outdoors.

Officer Gabby spent several years working as a Mountain Paramedic at Grouse Mountain. In her free time, she says she enjoys spending time with friends and exploring the outdoors.

Bylaw staff hiring decisions are made seasonally, with the busiest season typically winding down around the middle of October. Fournier says that seasonal staff assignments may be extended depending on visitor numbers.

Fournier says that he and his team are always happy to stop and chat with residents around the community. "Whether you have a bylaw question, want to discuss a concern, or simply want to talk about how the Blue Jays did the night before, we're always happy to have a conversation," he says. "Building positive relationships with our residents is an important part of what we do."

Bylaw complaints are always treated confidentially, Fournier says, and the identity or contact information of complainants is never disclosed unless a matter proceeds to court. "Outside of that situation, protecting the privacy of residents who report concerns remains one of our highest priorities."

If he has one word of advice to offer residents, Fournier says it would be to keep dogs on a leash.

"Throughout my career, I have seen numerous situations where dogs have been injured, attacked, or have chased wildlife because they were off leash. In many of these cases, owners believe their dog would never cause a problem. The reality is that even the best-behaved dogs can become unpredictable in the right circumstances. Keeping your dog leashed is one of the simplest ways to protect both your pet and others in the community."

He adds that the best way to contact the Bylaw Department is by email at bylaw@lionsbay.ca. The team has a dedicated phone line at 604-834-3404, but email is usually a quicker option, as they have access to the email system on their mobile phones. Fournier says they respond to all requests in the order they are received and as promptly as possible.

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