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December 11, 2025, 6:35 pm |  |
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Mayors to Release Joint Letter Calling for Repeal of Provincial Legislation
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Sixteen mayors from the Metro Vancouver region will hold a joint press conference today (Thursday, December 11 at 11:30 am) to release an open letter to the Premier of British Columbia outlining shared concerns with the development and implementation of Bills 44 and 47, as well as provincial overreach into municipal decision-making.The letter requests that the Province:
White Rock has on two separate occasions issued letters to Victoria to express our concerns and out abilities to meet the Provincial legislated housing numbers.The Atmospheric River over B.C.’s south coast broke White Rock Daily Record
“The atmospheric river has weakened and is rolling away from the area now. But many areas, in fact, really everywhere from Chilliwack east into the mountains, saw 100-plus millimetres of precipitation over less than a 24-hour period, and all that water still working down through the watershed over the next 24 hours,” said Kuss.For the date of Dec. 10, records broken in the Fraser Valley include Abbotsford, which reported 86.2 millimetres, Hope, which reported 134.2 millimetres, Agassiz, which reported 91.8 millimetres, and Chilliwack, whose airport reported 110 millimetres of rain — more than doubling the area’s last Dec. 10 record of 52.6 millimetres from 1896.Other records set for the date Wednesday include the Vancouver International Airport reporting 30.9 millimetres, and White Rock reporting 45 millimetres.
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Pattullo Bridge replacement given First Nation name stal??w?as?m
Stallo - awesome
stal??w?as?m, named by the Musqueam Band and Kwantlen First Nation, translates to Riverview in English
Chief Marilyn Gabriel of the Kwantlen First Nation said a traditional name is “not bestowed lightly” and “carries reminders and responsibilities.”
The $1.6 billion replacement project’s bridge deck is now connected and the final paving is underway.
The bridge is expected to open partly on Dec. 24. The northbound lane to Columbia Street in New Westminster will be the first to open.
The new bridge will continue to open in phases, with a planned closure of the new and existing bridge for one week in late January, The new bridge won’t be fully open until February.
Seattle replaced tent cities with something revolutionary—tiny house villages where homeless individuals get their own lockable 8x12 foot homes. Each village has 30-100 houses with shared kitchens, bathrooms, and community spaces. Residents have keys, privacy, and most importantly, dignity. They participate in self-governance, help maintain the village, and access case managers who assist with job placement and permanent housing. The cost? Just $2,200 per person annually compared to $40,000 for shelter beds. Success rates are impressive—many residents transition to permanent housing within months. The model has spread to Los Angeles, Denver, and beyond. It's proof that homelessness solutions don't require massive budgets—they require respect, structure, and community. Sometimes a door that locks is the first step toward rebuilding a life
December 10, 2025
BNSF Runs Canada’s First PTC Train
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BNSF became the first to operate in Canada under Positive Train Control (PTC), a technology that provides an added safety layer for train braking. Locomotive Engineer Buddy Hall and Conductor Ioannis Kalogiros were on board for the inaugural run. The PTC-controlled segment spans roughly 17 miles from Brownsville (Patullo Bridge) to the U.S. border. BNSF is currently the only railroad operating with PTC in Canada.
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December 09, 2025
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The community is invited to view the proposed draft changes to the Official Community Plan at a Community Information Meeting on December 16 at the White Rock Community Centre.
On October 20, draft updates to the Official Community Plan (“OCP”) bylaw were presented to Council. On November 3, Council directed staff to provide an opportunity for the public to view the proposed draft changes to the OCP (view the November 3 Council meeting).
Community Information Meeting-
Date: Tuesday, December 16
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Time: 4 to 8 p.m.
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Location: White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Avenue
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Highlights of the OCP 2025 Update project
The proposed updates to the draft Official Community Plan bylaw incorporate:
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Feedback from residents from previous open houses, pop-up engagements and surveys conducted between February and September 2025 for the OCP 2025 Update and the North Bluff Road Corridor Study projects.
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Proposed updates to land use designations and policies related to the North Bluff Road Corridor Plan.
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Provincially mandated requirements based on the City’s 2024 Housing Needs Report.
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Background
The City is updating its Official Community Plan (OCP) in response to new provincial requirements introduced in 2023. However, it is key to ensure that the OCP continues to reflect the community’s needs and priorities. To achieve this, through a series of public engagement initiatives, the City engaged the community to evaluate how existing OCP housing and associated policies can be revised to fulfill new legislative requirements in a manner that will align with the community’s current goals and priorities.
Additionally, the proposed updates incorporate land use designation changes and policy updates from the recently endorsed North Bluff Road Corridor Plan, as directed by Council at the July 21, 2025 meeting.
