The Naked Truth

 

 

Don Pitcairn

“The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie” Ann Landers

 

May 21, 2013

Railing Against Poison and Pollution

 

It was a tough week for the BNSF Railway in the Semiahmoo Peninsula, with bad news coming their way from both White Rock and Crescent Beach. This all started when I drove down Marine Drive into West beach and noticed something glaringly different about the parkland near the tracks. Running a commercial gardening company and having previously worked decades ago as a salesman for Western Weed Control that spayed train tracks, it was glaringly apparent that the rail corridor through White Rock had been sprayed with herbicide. By the orangish-yellow colour of the dead grass, it had obviously been treated with Roundup or a related product containing the chemical Glyphosate.

A two metre wide strip of lawn had been sprayed north of the tracks from the end of Bayview Park to the boat launch and closer to the pier grass had also been treated on the water side around an area with park benches. Further inspection revealed that blackberries all along the Promenade had been sprayed including decorative pampas grass and blackberries in East beach. Roundup is a non-selective herbicide meaning that it will effectively kill most vegetation it contacts, translocating down into the roots to ensure plants do not come back. While the BNSF does have a "Vegetation Control Program" that was advertised several years ago in newspapers, they failed to post signage about when the spraying had been done, the chemical used or the application strength as is required. Their spokesperson Gus Melonas had this to say about the White Rock spraying, "The sprayer was accidentlally left on the on position as we went through the area (vegetaiton control program) We are looking into this matter and discussing further with the city." The date given for this spraying was early Sunday morning on April 28th.

When the BNSF became aware that they had inadvertantly sprayed parkland lawns next to the tracks and promenade, they should have roped off the areas in question and posted the appropriate warning signage. Because of this inaction, people were exposed to Roundup and I saw people walking there dogs on the dead grass, girls walking barefoot in the same area and a man sitting down on a bench pulling off his boots before stepping onto the dead turf. At the end of west beach, there were "ghost footprints", where the herbicide has been carried from the treated zone onto healthy lawn towards Marine Drive. While a quick fix would now be to power rake the dead grass and reseed, the powers that be instead want to pave the sprayed portion of Bayview park. I believe this is a ill-conceived idea as it will reduce the already small amount of greenspace at the waterfront and invite people to walk from the end of the promenade to the terminus of the safety railing, likely increasing trespassing on the busy BNSF tracks by people using it as a nature path.

 

On Thursday night, the Wilderness Committee was in Crescent Beach, holding a "Community Meeting on Coal" that attracted a large crowd of local residents concerned about increasing coal train traffic. Plans are afoot to bring millions of tonnes of U.S. Powder River Basin thermal coal here for shipment to Asia for use in their electrical generating plants. The proposed new coal loading facility at the Fraser Surrey Docks on the Fraser River will export 4 million tonnes of coal per year with plans to expand it to 8 million tonnes utilizing barges to move the black rock to a deep water port on Texada Island. You can expect this to change to large bulk carriers if the George Massey tunnel is replaced, allowing larger ships into the south arm of the Fraser River. With Jimmy Pattison's Westshore Terminals at Roberts Bank moving 33 million tonnes a year, Neptune Terminals in North Vancouver being expanded and the Fraser Surrey Docks likely to be rubber-stamped by the unelected Port Metro Vancouver, these facilities could ship up to 59 million tonnes of coal per year. This would make the Lower Mainland the largest exporter of this dirtiest of fossil fuels in North America, with most of it rumbling along tracks at the bottom of Panorama Ridge or through White Rock.

While most of the local opposition to increased coal train traffic focused on coal dust release, health effects and respiratory disease, ground vibrations and property value decrease plus blocked road and beach access, there were plenty of dire warnings about the green house gases (GHG) related to this industry. BC, Washington and Oregon have a globally green reputation on leadership in clean energy and environmental policy but we are turning a blind eye to the shipment of fossil fuels out of Cascadia. In a report released this week by the Sightline Institue (www.sightline.org) that focuses on "smart solutions for a sustainable Northwest", they detail the total Northwest fossil fuel exports and their global contribution to GHG's. Currently there are 16 new energy exporting projects being planned for the region including 5 new coal terminals, 2 expansions of coal terminals, 3 new oil pipelines and 6 new natural gas pipelines, with 11 of these being located in BC. If all of these fossil fuel energy projects were given the green light, they would collectively produce an estimated 760 million tonnes of CO2 annually, 12 times the total amount currently emitted by the province of BC.

If you want to join the fight to stop White Rock from becoming a coal town and to put the brakes on global climate change, make your feelings known to politicians at all levels and consider joining any or all of the following organizations listed below plus write the Board of Metro Vancouver (see Wilderness Committee website) about stopping coal port expansion. If you need any more evidence to the effect that climate change will have on the planet and future generations, consider the following stories that made headlines over the past week:
- The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that global concentrations of CO2 reached a milestone 400 parts per million, a reading not seen in 3 million years.
- An internation study released in the Journal Science revealed that Canada's Arctic plays a lead role in stoking global sea level rise, with glaciers adding an average 40 billion tonnes of meltwater per year into the world's oceans.
- UBC research study published in Nature reports that as oceans grow warmer due to climate change, iconic B.C. fish species such as salmon and eulichan are being forced from their normal habitat as they seek cooler waters or are displaced by warm-water species.
- A monster 2 km. wide EF5 tornado tears a 23 km. long path of destruction through Moore, Oklahoma, flattening everything in its path, levelling two schools and killing 24 people, eclipsing the damage from the massive 1999 "Good Friday" tornado that previously struck the same portion of the state.

The Wilderness Committee (Coal Free BC) - www.wildernesscommittee.org
Power Past Coal (No Coal Exports) - www.powerpastcoal.org
Coal Export Action (No Coal Northwest) - www.coalexportaction.org
Voters Taking Action on Climate Change - www.VTACC.org
CO2Now - www.co2now.org
350.org - www.350.org

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

May 13, 2013

Clearly Funny Money

The south Surrey Gateway Casino application attracted plenty of community and media interest before it was ultimately rejected, with Surrey's Mayor Dianne Watts casting the deciding "nay" vote after several marathon Surrey council meetings. There were plenty of arguments on both sides as to how this project would be a boon to the local economy, or a community blight that would bring with it a host of social and criminal ills. One of the major concerns was that the proposed casino would attract gangsters and organized crime looking to launder drug money by magically turning it into casino winnings. Anytime you have a cash-rich environment you also attract thieves looking to rip off the house, either at the gaming tables, with guns in hand, or by passing off counterfeit currency. With the new $100, $50 and $20 Canadian polymer bank notes now in circulation and the $10 and $5 bills due out later this year, you would think that with these hard to duplicate bills, counterfeiting would be a thing of the past. Unfortunately that is no longer the case with many of the "window-pane" $100 bills discovered to be fakes over the weekend at several Lower Mainland casinos.

I learned of this problem facing Canada's money supply from a confidential informant and due to the sensitivity of this topic, I cannot reveal which betting establishments were affected or give details that would likely reveal them as the source of the information. What I can tell you is that the counterfeit $100 bills were laminated onto plastic, giving them the same feel and look as the new polymer bank notes including the clear window that many people count on as the main identifying safety feature. Here is a list of the details that were not quite right on the fakes that led to the counterfeit $100 bills being uncovered as worthless:
- the laminated plastic is thicker than the authentic polymer bills.
- the tan and brown colours are slightly lighter than in the original.
- the top of the East Block Parliament tower hologram located at the bottom of the clear window is missing.
- the 100's at the bottom of Sir Robert Borden's portrait in the window hologram are missing or backwards.
- the brail dots at the top of the bill are absent and the plastic is smooth to the touch.
- the clear maple leaf secondary window is rough to the touch on the back of the bill.
- a thin clear plastic strip is visible on the top of the bills.
- three different serial numbers are used, EKD 7647222, EKD 7647227 and EKD 7647229.

It was not that long ago that many businesses would not accept the old paper $50 and $100 dollar bills due to the large number of counterfeits floating around, most produced with new colour computer printers and digital scanners. I remember the first time I saw several of these fake paper hundreds about 15 years ago that had been given to a customer at a Royal Bank. My neighbour's friend, who was a real estate agent in West Vancouver, had withdrawn five $100 bills and was given three by a teller that were counterfeit. In the light of my friend's living room, it was impossible to notice the subtle differences between the real bills and the bogus ones. It was only under a bright fluorescent light that the lack of security features found on the real bills became noticeable. Considering that the man who had the bills was a multi-millionaire with a hefty bank account, he did not have any problem returning the counterfeit bills to the red-faced staff of his local bank. Since that time I have seen plenty of smaller denominations that have been faked, especially the purple $10's and even the blue $5 dollar notes. I even had one rather hilarious incident where a Tim Horton's employee tried to give me a counterfeit $5 for change that I would not accept, with her blind to the obvious problems on this poor quality counterfeit.

Unfortunately it now appears that we will once again have to start checking each and every bill we receive to ensure that the money is real and not made in somebody's basement or by an organized criminal syndicate. The following information is taken from the Bank of Canada website that can be found online at http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/polymers if you want to see pictures of the security features with these descriptions.
1. Raised Ink. Feel the raised ink on the large number, the shoulders of the large portrait and the words "Bank of Canada" and "Banque du Canada."
2. Large Window. Look for transparency through the large window containing a metallic portrait and building.
3. Metallic Portrait. Look at the details in the metallic portrait in the large window. It matches the large portrait.
4. Metallic Building. Look at the details in the metallic building in the large window. Tilt the note to see sharp colour changes in the building.5. Small Numbers. Look at the numbers in and around the large window that match the value of the note. Some of the numbers appear in reverse.
6. Transparent Text. Look at the word "Canada" in the large window. It is transparent and feels slightly raised.
7. Maple Leaf Border. Look at the maple leaves that border the large window. Some of the leaves cross into the window.
8. Frosted Maple Leaf Window. Look at the small frosted maple leaf window to see that it has a transparent outline and hidden numbers seen backlit by a bright light.
9. Flip. Flip the note to see the features in the large window repeated in the same colours and detail on the other side.

Nearly 45,000 counterfeit Canadian bank notes were passed in 2012, totalling $1.6 million. This is a dramatic reduction of 92% from the peak counterfeiting year of 2004, when there were 470 fake bills for every one million legitimate ones. As far as I can tell, this is the first time that a counterfeit polymer bank note has been passed in Canada and I'm sure that the RCMP will be taking this matter seriously and likely using casino security camera footage to attempt to find the person or person's responsible. Hopefully the police will release pictures of the fake polymer bills so that the Canadian public will know what details to look for and also realize that they need to keep an eye on their cash once again. Too many of us have been lulled into a false sense of security about these hard to counterfeit bills, utilizing a quick check of colour and the transparent windows to ensure they are real. Until we know how widespread this problem is and get to see the quality of the fake bills, Canadians will have to become better acquainted with the host of security features in the new bills that separate them from the counterfeit ones. The unfortunate effect may be that once again, you will find local retails no longer accepting large denomination Canadian banknotes.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

May 06, 2013

Surrey Strong

 

You had to wonder how high the body count was going to get in Surrey before the RCMP finally decided to take a stand on the ongoing tit for rat-a-tat-tat-tat gun violence that had been plaguing this city, not just in 2013, but for years including the Surrey Six Massacre back in 2007. From that year until 2012, BC saw 136 gang-related homicides in the province, not counting the wave of murders recently seen this year in Surrey. It figures that it would take a high-profile daytime execution in south Surrey for something to finally be done about this problem since this is where Mayor Watts and Council do their weekend shopping. Not that the surveillance cameras installed on Colebrook Road after four bodies were dumped there was ignoring the issue but you had to wonder how this would help the murder rate that has you 24 times more likely to be gunned down in Surrey than the Greater Toronto Area on a per capita basis. If Surrey City Hall didn't like Surrey Shirts (www.surreyshirts.com) anti-gang violence, "The Future Dies Here" or "Better Safe Than Surrey" T-shirts, something tells me they won't like the one on the drawing board that reads, "Surrey - Canada's Murder Capital" with a chalk outline of a body on a sidewalk. Hopefully we can stop the hit-parade on our streets and keep this future headline from becoming fact.

My March 18 TNT titled "Colebrook in the Cross-hairs" (scroll down if you missed it) took aim at the growing gang and gun violence problem that has been allowed to explode in Surrey. Since that time we have had two more murders plus three targeted shootings in Whalley over the past month where the victims were shot in the legs. I guess that dead men don't pay their drug debts but dealers who walk with a limp can still make money selling crack and meth. The amazing this about all of this violence since the start of 2013 is that not one person had been charged with any of the murders and shootings! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that the Surrey RCMP, IHIT and CFSEU (BC's anti-gang unit) have plenty of leads and likely know who is involved but need evidence to ensure that charges stick. It was great to hear Chief Supt. Bill Fordy finally stand up and voice that the latest shooting in the Morgan Crossing area was "disgusting" and "unacceptable" instead of babbling on how Surrey is generally safe unless you are a gangster as he did in early January when the body count stood at only three. For myself the shooting of anybody in Surrey, whether known to police or not or if considered a gangster or innocent victim makes no difference. As far as I'm concerned, only goofs carry guns and if you were raised in Surrey you know these are fighting words.

Chief Fordy has asked local businesses and city residents to "Stand beside us" against gangsters, telling people that own restaurants, bars and gyms to turn away those involved in organized crime. One problem though, how do you identify someone as being a known gangster unless they have been outed in public? A good friend of mine has a shaved head, large beard, thick arms, is covered with tatoos and drives a "pimped-out" vehicle. Most people look at him and think gangster but in fact he's a local artist with no criminal affiliation, a heart of gold, and some rather amazing talent. If a business owner correctly identifies a gang-banger and has them kicked out of their business, who is to say this will not invite retaliation. Take away the Gucci sunglasses and Armani suits and Jonathan Bacon looked more like a stock broker than someone with the handle "notorious" tied to his name. Its the police's job to identify these wiseguys and to make life difficult for them and it appears that the Surrey RCMP are finally going to take a page from Delta and Abbotsford's playbook and begin hounding these jerks and hopefully making arrests that result in lengthy jail sentences from our appointed judges.

The CFSEU now has their own website (http://www.cfseu.bc.ca/) and they have recently released a nine-page newsletter to help parents, educators and those who work with young people to help identify when someone is at risk of going into a criminal lifestyle or joining a gang. It makes for a very interesting read into the world of gangs and the police agents tasked at breaking up their criminal enterprises and is a must read for anyone with children going to school in Surrey (download from www.bc-anti-gang.com). Another great place to find information about our gang problem is at the Gangsters Out blog (http://gangstersout.blogspot.ca/) where "Agent K" dispenses a running commentary about murders, arrests and convictions of known gang affiliates. Kim Bolan of the Vancouver Sun keeps her finger on the pulse of organized crime in BC, writing stories for the newspaper and posting on her crime beat blog (http://blogs.vancouversun.com/author/bolankim/). Local Surrey writer and columnist for the 24 Hours Laila Yuile likes to stick her nose into the underhanded dealings of the underworld in her "No Strings Attached" blog (http://lailayuile.com/) that also focuses on politics in BC, not that the two are ever related. The more you watch the headlines, visit these places on the internet, or even drop by the CFSEU headquarters like I recently did, you become aware of the scope of the problem we are facing and how we all need to fight back collectively against it.

What we need in Surrey is a multi-faceted approach to dealing with our gang problem, one that includes the various police organizations, politicians at all levels of government, leaders of churches and temples, teachers and educators, and most importantly, the citizens of this city. This program needs to have a name synonymous with Surrey, its long history and the no-nonsense people who live here. In Boston, the mantra "Boston Strong" became the rallying cry after the murderous terrorist attack that targeted the finish line of the Boston Marathon. I'm proposing that the name for the combined community effort to clean up Surrey, end our gun violence problem and root out gangsters be called "Surrey Strong." Just like the premise behind Surrey Shirts, the concept is to invoke civic pride asking citizens to do their part to help police do their job and stop the shootings that are giving this town a bad name from coast-to-coast in Canada. Surrey will be half-a-million people strong next month and the power of its people to accomplish great things when given the proper civic motivation cannot be overlooked. I'd like to see ads in bus shelters, local newspapers, at our high schools and on the Surrey.ca website campaigning for "Surrey Strong" and asking everyone to work collectively to end the gang violence problem and anonymously report gang crime to www.bccrimestoppers.com or by calling toll-free at 1-800-222-8477.

The Semi-Pen community never ceases to amaze me and I could not believe it when during the all-candidates meeting held at the Star-of-the-Sea, the largely grey-haired crowd reacted in thunderous applause with the concept of legalizing marijuana beyond its medicinal use sanctioned by Health Canada. With the recent decriminalization of the demon weed in both Washington State and Colorado, you have to wonder why BC did not take the lead in repealing pot prohibition? I've been told that the lucrative sales of BC Bud return 80% of the profits gained by organized crime in this province, money that is reinvested in cocaine, crack, meth, designer drugs and of course heroin. It is these drugs and the addictions they cause that are responsible for many of our social ills and high property crime rates along with gun battles over turf and control. If BC wants a legacy fund to pay off its huge provincial debt, why not take the pot profits from the gangs and instead build a new agricultural commodity that can be taxed and properly regulated? As far as paying for the war on gangs, taking the bad guys toys and investments under the Proceeds of Crime legislation should be considered as it is the lure of easy money and plenty of bling that attracts many to the gangster lifestyle in the first place.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

April 29, 2013

Buy-Election

With the Provincial election well underway and candidate lawn signs sprouting like mushrooms across the Semiahmoo Peninsula, I'm fighting the urge to use this podium to take pot-shots at my rivals or advance my political agenda. That certainly wouldn't be fair and to be quite honest, I'm rather fond of people who step forward and throw themselves into the public spotlight to do their civic duty. I find negative commentary and advertising to be a complete turn-off and certainly wouldn't want to wallow into that sordid cesspool. After all, the high road is usually less travelled and the view is often spectacular as long as you are on the lookout for pot holes and sharp corners that could cause a stunning fall from grace.

That being said, this TNT edition is going to focus on elections, in particular how this provincial election might impact future municipal ones in Surrey and nearby cities. With civic politics often being used as a stepping stone to higher office, both mayors and councillors often look to run in either provincial or federal elections. Unfortunately this usually means that the candidate, if successfully elected, will resign from their previously held position at City Hall, necessitating a by-election. We saw an unfortunate version of this last year where in White Rock, long-time councillor Mary Wade-Anderson passed away, forcing a by-election in the city by the sea. With a population of 19,000 and a land base measuring only 5 acres, this exercise in democracy resulted in Bill Lawrence being elected at a cost for this smallest of cities that was a rather large $32,000. That is chicken feed when compared to municipalities with a large land base and numerous residents where by-elections come with a hefty price tag.

In Surrey, Councillor Marvin Hunt has decided to run for the BC Liberals in the Surrey Panorama riding after star candidate Suhk Dhaliwal had to withdraw due to troubles with the tax man. I'm actually a rather big fan of Mr. Hunt, having dealt with him on a variety of occasions on topics ranging from Nav Canada to solid waste at Metro Vancouver and many transportation safety issues. The problem is that if Mr. Hunt is successful in getting elected to the legislature in Victoria, it means he will suddenly find himself in two political jobs. While he has offered to stay on until the next civic election and donate his Surrey paycheck to charity, it is likely he will be asked to resign by members of Surrey First forcing a by-election before the set Nov 2014 civic election date. The cost associated with a by-election in Surrey has been estimated at between $500,000 to $800,000, depending on whose numbers you trust. This problem is not contained only to Surrey with three councillors in Delta running to become the new MLA with a by-election price tag of $180,000. Langley's Mayor Peter Fassbender is running in Surrey-Fleetwood with the Langley City by-election cost pegged at $40,000. Further out in the valley, two councillors are running in Abbotsford with a $300,000-$350,000 by-election price estimate. Adding the higher numbers and you get, $1,370,000 for only four Lower Mainland cities!

This exercise in democracy might be worthwhile were it not for the fact that municipal elections generally attract a low voter turnout and by-elections are notorious for being all but ignored by the electorate. The last White Rock by-election in 2011 attracted a record low 15% voter turnout, beating out the previous low of 16% for the 2009 by-election that resulted from Councillor James Coleridge's election win being nullified by a judge. Instead of holding a by-election at great cost and dubious result, I'd like to suggest a much more economical and democratically sound solution. Once the civic election results are verified and the Mayor and Council chosen, the next person in line becomes the official "Candidate in Waiting (CW)." In the case of a councillor being unable to fulfill their duties, the CW steps forward to assume their position. This is similar to the Miss America content where a winner is crowned but a replacement is chosen should they resign or be stripped of their title (as has happened in the past - see Vanessa Williams). Not that I'm a homer, but for the last White Rock civic election the Candidate in Waiting would have been none other than Dave Chesney, the editor of the White Rock Sun. For Surrey, their CW is former Mayor and long-time Councillor Bob Bose who was looking rather spry when I visited him several weeks ago at his Ocean Park home.

This same concept could also be expanded to avoid a by-election for position of city mayor. It was widely believed that Surrey's Mayor Dianne Watts was considering running for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party and if selected would have also initiated a by-election. There are two situations that could be used to avoid a costly by-election in this case rather than waste between a half to three-quarters of a million taxpayers dollars. First would be for the elected councillors to simply take turns as acting Mayor, something that already happens on a monthly basis while the Mayor is out of town on business or taking a vacation from the pressures of public office, with the CW being moved into Council. Another idea would be to place the councillor who received the most votes in the civic election into the Mayor's chair while then promoting the Candidate in Waiting to replace them. Either way, with civic elections attracting on average only a third of the electorate and by-elections half of that, I believe that we would be better served by the results from a full-blown election. In order to keep the Candidate in Waiting informed and interested in the political process, they could even be paid a modest stipend for every time they appeared at a Council meeting. In the end, this would likely be much cheaper than paying vast sums of money to hold by-elections that few show any real interest in.

For those of you that this is an affront to the democratic principles and that these by-elections should be held regardless of the cost, consider what happens in the bastion of freedom and democracy, the United States of America. Voters there elect a person for President and if for any reason they are unable to complete the term, the Vice-President steps in to take his place. We have seen this following presidential assassinations such as John F. Kennedy and resignations including Richard Nixon. In fact, the American Government has a presidential line of succession that includes fifteen people starting with the V.P., Speaker of the House, President of the Senate and then the Secretaries of State, Treasury and Defence. If the government of the U.S. can select their Commander-in-Chief from a pre-ordained list, I see no reason why we should not be able to use the results of a previous election to fill vacancies at the municipal level. In fact, this same rational might also be considered to fill power vacuums at both the Provincial and Federal levels should MLA's or MP's not be able to complete their full terms. It certainly beats adding to the massive debt that is being accumulated in both BC and Ottawa that eventually will have to be paid for by future generations.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

There are a number of Councillors seeking a Provincial seat, here is the breakdown of the cost of a by-election in the various districts affected.
Approximate by-election costs
Delta- $180,000
Councillors Sylvia Bishop and Scott Hamilton are running as an NDP and Liberal respectively in Delta-North
Councillor Bruce McDonald is running as a Liberal in Delta-South
Surrey- $500,000 to 750,000
Councillor Marvin Hunt is running as a Liberal in Surrey-Panorama
Abbotsford- $300,00 to $350,000
Councillor Moe Gill is running as an Independent in Abbotsford-West
Councillor Simon Gibson is running as a Liberal in Abbotsford-Mission
Langley- $40,000
Mayor Peter Fassbender is running as a Liberal in Surrey-Fleetwood

 

 

April 22, 2013

Putting the "Capital" in Coast Capital

My affiliation with the current day Coast Capital Savings goes way back in time beginning over a quarter century ago when I first started banking with them. At that time I was a member of the Surrey Credit Union and I maintained several of their self-owned properties for many years along with getting my first mortgage from this institution. Getting larger and opening more branches, they changed the name to Surrey Metro Savings, ditching the credit union name while positioning themselves for more expansion into areas outside Surrey. In June of 2002, SMS was bought out by the larger Coast Capital Savings that was originally formed from the amalgamation of Pacific Coast Savings Credit Union and Richmond Savings Credit Union. In its current form, Coast Capital Savings, headquartered in Surrey, has assets of $11.8 billion and over 500,000 members with 1,900 employees.

I found myself standing in the teller's lineup at the Morgan Heights/Grandview Crossing branch last week, looking around for the paper banking slips that have now been eliminated. By chance I happened to glance over at the reception desk where there was a small stack of blue brochures with the title, "Board of Directors Update & Special Resolution." Now reading banking financial and operational highlights for me is right up there with with watching paint dry but the "Special Resolution" portion caught my interest and I resolved to read about what was so special at Coast Capital. What I learned is that south Surrey resident Phil Embley, himself a Coast Capital member, had forced a special resolution regarding the pay for the Credit Union's directors and that a vote on this issue was currently taking place. What was interesting was that while advertisements and message flashed by on the many television boards throughout the branch, there was nothing to note that this vote was taking place or that there was only one day left to place your ballot. It was only by chance that I noticed the resolution containing information from both Coast Capital and Mr. Embley about this conflict.

In the provided booklet, Coast Capital lays out their case for their director compensation framework which decides their financial remuneration. It turns out that back in 2007 the directors were given the power to decide their own pay in order to attract qualified directors. Through various flow charts graphs they explain how the directors pay relates to other Credit Unions, admitting that director compensation has increased but that it is related to increases in Coast Capital's size and complexity. While Phil Embley was allowed to include his own member's statement regarding the special resolution in the brochure, it came with a bold disclaimer stating,"Coast Capital advises our members that some of the facts alleged in the statement are inaccurate and misleading." Mr. Embley had previously worked to defeat a special resolution at Westminster Savings Credit Union that would have allowed directors to control their own pay, which received a 70% against vote. Under the Financial Institution Act, Mr. Embley worked to get 300 Coast Capital members to sign his petition even though he was barred from standing at Credit Union doors and not allowed to protest on their property. Utilizing paid advertising and media attention, he got the needed signatures in 20 days forcing the resolution. Mr. Embley has advised me that while he has asked three times for an explanation about the alleged inaccurate and misleading facts in his statement, he has not received a reply from the board of directors on what he considers to be character assassination.

The following is the statement that was printed regarding the special resolution and the voting that closed last week. Results will be presented on April 30 at the 2013 Coast Capital AGM at the Executive Airport Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre, 7311, Westminster Hwy, in Richmond, BC.

Why you should Vote "Yes" to the Special Resolution:
Our Directors decide their own pay. Can you do that where you work? 500% increases for Directors!!
in 2007, Coast Capital Directors recommended a change for the Rules to allow Directors to determine their own remuneration. Directors have since increased their pay by as much as 500%. If 66% of voting members vote YES, our members will be back in control. Please tell other members.
In 2011 Vancity paid their Chairman $60,700 while our Chairman paid himself $164,140. At Vancity members approve Director Remuneration. Our Directors pay themselves and their pay is higher than any cooperative Board in Canada - by a significant amount.
Vancity's Board Remuneration in 2011 - $366,382. Coast Capital (smaller than Vancity) paid $750,517, almost 100% more! Other large BC credit unions, Westminster Savings - $245,299, Interior Savings - $175,000.
When Directors set their own remuneration they venture into an area with an obvious conflict of interest. It is plainly self-dealing and Directors have a fiduciary duty requiring them to put the interest of the members before their own interests. In handling such a conflict one would expect every Director to be extremely cautious but ours have authorized huge differences between what they pay themselves and what Directors of other cooperatives are paid.
Voting YES will eliminate some of the problem but we also need to elect Directors that understand (and will abide by) cooperative principles. Traditionally, the Directors of cooperatives view their serves as, at least in part, community service but our Directors compare themselves to the Directors of small public companies.
They pay themselves more than Directors of some public companies and crown corporations. The amounts are not the only concern. The guidelines under which the Directors earn their pay are unusual and designed to benefit Directors rather than the members. One example - Directors collect at $1,020 meeting fee by phoning in - that's right they don't have to be at the meeting. We have asked, but the Directors won't disclose how often this happens.
Serving as a director of Coast Capital should be an honour, not a way to earn excessive pay. Every dollar paid for remuneration is a dollar that is not available for employee salaries or member services.

To assist in spreading the word about the Coast Capital's director pay and this special resolution vote, a website was created titled www.coastcapitalcompensationwatch.com. It features a highly detailed and explanatory Home page, a Welcome page with facts and comparison, along with many other pages containing information about this issue and the vote that many people, including myself, heard nothing about. There is also a Facebook page regarding this issue titled Coast Capital Compensation Watch that has 359 likes and allows for posted comments. This is not the only problem plaguing Surrey's largest credit union as four directors were recently acclaimed to another three year term after their Nominations Committee somehow failed to recommend any of the 26 candidates that expressed an interest in the job, eliminating the need for a democratic election. Only adding to the questions being asked about the direction the Credit Union is taking, it was revealed last week that they recently utilized temporary foreign workers, something that the Royal Bank of Canada has been taken to task on. When a Credit Union starts acting like a big bank, you have to start wondering whether they have lost sight of their historical mandate which is to "serve people, not profits." I'm thinking that maybe they are using "Where The Wild Things Are" creatures in their new ads because we have indeed created a monster.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Editors Note / Update

COAST CAPITAL MEMBERS OBTAIN CONTROL OF BOARD REMUNERATION WITH 79.7% VOTE

Here is a link to a story about this historic vote and its implications in the Van Sun:
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Coast+Capital+credit+union+members+overwhelmingly+vote+review+board/8324325/story.html

 

 

 

April 15, 2013

On Guard For Murphy

I'm so glad to be sitting here in one piece being able to write this week's TNT from the comfort of my own home instead of from a hospital bed at the Peace Arch Hospital. Anyone who has read this column for some time will know of my interest in public safety and transportation. This comes from a variety of sources, my Mom's terrible family history where her father and two of her siblings died in car accidents, the many serious and/or fatal crashes I have attended over the years, plus my own experiences of accidents and near-misses that have happened in my many miles of driving. While my desire to make streets safer for everyone is focused on saving lives, it is also from a well ingrained sense of self-preservation, especially for roadways that I drive on a frequent basis. On Feb. 19, I wrote a piece in the WR Sun titled "Crescent Road Carnage", detailing problems with this raceway in south Surrey and its history of high-speed crashes and death. The powers that be took note with myself being invited to appear before Surrey's Transportation and Infrastructure committee plus the RCMP performing radar checks 14 times in March resulting in 210 speeding tickets being issued.

Just to show you that Murphy has a sick sense of humour, I was visiting a client last Monday night and left for home from a residence near Crescent Park that is only a half-mile away. It had just gotten dark and I headed west on Crescent Road from 132 St., driving at or near the posted 50 Kmh limit in my Jeep YJ. At the last set of corners near the Chevron station at 128 St., a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed lost control on the S bend and crossed fully into my lane. If I had not reacted quickly to this threat or had simply applied the brakes, we would have collided in a full head-on crash. Instead I violently yanked the steering wheel to the right, blasting the horn while doing so, then slammed on the brakes with both feet as I corrected the skid and got my hand away from where the air bag would deploy on impact (a friend of mine recently had his thumb nearly torn off by an airbag, something to think about). The vehicle flashed by only inches away while I screeched to the side of the road where the engine stalled since I had no time to step on the clutch or grab the gear shift. The driver who had forced me off the road regained control of his vehicle, got back in his own lane and sped off into the night. I sat at the side of Crescent thanking my guardian angel and the new rims and tires I had bought from RT Tires this winter (Thanks Ish, there's your plug!) that no doubt allowed me to avoid what would have been a very bad accident. Between the adrenaline rush, mental images of this near-miss and thoughts about my own mortality, I hardly slept a wink that night. Needless to say, I will make sure that Surrey completes many of the safety upgrades I have identified on this notoriously dangerous road.

A friend of mine in Tsawwassen was not so lucky on Feb. 18 when her Nissan 370Z convertible sports car lost control on the Steveston Hwy. overpass in Richmond above Hwy. 99 just before the Geroge Massey tunnel. The vehicle jumped the curb and smashed into the guardrail with some rather unexpected results. The steel guardrail she hit popped from the concrete posts that held it in place, allowing the vehicle to slam squarely into one of these solid pillars. The concrete post broke from the bridge deck, toppling over where it was left hanging by a single piece of rebar. It pulled another section of steel railing with it that was left dangling down into traffic. The end result was that there was 20 feet of overpass with no railing and my friends car left sitting at the edge of the bridge, dangerously close to falling 20 feet onto the highway below. The piece of steel railing that did fall landed in the southbound bus lane along with one of the front wheels torn from the car. This all happened at 2 p.m. and the wreckage was not removed and repaired until 7:30 that night, snarling evening rush-hour traffic throughout the region. My friend was taken to hospital suffering from minor injuries and shock and when she saw photos of the accident scene burst into tears, realizing how close she had come to possibly going off the bridge, an accident that likely would have killed her had the vehicle landed on its soft cloth roof.

Several years ago I raised the alarm about the Serpentine River bridge guardrail failure that caused the death of a 21-year-old woman who drowned in her car after this important safety feature failed. This led to a lengthy investigation and the final release of a Ministry of Tranportation report that identified brittle aluminum support posts and faulty design as being the culprit in this tragety. Because of this, the old aluminum guardrails on the Serpentine and Nicomekyl river bridges have now been protected with heavy concrete curbing to keep vehicles from smashing through and ending up in the water. This same style of guardrail is also being identified on highways across BC and when necessary and if the bridge design will handle the increased weight, concrete curbs have also been promised for them as well. New parapet concrete guardrails like what have now been constructed on the Serpentine bridge northbound that was expanded for the bus lane on Hwy. 99 are heavily rebared to the bridge deck and are strong enough to keep even large vehicles on the decking. Unfortunately the same concrete post and steel railing system that was used on Steveston Highway is also present at many overpasses along Hwy. 99 from the Ladner Trunk Rd. interchange in Delta all the way to 8th Ave. in south Surrey. Comments left by a person named Ken on a CTV news report about this accident should serve as a warning: That is old style guardrail, it was replaced with new safer barrier, known as "690mm". You can tell from the slots at the bottom, "690" has holes in the middle. The old stuff did not stay connected during many impacts and is not safe. It should be replaced.

I decided to go have a look at one of these antiquated guardrails for myself and went down to the King George Boulevard overpass that was built in 1964 which I knew used this identical safety system as that on the Steveston Hwy. The galvanized steel railings are strong and sturdy but are held in place on either end by three small steel tabs attached to the concrete, two on the top rail and one on the bottom that are then bolted to the railings. While the railings appear corrosion free, the tabs are not zinc coated and are thick with rust from water and winter salt spray.

Looking at the pictures of the Steveston Hwy. crash, it appears that either the bolts snapped or the tabs broke, leaving the relatively intact steel railing to leave the bridge deck. As for the concrete posts, they contain six cubic feet of reinforced concrete, weighing an estimated 900 lbs. Several of the heavy posts are positioned at expansion joints and large gaps underneath them have been filled with a silicon-like putty that does litle to prevent moisture and salt from entering where it likely is eating away at the steel rods connecting them to the bridge. I have to question their strength after a 3,300 lb two-seater convertible was able to knock two sections of railing and a heavy concrete post off the decking. Besides the obvious danger of a vehicle sailing onto the highway below, imagine what would happen should you be hit one of the steel railings, a torn off car tire, or a 900 pound block of falling concrete, especially while travelling at highway speed?

I've alerted the Ministry of Highways to my concerns and asked them to retain the portions of the damaged guardrail from the Steveston Hwy. overpass for further engineering inspection and analysis. Richmond Mayor Brodie and Council plus the three MLA's for that region also received a copy of the email so they are aware of this serious safety issue. If there have been previous problems with this design and the railings disconnect during impact as suggested by Ken on the comment forum of CTV, then they need to design ways to solve this problem or replace them as soon as possible. I was thinking that two strands of steel cable running through the railings and in front of the concrete posts on both the top and bottom would not only strengthen this safety system but likely keep the components from falling onto traffic below in case of impact. This cheap quick fix would also not add much extra weight to the bridge deck, something that is a consideration if heavy concrete curbing were to be installed instead. At some point in time, many of the smaller bridges across the Lower Mainland that were built 50 years ago will have to be replaced. If it turns out that these guardrails will not stop even a small car from popping the railings from their concrete supports, then it is likely that this will need to be done sooner than later. To do nothing only invites Murphy to play his games, likely meaning it will be me in my heavy work truck who gets to test the strength of these suspect guardrails here in south Surrey.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

April 08, 2013

The Arts, Jack Layton and Half Moon Bay (aka Semiahmoo)

My once a week "The Naked Truth" column in the White Rock Sun gives me the opportunity to flex my creative writing muscles while making a statement about a variety of topics involving the Semiahmoo Peninsula. On Saturday evening, I got to rub shoulders with a woman who has a pedigree of writing accomplishments that essentially make her one of Canada's literary royalty. At Centennial Park, the Semiahmoo Arts "Catalyst for Change: Art in Action!" continued their literary series, "Readings by the Salish Sea." The keynote speaker for this event was non other than noted Canadian author and poet Penn Kemp. The following is a list of her accomplishments taken from the Quatto Books website: Heralded by The Writers' Union as "a one-woman literary industry," activist, performer, and playwright Penn Kemp is the League of Canadian Poets' 2012 honorary Life Member and inaugural Poet Laureate for the City of London, Ontario (2010-12). She has received the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Award for contributions to Canadian arts and culture. Penn has published 25 books of poetry and drama, and has had six plays and ten CDs of Sound Opera produced. Penn currently edits poetry for Pendas Productions and hosts her Lit-on-Air program, "Gathering Voices".

(local NDP candidate Susan Keeping Penn Kemp and Susan McCaslin

Mrs. Kemp used this night for the inaugural West Coast book launch for her new book, "Jack Layton: Art in Action" that begins the cross-country tour for this ambitious project and National Poetry Month in Canada. The NDP's late leader Jack Layton was her brother-in-law and Penn collected and assembled anecdotes and viewpoints from people across Canada about how Mr. Layton had inspired Canadians from all walks of life to work towards creating a better world. Indeed, the theme of the night was "Can one person make a difference? Can a small group affect change", questions that WR Sun editor Dave Chesney and I know can both be answered with a resounding, "yes." The "Jack Layton: Art in Action" book contains a total of 105 different stories printed on 300 pages chosen from all of those who made their contributions about Jack Layton's involvement in Canadian arts and culture. It can be purchased at leading retail book stores or direct online from Quattro books for $24.95 at the following link: http://www.quattrobooks.ca/books/jack-layton-art-in-action/ If you missed the book launch and wish to meet Penn Kemp in person, she will be at the Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main St. Vancouver on Wed., Apr. 10 from 3-5 p.m. and at the Lillloett Room of the Irving Barber Learning Centre, 1961 East Mall, Vancouver on Thurs., April 11th.

The evening began with music from Chris Thornley from Blues for the Bank and several of his musician friends providing some soulful blues to set the mood. Barbara Cooper, the very fashionable President of the Semiahmoo Arts (www.semiahmooarts.com) opened the festivities, thanking the Writers Union of Canada, the BC Arts Council and the BC Provincial Government for helping to make this special night possible. South Surrey - White Rock NDP candidate Susan Keeping then took the podium to say a few words about the arts, social justice, poverty law, and of course to give her thoughts on Jack Layton before introducing Penn Kemp as the key-note speaker. Other local advocates also got their turn to address the aproximately 100 people in attendance. These included south Surrey author and poet Heidi Greco, wordsmith Virginia Gillespie who helped to inspire the "Eagle's Nest Labyrinth" in Kwomais Point Park, and Mike Svob from Artists for an Oil-Free Coast that are part of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation. A hi-light for me was poet Susan McCaslin who started the Han Shan Poetry Project to support a group of residents known as WOLF (Watchers of Langley Forests) who fought successfully against Langley council's plan to develop McLellan Park Forest.

More than anything, the night really did belong to Jack with various readings and personal reflections on his life stirring up strong emotions amonst NDP party faithful and others in attendance from across the political spectrum. Next to Port Coquitlam's Terry Fox, Jack Layton is probably most well-known Canadian who succumbed to the ravages of cancer. Who can forget his last press conference on July 25, 2011 when Mr. Layton, his face looking dangerously gaunt and with a hoarse lowered voice, announced that he had cancer and was stepping down temporarily as NDP leader to undergo treatment. Unfortunately his disease did not respond as hoped to treatment and on August 22 that same year Jack died at his home in Toronto, being given a state funeral as the Leader of the Official Opposition. Regardless of your political beliefs or affiliations, if you have never read Jack Layton's last letter to Canadians, you should take a few minutes to consider the wisdom and words of a great man dying far too young. It starts with a "Dear friends" introduction, followed by "A few additional Thoughts", and then "To the members of my party, To the members of our parliamentary caucus, To my fellow Quebecers, To young Canadians" and ends with, "And finally, to all Canadians." Rather than posting the full copy here, this required reading can be found on many internet sites by searching, "Jack Layton's last letter."

The final paragraph of Jack's farewell letter is short and sweet with words to live by: "My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. All my very best, Jack Layton."

Naturally yours.
Don Pitcairn

 

 

April 01, 2013

April Fool's BC Liberals - The Jokes on You

Pitcairn & The Zalm

Happy Easter everybody, I hope your long week-end went well especially with the amazing sunny and warm weather that put an abrupt end to winter on the west coast. Normally I write my latest installment of the TNT on Sunday night, delaying it a day for long weekends, but not this time as it isn't every year that April Fools Day falls on a Monday. For this special occasion, I dedicate this column to the B.C. Liberal Party and the federal Conservative Party as the hated HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) is finally repealed and replaced once again by the PST (Provincial Sales Tax) and the federal GST (Goods and Services Tax) in BC on April 1. The big question still remaining to be answered is why the transition back to the previous tax regime took so much time? It has been 19 months since the HST was defeated in the Province-wide referendum and finally it is being scrapped. By comparison, it only took two months to shove this tax down the throats of BC residents with it being passed in the legislature on April 29, 2010 and put into effect on July 1st, 2010.

This column has been a long time coming with various offerings from myself through the years on this subject in the pages of the WR Sun including Aug. 29, 2011 - "Yes!!!", June 20, 2011 - "Vote no to the HST, err..., I mean Yes", July 5, 2010 - "Making Dollars and Cents of the HST", May 10, 2010 - "Tax the Tax", April 12, 2010 - "HST, GST, PST You & Me", and April 5, 2010 - "HST Tax and the 4-H Club." The beauty of electronic community newspapers such as the White Rock Sun is having access to a growing archive, allowing you to scroll down and review years worth of stories with the roll of a mouse or push of a button. You might want to check up on some of these dates for a historical perspective on this fight that began when the HST was first introduced by the then Gordon Campbell BC Liberal government shortly after they were re-elected. This major miscalculation has seriously damaged the Liberals credibility and hung around them during their entire last term which is likely to lead to their being turfed from office during the upcoming Provincial election.

Hats off to former premier Bill Vanderzalm, Chris Delaney and Bill Tielman who collectively with an army of loyal "Fight HST" volunteers forced a referendum on the implementation of the hated HST leading to its demise. This exercise should stand as a warning to any future governments who decide to unilaterally impose regressive tax changes on constituents without first consulting them. This is democracy 101, whereby elected politicians actually represent their constituents instead of sticking it to them after voted into power. I realize this sounds like a novel approach with many politicians simply blindly following the party mantra and being censured if they step out of line. In fact, it would be a refreshing change in BC where the so-called "free-enterprise" party, in this case the Liberals, simply siphon tax dollars towards their business friends in what resembles corporate communism, or the NDP that rewards their union bosses with rich public contracts. Either way, it appears that running up record debt is now how both of the ruling parties now conduct their affairs, so for those interested in balanced budgets, not slight of hand accounting tricks and snake-oil salesmanship, it truly limits your options on election day.

When the HST was implemented, many of my customers were suddenly hit with an increase of 7% to their bills, as previously we were PST exempt. I lost 20% of my customer base as they looked for other alternatives rather than absorb the increase in price due solely to the new tax regime. I'm sure the people who I have retained will be looking forward to a sudden 7% decrease on their bills in the month of April and beyond. Obviously I will not be increasing my prices to try and profit from the decrease in taxation but the same cannot be said for other large businesses. When the HST was brought in, the PST rate on booze went from 10% to 7%, so the BCLC raised their booze prices 3% across the board ensuring the government would still rake in the same amount of cash. While going from the HST back to the PST/GST will not alter the 12 tax cost, I noticed BCLC employees changing prices on all of their merchandise on Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, I did not notice the costs of beer, wine or spirits being reduced. It has been reported that with cellular phone bills suddenly dropping by 7% that Telus is jacking up their rates to keep people's bills the same as before. If this is true, it shows a need for much more competition in the cell phone market, with Canadians already paying one of the highest rates in the world.

