Get ready for funky horns, fresh air, and feel-good fun! Cookin’ With Brass is bringing the beats to Darts Hill Garden Park today (Wednesday) evening.
It's a non-stop dance party packed with new spins on Top 40 hits and New Orleans classics that you don't want to miss!
Gates open at 5:30pm | Show 6:30-8:00pm Free - no tickets or donation required
TNT The Naked Truth
Don Pitcairn
Tuesday August 05, 2025
Crescent Beach News at 5
1.Crescent Beach Murder Arrest
IHIT has announced charges of first degree murder against four men in the death of a 19 year-old Abbotsford man who was kidnapped and later found severely injured at Crescent Beach in late January who died four days later at SMH. Here is the edited media release on this crime from IHIT:
On January 27, 2025, at 1:52 a.m., the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) responded to a suspicious occurrence in the 2900-block of Victoria Street in Abbotsford. Witnesses reported seeing a man being assaulted before being taken away in a vehicle. Around three hours later, the 19-year-old victim was located in the Crescent Beach area of Surrey with severe injuries. On February 1, 2025, the victim succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) assumed conduct of the investigation. Based on the initial investigative steps, IHIT believed this to be a targeted incident, not related to the BC Gang Conflict.
Over the past six months, IHIT has been working in close partnership with AbbyPD, RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, Surrey Police Service, the Integrated Forensic Identification Service, BC Coroners Service, the Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba RCMP Division Major Crime Unit to advance this investigation. On August 1, 2024, the BC Prosecution Service laid charges against five men in relation to the incident and homicide of the 19-year-old. The following four individuals have been charged with first-degree murder and forcible confinement, in relation to the homicide:
Ravdeep Gill, 21-years-old, residing in Winnipeg
Harmandeep Gill, 26-years-old, residing in Brampton
Jaskaran Singh, 20-years-old, residing in of Surrey
Bipanpreet Singh, 22-years-old, residing in Surrey
Additionally, Inderpreet Khosa, a 19-year-old residing in Abbotsford has been charged with forcible confinement in relation to this incident.
2.\ Bayview Ave. Fence Fiasco
In a long line of our "You can't make this stuff up" files, the Crescent Beach Railway Fencing Project continues to go off the rails and be a giant black hole that constantly sucks money out of the coffers of Surrey City Hall In case you missed the TNT's already written about this ridiculous and asinine topic, scroll on through the TNT archives to read "Seriously Shameful" - March 24, "Moving The Fence-posts" - March 17, and "Offensive Fence", Feb. 10. Just when you thought this project could not get any more stupid (they are fencing off the fields of blackberries lining the tracks to stop trespassing), the brain-trust at the Surrey Engineering Dept. suddenly realize the fence they installed does look like Alcatraz In an effort to appease local residents and to likely stop legal action, they decided to change the chain link fence from silver to black only months after it was installed.
The issue here is that the fence is 655 metres or 2150 feet long. Unbelievably, they paid a contractor not to paint the structure, but to take the new fence down, take it away, and replace the entire fence with black chain link From talking to fencing contractors, this likely ran in the neighbourhood of $50,000. They also had to go along the entire length of Bayview Ave. and remove the garish waffle strip reflectors they had previously attached, replacing them with cats-eye reflectors instead. Much of the stupid blue walking path signs they had originally installed were also removed at that time as it was determined they served no purpose and again were an eyesore. As if that is not enough, there are plans to spray paint the 250 concrete curb blocks they installed a dark grey in order to make them less noticeable There is still no decision on the "artwork" that is to be attached to the fence (lipstick on a pig anyone?) or what that will cost. I hope it doesn't resemble the metalwork on the new KGB Nicomekl bridge that is even uglier than chain link.
3. Closure Is No Option
I learned this week that the City of Surrey has put up posters on the Christopherson Steps staircase (west end of 24 Ave. leading to Crescent Beach and Crescent Rock beach) notifying of an upcoming closure. This comes as no surprise to me since I wrote about how these stairs were sinking noticeably in one section and would need to be repaired or replaced in the near future. Surrey also had a camera at the top of the stairs last month monitoring pedestrian traffic heading to the beach, which they recently removed. Their sign on the staircase reads as follows: "Christopherson Steps will be closed for maintenance from Monday, August 11 through Friday, August 15. We invite you to explore our newly upgraded stairs at 1001 Steps during this closure. They are located at the 12500 Block of 15A Avenue."
There are a couple of problems with this announcement. Firstly, does this repair need to be done so urgently that it has been scheduled for the middle of August when the weather is hot, kids are out of school and many people are on holidays? I wonder why they did not consider September or even October when the weather turns wet and cold and the beach is quiet and empty? I realize people can still access this area from Crescent Beach but with the new fencing along Bayview Ave. eliminating many parking spots, where are people supposed to find parking? Just like the fencing project, this stairway repair project appears to not have been properly thought out. If the repairs take longer than expected, like what happened at the 1001 Steps, it is likely they may be closed for the weekend of the 15th and 16th and beyond. There is also the issue of not telling people that the 1001 Steps are not dog friendly anymore due to their construction and that these stairs lead directly to the nude-friendly Crescent Rock beach. I would think this would be important information for residents and visitors to know about.
