The procession with have over 2,500 participants representing 20 community organizations. Celebrants can visit hundreds of booths along the route, sponsored by local businesses and families who will give away free food and treats.
Parade Route
The parade will begin at 9:30am on April 20th, setting out from the Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple (12885 85th Ave, Surrey). It will then travel along 124th Street, turn left onto 75th Avenue, continue on 76th Avenue, followed onto 128th Street, and back to the Temple to conclude the parade at 4:00pm.
Tuesday April 16, 2024
White Rock Council Recap
Special Presentation:
ROBERT HEATH White Rock Rescue Auxiliary Fire Fighter was honoured in a special ceremony to recognize his 45 years of service with the White Rock Fire Department
Delegations:
Barbara Cooper and Heidi Greco appeared before council to discuss National Poetry Month. Highlighted were the local poets who live or have lived in our community.
Agenda:
Council had requested staff to bring a report forth on what it would cost for non White Rock residents to purchase an annual city parking pass. Staff informed council the cost for each non resident to purchase a pass, based on projected usage would mean the pass would cost $1200.00
Yes you read that right $1200.00. Council unanimously voted against moving forward with the option.
Council had requested a review of the effectiveness of the White Rock Business Improvement Association (BIA). City CAO sat down with the director of the BIA and created a survey. The next proposed step would be the hiring of an outside group TheWGroup to conduct the survey of local business and commercial property owners. The cost of the outside firm to conduct the survey was pegged @ $8,875.00 The motion was passed with councillors TREVELYAN/KLASSEN and CHESNEY voting in opposition.
Council voted to dedicate spending from the 2023 General Fund for surplus allocation. The proposed city hub and continued upgrading on the pier received the majority of the money.
Public Art and Cultural re[ councillor KLASSEN requested $10,000.00 to be used in conjunction with business owners in Central Plaza dedicating an equal amount to create a WELCOME TO WHITE ROCK sign to replace the existing signage in front of The Bank of Nova Scotia at the corner of North Bluff and Johnston Road.
Missing Person to Locate – Keara SIGURDSON-GAFFNEY
UPDATE - April 17 9 a.m. KEARA SIGURDSON GAFFNEY has been located safe and sound
Surrey RCMP is requesting the public's assistance in locating a missing 16-year-old female.
On (Monday) April 15th, 2024 Keara SIGURDSON-GAFFNEYwas reported missing to the police. She was last seen on April 15th at approximately 5:00 PM in the 1700 block of 152nd Street. She has not been seen or heard from since.
SIGURDSON-GAFFNEY is described as a 16-year-old Caucasian female, 5’5”, 230 lbs with wavy brown hair with blonde highlights. (Please see attached photo). SIGURDSON-GAFFNEY was last seen wearing a black hoodie with black pants and black boots. SIGURDSON-GAFFNEY suffers from a medical condition requiring medication. Police and family are concerned for her health and well-being.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Keara SIGURDSON-GAFFNEY is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604 599 0502 and quote file number 2024-52973.
This Public Interest Notification is made under the Privacy Act of Canada
Leonard Ramstead
56 years old
Height 5’6, Weight 234 lbs
Pale skin, blue eyes, with thin-medium-length brown and grey hair, short brown and grey beard
Surrey RCMP has issued a public interest notification under the Privacy Act of Canada regarding a dangerous sex offender residing in the community of Surrey.
Leonard Ramstead, 56, has received a Statutory Release ahead of his sentence’s completion in September 2026, after which he will be subject to a 10-year Long Term Supervision Order.
In 2019, Ramstead was convicted of sexual interference of a person under 16-year-old and in 2021 he was convicted of sexual interference of a person under 14-years-old; and poses a risk to young children and adolescent girls.
He is bound by the terms of his release which include, in the part, the following conditions:
Not to consume, purchase or possess alcohol
Not to consume, purchase, or possess drugs other than prescribed medication; exluding cannabis purchased, consumed and possessed in accordance with the Cannabis Act.
Not to be in the presence of and not to communicate directly or indirectly with any children under the age of 16 years unless you do so under the supervision of a person whom the court considers appropriate.
Not to seek, obtain, or continue any employment, whether or not the employment is remunerated, or becoming or being a volunteer in any capacity that involves being in a position of trust or authority towards persons under the age of 16 years.
Not to be in, near, or around where children under the age of 16 years are likely to congregate such as day cares, elementary and secondary schools, parks and playgrounds, swimming pools and recreational centres.
Further, the Surrey RCMP will be working in partnership with the Correctional Service of Canada, Community Corrections and other stakeholders to monitor Leonard Ramstead via traditional police methods as well as electronic monitoring.
Anyone who sees or knows of Leonard Ramstead violating any of these conditions is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately.
Surrey Eagles Weekend Playoff Hockey
Friday South Surrey Arena
Round 2, Home Game 1 / 7:15 p.m.
Saturday
Round 2 Home Game 2 / 7:15 p.m.
As the Eagles now prepare for Round 2 of the playoffs, their next opponent remains uncertain. They could face off against the Coquitlam Express or the Victoria Grizzlies,
The Surrey Board of Trade hosted the 15th Annual Surrey Women in Business Awards, presented by Prospera Credit Union. The event recognized the hard work of Surrey’s businesswomen and their contributions to Surrey.
UNITI is delighted to share that UNITI Community Development Committee member, Lauren Simpson, won the Social Trailblazer award as part of her work with the Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo (SAS) and affordable & inclusive housing in Surrey. Lauren, UNITI is incredibly grateful and proud of all the hard work you do for the community.
Congratulations Lauren.