On April 1st, the joke is certainly on the BC Liberal Party and Steven Harpers Conservatives who were equally to blame for this fiasco that ignored the democratic process. For real payback for this debacle, you don't have to wait for long as the Provincial election is just over a month away. You can forget the non-stop scandals plaguing a government well beyond its best-before-date, the performance of its unelected Premier, or the constant barrage of election propaganda masquerading as enlightening government advertising. Instead, every time you see one of those TV commercials featuring falling dominos that suddenly stop when they hit the BC Liberal tile, remember that it is likely the Liberals will be falling like dominos when they finally get to face the wrath of the voting public. There are many folks who will not hold their nose when they vote as this won't stop you from throwing up. People are now looking at different parties, attempting to break the status quo of the past. Don't be surprised to see strong independent candidates and a few BC Green Party members standing in the legislature in the near future. The only question left to be answered is not whether the Liberals will find themselves in opposition, but if they will be decimated like the former Social Credit that also went into an election reeking of scandal.

What it truly fascinating about all of this is that Bill Vanderzalm, who championed against the HST, was the former Socred leader who resigned in disgrace in the spring of 1991 following revelations about the sale of the Fantasy Garden's complex. Rita Johnston took over from him as Canada's first female premier, losing her seat in the Oct. 1991 election that saw the Social Credit decimated at the polls, getting only 7 seats and falling to third place in party standings leading to its eventual destruction. Could the same thing happen this year? Only time will tell it is wise to remember philosopher George Santayana's often used quote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Unless there is a miraculous change of course for Christy Clark's BC Liberals, they could end up being history.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

March 24, 2013

Slash and Burn - Surrey Style

After spending most of the day swinging a 10 pound maul or splitting axe and chopping wood for next winter, I thought it would be rather ironic to write about clear-cutting in Surrey. No, not the usual run-of-the-mill bulldozer development turning green space into human breeding grounds that we have become accustomed to here. I'm talking about cutting down old-growth forests containing 900 year old Western Red cedars, BC's Provincial tree. Don't worry, this isn't happening here because we already did that across Surrey a century ago, with the trees in our parks mere saplings compared to what was previously standing. This latest old-growth clear-cutting happened in the Upper Walbran Valley on the west side of Vancouver Island, about a kilometre from Castle Grove that is home to the "Castle Giant", a Western Red cedar five metres in diameter and considered to be one of the widest trees in Canada. The Surrey connection is that the logging of this ancient tract of forest was done by the Teal Jones Group whose head offices are in this city on the banks of the mighty Fraser River. By the way, I should note that the logs my arborist friend provided me were dangerous dead-stands recently removed from a residential property in south Surrey. No live trees were killed or injured in the making of this column and best of all, the wood is already dried, cured and delivered free of charge.

If Wahlbran Valley and Upper Carmanah Valley ring a bell, it is because they have been the at the centre of protests regarding forestry practices and the cutting of old-growth forests on Vancouver island for years. Located just north of Port Renfrew, it is adjacent to the Pacific Spirit Park and the world-famous West Coast Trail. This ancient temperate rainforest contains complex biodiversity, holding almost twice as much biomass as is found in tropical rainforests. It is internationally renown for some of the biggest trees on the planet including the Carmanah Giant, a 95 metre Sitka Spruce and 1,000 year old Western Red cedars. Following environmental protests in the early 1990's, the lower half of the Walbran Valley and the Upper Carmanah Valley were added to the existing Carmanah Walbran Provincial Park in 1995, totalling 16,450 hectares in size. More headline-grabbing public protests followed in 2003, punctuated with the arrest and imprisonment of 74-year-old environmentalist and grand-mother Betty Krawczyk for contempt of court. Recent protests ended in the fall of 2012 when it was reported that the Teal Jones Group would not be logging the Castle Grove region forests and the BC government expressed interest in formally protecting old-growth stands.

Unfortunately it was recently revealed by Torrance Coste, a member of the Wilderness Committee, that Surrey's Teal Jones Group has been busy extracting old-growth wood from this rainforest during the winter. Coste drove into the Walbran Valley earlier this month, taking along a student movie crew from New York that wanted to film the giant trees that grow there. What they found instead was a newly razed "field of stumps", some with growth rings dating back 900 years which should give a black-eye to BC's logging practices. It was not like this was an unknown or illegal logging operation as the BC Ministry of Forests acknowledged that Teal-Jones had all of the necessary permits and environmental plans in place before proceeding with their old-growth harvest. This logging took place in a special management zone consisting of 2,600 hectares next to the east side of the Walbran protected forest. The clear cuts were allowed to a maximum of 5 hectares, with selectively logged cut blocks no larger than 40 hectares in size. There is no word as to where these logs have been taken, whether they will be processed at saw mills in BC, or if the customers realize they are accepting old-growth wood taken from coastal rain forests. As BC Auditor General John Doyle recently expressed, "On Crown land there should be better opportunities to have old growth preserved. We just don't see any proactive old-growth or conservation strategies in BC."

The Teal Jones Group is a family run operation with deep roots in the forest industry here in BC. The original owner Jack Jones founded the company in New Westminster over 60 years ago as a one-man cedar roofing mill after he returned from serving in World War 2. The company moved in March of 1962 (the same month I was born I might add) and opened the Teal Mill in Surrey at its present location next to Barnston Island. Now owned by sons Tom and Dick Jones, the Teal Jones Group is the largest privately held forest products company on the West coast of Canada. They have expanded to cities and towns across BC and even have planer facilities in Sumas, Washington. They are a well-known Surrey business, operating the $30 million dollar J.S. Sawmill on the former Teal Mill site and employing 1,200 people throughout the Province who help extract coastal forest resources at their many locations. Their website boasts that they are, "Dedicated to responsible forest management" with owner Dick Jones saying, "We're just getting started!" when commenting about the steady growth of the company. Cutting down old growth rainforest is not what I consider responsible and they should be more concerned about preserving old-growth than the steady growth of their balance sheet. Just as fish customers are looking for sustainable seafood, it is time that old-growth wood be looked on with the same environmental distain now reserved for ivory, rhino horn, or sharks fin.

It is surprising and unsettling that with all the protests for protecting old growth forest on the coast of BC that the Provincial Government has been dragging its heels while companies continue to harvest ancient trees from ecologically important rain forests. You would think that companies such as Surrey's Teal Jones that champion sustainability and conservation of natural resources would realize the importance of preserving our old forests, rather than seeing them only as easily harvestable trees with high profit margins. While the Teal Jones Group has reportedly planted nearly 9 million tree seedlings since 2004, they cannot promise to, "provide future generations with a continuous supply of natural resources" as their website boldly states. When biodiversity is gone, it is forever and our children should not have to wait another 900 years to be able to experience the grandeur and majesty of being in the presence of some of the biggest organisms on the planet that live in our own back yards. Think about this when you go for a walk in any of our city parks, taking note of the large stumps that serve as are reminder to previous old-growth logging operations that occurred right here in Surrey only a century ago.

For more information on preserving old-growth forests in BC, visit the following links:
http://wildernesscommittee.org/
http://www.ancientforestalliance.org/

Read and see more pictures of the devastation (Click Here)

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

March 18, 2013

Colebrook In The Cross-hairs

Oh....shoot me dead….put a bullet in my head
I am cravin' a nice magnum piece of lead

Take my body and kick it to the side of Colebrook Road
Where my spirit rests amongst the used condoms and toads

Lying here in this puddle….I think I hear a train,
But it could be the massive damage caused by the bullet in my brain

Yes, sir….shoot me dead and take me to Colebrook Road.
Poem by Stompin Tom Cannard posted on Kim Bolan's "The Real Scoop" blog, Vancouver Sun

In the continuing saga involving Surrey's notorious Colebrook Road, I was working in Panorama Ridge on Tuesday, March 12, finishing up on our jobsite at close to 6 p.m. We often take the little known 125A St. cheater route down onto the western end of Colebrook Road, using it as a shortcut to avoid traffic on #10 Hwy. and the KGB while enjoying the countryside and farms. As we drove by the corner of 125A St. and Colebrook, I had two things to say to my long-suffering employee sitting beside me who gets to listen to my rants on a daily basis. First I told him that Surrey needed to change the "No Exit" sign to "Dead End" because of the two cases where bodies had been dumped there earlier this year. As we rounded the corner, I then remarked that if I was the Chief of Police for Surrey, I'd have an unmarked cop car sitting hidden on railway property from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. to keep an eye on things, as I expected even more bodies to be dumped at this same rural location.

Imagine my disgust when on Wednesday morning when I heard that another two more bodies had been discovered by a police car at 2 a.m. at the exact corner that I felt should have been under surveillance! While routine patrols of Colebrook Road had reportedly been stepped up, which is why police found the latest two bodies, did no one think it might have been worthwhile to monitor this out-of-the-way spot especially late at night in the witching hours? Doing this would have likely solved a double murder, while sending a firm message to criminals and assassins that police were laying in wait and watching their every move. Now this latest killing is under investigation with Mayor Watts suddenly promising some street lighting and possible installation of cameras to magically solve this ongoing problem. At least she visited the latest crime scene while on her way to work at City Hall on Wednesday morning, hopefully showing her very real concern (as I would like to believe) and not just performing a publicity stunt to calm rattled nerves. I'm left wondering if Supt. Bill Fordy still believes it is "generally safe in Surrey" as he stated in January after the first three murders this year?

I question what good more street lighting and video cameras will do especially now that these measures have been publically announced? Besides making folks on the Ridge feel a little safer about living next to Surrey's dump (both sides of Colebrook Road), do they think anyone will be dropping off more victims if they know they are under video surveillance? In fact, dumping of all kinds of debris including everything from grow-op dirt to stolen cars has been an ongoing problem along Colebrook Road for decades. Last year Surrey announced they were putting up hidden cameras to monitor frequent illegal dumping sites including many well-known and often used locations on Colebrook Road. While this was brought in with much fanfare, they have since been withdrawn from use because of unspecified problems with the units. A few high definition video cameras posted at either end of Colebrook road could record licience plates that could then be matched to crimes or possibly catch killers dumping bodies into the ditch. Of course, I'm sure if this ever resulted in charges, they would likely be thrown out of court by one of our judges for violating the criminal's Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

As it sits we now have ten murders in ten weeks in Surrey to start the year, all unsolved to date might I add, most likely due to lead poisoning if the RCMP would ever reveal the causes of death. To put this in perspective, Winnipeg that won the dubious prize of Canada's murder capital last year had a homicide rate of just over 5 deaths per 100,000 people. To match this rather horrific statistic, Surrey with a population that hits half-a-million people this summer will only need 15 more murders in the next nine and a half months! I'm crossing my trigger fingers that this doesn't happen but unless there is a serious change in attitude with the criminal element that reside here, it wouldn't surprise me. Compare that with Vancouver, pop. 605,000, which has only had one homicide in 2013 or Metro Toronto that sits at 5 deaths year-to-date, even though their population is 5.5 million or 11 times that of Surrey. By my math, this means that the likelihood of being shot to death in Surrey is presently 22 times greater than in Toronto. Stats like this make me sick to my stomach and afraid to go out at night, especially for a midnight drive along Colebrook Road.

I was talking to Delta Councillor Bruce MacDonald this week concerning Surrey's gang problem and murder rate, asking him why this wasn't the case in their neighbouring municipality. First off he told me that Delta has a much higher rate of police to resident ratio, something that they pay heavily for with having their own police force but also gets results. He then told me that in Delta they have a program where if gangsters visit bars or restaurants that the owners can phone and their cops will remove them for being a threat to the public. After all, who wants to be sitting on the Delta side of Scott Road, sipping a bellini at the Cactus Club and get caught in the cross-fire of a gangland hit originating out of Surrey? Apparently this same program is also in effect in New Westminster and Abbotsford, the later which ran the gang-bangers out of town, going from Canada's murder capital in 2009 with 11 homicides to zero in 2012. Also, I learned that Delta cops pressure and harass any known gang affiliates, calling them on their cell phones, parking in front of their houses, knocking on their doors, pulling over their visitors and other techniques that make doing business in Delta very difficult. Bruce informed me that the RCMP do not adhere to these policies which is why he feels that the gang problem is now magnified within Surrey borders with criminal elements moving here from other jurisdictions. Listening to Councillor MacDonald , I got the feeling that the place between heaven and hell is not purgatory..., its Scott Road.

Because of all of the deaths over the past two months and resulting media furor, my wife Sheryl and myself have recently decided that Surrey Shirts controversial "The Future Dies Here" and "Better Safe Than Surrey" anti-gun/anti-violence T-shirts will be retired once the current stock has been sold out. We believe that this deadly serious public safety issue has been given the public exposure that it needed and are hoping constructive steps will now be taken by City Hall, the RCMP, IHIT, CSFEU BC and members of the community to aggressively deal with this problem. We hate the shootings plaguing the city of Surrey and abhor the killings, whether it be so-called bad guys or innocent victims. My Surrey will always be "The City of Parks" not the city of punks, and we would like to actually see "the future live here" for all of its residents. Upcoming Surrey Shirts designs on our surreyshirts.com website will concentrate on spreading our pro-Surrey message, making people proud to live here in the Big City and hopefully change our image and reputation of being a haven for gang crime and gun violence. Until then, cosmetic changes like getting rid of the name Whalley or bringing in a new city logo and slogan will only be putting lipstick on a pig. Surrey doesn't need a facelift, it needs to be cleaned up starting with an enema to get rid of the A-holes carrying guns on our streets.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

March 11, 2013

Driven to Distraction

You may have recently heard that the BC Association of Police Chiefs are asking for more powers to combat distracted driving, including higher fines, confiscating cell phones and even seizing vehicles of repeat offenders. Currently there are no jurisdictions in North America that give the police the right to confiscate people's personal property, their cell phones, for this heinous crime that was completely legal in BC prior to Jan. 1st, 2010. Before we consider giving the police this Orwellian power, I think that they need to consider the danger that distracted driving poses to their officers and those who get in the way of speeding cruisers. Watching an episode of COPS this weekend (Bad Boys..., Bad Boys..., Whacha Gonna Do?), with the cameraman filming the interior of a police car engaged in a pursuit and the role the onboard computer played, made for some rather revealing viewing.

If the Police Chiefs like Surrey Supt. Bill Fordy think that drivers using cell phones are bad, they need to consider the difficulties that face officers when driving police cruisers, watching for suspects or targeted vehicles and attempting to read and analyze data from their onboard computers. Last month the jury in the Ashley Guiboche coroner's inquest made several recommendations they hope will prevent accidents like the one which killed the 18-year-old girl after she was hit by an RCMP cruiser on King George Blvd. in Whalley two years ago. In this case, Ashley was attempting to cross the KGB near the King George Skytrain station when she was struck by Constable Albert Luk who was speeding and looking for a stolen car without his emergency lights or sirens activated. While there were many factors that caused this accident, calls for an audible text message system in the RCMP cruiser onboard computers and having senior officers ride with rookies for one year instead of three months point to how distracting it is driving with a laptop attached to your dashboard.

The Ashley Guiboche death is not the only fatality involving an cop car in Surrey and possible distracted driving relating to the use of onboard computers. On Nov. 12, 2012, the RCMP lost one of their own when Const. Adrian Oliver, 28 collided with a transport truck at the corner of 148 St. and 64 Ave. in his unmarked police cruiser. According to early investigation results, he was driving above the posted speed limit moments before he was killed in the crash last month, reportedly looking for a stolen truck while driving without the cruiser's emergency lights and sirens activated. While it remains to be seen what role the use of the onboard computer may have had in this accident, it is definitely worth considering. I recently had an experience only a couple of miles away from this corner, driving up behind a marked RCMP cruiser stopped for a red light at the corner of the KGB and #10 Hwy. When the light turned green the patrol car did not move until after a lengthy delay I decided it was time to horn the driver. I could plainly see the officer typing on his laptop computer oblivious to the light changing and fortunately he sped away instead of giving me a traffic ticket for being a jerk. A tough job gets a lot harder when you overload people with data and technology, then ask them to perform a difficult task at high speeds under pressure.

My father who piloted 747s for a living before retiring nearly 15 years ago had some rather interesting commentary regarding distractions in emergency situations. He told me that in the cockpit of commercial airliners, when serious problems arise the captain and first officer assume different roles. One will fly the plane, while the other will deal with the various lights, warning bells and instruments for the aircraft's various systems. History has proven that if this is not done, the pilots become overwhelmed, distracted by problems and make mistakes that increases the chances of the plane crashing. He also had a recent experience utilizing a computerized shooting simulator that showed when he went from concentrating on targeting mode to the act of pulling the trigger, this simple change of thought resulted in the laser-guided group expanding. The human brain is designed to focus best on the matter at hand, which is why paying full attention to the complex task of driving a vehicle is required at all times. While we demonize cell-phone users, a friend of mine and his buddy were almost killed several years ago when a lady changing a CD in her car ran a stop sign and T-boned them.

My folks also recently purchased a Lincoln Navigator SUV which has so many bells and whistles that they have taken to calling it "Christine" after Stephen King's chilling novel and John Carpenter's movie about a possessed 1958 red Plymouth Fury. Besides headlights that turn into the direction of a corner, something I wish all cars had, it has an automatic crash avoidance braking system that makes you want to sing Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel." Being a "Navigator" it comes equipped with a state-of-the-art navigational system combining Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with 3-D mapping that provides turn-by-turn navigation. This system provides continuously updated directions, information on weather, traffic delays and alternate route suggestions, local gas prices and everything from movie listings to sport scores. There is one feature that it lacks which is the ability for the driver to input information into the GPS system at a speed above 3 Kmh, or a slow walking speed. Now why would the Ford engineers put this in their top-end SUV but not in Crown Victorian cop cars?

Just like Delta Police Officers who were warned by their brass several years ago not to use their onboard vehicle computers when backing up because of a rash of parking lot fender benders, it makes sense to deactivate cop car computer screens when in the reverse mode. It might also be wise to do the same thing once the vehicle reaches a pre-determined speed in order to improve public safety and that of the members who often have to race when responding to calls. Even better would be to have two police officers per car as was done in the past, with one to drive and the other to utilize the vehicle computer plus navigate. This is what happens with rookie officers when they are trained by senior members and something that also occurs in off-road racing that utilizes a professional driver and skilled navigator who relays information on upcoming road conditions. We ask a lot of our peace officers but expecting them to be different from the rest of humanity and immune from distractions while driving puts everyone's safety at risk, whether it is Joe Public or Joe Friday.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

March 04, 2013

The Tin Foil Hat Club

Def: A "tin foil hat" is headgear made from aluminium foil to shield the brain from electromagnetic fields to prevent mind-control or brain-washing. Wearing a tin foil hat against these threats sterotypically brands people as having paranoia, persecutory delusions and belief in conspiracy theories.

I must admit that while I am open to many ideas and concepts, I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist and generally don't think of myself as paranoid, even if everyone is out to get me. I realize that it is indeed a small world with strange coincidences and occurrences, some that boggle the mind and are seemingly unexplainable to the rational man. Over the years I have had bizarre meetings and circumstances that happened and rather than be concerned about the realm of impossibilities, you simply accept them as part of the usual fabric of life in a rather small world. My favourite had to be the time I was travelling from Mexico through Toronto, where I didn't know a single soul, and ended up on the same flight as my Dad who was headed home from Ottawa via the big smoke. The shocked look in his eyes when this big tall black man, me after three weeks on the beach in Cancun, grabbed him in a big hug in the airport lobby was priceless. Neither of us knew about the other's travel plans and there are multiple flights out of TO every day, so the odds of this chance meeting were infinitesimal. It worked out well for me though, as I didn't have a ride arranged from the YVR airport and he ended up being my personal chauffeur.

This brings me to last week's denial of service cyber attacks on both the White Rock Sun and Surrey Shirts websites. I woke up on Wednesday morning to find out that the website for Surrey Shirts (www.surreyshirts.com) had suddenly exceeded its bandwidth capacity within the server. While this happened several weeks ago when the website went viral after front page media stories concerning a cease and desist order from Surrey City Hall, it seemed odd that the site would crash again without a big news story helping to push it over a cliff. It took our web master the the tech support people from the server company a day and a half to sort out the problem and return it to public view. Imagine my surprise when I learned that on Thursday the White Rock Sun was also taken down in a malicious cyber attack which kept it from reporting the news for a day, much to the chagrin of Publisher Dave Chesney and embarrassment of the large internet company that powers up the supposedly hacker-proof servers it is carried on.

Now its quite conceivable that these two events were completely random and happened out of chance rather than by design. After all, is the White Rock Sun big enough and critical enough of anyone in power that they would attempt to sabotage its message and the stories and columns that appear on it? The same can easily be said for Surrey Shirts, whose line of pro-Surrey designs also features several anti-gun/gang violence messages that recently incurred the wrath of SRY CTY Hall. Would a couple of edgy T-shirts be capable of agitating someone enough so that they would consider launching a cyber attack against someone, especially on anti-bullying Pink Shirt Day? Could it be that this was indeed the case and the date was selected on purpose in order to send a blatant message? Needless to say, this isn't the type of thing I lose sleep about as I'm not at all concerned about pathetic little parasites who lack any moral fibre and I do have other hobbies beyond creative writing.

Now while I'm not afraid for my personal safety or concerned about my public persona I have had three highly placed people in the past two weeks warn me to be careful and that my rambling writings and trendy T-shirts could make me a target. What is frightening is that these came from quite rational and well-respected people all active in the community. It left me wondering what they knew and exactly how far down the rabbit hole actually went? I figured I'd take the red pill and find out (Matrix movie reference, not drugs), asking them for the rational behind the warnings I had received. What I've been told is that politicos from various levels of government are actively attempting to alter internet content and place controls on websites and bloggers that are not toeing the official party doctrine. One of my columnist friends informed me that their site is constantly under attack from hostile forces and while they often use proxy servers to do their dirty work, several times IP trackers have traced the origins back to government computer servers.

Besides viral and spam attacks, I've also been informed that if you've been been a thorn under government's saddle to expect hack attacks through friends emails that are sent to you. In a rather chilling indictment from a well-known and respected reporter friend, a member of an email group was hacked and the perpetrators then sent a virus containing email out to the targeted group that even went so far as to mimic the senders style of writing. Fortunately they were on guard for this type of trickery and the email was queried and authenticated before being inadvertently opened. It is believed that questions the group were asking regarding connections between a large commercial construction company and government contracts were to blame for the unwanted clandestine attention. In fact, I've been told its now considered the oldest trick in the book and next to the Chinese, one of the most favoured attack and conquer strategy's available to all levels of political parties in B.C.

Could it be true that young member branches of seasoned political parties are attempting to attract an array of techies and computer geeks out of their parents basements, bringing with them an arsenal of dirty tricks including spam attacks, network viruses and cutting edge hacking techniques? I've been informed that groups of these nerds have coordinated complaints to social internet giant Facebook, getting them to remove links to news stories as spam or offensive comments. The same questionable techniques have also been used to manipulate internet search giant Google to remove entire links and cached versions of news items of a sensitive political nature. If someone tells you that once something is on the internet that it is there forever they're wrong as you don't have to look very far to see political stories involving the rich and powerful being cleansed or altered on a regular basis. This is especially true for media outlets that pander to the political elite and who profit from government advertising revenue, making them vulnerable to pressure and undue influence.

This all leads me to wonder about the present political turmoil in Victoria concerning a leaked Liberal document that showed Christy Clark's government planning to woo ethnic votes utilizing provincial resources. The NDP reportedly stated this document that was sent to private Liberal email accounts had been leaked to them. I'm now wondering if it came from one of the recipients or if it was obtained from hacking into the email accounts of the people involved?
If this is the case, I would think that the method that this information was obtained would be even more of a bombshell than the governments misguided and racist intentions. If the NDP had directed such a hack attack, then it would definitely be the case of the pot calling the kettle black and quite possibly a criminal matter worth investigating. Either way, author George Bernard Shaw's quote, "Never wrestle with pigs. You'll both get dirty and pigs like it", rings all too true.

My little cadre of tin foil hat wearers will be watching for future attempts to control media, squelch dissent, punish those questioning authority and manipulate political history. The fact that this kind of behaviour is apparently occurring points to how unscrupulous and immoral those clinging to or seeking to gain power can actually be. It only goes to show why many folks are so disillusioned with the political process that they don't vote and have such great levels of distain for our elected leaders. To anyone who is backing these kinds of under-handed tactics, realize that doing so is a direct assault on the democratic process and the personal freedom of those you are supposed to serve. Scum, vermin, low-lifes, bottom-feeders and even goofs (that's a fighting word in SRY in case you don't know) are all labels that are too good for these kinds of people, no matter their social status, financial wealth or political ranking.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

February 25, 2013

Surreyously Out of Touch

Having attended plenty of political protests in my time, some of them as a single agent provocateur like when I placed several simple pieces of tape over Russ Hiebert's office sign turning the S's into dollar symbols, I had to again visit our hard-working MP's offices this week to see what all the fuss was about. I knew there was trouble when I saw local pro-pot-activist Randy Caine's "Bud-Mobile" with its inconspicuous "HEMPYZ" licience plate that is usually found near his Marine Drive store in White Rock.

On Tues. Feb. 21st, medicinal marijuana supporters were in attendance at Russ's hideout, protesting Steven Harper's Conservative government's proposal to decentralize the Federal Medicinal Marijuana Access Regulation program (MMAR) to the Provinces. At stake is the plan to phase out the personal production right of over 26,000 people across Canada to grow marijuana for themselves or others (designated growers) through Health Canada's marijuana medical-access program. Of this number, there are 11,486 who hold production licences in the province of B.C., including several that I know personally who use this medicinal herb not for its high but to combat arthritis, chronic pain, chemotherapy nausea and multiple sclerosis or MS.

The MMAR PPL/DPL Coalition Against Repeal as they are known has many concerns about this pending change in drug policy that was announced on Dec. 12, 2012. Health Canada is accepting submissions for amendments to their regulations only until Feb. 28, 2013. While the Medicinal Marijuana Access Program (MMAP) has been in place for a dozen years, there is still no drug ID number allowing health plans to cover medication costs. Patients can currently get their meds cheaply through a licenced designated grower but this will not be allowed as of Apr. 1 (April Fools Day - no joke), 2014. Instead patients will have to purchase their pot from industrialized commercial grower cartels at a price dictated by Health Canada that many expect to rise exponentially in the future.

The purpose of this pro-medicinal marijuana coalition is to prevent some or all of the new regulations from becoming law, to maintain the status quo as it currently stands on fair and reasonable access and to file a class action lawsuit for damages if changes become law. The protestors at Mr. Hiebert's office dropped off several letters for him to read (he was away at the time) along with some glossy brochures explaining the group's position and their proposed solutions to the problems that they see coming. If you would like more detailed and specific legal information on this broad topic, simply reach the following groups:
BC Cannabis Partners Campaign email: bccannabispartners@gmail.com
MMAR Coalition Against Repeal email: coalitionagainstrepeal@gmail.com
MMAR Coalition Against Repeal website: www.mmarcoalitionagainstrepeal.com

While Mr. Hiebert and other Conservative MP's were feeling the heat and attracting media attention over the planned changes to Health Canada, the City of Surrey have recently make their own changes to its bylaws concerning medicinal marijuana production here in response to the MMARs. On Dec. 17, 2012, only one day after the MMAR changes were first announced, Surrey Council instructed their staff to prepare amendments to the Surrey Zoning By-law to restrict the commercial cultivation, production, delivery and sale of medical marijuana to a particular zone within the city. They chose C-8B, known to insiders as the "nasty zone" that regulates adult entertainment stores, adult theatres, second-hand stores, pawnshops, body rub parlours, escort services and (of course) marijuana dispensaries.

Their stated rational was, "To pre-empt the establishment of commercial medical marijuana production facilities in Surrey." If someone wanted to establish a licensed operation, the property would need to proceed through a full rezoning process including public hearings. Can you imagine the type of security you would need if everyone in Surrey knew where your medicinal marijuana growing facility was located? A confidential informant of mine recently told me that organized criminal gangs have gone high-tech, searching for grow-ops to raid in Surrey using expensive thermal imagery equipment. Obviously this amendment that is contained in Corporate Report R014 dated Jan. 28, 2013 which is available on the surrey.ca website was designed to preclude any medicinal marijuana production in the city of Surrey, even if it was completely legal and legitimate.

It is rather sad that sick people and those in wheelchairs had to protest in front of Russ Hiebert's south Surrey offices in pouring rain and bitter cold because they are afraid of losing their medication. Washington State just south of the big city of Surrey has recently voted to legalize the possession of marijuana, ending decades of reefer madness and the disastrous war on drugs. As the City of Surrey takes steps to eradicate the evil weed with their FSET teams, the RCMP Green Team and overzealous zoning bylaws, other jurisdictions are moving in the opposite directions in tune with public demands. Meanwhile the profits that organized crime groups derive from illegal drugs including marijuana fuel the purchase of guns and the gang wars on our streets of Surrey where seven young men have already been killed since the beginning of the year.

The funny thing about all of this is that there is only one piece of property in Surrey currently zoned C-8B where the land owner could set up a medical marijuana grow-op without going before Council. It is located at 13535 King George Blvd. in Whalley just north of 108 Ave. near the new City Centre. The owner? None other than the City of Surrey! Hopefully Mayor Watts has a green thumb and can use it to raise a bumper crop of bud that will help the sick and dying in Surrey who count on access to medicinal marijuana to ease their pain and suffering. Surrey goes green.

 

February 19, 2013

Crescent Road Carnage

A belated happy Valentine's Day to everyone who now loves Mondays because of The Naked Truth, or still want to shoot the whole day down for that matter. Unfortunately for some, Valentine's Day is always a downer and I don't mean just the single people or forgotten housewives who didn't get flowers or chocolates. I've been watching over the meat-grinder that most people know as Crescent Road for some years now and am quite familiar with its dangerous corners, crash scenes and several roadside memorials. Three more crashes over the last two months have only heightened my awareness of the speed-related accidents on this 50 kmh speed limit road. On Feb. 13th I saw a car pulled over onto the lawn beside the utility pole that killed 21-year-old Anthony Blackburn several years back, with new flowers and several red metallic balloons now attached to it. I stopped and finally got to meet Tony's parents, paying their respects a day early so as to not ruin Valentine's Day even more than it already has been for them since losing their son that fateful day.

I was at that crash scene several years ago when his friend's red Honda Civic was still nosed into a nearby cedar hedge. The car had spun out sideways, hitting the pole on the door where Tony sat in the passenger's seat and killing him instantly. Its amazing how tragedy's like this impact you, even when you do not know the persons involved. Meeting the Blackburn's and talking about the accident, events leading up to the crash, the deadly combination of drinking driving and speed was sobering to say the least. It was the same when I met the family of the young lady who drowned in the Serpentine River after the guard rails on the bridge failed due to brittle posts and faulty design a couple of years ago. Because of that crash I pushed for the Ministry of Transportation to examine the guard rail components in detail, pieces of which I pulled from the muck myself. Because of this and the extensive report that was issued, the Serpentine and Nicomekyl River bridges on Hwy. 99 now have large concrete curbing to keep cars on the freeway. Its time for me to turn my attention to the Crescent Road Raceway and finally take some steps to address the ongoing carnage on it.

Including Tony, I know of five people who have died on Crescent Rd. and it would not surprise me if the number was double that or more over the years. There was a black compact that ended up on its roof near some boulders in the 13200 block about five years ago, killing one person in the car while injuring the other. Down closer to Elgin Park, there is a roadside memorial with a blue and white sign that is regularly tended by an elderly gentleman who I have seen several times dropping off flowers for his son who was killed there while trying to help a stranded motorists.

I was at the high-speed crash several weeks ago in the 13400 block involving a Jaguar sedan, a Ford Escape and a small Mazda that seriously injured a young woman, requiring the jaws of life and the Medi-vac helicopter to be used. Neighbours on the scene told me two cars had also ended up on their roofs in their front yard over the years, fortunately without anyone getting killed.

Amazingly, not fifty feet from the Jag crash site, some pushed over chain link fence brought my attention to another accident that happened at midnight a month earlier that sheared off a power pole. A little further up the street at Signman Signs, two people died some years ago after hitting a concrete wall.

As if this was not enough, and trust me it already was, on Friday afternoon while driving home near Crescent Park a tow-truck was just removing a car after it smashed through a fence and into some thick trees near 128 St., injuring the female driver.

Crescent Road from King George to 128th St. is about 2.5 miles in length with no stop signs, traffic light, chicanes, traffic circles or speed bumps to slow traffic. If you like to drive fast, ignoring the 50 kmh posted speed limit, this stretch of road is a tempting place to step on the gas. Unfortunately it is not the freeway and the curves are deceptive, plus the road gently raises and dips, altering the way a vehicle's suspension performs. Add to this wet roads, frost on the asphalt, shade from trees and moisture from the nearby Nicomekl River and you have a recipe for disaster. The stretch from the 13200 block to 13600 block is the main region where most of the accidents happen but there are others far outside of these deadly few blocks. Fortunately the last time this road was paved, Surrey engineering saw fit to remove the passing which led to not only speeding but dangerous passing as well. In all the years I have been going to the beach or living in the Semi-Pen, I have yet to see any police speed enforcement or road checks on Crescent Rd., even though excessive speeding and drinking and driving are usually contributing factors in most of these crashes, many that happen on Friday and Saturday nights. The Blackburn's informed me that booze-fuelled partying followed by drinking and driving is epidemic in this region as most of the young people here realize that their chances of encountering an RCMP cruiser is remote as most are probably busy in other areas of Surrey.

It would be interesting to see how many dangerous driving and DUI charges the Surrey RCMP could lay if they set up shop at the Elgin Park entrance, pulling speeders into the parking lot to give tickets and breathalyser tests. From my experience, almost no one does the speed limit on this windy road, with most doing 80 kmh and some above speeds usually reserved for our freeways. I'm sure that once folks here realized that the police had changed their routine that we would see the top speeds on the race track that is Crescent Rd. start to drop. Obviously the police cannot be everywhere all the time, especially when traffic is light late at night when most of the really bad crashes (but not all) happen. I believe the time has come for the Engineering Department of Surrey to look at the crash data from this roadway, examine the signage, corners and curb side dangers (including blocks and boulders) and come up with a plan to slow traffic. While I am no engineer, common sense allows you to easily come up with a variety of ways that this could be done while still allowing traffic to make its way easily to Crescent Beach.

At the bare minimum, more 50 kmh speed signs would be a great place to start, along with "slow" signs placed near the few yellow corner ahead arrow warning signage that is already in place. Putting some of the large side-facing chevron signs near the death corners would be a vast improvement as was done near the corner at the ESSO gas station at Elgin Rd. several years ago when I voiced concerns about having a gas station on a tight turn, a throwback that would never be allowed these days. While they have put three chevrons on that corner (in a 30 kmh zone might I add), after Tony Blackburn's crash Surrey installed a single chevron on the curve before his crash site. Months later, another out-of-control vehicle missed the same pole by a foot (check the memorial photo for the tire mark). Funny how they have three of these signs posted at the corner of 16 Ave. and 128th St., followed by two at a slight corner on Ocean Park Blvd several blocks north, yet the racetrack only has one over its entire length from Elgin Rd. to 128 St.? Installing signs is cheap, repairing cars and injured bodies is not, people (especially young ones with a long life to live) cannot be measured in dollars.

I know the City of Surrey was looking at traffic flow on Crescent Rd. several summers ago because I spoke to the person tracking the vehicles passing through the intersection of 140th St. Usually this is done when they are considering putting in a traffic light especially where vehicles line up during morning and evening commutes. How about this easy idea; put in a three-way stop sign now and install lights when budgets allow for them. This would slow traffic before it heads into the crash-filled corners while making it safer for people turning into or exiting 140th St. onto Crescent. A half-mile away, put a three-way stop at 136 St., getting drivers heading west to take a break before entering the crash zone just past Elgin Park. The same goes for 132 St., where a three-way stop would put the brakes on racing into the spot where four people have been killed in a space of 200 feet. In between all of this, how about a small traffic circle at the dead-end 32 Ave. to slow traffic without actually stopping it. In Formula 1 racing, its called a "chicane", which is used to slow traffic for safety, a novel concept. Another option is to post the entire Crescent Rd. as 30 kmh as it is near the King George and in Crescent Beach and hope that people only drive double this low speed limit, instead of doing twice the regular 50 kmh as often happens now.

ICBC (hi Karen), Surrey Engineering (hello again Vince), Mayor Watts and Council (see you at the Hall Tuesday I hope) and the Surrey RCMP (Chief Fordy, give me a call please) should all be aware of this problem but it sometimes take one person to get the ball rolling on a possible solution. While I would miss one of Surrey's best unobstructed drives, next to Colebrook or Harvie Roads that is, it would be worth it not to be at yet another accident scene and watch as someone is cut out of a vehicle with the jaws of life or worse. If people won't slow down on Crescent Road, then something needs to be done to make extreme speeding impossible, lowering impact energy and saving lives in the process. If you had seen the tears in the Blackburn parent's eyes or heard the painful screams of the young lady being transferred from the ambulance to the waiting helicopter at Elgin Park several weeks ago, you would understand why I take the time once a week to pen this column for the White Rock Sun.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editors note: Don Pitcairn's TNT column in the WR Sun on the dangers of Crescent Road have been dutifully noted by Surrey City Hall. Councillor Rasode has invited him to appear before the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to address safety concerns on this roadway and analyze a comprehensive safety review of the Crescent Road corridor recently completed by the Surrey Engineering Department.

February 26, 2013 Update

Crescent Road Race Cancelled
Only a week after the Sun's Don Pitcairn warned about the dangers of Crescent road and its history of deadly high-speed crashes, steps are now being taken to lower aggressive driving there. RCMP officers were on site Monday morning near Elgin Park and later in the day by the Esso gas station where it is only a 30 kmh zone. At 9 o'clock at night, they were still enforcing the posted speed limit on Crescent Road. Check your speed folks, the raceway has been closed.

February 12, 2013

The Shirt Off My Back

Silly me coming up with an idea well over a year ago that it would be great to have a shirt with "Surrey" proudly emblazoned on it. While Vancouver has plenty of apparel companies and mountains of shirts, many of dubious quality, there was surprisingly little for Surrey, the second largest city in British Columbia, and growing by close to White Rock's population every year. I did manage to find one company online, surreyclothing.com, who were making Surrey shirts that unfortunately did not quite measure up to what I was looking for. I had a New York Yankees style shirt that I'd bought in the U.S. many years ago featuring a "Big Dogs" logo embroidered onto it that raised eyebrows wherever I wore it. I even had several people try to buy it right off my back including a rather hilarious resident of Las Vegas that I met on the old mall who went by the same handle, Big Dog.

Being 6' 6" tall, finding apparel is difficult at the best of times, so having previous dealings with a local screen printing company and finding an embroidery outfit next to my lawyers office, I decided that it was time to create my own "Surrey" shirt. Using the original Big Dogs shirt as a template, my designer created artwork with the word Surrey in an old English font with a large swoosh underneath used in many of the baseball team logos. From there the artwork was transferred to my lady friend at the embroider shop where it was then stitched up. Because of the hefty price tag associated with manufacturing only one select piece, I opted to purchase several dozen, knowing that it was likely that I would be able to flog them to friends and strangers. This is exactly what happened, and I was soon back at the shop ordering more including some with a modified SRY logo similar to the Chicago Black Sox. While this apparel was not cheap, it had the appearance I was looking for and it sold itself to people whose first words to me were usually, "Wow man, where'd you get the shirt?"

Once I had my first Surrey Shirts with black for home and white for away, I began dreaming up other designs which I drew up and filed away for future use. After a while this file grew rather thick with various concepts, some of them funny, others serious, and even some that I must admit were rather crude. Since I visit my screen printers once a week during the summer months, I slowly had them assemble the finished artwork for the many designs and started to build a rather interesting portfolio. With previous experience in creating my own T-shirts and working for five years at B.C. Place selling all kinds of souvenirs, my wife and I decided that it would be fun to make apparel for the good citizens of Surrey. After all, it is a rapidly growing and evolving city with a population that should top half-a-million sometime this year. Our first Surrey Shirts job was actually for a brand new White Rock store called Hempyz, after WR Sun Editor Dave Chesney (who knew what I was up to) tipped me that they might be in the market for T-shirts for the tourist market. I'll never forget when I revealed my design to owner Randy Caine and he said, "Looks great, I'll take seven or eight..." I looked at him somewhat dumbfounded, until he ended my confusion by saying, "...dozen." With that we had our first big sale and used it to finance what was now officially the "surreyshirt.com" website.

Surfing the internet you would think that creating a website is about as easy as getting out of bed. In fact, the amount of information and the timet hat it takes to assemble makes it an arduous task. For this I turned to my good friend Paul Andreassen who runs Hypersonic Internet Services along with the Skinnydippers Recreation Club and the most highly rated B&B in Surrey might I add. A storefront was selected and put together, artwork posted to it from the creative department of my screen printers, photos taken and added, with text being written, rewritten, edited, and then edited some more. Even this weekend I have spent several hours massaging the information it contains, adding various pieces while deleting some that have already become outdated. I'll never forget standing on the side of Hwy. 15 (176th St.) across from the Tudor Ale House, getting my picture taken in front of the "City of Surrey - the future lives here" sign. We needed some cloud cover so as not to throw shadows and the sun kept peeking out, wrecking out chances of getting quality shots. There is a reason why people hire professional photographers I discovered.

Speaking of the new Surrey signs, I have a rather long history with them. Years ago I badgered the city of Surrey to start doing some maintenance on the iconic "Welcome to Surrey" signs with the beaver on top. The paint was peeling from them and rot was beginning to set it. Imagine my surprise when it was announced that the city would soon be replacing them with new metal structures and their "City Signature" logo and slogan. A few weeks later I used the old signs to help end Surrey's beaver cull program with planks reading "The Beaver Dies Here" on them. Needless to say, myself and others were not impressed that the beaver and "City of Parks" were being replaced with a real estate slogan that looks like a copy of what Toronto uses. As if the design wasn't bland enough, the initial signs were drab green with dark grey lettering that was raised casting long shadows, making them invisible outdoors. These were then all removed and re coated with an off-white colour and new shallow lettering, with some being moved and enlarged. No total price tag on what this cost but I'm sure it pales compared to what Delta paid for their new signs. To make matters worse, while I wrote Surrey's Heritage Committee, Mayor & Council, plus Engineering of their historical value, the old signs were torn down and disposed of. I was considering removing one myself for safe storage, thinking it would look great in front of the Cloverdale museum. Now I realize that sometimes you have to take things into your own hands.

The Surrey Shirts website went live in mid-December, far too late to take advantage of the Christmas shopping season but that was fine because my printers were also swamped with last minute orders. We thought that word of mouth would slowly move sales forward but they caught a large boost when the Gangsters Out blog spot (www.gangsterout.blogspot.com) used an image of our controversial "Future Dies here" shirt design in one of their postings about crime and the new south Surrey casino. Agent K and me quickly became acquainted, having many of the same concerns about the level of violent crime in Surrey. Much like myself, he is gravely concerned that those arrested in the Surrey Six shooting have not yet gone to trial, especially since this massacre happened way back in Oct. of 2007. I must admit, some of our designs did lean on images the city of Surrey had previously used, along with the City Signature design. Most of these have been altered significantly to the point that they are free of trademark infringement plus parody and satire are allowed under the Copy Rite Act. Being an avid marksman, there were several shirt designs that I realized were going to be controversial but I felt it was necessary to bring attention to the gun violence problem plaguing our city. Little did I know how big of a sh_t storm was brewing just off the coast.

Without any previous contact, I received a cease and desist order via email from the legal department of city hall. It seems they had a problem with my Surrey girl and Surrey beaver designs plus the two anti-gun/gang violence shirts. Funny thing was that it was addressed to the owner of Surrey Clothing and not to myself or Surrey Shirts. Because of this, I decided to ignore the legal jargon until they could get their facts straight. On Wednesday, I was at work when I received a call from Bob Makin from Business in Vancouver. To be honest, I had never heard of either and thought he was going to waste my time trying to sell me a subscription or something. Imagine my surprise when he informed me that a source in Surrey city hall had told him a cease and desist order had been issued against Surrey Shirts! I told him that it wasn't news, that we were not concerned and that we'd decided to simply ignore it for the time being. Several hours later, I received a text alerting me that this non-story was suddenly on the front page of the electronic Vancouver Province! The next thing I knew my phone exploded with texts and phone calls from media outlets across the Lower Mainland. I packed it in early and spent the next seven hours doing radio interviews, having pictures of Surrey Shirts taken and spending time with TV camera crews looking footage. All I can say is that it must have been a slow news day!