4. Painting the Town Red
If you missed my TNT last week (July 29 - Foxtail Barley, Spear Grass and Your Dog) I took the City of Surrey to task for opening up the Crescent Beach walkway to dogs without first checking the area for foxtail barley that is dangerous to pets. At the end of that column I promised to take a walk through Crescent Beach and Blackie Spit using fluorescent red marking paint to mark any spear grass that I found These spray cans are very large and are designed to be used upside down to paint the ground I like to keep my promises and I did just that starting at Blackie Spit, heading west along the Crescent Beach pathway, and heading south to Christopherson Park and the staircase there Along the way I painted thousands of these noxious plants hoping to make it easier to identify and alert dog owners to its presence I emptied an entire can of marker paint, using the very last of it on clumps of this spikey grass at the very west end of 24 Ave Will the City of Surrey now send their parks maintenance crews there to cut it all down? Sorry to say but my guess is probably not For all dog owners, be extremely careful with your pet near Blackie Spit as it is infested with foxtail barley Whatever you do, don't take dogs for a walk through the unmowed grassy meadows.
5. Om Sweet Om
It has been reported that an un-named religious group is holding prayer meetings in the picnic area of Wickson Park near the sailing club in Crescent Beach on Sunday morning It apparently begins at 3:30 a.m. and continues for four hours This is in an area that is a Surrey park next to quiet residential neighbourhoods It would not be so bad but they are using a microphone and sound amplifying system so the noise can be heard halfway across Crescent Beach A non-emergency police officer allegedly told a person reporting this disturbance that the group had the required permits for the sound system This whole thing seems bizarre considering that the Surrey noise bylaws regulates noise levels to ensure residents can enjoy their peace and quiet There is no construction noise permitted on Sunday and yet this unidentified religious group gets to raise the dead in Crescent Beach early every Sunday? The Permit Department at Surrey City Hall is closed until Tuesday but hopefully we will then get some answers to what is going on. If it was me they woke up, I'd be there in my house coat pulling the plug and telling them to shut the heck up or to expect the wrath of my vengeful God.
Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn
I wish to acknowledge we live work and play on the traditional lands of the Semiahoo People
Local News
August 06, 2025
Uptown White Rock Building Under Siege
Yesterday afternoon at dinner time over a dozen RCMP vehicles and members of the Emergency Response Team ERT surrounded the Saltaire condos located @ Thrift Avenue and Johnson road. Onlookers were taken back as officers brandishing high powered rifles surrounded the perimeter of the building.
The White Rock RCMP newsroom overnight referred to the incident as a serious incident. News outlets are reporting three individuals were taken into custody.
No further details are available.
Medal of Good Citizenship
Eighteen individuals are being recognized for their exceptional contributions as the Medal of Good Citizenship marks 10 years of celebrating community service in British Columbia. Three of the eighteen are Surrey Residents.
The Medal of Good Citizenship celebrates individuals who have acted in a generous, kind or selfless manner for the betterment of their communities, without expectation of reward.
The Surrey Residents who received the Medal of Good Citizenship recipients for 2025 are;
Roxana Aune, Surrey, for empowering immigrants and enriching Canadian society;
Wadood Dilsoz, Surrey, for being a lifeline for Afghan newcomers and a champion of cultural belonging in B.C.;
Hanna Grover, Surrey, for empowering youth through poetry, advancing health equity and inspiring change across Canada;
Medal presentation ceremonies will be held in late fall 2025.
Nominations for the Medal of Good Citizenship are accepted year round. Any current or former long-term resident of B.C. is eligible to be nominated. Youth and posthumous nominations are welcome.
A launching gantry is a specialized lifting machine made up of two girders, which are long yellow beams that are assembled on the ground. The girders are then lifted in tandem by two cranes, and placed on front and rear supports that rest on completed sections of the elevated guideway, or a bent (a horizontal support structure).
Movement
The launching gantry uses a combination of rollers and hydraulic systems to move guideway segments into place and to advance the gantry itself along the alignment.
Now introducing€¦
Fleetwood Flyer
Langley Launcher
Surrey Sprinter
Clayton Clipper
This map shows the journey each launching gantry will take as they work together to build the elevated guideway!
Prime Minister CARNEY was in Vancouver on the weekend to meet with Premier EBY to discuss forward tariff steps in the negotiations with the U.S. President.
Newly elected MP for our area ERNIE KLASSEN was front and centre as the Prime Minister and his travelling entourage visited the Vancouver Pride Parade.
