Online article removes Lynn Canyon cliff jumping recommendation following complaints

An online magazine that had extolled the fun of cliff diving in North Vancouver's Lynn Canyon has updated the article to remove any referenceto the dangerous activity.

The piece had angered local officials who saycliff jumping has been a growing problem for firefighters, police and politicians.

District of North Vancouver Coun. Lisa Muri, for one, says she's puzzled why a lifestyle magazine would promote an activity that's caused several deaths including that of 17-year-old Cole Marsh earlier this year.

• Cole Marsh, 17, dies after plunging into waters of North Vancouver's Lynn Canyon
• North Vancouver's Lynn Canyon claims another life
• Lynn Canyon cliff jumpers difficult to control, says district

"These areas are dangerous with high water flows," she said. "You can get sucked under very quick and very easily and not come back up."

North Vancouver RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Doug Trousdell agrees.

"Cliff jumping is a very dangerous activity and I would want anybody using the park to be aware of the risks of that activity," he said.

Cliffjumpers say they're not deterred

The District has put up signs in the park encouraging people not to jump, but that message isn't getting through to people like Blake Vanderlinden and Micheal Ward from Red Deer, two 19 year olds who have come to the park with cliff jumping in mind.

"We were just on [Vancouver] Island doing some jumping and thought we'd check it out," Ward said. "We just hear cliff jumping around the pools was pretty spectacular."

They both say they're okay with the risks.

"I've heard several things, broken neck, broken legs, just if you're not safe where you jump, right?" Vanderlinden said. "It's part of the experience. Part of the thrill."

But it's not the magazine article that brought them to Lynn Canyon: they say social media likeInstagram is a bigger influence.

Still, the District of North Vancouver says positive coverage of the activity doesn't help in discouraging adrenaline junkies.

"The mayor and municipality are going to be reaching out to the magazine and are going to be asking them to remove that part of the story," Muri said.

The updated magazine article continues to recommend Lynn Canyon as a great swimming destination. However, the updated piece describes it as a "gorgeous spot to splash in a natural pool."

In an email to CBC, VIVA editor Stephanie Hood said the article "did not intend to promote unsafe activities. We have updated our article accordingly and apologize for causing any additional concerns around cliff diving."