Needless to say, in the age of cell phones, text messaging, Twitter, Facebook and the internet, word of the supposed David and Goliath battle of little old Surrey Shirts vs the oppressive Surrey City Hall spread like wildfire. When the shirt first hit the fan on Wednesday, Paul phoned me in a panic to ask me what had happened as traffic on the Surrey Shirts website jumped exponentially. By Thursday with the story on the front page of many newspapers and as the lead story on TV newscasts, the website went viral, finally running off the rails and crashing the server at just after noon with over a quarter of a million hits. Then it was the calm before the storm, answering hundreds of emails about when the site would be back online and how people could order shirts. When the server was beefed up to handle the traffic, orders and commentary (almost all positive) flooded in. We spent the weekend processing orders, stuffing envelopes, going to the post office and taking inventory. A well-known store in the Central City mall has been selected by us as our exclusive retail location and we have mailed Surrey shirts from Vancouver island to New Brunswick, answering inquiries from New York to Germany. I had a feeling that people would want Surrey shirts but failed to estimate the global demand. I'll have to thank the City of Surrey lawyers later this week for the free advertising when I hopefully get the meeting that I've asked for to discuss their concerns.

Now to get down to the guts of what Surrey Shirts is all about, other than myself having some new flashy threads to wear out on the town or to the ball park. There really are two main focuses and getting rich off this concept was never one of them. First and foremost, Surrey Shirts exists to make people proud of Surrey B.C., or as we call it, "the Big City." Too long the butt of off-colour jokes or derogatory comments regarding the women who live here, Surrey is shedding its red-necked image and growing into a metropolis that is already more populated than Richmond and Burnaby combined and destined to overtake Vancouver in 15-20 years. This is certainly not without its growing pains and in no way can I agree with every decision that Surrey Council has made along the way in getting to this point, even though I must admit the recent casino decision surprised and impressed the hell out of me. Secondly, it allows me to make a very public statement about one of the most pressing problems facing the city of Surrey and that is its gun and gang violence epidemic. Its not the misunderstood message on a trendy t-shirt that is giving Surrey a bad name, its the bodies under yellow tarps laying on the side of the road broadcast from coast to coast that does. In case you were away on holidays during the month of January, we had five gun related homicides on the streets of Surrey to start the year, a murder rate that hopefully will not continue.

I meet people from across Canada and down into the States in my travels and it pisses me off that when I tell them I'm from Surrey (I don't lie and say White Rock where there have been shootings too BTW) and I hear, "Oohh, you mean where all the shootings are?" Adding to the grinding of my teeth at night is Chief Supt. Bill Fordy of the Surrey RCMP telling Surrey residents that its generally safe in the community unless you are a gangster. Really? I've been around firearms all of my life, competing in a variety of competative shooting sports that have taken me around the globe. I can tell residents of Surrey that if people are firing guns within city limits, that it is NOT safe! Most rifle ranges have danger/safety areas behind the targets measured in miles. Some punk hood with a pistol smuggled in from the States blazing away at night, or day for that matter, cannot be guaranteed of hitting his intended target. A few years back there was a shoot-out on Dover Place in Richmond and the apartment and townhouse buildings that surrounded the park there were like Swiss cheese, reportedly from over 300 rounds fired. I've found a spent 9 mm bullet on the ground in Newton while raking leaves and a customer of mine had another 9 mm bullet fall from the sky in Panorama Ridge, shooting a hole in his gutter before bouncing off the driveway and into a nearby hedge. In both of these cases, they were turned over to the Surrey RCMP for inspection. When its raining bullets in Surrey, no matter what B.S. Fordy is shovelling, it isn't safe on our streets. Mayor Watts should have reamed him a new one for making such a moronic statement. Unless she put him up to it?

It is interesting to look at surrounding communities to realize that while the problem is not just a Surrey phenomenon, it certainly seems to be magnified in the city of Surrey. The only recent gangland hit in Delta that I can recall was in Oct. 2011 and that man had earlier been convicted of a shooting in White Rock in 2004 and released after only four years. I talked to a large group of Delta cops last week about the difference between the two communities and besides voicing their "no call too small" motto, they informed me it was due to a "difference in mind-set and attitude" between the Delta force and the neighbouring Surrey RCMP. Look no further than Abbotsford to see that gun violence can be stopped if a community decides to do something about it. in 2009, there were 11 gun-related homicides in this bible-belt region, including a total of 21 murders between 2008 and 2010, making it Canada's murder capital. Between the murders, arrests, gangsters quitting their night jobs, and families reigning in wayward adult children, they reduced their murder rate in 2012 to zero. Think about that for a minute and ask yourself why we have to tolerate gun-play and murders in Surrey? I sure as hell am not going to in my city.

I realize that there are people who will not understand the message of Surrey Shirts anti-gun violence designs and I accept that. I know that there will be family members, friends and loved ones of shooting victims here who will consider the images hurtful and in bad taste and to them I give my apologies. Unfortunately we cannot begin to address the gun and gang problem here until somebody stands up and says that five young men gunned down in the prime of their lives in one month alone in Surrey is not a cause for concern. If you take the time to go online and read the product descriptions of our apparel, you might get the message behind them and realize they were crafted to illicit a response to this problem. If Surrey Shirts can reduce Surrey shootings, then job well done. If we can light a fire under our judges asses to move trials forward at a reasonable speed while ensuring that gun crimes get punished severely, so much the better. If you want a recent example of what is wrong with our judicial system, look no further than Surrey judge James Bahen who on Jan. 3rd of this year struck down a three-year minimum mandatory sentence as unconstitutional for Glenn Sheck who was caught with a loaded Glock 9 mm. handgun outside a Surrey restaurant . Not surprising that with the deterrent of stiff sentencing suddenly removed, Surrey became a shooting range for the rest of the month. Judge Bahen should resign in disgrace for this farce of a decision, especially if the rumor is true that the RCMP here take more guns off the streets in Surrey than the rest of the province of BC combined.

For those who have a problem with the "Future Dies Here" and "Better Safe Than Surrey" designs, we have issued the "Surrey Shirts Challenge." If the city of Surrey can go a full calendar year with zero gun homicides, Surrey Shirts will gladly retire these designs permanently. There is nothing that I detest more than up a newspaper and reading about another gangland shooting in Surrey. Until that time, I am making myself available as a guest speaker to address community groups and Surrey's youth in our schools to talk about gun and gang violence and efforts to make the city of Surrey a safer place to live and work. If the future really does live here as advertised, we need to clean up this town, put pressure on our judges, start locking up people caught with illegal hang guns, and make it uncomfortable for people to live a criminal lifestyle. This is my city, it is your city, and its time to flex some Surrey muscle and put a choke hold on crime in these parts, ending the wild-west mentality on our streets. Having some pride and a sense of community, possibly from something as simple as wearing a shirt that says "Surrey" on it, might be a place to start.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Visit our website www.surreyshirts.com

 

February 04, 2013

Waste to Watts

It doesn't seem that long ago that the idea of locating a Waste-to-Energy plant in South Surrey was generating headlines along with statements from local politicians (before the last civic election) that burning garbage would not be happening at the Campbell Heights North Industrial Park. It will be interesting to see if the tune has changed with members of Surrey First after Metro Vancouver announced last week that a new waste-to-energy (WTE) capacity project review is now underway.

Solid waste is big business here in the Lower mainland as we observed here in Surrey last year with the city rolling out large grey bins to every household to launch their ambitious recycling and waste disposal program. With ongoing recycling and composing programs, Met-Van hopes to divert up to 70% of municipal waste that previously was either dumped at the Vancouver landfill, incinerated in Burnaby or trucked to Cache Creek. By 2020, it is hoped that 80% of solid waste will be recycled, leaving an estimated 700,000 tons of garbage that will still have to be managed. To deal with this problem, Met-Van has decided that increasing waste-to-energy capacity is needed. Currently the WTE processing plant in Burnaby incinerates 280,000 tons of garbage per year with the rest being dumped in landfills.

The increased WTE plan for the Lower Mainland is supported by the B.C. government who approved the region's Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan (ISWRMP). Key policies of this plan include the B.C. Air Action Plan that looks to improve air quality, the B.C. Climate Action Plan that is targeting a third less GHG emissions by 2020, and the B.C. Energy Plan whose goal is to expand the generation of electricity and biofuels from solid waste, including the recovery of heat for use in district heating systems. It would seem that some of these lofty goals are in direct conflict with others, for how can you hope to reduce green house gases while burning solid waste for energy? While the minimum WTE plant size would process 25,000 tonnes a year, Met-Van is seeking to manage 370,000 tonnes of solid waste by the year 2018 and close the Cache Creek landfill.

Metro Vancouver's timetable for increasing WTE capacity will proceed on the following timetable:
Fall 2012 - Spring 2013: Identify proponents that have the capability to deliver new WTE capacity.
Spring - Fall 2013: Allow site owners to identify potential project sites and any property secured.
Winter 2013 - Summer 2014: Qualification process to evaluate preliminary project proposals.
Summer 2014 - Spring 2015: Final process to identify successful WTE plant proponent(s).
Spring 2014 - Fall 2016: Regulatory and environment assessment of the new WTE project.
Spring 2015-2018: Detailed design and construction of WTE plant, commissioning and operation.
For more information, to be part of the process or make comments visit the following Met-Van link:
http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/solidwaste/planning/Engagement/Pages/WTECapacity.aspx

Could Met-Van's new WTE facility find itself a home in south Surrey? This certainly was a hot-button issue leading into the last municipal election where many candidates took steps to distance themselves from the possibility. The fact remains that the city-owned Surrey City Development Corporation (SCDC) does hold an abundance of large industrial property located on the Surrey\Langley border at the corner of 32 Ave. and 192 St. that it is selling. The City is also looking at the possibility of installing a district energy system in the Campbell Heights area, going so far as to establish a unit within their Engineering Department operating under the name of "Surrey City Energy" that is tasked with the implementation and operation of district energy systems within Surrey limits. Of course, this location would accommodate solid waste from the Lower Mainland's second biggest city along with neighbouring municipalities, while air quality impacts would likely not adversely affect Surrey residents due to prevailing winds.

It is interesting to note that in 2011, Aquilini Renewable Energy secured an option to purchase 25 acres of property in north Campbell Heights subject to the site being approved for a regional waste incinerator. This business deal occurred behind closed doors at an in-camera meeting and yet many members of Surrey's Council at that time had difficulty remembering the details or wished to not discuss the WTE proposal before the last election. The Aquilini deal has since lapsed but now with Metro Vancouver accepting proposals for more WTE capacity, it is likely that the Campbell Heights industrial park will once again attract attention of those looking for a site location. Mayoralty hopeful Ross Buchanan was opposed to WTE in Surrey along with long-time Councillor Bob Bose but both failed to get elected to city hall. Marvin Hunt has long favoured WTE along with Councillor Barbara Steele who is on record as stating, "We want waste-to-energy in Surrey, there's no question about that. "(Council support) is not unanimous but I think most of us are willing to go for it."

As for Mayor Dianne Watts, in a statement sent to The Province newspaper in Oct. 2011 by her public relations firm in response to accusations that a proposal for an incinerator at Campbell Heights had been discussed by council she stated, "As mayor, I have never supported, nor will I ever support, a waste incinerator in Surrey." As if this wasn't enough, she went on to say, "Let me be very clear, as long as I am mayor, there will not be a waste incinerator in Surrey." Strong words from Surrey's "Iron Lady", but considering the recent divide on Surrey First exposed in the south Surrey Casino debacle, it will be interesting to see how council votes should the possible burning of Metro Vancouver's garbage here rear its ugly head again. When it comes to waste-to-energy in Surrey, we could be in for a power struggle.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Read how a WASTE TO ENERGY WTE plant works

 

January 28, 2013

All Aboard The Crazy Train

Nothing gets my bile backing up like when I hear about politicians giving themselves raises and perks far in excess of that which could ever be expected in the real world, let alone the private sector. On Friday, directors of Metro Vancouver voted to maintain their existing pay rates for attending various seminars, conferences and conventions, instead of lowering them as had been recommended in a staff report released last year. The mayors and councillors who sit on Met-Van's regional district board have been receiving $346 to attend external functions including travel time, a figure which balloons to $692 if the event happened to last longer than four hours. Their own staff had recommended that this amount be reduced to a flat rate of $100 per day for their efforts but this was rejected unanimously by the board of directors.

Think about that for a minute, or however long it takes for your involuntary gag reflex to kick in. The vote was unanimous! There was not one mayor or councillor from the Lower Mainland who voted to save taxpayer dollars and chop this perk that all seem very comfortable in accepting. Keep in mind that the cut to $100 would have only been for additional meetings, not the fees that directors are paid (at the same rate night I add) to attend regular Metro Vancouver board and committee meetings or the hefty salaries paid to the various committee chairs. This is also on top of the salaries already paid to the elected Mayors and Councillors from cities that are all part of Metro Vancouver. It would be nice to scold the Met-Van directors for double-dipping, but in this case it really is the triple-dip that makes the chip!

The pay rate for both the regular and extra duties performed by Metro Vancouver directors have also steadily increased in the past few years due to their policy of indexing them to the average of Met-Van mayor's salaries. When cities raise their mayoralty pay, the hourly rate paid to directors jumps accordingly, leaving many to wonder if the double digit increases to mayors salaries we have seen in the past few years throughout the region are being used to pad the payroll of Met-Van directors. No need to vote yourselves an arbitrary pay increase, simply give the mayor a boost in income and watch the money roll on down the gravy train. Of course, directors of Metro Vancouver are appointed, not elected, similar to the boards running other quasi-bureaucratic organizations like B.C. Ferries and Translink which seem to believe that tax-payers money comes from an eternal spring while they continually spring red ink.

The 2013 Metro Vancouver Board consists of 40 directors representing 21 municipalities, one electoral area, one treaty First Nation and Abbotsford that is a member of the GVRD solely for the parks function. Locally, Mayor Baldwin of White Rock and Surrey's Mayor Dianne Watts along with councillors Lina Hepner, Marvin Hunt, Barbara Steel and Judy Villeneuve represent the constituents of Surrey and White Rock at Metro Vancouver. While all of the directors ignored the chance to cut the payroll at the bloated Met-Van bureaucracy, there is an easy way to trim some of the fat from this fourth level of government. There has been much push back on Walley Oppal's idea of introducing a regional Police Force for the Lower Mainland, likely due to the loss of power and influence from local governments. I believe we should take this concept one step further and call for the regionalization of our civic governments, amalgamating many of them to create larger cities while avoiding costly duplication of services.

With Abbotsford only belonging to Metro because of parks in that region, you have to ask why they have their mayor and four councillors on board? Do the villages of Anmore and Belcarra, plus Bowen Island really need to be represented by a mayor and a councillor, or would it be better to simply amalgamate these small fiefdoms into nearby cities? Joining the tri-cities of Port Moody, Port Coquitlam and Coquitlam together would reduce Met-Van expenses while likely reducing servicing costs for these sister cities. Other no-brainers would be to join the two North Vans with West Van and Lions Bay, plus Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. The same could also be said for the two Langleys and joining New West with Burnaby. Closer to home, would we be less represented at Met-Van if White Rock were rejoined with Surrey that grows by the Rock's population every two years? Simply take a look at Metro Vancouver's Board of Governors (http://www.metrovancouver.org/boards/Pages/directors.aspx) to realize we could save a lot of money by derailing the Met-Van gravy train.

Masia Ruta

With B.C.'s new Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG) . Basia Ruta setting up shop in Surrey this month, many are hoping that she will put an end to the massive increases in local government spending that is outstripping residents ability to pay property taxes. Besides looking at how civic governments allocate funds, lets hope that she takes a microscope to Metro Vancouver and how directors are paid, especially after they voted as one not to roll back their perks that many consider part of the job. Hopefully the AGLG will give full consideration to the amalgamation of municipalities that would reduce the inefficient delivery of services. Considering that both Chilliwack and Abbotsford are the products of amalgamation and how Toronto went from 56 districts to one mega-city, you have to wonder why we still have 21 different municipalities in the GVRD? Since Metro Vancouver directors wouldn't consider docking their pay, I say lets put their heads on the chopping block and really clear some deadwood.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

January 21, 2013

WR, UN and Hg

The ever increasing coal train traffic through White Rock and along the Semiahmoo waterfront plus plans to dramatically increase U.S. coal exports from the Lower Mainland carry with it many heightened environmental concerns. Besides coal dust escape along White Rock's beaches and infiltration into nearby residential homes, the release of green house gases into the atmosphere when the coal is finally burned in electrical generating plants in China is causing the greatest concern among environmentalists on both sides of the border. Unfortunately these are not the only pollutants directly linked to coal, with mercury (Hg) contamination being one of the most sinister by-products of burning this dirty fossil fuel

The past week, delegations from 140 member countries of the United Nations met in Geneva, Switzerland to adopt a treaty to limit the use and emission of the toxic heavy metal mercury. The UN Environment programme (UNEP) have named this treaty the "Minamata Convention on Mercury", after the japanese town where residents have suffered the serious consequences of mercury contamination for decades. This highly toxic metal bioaccumulates in the environment through the consumption of fish, resulting in the poisoning of higher life forms at the top of the food chain and having deadly affects in mammals from whales to man. Mercury poisoning affects the body's immune system including damaging the development of the brain and nervous system, especially in that of children and infants. The text of this treaty will be signed in Minamata this fall and will take effect in three to four years once it has been ratified by at least 50 countries. Unfortunately the Minamata Convention on Mercury calls only for control and reduction of mercury emissions "where feasible", wording that is not only vague but discretional, likely leading to more pollution especially from developing economies.

Half of the world's release of atmospheric mercury comes from human activities with two thirds of this from coal-fired generating plants. Mercury lofted high into the atmosphere can be carried thousands of kilometres, falling to the planet in ecosystems far from industrialized areas. In Canada's far north, dangerously high levels of mercury have been found in fish at lakes thought to be pristine and beyond the reach of toxins. The native Inuit people are also accumulating mercury in their tissues at levels approaching that which can begin to cause disease and illness. Environment Canada estimates that between 50 and 200 tonnes of mercury is deposited in the polar regions of this country every year, with most of this likely being emitted by coal-fired power plants in China that are being fed with coal that we are exporting from B.C. ports. At the same time as the UN meeting, Beijing was suffocating from its worst ever air quality readings ever that had people choking across the city. While selling coal overseas brings plenty of profits to those responsible for its traffic including BNSF Railway owner Warren Buffet and Westshore Terminals coal baron Jimmy Pattison, the toxic cloud drifting back to Canada is slowly poisoning this country and the planet.

Tucked away in south Surrey, Klaus Oehr of Hazelmere Research Ltd. has developed a process to strip the mercury from burning coal , capturing this toxic metal instead of allowing it to be released into the environment. Educated at the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor in Co-op Chemistry followed by a Masters degree in Chemical Engineering, the now 63 year-old Klaus has been working in the chemical field for 43 years, including operating Hazelmere Research Ltd. since 1998. Besides several other inventions, Mr. Oehr has patents on a process where calcium bromide is applied to coal before entering the furnace, reacting with elemental mercury vapour released during combustion to create mercuric bromide that sticks to alkaline ash and carbon. This is then collected in a sock or electro collector with the waste ash used in the creation of cement where the tightly bonded mercury remains inert and contained. Compared to systems using activated charcoal that capture half of the mercury (meeting Canadian guidelines), his method captures 90% of the mercury released, a level that will become mandatory in the U.S. by their EPA as of Jan. 2015. The technology developed by Hazelmere Research is already currently being used in eight U.S. coal generating plants including Portland Oregon, a figure that is likely to rise in the near future.

There is no point in exporting coal from our shores with no environmental controls over how it is utilized, allowing the toxic heavy metal mercury to return on the prevailing winds to contaminate the ecosystem here. That would be like banning a toxic pesticide from Canada but allowing it to be sold overseas, sprayed on produce there and then having the food shipped back for consumption. It is bad enough that the communist government in China is so focused on economic growth that they are not concerned about the welfare of their people or the environment. It has been calculated that China alone releases 42% of human-related mercury into the environment, including 14% of the mercury now contaminating the Great lakes. You don't need to look far from there to see the devastating impact this element can have on fish and people. In Dryden, Ontario mercury released from a chemical plant and pulp and paper mill continue to be persistent in fish, even though the companies were closed down back in 1976. The people of the Grassy Narrows First Nation suffered greatly from the devastating economic impacts of the loss of their commercial fisheries and tourism. To date a health advisory remains in effect, with the consumption of fish remaining dangerous for pregnant women and those with long term mercury exposure.

Coal is a cheap energy source that is easy to mine, transport and utilize but its cost should not be calculated solely on the heat output per tonne. Strip mining leads to stream and aquifer pollution, coal dust contaminates rail corridors and neighbourhoods, burning coal pumps millions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere where it warms the planet, while mercury rains down on oceans and continents across the globe. In the U.S., from findings taken from the EPA's Mercury Study Report to Congress (1997), it has been estimated that more than 300,000 newborns each year may have increased risk of learning disabilities associated with in utero exposure to toxic mercury, 50 tonnes of which is released yearly into the air there from coal fired plants. Can we afford the wealthy few to profit from the trade in coal while the rest of society and the environment pay the price? Simply look at the misery in Minamata, Japan or the effect on the Grassy Narrows people in Dryden, Ontario for the simple answer. If the coal buyers can't or won't capture the mercury from coal, we shouldn't be selling it to them in the first place.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Mercury from coal fired generating plants isn't the only source of concern here in Canada. In a related story, the Canadian Press is reporting about problems collecting mercury from millions of burnt out compact flourescent light bulbs.
http://www.canada.com/health/Canada+ready+dispose+mercuryladen+light+bulbs/7848184/story.html

 

January 14, 2013

City Hall Stacking The Deck

If you are planning on attending Monday's Council meeting at Surrey City Hall that will deal with the south Surrey Casino application, you had better plan on arriving early to get a seat or a parking spot. While this contentious development has suddenly jumped to the forefront of public consciousness for Surrey residents, it would seem that the staff at City Hall are doing all they can to ensure that this important "Public Hearing" is anything but.

How else can you explain the asinine decision to hold the meeting concerning the south Surrey Gateway casino in Council chambers? While fairly large, the room only seats a total of 140 people! The last land use meeting in December attracted an over-flow crowd estimated to be over 200 people including many employees of Gateway Casinos that were bussed in mass to the event. With this upcoming meeting now giving the public the chance to finally have their say on this matter, it has been estimated that up to 1,000 people plus hordes of media could descend on City Hall to take part in the proceedings. Considering the size of the crowd that is expected, should the city not have chosen another venue that could have accommodated this number of people and their vehicles? They wouldn't have had to look very far as not even one mile north of City Hall on 144th St. is the Bell Centre for the Performing Arts, which is the largest rental theatre in the Fraser Valley. This modern theatre building has comfortable seating for 1050 along with 650 free parking spots and it can be rented for an eight hour period on Mondays for $1,500. Small change compared to the $250 million that Gateway Casinos bring in per year, the $100 million cost for building the proposed south Surrey casino, the $3 million Surrey will receive from gaming revenues annually, or even the paltry $24,500 donated to members of the Surrey First team by Gateway developers and their financial backers.

A little further afield but in a location that still makes sense, why not instead hold this council meeting at the Pacific Inn and Conference Centre (aka the "Pink Palace") in south Surrey on King George Boulevard? This hotel is located directly across Hwy. 99 from the location for the planned Gateway casino, giving south Surrey residents who wish to speak on this development easy access while allowing Gateway employees coming from Burnaby and Langley the opportunity to test their driving times, something that will be essential as there is no transit bus service to this quiet rural area. As a final choice, the Cascades Casino in Langley that is owned by Gateway has a 420 seat theatre plus a 26,000 sq. ft. Convention Centre that will hold from 200 to 1,000 people. I bet that Gateway would have allowed Surrey to utilize it for free and then invited these guests to try their luck at their wide variety of table games and 800 slot machines when the meeting ended. If reports out of Vegas are true, hopefully elevated oxygen levels would help keep people awake during the marathon meeting.

Instead staff have decided to cram people into Council chambers like sardines in a can, with monitors being positioned in the foyer of City Hall for those who are unable to make it into the room. Registration for this rather uncomfortable exercise in democracy will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Monday evening with numbered speaker tickets being handed out to those who wish to talk to Mayor and Council on this issue. There will be two colours of tickets, either for or against the casino development that will be issued on a first come basis. There will be no limit on the number of speakers and opponents who will speak one after the other. With 100 to 150 people estimated at wanting to step up to the microphone, if everyone takes their entire five minutes it is entirely plausible the proceedings may take up to twelve hours to complete. To make matters even worse, Council will consider five other items on the agenda before diving into the casino controversy, so it is likely the main event will not even begin until 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. Expect this meeting to resemble something between a filibuster usually seen in Victoria or Ottawa, and an "all-nighter" that many Surrey residents have experienced.

Knowing all of this, would it not have made sense to schedule a separate meeting just to deal with the south Surrey casino application and to put it in a location that would house the expected crowd in safety and comfort? Instead, you would have to be a masochist to consider attending this meeting and staying from the very beginning to the bitter end. I would suggest being at City Hall at 5 p.m. in order to find a parking spot and get a seat in chambers, allowing you to get in line for when registration begins at 5:30 sharp. Then expect up to a three hour wait before the casino application begins to be dealt with. Depending on what speaking number you receive, your wait to step up to the podium to address the members of the Surrey First slate could be anywhere from minutes to half a day. If you happen to be the unlucky last speaker, might I suggest bringing an air mattress, sleeping bag, ear plugs, eye shades and an alarm clock. Should you care to watch this rather bizarre fiasco from the comfort of your own home, it will be televised on Shaw TV and live-streamed on the City of Surrey website at the following address:
http://www.surrey.ca/city-government/6993.aspx

The way it looks now, it appears that the city is doing everything they can to make the proceedings as uncomfortable as possible, hoping to dissuade people from attending the proceedings at the public hearing. When you have billion dollar hedge firms from back east that own, control and call the shots on the Gateway proposal, the people who live hear in Surrey don't stand a fair chance to be heard. Keeping this meeting at City Hall tilts the playing field in favour of the casino, destroying even the slightest indication of real democracy in Surrey. Instead corporate communism and cronyism where big money gets what they want rules the day and the public hearing becomes nothing but a sham, even before bus loads of casino employees descend on the meeting. You get an idea how done this deal is when you realize that Moody's Investor Services downgraded Gateway Casino and Entertainment Ltd.'s business ratings this summer because of reduced gaming growth and increased competition from competitors. They cited that, "These factors could also increase the execution risks at the South Surrey project that are typical for a ground-up new development project, such as potential project delays and cost overruns during construction, uncertain demand and possibly higher than expected opening and operating costs." Not a word was mentioned about the possibility of this project not going forward.

I'm hoping that Monday's meeting at City Hall will prove to be a bell-weather event in Surrey, possibly signalling the need for change. Having a political slate controlling all of the proceedings in chambers is not healthy for democracy and will only lead to corruption. Council needs to look at their own polls from the south Surrey region to realize that the casino application has been resoundingly rejected by residents here. I would expect to see plenty of signatures on petitions against the Gateway proposal being delivered to Surrey First on Monday night and into Tuesday morning. If Surrey First decides not to listen to the voters, they will immediately be re branded as Surrey's Worst and it is likely the groundswell of opposition to their undisputed reign and calls for their removal during the next election will begin the following day. Mayor Watts and company need to realize that while the hedge funds, casinos and developers may have the money, it is the common people who vote them into power.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

January 07, 2013

A Picture They Say is Worth a Thousand Words

........some think votes are going for $24,500

The South Surrey Casino application where the deck has already been stacked by Gateway, BCLC and developer Bob Cheema has raised lots of concern about the problems this gaming establishment will bring to the area including crime and traffic issues. The other main sticking point for many residents is the rural location that has been selected on 168th St. at 10th Ave. in an area of small farms and forests across the street from land protected by the Agricultural Land Reserve. Being a boots-on-the-ground kind of guy, I decided to see first hand how the properties in question look in their present state before bulldozers likely level the place. What follows is a pictorial of the proposed Casino site along with descriptions.

These first two pictures show different angles of the fallow farm field in the centre of the assembled properties likely used as pasture land or for hay production. While this field is not currently being being used, the middle of it was cropped for hay this summer, likely by a nearby farmer who raises Lamas on similar ground. In the background are the forests and scrub land that are also part of the Casino proposal.

While kind of a crappy shot, this photo shows the left behind calling cards from the black-tailed deer and coyotes that call this rural area home. Good thing I was watching where I stepped! While meandering through the meadows and forests, I also saw squirrels, rabbits, plenty of song birds and a hawk.

This final series of pictures shows a shallow pond found on the south end of the property draped with a weeping willow tree, along with a view of a pathway leading towards one of the old homestead sites that has already been cleared as part of the Casino preparation. The last shot is taken from the edge of Hwy. 99 just north of the 8th Ave. interchange showing the development sign and the view of much of the the proposed casino property as seen from the roadway. Enjoy the view while it lasts as the new Gateway Casino will make the Pacific Inn Resort Hotel & Conference Centre (aka the "Pink Palace") on the other side of the Highway look small by comparison.

If you believe that this rural area is worth protecting from a large Casino development that will forever alter this area of small farms with rolling pasture land and babbling brooks, your window of opportunity for letting Mayor Dianne Watts and her Surrey First Council know your thoughts is rapidly closing. Besides emailing or calling them direct, you can also join those opposing this development on FACEBOOK at facebook.com/nocasinoinsouthsurrey or sign the paper-based petition available at the South Surrey Rate Payers Association website at www.surreyratepayersassociation.com.

Your final opportunity to have your say and possibly sway votes on Council will be next week at the Casino Gaming License Review Public Meeting at Surrey City Hall, 7pm, Monday, January 14th, 2013. Plan on getting there early as the chambers will likely be overflowing, especially if Gateway once again buses in their employees as a way to dominate this meeting and bully those who believe the proposed location for the Casino is all wrong. I will be attending, bringing a CD of these same pictures with me so people can see what is at stake and to ensure that these photos are part of the public record.

That being said, I'll bet $24,500 (the amount of political campaign contributions reportedly donated by casino backers) that Surrey First will pass this contentious Casino development, continuing the unrelenting paving of everything left in Surrey until all that remains is a small sliver of green at the base of some concrete towers as shown in their latest civic logo.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Sign The Petition

Ask Mayor Dianne Watts and Surrey City Council to respect the wishes of the community and deny Gateway a gambling license for the proposed South Surrey Casino.

The City of Surrey’s own report shows that 83.5% of Surrey residents oppose the proposed South Surrey casino and entertainment complex. Within 5 kms of the complex, the number opposed goes up to an overwhelming 94.3% opposed.

The residents of Surrey clearly do not want this casino!

(click here for petition)

 

December 31, 2012

From Newtown to Newton

First things first, I have to set the record straight about my long-term relationship with firearms. I am not a "gun nut" or even a "firearms enthusiast"; I consider myself a "marksman." For close to 40 years I have been involved with shooting sports, starting out with pellet rifles, .22 rim fire rifles, full-bore target rifles (still my main focus) along with service rifles and pistols. I have been fairly successful at all levels of shooting competition, having won my share of championship prizes over the years including an NRA gold medal in Oregon this spring and the Lieutenant Governor's medal this summer that includes an invite to Government House in Victoria. No matter what the firearm, ammunition, or course of fire, I'm proficient at putting my shots at the centre of the target regardless of conditions. To me, firearms are a sporting tool that measures your own accuracy against fellow competitors and I don't view or use them as weapons, even for hunting. Of course, on the rifle range the danger that firearms pose when used incorrectly is recognized by everyone and safety is of the utmost importance with great care taken to ensure there are no mistakes.

The most recent U.S. school shooting at Sandy Hook elementary in Newtown, Connecticut has once again brought the subject of gun control and gun culture in the U.S. to the forefront of media scrutiny and public discourse. The slaughter of 20 young children plus 6 adult educators along with the gunman and his mother brings a new low for the deranged killers who are targeting defenceless citizens. Unfortunately this latest incident is but a continuation of the same type of mass murders seen in schools in both the U.S. and Canada. While the 1989 killing of 14 young women by Algerian Islamist Gamil Gharbi (aka Mark Lepine) at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal is our most most notorious school shooting, there have been 11 incidents since 1975 where guns have been fired in Canadian classrooms resulting in 28 deaths and many injuries. Since the "Montreal Massacre", AR-15 assault rifles and similar guns have become restricted or prohibited weapons and the possession of large capacity magazines has been outlawed while safe storage laws have kept guns out of unlicensed hands. Pistols in Canada have been registered since the 1930's and are strictly controlled because of their small size and ease of concealment. The Long Gun Registry resulted in $2 billion in costs and has recently been cancelled by the Conservatives due to its lack of effectiveness and the bureaucratic burden it placed on legitimate firearms owners.

 

As a member of the B.C. Rifle Association and life member of the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association, I was appalled with the position taken by the U.S.'s National Rifle Association which called for armed guards to be stationed in every school in America and their statement, "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun." They might as well have said, "Only gun nuts can stop a gun nut." The second amendment right of American citizens to bear arms is now turning the US into an armed encampment as the firepower and availability of weapons continues to climb to insane levels. The end-of-the-world mentality fostered by the Mayan calendar along with the survivalist and anti-government attitude held by many is now creating a gun buying frenzy on both sides of the border as people stock up on guns, not for target shooting, but personal protection. There were even early morning line-ups here at a Whalley gun store in December, resembling Boxing Day sales you'd see at electronic shops. Why invest in gold and silver when copper and lead are so much cheaper, seems to be what many people are thinking these days.

Back in the 1990's, besides target rifle shooting, I participated in Service Conditions matches here that utilize the same course of fire used by our armed forces. The BCRA has existed since 1874 when black powder rifles were being used and has always has as its mandate the promotion of marksmanship as a way to help train our armed forces. In the 1970's, it was routine for BCRA members to be given a Canadian Forces FN .308 calibre semi-automatic rifle for six months, simply by signing a form. During that time, service pistol and sub-machine gun matches were held for civilians using Canadian Forces supplied weapons and ammunition at a rifle range in Coquitlam. All of this came to a halt soon after a mentally unbalanced Cpl. Denis Lortie stormed the Quebec legislature in 1984 with weapons taken from the Canadian Forces armoury where he worked, killing three people before surrendering to police. Military weapons and ammunition for the Canadian Army are now kept in separate depots and are under stringent controls, even for their soldiers.

With Canadian Forces rifles and pistols no longer available to citizens, I legally purchased an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle along with three 30 round clips that were needed for service shooting along with a 9 mm. handgun with 15 round magazines, all of which were securely stored in a heavy gun safe. During the 1990's, I won 9 BC Championship badges, including 3 gold in Service Pistol, 2 gold in Service Rifle and 2 gold in the combined Service Conditions. While off-the-shelf military styled firearms are not usually known for their accuracy, I've had matches where the groups were so small that all of the holes could not be marked as they were too close together, scoring a perfect 50-10x or half the bullseye. I enjoyed my years of service competitions with the BCRA and shooting with active members of the Reserves and Canadian Forces who proved their marksmanship and professionalism.

While I applaud many of the changes the Canadian Government has made over the years to restrict assault rifles, including now limiting the capacity of magazines to 5 rounds, I'm now wondering if the civilian population should be allowed to have access to military styled firearms at all? Down in the States, the combination of readily available assault rifles, high capacity magazines, legal possession of body armour and the plethora of hand guns is creating an environment where multiple shootings like the bloodbath this summer at a screening of a Batman film in Aurora, Colorado when a shooter in bullet-proof gear killed 12 people and injured 58 is becoming a routine event. The slogan, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people", rings hollow when you realize that it is the modern warfare weaponry and body armour that is making these mass deaths possible. Do we really want to send children to school where the teachers are armed with guns? The three R's should not be revolver, repeater and rapid-fire!

I have enjoyed shooting sports for most of my life and it has allowed me the opportunity to travel to ranges from England to Australia and from Ottawa to Oregon, making friends and enjoying competition and hospitality along the way. While Full-Bore Target Rifle shooting will hopefully continue to play a part of my life far into the future, I find myself questioning how some people believe that more guns will make us safer? I think that the best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is to not let him have one in the first place! You only need to look at the differential in gun death statistics between the U.S. and Canada to realize that while our gun control laws have had a positive effect, the situation is getting seriously out-of-control in the so-called "Land of the Free." Even here, most of our hand-gun murders are committed by gangsters using pistols smuggled in from the States and that grim statistic is actually showing a downward trend. The 20 children shot dead in their classrooms at Sandy Hook has to turn the tide against guns that are designed primarily for killing people. While assault rifles and pistols can be used for legitimate sporting purposes as I have proved in the past, the risk they pose when in the hands of a deranged mad-man, terrorist or criminal make them too dangerous to be sold to the general public any more.

Lets hope that sanity prevails in the United States and they begin to tackle their gun problems beginning with politicians ignoring the extremist NRA whose letters might possibly mean, "Never Reach Adulthood." Controls need to be placed on gun manufacturers who are selling virtual weapons of mass destruction that are allowing homicidal gunmen to slaughter people as fast as they can pull the trigger. Washington DC should look north of the border to Ottawa to see that gun control is not just about being able to hit your target. It is doubtful that America's forefathers imagined the type of modern firepower available today when they passed the second amendment to their constitution back in 1787 while black powered muskets were still being used. Simply stated, nobody needs an assault rifle with a hundred round magazine to protect their home or to go hunting. Unfortunately if gun proliferation in the States is not stopped and quickly might I add, the slaughter at Sandy Hook will likely be repeated in the near future by some other sick wing-nut gunning for fame, notoriety and a record body count.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

December 25, 2012

Christmas Wish List - 2012

If there’s one thing I love about Christmas it’s the annual traditions and in the White Rock Sun this TNT is always special.  Here’s the list of naughty and nice gifts we hope Santa left under the tree for the movers and shakers from the Semiahmoo peninsula, placed alphabetically so as not to offend anyone.

 

Wayne Baldwin White Rock Mayor– A white picket fence that won’t be so comfortable to sit on, especially when Surrey is nice enough to ask for White Rock’s position on the casino application for South Surrey.  As a stocking stuffer, a set of dangling metal bull balls to hang from the rear of his automobile. 

 

Dan Botttill White Rock City Manager– A large bucket of bright blue paint along with brushes and rollers so he turn all of the railings and lamp posts in the “City By The Sea” back to blue after deciding that black was more fashionable.  In the future, hopefully such mundane operations decisions will require public notification, meetings at City Hall,  steering committees and costly referendums to ensure that people living in south Surrey are happy with decisions affecting White Rock.

 

Stephanie Cadieux MLA Surrey Panorama– A Stetson hat, cowgirl boots (with spurs), chaw of tobacco and speech therapy so she can say “yeehaa” and “y’all” with a country drawl as she moves to take over the soon-to-be vacated Surrey-Cloverdale riding held by Kevin Falcon who is jumping from the Christy Clark ship.

 

Al Campbell White Rock Councillor - Security cameras for the inside of his house streamed live to the city website so residents of White Rock can keep an eye on him and find out the real reason why he believes it’s important to spend a boat-load of money to monitor the pier and promenade where crime is non-existent.   

 

Joanne Charles Council Member Semiahmoo First Nations  - A sanitary sewer line and new water pipes for the Semiahmoo Reserve so that they can eliminate antiquated septic systems and actually drink water from taps that have been under a boil water advisory for years, even though they live within spitting distance of Semi-pen neighbourhoods with million dollar mansions and a stone’s throw from the US border.

 

Dave Chesney White Rock Sun Publisher - A big thank you from your friends, followers and even those turkeys with ruffled feathers for having the drive, determination and chutzpah (yes..., chutzpah) to publish Canada’s first internet community newspaper.  A special thanks from me for letting the “Pitbull” take off the muzzle every week to prove that my bark is indeed worse than my bite.  Rrrr..., woof, woof!

 

Mark Donnelley Mr. Oh Canada - A much shorter belt to keep his pants up and a new wardrobe after White Rock’s very own “Mr. O’ Canada” dropped nearly half of his body weight after going on the controversial HCG diet involving pregnancy hormones to suppress appetite and promote rapid weight loss.

 

Kevin Falcom MLA Cloverdale - A bucket of Bondo for the former Liberal Transportation  minister to help repair all of the damage to vehicles on the new Port Mann bridge from ice bombs falling from the support cables.  While it may be a little early the title, “Leader of the Opposition” when he takes over the leadership of the provincial Liberal party after the next election. 

 

Helen Fathers White Rock Councillor - A beach towel to relax on next summer down at the clothing-optional Crescent Rock Beach after being stripped of many of her committee duties by the new WR Mayor.  As a Christmas bonus, a set of Pirelli tires whose corporate motto is “Power is Nothing Without Control” from Mayor Baldwin.

 

Jason garrison vancouver Canucks - For this gifted NHL defenceman who was born in White Rock back in 1984, the same present most Canadians want which is for Count Gary Bettmann to end the lockout and let the much delayed hockey season begin before we lose yet another complete season due to his arrogance and ego.

 

Russ Hiebert MP – A membership in a union so he can understand organized labour’s disgust at his private members Bill C-377 which targets unions, mandating them to make public their financial statements as a way to bring, “transparency and accountability in another group of public institutions”, requiring them to disclose how they spend union dues.  Considering the Harper’s government record of keeping financial dealings from the Canadian public, it’s safe to say that those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

 

Bill Lawrence White Rock Councillor - A colouring book and Crayola crayons so he can do his own artwork rather than holding an Easter colouring contest at the Sandpiper Cold Beer & Wine store and enlisting students from the nearby elementary school to decorate the brown bags used to cover bottles of Christmas cheer.   

Doug LaChance Night Owl columnist White Rock Sun - A clone of himself so that he can be in two places at once, allowing him to attend concerts being held at the same time in south Surrey and White Roc.  Doug’s Xmas gift to all those living in the Semi-pen is the weekly “The Night Owl” entertainment listing that appears in the WR Sun.

 

The McGuires RA & DEBBIE sending Christmas greetings from their Hawaiian compound

Ra Mcguire lead singer TROOPER – For one of White Rock’s rock n’ roll royalty, entry for his band Trooper into the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  While it was great to finally see Rush inducted this year, isn’t it time that the boys responsible for such classics as “Raise A Little Hell” and “The Boys in The Bright White Sports Car” were given their dues?

 

 

 

December 17, 2012

From High Water to Ground Water

It may be no "Super Storm Sandy" but sea conditions are looking right to possibly cause some localized flooding and/or wave damage to shoreline areas around Boundary Bay, especially at nine a.m. this morning when the high tide will peak. This is the time of our strongest seasonal tides known as "King tides" or a "perigean spring tide" that bring water levels over five metres above the low tide level. They are formed when the gravitational forces of both the moon and the sun combine to exert greater movement of ocean water. With a major wind and rain storm posed to lash the area, it is likely that a storm surge accompanied by wind generated waves could mean this tide may peak a half metre higher. While this will most likely impact low-lying areas of the Fraser River Delta including residential areas of Tsawwassen, we have seen damage from storms during these high tides here before in the Semi-pen.

The last major damage from a King tide and wind storm double whammy occurred in 2007 when large ocean waves chewed away at the Semiahmoo peninsula. The line of boulders across the front of the promenade were no match for the waves which tore apart several sections of the promenade and eroded patches of lawn. The BNSF Railway faired little better with the large rip-rap boulders lining their railway tracks being tossed around like pebbles and the rail bed being eroded to within a metre of the rails in several sections. A member of SmartRail even witnesed a CN freight train stop past Kwomais Point and the Engineer walk the tracks ahead of the train to ensure that it was safe. At the time, waves were breaking on the rocks below and the sea water was blowing over the tracks. I went down to Crescent Beach that day to witness the storm as Crescent Rock Beach where I usually walk was completely under water and under assault by floating logs in the pounding surf. As a result of this King tide and storm, the BNSF had to spend $800,000 the following year to install train loads of boulders next to the tracks to reinforce the rip-rap that protects the rails.

This is not the only damage from a King tide and storm surge to hit the Semiahmoo peninsula. In Dec. of 1982 during an El Nino year one of these seasonal high tides combined with a strong wind storm to push water up the Nicomekyl River. It crested and washed out an old farm dike just west of the Nico Wynd Golf Course on Crescent Rd. at 140 St. The brackish water flowed onto the golf course to a level of over four feet, flooding the course and leaving it covered with logs, chunks of wood and mats of seaweed. The maintenance building and all of the tractors, commercial lawn mowers and power equipment were flooded along with the nearby Pro shop. I was called in to help clean up this mess during the Christmas holidays, work that also included constructing a new dike on NicoWynd property to the west of their parking lot. To this date, this dike has never been tested but you never know when that might happen again. If you go there for a round of golf on this nine hole course, look at the long mound of dirt as you drive in. Somewhere at the bottom of that pile sits a set of keys that fell out of pocket of my work jacket that day 30 years ago, including the ignition key to my prized 1972 Dodge Dart.