View the draft Official Community Plan and learn more about the OCP Update 2025 project at www.talkwhiterock.ca/ocpupdate2025
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White Rock Hosts Official Community Plan Update
Pink Sky @ Night - Pot Smokers Delight
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For those who may be wondering where the actual pink or sometimes orange hues come from, when observing the night sky over the South Delta area.
The pink glow commonly observed in the sky above Ladner & Tsawwassen, is light pollution resulting from powerful LED grow lights used in commercial greenhouses in the area.
The specific pink or purple hue is created by a combination of red and blue LED lights, which are the most beneficial wavelengths for photosynthesis in plants. This spectrum promotes healthy growth during different stages of the plant life cycle, especially during winter months when natural sunlight is limited.
The light glow becomes particularly visible in the night sky when there is low cloud cover and moisture in the atmosphere, which reflects the light downwards and across a wider area.
The source of the lights includes several large-scale greenhouse operations in Delta and South Surrey. These operations often grow produce, such as tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries, as well as cannabis.
Greenhouses in the area, such as those operated by Windset Farms and others, use these lights to maximize growth efficiency year-round. While some businesses employ light abatement curtains to minimize the glow, light leakage still often occurs, creating the notable pinkish-purple sky glow seen by residents across Metro Vancouver.
Well now you know this fun fact about our local area greenhouse business’s that at times have caused polarizing views and opinions from the general public. For an avid photographer like myself it still creates some interesting and at times beautiful effects for evening photography.
Near Windset Farms Ladner . . .
December 07, 2025
Baby Please Don't Go
Fraser Health is providing an important update to all expectant patients and families regarding maternity services at Peace Arch Hospital.
Because of a temporary shortage of obstetrician-gynecologist physicians at Peace Arch and Hospital on select dates over the holiday season, people in labour who had planned to give birth at these hospitals may be guided to another maternity site to ensure they receive safe, uninterrupted care.
Patients who are registered to deliver their babies at Peace Arch Hospital have been contacted by their care provider, so they know what to expect and feel fully supported. If they are in labour or have a pregnancy concern, patients are asked to first call the Maternity Unit, and they will be directed to the appropriate site for assessment.
If it is an emergency, patients should call 9-1-1.
She Said - He Said
Statement from the Mayor: 2026 Surrey police budget
As Mayor, a top priority of mine has always been to improve public safety while protecting taxpayers from costly tax hikes.
When it became clear that the province made the decision to move forward with the transition to the Surrey Police Service, we worked hard to secure $250 million in provincial funding to address anticipated increased costs. Since that time, we have done everything in our power to support a transition to a new, modern, and leading police force.
Late yesterday, the City of Surrey released the provisional budget from the provincially appointed Surrey Police Board. The Board’s request includes a very significant $91-million increase over the previous year’s budget. If approved, that would represent a roughly 18% property tax increase for Surrey property owners.
As Mayor, I am not prepared to support this budget now as presented. It is extraordinarily excessive, and Surrey taxpayers cannot afford it.
Our staff and Council will conduct all proper due diligence to review and scrutinize the provisional budget and work with the Board to ensure we collectively fulfill our governance responsibilities with accountability, transparency, and fiduciary prudence. And while the proposed budget is excessive, I remain committed to supporting a meaningful increase in funding to hire additional officers, as we’ve done over the past three years, to enhance resources for policing in Surrey, especially at this critical time to target priorities such as the current wave of extortions in the city.
Surrey taxpayers want to see action to improve public safety, and we’re prepared to make those investments. But they also expect us to be prudent with public money and avoid significant tax hikes at a time when affordability remains a top priority.
You can view the 2026 budget requeshere.
Mayor Brenda Locke / City of Surrey
Statement from Surrey Police Board Chair Harley Chappell
Harley Chappel / Chief Semiahmoo First Nations
The Surrey Police Board’s role is to determine what is required for adequate and effective policing and to complete the Surrey policing transition, then draft a provisional budget that estimates what this will cost. Council’s role is to find funding sources for policing from provincial contributions to support the policing transition, reserves it earmarked for building SPS, carry-over unspent money from this year’s policing budget and, potentially, a modest property tax increase.
In preparing an initial draft of the budget, the Board understood that Council’s approval of the draft budget is not automatic. We anticipated ongoing dialogue and working collaboratively with Council to review the draft budget, similar to what occurs with other municipalities and municipal police boards. Unfortunately, the Mayor appears to want to take a different approach.
We hope that she and Council reconsider. The Board has requested a joint meeting to review the draft budget and the availability of all or some of the $69.9M in funding that would avoid a property tax increase.
With all of the things happening in the City including public safety concerns about extortions and Mayor Locke’s call for 150 additional police officers to counter extortions.
