A well-known art piece on the Halifax Waterfront is continuing to make waves in the city.
An online petition to make the Wave safer has gathered little momentum, but Twitter is now awash in a sarcastic counter-reaction.
The controversy started last month when Ian Palmer’s three-year-old son fell off the two-metre sculpture.
The boy sustained bumps and bruises and Palmer started an online campaign, directed at his local councillor, asking for a barrier to be installed on top of the Wave to make it safer and prevent future falls.
The campaign had only received 55 supporters as of 6:30 p.m. Thursday but social media is another story.
Twitter users have gone online in droves to mock the father’s concern, using the hashtag #wavedad, which started trending on Twitter.
“Threw a M&M in the air…tried to catch it with my mouth…got it in the eye…by #wavedad 's logic…it’s the M&M's fault, right…” tweeted user @NovaScotian.
“Someone got too close to the shore and a wave swept them over. DRAIN THE OCEANS! PROTECT THE CHILDREN! #WaveDad” tweeted @IAmDickie709.
“Hey, there’s no warning label on my new stilettos. What if I fall off them? Maybe they need railings! Help, #WaveDad? #DangerWave” tweeted @karenneves.
Donna Hiebert created the Wave in 1988 and the city is powerless to alter it without her permission. She says it was never intended to be a piece of playground equipment and doesn’t want to see it altered.
“Not cool, no, and I don’t think, you know, the citizens of Halifax and the visitors to our city are in favour of that either,” says Hiebert.
The Lost Cod Clothing Company is located nearby. Owner Chris Tamasi says he sees humour in the story, as well as a business opportunity with a new T-shirt.
“It says ‘I survived the Halifax Wave,’ with a little sign beside it that says ‘do not climb,’” he describes.
The shirts go on sale Friday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jayson Baxter