While high water will be the worry of the day on Monday, possibly even for residents of the low-lying Crescent Beach neighbourhood, work at the nearby Blackie Spit Park parking lot is addressing the problem of run-off water and ground absorption. With development comes buildings along with driveways, patios, roads, sidewalks and parking lots. The impervious asphalt and concrete create drainage problems and stop water from being absorbed into the ground. This now results in many of Surrey's rivers expanding greatly in flow rate and volume after rain events, leading to erosion and habitat destruction. At Blackie Spit Park, a new paving method is being utilized that will create a new dust and pot-hole free parking lot while ensuring that rain water will soak into the ground rather than being directed to storm drains and pump houses. Sustainable Concrete Canada (www.sccanada.net) is the prime contractor for this paving contract and they are installing pervious concrete that allows water to flow directly through it.

I saw the crew from SCC laying this rather innovative product and got a demonstration of its effectiveness. On hardened concrete from the previous day's pour, the foreman dumped half of a five gallon bucket filled with water onto the slab. It didn't really flow anywhere but down, disappearing in seconds in what would best be described as a great magic trick. While more expensive than traditional concrete, pervious concrete has many benefits over the solid alternative. It eliminates the need for drain water collection systems and achieves zero runoff, protecting nearby streams and watersheds which is a major plus. Because it has small holes, it reduces surface temperature and allows urban trees to grow to full size with air and water admitted to the root zone. Oil and grease falling from vehicles are dealt with through filtration and microbial conversion, rather than being washed into nearby waterways. It is refreshing to see that the city of Surrey is utilizing this technology known as Epave that would appear to have many environmental and financial benefits. While access to the Blackie Spit off-leash dog park may be limited until this work is done, I doubt there will be anyone who will miss the muddy/dusty gravelled surface that was always pock marked full of bone-jarring pot holes.

All of this just goes to show that water is always a worry. On a grander scale, if you go to the beach on Monday to see the big tides with predicted storm surge, consider that by the year 2100, sea level elevation rises for the Fraser Delta are conservatively estimated to be 1.2 metres. This will mean that an average tide will likely be even higher than our present King Tide in a wind storm. Because of this, dikes across the region will all have to be increased to keep low-lying areas from flooding or else they will have to be abandoned. The Vancouver region recently placed 15th in the world on a list of the most flood prone urban centres on the planet, with flood control measures needed here to combat sea level rise pegged at $9.5 billion. While not too many people seem concerned about a few degrees rise in air temperature (I've got bananas planted in my yard already), those living near the ocean will certainly feel the effects of tides over a metre higher than what presently exists. It will become very difficult to enjoy the sandy beaches of White Rock and Crescent Beach when they are increasingly under water for much of the day.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editor's Note: Don't miss next week's TNT containing the highly anticipated Christmas list of presents for the movers and shakers of the Semiahmoo peninsula. Ho-ho-ho!

UPDATE 9:30 a.m,

Pictures taken at height of King tide along Crescent Beach

photo 1

photo 2

photo 3

First pix shot from the 101 Steps overpass, second looking north towards Van at Crescent Beach, third looking south at end of Crescent Beach walkway towards Crescent Rock Beach, all taken at 9:30 a.m.
Crescent Rock Beach the popular clothing optional beach was totally submerged. No where to walk except for on train tracks. In future when these conditions are expected the City of Surrey should lock the three stairway gates on the Ocean Park bluffs and limit access because of the danger to pedestrians from pounding waves, smashing logs and passing trains.

 

December 10, 2012

Deadestrians

It would be nice if we could take a break from the sudden rash of pedestrians being struck by vehicles on the streets of the Lower Mainland but yet another person was mowed down early Sunday morning, reportedly suffering serious injuries after being hit by a taxi while jay-walking in New Westminster. This is on top of the eight pedestrians hit in seven different incidents across the Lower Mainland during a 24-hour period of Dec. 5 on top of the two women joggers ran down on the evening of Dec. 3 at the intersection of 152 St. and 32 Ave in south Surrey in a hit-and run collision. Unfortunately with more inclement weather on the way and the nights continuing to get longer until winter officially starts on the solstice at Dec 21, it is likely we will continue to see the pedestrian accident rate including serious injuries and deaths climb to epidemic levels. If you want to see the extent of pedestrian/car crashes in the Lower Mainland for the past four years check out the map with ICBC data at the following link:
http://public.tableausoftware.com/views/AsCrashesinvolvingPedestriansinBC20072011/PedestrianDashboard?:embed=y

Running my own commercial landscape maintenance business, I work with a large variety of power equipment, many with sharp cutting edges. It is not the large industrial mowers, gas-powered hedge trimmers, chainsaws, ladders, or falls from buildings and trees that present the greatest threat of injury to my person or that of my employees. It is the simple act of stepping from lawn or sidewalk out onto the asphalt of driveways or streets that is the most dangerous thing we do in my line of work. We look at asphalt as the kill zone and take multiple steps to ensure our safety whether on a job site or crossing roads including walking in cross-walks. With increasing darkness as fall and winter approaches combined with heavy rain and cloudy days, visibility for drivers diminishes to the point that pedestrians must take full responsibility for their own personal safety, rather than entrust their life and limb to someone behind the wheel who may be blind to their presence.

Pedestrians these days amaze me with their simple lack of self-preservation. I constantly see people walking across the streets while texting, talking on their so-called smart phones, listening to their I-tunes with ear buds firmly in place, all oblivious to the vehicles around them, expecting right-of-way laws to keep them safe from harm. Throw into this folks wearing all black during dark winter months slinking around the streets looking like ninja warriors apparently unaware that they are as camouflaged as a navy seal commando during a night raid. You get pedestrians running across roads, crossing when the flashing hand sign has been activated, jay-walking from in between parked vehicles and standing on thin concrete boulevard islands stuck in no-mans-land between lanes of heavy traffic. I often wonder if these people are simply suicidal or have never heard of Darwin's theory of evolution. When hit by a vehicle travelling at posted speed, the damage to the human body can be catastrophic and while cars are easy to fix or replace, injuries to pedestrians can alter a life forever, or possibly end it.

Not long ago I was driving in Vancouver on Oak St. during the night while we were enduring yet another of our customary Pacific frontal systems. Ahead of me in the middle of the street I saw something moving near the ground but was unable to identify what the object was, thinking it might be an opossum or a cat. As I drove closer, it suddenly became clear that what I was seeing was actually two people, all dressed in black crossing the road with their hands and faces concealed by black umbrellas. What I had seen moving near the ground was the white running shoes that fortunately they both were wearing. I slammed on the brakes and hit the horn but neither of these two jay-walkers ever raised their umbrellas or took a look at the one tonne truck that had almost run them down. Two friends of mine were not so lucky, one hitting a lady who was drunkenly running across King George Blvd. to get to the bar in Newton, resulting in two badly broken legs. The other recently hit another jay-walker who suddenly stepped into traffic, also on the KGB, with his vision impaired by the black hoodie he was wearing. In both of these cases, the pedestrians likely survived their experiences only because the drivers took evasive action, reducing the force of impact resulting in injuries instead of death.

As a pedestrian, here are the many rules that I use to ensure I will never end up in hospital or a grim statistic:
- Before stepping onto asphalt, stop and look all around, especially in the direction of traffic.
- Be extra attentive to look for light silver vehicles that blend into the roadway, especially on cloudy wet days.
- Take care to realize that not all vehicles have day-time running lights including older vehicles and some used imports.
- Never talk on the cell phone or text while crossing streets, an inattentive practice that needs to be banned.
- Use crosswalks when available, but when crossing in the middle of a street ensure traffic is clear in all directions.
- When utilizing crosswalks, ensure you have eye contact with drivers around you, using head bobs or waving to acknowledge.
- Wear bright or reflective clothing if possible and never use a black umbrella, especially down over your face.
- Realize that reflective stripes and clothing only work when vehicle lights are on your clothes and visible to drivers.
- Even with the right-of-way, control your own safety knowing that in an accident, pedestrians always lose.
- Expect the unexpected and be prepared to take evasive action to avoid oncoming vehicles and injury.

When driving, especially at night when it is raining, here is the mental checklist I use to avoid accidents with pedestrians:
- Take extra care when turning, especially left, watching for pedestrians who may be walking or running up from behind you.
- Realize that oncoming traffic lights reflecting off wet roads impair vision; slow down and leave more space.
- Watch out for people wearing black or dark clothing who may be virtually invisible at night and during rain storms.
- Clear side view mirrors of beaded precipitation before driving and clean side glass by rolling down windows to improve visibility.
- Remind yourself that pedestrians can be walking, running, pushing strollers, riding scooters, rolling in wheelchairs or biking.
- Use fog lamps or high beams to illuminate dark country roads at night, replacing old bulbs with halogens for brighter light.
- Replace windshield wipers in spring and fall, utilize rain dispersant like Rain-x on glass and ensure window cleaning reservoir is full.
- Expect pedestrians at any time and place, being ready to undertake emergency manoeuvres to avoid collisions.

While both ICBC and the RCMP have recently warned the public to be more cautious about the increased danger to pedestrians this time of year, I believe it would be more proactive to help spread the word about this increased risk prior to it becoming a deadly problem that can be expected every year. In the spring, ICBC takes to the airwaves and buys advertisements in newspapers to warn that it is "Motorcycle Safety Season", with the Solicitor General and Minister of Transportation warning about the sudden increase in two-wheeled drivers. In a news release issued on Dec. 5, the day of the eight pedestrian traffic accidents in the Lower Mainland, ICBC warned drivers and pedestrians to use caution in dark, fall conditions (http://www.icbc.com/news/2012dec05-02). Considering that there are nearly twice as many pedestrian accidents in Nov./Dec. as in July/Aug., in the interest of public safety an ad campaign about the increased danger in fall and winter months should be considered next year before this seasonal slaughter begins yet again.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

December 03, 2012

 

It has been almost exactly a year since I outlined the rapidly escalating coal train traffic headed through White Rock in the Dec. 5, 2011 TNT titled "Coal on a Roll" followed by another column on May 21 of this year named "Shake, Rattle and Coal" that detailed the impact of these heavy trains on the century old rail bed and resulting ground shaking affecting neighbourhoods in White Rock. If you missed these columns or wish to refresh your memory on this topic before reading on, simply scroll down to the applicable dates before taking in the latest instalment on this never ending saga revolving around U.S. billionaire Warren Buffet's BNSF Railway and the waterfront train tracks in the Semi-pen.

Washington State residents are up in arms about plans for multiple coal exporting facilities planned for their region, including a massive terminal planned for at Cherry Point in Blaine capable of moving 48 million metric tonnes a year. They are concerned about increased train traffic, diesel particulates from the engines, coal dust from uncovered loads and most importantly, the increase in world green house gases when the coal is burned in asia for electricity or industry. U.S. coal is now shipped into Canada on the BNSF tracks through White Rock and south Surrey to the Westshore Terminals at Roberts Bank in Delta plus Ridley Island Terminals in Prince Rupert. If residents here think they have seen a large increase in train traffic over the past four years, especially those folks living in Crescent Beach that have to wait for these long trains to pass, they need to realize that there are now plans to greatly increase this rail traffic yet again.

Fraser Surrey Docks has submitted a project permit application to Port Metro Vancouver for the development of a Direct Transfer Coal Facility at their existing Fraser River terminal to handle up to four million metric tonnes of coal per year. This coal will be transported from the U.S. by the BNSF Railway to the shipping terminal and loaded directly onto barges capable of carrying 8,000 tonnes. Once loaded, tug boats will take individual barges to the mouth of the Fraser River where they will then be towed in pairs up the Salish Sea to Texada Island where the barges will be unloaded and the coal stored before being loaded onto ocean-going freighters for transport overseas. The permit allows for up to four million metric tonnes of coal per year to be moved but there is a possibility this can be increased to volumes of up to eight million metric tonnes of coal per year in the future. If you hadn't heard about this plan don't be surprised as it is barging ahead apparently free from media scrutiny or public input.

The environmental group Voters Taking Action on Climate Change (VTACC) have been alerted to this proposal and are now raising alarm bells about the inevitable increase in greenhouse gases that will result if this project is allowed to proceed. This is the same group who blocked BNSF traffic on May 5 of this year in White Rock that resulted in 13 arrests including that of former COPE city councillor Fred Bass and Nobel Peace Price winning economist Dr. Mark Jaccard with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The VTACC website (vtacc.org) provides the following data on the Fraser Surrey Docks coal transfer proposal along with a planned expansion of the coal export terminal for the Neptune docks in Vancouver, both which are under the control of Port Metro Vancouver:

"If approved, these two projects will increase coal exports from the Port Authority by up to 14 million metric tonnes (Mt) per year. This will bring the Port Authority's coal export capacity up to a staggering 55 to 59 Mt per year, making it the largest coal exporter in North America. Converted into global warming emissions, this volume of exported coal will release, when burned, more than 100 Mt of CO2 emissions per year, a volume of global warming pollution much larger than all the emissions within BC each year, and more than that associated with oil exports from the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline."

While the mandate of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority states that it is to "operate with broad public support in the best interests of Canadians", they do not seem to consider the overall effects of runaway global greenhouse gas release and the result it is having on the planet, especially in Northern Canada where the change have been profound. The Port authority has contacted neighbours living near the docks and also alerted local governments but no real public input is being planned with decisions on this project being made by PMV staffers behind closed doors. The VTACC are asking people to email Port Metro Vancouver's Board of Directors and besides giving personal concerns, asking them to delay decisions on both the Fraser Surrey Docks and Neptune Terminals coals export proposals, inform the broad public about these plans, develope an open and transparent process for public discourse, and to consider climate change impacts on all decision making. Their email addresses are all available at the following link: http://www.portmetrovancouver.com/en/about/corporate/boardofdirectors.aspx

On a local perspective, five rail cars of coal outweigh the White Rock boulder and the 18Mt planned increase in coal exports equates to an additional 3.5 coal trains per day rolling through White Rock on top of the current rail traffic. The resulting greenhouse gas release from the coal soon to be exported from the Lower Mainland weighs the same as 238,000 White Rocks. Go stand beside the giant white painted boulder that is a monument to the City By The Sea and then try to imagine nearly a quarter million of them floating by in the sky followed by the same amount or more the next year. You might suddenly realize why climate change is being taken so seriously by scientists, academics and environmentalists across the globe and why it is likely that White Rock will see more coal protests and possible BNSF Railway coal train blockades in the future as our political leaders fiddle while the world burns.

TNT Extra
In a global emissions study just released this week in the journal Nature Climate Change, the amount of GHG releleased in the world rose by a further 3% in 2011 with a total of 38.2 billion tons of CO2, making it unlikely the goal of keeping global warming to 2 C. will be obtainable. Since 1990 baseline levels, CO2 emissions are up 54% with China up 10% to 10 billion tons in the last year alone, mainly from burning coal for electricity generation.
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Carbon+dioxide+emissions+again/7642503/story.html

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

UPDATE

A large bulk coal carrier attempting to dock at Westshore Terminals at Roberts bank crashed into a col conveyor system. The accident has knocked out the largeest of the port's two berths. An undetermined amount of coal spilled into Georgia Strait.

The accident will put the berth out of service for an undetermined amount of time. The damage to the berth will cause major problems at Westshore which is North America's largest coal exporting port.

View The Video

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Ship+crashes+into+dock+Westshore+Terminals/7667184/story.html

Listen to the White Rock Sun's Publisher DAVE CHESNEY on SPEAKER radio with host JOHAN SANDSTROM talking about the coal trains and the Semiahmoo Peninsula corridor. (click here)

 

November 26, 2012

Surrey's Latest Gamble on Hold

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
Lyrics from Kenny Rogers "The Gambler" song

It would appear that the public backlash coming at the Surrey First council from many sectors of the community is starting to have an effect. Taking a page from the B.C. Liberal government who often issue press releases on Friday in order to deflect media attention, the City of Surrey announced on their website on Friday that they have delayed the public hearing on the proposed South Surrey Entertainment Complex that features a casino operated by Gateway and BCLC. Originally the Gaming License application and related Planning report for this project was to be presented for Council consideration at the Regular Council/Land Use meeting scheduled for Monday, Nov. 26 but due to a lack of information related to this application, staff were unable to compile the necessary documentation. Here is the list of information that City staff still needs to compile taken from the City of Surrey website:

A review and detailed analysis of the correspondence regarding the application received from the public;
Receive and consider comments from the City of White Rock and the Township of Langley, which comments staff have been advised will be arriving during the week of November 26, 2012 and to consider the comments that have been received from the Semiahmoo First Nation;
To receive and review a finalized socio-economic impact study that is being completed by BCLC; and
To receive and review a finalized version of the traffic impact study for the proposed development.

It is expected that it will take two weeks to assemble the needed documentation and the Gaming License Application and related Planning report on this development is now planned to be presented to Council at the Regular Council/Land Use Meeting on Monday, Dec. 10 with a public hearing likely to take place in the New Year on Jan. 14, 2013. For those who were planning on attending this Monday's festivities at Surrey City Hall and giving Mayor Dianne Watts and her Surrey First team and earful of verbal abuse, you will have to find yourself something else to do that night (White Rock is holding Public Hearings at their City Hall if you need a community political fix). If you're concerned about the impact this large casino complex will have on South Surrey, or all of Surrey for that matter, please note the changes and make your plans to attend on the future dates.

As for myself, you can bet I will be in attendance to give Surrey First Council my two cents worth about this proposed casino complex. I must say that I'm not fascinated by gambling as I work much too hard for my money to give it away to the gaming syndicates and already given enough tax dollars to the government. While I recently travelled to Las Vegas (Lost Wages), I spent my time at shows, relaxing by the pool and partying with friends, staying away from the many games of chance including acres of slot machines. Casinos really lost their shine for me when I found out that a customer of mine had to sell their beautiful estate home because they'd lost a total of half a million dollars to the Cascades Casino in Langley when it first opened before finally getting help with their gambling addiction. I started to realize what a drain these gambling dens are on the local economy when a friend who works at the River Rock casino in Richmond informed me that the average daily take for this one location alone is reportedly $1.5 million. While concern has been raised about the tens of thousands of dollars in political donations given to Surrey civic politicians from those parties associated with the casino development, this pales in comparison to the estimated $6 million a year in revenue that Surrey will likely gain should this south Surrey casino project be given the green light. Just like our society, governments are addicted to gambling and dollar signs have a way of rubber stamping project approval regardless of community opposition.

Besides the social ills and crime that revolve around casinos including the man shot to death in New Westminster earlier this month during a hostage taking event in the parking lot of the Starlite Casino, I agree with many living in the Peninsula that the location for this casino complex is all wrong. Building such a large development in a rural area makes no sense from a neighbourhood perspective and will only lead to more rampant development which is seeing Surrey cleared of vegetation at a dizzying pace. If you have not seen the moonscape known as the Campbell Heights North Business Park at the corner of 192 St. and 32 Ave, this 250 acre clear-cut created by the city owned Surrey City Development Corporation is likely what most of the area around the proposed casino will eventually resemble. Having the casino located miles away from mass transit will ensure a huge increase in traffic to this formerly quiet area at all times of the day and night. Other than the promises of never ending tax revenue for the city and the bargain basement price originally paid for this distressed property, it is the wrong project in the wrong place and needs to be rejected outright by those who are entrusted with putting Surrey first.

There is another reason why the south Surrey casino should be given the thumbs down. In 2003, Surrey City Council approved the addition of slot machines to Fraser Downs in Cloverdale with the casino holding over over 400 slots opening in late 2004. The hope at that time was that the remodelled facility would help to stimulate harness racing in the Fraser Valley while attracting gamblers to Surrey. According to Gateway's own numbers, last year only 22 per cent of Surrey residents spent their money at Surrey's only existing casino while 78 per cent went to nearby cities such as Langley and Richmond or down to the U.S. If the proposed south Surrey casino opens, it will siphon gamers and their money away from Fraser Downs, likely leaving the casino there and possibly the racetrack unprofitable. As it currently stands, the City of Surrey received $2.9 million in gaming revenue last year from BCLC as their 10% share from the Fraser Downs casino. While Mayor and Council may be rubbing their hands over a possible $6 million payoff from south Surrey, I bet this will lead to a drastic reduction of revenue at Fraser Downs and likely spell the end of horse racing in Cloverdale that began back in 1976.

While Surrey's Mayor and Council are known to be "pro-development", every project has be scrutinized to ensure that it is appropriate for the location and adds something to the city. This South Surrey Entertainment Complex project may have flown under the radar when it was originally backed by Surrey developer Bob Cheema, but now that it is under the control of Cascades Casinos and the BCLC with the casino being the lynchpin of the entire project, people have suddenly woken up to the reality that it will have an enormous impact on the area. You only have to ask yourself, "Does this development belong in this location and does it make sense for Surrey?" to realize that the answer is a resounding "NO" that we must make loud and clear to Mayor Dianne Watts and her Surrey First councillors. They already made a mistake by letting slot machines into the Newton bingo hall that has since been purchased by Gateway Casinos, they certainly don't need to compound their incompetence by allowing the proposed south Surrey casino to become reality.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

November 19, 2012

"Pitcairn on Cairn"

Cairn: a heap of stones set up as a landmark, monument, tombstone, etc.

RCMP Memorial Cairn with tributes

With a name like mine (dig a hole, pile the stones) it really should come as no surprise that I've always had an interest in cairns, their placement and meaning. In Surrey, one of the most notable cairns is located just west of the entrance to the RCMP Detachment building near City Hall. This four-sized cairn that stands approximately five feet tall is affixed with brass plaques containing memorials to the four RCMP members who have previously lost their lives while on duty. With the recent on-duty death of 28 year-old Const. Adrian Oliver who died on Tues., Nov. 13 in an early morning motor vehicle accident with a semi-truck at 148 St. and 64 Ave., public attention is now being focused once again on those Surrey RCMP who have previously died while on duty.

Even with the immense size of Surrey, the large numbers of RCMP officers who have patrolled its mean streets, the violence and shootings that continue to plague us to this day, and the dangers of driving at high speeds while responding to calls, there has not been a loss of life in the Surrey RCMP ranks in the past 37 years. Since the RCMP took over policing in 1951, four officers have died in the line of duty, the first in the early 60's with three more in an untimely rash of deaths in 1974 and 1975. While we usually think of shootings and other acts of violence as being the most likely cause of line-of-duty fatalities, it is car accidents that have taken the lives of all but one of the officers killed in Surrey. Taken directly from the RCMP website, here is the information about the four officers that grace the memorial cairn at the front of the headquarters building, ensuring that while they are gone they are not forgotten:

Cst. Archille Octave Maxime LEPINE

On July 15, 1962, Cst. Lepine was posted to the Patullo Bridge Unit in Surrey. He was driving a police motorcycle on King George Highway when a vehicle turned left in front of him. As a result of injuries suffered from the collision, he Cst. Lepine passed away in hospital on July 19, 1962.

Cst. Roger Emile PIERLET

On March 29, 1974, Cst. Pierlet was working his last shift before taking time off to be married. He noticed a vehicle being driven erratically, and after stopping the vehicle was fatally shot. The driver and passenger were sentenced to death and the sentences were later changed to life imprisonment.

Cst. John Terrance DRAGINDA

On September 29, 1974, Cst. Draginda was on General Duty at Surrey Detachment, riding with an Auxiliary Cst. when, in responding to a report of a motor vehicle accident, they were involved in a collision with another vehicle at the intersection of 152 Street and 96 Avenue. Cst. Draginda and two people in the other vehicle were killed.

Cst. John Brian BALDWINSON

On October 28, 1975, Cst. Baldwinson was on the General Investigation Section at Surrey Detachment and driving back to the Detachment. It was late at night, with poor visibility and he had just passed another police vehicle on Pacific Highway #15, when he collided with a horse on the roadway. Cst. Baldwinson died as a result.

The cairn at the front door of the Surrey RCMP Detachment headquarters is not the only monument in the city to honour our fallen police officers. RCMP members here in 2005 began a fund-raising campaign to design and build a memorial to honour the four officers killed in the line of duty in Surrey. The "Wall of Honour" as it is known was financed through the sale of RCMP landyards along with money raised at the annual Regimental Ball. It was constructed and unveiled in a ceremony on Oct. 19, 2006 attended by Surrey RCMP staff, RCMP veterans, municipal staff, along with Mayor Dianne Watts and members of Council. It is located at the central atrium of the Surrey RCMP Detachment headquarters in the Municipal complex located at 144 St. and 56 Ave. Const. Adrian Oliver will no doubt be added to this wall in a future ceremony that will remind both the public and RCMP members of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

Wall of Honour - Surrey RCMP headquarters

Please be advised that the funeral arrangements for Const. Adrian Oliver have recently been changed. While it is still scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 20, the location has been moved from a south Surrey church to the Langley Events Centre, located at 7888 200 St. in Langley. The proceedings will begin with a march at 12 noon PST with the regimental funeral being held at 1 p.m. that will be live streamed on the RCMP website at the following link: http://www.livestream.com/rcmpgrc

This event is expected to attract hundreds of law enforcement officers from across Canada and the United States plus friends and family that include Adrian's spouse, his twin brother and father, all who are serving members of the RCMP. If you cannot attend but wish to give your condolences and show your support, flowers, candles, cards and even a toy RCMP cruiser have been left at the base of the cairn at the Surrey RCMP detachment's front doors. A facebook page for the late Const. Adrian Oliver has also been created in his honour titled "R.I.P Surrey RCMP Constable Adrian Oliver. 11/13/12". Anyone wishing to e-sign the RCMP book of condolences can send an email entry to bcrcmp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca which will then be passed onto the Oliver family.

The service will be webcast to meet the expected demand. Tomorrow at 1 p.m. click on this link

A candlelight vigil is also planned for Const. Oliver at the Surrey RCMP Detachment, 14355 57 Ave., on Nov. 30 from 6-9 pm. An Events page for this public memorial has been posted on Facebook titled "Surrey RCMP Candelight Memorial" at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/events/508687892488269/?context=create

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

November 13, 2012

White Rock's Biggest Loser

While the subject of who is White Rock's biggest loser would likely generate much debate and serious competition, there is one person living in the Semiahmoo peninsula who takes the cake, none other than "Mr. O Canada" himself, Mark Donnelly. While most of us know him from his bombastic renditions of "O Canada" at the beginning of Vancouver Canuck hockey games where he invites audience participation, he is rapidly becoming recognized for his "re-Mark-able" weight loss that has occurred over the past few years. From the beginning of August, 2010 to the end of July, 2012, Mr. Donnelly went from weighing 370 pounds with a 62 inch waist down to a svelte 185 pounds and a 35 inch waist utilizing injections of human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG along with a 500 calorie a day diet. An advertisement from Nutra Pure Canada was hung on our door in south Surrey this week featuring Mark advocating the use of HCG drops as "Safe*(Before beginning any weight loss program consult your doctor or competent healthcare professional), Effective, Affordable, and... Canadian." The before and after photos of Mr. Donnelly were striking, including the one showing him standing in a pair of his old pants with plenty of room to spare. To say that Mark Donnelly is half the singer he used to be would be a fair statement, but only from a weight standpoint and certainly not from his singing abilities which haven't missed a beat.

Mark's battle against obesity has been ongoing for years with him gradually ballooning to a point where it was beginning to negatively impact his health. Taken from the www.markdonnelly.ca website, here is Mr. Donnelly's own explanation of how he achieved this amazing weight loss utilizing the HCG diet plan:
Even though I have been athletic (more or less) since junior high school, I have struggled with obesity for most of my life. Through moderately stringent dieting and extensive exercise, I had managed in the past to yo-yo between being fit and being fat. Then the 40's hit, and fit was a permanent thing of the past. Exercise would only slow the weight gain. Gradually I packed on the fat and reached 370 lbs! Diets were ineffective, and exercise only replaced a very small amount of the fat with muscle. I was at wit's end and was developing multiple health problems. Now we come to the part about which everyone wants to know. How did I reverse this?

My wife, Catherine, while looking for a book on another health issue, found a weight loss book which had at its core a diet protocol that has been around since the 1950's. This diet is based on the clinical experience of Dr. A. T. W. Simeons, a British physician practicing in Rome, and is outlined in his paper Pounds and Inches, According to Dr. Simeons, one of the features of the hormone human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) is that it helps metabolize fat rather than muscle in pregnant women. He surmised that, if one receives daily an injection of a small dose of hCG and ate a very low calorie diet (500 calories/day), he would lose weight, mostly fat. At his practice, he found that patients would lose weight at a rate of just less than one pound to about a pound and a half a day for about four to six weeks. They then would go into a maintenance period for six weeks or more. If more weight loss was needed, another six week course of injections would be administered. Since everything I had tried up to this point had not worked, I thought I would give it a shot (no pun intended). What did I have to lose (again, no pun intended)? I was jeopardizing my health by weighing twice what I should.

Obviously no one can state that Mr. Donnelly's weight loss was not dramatic and effective, but now much of this was due to the HCG injections or the diet drops he utilized to shed the pounds or the greatly reduced caloric intake associated with this diet plan? HCG is approved by Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat infertility in both men and women and is not registered for use as a dietary aid or hunger suppressant. Because of the suddenly increasing interest in HCG, in 2011 the United States Food & Drug Agency warned that homeopathic HCG including the diet drops is fraudulent and illegal when sold for weight-loss purposes. While the FDA said these products weren't necessarily dangerous, they cautioned that their sale is deceptive as there is no scientific evidence that they are effective for weight loss. The Nutra Pure Canada website, while cautioning that HCG is not registered as a dietary aid, still make the following claims with exclamation marks for additional emphasis:
- You easily can lose 1-2 pounds per day safely!
- HCG is completely natural, healthy and safe for all dieters!
- You do not need to exercise to achieve these permanent fat loss results!
- HCG is good for you and tests indicate that it may prevent breast cancer!
- HCG will improve your sleep, energy levels and cognitive thought process!
- HCG resets your hypothalamus so that your weight loss is permanent!
- You will not get those agonizing hunger pains!

While having been impressed by Mr. Donnelly's transformation from obesity back to a healthy living weight, I'm ever skeptical about miracle fad diets that offer weight loss with little or no exercise. My mother's old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" rings like an alarm bell when I am presented with the latest weight loss craze. That being said, friends who came over for dinner this weekend who were informed about Mark Donnelly and this TNT topic, expressed their belief in the HCG diet. They are both in great shape and admitted to using this diet to shed a few extra pounds they had put on over the years that just wouldn't melt away no matter how much they exercised. They lost weight at the advertised one pound a day and have managed to keep off the fat, reporting that the HCG reduced their hunger and fatigue greatly while they quickly dropped to their target weight. While I won't be partaking in this diet plan ("die" is the first part of "diet") as I need all the body reserves I have, it would be interesting to have a truly obese friend possibly true this product out so that I would witness the results first hand (with doctor supervision of course). As to what the real truth is on this subject, I suspect we will hear plenty more about it in the months to come, especially when it is endorsed by a public personality such as Mark Donnelly who apparently believes this product was responsible for his rapid transformation.

Mr. O Canada is not content in only acting as a spokesperson for Nutra Pure Canada and their HCG diet drops weight loss plan. He continues to sing recital, opera, oratorio and musical theatre and is available for individual singing lessons. Mark also performs with a quartet of his children and is available for either single or family bookings, with a Christmas CD titled "Carol of the Bells" ready for purchase or download from iTunes. As if his musical talents were not enough, Mr. Donnelly also works as a licensed realtor for Sutton Group - West Coast Realty, something that would likely attract plenty of attention to any property listing . For all of his credentials, his main claim to fame is still being the Canadian national anthem singer for the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. Let's hope that the Donald Fehr/Gary Bettman pissing contest is quickly settled and that the NHL doesn't lose another season to greed and stupidity. It would be nice to watch professional hockey again while getting to join Mr. Donnelly in singing our national anthem, something few of us did until Mark came to town and showed us that being Canadian was cool and something to be proud of.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

TNT Update: We Still Got Our Mojo, Nov. 5, WR Sun

Due to the recent passing of rub-board player Jane Carnahan-Schultz, the Nov. 23 and 24 dates for Mojo Zydeco to appear at the Tudor Ale House in South Surrey have been cancelled. I attended her memorial on Sunday at the Crescent Beach United Church which was packed to capacity with well-wishers and those looking to give their moral support to Jane's husband and band leader Randy Schultz along with the other members of Mojo Zydeco. Needless to say, this was a very emotional time for all with hardly a dry eye in the house and many stories about Jane and her amazing life journey being shared. Please support efforts to fine a cure for breast cancer, a scourge that takes many fine women far too early in life.

 

 

November 05

We Still Got Our Mojo

Last weekend I got to enjoy several nights of the live music scene in the Semiahmoo peninsula, taking in Dave Chesney's election fundraiser at the Blue Frog studio on Friday featuring Jason Buie and Trooper's Ray McGuire followed by Daniel Wesley playing at the WR Firefighters charity Halloween ball at the Star of the Sea. Unfortunately the good times ended rather abruptly when I heard the sad news about the passing on Monday of Jane Caranahan-Schultz who sang and played the rub-board with the local cajun music band Mojo Zydeco. In case you are not familiar with a rub-board, it is a stainless steel version of the antique hand washboards that is worn on your chest and played with a couple of specially shaped spoons. Jane had fought a long and courageous battle against breast cancer for three years, enduring several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation before the disease returned in force late this year to finally take her life far too early.


In case you are unfamiliar with Zydeco music or have never had the pleasure of seeing Mojo Zydeco perform live, its beginnings trace back to the early 1700's in the swamps of Louisiana where traditional Creole and Cajun music later blended with Afro-American blues, jazz and R&B and a healthy dose of gospel music. Its infectious sound is usually fronted by a button or piano accordion and the rub-board in a fast tempo with a pounding base line that tends to attract everyone to the dance floor to join the party that this music naturally creates. I was fortunate enough to meet Dave Clairmont, the bassist for Mojo Zydeco who performs with a rather unique Luthier Paul Iverson designed 6-string fretless bass guitar, capable of extending the range and possibilities of the regular instrument. The first time I saw Mojo perform was at the Crescent Beach 240 Legion in Crescent Park where the dance floor was packed from the moment that the band took the stage. Jane was always front and centre, stroking the rub-board to the beat of the music and laying down backing vocals to help round out the singing of her husband, bandleader and lead guitarist Randy Schultz.

Originally one of the founders of the well-known local blues band The Blues Caboose that was formed in 1997, Randy dedicated himself to creating a Canadian Zydeco band after a trip to the city of New Orleans in 2001. You can read all the details about the various band members and the history of Mojo Zydeco on the Exposure Entertainment website at the following link: http://www.exposureentertainment.com/mojozyd.html Since its inception, the band has played their unique music throughout B.C. at bars, festivals, corporate events and private parties and even came perilously close to performing for my 50th birthday party. They keep a kindred connection with musicians from around New Orleans and surrounding region and operate an open door policy where members of Mojo can go down to Louisiana to play with performers from that region coming to Vancouver and Surrey to join with the band here to share new sounds, songs and stories. Several summers ago I took in one of their sets at the Fusion Festival in Holland Park in Whalley where they were joined by several amazing accordion players who had come north just to join in on the fun. I remember Jane getting into an amazing rub-board duet with one of these gentlemen, attracting people from across Holland Park to the front of their stage. My wife and I were the first ones to dance (she's the shy one) and by the time we sat down for a well deserved rest there were hundreds of people grinding to the funky groove that only Mojo Zydeco can lay down.

For those of you that enjoyed the taste of cajun creole music that Mojo brings to our neck of the woods and who knew Jane either personally or musically, a memorial is planned at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11 (Remembrance Day) at the Crescent United Church located at 2756 127 St., Surrey, one block west of Crescent Park. A celebration of life will follow at Camp Alexandra in nearby Crescent Beach at 2916 McBride Ave. that benefited from the "Raising the Roof" fundraiser held this summer by Mojo Zydeco and Blues Caboose. While many of us are used to the regular Halloween dances at the 240 Legion a special tribute show in Jane's honour will be held at the Crescent Beach Legion on New Year's Eve. Keep your eye on Doug Lechance's Night Owl entertainment listings in the WR Sun for any other upcoming bookings that might arise.

It was heart-wrenching to have to watch a person like Jane who was so full of energy and passion towards her music, the members of the band and especially her husband Randy, suffer the ravages of breast cancer. While no one can take her place, someone will step up to take her space on the rub-board and continue the toe-tapping, spoon-slapping, high-tempo beat that this type of Cajun born music is famous for. To me, Jane's heart will continue to beat with every high octane note that Mojo Zydeco plays and I'd like to invite all Semi-pen residents who were touched by her music and warm soul to the New Year's Eve bash where we can ring in the New Year and raise our glasses in a toast to her memory while giving our continued support to Randy and the band.

Mojo Zydeco Surrey Fusion Festival 2011 with special guest Bruce Barnes

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

October 29, 2012

Bored in White Rock? Get board in Surrey

FERAL (fer-al): Existing in a wild or untamed state, having returned to an untamed state from domestication, or suggestive of a wild animal; savage.

A rather unique new business has opened at the eastern end of White Rock's East beach on the point of land at the end of the Semiahmoo First Nation. Already the location of the Organic Connections Cafe (formerly Sideshows restaurant), Feral Boardsports is now situated beside the restaurant, taking advantage of this waterfront location to access the nearby shores of Semiahmoo Bay. Semiahmoo First Nation band councillor Joanne Charles was instrumental in allowing Feral to set up shop in this waterfront location between the cities of White Rock and Surrey and the band appears to be very supportive of the recreational board sport use of the beach in front of their Reserve.

The brainchild of Darren Marshall who has moved here from jolly old England to take advantage of the ocean waters off the west coast of B.C., he first set up his Feral Kiteboarding School here three years ago. With his certification from the British Kite Surfing Association and the International Kiteboard Association he enjoys instructing people in this fast growing water board sport that is taking the world by storm. Feral Boardsports opened this summer just a few days before Canada Day and besides focusing on kite boarding also provide lessons and rentals of paddle boards, kayaking, skim boarding along with wake boarding that is done in the waters of the Deas slough near the George Massey tunnel. The asphalt at the front of their brightly coloured red and white building has been covered with a layer of fine sand with Darren telling everyone who will listen that it is, "the best beach in White Rock." Dont' worry about tracking it into their office as they feel it adds extra ambiance to the building that is usually lit only with candles and sunlight from the windows.

Besides teaching boardsports to the masses and renting the various equipment necessary to have fun along the White Rock waterfront, Feral will soon be selling merchandise unique to their company plus a lot of different brands that no one else in Canada is carrying. They promise that their line of apparel will be unique and different from anything that is currently available on the White Rock strip. There are plans next summer for various competitions and possibly even races that might be tied into other organized community events scheduled for White Rock and the South Surrey. During winter months the store will not be open on a regular basis but rentals and lessons are easy to schedule and Darren can arrange to meet you at Feral to provide you with instruction or equipment as needed. Simply contact him personally by phoning his cell at 778-986-1981 or emailing the office at dwmferal@gmail.com. Darren hopes that his new enterprise will help to bring some much needed excitement to East beach, attracting those who usually focus their attention solely on West beach by the pier.

You don't need to wait for good weather to enjoy the various boardsports offered by Feral. Take advantage of the fall and winter winds to learn how to kiteboard in the shallow waters of East beach. Put on the Gortex jacket and go for a paddle along Crescent Rock beach, taking in the marine bluff ecosystem between White Rock and Crescent Beach. On calm or sunny days, try out a paddleboard on the tidal pools, utilizing your strength and balance to cruise the waters off the promenade. When you live on the West Coast, you have to take what Mother Nature gives you and realize that outdoor water sports take place here on a twelve month basis. Feral Boardsports is a wonderful addition to the White Rock waterfront and deserves the support of the community for giving us a new recreational outlet that will no doubt help to attract tourists on a year round basis to East beach, providing a more balanced playing field to the businesses located along Marine Drive on either side of the Hump hillside.

Check out Feral's website

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

October 22, 2012

Bully for Surrey & White Rock

The topic of bullying and how to combat it is once again under intense media scrutiny after the recent death of 15-year old Port Coquitlam girl Amanda Todd. In case you have been living in a cave or under a rock, her story card suicide video posted on YouTube has already received nearly 20 million views on the top four links (http://www.facebook.com/#!/rip.amanda.todd.9696?fref=ts) with her cryptic message that is similar in delivery to Bob Dylan's Subterranean Homesick Blues music video. A Facebook page "RIP Amanda Todd" has received nearly 1.2 million likes and has 4.1 million people talking about the page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/rip.amanda.todd.9696?fref=ts). This weekend, anti-bullying vigils were held in Amanda's honour in forty cities around the world including countries as far away as Sweden and India. Closer to home, upwards of 200 people visited Holland Park in Whalley that was the site for Surrey's anti-bullying memorial held for Todd. Many attending brought flowers and long pink candles which were lit and placed in a circle of flame around Amanda's name. Mayor Dianne Watts, Surrey RCMP Supt. Bill Fordy and other local politicians were in attendance and voiced their concerns about cyber-bullying and the need to speak out against the unethical treatment of others. While Todd's death has put increased scrutiny on Facebook and its ability to make people's life a living hell, you do not have to look far to see people posting taunts and hateful statements about Todd's suicide along with creating sick meme's and inflammatory trolls about her passing. For the internet uninitiated, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory and often off-colour messages online with the intent to provoke readers while a meme is an image with a phrase that spreads across the internet, often because of its subculture or shocking content. While Amanda Todd's death is sad and shocking, it is disturbing that she continues to be bullied even after death.

Unfortunately while Surrey's Mayor is going to bat for the victims of bullying, the Surrey School District is striking out at schoolyard violence including that being used in self-defence. Last week at White Rock Elementary, a six-year-old boy was accosted by another student three years his senior. After being thrown to the ground and bruising a knee that left him limping, the youngster fought back against the older boy who had started the physical altercation. For this, the victim was reprimanded by the school's Principal Ms. Fran Fagan and forced to apologize, the same punishment received by his bully. It turns out that the Surrey School has a blanket policy against violence at schools, including fighting back against someone using physical means. As if taking the fear of the strap out of the schools wasn't enough, you now can't protect yourself against a violent attack and instead are supposed to report the physical confrontation to schoolyard supervisors. If a student decides to fight back against a bully's attack, they will be punished the same as the aggressor, rather than being supported by the educational system. It appears that the Surrey School Board has no plans to change this rather absurd policy so hopefully Mayor Watts will take the bull by the horns and make it acceptable to fight back against physical aggression while at school. I'm wondering if a girl was sexually attacked on school grounds by a young male student, if they would simply have to take it lying down or else be punished for fighting back? Their policy against bullying is pure bull crap and if the trustees running the board can't see how ludicrous this situation is, they all need to be removed from office because as of now, they are part of the bullying experience. Imagine being the young lad who had to apologize for fighting back against a thug that was three years older? What a disgrace and a black eye for the city of Surrey. Nice to hear that this young boy's mother is now fighting back against this injustice.


White Rock Elementary - Scene of the Crime

I know of no one that has not experienced bullying while growing up, including myself and my two children who are now out of school and home. You would think that with increased education about bullying and celebration like the anti-bullying pink shirt day that adolescence violence would be decreasing but unfortunately with the internet, Facebook and YouTube, you can now cyber-bully victims from the comfort of your own home to the entire world. With everyone running around carrying camera phones and with access to photoshop, compromising pictures can be posted online or easily altered to place others in serious social ridicule. Ask children going to school if they think the teachers or principals would help in a bullying situation and most will scoff at the notion and tell you that they are useless as tits on a bull. Most kids feel abandoned by the education system, left to fend off attacks on their own and resorting to joining peer groups to help combat personal or violent attacks. As a tall lanky lad growing up, I was frequently the target of older boys who were bigger than me but diminutive in stature compared to those in their grade level who they could not push around. This only ended when they went to secondary school or I grew much taller and heavier than them and could now not only defend myself but possibly give them back some of their own medicine. What I know of bullies is that they must be challenged at every opportunity. You need to step up and say something against this type of behaviour. You need to come to the rescue of those not strong enough to protect themselves. Most importantly, if you are being bullied by aggressive physical behaviour, you need to fight back. There is nothing a bully hates more than getting their nose bloodied and this is by far the best way of getting them off your back. Self-defence is not violence, it is personal protection and the Surrey School District needs to alter its policy to accept this reality.



