There are lots of herons in Ladner, some more likable than others.
In the latter category is the one who sits on top of my roof and oozes his mark all along the top and side of the house.
But in the former category is the only heron in the world with his own Facebook page, a giant wardrobe for every occasion and the admiration of an entire community. And that's the stoic creature fastened to the Welcome to Ladner sign near the corner of Ladner Trunk Road and Highway 17.
Locals will be familiar with this heron's impressive fashion sense, from his recent green and shiny attire to commemorate St. Patrick's Day to the stork-style hammock holding a little nestling that swung on his beak marking Family Day.
The Ladner Heron - a true Vancouver Canucks fan - even paid tribute to beloved goalie Roberto Luongo when the shamefully treated netminder was traded to Florida. Our heron put on a Canucks jersey, picked up a hockey stick and stood next to a sign that said, "Bye Bye Bobby Lu." Who knew he could write? When the Ladner heron isn't honouring a special day, his own natural beauty simply shines through to distinguish our welcome sign from those in Tsawwassen and North Delta.
Being an intrepid columnist, I decided to ask the Ladner heron why he does what he does, and sent him a message on Facebook. He pecked a response right away: "It's been an absolute delight to bring joy to our residents via Facebook. When the old 'Welcome to Ladner' sign was taken down and the community rallied to bring back the heron, it showed how it's an important part of how we see ourselves as Ladnerites. We appreciate all our wildlife, herons included, and love to show this by personalizing our mascot."
True, the municipality really fowled up by removing the old wooden heron sign in 2010, and it was only by residents squawking about it that the heron's place at the entrance to our town was restored.
If my research is correct, the original heron was named Fred and was painted in 2005 by local artist Luis Wiechers. Fred stood for more than five years, until the municipality decided to sanitize Delta's welcome efforts with identical, bland, corporate-style signs.
This sent Ladner residents into a flap, and their letters to the editor in the Delta Optimist at the time didn't mince words: "The heron has been a welcoming sign to Ladner for many years, at least 20 to my knowledge. It has been replaced by what looks like a tombstone," wrote Harry Seddon.
"Three words that come to mind immediately are dull, cold and boring," echoed Christine Conroy. Delta rightly revamped the sign in response to the complaints, and today's sculpted heron was hatched. This version, though, has a personality unlike his predecessor, reflective, I suspect, of the individual or group of folks who work exceptionally hard making him the darling he has become.
If you want to return the favour, the heron has a request of his community: to reach 500 "likes" on Facebook by Easter.
Visit facebook.com/LadnerHeron. Here, you can also engage in conversation with other Ladner heron fans, all of whom agree Ladner and its heron go together like popcorn and movies, Bonnie and Clyde, and shoe repair/key-cutting services.
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to all those who work behind the scenes spreading happiness via heron.
