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Dogs can go off-leash in Bert Flinn mini-loop

By Jeremy Shepherd

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September 15, 2025

photo supplied Kathy Corbeil, Tri-City Photography Club

The plan is officially unleashed.

Two months after Port Moody’s council’s decision to embark on a pilot project, the city announced Monday that Bert Flinn dog walkers can now let their pups off the lead between 6 and 10 a.m. in a Morning Off-Leash Mini Loop.

“The expansion of the current off-leash area for a one-year pilot period aims to balance access for dog walkers with ecological protection and safe enjoyment of the park for all users,” stated Mayor Meghan Lahti in a press release.

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City staff previously explained that the trail was chosen to avoid environmentally sensitive areas and high-conflict zones like popular bike paths.

The mini-loop is located west of David Avenue. Dogs must remain leashed in the rest of the park.

Coun. Diana Dilworth previously said the pilot could become a model for similar projects elsewhere in the city if successful.

The project is expected to cost between $31,750 and $36,750.

Park users are invited to offer their thoughts on the pilot project here.

Author

Jeremy Shepherd

A chiropractor and a folk singer, after having one great kid, decided to push their luck and have one more, a boy they named Jeremy Shepherd.

Shepherd grew up around Blue Mountain Park in Coquitlam, following a basketball around and trying his best to get to the NBA (it didn’t work out, at least not yet).

With no career plans after graduating Porter Elementary school, Jeremy Shepherd pursued higher education at Como Lake Middle School and eventually, Centennial High School.

Approximately 1,000 movies and several beers later in life, Shepherd made a change.

Having done nothing worth writing, he decided to see if he could write something worth reading.

Since graduating journalism school at Langara College, Shepherd has been a reporter, editor and, reluctantly, a content provider for community newspapers around Metro Vancouver for more than 10 years.

He worked with dogged reporters, eloquently indignant curmudgeons and creative photographers, all of whom shared a little of what they knew.

Now, as he goes about the business of raising two fascinating humans alongside a wonderful partner, Shepherd is delighted to report news and tell stories in the Tri-Cities.

He runs, reads, and is intrigued by art, science, smart cities and new ideas. He is pleased to meet you.