If you are married to a bully, you can hopefully leave the abusive relationship and get divorced. If you are being bullied at work, you can report it to your superiors and if they fail to deal with the problem, simply quit and find a safer place to work. Unfortunately with school, you are trapped in a building with the same people for years while navigating the emotional minefield known as adolescence with all of its body changes and hormonal swings that go with it. Resentments can grow, insults will be magnified and weaknesses exposed with others using them to increase their standing in the pecking order that is the hierarchy of all schools. I personally know of three people that I grew up with who took their own lives after being subject to years of ridicule at school and this was long before cyber-bullying became fashionable. As a society and as individuals, we need to stamp out bullying whenever it raises its ugly head and if we are the victims of it, expose it to public scrutiny and fight back hard against it. I'll never forget how I rid myself of a rather pesky bully while still in elementary school. I was riding my bike down the road when he stepped out onto the pavement blocking my way. Stopping didn't seem like a very good option so I decided not to slow down for him. I drove straight forward and at the last second veered to the right, while unfortunately for him he stepped to his left. My front tire went between his legs with the center handlebar post impacting square on his groin. He flew backwards through the air, landing hard on the road and smacking the back of his skull on the pavement. I managed to control my 10-speed without crashing and stood there listening to his whimpering cries as he held one hand to his bloody head and the other to his bruised testicals. While it was tempting to leave him on the road to get run over by the next passing car, I went to his house to alert his parents who came to his aid. While accidental, after this rather serious collision he never bothered me again, hardly speaking to me for years until he moved from the neighbourhood. I'd like to think I knocked some sense into him.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

UPDATE 9 a.m.

In a front page story released Monday, the Vancouver Sun is reporting that the B.C. Ministry of Education sent a memo to all 60 school districts on Oct. 14 advising teachers not to show their students the Amanda Todd flash card YouTube video that has gone viral. This notice states there are concerns the video might cause "traumatic stimuli" and "may lead vulnerable youth and others to believe that bullying 'causes' suicides which dangerously simplifies a very complex and personal struggle for many individuals." Note to B.C. Education Minister Don McRae: You can't put the genie back in the bottle and this tragic event with its world-wide response should be used to address the serious issue of bullying in our schools that unfortunately does lead some of our young people on the path to self-destruction. Fortunately B.C. Teachers Federation President Susan Lambert is on record stating that, (teachers) should have the ability to make the decision themselves as to whether it is appropriate for their students", many of whom have already viewed it online. I say let the teachers teach, as this life or death subject is more important than much of the pablum we serve up to the students suffering in our schools.

Vancouver Sun Link

 

 

October 15, 2012

Protect Your Pet

This week's TNT is brought to you from the treeless desert wasteland of the Rattlesnake Mountain range near the Hanford Nuclear Site in South-East Washington State where most of the plutonium for America's nuclear weapons was manufactured for decades. As to what I was doing in this out-of-the-way location, let me assure you that it involved camouflage clothing, high-power long-range rifles and shooting against Americans. Not to worry though as the desert cam is worn to hide the dirt, the rifles are being fired at paper targets 1,000 yards away and the Yanks are our good buddies. After listening to packs of coyotes howling near our trailer, watching turkey buzzards circling overhead on daytime thermals and trying not to step on western diamondback rattlesnakes, I thought it was time to alert the residents of the Semi-pen to the ongoing wildlife threats that are endangering our pets.

This summer, attacks by raccoons in both Vancouver and Richmond received wide publicity in the local media. In a couple of altercations in Van-City, aggressive raccoons targeted leashed dogs being walked by their owners in the early morning hours. While the dogs were unscathed, the people were scratched and bitten by raccoons that were focused on the small dogs they had. Whether this was a predatory action or a defensive reaction protecting nearby young is unclear but the owners suffered scratches and deep bites trying to rescue their pets. In Richmond, a family of at least three raccoons spent the summer repeatedly targeting neighbourhood cats, ganging up on them and using their numbers to overpower and kill felines that were allowed outside at night. The same kind of thing is also occurring in White Rock, where friends living on Malabar St. had their cat seriously chewed up last week by several raccoons that seemed fixated on making it their next meal. A customer of mine living at Sunshine Hills in North Delta recently heard their cat screaming one night and came outside to find three raccoons on top of their pet, biting and chewing on its legs and head. It survived this onslaught after the coons were beaten off with a broom but required extensive repairs resulting in a rather hefty veterinary bill. Now both of these wounded cats are no longer allowed to venture outside at night, not that they wish to go into the dark anymore.

Coyotes in the Semi-Pen are also a serious problem with them living in our major parks plus the Ocean Park bluff and using our system of green spaces and nature trails to access suburban neighbourhoods in search of food that unfortunately includes our pets. While I used to have a ferocious tabby cat that would actually attack and shred raccoons foolish enough to meander into our yard, he went out one night and never came back, likely falling prey to the coyote pack that calls Crescent Park home. Only a month ago I saw a rather straggly young coyote walking down the middle of 24 Ave. across the street from Crescent Park Elementary school at 5 o'clock in the evening when everyone was driving home from work, showing that these animals may be preying on pets even during daylight hours. My parents live on top of Chilliwack Mountain and recently had their Maine Coon cat weighing 18 pounds killed by a very large and healthy looking coyote. They let the cat outside the back door at nine o'clock in the morning and watched as it walked across the lawn where it was ambushed by this predator that was laying in wait. They believe the coyote had likely smelled their cat's urine near the back door and it simply waited for them to serve up its next meal when poor old Murphy went for his regular morning stroll. Needless to say, they have warned the rest of the folks living in the mountain through their property owners association about the threat. If you are walking small dogs in forested areas of the Semiahmoo peninsula, it is advised to always keep them on leash and to be prepared to pick them up should an aggressive coyote approach looking to eat your pooch.

 

As if this were not enough, birds of prey can also focus their attention on pets, either at the beach or in our parks. Our small dog that weighs over 20 pounds has been targeted several times by bald eagles that have come in for a closer look to see if it was small enough to attack, hovering only metres above our beloved Juliette's back. I've been told there is an eagle's nest near Morgan Creek that has a colourful collection of cat collars in the bush beneath it. At night, Great Horned and Grey owls patrol pathways in our parks, looking for small furry nocturnal animals for their dinner. You can face large vet bills if a large owl lands on your cat and gives it a good squeeze with razor sharp talons, regardless of whether they can manage to carry it away. Even at home, you should be careful about letting small dogs such as Chihuahuas out at night for a bathroom break, especially if you have heard owls either screeching or hooting in nearby conifers. The smaller Barred owls can also be an issue but this usually involves them attacking female jogger's ponytails on running paths where the motion of the hair looks a lot like a squirrels tail. Unless you have a really ugly dog that looks like a rat with a bushy tail, they should be safe from the Barred owls that often fly during daylight hours.

The bottom line these days is that you had better consider the threat that wildlife can pose to your pet, especially if you own a small dog or cat. Felines are particularly vulnerable at night when their odds of them encountering a predator hunting for a meal are much higher than in the daytime. The best bet is to keep them as indoor pets or at the very least ensure they are safely back in the house long before dark. From my experience, outdoor cats live an average of 3-5 years while indoor cats often have life spans of 15-20 years. Next to being hit by a vehicle, attacks by wildlife are the next most likely cause of violent death for pets. You do not want to experience the anguish my Mother recently had of watching a coyote kill her prized cat right before her eyes before attempting to drag it off into the bush. Maybe even worse is letting your pet out at night to never be seen again, leaving you wondering what really happened to them. To my crazy old tom cat Ziggy, if you are still out there, please come home.

Naturally yours,

Don Pitcairn

 

 

October 09, 2012

Waste Not, Want Not

With the Thanksgiving long weekend now over, I have to take pity on the many people rolling your organics and recycling cans to the curb on Tuesday morning, likely stuffed with remnants of Thanksgiving dinner that likely include stuffing. In case you missed it, there no longer is a one day delay for garbage/recycling/compost pickup for most long weekends. It turns out that the many electronic billboards positioned throughout the Semiahmoo peninsula, including three within a block of the KGB and Crescent Rd. were correct about the pickup day. Now the only holidays that will involve a delay in this service will be Christmas and New Year's Day. Of course, if you happen to still be away on the last day of a holiday weekend, I guess you are out of luck and will have to wait a further two weeks for either garbage or recycling pickup. Chances are that by that time, your bin will either be very full, or very stinky. Something tells me that this is something the folks in charge of this program at the City of Surrey hadn't contemplated. The other problem with holiday pickup is that you now have garbage trucks emptying these large plastic totes on city streets starting at 7:30 in the morning. I heard our shiny new garbage truck on Monday morning making a hell of a racket as it circled the neighbourhood dumping recycles from up high. Nothing like getting woken up early on an extra day off to the sound of breaking glass and slamming metal is there?

Although I believe the City of Surrey has tried to put its best foot forward in starting this new ambitious refuse collection system, there are obviously lots of kinks to be worked out, especially in the first few weeks of operation. If you visit the city's www.surrey.ca website, the very first thing that pops into view is a picture of the new monolithic waste cans and information about the "New Waste Collection Program" along with instructions as to what is being accepted for the week. Directly under that is a tab for the "Waste Can Hotline" where they readily admit that they are receiving a "high volume of phone calls about the new program, asking Surrey resident's patience and giving an online form to provide your feedback instead of calling the hotline (604-590-7289, 8:00am to 4:00pm, Mon-Fri, excluding statutory holidays). While my own garbage pickup has gone off without a hitch, I do know that others are not quite so lucky. My daughter came home on Monday night to find her new bins had finally been dropped off at her new townhouse, interestingly only a few blocks north of City hall on 144 St. When we were going to a family dinner that evening, I saw three garbage trucks heading into south Surrey on Crescent Road at 5:30 p.m., which by my math is ten hours after the start of the work day, something that has to be costing tax payers a fortune in overtime on a stat holiday. This is nothing of course, compared to the accident last Thursday where one of the Progressive Waste Solutions trucks owned by BFI snagged an overhead electrical line in Whalley, snapping the power pole, causing a loud explosion and leaving the transformer ablaze on the ground with the neighbourhood in the dark.

I also have issues with the change in the organics containers that the city has supplied to all of its residential homes plus selected townhouse sites. If you look at the picture I took of the original test cans back on Nov. 10, 2010 (scroll way down into the archives) you will notice a thick rubber strap on the black topped organics can. This bungee cord-like apparatus was designed to keep the bin closed in order to keep animals away that might be attracted to the odour of rotting food including meat products and bones that are now allowed into the compost. Unfortunately the new bins have no way of closing them securely, meaning that if you have nowhere to safely store them inside, they are now temping targets for nocturnal visitors. Around my home we have gangs of masked bandits resembling raccoons that are quite adept at knocking over even heavy garbage cans. I believe it is only a matter of time until they figure out how to climb to the top of the new bins and either tip them over or simply lift the lid to get an evening smorgasbord. There are also packs of coyotes to contend with if they are not already full after eating yet another pet cat let out for the night, and free-range dogs like those of my wonderful neighbour who seems to take great delight in letting his animals loose on garbage day morning so they get at least one good meal a week. I've decided the best remedy is to simply drill a small hole in the middle of the front of the compost tote lid and can and slip in an appropriately sized padlock that will keep the foodstuffs safe and sound. Hopefully I won't be accused of vandalizing city owned property but I really detest cleaning up rotten garbage from my front entranceway where we have a rather convenient storage spot. Luckily enough we don't have bears to deal with in Surrey but other cities and municipalities that may be considering utilizing this same technology needs to think about some form of latching mechanism.

The new under-the-counter compost pail provided by the City of Surrey seemed attractive enough that my old stainless steel pail with matching lid was put away in favour of the new fangled plastic model. I must admit, I kind of liked the green colour that I thought was rather appropriate and used it for the food scraps that go into my home composting unit. Imagine my surprise when I opened it this weekend to discover that it was abuzz with a cloud of fruit flies! Now that the pesky little buggers are in our kitchen, it is almost impossible to get them out even though we are swatting and putting out wine traps for them (they seem to prefer the Merlot to the Cab-Sav). While the lid has a fine mesh of very tiny holes, likely to release methane and other gases, I don't think that they are big enough to even allow a fruit fly to enter. The problem seems to be the ill-fitting lid, that even when latched in the closed position still has a large gap on the front big enough to let in a big blue-bottle fly, let alone the cloud of fruit flies that no doubt were breeding there. Imagine going to put excess food into your compost pail to discover that what looks like rice is actually squirming maggots? Now put this into your big compost bin in the summer and wait to see what happens in a week's time. While science experiments are fun, I really don't think you'd want to be doing them with your garbage. The cute little green Surrey compost bin has now been dumped and cleaned out, replaced by the old stainless steel pail that I've used for years. Something tells me it will be back to the drawing board on this one if it turns out to be a problem in the 97,000 kitchens across the city. More buzz on that later.

By mid-month the city has promised to start collecting any old garbage cans or blue boxes that you may wish to dispose of. With the early growing pains already being experienced with this large change in waste collection, I'd be surprised if it is not postponed to allow crews to become more accustomed to the new equipment and service routes. Before you turn in your old containers, realize that they can still be put on the curb on the appropriate day to hold excess organics (Greencan sticker required) or recycling, with extra garbage being okay as long as a paid sticker available from city hall is attached. Likewise, you can also ask for a smaller or larger tote in either of the three colours, should the ones first delivered not match the needs of your household. Obviously a single person living alone will probably not need a monster tote, while a home with a suite (or suites, this is Surrey after all) will have much greater capacity requirements. I'm sure that with time, eventually all of these problems will sort themselves out and we will see far greater recycling and diversion from our ever shrinking landfills. Until that happens, I would suggest keeping the following two City of Surrey waste web addresses on your favourites list so that they can be quickly accessed should you have any questions or concerns about this new waste collection service. The second one even has a handy-dandy app for your smart phone to keep you informed of the new waste collection schedule.
http://surrey.ca/city-services/4548.aspx
http://www.surrey.ca/rethinkwaste/

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Oct. 1, 2012

Ramsar and the Fraser River Delta

I managed to complete all of my household chores early on Sunday and headed down to the waterfront south of Crescent Beach to catch the last few rays of the season. Soaking in the sun watching as it sank towards the horizon, the placid ocean between Crescent Rock Beach and Tsawwassen looked the same as any other time this summer, yet a profound difference has recently been bestowed upon the waters of Boundary Bay and beyond. On Sept. 22, the Switzerland based Ramsar Convention of Wetlands secretariat announced they had designated 20,682 hectares of land at the Fraser River Delta as a "Ramsar Wetland of International Significance" giving this region the highest designation for protection of wetlands. This new conservation site includes the wildlife preserves of Sturgeon Bank, South Arm Marshes in Richmond, Alaksen on Westham Island and Burns Bog in Delta, plus Boundary Bay and the Serpentine River Estuary in Surrey.

For those not familiar with Ramsar, it is a Convention of Wetlands that was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 which created an intergovernmental treaty providing a framework for international cooperation for the world-wide conservation of wetlands. There are presently 163 members signed onto to the Convention, with over 2,000 wetland sites totalling 120.5 million hectares included in the Ramsar list of Wetlands of International Importance. Currently there are thirty-seven Ramsar sites in Canada totalling over thirteen million hectares of protected wetlands with seventeen of these in national wildlife preserves or migratory bird sanctuaries. The Fraser River Delta Ramsar Site is an important migratory stopover on the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds that include large flocks of Western Sandpiper. It provides feeding and roosting sites for over a quarter million migratory waterfowl plus and an estimated one million shorebirds. The nutrient rich waters of the Fraser River basin create diverse and plentiful schools of feeder fish capable of supporting dense wildlife populations and is one of the more critical habitats for shorebirds in the province of British Columbia.

The Corporation of Delta played an integral part in achieving this Ramsar certification, beginning in 2004 with the acquisition and protection of Burns Bog that was made possible with the help of all four levels of government including the GVRD, now known as Metro Vancouver. After years of lobbying the federal government including sending delegations to Ottawa the past few years culminating with Delta Mayor Lois Jackson meeting with Conservative Environment Minister Peter Kent, an application to the Ramsar Secretariat was accepted earlier this year. The Boundary Bay Conservation Committee of which I am a member as president of SUN, the Burns Bog Conservation Society and all levels of government were singled out for praise by independent South Delta MLA Vicki Huntington who also thanked all levels of government for their help in making this important ecological designation a reality. Unfortunately while the Ramsar designation protects large portions of the Fraser River delta, there is an elephant in the room that conveniently has been left out. The Roberts Bank region that is the site of the proposed Terminal Two container port expansion project at Deltaport being promoted by Port Metro Vancouver and connected to the South Fraser Perimeter Road and Gateway Program was not included in the federal Conservative government's approved designation. It is decisions such as this that make many believe it is only a matter of time until most of Delta is paved over, similar to what has happened previously in Richmond.

Another serious problem with the Ramsar certification is the lack of any form of enforceable public use regulations that would protect shorebirds and their habitat from the recreational demands of the growing population in the Fraser Valley. Low flying ultra-light aircraft regularly fly just above the beaches of Boundary Bay, targeting flocks of migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, getting them to fly while the misguided pilots get some perverted sort of thrill from harassing wildlife. I've seen this personally with Bald Eagles being chased away from their catch by pilots excited to see a flying eagle up close. Some dog owners seemingly take great joy in releasing their pets so that they can disrupt thousands of feeding or roosting birds from Crescent Beach in Surrey to Centennial in Tsawwassen. Kayakers and paddle boarders traverse areas of Mud Bay that formerly were used almost exclusively by wildlife. Kite-boarders now routinely invaded the shallow waters during wind storms and and Kite-carters roll their wind-powered machines on sand flats frequented by Sand pipers, Plovers and waterfowl. Add to this the use of wetsuits and thermal protective clothing, the result is that many areas of the Ramsar Fraser River Delta are regularly utilized for recreation to the detriment of wildlife even during cold and rainy months when they are most vulnerable.

With Roberts Bank being purposely excluded from the Ramsar by Steven Harper's Conservative government and crown corporations such as the Vancouver Airport, Boundary Bay Airport, Port Metro Vancouver and the railways having an adverse impact on the habitat of migratory birds in the Ramsar area, is it not time to properly protect the waterfront wildlife areas from human intervention? We need regulations with teeth and proper enforcement to ensure that habitat is protected and that wildlife is not harassed, whether by accident or for people's entertainment. Considering the damage being caused by the construction of the South Fraser Perimeter Road, Deltaport expansion and ever increasing railway siding building that is burying acres of farmland, parkland and nature preserves, more crown foreshore needs to be put aside free of human interference to compensate for these losses. Perhaps it is time to ban hunting from all foreshore habitat in the lower mainland, constraining the harvesting of waterfowl to inland agricultural fields where migratory birds have a direct impact on farming. Only by implementing strategies like these can we reverse the steady decline of birds in Canada, estimated in a report released earlier this year to have declined by twelve percent from levels in the 1970's.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Read what RAMSAR says about their efforts to protect our area

 

 

September 24, 2012

Turn To Stone

The recent publication of topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton taken with a telephoto lens while she was vacationing at a French chalet created headlines around the globe last week, but to me the scandal was not the fact that Prince William's wife was sunbathing, but the response from the media, the Royals and the public. In France along with many other countries from around the world, topless sunbathing is quite the norm and something that barely raises an eyebrow. Unfortunately society in so-called developed regions including North America seem to have swallowed the Playboy lie and believe that breasts are a sex object instead of a perfectly designed baby food delivery station. To see how we view male and female breasts in a completely different light, Prince William was also topless on the same patio as his new wife with his nipples showing, yet not a word was printed about how they were basically dressed in the same manner. So much for equality of the sexes! Of course it doesn't help that photos of Prince Harry showing off his crown jewels while playing strip pool in Las Vegas also recently surfaced. Whatever happened to the old slogan, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" dammit?

This weekend my wife and I plus several friends went on a road trip and visited both the Sloquet and Skookumchuck hot springs in the Lillooet area north of Whistler in a region dotted with geothermal vents. If you have never visited a natural hot spring in B.C., you should be advised that because of their remote locations and wilderness settings, many women go topless with a large number of people including families with children soaking in the hot mineral water free of clothing. Nobody stares, nobody gawks and it is considered completely normal behaviour that does not attract unwanted attention or sexual advances. It is worth noting that there are people at the springs who will wear bathing suits during the day but not at night, likely being more comfortable with the glow of a few tea lights than the glaring light of the sun. While most of the weekend was cloudy, on Sunday while driving home down Lillooet Lake, we passed several B.C. forest campsites and could not help but notice that several women were taking advantage of the last warming rays of the years to get rid of tan lines. If you venture down to Crescent Rock Beach in south Surrey, nude sun tanning is the norm as this stretch of shoreline between Crescent Beach and White Rock has been officially recognized by the local RCMP as being legal for clothing-optional use.

What bothers me about the Kate Middleton photos are the way they were taken and the complete lack of respect to the Royal's privacy. At Wreck beach, there is a no photo policy as people are there to relax and not worry about voyeurs or professional photographers trying to capitalize on their naturalness. Some people will announce they are taking personal pictures of friends or family members to ensure that those who happen to end up in backgrounds of pictures are comfortable with being photographed. If you are caught taking voyeuristic pictures of people at Wreck, you will be asked to clear your film or digital images and leave the beach. Failing that it is likely your camera will end up on the rocks and if not careful, it may not be the only thing broken as several perverts have experienced over the years. The long-lens photos of the Royals on a patio they likely thought was private is an invasion of privacy and should not be used for profit. We have a private backyard but if a neighbour was to climb onto their roof with a camera and take pictures of us on our patio, would these be fair game for media publication (disregarding the photo at the top of this column of course)? Even people relaxing on a public nude beach should not have to worry about their photo being taken and printed in newspapers, magazines or posted on the net. Without consent, this is a serious breach of privacy, regardless of how that person feels about being seen by others without clothes.

The Royals have responded through the courts and have received an injunction against the French paper that chose to originally publish the blurry far away shots. Unfortunately there are two more rags in other countries that are stepping up to also put these pictures to print with some reports suggesting there may be up to 70 photographs that were taken of the young Royal couple soaking up some sun. With the internet, once photographs are release it is like trying to put the genie back in the bottle, with these images being copies and distributed throughout the web for perpetuity. Of course, if nobody cared or were interested and refused to purchase the newspapers or magazines carrying nude photos of celebrities taken without their knowledge or consent, then this wouldn't be a problem would it? Until people take the personal responsibility for not endorsing this type of behaviour, it is likely that it will require laws to be passed throughout the world making this activity illegal with heavy fines to ensure that it is not profitable for the sleazy owners of these despicable publications. Until then cross your fingers, for if nude photos of Mayor Dianne Watts happen to surface, I'd like to think they would not appear in the pages of the Surrey Now, Peace Arch News, or especially the White Rock Sun for that matter.

Besides taking a stand for personal privacy and control over the publication of photos without consent, Kate Middleton is now in a rather unique position to take a stand on the over sexualisation of women's bodies, especially their breasts. As luck would have it, a rather picturesque beach couple of miles away from the Welsh home of William and Kate is the subject of calls to make it an official nudist area. Newborough beach on the west coast of the island of Anglesey in England attracts naturists and nudists to its natural setting of sand dunes bordering forest. Rather than simply fighting against the paparazzi and media mogul slime balls, why not endorse a more wholesome and non-sexual way of looking at our bodies, instead of the one perpetuated by modern media that results in body image disorders, self-image problems and sexual dysfunction? Could you imagine the media storm if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to visit the naturist beach on a regular basis? For these Royals to draw a line in the sand and say that nude sun tanning, especially simply being topless for a woman, was completely normal, natural and socially acceptable, it is quite likely that many pornographers would quickly go out of business and we might start looking at each other as people instead of sex toys. Until then, realize that a woman's right to go topless anywhere in Canada is the same as a man's and protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

September 17, 2012

Paved Over Park

While the illegal destruction of some trees at a development in Newton has created headlines this weekend, nearby parkland is being razed without barely raising an eyebrow. Just south of Panorama Ridge is one of Surrey's newest nature areas, known as Colebrook Park. It runs from the KGB CN Railway overpass west to near where Colebrook Road crosses over the train tracks. The city of Surrey has been quietly purchasing land along this area and bulldozing the old houses tucked into the edge of the forest besides the substantial grasslands that exist there. This location provides a key natural buffer between the open farmlands and the residential neighbourhoods up the hill which run into Newton. It is home to various creatures including many varieties of birds, owls and hawks, coyotes and a herd of black tail deer. When an old farm building was torn down several years ago, Surrey built a barn-like structure on a pole in this region as habitat replacement for barn owls (including similar min-barns at Elgin Park and Mounds Farm). Unfortunately for all the good that Surrey is doing to preserve this spot, the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Program trumps any desire that Major Watts and Surrey First has to save it from development.

The stretch of tracks below Panorama Ridge is being altered as part of the Panorama Ridge Whistle Cessation Program that is a small part of the many overpasses being built over the train tracks including at the nearby 152 St. Recently large bulldozers and articulated earthmovering trucks began laying down ballast rock next to the Colebrook tracks where there are plans to build a 12,000 foot siding to accommodate the ever increasing train traffic including BNSF coal trains headed north into Canada from the United States. Besides increasing rail capacity, a large swath of the newly assembled Colebrook Park wildlife area is now also feeling the bite of the bulldozer blade for a related reason. As part of the effort to reduce motor vehicle crossings, a total of 21 acres of prime park/pasture/farmland along with some forested area is now being buried under gravel and asphalt as Colebrook Road is realigned to the north side of the tracks. The existing Colebrook Rd. will be retained to service the farm properties to the south with the current railway crossing being removed allowing for unimpeded freight traffic. This will eliminate the need for trains to blow their whistles at this main crossing plus several other less used locations, something that has infuriated members of the West Panorama Ridge Ratepayers Association for years. For complete details on the scope of this project, visit the following link:
http://www.robertsbankrailcorridor.ca/proposed-projects/panorama-ridge/_rbrc_project

While I have not been told the total market value of the property involved as appraisals are not yet complete, Surrey will be financially compensated by Transport Canada,Port Mtro Vancouver and the railway companies for the land being lost with this money earmarked by Surrey to purchase further parkland as part of their Parks Acquision Fund. Unfortunately what is being lost in Colebrook Park is the scale of the entire parkland site. The larger the piece of property the more wildlife it can support, making the twenty-one acres being bulldozed more valuable than its monetary cost per acre. Whether the Parks Department will be able to acquire land that will be able to fully compensate for the decrease in size at this already assembled natural area remains to be seen. The Gateway program with the South Fraser Perimeter Road has already gobbled up over 300 acres of prime farmland in Delta, not including the 200 acres in the ALR at the Tsawwassen First Nations that will be developed for port expansion and for a large mall development that I promise to never set foot in. Of course there are also plans to create a huge warehouse and industrial complex near the Deltaport including a 12,500 rail yard that can be used to deal with the increasing container traffic from Asia that should instead be directed to Prince Rupert. Add to this the amount of protected land lost to roadway expansion in the Surrey, Langley and Delta region over the past few years and we are seeing a continuous erosion in the arable land in the Lower Mainland that will be available to feed future generations.

There is one positive development to the Colebrook Road Realignment Project other than the people of Panorama Ridge being able to get a good night's sleep free from the constant high-decibel blare of train whistles. The Panorama/Colebrook Park area has a very high water table and is criss-crossed with old drainage ditches and small streams. The City of Surrey, obviously aware of the environmental loss associated with this project has decided to include the construction of a riparian wetland adjacent to the north Colebrook Rd., creating an artificial wetland that will be connected to the existing streams, drainage ditches and culverts that flow towards the Serpentine River and Boundary Bay. I have been promised that there will be a "significant fisheries creek" built there along with "extensive environmental planting" which will hopefully increase the overall quality of this natural area. This will undoubtedly resemble the area between Hwy. 91 and the Delta Golf course or along the lower edge of the Watershed Park where man-made waterways have been created to help offset other areas where development and infrastructure programs have resulted in environmental degradation. Surrey does not yet have design details or drawings on what has been proposed but I trust this will be forthcoming in the near future, possibly along with a community meeting where the plans can be reviewed by the public with any questions, comments and concerns being addressed.

Learn more watch the video

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Septmeber 10, 2012

 

What Goes Up, Must Come Down

Reports of UFO's flying in formation above White Rock last week should be viewed with suspicion and scepticism for while there are many who would like to believe we are being visited by aliens in spacecraft from other worlds, it is likely there is a very terrestrial explanation for what was observed. On Sunday night, Sept. 4th, folks walking the pier saw bright orange globes in the sky, with one after another appearing until there was a line of ten of them strung across the city. Shortly after they were first spotted, they slowly started to blink out one by one until the sky was black again. While flying saucers piloted by green men cannot be dismissed, it is likely they were Chinese sky lanterns (also known as Khoom Fay or UFO balloons), paper globes that work like small hot air balloons which are popular and common in asian culture. They are released in mass in several festivals including many in China and Thailand and are also now being used by cultures world-wide for weddings, birthdays and other notable occasions.

Sky lanterns have been an Asian tradition for hundreds of years with them now being used across Europe and recently available in North America, being shipped from overseas businesses and even an office in Vancouver. They consist of a thin paper balloon, a small lightweight frame that is usually metal and a flame source that once ignited fills the balloon with hot air lifting it into the sky. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colours allowing people to customize their aerial displays. Newer versions now use fireproof paper but this does not ensure that the flame which powers them will not ignite other objects. These balloons will travel up to a mile high and often drift for miles in the direction of the prevailing wind. Once the fuel cell burns out, they will then descend to the ground if everything goes as planned. Sky lanterns can be purchased for as low as a dollar each and usually come in a package of ten, the same number of lights that were seen over the Rock in a coincidence that is likely anything but.

When I was a teenager, a friend of mine who lived in Surrey produced his own version using ultra light weight materials and a contained flame source (I won't go into details as don't want kids in the Semi-pen making their own). We would build several of these rather flimsy devices and on calm nights in the fall or spring when the ground was wet, would take them to the shores of Mud Bay to launch them. This area was chosen to hopefully eliminate the possibility of starting either a field, tree or house on fire. These homemade balloons operated perfectly and would cast a eerie glow as they bobbed along in the wind currents, often above Hwy. 99, causing traffic jams as startled motorists pulled over to watch the strange apparition in the sky. While I don't remember reading about UFO's above Boundary Bay during that time, I would not be surprised if these home-made balloons were reported as a UFO sighting. As far as we are aware, these mini-hot air balloons consumed their fuel and went out long before they crash landed miles away from where they were released.

Unfortunately while they are interesting to watch, sky lanterns pose a variety of risks to human structures and the environment. The main hazard is fire as these lanterns, even the ones now made with fire retardant paper, can easily drift into nearby trees or buildings setting them ablaze. Sometimes they will land before the flame is extinguished, resulting in grass fires or shingles on houses being set alight. The wire hoop that supports the base can entangle wild animals and there have been cases of owls and other large birds getting wrapped in old lanterns. The spent lanterns also land in pasture land with the wire getting chopped into pieces with the hay and then fed to cows, injuring or killing them. When launched near airports, they pose a risk to low-flying planes and their glow at night can often be misinterpreted as a signal flare, especially in a marine environment such as off the shores of White Rock. Because of house fires, forest fires, electrical blackouts and animals deaths, sky lanterns are now banned in jurisdictions around the world including Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, Hawaii and others with many areas looking at blocking this incendiary device.

Because of house fires, forest fires, electrical blackouts and animals deaths, sky lanterns are now banned in areas (jurisdictions) around the world including Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, Hawaii and others with many jurisdictions looking at blocking this incendiary device.

I was in Peachland on Sunday, Sept 9th when a small fire was suddenly whipped by winds into a fast moving forest fire that caused the evacuation of 1,500 residents including myself, my wife Sheryl and our two friends who we were visiting. In the space of an hour, the slight smell of smoke turned into a thick cloud that stretched across Okanagan Lake to Kelowna. We were given an evacuation notice and began packing our possessions into our vehicles, something we were going to do anyways. In a matter of minutes, the fire exploded in size with ash, soot and cinders filling the air. When smouldering embers began plunking to the ground around our convertible, we decided it was too hazardous to stay any longer and drove away from danger. Our friends made it out safely and as of deadline are still awaiting word on whether their house was destroyed by the flames. If it was Chinese sky lanterns that were seen above White Rock, they were launched during a very dry time when the forest fire hazard was at a high to extreme rating. The city of Surrey has recently posted signs warning against smoking on or near park trails because of the fire risk. It might be wise for local governments to realize the safety and environmental risk that Chinese sky lanterns pose and considering banning their sale or use before they become a big problem in our neighbourhoods, no matter how pretty they might appear when drifting overhead.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

September 04, 2012

Where's A Cop When You Need One?

How many times when you are driving do you see people flagrantly violating the rules of the road, otherwise known as the Motor Vehicle Act, and ask yourself the question in the title above? Sometimes this will be a minor transgression such as someone changing lanes without signalling or doing a rolling stop through an intersection. Other times it may be a driver travelling above the posted speed limit or possibly going too slow (old men with hats in WR maybe?) keeping in mind that anyone travelling faster than you is a maniac while those going slower are idiots. We can't have cops standing on every street corner and probably wouldn't want to live in such a police state anyways let alone be able to afford it. What few people realize is that when you see particularly offensive driving behaviour such as street racing, dangerous driving, or those travelling without due care and attention, you can step up to the plate, gather information on the offending vehicle and driver and report it to the police who will then investigate the case and possibly lay charges or write tickets based on your statement.

I found this out years ago when I saw a van in Langley blow through a red light, turning onto Fraser Hwy. directly in front of me. I was instantly on alert considering how dangerous this manoeuvre was and followed the vehicle to the next major intersection where he attempted to stop for another red light, this time at 264 St. in Aldergrove. Though his tail lights activated, the van did not slow down, entering the intersection as traffic started to move for those vehicles who had the green. A car coming from the left saw the van and slammed on the brakes to avoid being hit and the red light runner had to swerve around a tractor trailer driving from the right, actually jumping the concrete centre curbing. It was obvious to me that the offending vehicle had no brakes and was unable to slow, yet alone stop. I already had the van's licience plate number and a description and reported it to the Langley RCMP later that day, concerned that this vehicle would eventually be involved in an accident or possibly kill someone. The police took this matter seriously, going to the farm where the vehicle was kept and towing it into a shop for a mechanical inspection where it was confirmed the braking system was completely worn out. The driver was charged with a variety of offences and the van not released until the needed repairs were made to make it road worthy. I was subpoenaed to appear in court, something that was an annoyance yet necessary to protect both myself along with the travelling public and what I saw as my civic duty.

On the Labour Day long weekend, I was travelling along Vedder Road in Sardis, Chilliwack, which is a four lane road with a double solid line separating the two lanes travelling in either direction. Traffic was moving at slightly above the posted limit and there were plenty of cars in both lanes going my direction. Imagine my surprise when an Acura sedan pulled into oncoming traffic to pass a car carrying an elderly couple with a disabled decal who was already driving above the speed limit with the flow of traffic. Accelerating to double the speed limit, the Acura driver cut back into the proper lane moments before being involved in a head-on collision with several cars. This wonderful maneuver was even more ridiculous when you realize that Vedder Rd. is a busy thoroughfare with plenty of intersections and I easily caught up to this offender at the next traffic light without even speeding. I took the licience plate and vehicle information along with time and location and promised myself that before I left town after being the barbeque chef for my parent's party, I would report what I had seen to the Chilliwack RCMP. What I failed to realize was that with cell phones, if you see people driving in an erratic and unsafe manner, the police would like you to contact them immediately with the pertinent information so that they can intercept the car and identify the driver. The last time I saw this car was as it headed east onto Hwy. 1, but an investigation has now been launched and officers will be contacting the registered owner to find out who was driving and possibly law charges of either dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention. Driving is the most dangerous activity we do on a regular basis and those threatening other peoples lives and showing no concern for others must be held accountable. I say this after being at the site of many horrific accidents over the years including some involving fatalities with myself often being the first motorist on scene. I have seen too much twisted metal, mangled bodies and blood, watching as people with serious injuries are placed into ambulances for a ride to the hospital and life-long disabilities.

While not a member of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) I have successfully taken several drunks off the road by alerting the police. In both of the cases I have been involved with, I came across drivers who were so obviously impaired that they posed a serious threat not only to themselves and their passengers but anybody around them. I'm not talking about slightly meandering from one side of the lane to the other but driving onto the gravel of the shoulder and then half way into the oncoming lane. Following a truck in Whistler on Hwy. 99 several years ago, in the space of only a few miles I saw a suspected drunk driver almost run over a pedestrian, narrowly miss two cars at intersections where they had the right of way and then avoid a head-on crash with a motorcyclist only because the bike driver managed to swerve out of the way. In this case I did phone the RCMP immediately with my concerns and they radioed to a cruiser further down the highway who pulled over the suspect vehicle. The driver was charged with driving under the influence along with a variety of other offences. I had to appear in court which was a major inconvenience considering it was held in Pemberton but the driver eventually pled guilty after several attempts to delay the proceedings, likely hoping I would not follow up on this case and show up as promised. Besides large fines, they lost their driver's licience for a year and hopefully learned their lesson that drinking and driving do not mix. If you witness driving behaviour where you believe the person behind the wheel is likely impaired, it is your duty to alert the police and take them off the road. Can you imagine not reporting a suspected drunk driver, watching them speed off and eventually coming across a crash involving the same vehicle, or even worse, them involved in an accident involving other cars?

If you don't have hands-free cellular phone capability in your vehicle, don't worry as the law governing the prohibition of hand-held electronic devices has exemptions for contacting emergency services. You can call ECOM 911 or your local police department while driving without worrying about the rather nasty $167 ticket that goes along with talking on your cell phone. You need to realize that by informing the police about dangerous or possibly impaired drivers that it is possible you may be subpoenaed to show up in court to provide evidence to support any charges that get laid. I look at this as a minor problem when compared to allowing street racers to rip of the road or drunks to maim and kill innocents in our neighbourhoods. We do not need cops on every corner to make our roads safer, what we require is motorists will cell phones to realize that they hold the power in their hands to get drivers off the road when they are using their vehicles as weapons. Don't waste police time and resources by reporting minor traffic offences but if you witness dangerous or impaired driving, do everyone a favour and call the police immediately with the offending vehicle information and location. If possible and without endangering yourself and others, you can discretely follow them until such time as the police are able to intercept them. Just like how this summer the Surrey RCMP were able to pull over several high-end sports cars for street racing at speeds over 200 kmh on Hwy. 99 because of phone calls from several concerned citizens, working together drivers can be the eyes and ears of police officers, keeping our streets safer and getting these dangerous drivers off the road.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

August 27, 2012

"Botts" Beaten Black and Blue

I wanna see it painted black, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun, blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah, hmm, hmm, hmm...
(Lyrics from the Rolling Stones song "Paint it Black")

When Dan Bottrill was selected as the new White Rock City Manager, I made sure I took the time to contact him directly, congratulate him on his new position and as an old family friend warn him that politics in this small seaside town were often petty and and taken to extremes. I'll bet that Mr. Bottrill had no idea that changing the colour of the safety railings protecting the BNSF Railway tracks alongside the WR Promenade would create such a stir in the community. South Surrey resident Donna Burns is seeing red that the "City By The Sea" has decided to change the colour of the railings from a bright blue to a jet gloss black, receiving front page media coverage about this story. Nearly 4 km. of railings along with light standards and other related objects are going to be painted in a maintenance project that began last month and is scheduled to be finished as the end of August with a price tag estimated at between $60,000 to $70,000. When completed the Promenade railings will match the new railings installed along Marine Drive on the Hump hillside plus the ornate light poles and lighted archways costing $415,000 that now grace the WR Pier. The decision to undertake this railing painting project and the colour selection was made by Mr. Bottrill, with WR Council being aware of the plans and discussing its merits. While Dan is pleased with the black railings, Mrs. Burns has likened it to the view one would see from the inside of a prision.

What many people don't realize is that the metal railings across the waterfront on both side of the BNSF Railway tracks are a relatively new feature resulting from a pedestrian fatality on the waterfront only fifteen years ago in 1997. On February 20th of that year, 12-year-old Lief Everson, his 10-year-old brother and a friend were crossing the tracks, going from the beach to buy candy from a nearby corner store near the old train station. Lief was struck and killed by the Amtrak passenger train which had resumed its Seattle to Vancouver run several years earlier. As a result of this accident and another that happened two years before where a teenage girl was injured, Transport Canada lowered the rail speed from 30 to 21 mph for the mile stretch of the WR waterfront between East and West beach. The BNSF Railway was also instructed to install safety railings and warning signage along the Promenade so they would be in place before the summer season when crowds of people would again be lining the tracks. These were erected and painted blue to blend in with the ocean environment, rather than utilizing a bright colour that would normally be used for safety railings protecting an industrial rail line passing through a heavily used marine recreational site with crowds sometimes numbering over 100,000 people during festivals.

I find it entertaining that the new colour of these railings is upsetting to some people, when what they are protecting is a century old railway line. I think the black colour of the railings matches perfectly with the black of the continuous steel rails in the railway corridor. The black paint also ties in exactly with the black of the oily creosoted railway ties which support the tracks. In fact, with two horizontal rails the safety railing actually could be viewed as being a perfect match for the train tracks, with the numerous vertical support posts representing the ties, especially when viewed from an angle down the Promenade. I have to wonder if Mr. Bottrill was also considering how well the new colour would match with the black paint used on much of the otherwise orange and yellow BNSF diesel locomotives? Black railings will also look magnificent should the historic Royal Hudson ever come steaming back into town. It also makes a fashion statement with the increasing number of black coal trains from the U.S. along with the black tankers cars containing everything from gasoline to sulphuric acid and chlorine gas. While it has been pointed out that some business across Marine Drive have trimmed their facades in blue, there are many more that are painted black which will make them even trendier. For White Rock, "black is the new black" dare I say, showing the versatility of this idea at the expense of the popularity of the old blue colour.

I believe that the railings on either side of the BNSF tracks in White Rock should be painted in colours normally used for safety railings next to a dangerous location capable of causing serious injury or death. Instead of trying to blend into the ocean environment with blue or match with components of the industrial rail line with black, these railings should instead be painted yellow, orange or red. It is these colours that warn people to the danger of the railway tracks, not scenic blue to blend into the ocean or black that disappears at night. Considering that the safety rails are only feet away from passing freight trains and their heavy loads, I think that not utilizing bright warning colours increases the threat of a train/pedestrian collision. I've seen parents walking with children directly down the tracks in White Rock oblivious to the danger and teenagers acting cool by sitting on the top safety rail as freight trains pass by mere feet away. The railings also need to have a small vertical strip of steel welded to the top of them, discouraging people from using them as a narrow bench. If "Botts" wants to really make a fashion statement for the safety railings next to the BNSF tracks, instead of trendy black why not utilize either the bright orange or yellow colours used for the BNSF locomotives? There is a reason why this railway uses orange and yellow for their engine colours while CN and CP utilize fire engine red. They are easy to see and are used to indicate danger, hopefully not leaving people black and blue or worse after being struck by a train.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

August 21, 2012

Poleish Joke

Don't worry, I will not be utilizing this column in the WR Sun to deride, ridicule and abuse those fine folks of Polish ancestry. After all, it was Poles who first bore the brunt of invasion by Nazi Germany (and the Soviet Union) in World War 2, kicked off the yoke of communism and broke free from the USSR in an act that led to the demise of the Soviet empire, and who also make those sweet little sesame seed wafer snacks sold worldwide. Come to think of it, those off-colour jokes we unfortunately told in the schoolyard as children (even though we didn't know any Polish people) had little relation to reality which is one of the reasons that we fortunately don't hear them anymore. The "poles" that are a joke here in the Semi-Pen are the B.C. Hydro utility poles along North Bluff Rd. on the south side of 16th Ave. separating Surrey and White Rock. I've previously taken Hydro and "The City by the Sea" to task in previous TNT's about these dangerous power poles left in the asphalt when the road was widened years ago (Feb. 13, 2011 & Feb. 8, 2010). Unfortunately B.C. Hydro doesn't seem to give a rat's ass about negative publicity or public safety and they appear to be still up to their stupid old tricks on this major thoroughfare.

After originally putting yellow caution tape on the offending poles several years back, including a handful that were located within five different intersections entering White Rock, my weekly rant put both the City of White Rock and Hydro on notice to the public safety danger posed by leaving these relics in the street. To their credit White Rock responded, albeit in the typical glacial speed of most governments, putting up safety signs and then repositioning both sidewalks and parking spots east of Johnston Rd. (152 St.) so that it was safer for both automobiles and pedestrians alike. It is my understanding that there are future plans once funds become available, to ensure that all the poles on White Rock's northern border are taken off the street. A year and a half ago, showing that the dreaded lawyer Murphy reads the WR Sun, a motorist driving a GM Humvee smashed her large SUV into the very first of these offending poles heading eastbound into the Rock from Surrey past 136 St./Bergstrom St. The old wooden pole was sheared in two, the power line fell into a nearby fir tree in a shower of sparks and the heavy transformer fell with a bang onto the sidewalk at the bus stop, fortunately without anyone getting electrocuted or killed including the driver.

