A South Surrey-based proposal puzzle has been solved, thanks to a reader reaching out.
After the Peace Arch News ran a photo of what appeared to be a marriage proposal, or partial proposal, constructed from rocks near Crescent Beach’s Christopherson Steps in its Feb. 15 print edition, local resident and PAN reader Kirstie Hutchison recognized it right away.
“My fiancé (Mike Tancock) and I saw this article today! He proposed on September 9th, 2023,” she said.
“We love that the rocks are still there and that so many people have seen and wondered about them.”
She remembered the sunny day, several months ago, when she and Tancock went to Christopherson Steps – also known as 1,001 Steps – to scout a potential new paddleboarding location.
Or so she thought.
“He had asked if I wanted to go down and check out a paddleboarding spot, because he had just got me a paddleboard for my birthday in the summer,” she explained, noting they’d been together as a couple for nearly 10 years.
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“It was still unexpected… that day was just a regular day. It was at Christopherson Steps – we went down and it was there!”
When he got down on one knee and proffered a ring, she was completely surprised, Hutchison recalled.
”I actually didn’t notice the ‘marry me’ until after, it was so funny,” she said.
“He had enlisted some help from a few friends in the morning to get the rocks there.”
Now planning an outdoor garden wedding for this September, the couple has seen on social media that several others have noticed the waterfront proposal as the rocks, for the most part, have stayed in position since.
“It’s funny because we’re a part of (a Facebook) community page and I’ve seen a few posts about it on there over the months, and it was on another group I’m on, on Facebook,” she said, noting that many in the community have speculated and wondered about it.
Local photographer Geoff Yue, who captured the image that PAN ran, said he ventures down to the overpass every few months or so.
“What makes it such a perfect spot for rock-art is there are plenty of rocks around that area, plus the overpass allows such a great vantage point to look down on any creations,” he noted in an email, adding the spot is a popular place where dozens of locks are attached to the chain-link fence at the end.
Hutchison and Tancock were happy to help solve the marital mystery.
“It was interesting how many people were talking about it and wondering about it,” Hutchison said.
“We’re both really looking forward to the wedding!”