Summertime is a busy season for many of B.C.’s nature destinations, and a Metro Vancouver teen is helping outdoor enthusiasts find parking at one of the most popular in the region.
Tori Kyrychenko is the creator of Spotzen, a website that notifies users when required parking passes become available for the summer destination in the Village of Anmore.
According to Kyrychenko, the inspiration to create Spotzen came from her own family’s difficulties in tracking down parking reservations at the BC Hydro reservoir.
Line of traffic entering the parking lot at Buntzen Lake/Supplied
“Buntzen Lake is one of my favourite places to go to in the summer,” said the Grade 11 student at Heritage Woods Secondary School in Port Moody. “However, the constant checking of whether a parking pass is available is exhausting, especially on sunny days.
“While repeatedly checking the Buntzen website one day, I had the thought: ‘Wouldn’t it be great if I could go on about my day and just get notified when a spot opens up?’ That’s when I decided to create Spotzen.”
The free Spotzen service, which Kyrychenko built as a community-focused project, allows users to choose the pass type (morning, afternoon, full day) and dates when they sign up.
Buntzen Lake, Port Moody (Joanna Szypulska/Shutterstock)
When availability appears, usually because someone cancels their pass, users get an email with a link to the official reservation page, where they can try to book the pass themselves. Spotzen does not reserve passes automatically.
“Pass availability can change quickly, so the goal is to give people a better chance without constantly checking manually,” added the aspiring software developer who enjoys building technology that solves real-world problems.
“Buntzen Lake is extremely popular during the summer, which means the parking passes get filled up very quickly,” added Kyrychenko, who spent eight months building and launching the first public version. “I hope that Spotzen can make the whole process less stressful.”
Parking lot at Buntzen Lake/Supplied
According to BC Hydro, over 125,000 reservations were booked at Buntzen Lake in 2025.
“The system has proven to be an effective way to reduce congestion during peak season, support emergency access and help people enjoy one of the most beautiful destinations in the Lower Mainland,” says BC Hydro’s senior vice-president of Safety, Matt Wilson.
The 4.8 km reservoir covers 182 hectares. Buntzen Lake is just north of Port Moody, about 30 km from Vancouver, or about an hour-long drive.
Kyrychenko has already received plenty of praise online for her work on Spotzen.
“This is such a time saver,” said one user on social media. “I am not against the pass system, just that you have to keep checking, and this solves that. They should be hiring her.”
“Love seeing young people use their talents to make life easier for others,” added another. “This is smart, practical, and generous.”
Tori Kyrychenko/Supplied
The Heritage Woods Secondary student said that seeing people benefit from her website has been the most rewarding experience.
“As a student, this project was a great opportunity to challenge myself and learn new software development technologies,” added Kyrychenko, whose family moved to Canada from Ukraine eight years ago.
“Every single person I know loves Buntzen Lake for many reasons, whether it’s due to its beautiful beaches, dedicated dog-friendly areas, or the beautiful views of Eagle Mountain. The lake itself is incredibly calm and cool, which makes it perfect in the summer heat.”
With files from Daily Hive staff.