After this accident, B.C. Hydro responded by relocating this destroyed pole off the roadway away from the bus stop, putting it into the sidewalk where it was safely away from passing vehicles. At the same time, they also marked a large concrete power pole at the nearby ESSO station at 140 St./Nichol Rd. for relocation, spray painting a target marker marked "Pole" into the sidewalk as was also done down the street. Though contacted frequently by WR Sun editor Dave Chesney, Hydro staff never answered questions about when this pole might be moved or if was being done for safety reasons involving the nearby gasoline pumps. This pole still remains in the roadway with the orange spray paint faded into obscurity but Hydro was busy last week taking early steps to install a new pole at nearby Cory Rd. a block away. This is one of the intersections where there is already a pole sitting a foot out from the curb into the intersection. For reasons unknown, B.C. Hydro crews have cut a round hole in the asphalt, dug a large amount of dirt out for installation of a new pole and dropped a fresh wooden pole in the gutter just up the street. What I find hard to believe is the new hole is yet another foot further into this intersection and if installed in this hole will be yet another infrastructure "upgrade" that make White Rock look like a third world country instead of an affluent seaside community.

As if this wasn't enough, the dirt excavated from the new hole was not loaded up and taken away as one would expect. Instead it was piled high next to the curb, only a foot away from a drain grate. There was no attempt to keep dirt from the storm drain or to install a sediment catch, something that is standard fare these days to keep sediment away from creeks and streams that many of these storm drains flow into. I contacted Surrey's Environment and Drainage Manager (unfortunately for her she's on my speed dial) and enlisted her help in ensuring this mess was properly taken care of before the weekend when thunderstorms were forecast. By the end of the day, the pile of mud and crud had been removed from North Bluff and the asphalt swept clean. Whether this was work crews from Surrey, White Rock or maybe even B.C. Hydro remains to be clarified but the important question is why this dirt had been piled in the street next to a storm drain in the first place where it could have possibly caused flooding or negatively affected fish habitat?

I'm hoping that the City of White Rock can find out exactly what B.C. Hydro is up to with their plans to seemingly place yet another pole far from the curb into a White Rock intersection off their busiest main road? While they are at it, maybe Hydro can tell Mayor Baldwin and company why the ESSO station pole marked for relocation after the Humvee crash was never moved? I'd like to think it wasn't simply because Mr. Chesney was asking too many questions and not simply forgetting about it. I'm crossing my fingers that the new wooden pole laying in the gutter will be a temporary support for the overhead wires while the existing concrete pole that currently sits well past the curb will actually be relocated away from traffic. Hopefully this is the case but until we get some answers from B.C. Hydro as to what they are doing about this ongoing problem, just like when the Humvee tore out the power pole down the street, we will continue to be left in the dark.

While being concerned about how utility poles left standing in roadways threaten driver safety in the Semi-Pen, I have my own personal "views" on B.C. Hydro that I'd like people in White Rock to consider. There is nothing to stop city hall from okaying new buildings and developments that block people's views, with tall monster houses sprouting up where small ranchers once stood. It is also okay for residents to spend tens of thousands of dollars to have city boulevard trees axed for views, regardless of whether this destroys the privacy of neighbours who might like the trees adjacent to their properties. No matter what views people might have in the Rock (you can take that both ways), the one constant there is the forest of utility poles and tangle of wires that criss-cross the sky between most people's picture windows and Semiahmoo Bay. While it would be expensive, putting these ugly power, cablevision and telephone wires underground would be the best view improvement project the City could ever undertake. I bet the resulting real estate price increase for properties with unobstructed views would more than pay for the cost. That's something to think about while you try to ignore the poles and wires that you look at every day.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn.

 

August 13, 2012

Marshalling Help for the "Crescent Cottage"

There are a lot of very unique homes and properties located throughout the Semiahmoo peninsula, some oozing with eloquence, charm, history and character. Of all the amazing properties found here, there is one that stands alone in its uniqueness due to its rather stunning position within one of our major south Surrey parks. Located at 12876 Crescent Road just east of 128 St., this formerly grey coloured heritage house sits all by itself, surrounded on three sides by the second growth forest of Crescent Park. This property was recently purchased by Michael and Myra Juan Marshall who have rolled up their sleeves and are putting much time, energy and funds into restoring the house and improving the grounds for themselves and their four children. A home-made sign attached to a nearby hydro pole recently caught my attention looking for information on this property and the history behind it.



The poster read, "Seeking Heritage Information relating to 12876 Crescent Rd., Photos, Who Lived Here When, Historic Uses, Stories of Crescent Park (Not Crescent Beach)" plus contact information and a big "THANK YOU" in colour. I have been watching this property slowly take shape from the rather rundown condition it was formerly in, with the siding being cleaned and painted a fresh bright yellow colour. I knew that the new owners were gardeners because the overgrown grounds have suddenly sprung to life with a abundance of flowering shrubs and perennials. I stopped by the house one afternoon this week, introducing myself to the Marshalls and asking them questions about the signage and of course the history of the house. They had been informed that it was built around 1913 and were looking for any and all information about the history behind the home and property. Of specific interest was the large concrete foundation directly east of the house that likely would have been a large garage or shop, something they would like to rebuild to its previous specifications. To do this, they need to acquire pictures of this house from the years before this building, minus its heavy foundation, was demolished. A set of blueprints would be helpful, but realistically it is unlikely that any exist with early cottages in the area being hammered together by knowledgeable carpenters.

What I do know from the Heritage Register on the City of Surrey website (http://www.surrey.ca/plans-strategies/3251.aspx) is that the building is known as the H.C. Major House. It is listed as site #181 which was registered on December 4, 2000 because of its architectural significance. The property description is as follows: "In 1908, this property was acquired by Sveinn Brynjolfson, who sold it to Henry Major in 1930. The Craftsman bungalow was built around that time (not 1913 but probably 1931). Features a stone foundation and porch piers, narrow lap and shingle siding." There is a listing in the Ocean Park section of the Surrey history website by noted local historian Jack Brown (www.surreyhistory.ca) which makes reference to a lodge at the corner of Stevenson Road (128 St.) and Crescent Road but it is unclear if this has anything to do with the Marshall/Major home. Gleaning through various real estate advertisements, about the only information there was that the lot is a little over a half acre with a rather astonishing 520 ft. of road frontage, a figure I question. The problem with computers is that much of the historical data has not yet found its way onto the internet making research time consuming and laborious, usually entailing spending hours on weekends sifting through files and photographs at the Surrey archives building in Cloverdale. Sorry to say but with the nice sunny weather, I decided to spend my time on the beach.

In this age of social media and data exchange, the easiest way to find out information about the past is often to put out a call for the public's help in the media. It is amazing how many of our seniors have become computer literate, using PCs to help spread the historical facts, figures and photographs they have. I'm hoping that by giving the Marshalls some publicity about their historical quest about their home that someone in the local community or a historical society will be able to fill in the blanks regarding what has transpired there over the years. I've also put them in touch with elder historical statesmen Jack Brown, Jack Berry and Roger Brown plus the Surrey Archives department, hoping that they may have information about the history of this property or possibly have photographs of the missing building in question. Personally I think that it is remarkable that the Marshalls have shown the level of interest in the history of their new home that they wish to rebuild the large outbuilding which is now only a foundation to its original condition. While the neighbours across the street may have their incredibly large multi-million dollar mansions, they don't have the history of the H.C. Major house or the peace and serenity that comes from having a home surrounded on three sides by a city park.



If you can be of assistance and shed some light on the history of this Crescent Park home, please forward any information you have to the Marshalls at crescentcottageheritage@gmail.com, an email address they created solely for this purpose. They got the "Crescent Cottage" name from an enamelled metal plaque that they found buried underneath some rubble while cleaning out old debris. It now occupies a strategic place above one of the main windows facing Crescent Road. Hopefully, members of the Semiahmoo peninsula community will be able to provide the Marshalls with the answers that they seek. Please keep an eye on this TNT as it will be updated with new information as it becomes available, filling in pieces of this rather interesting historical puzzle. When you pass by this property, keep an eye on the ongoing renovations, realizing that whether you call it the "H.C. Major House" or the "Crescent Cottage", this is one of the older homes still standing in south Surrey and one worthy of protection.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

August 07, 2012

Semi-Pen Shooters on Target

Semi Pen Hardware Haul

While much of the world's sporting attention is focused on the Olympics at this time, it doesn't stop others from competing at a high level in their chosen sport. On the B.C. Day long weekend, marksmen from across B.C., Washington, Oregon and California converged on the Fraser Valley city of Chilliwack, attending the B.C. Rifle Association's 128th annual full-bore Target Rifle Championships being held at the General Vokes range complex. The BCRA was formed way back in 1874 and has been promoting marksmanship from the time when black powder rifles were still being used. Modern shooters use single shot target rifles in either .308 or .223 calibre, focusing on the target with peep-hole iron sights and utilizing hand-loaded ammunition for ultimate accuracy. For those shooters looking for a little more "fun", there is F-class shooting which began in Kamloops by George Farquharson featuring heavy high-power rifles with bi-pod supports and optical scopes, with a bulls-eye half the diameter of the TR targets. While the General Vokes range only goes back to 600 metres with short range shooting starting at 300 m., other ranges measure back to 1,000 yards or well over a half a mile in length with bulls-eye's measuring only 20 inches wide at that distance. Throw in weather conditions including blustery winds and near record heat like what was experienced this weekend and this sport can be difficult to the extreme for even the most talented marksman.

Jim Paton

The Semiahmoo peninsula is home to a couple of premier target shooters, one being myself who has been shooting competitively for 35 years and the other is White Rock resident Jim Paton, arguably one of the finest riflemen this country has ever produced. While I usually compete at the local or nearby state level due to business concerns and time constraints, Jim Paton regularly travels to the Canadian Target Rifle Championships held by the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association (DCRA) in Ottawa and the NRA of the UK matches held in Bisley, England. Mr. Paton just returned from the latest shoot in Bisley, finishing 28th in the Queen's Finals out of close to 900 competitors. This was the 17th time that Jim has qualified for this prestigious event, a Canadian record that also includes winning the gold medal in 2005. In Ottawa at Canada's National Full-bore Target Rifle Championships held on Connaught Range, Mr. Paton has won five Governor General Medals for Marksmanship, been the Canadian Target Rifle Champion three times and taken gold in the Grand Aggregate twice. As if this were not enough, Jim Paton has also represented Canada three times in the Commonwealth Games, winning a gold in the individual matches and silver in the pairs. Unfortunately because of IOC politics, full-bore rifle shooting, though widely practiced in much of the free world, is not part of the Olympics as there are repressive countries and regimes that do not allow their people to own firearms, even ones that have no other purpose than for accurately shooting paper targets. Not to worry though, as the five-ring-circus has ping pong, badminton, synchronized everything and even trampoline, something we happened to win gold in while our B.C. Rifle Championships were taking place.

The BCRA TR Championships are held over a four-day course of fire, beginning on the Friday and ending on the holiday Monday. Besides many individual matches and aggregates, it also has a large number of team events, some of which are concurrent with the match shooting and others which are fired shoulder to shoulder from the prone position. When the gun-smoke had cleared, to no one's surprise, Jim Paton emerged victorious, winning the B.C. Target Rifle Open Aggregate by a score of 723 with 94 V-bulls, which are half the diameter of the actual bulls-eye and used for improving accuracy and breaking ties. While giving Jim a good run for his money, on the third day of shooting he pulled away and I had to settle for second place with a score of 719-64Vs, four points back and with a third less centre shots. Paton also had a similar result taking gold in the B.C. Grand Aggregate with a score of 551-73, followed by both myself and Washington States Wayne Budbill both shooting a 447 but with the "Bug-killer" as he is known taking second place courtesy of his 57 V's versus my lowly 45 V's (I gotta work on those). In the Lt. Governor's Aggregate, with the same format as the Queen's Prize in England and the Gov. General's Prize in Ottawa, I had a little better luck, shooting a perfect score of 105-10V in the first stage and battling to keep this lead as the shoot progressed. In the Lt. Gov. final, I found myself tied with Jim and we were squaded together for the final range at 600 metres, shooting a 15 round match with each other to end the Championship. With some skill and a whole lot of luck, I managed a one point victory over Mr. Paton, winning gold with a score of 376-40V to his 375-47V, showing that the points are more crucial than the centre shots. An honourable mention must go to my father Robert Pitcairn who had the high score in this final shoot, a 75-8V, giving him third place with the same score as Jim Paton, not bad for a guy in his mid seventies who shoots in the veterans category.

"The Rifleman" gets chaired

The best part about the Queen's, Governor Generals, or the Lt. Governor's Prize is the historic "chairing" of the victor, carried high above the shoulders of your friends to the music of Handel's "Hail the Conquering Hero." This is the second time that I have had the privilege of winning the Lt. Governor's and been carried from the firing point down to the range headquarters for prize presentation. The ride is a little nerve-wrecking, especially when the fellow shooters are picking you up or putting you down but it is much nicer to be riding in the chair than carrying the winner plus fifteen pound rifle on your shoulders. While I must admit the first chair ride I took was likely sweeter, having the chance to go shot for shot with White Rock's Jim Paton with so much on the line was an experience I will never forget. I have to shake my head in amazement that two guys who live only miles apart in the Semiahmoo Peninsula would find themselves in this rather unique situation. We both managed to collect a large chunk of the BCRA's silverware (Jim's pile was much better than mine might I add) with us receiving Governor General medals for Marksmanship (bronze for me, silver for Jim) for our first and second place finish in the B.C. TR Agg. Mr. Paton will no doubt be looking to add to his collection of the five gold Gov-Gen medals he already has that are only awarded at the DCRA shoot as he is planning on visiting Ottawa for the Canadian TR Championships on August 17-25th.

Hometown Hardware

In the team shoots, the Lower Mainland team completed an extremely rare feat, winning all ten team matches including the concurrent team matches featuring four shooters plus the General Currie Cup shot for with six marksman and two coaches at the 600 meter firing point. In the International Team Match, fired by an eight person team with two coaches at the 300, 500, and 600 metre distances over three days, the strong American contingent held their own with the host Canadians and both teams ended up tied with exactly the same score. Fortunately for us, our V count was slightly higher and the Canuck team took the gold, leaving the Yanks to take home silver. Sorry I don't have the scores as the stats were not yet posted and only announced at the prize giving. If you want to find out more about competitive full-bore target rifle shooting or the super accurate F-class shooting, check out the BCRA website at www.bcrifle.org or the DCRA at www.dcra.ca. Who knows, maybe another top shot lives in the Semi-pen waiting to be discovered? If you have a steady hand, a skilled eye and nerves of steel, you might want to give this life-long sport that allows for international competition against the world's best marksmen and marks women a try.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - July 30, 2012

Pain in the Grass

Travelling through our community, I always keep an eye out for something new, anything out of place, or a small detail that might be part of a larger story that I can cover in my WR Sun TNT column. This week was no different and as I drove home to the Semi-pen along Hwy. 99, out of the corner of my eye I spotted hundreds of small fluorescent flags protruding from the shoreline of Mud Bay beyond the Delta Dyke Trail. I quickly contacted Carrie Baron, the Environment and Drainage Manager for the City of Surrey, who informed me that these were likely to mark areas where the invasive grass Spartina had been found prior to it being removed. A trip down to Mud Bay Park off Colebrook Road at the bottom of Panorama Ridge revealed thousands of pink and orange marking flags throughout the marshes and mud flats and that was just in the small portion of waterfront that I could see. Considering that Mrs. Baron informed me the problem was even greater in Delta than Surrey, you suddenly begin to realize the scope of the invasion facing the shoreline of Boundary Bay.

Spartina species, also known as cordgrass, are salt-tolerant grasses that grow in intertidal salt marshes and mudflats. This invasive aquatic grass rapidly overgrows existing ecosystems, converting tidal mudflats areas like that found in Mud Bay into elevated spartina meadows. This increases the risk of flooding and causes ecological degradation resulting in the loss of migratory bird, fish and shellfish habitat. Four Spartina species threaten our shorelines including Spartina anglica (English cordgrass) from England, Spartina densiflora (dense-flowered cordgrass) from South America, Spartina patens (salt meadow cordgrass) and Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) from the east coast of North America. All of these Spartina species except for S. alterniflora have been found in various locations throughout the coastal areas of British Columbia. Cordgrass was originally planted as a bank stabilizer in Washington State where it has now become a multi-million dollar problem to control and eradicate. Spartina was first found on the Canadian side of Boundary Bay and on Roberts Bank in 2003 during an intertidal marsh survey being conducted for the Vancouver Port Authority.

In response to this serious environmental threat, a consortium of conservation organizations and governmental agencies known as the B.C. Spartina Working Group (BCSWG) was formed that is committed to monitoring and removing this invasive grass. Partners involved in this project include Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the BC Ministry of Environment, BC Ministry of Forest, Lands & Natural Resource Operations, Metro Vancouver, City of Surrey, Corporation of Delta, Port Metro Vancouver, Friends of Semiahmoo Bay, Ducks Unlimited, Community Mapping Network, Seagrass Conservation Working Group, Greater Vancouver Invasive Plant Council and the Coastal Invasive Plant Committee. Their mission statement is to,"Work collaboratively to eradicate invasive Spartina in B.C. through detection, removal, education, and research - to maintain the ecological integrity of our intertidal habitats." In this province the Spartina invasion is still manageable and the Committee partners are utilizing an "Early Detection, Rapid Response" technique to stop its spread but they need support from the public.

If you don't mind getting dirty or playing in the mud, you can volunteer for the annual removal of Spartina in Boundary Bay. Report Spartina sightings to the Great Vancouver Invasive Plant Council at 604-880-8358 or email at info@gvip.ca To join the summer work parties, phone the Vancouver Aquarium River Works coordinator at 604-659-3503 or email riverworks@vanaqua.org. The B.C. Spartina Working Group (BCSWG) has a new online volunteer listing where you can subscribe your email address at http://vancouvercommunity.net/lists/subrequest/spartina-ca. Their web site and email list contact is Rob Knight (rknight@telus.net) and you can sign up online for daily work parties at the following link: http://www.doodle.com/47mpvgy8xipy83dm. BCSWG volunteers meet every day at the Delta Air Park (south end of 104 Avenue in Delta) at 9 a.m. to form teams, decide where to work for that day, with the current job of removing the grass clumps usually over by 3 p.m. when the tide comes back in.

For more information about this noxious weed, visit the www.spartina.ca website and for interesting reading about the important role that tidal marshes play as a "blue carbon" sink against greenhouse gases, check out the related article, "Why Saving Marshes Might Save Civilization" in the electronic pages of The Tyee (www.thetyee.ca) at:
http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/07/30/BlueCarbon/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=300712

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Juy 23, 2012

The Daily Grind, Semi-Pen Style

Two people meet in a bar. The one says to the other, "You should know first off that I am a sadist. I receive pleasure by inflicting pain on my slave." Their new friend answers, "Well, I'm a masochist. I derive my satisfaction by receiving pain from my master." They leave and go home to the sadist's dungeon. After being properly restrained, the masochist whimpers in anticipation, "Are you going to beat me now?" The sadist leans over them with whip and hand and breathing heavily says, "No."

Now for the rest of you masochists out there, this TNT is definitely for you. You see, I like to work out, which means I go out and I work. Sometimes at the end of the day I hardly have enough energy to lift those 12 ounce weights (remember, its the reps that are really important) if you catch my drift. Going to the gym, pumping iron, riding bikes or running marathons are not on my list of things to do, but that doesn't mean that there aren't people in the Semi-pen who strive to maintain physical fitness and their chiselled form. For fitness freaks in Vancouver, "Mother Nature's Stairmaster" commonly known as the Grouse Grind is a very popular hiking trail on Grouse mountain. It climbs 854 m. (2,800 ft.) over a distance of 2.9 km. (1.8 mi.) with an average grade of 17 degrees. Regular hikers can reach the top in an average of 90 minutes with extremely fit people being able to conquer the challenge in under 30 minutes. Sebastian Salas holds both the overall unofficial record (23.48 min.) and the annual Grouse Grind Mountain run for men (25.01 min.) with Leanne Johnston holding the women's record (31.04 min.).

1001 steps

Should this type of aerobic activity be of interest, residents of the Semi-pen should exhale a big sign of relief knowing that they don't need to drive to North Vancouver to feel the burn derived from tackling steep inclines. With the Ocean Park bluffs and White Rock hillsides, there are plenty of slopes here to challenge your physical fitness. At the west end of 24 Ave. in south Surrey, the so-called "101 Steps" staircase attracts runners from across the region, with water bottles and Lulu Lemon apparel strewn at the top and bottom of this 190 step staircase which runs down the bluff and over top of the BNSF Railway tracks on an metal platform. There are times on the weekends when you will meet up to a dozen people huffing and puffing their way up and down the stairs. A rather athletic couple I met this Sunday told me that their training program included seven trips, all at a rather brisk pace just shy of a jog. Several years back I met a young lady who was literally dripping with sweat at the 101 Steps and she had just completed 12 trips on the staircase. I only use the staircase to access the beach but have been known to go up them two at a time (its nice having long legs), something I would not recommend to anyone with a history of asthma or heart problems.

A little south of this location the "1,001 Steps" staircase can be found at the west end of 15A Ave. in Ocean Park. This rather circuitous staircase, that looks as if might have been designed by Dutch artist M.C. Escher, winds its way down the steep bluff. While I have not personally counted the steps it takes to reach the beach, a young girl I met while photographing it confidently told me there were 215 from top to bottom. At the base of the hill it turns into a well-worn path which heads north paralleling the tracks until it reaches a pedestrian tunnel under the rails, allowing for safe access to the waterfront of Crescent Rock Beach without having to trespass on the rail corridor or risk being struck by either passing AmTraks or BNSF freight trains. I've been told that the tunnel was part of an agreement with the Stevenson family who insisted on water access as a condition to selling property for what was then the Great Northern Railway over a century ago. While not as well known as its sister 101 Steps, the 1,001 Steps (confusing isn't it?) still attracts its share of runners who prefer the many different angled sections that twist and turn across the hillside. For those folks living near Ocean Park, this staircase provides a close to home natural stairmaster only a few blocks away from the Kwomais Park lookout, where its stunning vistas can be enjoyed while cooling down or stretching out a tight hamstring.

The Olympic Trail on 13 Ave at 131 St. incorporates a walkway and trail system leading to the shoreline facing the Olympic peninsula, but it is used more as a beach access point that a runners training ground. Don't let the elevated landslide detector fence wire fool you when you get to the bottom. Trespassing on the rail corridor is illegal and can result in a hefty fine if you are caught by the CN Police. In White Rock, the Coldicutt Trail at the east end of Terry Rd. also has a steep staircase and woodland pathway similar to the Olympic Trail but in the rainy season it can be slippery and treacherous, with falling trees and landslides posing a threat. The Duprez ravine at Centennial Park runs from 16 Ave. down to Marine Drive, incorporating various stretches of paths and staircases, likely having the greatest vertical drop but not the steep grade found elsewhere. For those seeking a more straightforward challenge, try Oxford street which runs straight up and down from Marine Dr. to North Bluff with the steepest section being between the beach and Thrift Ave., with a grade of 23 percent. By comparison, the world-famous Lombard St. in San Francisco known for its tight switchbacks has a grade of 27 percent. The sidewalk at Oxford is so steep that it has small raised bars in the concrete that help people to keep their grip and balance. If you try it, keep an eye out for Mary Garner, a resident of White Rock from when it was still Surrey, who keeps herself young by often climbing this challenging roadway several times a day.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

July 16, 2012

Nude Beach Cover-Up

Spending the weekend relaxing down in Las Vegas, Nevada, aka "Sin City" where even the world renowned Cirque du Soleil's shows feature semi-naked performers (Google Zumanity), it seems rather appropriate that the focus for this TNT column is on the clothing-optional Crescent Rock Beach (CRB). While this rugged and secluded 6.5 km. of shoreline protected by the Ocean Park bluffs between White Rock and Crescent Beach in south Surrey has been quietly used for naturist sunbathing and skinny-dipping for decades, with the spread of information through the internet and a link to the Wreck Beach website, the nude-recreational use of this strip of shore during hot sunny days has greatly increased during the past ten years.

Unfortunately there are those in the community who feel it is their God-given right and moral obligation to fight against the clothing-optional use of this rough and rocky piece of the Semiahmoo peninsula waterfront. This begins at the top with Mayor Dianne Watts who continues to perpetuate a long history of gymnophobia (fear of nudity) at Surrey city hall. Six years ago it was a Surrey works crew who cut down the original naturist beach signage, despite them being posted below the high tide mark on land under the jurisdiction of the B.C. Ministry of the Environment. While originally opposed to the clothing-optional use of CRB stating, "If people want to be naked, they can drive to Wreck Beach" she eventually threw in the towel saying that, "People can stand on their heads naked there for all I care", showing obvious contempt for naturists and nudists. The Skinnydipper Recreation Club had to take the City of Surrey to court to reinstate their nude swim nude nights which continue to this day at the Newton Wave Pool but there are no listings for either "nude recreation" or "Crescent Rock Beach" on the City of Surrey website (www.surrey.ca). Going back to the 70's when Mayor Bill Vanderzalm was then in charge, Surrey effectively ran the Sunny Trails Nudist Colony out of town by refusing to issue a building permit for their new location. Last year the Parks, Recreation and Culture department removed the 1001 Steps location in Ocean Park from their Nature Walks listings after only one complaint of beach nudity, yet they refuse to post any information about the nude recreational possibilities about this area, despite their laughable claims of promoting cultural diversity and inclusivity.

Because of Surrey's refusal to post nude beach signage and the Provincial government showing no interest in officially recognizing the clothing-optional nature of CRB, local naturists have for years painted "Clothing-Optional" or "Nude Beach" signage on a flat rock just past the 120 tonne Crescent Rock boulder located 100 m. due south of the 101 Steps elevated pedestrian overpass at the west end of 24 Ave. The reason for this is to alert visitors and residents to the fact that on warm sunny days they will likely encounter folks peacefully enjoying nature and getting an all-over tan. This sign has been the target of misguided vandals in the past that also include the Crescent Rock boulder being coated with two gallons of bright pink paint several years ago in an attack believed to be motivated by homophobia. Unfortunately it appears that hatred is indeed alive and well at CRB with the so-called sign rock being repeatedly painted over this year along with a nearby log advertising "Crescent Rock Beach" also covered up. Of note, the various graffiti tags on the rip-rap rocks including one with a crude image of male genitalia have not been painted over, just anything referring to Crescent Rock Beach and its clothes-free use. While I am not involved in any sign painting at CRB currently being done by a well-known local artist who shall remain nameless, it would appear that the person or persons responsible for continually trying to cover up the nude beach signage feel that I am to blame. In a rather insidious display showing the contempt and hatred they feel towards those members of society who reject the concept of body shame, they have scrawled my name and home address on the Crescent Rock boulder in the same paint used to conceal the nude beach sign.

This marks the second time in the past few years that someone has written my name on the Crescent Rock, a 120 tonne glacial erratic which serves as a signpost for the beginning of the clothing-optional beach. The fact that a disturbed individual would look up my address, take it to the beach and then write it on this boulder that is Surrey's version of the White Rock must be viewed for what it really is; a threat. The Surrey RCMP certainly thinks so after I reported this incident to them and they have now opened an investigative file on this incident including any reports involving harassment of naturists and nudists peacefully enjoying CRB. In fact, I had a meeting with Staff Sergeant Dave Brown several years ago where he acknowledged that nude sunbathing and skinny-dipping on the secluded shores of Crescent Rock Beach is perfectly legal under Canadian Case Law and that RCMP officers from both Surrey and White Rock detachments would not be responding to simple public nudity complaints from along Crescent Rock Beach. Sgt. Brown also reaffirmed that a woman's right to be topless in public is the same as a man's and that it is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, allowing top-free tanning on the more public beaches of the Semi-pen including the White Rock pier and promenade if someone was so inclined. The wing-nut who thinks I'm easily intimidated should realize that besides creative writing and long-range rifle shooting, my favorite thing in the world is to expose fascists who are trying to intimidate people and expose them to the glaring light of public scrutiny they so richly deserve.

The last nude beach sign cover-up that happened last week when my name and address were also scrawled on the Crescent Rock occurred at the same time that a rather bizarre email was received by WR Sun editor Dave Chesney. Titled, "Don Pitcairn, GRRRRR", it contained the following passage along with a link to a Craigslist personal ad that was no longer posted: "Maybe you could pass this along to that idiot Don Pitcairn. This is the kind of thing we don't want on our neighborhood beach, but thanks to him we're stuck with it. This was never a nude beach until he came along." Whether this has anything to do with the continual painting over on the beach or the veiled threat against me remains to be seen but I would certainly like to speak to the individual responsible for sending it. While they have since ignored repeated attempts to contact them, it was signed by a Don Jenkins from the email address frankhuff@hotmail.com. In what was likely a letter from the same person two summers ago, the Surrey Now carried a let-ed titled, "Surrey's beach not a nude beach – It's a lie!" which then went on to say, "If anyone around here knew there was a nude beach at the bottom of the stairs we wouldn't have bought homes here." If you know of a Don Jenkins of Frank Huff living in the Semiahmoo peninsula, I would appreciate having their addresses and phone numbers, as would the Surrey RCMP for their investigation into what I consider a hate crime targeting naturists at Crescent Rock. It seems rather odd to me that anyone so fixated about the nude beach would spend their time searching Craigslist personals for people seeking out romantic encounters? I checked the popular free advertising website for myself and found that "Crescent Rock Beach" returned nine ads from the beginning of May to present with five of these seeking romantic liaisons of various forms including four using the beach as a meeting place. By contrast, a search of "White Rock" showed over two hundred listings for the same time period including many for "Casual Encounters", "Men Seeking Women" and "Men Seeking Men." With White Rock being such a haven for sex and promiscuity, I guess we should paint over the city signs, bulldoze their City Hall and force it to rejoin Surrey. Hopefully I won't find my name and address now scrawled on the White Rock boulder as I had nothing to do with the "City by the Sea" being formed back in 1957; in fact I hadn't even been born.

While there were no official plans to celebrate "Crescent Rock Beach Day" this year due to scheduling conflicts and travel plans involving the executive members of the Skinnydipper's Recreation Club, Van Tan and Surrey's United Naturists, I believe that it is time to draw a line in the sand over the official recognition of CRB. The continued refusal by politicians to acknowledge the clothing-optional nature of this shoreline needs to be questioned as this only leads to ongoing prejudice, bigotry and harassment of naturists and nudists in Surrey. Considering that Wreck Beach in Vancouver was deemed "C.O." over 30 years ago, you have to question what is wrong with Surrey and if they are really that far behind the times? In case you missed it, the city organized Surrey Pride Festival was held a week ago in Holland Park with many well-known corporations including BMO, CUPE and SFU throwing their support behind this celebration. While helping to promote acceptance and tolerance towards gay members of society, naturists and naturists are left out in the cold and treated as second class citizens, inviting discrimination, animosity and outright hatred. I'm starting to wonder if it will require someone taking either the City of Surrey and/or the Province of B.C. to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal for people with an aversion to tan lines to be treated as regular members of society in this "clothes-minded" town.

If our warm summer weather holds as is forecast then on next "SUN-day", July 22, members of Surrey's United Naturists, Skinnydippers Recreation Club, Wreck Beach Preservation Society, Van Tan, NIFTY, Fraser Valley Naturists, Seattle SLUGS and other naturists groups will be down at Crescent Rock Beach in south Surrey. We will be painting over any graffiti on the Crescent Rock boulder (the pink paint was previously covered by SUN) and using an environmentally safe coating remover to clean up all spray painted tags from the shoreline rocks. I'm hoping that either the City of Surrey or the B.C. Environment Ministry will consider posting naturist beach signage to identify the clothing-optional nature of this rather inhospitable piece of waterfront, but if not I'm hoping that my artist friend will once again paint "Nude Beach" on the rock that has been repeatedly vandalized this spring. If you wish to help spruce up the beach, show your support for naturists and nudists, or protest against bigotry, prejudice and discrimination that is being fostered by the City of Surrey and the Surrey First slate, please feel free to join us at Crescent Rock Beach, no matter what you care or dare to wear. As for the person or persons responsible for trying to put the genie back in the bottle and somehow end the naturist use of this area with threats, intimidation and plenty of paint, you need to realize that there are different strokes for different folks and that your intolerant actions towards fellow human beings, not people nude sunbathing, is what needs to be stopped. If anyone has information regarding these incidents at CRB, please report it to the Surrey RCMP detachment (non-emergency 604-599-0502) who are now investigating this matter under the file number 12-92603.

Naturally yours,

Don Pitcairn

July 19, 2012

The Vancouver Sun weighs in on the matter

 

 

July 09, 2012

They're Back!

Back in 2007 Nav Canada, the government created monopoly entrusted with controlling air traffic throughout the skies of Canada, decided in their infinite wisdom to change flight paths to the Vancouver International Airport, without bothering to inform any of the residents of the Lower Mainland. One day we suddenly awoke to commercial jet airliners criss-crossing the Semiahmoo Peninsula at low altitude while slowing and turning, both maneuvers which create substantial noise. These flights included many directly over the beaches of White Rock and Crescent Beach along with the surrounding subdivisions that previously did not have to deal with this problem. While Nav Canada's offices are in Newton behind Costco, they didn't bother to alert Surrey's Mayor and Council to the change, even though city hall is only a five minute drive away.

Needless to say, this sudden change created quite a stir in the Semi-pen and other areas of Surrey near Fleetwood and Guildford who were also affected. Citizens groups including SCAANS (South Surrey Citizens Against Airplane Noise) were formed to fight for a return to peace and quiet in formerly tranquil neighbourhoods that suddenly sounded like Burkeville in Richmond, the subdivision located at the ends of the runway. Our Conservative MP Russ Hiebert became involved when it became apparent that the airplane noise issue was not going to go away quietly. While it took a few years and much public pressure, Nav Canada finally realigned the incoming flight path called the GRIZZstar over the middle of Boundary Bay instead of atop the Semi-pen. Most jets following the GPS coordinates head north over the water, turning east and flying over Hwy. 99 before turning left and looping back in a westward direction for final approach to YVR. On clear days when visibility is good and air traffic light, Nav Canada controllers sitting behind their screens in Newton have the discretion to allow pilots to fly a shorter visual approach that is supposed to be away from this area. Unfortunately it appears that over time, this directive has been forgotten or is simply being ignored.

One of the positive results of the flight path battle that was waged was the installation of noise monitoring terminals in Surrey along with WebTrak, a publically accessible computer system that allows people to access information about aircraft landing or taking off from Vancouver (www.webtrak.bksv.com/yvr). Utilizing this system you can watch air traffic in the region following a ten minute security delay, showing the various airplanes, their speed, altitude and the noise being received from local monitoring stations. It also has a historical playback feature allowing anyone to review various periods of time for up to four months. This is rather handy, for if you see or hear a jet flying in an airspace far away from the prescribed routes, you can go to WebTrak and see the plane responsible plus check the amount of noise it is creating. In south Surrey, many people including myself bought homes here at a high cost so as not to be subjected to the noise from commercial jets. Having lived on Bridgeport Rd. in Richmond, Sunshine Hlls in North Delta and Guildford in Surrey, all of which get a non-stop aerial parade of planes, having peace at my home and at the beach is essential to my quality of life and that of my neighbours as well.

While it was all quiet on the western front for quite some time, there has been a gradual increase in over-flights above the peninsula including the public beaches that serve as the main marine recreational site for almost a million residents of the Fraser Valley who come here to enjoy the ocean and the serenity. Now the peace and quiet is routinely shattered by the shrill whine of spooling engines and air speed being shed as passenger jets stray from the middle of Boundary Bay to the skies over south Surrey and in particular Crescent Beach. While I work long hours away from home and often spend my weekends away from here, it is not uncommon for me to once again see jetliners transecting the peninsula is the same fashion as what originally brought all the original complaints. Case in point was last Thursday, July 6 at 6:27 p.m. when a Boeing 727-200 flew north over Ocean Park and Crescent Beach at 250 mph at a height of 3,000 feet. The noise monitoring terminal located at the Ocean Cliff Elementary School registered 68 decibles from this jet that flew up 124 St., which is classified as loud and comparable to the sound of average radio or busy street noise. Since YVR operates 24/7/365, unlike some eastern airports such as Montreal which are closed to night flights from midnight till six a.m., it is quite possible to have planes fly over this region simply because they were given the clearance.

In the past Nav Canada has tried to explain that often these planes needed to be vectored over our airspace because of another jet flying in the same vicinity. With WebTrak, you can see that this is not the case as there are not other large commercial jets anywhere in the area while the pilot was taking a scenic trip over the Semi-pen. With this in mind, maybe it is time for residents to start taking more note of over-flights in this region, marking down time and day of the incident, checking out the offending plane on WebTrak and reporting it to the proper authorities. From past experience I found that the minions at Nav Canada were quick to offer lame excuses or simply ignore email questions as to why these flights were continuing to occur but I think it is essential to hold them accountable. They need to adhere to the guidelines that came as the result of much public input and consultation, something that never happened before the change in flight paths. Nav Canada can be contacted at 1-800-876-4693 or email service@navcanada.ca with your questions and concerns while the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has a 24 hour noise information line which is (604) 207-7097 or email noise@yvr.ca. Make sure you keep MP Russ Hiebert in the loop by calling his office at 604-542-9495 or email at info@russhiebert.ca. Once again, you can find WebTrak online at www.webtrak.bksv.com/yvr.

As far as I am concerned there is still too much unnecessary aircraft noise affecting the population of the Lower Mainland. Tsawwassen still has serious noise problems even after the GRIZZstar flight path removed a large portion of flights from over Centennial Beach and Boundary Bay Park. Sunshine Hills and Panorama Ridge see a constant stream of planes, many which are banking or shedding speed, creating much more noise than regular flight. Newton and Guildford receive planes from two different directions but the end result is the same, a relentless air show that often goes on late into the night every day. If you are unlucky enough to live under YVR's glide slope to the airport, the planes will go by so often you may not even notice (to steal a memorable line from the Blues Brothers). In the interest of reducing the negative health effects from exposure to commercial aircraft noise, I believe that Nav Canada would be doing us all a favour if instead of simply looking at the most economical flight paths for the airlines, that they should also attempt to mitigate the noise over residential neighbourhoods and recreational areas. By keeping flight paths above industrial areas, busy highways and agricultural land, they would disturb far less people, allowing everyone to sleep a little better.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

July 02, 2012

Slip Sliding Away

While talking to an old-timer resident on Crescent Road in south Surrey, he complained to me in length that uphill development in the city of Surrey was having negative effects on his hillside property with water ponding on previously dry areas necessitating expensive drainage work. After spending over $20,000 to address the problem, he then received a letter from the City explaining how he lived in a so-called "high risk area" along with a glossy brochure titled, "Living Near Steep Slopes." I doubt that the information it contained makes him sleep any better at night, knowing that changes in water flow onto his view property likely raise the risk of landslide activity.

After contacting Carrie Baron, the Environment and Drainage Manager for the City of Surrey, I was informed that Council had instructed staff in 2011 to assemble educational material for residents living near steep slopes in Surrey. A cover letter and the pamphlet were sent this spring to approximately 630 homes in Surrey that were identified as being on or adjacent to a hillside having at least 15-20% slope. While unable to identify all of those areas of Surrey that received this informational packet, it is likely many were in the Semiahmoo peninsula at the top of the bluff above Boundary Bay or on the many ravines draining water down to its shores. It is these homes that have been the scene of multiple slope failures over the past few years, with many ending up on the BNSF tracks blocking both freight and Amtrak passenger train traffic. To be quite honest, with the rainfall we experienced this June, I was wondering if we would experience landslide activity as my slope failure meter (aka rain gauge) overflowed several times during this rather dreary month.

There is information concerning the slide risk on steep slopes posted on the city website at www.surrey.ca/steepslopes, warning residents living near ravine or bluff slopes that landslides tend to happen after extended periods of heavy rainfall when the slope becomes saturated with water. It goes on to explain that property owners are responsible for the stewardship of these steep hillsides, with land care decisions at the top of the hillside possibly influencing side neighbours and those living at the bottom of the slope. Besides listing the various measures being done to improve slope stability including geotechnical evaluations, increased building setbacks, engineered foundations, storm water control and vegetation management they also list the following tell-tale signs that a landslide might be imminent:
Springs, seeps or saturated ground in areas that have not typically been wet before.
New cracks or unusual bulges in the ground.
Soil moving away from foundations.
Ancillary structure, such as decks and patios, tilting and/or moving relative to the main house.
Tilting or cracking of concrete floors and foundations.
Leaning telephone poles, trees, retaining walls or fences.
Rapid increase in water levels, possibly associated with increased turbidity or muddiness in water.

As far as reducing the slide risk, in their pamphlet Surrey instructs ravine and bluff property owners to take the following steps to protect and preserve their land and dwellings:
Comply with the city's procedures land development guidelines and bylaws that are in place to protect property.
Divert water away from slope edges and avoid ponding water above hillsides, landscaping to drain properties away from these slopes.
Avoid placing fill including garden waste and soil at the crest of hills or in drainage canals. All sheds, pools, ponds and patios should be kept as far from bluff slopes as possible.
Regularly inspect all plumbing, irrigation pipes, downspouts, drains, pools and ponds for signs of leakage that may saturate soil.
Refer to tree protection bylaw and consult professional arborists when pruning or limbing trees plus maintain natural vegetation on slopes, especially native shrubs and trees.
To see the PDF copy of this brochure which has recently been added to the city website, visit the following link: http://www.surrey.ca/files/ENG-Safe_Cliffside_Tips_Brochure_FOR_PRINT.pdf. Of note is the rather large legal disclaimer absolving the City of Surrey of any liability from injuries or property damage resulting from the use of the information the brochure contains.

While it is great that the City of Surrey is finally educating people to the risks of living near steep slopes and taking steps to address this problem, it amazes me how often they don't follow their own advice. At the new Kwomais Park lookout, Surrey had crews cut down large alder trees (on BNSF land might I add) to improve the view of the lookout platform on a slope that had previously failed. Nearby, they allowed a wealthy landowner to install a heavy concrete pool at the edge of the bluff, even though the property originally had a restrictive covenance not allowing an in-ground pool. While Surrey has a right-of-way along the top edge of much of the Ocean Park bluff, they do little about illegal landscaping, tree cutting for views and non-engineered drains putting water onto the bluff, all which have triggered slides in the past. Even more frightening is that I recently discovered what appears to be an old City of Surrey storm drain that is dumping the water from an entire neighbourhood onto the steep slope between Kwomais Point and the 1001 Steps in an area known for large slides that often bury the BNSF train tracks below. I'm not sure if the Engineering Department knows of its existence but I will ensure they inspect this large pipe and if necessary, extend it to the bottom of the bluff before our heavy fall rains and the dreaded "Pineapple Express" return.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

June 25, 2012

The Little School That Could - South Surrey/White Rock Learning Centre

Graduation season is in full swing in the Semiahmoo peninsula with graduates from Earl Marriot, Elgin Park and Semiahmoo secondary schools holding their year end celebrations and graduation ceremonies. What many here fail to realize is that there is a rather unique education facility in our midst that is also run by the Surrey school district. Located on 156 St. just south of 24 Ave (actual address is #13 - 2320 King George Blvd.) is the White Rock/South Surrey Learning Centre, home of the Ravens. While not as large as the more conventional schools, its enrolment totalled 171 students in 2011 with a 2012 graduating class of 40 classmates who all earned their Dogwood diplomas.



In their mission statement they reveal that, "The White Rock Learning Centre encourages personal growth, life-long learning and respect for the dignity and rights of others." Their listed goals give much more insight to the reason why this special school is so important to many of the gifted and sometimes personally challenged individuals who occupy its hallowed halls and rooms:

to provide an alternative educational environment for students who are at risk of leaving school
to provide opportunities for students who have left the system, with a place to resume their education with ease
to prepare students to return to the mainstream school, upgrade course marks for post-secondary enrolment, or complete graduation at the Learning Centre
to encourage students to set and meet educational goals

They offer completion of courses in grades 10, 11 and 12, along with a High School Graduation Program and an Adult Graduation Program. Special emphasis is given towards career preparation, cooperative education and the gaining of work experience. Students work at their own pace with a much higher ratio of teachers to students than found in larger schools. The WRLC also partners with with Kwantlen College in trades certification and secondary school apprenticeship, along with a variety of on-line courses through Surrey Connect (more info at www.surreyconnect.sd.bc.ca/). They also teach FoodSafe, WorldHost, First Aid and CPR that are not usually provided at larger schools. While they do not have gymnasium facilities on site, one of their many community partnerships is the White Rock Baptist Church who provide weekly use of their gym. For those students who do not fit in at traditional schools, have different learning requirements, have left or are considering leaving school, or those returning to finish their education after taking one of life's unexpected turns, the WRLC is there to help those who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Led by Principal Jim McConnell, the Learning Centre is often described by its students as a family where uniqueness is respected and everyone is treated as a person with even teachers being called by their first names.