City flags were lowered to half-mast yesterday for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, to honour and remember the 14 women who were murdered, and 14 who were injured, in the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre.
December 06, 2025
SPS Investigates Serious Collision
 
Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating a serious single motor vehicle collision in South Surrey.
On December 5, 2025, at approximately 10:35 am, SPS received reports of a single motor vehicle collision in the area of 30 Avenue and 144 Street, Surrey. SPS members attended the scene along with Surrey Fire and BCEHS. The driver of the motor vehicle was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.
SPS Collision Investigation Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation. While the cause of the collision is still under investigation, it appears at this stage that it was caused by a medical emergency, and impairment is not believed to be a factor.
144 Street between 30 Avenue and 32 Avenue will be closed for approximately two hours while the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident, or in possession of dashcam footage, is asked to contact the SPS non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 and quote file number 25-107788 (SP).
Give To Our Local Food Bank
If you missed the live broadcast yesterday, the phone lines and donation links are still up and running. Remember when you make your donation indicate you would like the money to go to the south Surrey Food Bank.
Thank You
David Chesney/Editor
Start a new holiday tradition, and join us for Make the Season Kind, a full day of family-friendly programming and festivities at the CBC Broadcast Centre in Vancouver, in support of communities in need and food banks in B.C.
For 38 years, British Columbians have been generously donating to food banks at CBC/Radio-Canada's fundraiser, raising more than $21 million for food banks in B.C. since 1986.Â
Putting kindness to work. When you make your donation you are able to direct your contribution to the Food Bank here on the Peninsula.
If you care to donate now - (click here)
December 04, 2025
Rustad Out? Halford In?
Update - December 05
By mid-day yesterday JOHN RUSTAD announced he would not fight his ousting as party leader.
Interim TREVOR HALFORD stated the party hopes to have a new leader in the next 6 months.
HALFORD also stated his leadership was interim and he would not be seeking the party leader at the leadership convention in the New Year.
MLA Trevor Halford
Rumours began circulating yesterday morning that BC Conservative Party leader JOHN RUSTAD was out as the leader of the party. Despite receiving 70% approval from the membership at the summer party convention, the majority of the caucus (elected officials) of the party had circulated a letter stating they had lost confidence in JOHN RUSTAD.
The stated reason in the letter was RUSTAD was professionally incapacitated.
Emerging from the closed caucus meeting in Victoria local MLA for White Rock/South Surrey TREVOR HALFORD informed the media he had been elected as the interim leader for the party.
Confusion continues to abound whether or not the by laws for the party would allow such a coup. The Legislature was adjourned one day early yesterday and will not return to VIctoria until February.
RUSTAD claims he may fight this all the way to the courts. Stay Tuned.
TNT The Naked Truth
Don Pitcairn
Monday December 08, 2025
Lights Dis-A-Pier
As I mentioned in my last TNT, the unofficial slogan for the White Rock Sun is "You can't make this s--t up!" Case in point is this TNT about yet another case of bureaucratic incompetence and overreach, this time from the federal Department of Transportation that greatly affects the City of White Rock. At issue is the festive lighting that adorns Canada's longest and oldest pier. From the City's website "The City installed accent lights to the pier in 2018 to add to the beauty and enjoyment of the Pier experience and to celebrate annual occasions and/or build awareness for registered not-for-profit causes that are important to the White Rock community and its visitors." These coloured lights are in addition to the multiple light standards that run the length of the pier on either side of the structure that carry high wattage white lights similar to what you see on our streets.
In 2021 Mayor and Council voted to upgrade the lighting system to allow them to be programmed without having to make changes to each and every archway.
Today's Video
Thought For The Day
Community Events
Wow!!!! Look what’s coming to The Legion!
Put it in your calendars, share with family and friends, and get ready for a night of Christmas cheer! 
Wow!!!! Look what’s coming to The Legion!
Put it in your calendars, share with family and friends, and get ready for a night of Christmas cheer!
FOOD BANK DRIVE | Families and Fans, we need your help in December!
Dec. 6, 13, 20 & 22, Please bring non-perishable food items to these next home games at Centennial Arena for Sources Community Resource Centres
Dear Friends and Supporters of the White Rock City Orchestra,
The holiday season is nearly here, and we’re thrilled to invite you to our festive Christmas concerts:
Merry {Nostalgic} Christmas & a Happy {Viennese} New Year!
Friday, December 12 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 13 at 2:00 PM
St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Ocean Park
(12953 20 Ave, Surrey, BC)
Join the White Rock City Orchestra for a joyful and heartwarming celebration of the season! The first half of our program will transport you to old-world Vienna with traditional holiday waltzes and timeless elegance. The second half brings holiday cheer with Christmas classics you know and love, plus a fun, festive Sing-a-long for all ages.
(Christmas tickets available here)