Congratulations
For the second year in a row The Silver Diamond Dancers picked up an award for Mayor's Choice Best Float Award @ the White Rock Sea Festival 2025.
Thus is one our the best parades in lower mainland and everyone is do kind and organized!! Thank you City of White Rock!!
August 02, 2025
Charges laid in homicide of 19-year-old Abbotsford man
Charges have been laid following an investigation into a January 2025 homicide in Abbotsford
On January 27, 2025, at 1:52 a.m., the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) responded to a suspicious occurrence in the 2900-block of Victoria Street in Abbotsford. Witnesses reported seeing a man being assaulted before being taken away in a vehicle.
Around three hours later, the 19-year-old victim was located in the Crescent Beach area of Surrey with severe injuries. On February 1, 2025, the victim succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) assumed conduct of the investigation.
Based on the initial investigative steps, IHIT believed this to be a targeted incident, not related to the BC Gang Conflict.
Update:
Over the past six months, IHIT has been working in close partnership with AbbyPD, RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit, Surrey Police Service, the Integrated Forensic Identification Service, BC Coroners Service, the Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba RCMP Division Major Crime Unit to advance this investigation.
On August 1, 2024, the BC Prosecution Service laid charges against five men in relation to the incident and homicide of the 19-year-old.
The following four individuals have been charged with first-degree murder and forcible confinement, in relation to the homicide:
Ravdeep Gill, 21-years-old, residing in Winnipeg
Harmandeep Gill, 26-years-old, residing in Brampton
Jaskaran Singh, 20-years-old, residing in of Surrey
Bipanpreet Singh, 22-years-old, residing in Surrey
Additionally, Inderpreet Khosa, a 19-year-old residing in Abbotsford has been charged with forcible confinement in relation to this incident.
July 31, 2025
White Rock Makes The Top 10
Top 12 British Columbia Towns To Visit In 2025 according to World Atlas
Between glistening turquoise lakes, jaw-dropping coastal scenery, and mesmerizing mountainous landscapes, Canada's Pacific Province is renowned for its diverse landscapes. When you combine fascinating cultures, incredible eateries, world-famous vineyards, and various outdoor activities, this extraordinary province makes for the picture-perfect getaway for all kinds of travellers
White Rock, a breathtaking beach town on the Canada-US border, is another of the top British Columbia towns to visit in 2025. Soak in the stunning views of Semiahmoo Bay as you wander down the White Rock Pier. Stretching 470 meters into the bay, this extraordinary landmark has a sign marking itself as “Canada’s Longest Pier.” Listen to live music at Blue Frog Studios, a state-of-the-art venue where concerts are held in an intimate and immersive setting. Taste mouthwatering, authentic Mexican food or enjoy delicious Vietnamese cuisine made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients at two local restaurants.
Whistler, Tofino, Nelson, Osoyoos, Pemberton and Golden also made the list as the best cities in BRITISH COLUMBIA to visit.
Police arrest man with firearm in South Surrey
Police have arrested a man armed with a firearm in South Surrey (District 5).
On Wednesday (July 30, 2025), at approximately 2:15 pm, Surrey Police Service (SPS) was notified by Richmond RCMP of a man allegedly armed with a firearm in a residence near 158 Street and 20 Avenue, Surrey.
SPS members attended the area and contained the residence with assistance from Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service (IPDS) and RCMP Lower Mainland Urban Patrol Helicopter (AIR1).
SPS trained negotiators made contact with the man and after successful negotiations, he exited his residence and was arrested.
SPS Frontline Investigative Support Team (FLIST) were contacted and are assisting with the investigation.
The man is currently in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
It's one thing when the band down the street try to perform a song with no rehearsal, but when an orchestra at the Kennedy Centre tries it, it takes winging it to a whole new level.
Harvest Fair is coming up on September 20th and we are looking for artisan makers to fill the vendor lineup! The event is a heartfelt celebration of the land’s bounty with a beautiful outdoor market. Low vendor fees, good vibes and lots of foot traffic. Deadline to apply: August 12th. Co-hosted by Historic Stewart Farm and Totest Aleng: Indigenous Learning House. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/3aujk98j.
Alex House is a welcoming space in South Surrey & White Rock, offering free and confidential support for youth, families, and the whole community.
The Vine Office provides one-on-one outreach support for youth dealing with mental health challenges
(604-538-5060)
The Youth Space hosts drop-in programs, activities, and peer support for youth in a safe environment
(778-545-9188)
Support is also available for families, caregivers, and parents.
Visit their website, https://www.alexhouse.net/ or for general inquiries, call 604-535-0015 or email info@alexhouse.net
White Rock Bi-Election Nomination Packages
There are two vacancies on White Rock council that need to be filled in September.
For Potential Candidates For Councillor
Nomination period begins Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. and closes Friday, August 22, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Voting takes place on September 27, 2025
The election results will be made public on October 01, 2025