The graduation ceremony featuring the slogan, "The Future Begins With You" was held last week at the Gracepoint Church on the KGB in south Surrey just south from Crescent Road. It began with a RCMP Honour Guard dressed in red serge leading the gowned graduates into the auditorium accompanied by live bagpipe music with hundreds of parents, family members and friends in attendance. After a rousing chorus of "Oh Canada" where many joined in with the singing, Principal McConnell gave his welcoming address followed by several dignitaries from the Board of Education and Surrey School Board. Community Recognition and Athletic awards were given out along with the coveted Governor General's medal for education, followed by a stunning Year in Review video and photo montage. Scholarships were distributed to deserving students by the White Rock Lioness Club, Kiwanis Club of White Rock, Peace Arch Monarch Lions Club, White Rock Peninsula Rotary Club and Shell Busey's HouseSmart Centre along with Surrey's Principal/Vice Principal Association, the Surrey Teachers Association and the Ministry of Education. The night finished with group grad photos, the moving of the tassel from right to left marking graduation (or left-leaning thinking maybe?) and the obligatory motarboard hat toss followed by refreshments and a meet and greet.

Besides the White Rock/South Surrey Learning Centre, there are four more of these specialized schools throughout Surrey, with locations in Guildford, North Surrey, Newton and Cloverdale. For those having trouble in traditional schools, not fitting in to the highly cliqued societies that exist there, or who have quit school to find out that McJobs and minimum wage employment does not pay the bills, Learning Centres help to bridge the gap back to educational opportunities and future advancement. Should your child, someone you know, or even possibly yourself be helped by the alternative teaching methods and respectful schooling that the Learning Centre provides, you can find out more about them at local secondary schools, through the Surrey School board, checking them out online at the following link http://www.sd36.bc.ca/whiterocklc/, or by phoning direct at 604-536-0550. Do me a favour and tell Jim plus his talented caring staff that Don from the White Rock Sun sent you, giving them my thanks for their devoted and professional care that makes such a big difference in so many young lives.

Natually yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

June 18, 2012

A Whale of a Tale

The demise of a young Humpback whale on the sandy shores of East Beach in White Rock last week garnered much publicity and media attention, drawing crowds of people to the area to the point that Council might think they have finally found a great tourist draw for the quieter part of town. The carcass has now been towed away by a Coast Guard hovercraft to a deeper part of Boundary Bay where it has been anchored for possible necropsy and to allow decomposition and Dungeness to clean the bones that eventually will be used as a teaching aide. While it has been some time since a whale has washed up on the shores of White Rock, unfortunately this is far from being an isolated incident.

Long-time White Rock resident since 1963 and environmentalist extraordinaire Barry Belec informed me about multiple incidents where dead whales have been found on the shoreline. While his memory is a little foggy about exact dates with the passage of time, he has been at East Beach three times over the years with bucket in hand trying in vain to save beached whales. The first incident was in the early 1970's when a small Grey whale washed ashore in the Semiahmoo Bay a summer or two before the Cherry Point oil spill in 1972 which he also helped to clean up with help from hundreds of other volunteers and thousands of bales of hay. The next beaching was in the early 1980's when a mother and calf Grey whale washed up together, again down on East Beach, drawing Mr. Belec and others to the shore in a vain attempt to save these two large ocean-going mammals. While unsure of the date, he also attended another beaching years later of yet another single Grey whale that had also died before being washed ashore. With the latest death, this time of a Humpback, this makes a total of five whales found on the White Rock beach in forty years, the last one emaciated and tangled in commercial fishing gear.

Wyland

This number is actually only half of the whales that have died here during this time with the iconic Whaling Wall in uptown White Rock by world renown marine mural artist Wyland meant to commemorate the deaths of seven Grey whales in Boundary Bay in 1984, including the two found on East Beach. This 30' x 70' mural known as "The Grey Whale Family" was the fourth in a series of international paintings by Wyland dedicated to the "great whales forever." While unable to research what killed these whales, Mr. Belec recollects that they ingested toxins dumped into the ocean from a paint manufacturing plant in Washington State. At the corner of the mural on the Romich Centre located at the intersection of Roper Ave. and Johnston Rd. in uptown White Rock is a plaque on the Whaling Wall with the following inscription:

"The only species of the family Eschrichtidae, this whale, hunted to the brink of extinction has survived only through an effort by conservationists to protect it since 1946. The death of seven Grey Whales in the White Rock area in 1984 illustrates the need to be vigilant in protecting our fragile marine eco-systems from the ravages of pollution. This mural depicts the passage of a mother and calf with male escort as they pass by White Rock on their annual migration from Baja, Mexico to the Bering and Chukchi Seas off Siberia, a trip of 9,600 km (6,000 miles) which takes six to eight weeks at a speed of 160 km (100 miles) per day."

Starting with his first mural in 1981 at Laguna Beach in California and ending twenty-seven years later in 2008 with a mural for the Bejing Summer Olympics, Wyland and his Foundation completed the goal of painting 100 life-sized public marine murals featuring whales and aquatic habitats. The Whaling Wall campaign was one of the largest public art projects in history, encompassing five continents, thirteen countries and seventy nine cities around the globe. Wyland explained this ambitious endeavour stating, "We know now that water connects all the countries of the world. Our goal with these projects over the last three decades has been to convey the urgency of conservation issues to the public. The health of our ocean and waterways are in jeopardy, not to mention the thousands of marine animals and plants that face extinction if we do nothing." You can personally view other nearby Whaling Wall paintings in Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle and Tacoma, or check out the entire world-wide collection available online at www.wyland.com.

Whether through ingesting toxins, getting tangled in fishing gear, deafened by sonar blasts or rammed by passing ships, whales continue to pay the price for man's attempted domination of the environment and wildlife. With its low water levels, gentle currents and sandy shores, Semiahmoo Bay will continue to attract sick or injured Cetacea who do not have the energy to continue with their long annual migrations from northern feeding grounds to southern breeding locations. Do not believe the Province's editorial cartoonist Dan Murphy who late last week suggested that simply being in White Rock caused this animal's death, likely raising the ire of Mayor Baldwin and others who love living on hillside above the bay. While an international moratorium on whale hunting was put in place in 1982, these large and placid mammals still need our protection as they run the gauntlet of dangers still posed by humans.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

June 11, 2012

Giant Alien Invaders Taking Over Semi-Pen!

With sensational headlines like this, I'm pretty sure that the National Inquirer or News of the World taboids will be contacting me shortly to offer me the editor's position. Until then, the invasion of species of animals and plants not native to this region continues with eradication procedures in place for many of them. Coming only days after the successful capture of a predatory snakehead fish in Burnaby's Central Park, I thought it would be timely to feature a column on the Giant Hogweed plant now popping up on boulevards, farm fields and hedgerows throughout the Lower Mainland including here in White Rock and South Surrey. Known as an "aggressive ornamental", Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a perennial member of the parsley family that is native to Asia. It resembles the native cow parsnip but is much larger, growing up to 6 metres in height. This rather striking plant was introduced to North America as a garden curiosity decades ago but with its fast growth and invasive characteristics has escaped into the wild where it continues to spread. In the Province of B.C. it can be found on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and across the Lower Mainland.

Besides its immense height that makes it easy to spot and identify, Giant Hogweed also has a thick dark reddish stalk that can grow five to ten centimetres across. Its broad compound leaf is deeply grooved and divided, capable of expanding to 1.5 metres across. The stalk and leaf stems are both hollow and have thick hairs around a blister-like pustule. In the early summer, small white flowers form together in plate sized clusters that together make up an inflorescence or umbrella-shaped head which can reach a diameter of up to one metre across. It reproduces through seed and perennial buds, taking several years from the time it germinates until it develops its characteristic dome of white flowers. While adult plants die after reproducing, the perennial buds can live on for 25 years with the viability of the 100,000 seeds each plant produces extending for more than seven years. Giant Hogweed will grow in a variety of habitats but it is usually found next to streams, boulevards, field edges or vacant lots that have moist or wet conditions.

The reason why Giant Hogweed is being targeted for eradication from our environment is the risk that it poses to human health. The pustules on the stalks and stems secrete a clear runny sap containing chemicals that sensitizes skin to ultraviolet radiation, a condition known as phytophotodermatitis. If you are unfortunate enough to get this sap on your skin, you will experience severe burns within 48 hours resulting in blistering and painful dermatitis that can leave purple to black pigmented scarring. Even a miniscule amount of this sap in your eyes can cause permanent corneal damage or blindness. A friend of mine had the unfortunate experience of weed-eating some young Giant Hogweed plants growing next to an industrial site, not recognizing them amidst the other vegetation. He was wearing a short sleeved shirt and ended up with painful burns and swelling on both arms requiring a visit to hospital and several days off of work. Pets can also experience the same photo dermatitis experienced by humans, plus can easily transfer the poisonous sap to their owners from contact with their fur. In the environment, Giant Hogweed's fast-growing and invasive nature allows it to outcompete and crowd out native species of vegetation. In streamside areas it can form a dense canopy, shading out competing native species leading to bank erosion.

park n' ride hogweed

The City of Surrey is on the lookout for this plant that is featured on their website in the culture and recreation section. Under the headline, "Beware of Giant Hogweed" they warn to "avoid direct contact with the plant as the sap and stem hairs cause a serious skin inflammation activated by exposure to the sun." With the large white flower heads now opening up, I have recently spotted this dangerous noxious weed on the King George Boulevard near the South Surrey Park n' Ride, both sides of Hwy. 99 at the Nicomekyl River bridge and the Surrey/Delta border, plus in Richmond near the George Massey tunnel. The City of White Rock website goes even further, advising residents exposed to Giant Hogweed to wash affected areas immediately, keep affected skin out of the sun and seed medical advice for burns. They also offer advice for removing these plants from private property including wearing full protective gear with eye protection, cutting flower heads to stop seed spread, digging roots 8 - 12 cm below the ground and disposing the plants in double bagged garbage bags. Their strong warning, "DO NOT COMPOST" needs to be followed as this may not kill the buds or seeds. WR Sun editor Dave Chesney last year reported Giant Hogweed on the BNSF rail corridor near the Semiahmoo First Nation Reserve where it poses a threat to anyone crossing the train tracks to access the beach, especially those wearing shorts, bathing suits or sandals. Unfortunately it appears his warnings were not acted on as the tall weed patch is still growing in the same area a year later.

If you find this alien pest during your travels, keep your distance and report it to the authorities so that it can be safely removed before going to seed and spreading further afield. If you find Giant Hogweed growing in a Surrey park, call the Parks service request line at 604-501-5050. To report this noxious plant along Surrey roads, boulevards and ditches, phone the Engineering Department service request line at 604-591-4152. In White Rock parks, roadways or even on private lands, contact the Engineering Department at 604-541-2181 with the plant location. If you find it on your own property, educate yourself on how to safely remove it and properly dispose of the plant material or call a professional to deal with it. While strangely beautiful, the Giant Hogweed needs to be eradicated from the landscape where its simple existence poses a serious threat to anyone not aware of the harm it can do.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editor's Note - Hogweed is once again growing on the White Rock beach east of the landmark white rock. Stay away and be extra careful if you have children with you.

 

June 04,2012

A "Green" Lawn

Having worked on golf courses, school boards, parks boards plus hundreds of different commercial and residential properties, I can readily admit to knowing how to achieve a lush green lawn. Unfortunately many of the previous turf management practices used in the past were far from "green" using copious amounts of chemical fertilizers and herbicides to achieve an artificial look of healthy grass. Over the past few years I have found many ways to have a doubly green lawn that reduces the dependency on chemicals, requires less work, while producing turf that is thick, weed free, and drought resistant. I probably should be writing a book about this instead of giving away this information free of charge in my weekly TNT but I hope that gardeners across the Semiahmoo peninsula take the following recommendations to heart, realizing they are backed by thirty years of experience in the commercial grounds maintenance industry.

For decades, most lawnmowers bagged the clippings which were then discarded, usually on a compost pile or even bagged for disposal in a landfill. Even today with curb side organic pickup, many homeowners discard lawn cuttings which eventually are turned into rich organic topsoil at large industrial composting facilities. To do so is a complete waste of time and energy as every time you mow your lawn you are robbing the soil of valuable nutrients and the organics that are being produced. A better alternative is to employ a recycling or mulching mower that cuts the clippings into a fine powder that is spread into the lawn where it then becomes part of the nutrient cycle, acting as a weekly organic topdressing. This dramatically reduces the amount of biomass being taken off the lawn while greatly decreasing or eliminating the need for fertilizing. People need to realize that clippings are not removed from golf course fairways, community sports fields or park lawns, yet these areas are generally viewed as being green and healthy. Simply rake up or blow any heavy piles of mulch that the mower may leave when cutting is complete and don't worry about thatch build-up as I have never encountered this to be a problem. Keeping the underside of your lawn mower clean and the blade razor sharp so it functions properly is essential though.

This same mower technology can also be used in the fall to get rid of unwanted leaves and tree debris. Instead of raking up leaves on lawns or from beds and then bagging them for pickup or composting, simply spread them evenly on the lawn surface and shred them into a fine leaf confetti. On grass where the underlying soil is nutrient poor or well drained, this will greatly increase the organic matter and ensure far greater drought resistance the next summer. By employing this technique, I have taken yellow boulevard lawns growing on sand and gravel and turned them into thick green carpets that held their colour far into the summer. With the combination of leaf mulching and recycling mowing, not only is the soil condition greatly improved, it also adds to the fauna of bacteria, fungi and insects in the ground which are beneficial compared to a sterile soil starved of organics. To give you an idea of the labour savings, on a large strata complex in Surrey where I used to haul away four large truckloads of leaves a week in the fall, now all of this biomass is shredded directly into the ground with not a single leaf leaving the property. The end result is thick green lawns that are drought and weed resistance without the need for bags of costly fertilizer.

Leaf mulching mower in action, turned leaves into compost confetti.

If you wish to make your lawn as green as possible, and by this I mean environmentally sustainable, besides mulching to build organic reserves and cycle nutrients, organic fertilizers utilizing a blend of natural products are now available should your turf require feeding. Pull large weeds by hand while using the new lawn weed spray with chelated iron instead of the chemicals such as 2-4DT, Mecoprop and Dicamba found in products such as Killex and Weed-n-Feed that while not legal to use in Surrey and White Rock can still be unfortunately be purchased at some local stores. Control moss by using dolomite lime or ground eggshell in the fall and by power raking plus overseeding in spring and pruning tree branches to reduce shade. The other option is to realize that moss grows well in wet and shaded conditions and requires less mowing than grass, making it ideal in these situations. As temperatures increase in the summer, raise your mower to provide more height in your lawn and avoid cutting it in the morning or on hot days. Met-Van's new water regulations that just went into effect will now allow for three watering days per week but only in the morning hours from 4-9 a.m. With our wet weather patterns and by avoiding lawn mowing during hot spells, I usually only water my lawn three to five times a summer, and these are only necessary on a weekly basis to keep my grass healthy and green in colour.

Who said a lawn with so-called weeds couldn't be beautiful?

There is something else that people might want to try to wrap their heads around when it comes to their lawns. The whole idea of grass is to give us open areas on our property that can be utilized for our pleasure with the least amount of work required. Fertilizing your lawn makes the grass grow faster, necessitating more lawn cutting and increasing the work load. Watering the lawn in summer to keep it green when drying out is a natural part of the usual grassland cycle also means that instead of relaxing in a lawn chair with a margarita in hand, you will instead be having to mow the damn lawn! Those weeds that infiltrate your grass all flower, so is a lawn devoid of other plants actually healthy, or should a lawn with them be viewed instead as having wildflowers? Some folks are even planting a "fleur de lawn" that incorporates a mixture of dwarf grass, dwarf English daisies, baby blue eyes and strawberry clover which needs minimal water, once-a-month mowing and no fertilizer. Others are instead turning lawns into gardens, growing their own organic vegetables and saving money while producing their own food instead of grass clippings.

The old saying, "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" might need to be given a new meaning, implying that your neighbour is an idiot for working so hard when he does not have to. Mulching has dropped my grass cutting time by a third, reduced organic waste dumping by ninety percent, while almost eliminating the need for fertilizing. At the same time the turf is thick and resistant to weed infiltration, healthy and drought tolerant during hot summer months, and staying green without the need for constant cutting. For those who want the ultimate green lawn, the old-fashioned push reel mowers appear to be making a trendy comeback. These eliminate the need for gas powered or electric mowers and I have seen several of these recently being used on residential lawns in the Semi-pen. As for myself, with numerous commercial contracts including one measuring twenty acres in size, I think I'll stick to the mowers that I have for a while, unless I can figure out a way to herd a flock of sheep from lawn to lawn and house to house.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

May 28, 2012

Boundary Baywatch & BBAMP

If you look around the shores of Boundary Bay, you will find remnants of pilings from old wharfs that were once part of the commercial oyster fishery from a century ago, which was the largest on the west coast of North America. Along the shores of Crescent Rock beach, you can see evidence of landing areas for Semiahmoo First Nations canoes at the base of the Ocean Park Bluffs were the harvesting of shellfish played a vital source of marine protein. Unfortunately development, agriculture and urban contaminants have polluted the water outflow sources flowing into Boundary Bay to the point that shellfish harvesting has now been banned for decades due to contamination. As a member of the Boundary Bay Conservation Committee (BBCC), I recently brought forward a proposal to them to have the cities around the Bay on both sides of the border to work with First Nations and environmental groups to attempt to clean up this area. While the executive concluded that this concept would be worthwhile, they expressed a need for me to collect data about the levels of contamination currently being experienced.

While I have personally paid to have water from various local rivers analyzed in the past for Ecoli and various chemical contaminants, what I needed was a broad historical overview taken from many locations showing the level of the problem along with year-to-year changes. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that such a study was already in place, with scientific results from three years of testing in what will eventually span a five year length of time. This project is called the Boundary Bay Assessment and Monitoring Program or BBAMP and it was initiated through the 2002 Metro Vancouver's Liquid Waste Management Plan's commitment to environmental monitoring of relevant water bodies. The partnership approach that BBAMP developed coordinates individual environmental monitoring efforts under a single comprehensive program. BBAMP is being conducted by Metro Vancouver, the cities of Surrey, Delta and White Rock, B.C. Environment plus Agriculture and Lands ministries, Dept. of Fisheries & Oceans Canada, B.C. Hydro, and the Semiahmoo First Nations. To the south, our American neighbors are participating in a related study of the Boundary Bay Biosphere Reserve under the control of the Puget Sound Partnership.

In the BBAMP water column data collection program, samples are collected during the dry-weather period from July to August, with wet-weather samples collected during late October through early December. This study focuses on the City of Surrey, monitoring at a number of sites on the tributaries including Bear Creek, Nicomekyl and Serpentine Rivers and the Little Campbell. The Corporation of Delta monitors the discharges from
the five pump stations on the northern edge of Boundary Bay that remove ditch water from farmland areas. Metro Vancouver takes samples of water at the mouths of some of the main tributaries plus marine sites in the bay itself (along with testing public beaches in the summer). The amount of raw data from all of these sites along with the many chemicals, metals, Ecoli, turbidity and oxygen levels is truly staggering, especially when one starts to compare the data from the three years that this scientific study has already been undertaken. Without getting into the specifics that would likely crash the White Rock Sun website, in a nutshell various pollutants and contaminants exist in all of Surrey's rivers with levels increasing as they flow towards Boundary Bay. The Nicomekyl River Sea Dam, where it noticed a thick foam plume several months ago is consistently one of the worst offenders. I would personally like to thank Carrie Barron, the City of Surrey's Drainage and Environment Manager for providing me the detailed BBAMP report at the request of Metro Vancouver.

What I found most interesting about this study was not the data itself but the fact that none of the many environmentalist, naturist and even naturalist groups that are part of the BBCC knew anything about the BBAMP study even though it has already been in existence for three years. While it is wonderful that the governmental agencies, NGO's and First Nations are involved in this study, I believe that community environmental and naturalist groups in the region should also be included and all given access to the BBAMP results. Besides giving them a window into pollution problems in the region, it also increases awareness of the fragility of the catchment basin to contamination from a wide variety of sources. I think that the environmental groups, especially those involved in salmonoid and habitat replacement along the Little Campbell, Bear Creek, Nicomekyl and Serpentine Rivers plus their tributaries have an important role to play in educating the public about problems in the watershed. The many members of these various groups can also play a vital role in reporting sources of pollution and increasing awareness of the importance of water quality for the ditches, streams and rivers that flow into Boundary Bay.

I would like to see the local governments and groups already involved with the BBAMP study invite environmentalist groups from across the region, including in the Blaine area of Washington State, to form "Boundary Baywatch", focusing attention on efforts around the border area to clean up Boundary Bay. It is one thing to actually have hard data showing the results of water quality testing from across the region but without a concerted multi-faceted effort to reduce contaminants, it is unlikely we will see much change in pollutants over time. The more eyes we have watching for problems and contaminants, along with educating the public at large about the scope of this problem and ways to improve the results, the more likely we will successfully improve the overall environmental health of Boundary Bay. Fisheries and Oceans Canada also has a vital role to play in Baywatch, ensuring that those found responsible for dumping chemicals or contaminating water flowing into Boundary Bay are held accountable and charged with transgressions and fined. Publicity from this will undoubtedly lead to further education of those who might be unknowingly polluting the watershed while putting public pressure on those who use our streams as a local dumping ground to change their minds.

With the Boundary Baywatch concept's obvious link to the 1990's television show Baywatch, hopefully we can use the nostalgia surrounding this long-running series to generate public interest to the cause. Maybe well-known Canadian celebrity Pamela Anderson who played the buxom beauty C.J. Parker in Baywatch can be persuaded to help publicize the cooperative efforts to clean up Boundary Bay to the point that we might one day possibly be able to dig for clams from the sands of Semiahmoo without risking poisoning or arrest. Considering that Mrs. Anderson is originally from Ladysmith on Vancouver Island and with her long history of concern for the ethical treatment of animals and the environment, I'd like to hope she would add her grace and beauty to the Boundary Baywatch program. Now, if she would like to come down to Crescent Rock Beach to work on those tan lines with the other SUN "Rockers", I'd be more than happy to give her a guided tour, provided we can keep the paparazzi away and not cause a riot on the shores of Boundary Bay.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

May 21, 2012

Shake, Rattle and Coal

"Come over baby, whole lot of shakin' goin' on.
Yes, I said come over baby, baby you can't go wrong.
We ain't fakin',whole lot of shakin' goin' on."

Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On, written by Sunny David and Dave Williams
Made Famous by Jerry Lee Lewis, a.k.a. "The Killer"

Pacific Terrace South Surrey Marine Drive

(Site of 3 landslides on to rail tracks - 2010)

When the BNSF began their program of railway upgrades here on the Semiahmoo peninsula several years back, many thought it was because of the publicity surrounding the sorry state of the corridor that included worn out old-fashioned segmented track, mud fouled ballast rock, missing connector tie bolts and rotting bridges. Since that time, continuous weld rail has been installed along with new wooden ties, rip-rap boulders have been reinforced against wave erosion, trestle bridges have seen ongoing maintenance and the vegetation near the tracks has been cut way back for visibility. Unfortunately, what nobody seemed to realize was that the BNSF Railway was making these changes in order to bring big heavy coal trains loaded with Power Basin coal from Wyoming and Utah to the Robert's Bank coal terminal for shipment to Asia. Now that these trains are rolling along the waterfront, some of the negative aspects of these massive loads are beginning to be felt.

Last weekend I took advantage of the warm weather and sunny skies to finally soak up a few rays down at Crescent Rock beach just south of the 101 Steps staircase at 24 Ave. Unfortunately the increased train traffic, with the doubling of the AmTrak passenger service, growth in regular mixed freight and the new U.S. coal trains, took away from the natural ambiance and peace that one could formerly find there. Twice in the few hours that I was at the shoreline, coal trains chugged by led by three BNSF diesel locomotives followed up by two more bringing up the rear. In between these engines were a long line of railway coal cars piled high with broken black rock, varying in length from 125 to 140 cars and taking up to 15 minutes to pass. It is these long and heavy trains that likely necessitated the infrastructure upgrades, rather than concerns from the local community rail safety group SmartRail that is hoping to have the tracks relocated back inland with the proposed high-speed rail. The squeal of the brakes as they slowed for the Nicomekl bridge, coupled with the chugging of the engines and shaking of the ground disturbed nature and naturists alike, with the bald eagles and herons flying away to escape the racket.

The increase in coal train traffic has not gone unnoticed by people living on or near the view properties above the BNSF Railway. While the removal of the segmented track has decreased some of the noise from the rails, the mass of these trains and the multiple locomotives needed to safely move them (as many as 7 engines have been spotted) is causing vibrations in the ground that transmit for some distance. Folks residing up to four blocks away from the tracks in White Rock are noticing the change, with old-timers complaining about mini-earthquakes from the BNSF coal trains in their neighbourhoods that is about as subtle as that noticed down at Crescent Rock beach. There have even been reports of new cracks in concrete suddenly appearing in patio slabs and garages laid down decades before. Whether this is from vibrations from trains or possible soil movement on the slope above the tracks still needs to be ascertained and Prof. John Clauge from SFU's Geology Department has been contacted about doing seismic studies in this region relating to coal train passage. For those with view properties on the edge of the Ocean Park Bluff, it is likely the tremors will be more noticeable with ground vibrations focusing on the cornice, something I witnessed personally at the edge of a Langley hillside during the Seattle earthquake back in 2001.

The increasing coal train traffic and their heavy loads also appear to be having an effect on the waterfront tracks, even with all of the millions of dollars poured into the upgrades. There are multiple areas of the BNSF tracks that are now being monitored by concerned citizens who are keeping the Transportation Safety Board aware of liquefaction occurring due to the pumping action of the ties attributed to heavy loads, believed to be from the loaded coal trains. A section of rail bed next to the Semiahmoo First Nation parking lot has exposed ties with passing trains flexing the rails and cars tilting noticeably, even when passing by at low speed. Another section of tracks near Vidal Street has at least 10 sleepers (ties for the layman) that are without ballast rock on the side facing the bay, while further to the west from this location some ties are literally hanging in the air. Before the past couple weeks of nice dry weather, the rail bed near the pier was noticed to be somewhat fluid in a section of track close to the White Rock museum. It is unknown as this time as to the condition of the tracks between Crescent Beach and West Beach, a 6 km. long section that is dangerous and illegal to walk on. The BNSF has reportedly agreed to address the known problems and bring in more ballast to stabilize the rails but what effect this will have on tracks originally built a century ago on the inter-tidal zone of the beach remains to be seen.

We were somewhat fortunate that last winter brought mild temperatures and decreased rainfall with a noticeable absence of strong tropical storms from the Pacific known as the "Pineapple Express" that are linked to much of the landslide activity from the Ocean Park bluffs onto the BNSF tracks. It will be very interesting to see what happens if we experience heavy rains, saturated soils and increased ground vibrations from passing coal trains. Whether this is a recipe for disaster, time will definitely tell but knowing the geology of the bluff and the history of train derailments caused by landslides, I believe it is only a matter of time until Murphy's Law catches up with Warren Buffet's railway. While the BNSF Railway cancels the AmTrak passenger trains for either 24 or 48 hours after slide activity onto the tracks here, they do not follow the same protocol with freight, rolling trains after the rails have been cleared instead of waiting for the hillside to completely drain. Case in point was the landslide zone just east of the Olympic Trail in Ocean Park two winters ago that was the scene of three successive slope failures onto the tracks, fortunately without impacting the freight trains that rolled by with everything from coal to chlorine gas while AmTrak passengers were being bussed around for their own safety.

Railways are under federal jurisdiction and seem to operate with impunity from concerns expressed from citizens and local government. As a long-time White Rock councillor recently noted, the city cannot ask the railway to fix their tracks, only a private citizen can. Even the Transportation Safety Board, gutted by successive federal government cutbacks, seems to have little sway over powerful railroads who operate on their own terms, addressing safety as they see fit. While both SmartRail and SUN previously made presentations to the Railway Safety Act Review Panel several years ago, detailing what we believed were dangerous practices and rail conditions in this region, our proposed amendments were all but ignored by bureaucrats in Ottawa. If you are experiencing ground vibrations you believe are linked to coal train traffic here, you can report them to the Canadian Transportation Agency Rail Division (http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/eng/rail-noise-and-vibration-complaints). Safety concerns about the rail corridor should be brought to the attention of the BNSF Railway (gus.melonas@bnsf.com) and the Transportation Safety Board Rail Division in Richmond (1-800-387-3557). Other than that, our federal M.P., Conservative Russ Hiebert (info@russhiebert.ca / 604-542-9495), needs to know if you have noticed negative changes brought on by the influx of coal trains now passing along the shores of the Semi-pen. Hopefully he will be able to get us all a fair shake from the BNSF.

The BNSF Railway has recently completed repairs to the tracks next to the Semiahmoo Reserve play field, removing mud fouled ballast rock from under the tracks and replacing it with large amounts of fresh crushed rock for an stretch of close to 100 metres. No word yet on if and when other mud infiltrated areas of their corridor that are now appearing will be dealt with.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

 

May 14, 2012

Curb Your Enthusiasim

It never ceases to amaze me how slowly government can respond to glaring safety problems in our highway's infrastructure, especially when these deficiencies have proven to be lethal in the past. Case in point is the seemingly never ending story concerning the Serpentine River bridge on Hwy. 99 in south Surrey that has been the topic of my TNT's dating from March 12, 2012, Feb. 20, 2012 and way back on March 7, 2011. You can scroll down the previous editions for the gory details and explanations as to why this is such an important topic to someone like me with a strong interest in transportation safety. Most importantly, realize that much of what you may have read in the local newspaper concerning problem with the bridge vehicle containment system has not been consistant with the facts in this case.

This story started with a young woman losing control and crashing her car through the guard rail and drowning in the Serpentine on Feb. 28, 2011, succumbing to her injuries a dozen days later. After I raised the alarm about the railing failure, the B.C. government that is responsible for this stretch of highway initiated a study that found while the railings met 1960's construction codes, they contain a fatal design flaw and brittle metal support posts making them prone to failure. This report was delivered to the Minister of Transportation in November of last year and finally released to only myself and a PAN reporter in late February, the day before the B.C. budget in a tactic that is usually used to bury embarrassing information from the mainstream media. Since that time I have exposed unrepaired damage to bridge components on both the Serpentine River and Nicomekl River bridges which used the identical style of aluminium guard rail (Broken Railings..., Broken Parts..., Broken Lives..., Broken Hearts, Mar. 20, 2012).

It gives me a great sense of relief to finally report that the broken guard rail mounting posts on both the "Serp" and "Nick" bridges on Hwy. 99 have been replaced by Mainroad since my last TNT on this topic along with most of the damaged lateral railings that were dented or out of line. Late last week, Highway's contractors were at both of these bridges installing 18 inch concrete curbing next to the guard rails as a way to protect the fragile railings and ensure that another motorist does not end up drowning in the drink. Both sides of the southbound lanes of the 99 at the Serp have been completed with only the fast lane sides of both directions of the Nick currently being finished. I would expect the slow lanes of this bridge to have their curbing installed sometime later this week. The northbound lanes at the Serp already had their guardrails replaced when the bus lane was built, utilizing the new concrete parapet design that is built to withstand impact from even large trucks.

While thrilled that these repairs have finally been done, it exasperates me to know that soon after this accident happened, these same concrete curbs were placed on the fast lane side of the Serpentine River bridge as additional protection for the workers who were widening the decking for the bus lane. I wrote to the Department of Transportation and the Minister, informing them that leaving these curbs in place and possibly putting them next to the failed railings on the slow lane side might be a good idea in the interest of public safety. Instead when the bus lane was completed, they were removed in mid-summer last year, finally being reinstalled this week, two months after they were originally promised in March of this year. For almost a year from when a small Honda Civic ripped out 60 feet of safety railing in a side-swipe accident, these defective guard rails have been left to protect the sides of Hwy. 99, when in fact they were an accident waiting to happen yet again with a watery grave likely for an unlucky motorist.

Could the Minister of Transportation or the local MLA's Stephanie Cadieux or Gordon Hogg not have seen the common sense in leaving the original concrete curbing put in place for construction on the bridge until the report on the guard rail failure was complete? If they had acted with caution in mind, both the Serp and Nick along with the nearby BNSF Railway bridge whose railings are beat and bent should have been protected with concrete curbing while waiting for the results of the engineering report. An initial inspection of the railings brought up from the Serpentine River, including the first piece that I dragged out of the muck, should have raised enough concerns about the structural integrity of this important safety system. As it is, we are lucky that only one person died over the years that these defective railings were in place. Just last week, a pickup truck towing a trailer crashed into large concrete barricades northbound on Hwy. 99 right before the Nicomekyl River bridge. The truck came to rest on top of these railings that are twice as tall as those being installed beside the guardrails on the bridge, moving them apart with the force of the collision. Had this happened on the bridge, there is no way of knowing if the outcome would have resulted in yet another vehicle at the bottom of a south Surrey river.

While the concrete curbing placed besides the guardrails of the Serp and Nick bridges is a good stop-gap safety measure, the following statement from the executive summary of the "Hwy. 99 Serpentine River Bridge No. 1629W Barrier Failure Analysis" report should not be swept under the rug:
"...we believe that any feasible mitigative measures for this railing, and similar existing railings, would not bring these railings into compliance with current standards. In our opinion, the appropriate way to address the lack of containment exhibited by this railing and similar existing railings, is to replace the railing with a barrier configuration that is compliant with the current standards."

We need to know when these faulty railings here will finally be replaced with the new concrete parapet barrier design that is used across the province in new bridge construction. As to how many more of the 2,800 bridges in B.C. utilize this same type of defective aluminium railings and when they will also be protected with concrete curbing and scheduled for parapet barrier replacement needs to be revealed. Hopefully Stephanie Cadieux, Gordon Hogg and Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom will be able to provide us with definitive answers and a price tag, along with a time table for these much needed safety improvements.

If not, I can promise them that the "Pitbull" won't be letting go any time soon.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

The Naked Truth - May 7, 2012

Black Rock in White Rock

This weekend's climate change protest on the BNSF tracks at the White Rock pier put me between a lump of coal and a hard place. While I applauded the Stop Coal BC (www.stopcoal.ca) group's very public way of bringing attention to the amount of coal we are shipping to Asia, I did not support interfering with freight trains on the waterfront with people blockading the tracks, because of serious public safety concerns I had. Since I had previously enrolled in a two-day communications course on this weekend, I was unable to attend and avoided the dilemma of getting involved and being arrested or skipping this event that placed people in harm's way. As the B.C. Green Party's Transportation Critic, I believe it would have been my duty to join the blockade, with my involvement in railway safety and involvement with SUN and local community railway safety group SmartRail keeping me off the tracks. I'm glad I didn't have to make the decision between these two conflicting ideals that suddenly crossed paths, realizing the hypocritical position I would find myself in either way.

While the B.C. Liberal government would like to appear to be concerned about growing CO2 pollution in the atmosphere, hitting drivers here with the ever increasing carbon tax in an attempt to reduce fuel consumption, they are doing nothing to stop the strip mining and shipment of large amounts of coal, one of the dirtiest fossil fuels that generates the most greenhouse gases. This protest was planned to bring public attention to how the burning of coal in power plants and for steel production in Asia is adding to the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere worldwide, believed to be responsible for global warming. This was part of an even bigger protest organized across the planet by the international environmental organization 350.org (www.350.org) on 5/5/12 called "Climate Action Day" where they invited people from all countries to, "Connect the dots on climate change." This group hopes to raise awareness of climate change, to confront denial of this problem and cut emissions to the 350 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere believed to be the safe upper limit needed avoid a climate tipping point. To grasp the rate of change, refer to the "Keeling Curve" graph showing a steady increase in CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere from 315 ppm in 1960 to 394 ppm in 2012, with the 350 ppm benchmark being passed back in 1985.

Mark Jaccard led away by RCMP

For most of Saturday about 40 protestors milled about the White Rock pier waiting to block any coal trains, with spotters in Washington State and north of Crescent Beach keeping an eye out for approaching coal trains. Regular freight trains and the AmTrak passenger trains were allowed to roll by unmolested as promised. The fact that the BNSF had already received a court injunction against Stop Coal members Bruce Mohun and Peter Nix plus anyone else from trespassing on the BNSF right-of-way did not concern the protestors who vowed civil disobedience and planned to block the tracks regardless. The most high profile person on site had to be Mark Jaccard, a SFU professor who is the coordinator of the university's Energy and Materials Research Group. He was the former chair of the B.C. Utilities Commission for five years in the 1990's and was among those who were awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for their work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. To learn more you can read his book, Sustainable Fossil Fuels that won him the Donner Prize for the best policy book in Canada. At 6 p.m., a BNSF coal trail approached, stopping just short of the pier crossing. Fourteen Stop Coal members blocked the passage of the train and 13 of these were peacefully arrested by the RCMP and taken to the White Rock station for processing and for payment of their $115 dollar fines for trespassing. Taking a stand against climate change, the Nobel laureate Prof. Jaccard was one of those charged.

The 125 car train then made its way to the Westshore Terminals at Roberts Bank in Tsawwassen, bringing coal on American billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffet's railroad to B.C. billionaire businessman Jim Pattison's coal port. With each rail car holding an estimated 100 tonnes of coal, this one train delivered 12,500 tonnes of coal destined for shipment, likely to China. The Stop Coal protestors claimed they eliminated the delivery of five more trains that day on the BNSF lines while 18 other coal trains headed west on the nearby CN line along Panorama Ridge. Westshore is the busiest coal export facility in Canada, moving more coal than all of the other terminals in the country combined. It is the busiest single export coal terminal in North America, shipping 27 million tonnes of coal last year, with 8 million tonnes of this from U.S. locations. With a tonne of coal generating between two and three times its weight in CO2 when burned (depending on carbon content) this means we are indirectly generating approximately 60 million tonnes of CO2, or close to 13.5 tonnes of CO2 for every man, woman and child living in the province. This number equates to the average CO2 emission for more than two cars per person showing that while we are not burning this fuel here, we are directly adding to this global problem. With this in mind, Westshore's statement on their website that they are,"committed to being a caring, responsible neighbour in this fragile environment" needs to be questioned.

What I found most interesting about this entire protest was being told that this was not the first time people had blocked the BNSF tracks in White Rock to protest pollution from passing coal trains. Noted horticulturalist and thorn in WR Council's side environmentalist Barry Belec informed me that students from Semiahmoo high school had taken to the seaside tracks in the early 1970's to protest coal trains moving north from the U.S., with concerns about coal dust contaminating the beachfront and foreshore across White Rock and south Surrey. He put me in touch with former classmate Doug Feltis who confirmed that this had indeed been the case and that he'd been part of a large group of students who had left school and laid down or sat on the tracks to bring awareness to the sudden influx in coal trains in the peninsula. Supposedly there was a large picture on the front page of the local newspaper (likely the previous incarnation of the White Rock Sun) and I will be asking Hugh Ellenwood at the White Rock Museum and Archives to see if he can find the article on this historical incident. While times have changed and the concern about pollution from the coal trains has gone from black dust to invisible CO2, this dirty fuel is still raising the ire of local residents and those living in Blaine and Bellingham. While years ago it was youth blocking the tracks, its now mainly the older generation trying to put the brakes on global warming, concerned about the world and problems they will likely leave their children and grandchildren.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

April 30, 2012

Watt's Dianne Been Smoking?

In case you missed it this weekend, on Sunday the Province newspaper carried a feature article by reporter Jon Ferry who travelled to a U.S. jail in Yazoo City, Mississippi to visit and interview noted Canadian marijuana anti-prohibitionist Marc Emery, the self-proclaimed "Prince of Pot." Mr. Emery made the FBI's ten most wanted drug criminal list several years back for using the proceeds of his marijuana seeds business to finance his public political stance calling for the decriminalization of marijuana. He was arrested by members of the VPD at the request of the Vancouver office of the DEA (yes, they now operate on Canadian soil) and extradited by our federal government to the U.S. via the Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey on May 20, 2012. He is currently serving a five year sentence in federal penitentiary for a crime that in Canada would likely never be prosecuted let alone result in jail time, making him a political prisoner as our federal government will not allow him to be transferred here to serve out his time. The stories plus related articles can be found at the following links:
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Marc+Emery+calls+leaders+uninspiring/6537153/story.html
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Marc+Emery+claims+victory+drug/6537152/story.html

 

This was rather timely as it followed a letter sent Thursday to the Provincial political leaders by a coalition of mayors from eight different municipalities across B.C. These included Gregor Robertson from Vancouver, Derrick Corrigan from Burnaby, Darrel Mussatto from North Vancouver plus the mayors of Armstrong, Enderby, Lake Country, Metchosin, and Vernon. They cited gang violence, danger to the public and rising policing costs resulting from the illegal marijuana industry, asking Premier Christy Clark, the NDP's Adriane Dix and John Cummins of the fledging B.C. Conservative Party to support the regulation and taxation of cannabis. Jane Sterk, leader of the B.C. Green Party was not included as they already support an end to marijuana prohibition, focusing on harm reduction instead of criminalizing substance use. In their letter, they noted an Angus Reid poll showed that two thirds of people contacted believed that this approach was preferable to continuing the prohibition of marijuana, with a lowly twelve percent supporting continued criminalization. The mayors also endorsed the anti-prohibitionist organization Stop the Violence B.C. (STVBC) founded by Dr. Evan Woods of the B.C. Centre for Excellence which can be found online at http://stoptheviolencebc.org/

This adds to the growing chorus of academics, politicians, health professionals and police members who are now publically announcing that the so-called "War on Drugs" has been an abysmal failure. Earlier this month John Mckay, a former U.S. district attorney who prosecuted Marc Emery was joined by Emery's wife Jodi and B.C. Attorney General Geoff Plant at a lecture in Vancouver where McKay announced that, "marijuana prohibition and criminal prohibition of marijuana is a complete failure." He went on to say he believed keeping pot illegal served no purpose other than to allow gangs and drug cartels to generate billions of dollars in profits. Last month, B.C.'s Chief Medial Officer Dr. Perry Kendall issued a statement calling on the federal government to enact a health-based strategy towards cannabis, regulating it like alcohol and tobacco which he wrote was "less addictive than either of those. In February, four former B.C. Attorney-Generals Ujjal Dosanjh, Colin Gabelmann, Graeme Bowbrick and Geoff Plant added their voices to the mix of those calling to the end of the 89-year-old pot crusade saying, "the case demonstrating the failure and harms of marijuana prohibition is airtight." In Nov. 2011, four former Vancouver mayors consisting of Larry Campbell, Mike Harcourt, Philip Owen and Sam Sullivan made a similar call for pot decriminalization, releasing a letter endorsing STVBC which also stated that "marijuana prohibition is, without question, a failed policy." Retired RCMP Chief Superintendent Vince Cain is also a member of SVTBC, with this former top cop calling for an end to prohibition now that he is no longer working for the police.

While the word "failure" is used by many to describe marijuana prohibition, the mayor of Surrey seems to fail to grasp the concept that illegal drugs in her city are the cause of much of the gang violence seen here. While leading B.C.'s second largest city where gangland shootings happen on a weekly basis, she has decided not to support marijuana reform. Watts appears to be concerned that dealers are targeting children (with drugs, not guns) and because of this is against decriminalization. What she does not realize is that it is far easier for Surrey youth to acquire marijuana than alcohol or cigarettes. Federal decriminalization and regulation will likely put an end to this problem, reducing illegal profits that currently feed the cycle of gang violence and gunplay in areas such as rootin', tootin', shootin' Newton. Mayor Watts is also concerned about the underground market in other drugs, ignoring the fact that profits from the cross-border shipment of marijuana are reinvested by criminal organizations to purchase cocaine which then is brought north into Canada, much of this in B.C. at the Pacific Border Crossing. Considering that the Semiahmoo peninsula and Boundary Bay were major smuggling areas during U.S. alcohol prohibition, you have to wonder if she has learned nothing from our earlier history? As Mayor of Surrey, it is important to have her voice calling for an end to marijuana prohibition and the violence that it spawns, unless she likes reading continued headlines about yet another shooting in the city where the motto should instead be, "the future dies here."