Happy Vaisakhi - Vancouver / Surrey
To celebrate this year’s Vaisakhi, TransLink is collaborating with visual artist Jag Nagra, who has created a new artistic bus wrap. The colourful bus will be seen around the region to mark Vaisakhi festivities.
The wrapped bus will also be part of the Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtans in Vancouver on April 13 and Surrey on April 20. TransLink employees will be in attendance at both parades to celebrate Vaisakhi and Sikh culture.
Friday April 12, 2024
Elections BC Investigating Three Surrey 2022 Political Slates
DOUG MCCALUM Safe Surrey Coalition
Elections BC recently issued a press release they are investigating 3 political slates which ran campaigns in the 2022 civic election.
Safe Surrey Coalition headed up by DOUG MCCALUM
Surrey First Electors Society led by former White Rock mayor and longtime MLA GORDIE HOGG
United Surrey led by Liberal MP SUKH DHALIWAL
In the press release Elections BC centered their attention on potential political contraventions which included failing to deal with prohibited contributions as well as sponsoring election advertising without proper documentation.
The Elections BC investigations are based on the review and audit findings and supplementary report filings. “These investigations will proceed independently from one another and will conclude at different times. There are two possible outcomes once an investigation concludes. If potential contraventions are unsubstantiated, Elections BC will confirm that the elector organization is in compliance with LECFA. If potential contraventions are substantiated, the elector organization will be subject to enforcement action, which can include administrative monetary penalties,” the bulletin states.
ELECTIONS BC has stated the three slates “have been co-operating with Elections BC throughout the compliance review, audit, and supplementary report filing processes.”
The City of Surrey’s 2024-2028 General Operating and Capital Budgets
The City of Surrey’s 2024-2028 General Operating and Capital Budgets are now available for the public to view. The 2024 Budgets have been formulated based on direction from Mayor and Council, reflecting City strategies, resource requirements to maintain service delivery and feedback on community priorities obtained during the City’s budget engagement process.
A public meeting of the Finance Committee will be held April 22 at 1pm to consider the 2024 Budget. The public can provide comments in person at the Finance Committee meeting or through written submissions (email clerks@surrey.ca or fill out an online form). The deadline for written comments is noon on Friday, April 19, 2024.
The Draft 2024 Budgets and Five-Year Plan can be found here.
Work Resumes
City staff met in an uptown cafe yesterday for an open dialogue with business owners and residents alike to discuss the beautification project on Johnston road between Thrift avenue and Russel avenue.
Areas of concern included lack of communication from the city of White Rock, closure of the road and no work being done, the small size of the actual work crew doing the work and the seemingly shortened hours of daily work on the project.
City staff cleared up any confusion and promised to be more diligent in any forthcoming changes in the work schedule. Staff also identified the project will resume today and this slight variation in the schedule will not affect the final scheduled completion date.
A limited number of tickets have just been released for the weekend shows by The R&B All Stars
R&B Allstars "The Last Dance Tour" • April 19 & 20 2024
Doors 6:00 | Music 7:00 || Doors 8:45 | Music 9:15
Celebrating 45 years of electrifying performances, the Rhythm & Blues Allstars,Vancouver's 11-piece sensation, has been captivating audiences with their vigorous and soulful R&B. As 2024 heralds the conclusion of their remarkable journey, RBA embarks on their LAST DANCE TOUR, with Blue Frog Studios proudly selected as one of the venues for this historic tour.
TNT The Naked Truth
Don Pitcairn
Residential, Not Racetrack
Surrey and South Surrey traffic crashes ICBC.
The City of Vancouver is considering a rather novel idea, putting a 30 km/h speed limit on their residential streets. This is due to the alarming statistic that just over half of all crashes involving pedestrians occurred on residential streets or at an intersection involving a residential street. Their research shows that a person being struck by a vehicle travelling at 30 km/h has a 90% chance of survival, while those struck by a vehicle doing 50 km/h has only a 20% survival rate. This is the reason why school and park zones both have a 30 km/h speed limit, it keeps children alive. For narrow residential roads with houses, families, kids and pets, the current 50 km/h speed limit is a death sentence.
A pair of eagles have taken up residence in the eagle nest high in the trees overlooking Ocean Park.
Mama eagle is sitting on the first 2 eggs of 2024.
Community Events
Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Glades Woodland Garden
Tickets now available for regular park openings and for Mother's Day weekend
Join us in celebrating Mother's Day amidst the serene beauty of The Glades Woodland Garden in Surrey, B.C. Treat your mum to a memorable experience surrounded by live music and vibrant displays of blooming rhododendrons and azaleas along the picturesque trails. Bring a picnic to enjoy on the south lawn overlooking the tranquil pond or indulge in refreshments from our onsite beverage and snack vendor.
Tickets for this special event are $8.25 plus tax and are now available for purchase at surrey.ca/glades. Entry for children (12 and under) is free. A maximum of 6 tickets can be booked per order. Entry times are scheduled every 60 minutes for your convenience.
Situated on a stunning 15-acre property, The Glades Woodland Garden boasts over 3,500 mature rhododendrons, azaleas, and companion plants, some reaching heights of more than 6 meters (20 feet). The garden also features a remarkable collection of heritage trees, and ample gathering spaces. Additional street parking is available along 4th Avenue. Please remember to wear sturdy close-toed shoes as our pathways are covered in bark mulch and note that the garden is not wheelchair accessible.
Located at 457 172 Street, Surrey, B.C., The Glades Woodland Garden welcomes visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm, starting May 4 through June 30, including the Mother's Day weekend. For regular days, entry is $7.50 plus tax for general admission, $5.50 plus tax for seniors (55+) and free for children (12 and under).