While Watts has tried to use her grow-op reduction strategy to root out marijuana production, utilizing fire and safety inspectors to search homes that have high electrical bills without needing a warrant, the availability of pot throughout Surrey has not been affected. What many don't realize is that growing marijuana is actually legal in the city, provided you have a certificate issued from Health Canada allowing you to grow a specified number of plants for people who require this medicinal herb. A friend of mine who I met through an eco-tour company is a "designated grower" or DG here, providing marijuana for his ailing mother who suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses pot to regain control of her body and reduce pain. We had a barbeque this weekend with relatives from Winnipeg and one of my family members also has a permit to smoke marijuana for relief from a chronic illness while her able-bodied husband legally grows pot at home for her condition. The editor of the White Rock Sun's late wife even used Mary-Jane to lessen the nausea from chemotherapy and radiation being used to treat her cancer. The only reason I can see why Mayor Watts would want to continue pot prohibition would be to ensure that the RCMP will have plenty of work at their new $260 million E-division headquarters being built in Tall Timbers or to ensure a full house at the $90 million Surrey Pre-trial jail expansion recently started beside City Hall.

With Harper's Conservatives omnibus crime bill C-10 winding its way through the House of Commons promising six months in jail for growing half a dozen pot plants, there is now a serious need to press for the legalization of marijuana along with the release from jail of non-violent marijuana offenders and the deletion of their criminal records. Smoking of cigarettes is legal even though we know it is responsible for a wide variety of health problems from heart disease to cancer, with sales being regulated and taxed for decades. The same goes for alcohol, with many criminal and social problems directly connected to its consumption which was widely evident in last year's Stanley Cup riot. Pot has been scientifically proven to be much safer medically than either of this two socially accepted drugs and yet it continues to be vilified by those who seem to be content with the status quo of our police state. What politicians at all levels of government fail to realize is that people now believe the harm from marijuana prohibition vastly outweighs any negative effects from the drug itself and are looking for real change. If the politicians don't want to "help end marijuana prohibition" (HEMP), they need to know that come election time the people will change the politicians, favouring those with a more enlightened approach to BC Bud and those who use it either recreationally or for medicinal purposes.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Jon Ferry weighs in

*An RCMP database listing growing operations shows Kelowna officers seized 13,706 plants between April 2011 and March 2012. Surrey RCMP came in a close second, seizing 13,389 plants over the same period.

 

April 23, 2012

A Day For The Planet

While Sunday for most on the Semi-pen was spent getting ready for the Vancouver Canucks playoff game which they lost to the L.A. Kings ending their post-season prematurely, many die-hard community activists and environmentalists were busy cleaning up neighbourhoods and parks throughout Surrey, the Lower Mainland and across the planet to help celebrate Earth Day 2012.

This annual day began back in 1970 in response to environmental concerns following a massive 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California and from inspiration from the student anti-war movement protesting American involvement in Vietnam. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson called for an "environmental teach-in" called Earth Day to be held on April 22 at the start of spring after the name and concept were originally pioneered at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco a year earlier. Over 20 million people participated the first year and Earth Day events are now held worldwide in over 175 countries, attracting half a billion people who attempt to raise awareness and an appreciation of the Earth's natural environment. The Earth Day Network coordinates this day globally, with Earth Day Canada taking care of events here on their website at www.earthday.ca. Scheduled events here included park and nature area litter pickup, tree plantings, invasive species removal, salmon fry release along with a variety of interpretive nature walks in parks and wilderness areas helping to educate and enlighten people on our fragile surroundings and the limited resources of the planet.

The City of Surrey was involved in this global project, organizing their annual Clean Sweep Surrey week allowing local residents, school kids and community groups to show their pride in the city by participating in park and community clean ups. Their motto, "Taking Care of What We Share" is used as a rallying cry to interest people in getting involved on Earth Day to help protect the environment. This year's festivities ran from April 16 - 22 and the city even supplied gloves, bags and a commemorative t-shirt (printed in Surrey no less) for all of those involved. Sites cleaned up this year included a Utility Right Of Way on 100 Ave., Bear Creek Park, Crescent Beach, Serpentine Dog Off leash Park on 76 Ave. and Tamanawis Park on 64 Ave. While these were the official Clean Sweep locations, the city invited individuals or groups to clean up their corner of the world by volunteering to work on other areas where litter and pollution were a concern. For their easy four step program to organize your own cleanup including safety guidelines for all those involved, visit the Surrey website at the following link: http://www.surrey.ca/10554.aspx

In case you missed the clean-up, fear not for the City of Surrey is planning a Earth Day celebration on April 27 from 4-10 p.m. and Apr. 28 from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. called the Party For the Planet festival at Central City Plaza in the former Whalley. Last year's event was attended by over ten thousand people, making this fun family event focused on green initiatives in Surrey B.C.'s largest Earth Day celebration. The Friday night entertainment is promised to be energetic and hopes to inspire our youth with, "great pop music and environmentally themed interactive exhibits" with Saturdays acts focusing mainly on children and families. Headlining is Down With Webster, one of Canada's premier pop acts who previously have won the Best Pop Video at the Much Music Video Awards, backed up by internationally known artist Raghav and several other local acts. Besides the music, this festival will give the City of Surrey the ability to showcase its key sustainable initiatives and how they are incorporated into their traffic planning, waste diversion, water management plus trees and landscape. For full details, check out the city website at: www.surrey.ca/partyfortheplanet.

Surrey's United Naturists or SUN took full advantage of both Clean Sweep Week and Earth Day, cleaning up the rugged and secluded Crescent Rock Beach bluff shoreline ecosystem from White Rock to Crescent Beach. Graffiti which had accumulated during the winter on the 120 tonne Crescent Rock was touched up with a fresh coat of nude coloured paint, originally applied to cover the bright pink colour vandals selected for it several summers ago. Other nearby rocks were cleaned of spray paint with Citrex, an environmentally friendly coating remover created from the rinds of oranges and lemons, in a program that will hopefully be expanded to the more remote areas this summer. Garbage, litter and flotsam were collected and removed from the shoreline which was not nearly as dirty as the last time SUN cleaned this area back in September as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. This showed that much of the garbage found between Crescent Beach and White Rock is likely due to summer activities with refuse being thrown from boats or floating away from the public beaches. Please take care this summer when at Crescent Beach or White Rock to remove all debris from the waterfront, including flip-flops, kid's sand toys and water bottles which are always found in abundance at the end of the summer. If you happen to visit the more remote Crescent Rock Beach, either to sunbathe au natural or enjoy its rugged beauty and plentiful wildlife, please take your garbage with you plus anything else man-made that you find.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

April 16, 2012

Smart Meters vs. Dumb Meters

There are some advantages to living in an older house in the Semi-pen, and by this I mean 30 years old. As I watch the 5,500 square foot monstrosity resembling a three story apartment (thanks Dianne) being erected next door to me, I realize that cleaning and maintaining my 2,500 square foot house suddenly feels like half the work it used to be. Unfortunately the yard work seems to be never ending, mainly because I like it that way constantly adding to my horticulture collection. The other bonus is that many years ago the former owner decided a good way to conserve energy would be to place a piece of plywood with insulation over the box cavity containing the analog hydro meter. While I have no reason to doubt they figured it would retain heat, this simple piece of plywood has kept the B.C. Hydro's Corix Smart Meter installers at bay as a simple plug and pay system was not available at my residence. Now they will find this covering anchored with more nails and drilled out screws, along with multiple laminated signage advertising that a so-called Smart Meter which I now call a "Dumb Meter" is not welcome at my address.

I've ignored writing about this topic for some time, mainly because of the large amount of information and research that it would require and because of its scope far beyond the boundaries of that covered by the White Rock Sun. That changed when I realized that all of my neighbours in Crescent Park had their old analog meters ripped out and replaced with the new digital versions during the week that Michael Smith of the Vancouver Province newspaper repeatedly exposed Dumb Meters that were apparently malfunctioning, leaving homeowners with electric bills that often ran into the thousands of dollars. To add insult to injury, many of these people had opted for the instant payment program, meaning that four figure totals were instantly withdrawn from their accounts without notice which is a bitch if you happen to be on a pension or fixed income. The last thing I would ever do is give a crown corporation authorization to withdraw funds from my bank account without first knowing the size of the bill. You may as well tell the receiver general to take as much tax money from your pay check as they would like, then act surprise when you don't have a couple pennies to rub together at the end of the month, a luxury that will also soon end with the demise of the Canadian copper coin.

You've got to ask yourself why B.C. Hydro would decide to implement the Dumb Meter program with its price tag estimated at one billion dollars? Was this necessary because the old analog meters malfunctioning or needed to all suddenly be replaced; of course not. What this "upgrade" accomplishes is to put 400 meter readers out of work during a time when B.C. is experiencing the highest unemployment rate in almost 30 years which flies directly against the Liberals job creation plan and their "Families First" agenda . Higher electrical bills seem to be the norm in almost all areas where the Dumb Meters have been installed with buffoons like the B.C. Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman explaining it is an urban myth caused by people leaving electrical heaters plugged in or running their hot tubs at too high of a temperature deserves to see him kicked to the curb in the next election. Besides higher bills now, expect time of use billing in the not too distant future, putting a premium on energy costs during times of high consumption, like during breakfast and dinner for example which follows the two-tiered energy pricing already introduced. Either that or between Dumb Meters and expensive not-so-green energy projects financed by Liberal friends, this may be a backdoor way to bankrupt B.C. Hydro and sell it off to private interests and offshore companies, similar to how Accenture now handles Hydro billings with head offices in Bermuda of all places.

Besides the all-mighty dollar cost factor to the Dumb Meters, there are many other wide ranging negative effects on health, safety, the environment and your privacy, not to mention how this program is being foisted on the public without proper consultation or any opt-out consideration. There are concerns about the proliferation of electromagnetic radiation exposure with Dumb Meters causing many medical complaints including nausea, headaches, insomnia and heart arrhythmia after installation. Reports of interference with pacemakers and other medical implants should not come as a surprise considering now cellular phones are not allowed to be used in hospitals. There are many studies which have concluded that exposure to EMR has a detrimental effect on wildlife from birds to bees, affecting everything from reproduction and development to communication and behaviour. Your privacy may be at risk with power companies looking to cash in on your electric consumption habits plus the ability of the Dumb Meters to report the brand and model of appliances in your home, making this information valuable to advertisers or hackers. For a comprehensive overview on this topic, rather than attempt to explain all of the perceived problems, I'd suggest visiting the following web sites dedicated to the Dumb Meter controversy:
http://citizensforsafetechnology.org/
http://stopsmartmeters.org/
http://www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca/html/
http://www.cope378.ca/campaign/say-no-smart-meters
http://sites.google.com/site/nocelltowerinourneighborhood/home
http://www.bchydro.com/energyinbc/projects/smart_metering_infrastructure_program.html

This weekend, hacking expert Dr. David Chalk and others appeared in Langley for a "Smart Meter Update and Strategy Meeting" focusing on this new technology and strategies to restrain it. Unfortunately due to mechanical problems and unforeseen vehicle repairs, I was unable to attend to hear information they wished to share on what they called, "B.C. Hydro's manipulated/misleading statements - this information will cut to the heart of the biggest problems we are facing with this grid." A Langley rally is being planned with the date and details to be announced shortly (watch for a TNT update). Earth Day on April 21, 2012 is also EMR Action Day, with details available on the website at www.emractionday.org or on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/emractionday. If you think the Dumb Meter program is a problem only facing B.C. residents, go online to find stories about high billings, safety problems, health effects and privacy concerns on a global scale. Just like here, there is an upwelling of public opposition that includes legal action in many jurisdicitons to stop digital electrical meter installation.

For those naysayers who believe that the negative effects of the Dumb Meter program are being overstated, consider a couple I know who live in a Surrey townhouse complex. They own the end unit which backs up next to a hydro shed containing electrical connections, cable and phone service and hydro meters for themselves and nine neighbours. Recently Corix was on site, replacing all ten meters that hum away on a wall directly next to their kitchen table where they sit eating meals and relaxing with their three young children. Whether this will create problems for their family once the Dumb Meters are all activated remains to be seen but they do not wish to be part of an EMF exposure experiment and are now planning on moving before the grid is energized. If only their strata had asked its owners if they wanted to be part of the Dumb Meter plan and changed the door locks, keeping the analog meters that were previously used. This might have saved these people real estate fees and moving costs, likely in excess of ten thousand dollars. But hey, what price to you put on your children's health?.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

April 09, 2012

What's Old is News Again

It never ceases to amaze me how some of the apparently random meetings I have with people create pathways which lead to the renewing of old friendships or the starting of new ones that create adventures and limitless possibilities. Recently I bumped into an old elementary school chum Simon Cumming at a Metro-Vancouver meeting, finding out he is now one of the senior executives of that organization much to my delight. Then Dan (the Man) Bottrill (aka "Botts") lands himself in Peggy Clark's old office as the new White Rock city manager which is funny as his younger brother and myself have been friends for over 40 years. You don't need a time machine to visit the past, sometimes a gentle nudge from a friend or a smiling face from years gone by will take you back down memory lane or to history that is waiting to be rediscovered.

Case in point, one of my customers who lives at a condo complex in Delta recently asked me if I might be able to help track down a historical newspaper article dating from back in the early 1970's. As I've been known to spend some time sleuthing for information in archives buildings, once pouring over 80 years of the Surrey Leader in order to assemble a list of those injured or killed on the BNSF Railway tracks along the Semi-pen waterfront, I gladly offered my assistance. The gentleman, a Mr. Dave Pierce, was looking for the picture of a car crash that unfortunately took the life of his younger sister Linda way back on Jan. 28, 1973. He knew that it was carried on the front page of a local paper along with an accompanying article about the accident but did not know which local newspaper was involved. My original search list for him included the Surrey leader, Surrey-Delta Messenger and the Peace Arch News.

I put a call into the news desk of the PAN and the lady who answered the phone told me that their "morgue" as the repository of previous editions is so eloquently known only went back as far as 1977 so it wouldn't be of any help. Not being put off by this dead-end, I phoned my contact Fiona at the Surrey Archives in Cloverdale who has always been a wealth of information and is busy compiling a rather thick dossier on my various nefarious activities. She checked out the microfiches of the old copies of the Leader for me and also drew a blank in the search which I must admit came as a bit of a surprise. Lastly, I emailed Hugh Ellenwood, the Archives Manager at the White Rock Museum and Archives, asking if he could possibly help solve this mystery and find the photo and story in question. Grasping at straws, I also told Mr. Pierce to swing by the Delta Archives in Ladner and see if they possibly had anything in their records about this car crash that happened long ago.

It took a while but eventually the story was researched and discovered by Mr. Ellenwood in the previous incarnation of the White Rock Sun newspaper that was the Semiahmoo Peninsula's main community news source until the Peace Arch News came on the scene and put them out of business. In the Feb. 8. 1973 story titled, "Couple Killed in Crash", it was revealed in the WR Sun that:
"A young couple was killed Sun., Jan. 28 when their 1968 MG skidded out of control on 24th Ave. in the 15900 block and smashed into an oncoming car. Dead are 16 year-old Linda Anne Pierce of White Rock and 17 year-old Kenneth Edward Dewinetz of Surrey. Driver of the other car Mrs. Jean Laxton, also of White Rock, sustained minor injuries and is reported in good condition in Peace Arch District Hospital. Her husband Stan Laxton who was a passenger in the car at the time of the accident sustained bruises but was immediately released from hospital. The Laxton car, a 1963 Acadian, was described by RCMP as a total loss. An inquest will be held."
According to her surviving brother Dave, potholes on the 24 Ave. overpass above Highway 99 where this accident took place were partially to blame for the loss of control along with speed and driver inexperience. As in all tragic deaths such as this, he still misses his sister and thinks about the impact it has had on his life over the years. With the 30th anniversary of her untimely loss coming next January, at least Mr. Pierce will have this story and the photos that went with it, hopefully giving him some closure and comfort.

The White Rock archives (www.whiterock.museum.bc.ca) welcomes you to "Go Back in Time and Read the Paper!" with newspapers from 1940 to present contained in their collection (http://www.whiterock.museum.bc.ca/archives/readthepaper.html). The first newspaper here, the Semiahmoo Sun, started as a slim four page weekly paper, growing over the years and changing their name to the White Rock Sun in 1957 when White Rock separated from Surrey and was incorporated. All of the papers from 1940 to 1966 have been digitalized with issues from 1956 to 1966 available online on the Flickr photo sharing site at www.flickr.com under the title, "White Rock Museum's Photostream." This site allows you to access hundreds of dates, scrolling from page to page while enlarging for ease of reading, a novel use of Flickr's capacity and capabilities. The White Rock Archives website also contains a "Virtual Exhibit" with images and stories covering over a century of White Rock's history along with "Historical Perspectives" which are written accounts of White Rock's growth and development. Not to be outdone, the City of Surrey (www.surrey.ca) has the SAMOA or Surrey Archives & Museum Online Access (http://www.surrey.ca/culture-recreation/2397.aspx) allowing you internet access to their archival collection of maps, documents, photographs and their substantial artifact collection, much of which is not on public display.

What I love about the present day electronic version of the White Rock Sun is that this column carries its own archives, with every "The Naked Truth" column I have ever written still available online, creating a database that I can also access and link back to as stories develop. Unfortunately searches will only direct you to the entire blog so it can be a bit like finding a needle in the haystack, especially since the TNT grows larger every week. Still, the information is all available in one location and it never leaves the website, something I should possibly think about before hitting the send button to the editor late at night (1:45 a.m. and counting). At least those who are interested in catching up with their reading or possibly learning some new facts about the Semi-Pen can do it from the comfort of their homes instead of spending time huddled in a dusty cubicle at the Archives building. For those wondering about the BNSF track record, my research at the Surrey archives showed 34 pedestrian/train accidents, including 19 fatalities over the years. Total time to compile this data along with the names and dates of many of those involved was about 20 hours including a few Saturdays when it was warm and sunny outside. Now you can understand why I'm such a fan of archival and museum material being available online where it can be accessed 24/7, like tonight for example.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

April 02, 2012

"The Sky is Falling..., The Sky is Falling..."

I don't want to be known as an alarmist like Henny Penny, better known as Chicken Little in the folk tale featuring the now famous catch phrase, "The Sky is Falling" but people living or visiting parks in the Semi-pen should know what if the wind is blowing you'd best don a hard-hat before going for a walk in the woods. Here is the list of three park areas, all off 24th Ave. in south Surrey that now have bright yellow warning signs on them marking various dangers. Scroll down into the TNT archives to read the related July 12, 2010 edition when I first noticed trees dying in Crescent Park that are part of this problem.

SunnySide Acres Urban Forest park in south Surrey was the first area where Laminated Root Rot (LRR) was noted with efforts beginning back in 2003 to contain the fungus by removing all of the Douglas fir and related evergreens in the affected region. An even larger area was clear-cut several years ago when it was discovered that this pest had continued to spread underground into healthy forests, endangering people utilizing the trail systems, especially during periods of high winds. While the main area north of 24 Ave. appears to now be under control, a region south of this road, just west of Softball City where there is a mountain bike park maintained by the Surrey Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts Society or SORCE (www.sorcebikeclub.org) is now under attack by the dreaded LRR. Large swaths of the riding area where some trees were previously cut have now been tagged with bright orange pest management tape featuring images of bugs and mushrooms. The Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society (www.sunnysideacres.ca) has informed me that a tree cull is being considered by Surrey Parks to control the growth of rot in this spot. No word yet on when this might be scheduled but considering the work that has already gone into identifying trees at risk of blow down, I would expect this logging operation in this sizeable corner of the forest to be completed in the not too distant future.

Pest Mgmt tape on Sunnyside Acres trees

A little further west of this point near 128 St., arborists have just finished two weeks of danger tree work at Crescent Park, continuing efforts there to ensure public safety during windstorms. According to a sign posted at the entrance to a trail, beside the bright yellow one already warning of the LRR risk, was a temporary one with the following information for the public:
- March 19 - 30. Hazard tree abatement work consists of the removal of trees infected by Laminated Root Rot and other dead standing trees that pose a high risk to the public.
- Please be aware of work zone signage and barriers within the park. "Do Not Cross Warning Barriers."
- When arriving at the work zone warning signs, please wait at the perimeter until direct eye conduct and communication has been made with the contractor, or find an alternate route.
- Please keep all children and pets within eye contact and communication range at all times while in the park.
While doing their best to keep people safe from falling trees during windstorms, expecting a small laminated sign printed on regular paper to be noticed by people using this park when trees were being cut down seemed rather inadequate to say the least. Trees being felled in public parks should include safety staff on site plus ads being posted on the city website, in local newspapers, and maybe..., just maybe..., in the electronic pages of the White Rock Sun if City Hall ever welcomes in the 21st century and new technology known as the internet where more and more people are now getting their news.

Double warning signs at Crescent Park

In between these two LRR zones, an area of Chantrell Creek is also posted with the ominous bright yellow warning signs that have become synonymous with this fungus, but in this case another culprit is at work. A few years back, I decided a little "ecojustice" was in order and shamed the City of Surrey into stopping their beaver cull program with my, "The Beaver Dies Here" campaign directed at the old welcome to Surrey freeway signs featuring a beaver (Surrey's former mascot before they traded up to stylized concrete towers and dropped the "City of Parks" motto). Well, even the best of intentions sometimes have unfortunate and unforeseen consequences. If you've ever wondered where the term, "busy as beavers" comes from, simply take a walk beside Chantrell Creek and the associated drainage ponds north of 24th Ave just east of Elgin Park Secondary School beside 137A St. It turns out that the beavers have taken a liking to the many deciduous trees lining this natural waterway, chewing their way through a good many of the Cottonwoods and Alders. The warning sign is quite hilarious reading, "CAUTION - You Are Entering An Area With a High Level Of Beaver Activity" and further warnings about trees falling on your head. Surrey has responded by tearing out their dam, cutting down damaged trees that the beavers had not quite gnawed through, while fencing off many of the large remaining trees to discourage further chewing. No word on whether the beavers have moved on or were trapped and relocated, utilizing the new humane methods Surrey is utilizing to deal with nature's famed engineers.

Chantrell Creek beaver damage

It would be nice to think that left undisturbed, our urban parks would all grow into old-growth forests featuring stands of giant firs similar to Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island but this is simply not realistic. You only have to think back a couple of years ago to the windstorm that damaged wide areas of Stanley Park in Vancouver to realize that parks are constantly evolving and that pests and various forces of nature are always reshaping them. When the wind comes up in south Surrey, go to the beach and watch the waves instead of venturing into our forests that are plagued with a variety of problems that increase the blow down risk and threat of being killed by falling tree or branch. As someone who was almost speared by a large fir branch as a child while going to visit a friend during a windstorm power outage and who saw five trees fall within ten minutes when in North Delta's Watershed Park hunting wild mushrooms during a storm, I'm more than aware of the risks involved. Park crews can only make the forest so safe with many problems such as internal rot often hard to spot. Considering many of our trees are a hundred feet tall or more, they have a long reach and can fall at terrible speeds, causing serious injuries or death if you happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

March 26, 2012

Somethings Sick in the Nick

In case you missed the story earlier this month in the White Rock Sun, on March 8th at 5 p.m. there was a large brownish foam plume witnessed on the surface of the Nicomekyl River (aka the "Nick") next to the one way Elgin Rd. gravity dam just west of the bailey bridge at the King George Boulevard. I spotted Surrey Fire Service on the scene and went to investigate, believing they might be involved in a rescue in the river or possibly have found a "floater." Instead foam covered an area 75 m. long by 15 m. wide up to a depth of 30 cm. (200 ft. long by 50 feet wide and a foot deep for the older generation). The firemen were discussing possible sources of the foam, from manure washing into the stream to soap being dumped into a nearby drain and promised to take water samples that they would forward to the B.C. Environment Ministry. I had a transportation meeting to attend that evening and when I came home to I drove by the river to check if the foam had dissipated. Much to my surprise it didn't look much different from when I had seen it hours before even though the turbulence created by water flowing through the dam had ceased. I picked up several clean jars and went back to the darkened river to get a sample of the foamy water for myself and took them in for testing at a local laboratory.

Knock Knock, Who's There? Pitbull. Pitbull who? "Pitbull Pitcairn!

There are many types of water quality testing you can have done but in this case and after discussing the matter with the lab staff along with showing them pictures, it was decided to test for surfactants and E. Coli bacteria. The results are now in and to be honest I was not at all surprised at the data I received back from my Nicomekyl River water sample. The tests revealed that surfactants, likely soaps, were found in the water at levels measured at 0.65 mg/L which would have been enough to have caused the foam, something that has been witnessed periodically in the river before but never at this level. Surfactants are notoriously hard to trace as there are usually from multiple possible sources. Sometimes mobile carpet cleaners pour their mixtures randomly down the drains as was witnessed once by a Fisheries Biologist friend of mine. Another urban source is companies doing power washing, multiple car washing at dealerships or vehicle detailing businesses choosing to clean in parking lots. Community held car washes and people cleaning on driveways near drains or dumping pails of detergent into them are also another source for soap in our rivers. Environmentally friendly soaps and fish friendly products still lead to this kind of foam showing up in waterways as these products are not good for fish and streams, they are just non-toxic. Fish are still affected by the lower dissolved oxygen and the sediment the waters carry which can suffocate them.

Even more disturbing than the presence of surfactants was the E. Coli level which was measured at 2400 CFU/100 mL. To put this into perspective, a rating of zero is acceptable for drinking water as obviously you wouldn't want to be drinking E. Coli from the tap whether you live in White Rock, Walkerton or Surrey. A measurement of 14 CFU/100 ml will close a shoreline to the harvesting of shellfish, something that occurs frequently enough in Boundary Bay where the Nicomkeyl flows that it has been off-limits to bi-valve harvesting since the 1970's (scroll down to my Mar. 4 TNT titled "Patrolling for Poachers" for more information). A level of 200 CFU/100 ml will close public beaches to swimming during the summertime. The amount of E. Coli detected in the sample taken I took from the foam plume in the Nick came back at a whopping 2,400 CFU/100 ml. or twelve times considered unsafe for swimming. While not the one to ten million levels of E. Coli found in raw sewage, this water could make you sick or lead to infections as I found out on a cut I received from a blackberry while climbing the bank of the river at night. As to the source of this contamination, it could be from the live-a-board boats moored in the river, many who formerly weighed anchor in False Creek leading to high E. Coli levels there. The many illegal marinas lining the Nick (that's another story) may be responsible with unscrupulous boat owners dumping their waste into the river. Manure washing off fields where good farming practices are not being followed might be to blame. It might even be possible that there is a sewer leak somewhere upstream or an overflow into storm sewers that allowed both the surfactants and E. Coli levels to reach the levels found.

At a recent Boundary Bay Conservation Committee (BBCC) meeting I proposed attempting to clean up Boundary Bay by organizing both governmental and environmental groups in a cross-border initiative to monitor water quality and sources of pollution on both sides of the border. I was told by senior members that while my ambitious goal was definitely worth while, I would need to research the extent of the problem and to identify all of those who might be able to assist. Enter Carrie Barron, Surrey's Environment and Drainage Manager and Jim Armstrong, Senior Environmental Biologist for Metro Vancouver. What I found out is that Met-Van quietly partnered with the cities of Delta, Surrey and White Rock along with several First Nations groups on both sides of the border plus the Puget Sound Partnership three years ago. Together they have been taking water samples on rivers and pump stations entering Boundary Bay along with water in the bay itself. I'm just in the process of acquiring the last two yearly "Boundary Bay Ambient Monitoring Program" reports and have been told that the 2011 edition is getting its final edit. Undoubtedly the data contained in these reports along with their findings will prove invaluable to any concerted effort to clean up Boundary Bay to the point that you wouldn't have to worry about being poisoned just by eating clams taken from the sand bars. To date, I've compiled a list of 25 organizations from all sides of Boundary Bay that I believe might be interested in assisting with this program and hopefully once I have the BBAMP reports in hand can move forward to making this lofty concept a reality.

Until that happens, governmental organizations and environmental groups need to play a key role in educating the public how to keep pollutants and toxins from our creeks, streams and rivers. Recently the city of Surrey has advertised in local news papers about the eco-consequences of dumping various materials into city storm drains that flow into waterways. Carrie Barron informed me that Surrey has another campaign about to start which will have students visiting businesses and doing more sampling on the Campbell River System this summer beyond the Boundary Bay sampling program. The B.C. Ministry of Environment needs to ensure that farmers are aware of the deleterious effects to our rivers and marine species of manure spreading done at the wrong time or using outdated methods. The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans could certainly use more funding to help locate the sources of pollution and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Instead of targeting people digging shellfish from Boundary Bay, I'd rather see those responsible for the E. Coli contamination be the ones getting large fines. Local environmental groups need to help spread the word about water quality problems in our streams, rivers and the bay and figure out how to attract more members, especially the younger generation to the cause.

Only by working together can we make Boundary Bay a healthy ecosystem free of pollutants and toxic chemicals and even then it will likely take many years to address this problem. I'm not getting any younger and hope one day to take my grand-children (or great-grand-children for that matter) down to the bay and tell them about the time when it was actually illegal to dig for clams there and dangerous to eat them. I'm hoping that they find this notion strange and disturbing, especially for an area that only a century ago was the largest commercial oyster bed region on the west coast of North America.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

March 19, 2012

"Valoir Vos Droits" - Maintain Your Rights

Mix St. Patrick's Day with a 50th birthday party and plenty of friends and I guarantee a good time will be had by all. I'm hoping the next half a century will be as much fun as the previous 50 years, almost all of it spent calling the Lower Mainland and south Surrey my home. Fortunately even with the large number of cars parked in front of our place and along the street in front of neighbours, the local RCMP did not crash the party looking for those unwise enough to drink and drive. This has not been the case the past couple of weekends and I believe that residents of the Semiahmoo peninsula and anyone concerned with the new .05 Breathalyzer alcohol level should know about what appears to be a change of tactics by the local police.

I have always been under the assumption that if you were doing nothing wrong that the RCMP did not have reason to pull you over. After all, if you are not violating the motor vehicle act, then in a free country there would be no reason to be interrogated by the police, right? Driving the speed limit, signalling lane changes and turns, stopping for red lights and stop signs and the like should not attract police attention and would not warrant being pulled over. This now appears to not be the case after several incidents in my neighbourhood involving friends and relatives of mine whose only transgression was being foolish enough to drive in the Semiahmoo peninsula after night. In both of these instances, the simple act of either going to or leaving a parked vehicle in a residential neighbourhood was enough to attract the attention of marked police cars.

In the first instance, a business associate of mine who is running a backcountry hot springs adventure company left my residence a couple of hours after midnight on a Saturday after we talked into the wee hours about eco-tourism involving magma heated mineral water. I shuffled off to bed while my friend made for his van, planning on driving home after not drinking any alcohol for five hours. He entered his vehicle and started the engine with the driving lights turning on automatically just as a police cruiser turned the nearby corner. The officer drove by slowly, then turned on the flashing red and blue lights, performing a U-turn and pulling in behind my buddy's van. The policeman approached his driver's window, asking him what he was doing in the neighbourhood and if he had been drinking, before requesting licence and registration. By the time this event was over twenty minutes later, there were a total of four cop cars with emergency lights on, boxing in my friends vehicle. All this for a guy who was sober, has no criminal record, does not use drugs and is both straight and square at the same time.

A week later, my Mother Out-law was in town from "Winter-peg" and we were having a get-together with three generations of our family. The one person missing was my soon-to-be brother-in-law (that's a lot of hyphens) who showed up late for the gathering, coming straight from his work as a commercial truck driver. He arrived completely sober of course, finally making it to the house a little after 10 o'clock on a Friday night. The simple act of parking his car across the street and walking to the front door attracted the attention of a passing constable, who shone a light at him in the driveway, asking him in a loud voice what he was doing. Being a law-abiding citizen, he went back to the car to explain that we were having a family get-together with our distant Grandma being the center of attention. Seeing this scene from the kitchen, I went out to talk to the officers, a young lady and older constable, who explained they were simply, "on patrol" in the neighbourhood. We later figured that this police vehicle had followed him from the street near the Crescent Beach Legion, even though he had only been passing by this licensed establishment.

This weekend, I delivered a stolen bicycle I'd found in a ditch to the south Surrey detachment, turning it in for identification and hopeful reunion with the rightful owner. I asked one of the officers at the precinct about my recent experiences and he rolled his eyes in his head before explaining to me what he believed was going on. What he told me is that since the introduction of the .05 breath alcohol level, many of the young rookie officers are now pulling over cars at random, searching for anyone drinking and driving. While I have zero tolerance for anyone driving drunk, I believe in our rights and freedoms and not being subject to police detention and interrogation without a valid reason. He informed me that while he didn't think it was particularly fair, that under the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act, the police have the right to ask you to produce licence and registration at any time. This same statement was also repeated when I contacted the duty Sargent at the Surrey detachment. Previously, this meant that when pulled over for traffic violations or passing through an advertised Counter-Attack road block, you were usually asked for this paperwork and identification. Now it appears they are using this loophole in the MVA to go trolling for anyone driving around the streets of the Semi-pen after dark, especially on Friday or Saturday night.

I believe that this change in police tactics needs to be questioned as it smacks of Canada suddenly turning the corner to becoming a police state. We already have police commando teams dressed all in black armed with machine guns and armoured personnel carriers rolling our streets. Now we've got rookie cops pulling over cars at random for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I can see this happening if there is suspicious activity or the vehicle or person matches someone of interest they are looking for, but simply trolling for arrests while harassing innocent people is no way to get a promotion. Because of this, I will now be changing my own tactic to deal with this type of situation, following the legal advice given to a friend of mine who had previously lost his licence at a roadblock. You simply roll down your window half an inch, handing the officer your driver's licence and vehicle registration/insurance along with a short letter explaining that for legal reasons, answers will not be given to any form of questioning. You do not need to roll down your window any further, engage in conversation, or explain your movements or actions. Doing so, even before being read your rights, can lead your statements to become evidence against you in a court of law.

The problem with this new police tactic being used is that it undermines people's respect in law enforcement and the legal system. We should not fear being intimidated or harassed by the police simply because we are driving. If not breaking the law, then why should the cops be able to pull you over? For those who like to say, "well, if you're not doing anything wrong, then you've got nothing to hide", would you like to be pulled over and questioned for twenty minutes after ensuring that you were in full compliance with the new .05 drinking limit? As it is now, RCMP cars have been spotted chasing cars leaving local watering holes in south Surrey. I know this because I have witnessed it myself and a friend was pulled over with his three slightly tipsy buddies, even though he was the designated driver. Even though he was totally sober, with the smell of alcohol in the car from his friends, this person was requested to blow into a roadside screening device which he obviously passed. If this type of police behaviour is allowed to continue unchallenged, I'm wondering if they will soon ask for pesky warrants to be dropped next, allowing searches and seizures of personal property on a whim.

The RCMP's French motto is, "Maintiens le Droit" which translates to, "Maintain the Law." It is also taken to mean maintain the right as in to do the right thing. In this case, the police need to realize that subjecting the public to this unwanted and unnecessary intrusion into their lives will make people less trusting and fearful of them. This means that citizens will be less likely to contact the police, report criminal activity or interact with officers on the street. If the politicians will not stop this latest RCMP tactic, then their senior officers need to realize that it is in their own best interests to not turn law-abiding people into suspects. The police are supposed to be respected, not feared, and using the Motor Vehicle Act to justify this new procedure needs to be challenged, which is exactly what this TNT is all about. Previously, I alerted the Surrey RCMP that their behaviour towards naturists at Crescent Rock Beach violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which they investigated and found to be true. I'll now be contacting the Surrey Police Chief about whether this new "fishing" tactic is even legal and if he will do the right thing and stop this sudden goose-step towards jackboot fascism and oppressive state control.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

The Naked Truth - March 12, 2012

 

Broken Railings..., Broken Parts...,
Broken Lives..., Broken Hearts

It is the anniversary of the untimely death of the young lady who drowned in the Serpentine River on Feb. 28, 2011 after her Honda Civic tore through the guardrail of the bridge on Hwy. 99, finally succumbing to her injuries a dozen days later. I know her name which is being kept private and also met her grief stricken family members at the roadside memorial beside the freeway a year ago. Unfortunately there still continues to be much confusion about this crash and either Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure staffers haven't read the "Serpentine River Bridge Barrier Failure Analysis" report or they appear to be engaged in a disinformation campaign as to what caused the death of a 20 year-old woman who drowned at the bottom of this silt-choked river. Regardless, with my personal knowledge of this case I would like to set the record straight on this deadly accident and warn the public about broken bridge guardrail parts on Hwy. 99 that are not being fixed.

There is nothing in this detailed barrier failure report to suggest that the car in question impacted at a "near head-on" or perpendicular angle into the aluminium guardrail as was originally described to myself and a PAN reporter when this report was finally released at a meeting in the Ministry offices. Looking back, the fact it was not shared with other members of the media and given to us the day before the B.C. Budget should have raised a big red flag. Forget what you may have read about this crash in local newspapers; according to the report the Honda crossed over the side fog line and instead first hit the tubular lateral railings in what was a shallow side-swipe. This is proven in photographs showing several small scuff marks linked to the car's impact with no denting or other physical damage done to the round rails. Further laboratory testing on components of the guardrail were completed with an estimated impact angle of only 5 degrees from parallel.

From this point, the Honda travelled a few feet further down the tubular safety rails, impacting the exposed flange of a cast aluminium mounting post holding the horizontal railings in place, "colliding directly with the post over a small contact area" as stated, but on the side edge not the front face. While the old building code for these safety systems stated it was "preferred" that smooth railings faced traffic, as used on several Hwy. 17 bridges in Delta, in this case a protruding metal flange on these I-beam style posts was left exposed and vulnerable to out-of-control vehicles driving at the edge of the bridge deck. This secondary impact was nearly straight on to the side of the post, shattering the metal of the I-beam into pieces and "snagging" the car on the front passenger side which sent it into a clockwise spin through the remainder of the railing. This is how a 1,200 Kg. Honda Civic in a sideswipe at regular highway speed managed to pull 60 feet of railing and four broken mounting posts into the river, with all of this allegedly resulting from a simple unsafe lane change by another driver.

For Ministry staffers to suggest that this impact was "unusual" or "unique" is far from the truth, with many old dents and scrapes on the existing rails over the Serpentine and Nicomekl Rivers showing shallow angle collisions are the norm. If a vehicle hits the post flange instead of just the rail tubes, failure of the aluminium safety webbing is probable. As disturbing as the report's findings are, with the executive summary stating that the only safe remedy is for them to be replaced with new concrete barriers, there is structural damage on other mounting brackets on the Serpentine bridge that have been left un-repaired. Photos taken in July of last year during hardness testing show large pieces of metal missing from two guardrail posts which were still there when I personally inspected a handful of area bridges several weeks ago. The Nicomekl River bridge was no better, with half-moon chunks measuring up to six inches across missing on three of these vital support posts and a rail tube end sticking out facing traffic. Of these five damaged posts, four had been marked with red spray paint, likely by the highway's maintenance contractor to note the damage.

For Ministry of Transportation executives to say that these railings on the Serpentine and Nickomekl River are "safe enough" as reported in the PAN is an absolute disgrace. While these bridges may have meet the standards of the day when constructed in the early 1960's, it has now been proven beyond a doubt that the exposed design of the mounting posts and the brittle aluminium metal they contain were to blame for this young lady losing her life at an early age. The Ministry is also aware of damaged bridge parts not being repaired as there were pictures of two of them on the final page of the report. The modern concrete and steel barricades used on B.C. bridges since the year 2000 that were recently built on the northbound lanes of both the Serpentine River bridge and BNSF Railway overpass would have easily retained the small Honda sedan and Ministry staff should be well aware of this fact that they likely won't admit due to liability concerns. While the PAN's original reporting on this story failed to grasp the details of the barrier failure report, at least they covered this important safety subject that has been ignored by the Surrey Now for reasons unknown.

What I would like to know is exactly how many of the 2,800 bridges in B.C. have the identical aluminium guardrails still in use over the Serpentine and Nickomekl rivers on Hwy. 99, because in the next guardrail crash, it may not be a Honda Civic with a single occupant. Knowing Murphy's Law, it just might instead be a school bus fully loaded with children. This faulty railing system must be tracked down, immediately protected with heavy concrete curbing as a temporary measure and replaced with modern cast concrete and steel containment systems designed to keep even heavy trucks on our bridge decks. Inspecting guardrails frequently, repairing damage quickly when noted, cleaning bridge decks of sand and gravel for increased traction, plus with not allowing lane changes on narrow bridges also need to be implemented to ensure public safety. These suggestions and my concerns have been passed on to the Liberal Minister of Transportation Blair Lekstrom plus the Transportation Critics for both the NDP and B.C. Conservative Parties. Until something is done about this deadly problem, take great care when crossing the Serpentine or Nickomekl rivers, knowing that the guardrails cannot be trusted to keep your vehicle on the bridge deck, or yourself out of the cold murky water.

I first contacted Mainroad Contracting about the broken guardrail posts and dented safety rails at the Serpentine and Nickomekl River bridges on Feb. 29th and was promised that Management would contact me. Five days later in an email I received about the ongoing lack of communication, I was assured I would eventually receive a response "as soon as it is possible." Another week has gone by without a word from Mainroad as to why these important bridge parts have been left broken for at least eight months and maybe a lot longer. As to whether they have finally been repaired or are still being ignored, I guess I won't know until I once again do my own bridge safety inspection. If this is the kind of service we can expect from privatization, then I'm starting to wonder if highways bridge maintenance should instead be done by qualified public employees. As the B.C. Green Party's Transportation Critic, I will be visiting the Mainroad offices in person on Monday morning and will not be leaving until I get the answers we all need and deserve. Their "as soon as it is possible" statement reminds me of their apparent disregard for properly repairing our highway bridge guardrails.

TNT Update: In meeting with Mainroad Contracting staff on Monday morning, Management admitted they have limited guardrail mounting posts in stock for the Serpentine and Nicomekyl River bridges but are waiting from directions from the Ministry of Transportation as to whether to make repairs to the guardrails or instead wait for replacement. Personally I believe these posts should have been replaced long ago when damage was first noticed along with the dented lateral railings that may have had their strength compromised by collisions

Scroll down to TNT's on Feb. 20, 2012 and March 7, 2011 for the full story to date.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

The Naked Truth - March 4, 2012

Patrolling For Poison Poachers

A butter clam after reading that joke

Q. Why did the clam and oyster decide not to get married?
A. They realized they were just two shellfish.


Normally when you see fully clothed men at Surrey's naturist beach peering off into the distance with high-powered binoculars, you'd imagine they were voyeurs trying to catch a glimpse of bronzed flesh without tan lines. That was not the case last week when this rugged and secluded beach was nearly deserted, with rare sunny weather offset by cool temperatures and a steady breeze off the water. Out walking my wife's genetically engineered designer dog (read cute-as-a-button mutt), I met enforcement officers from Fisheries & Oceans
Canada down at Crescent Rock Beach. They were quietly investigating reports of people illegally collecting shellfish from Surrey's nude-friendly shoreline between the "101 Steps" at 24 Ave. in Crescent Heights and the "1001 Steps" at 15A Ave. near Ocean Park. In case you were wondering, they did not give me a ticket for having our pet at the beach as it is completely legal, unlike more public and controlled areas of the Semiahmoo peninsula.
The officer responding to this complaint asked the White Rock Sun to inform the public that even during mid-winter when the water of Boundary Bay is cold and clear that Ecoli contamination and other toxic material persists in the shellfish found in the sand, making them hazardous for human consumption. The bay has been closed to the harvesting of all bi-valve shellfish including clams, muscles, oysters, scallops and gooeyducks since the 1970's mainly because of fecal coliform contamination. This is due to a variety of sources; overflowing sanitary sewers discharging into storm drains, manure spread on fields or feed lots washing into nearby streams or rivers, discharge from passing boats or live-a-boards, or even those too ignorant to pick up after their dog at the beach (nope, not me). Shellfish growing waters are considered to be polluted when the fecal coliform counts surpass an average of 14FC per 100 mL H2O while the swimming water standard is a far greater 200 FC/100mL. The stringent water quality standard for shellfish is necessary because the filter feeding of bivalve shellfish can concentrate bacteria and toxins. It's sad when you consider that Boundary Bay was once the largest oyster rearing region on the west coast of North America at the turn of the century. Wharf pilings and sections of cleared beach remain as remnants from this once thriving industry, destroyed by pollution from farming and urban development.

Red tides that regularly occur during several times of the year in this region can create paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) from a group of 24 variants of the toxin "saxitoxin" or SXT that act primarily on the nervous system. While this poison can dissipate in some species in as little as two weeks, in shellfish like butter clams toxic effects can linger for up to two years as these simple creatures bioaccumulate this chemical as an effective defence mechanism. Eating PSP affected shellfish can cause a variety of symptoms appearing 10 to 30 minutes after ingestion including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, tingling or burning of all areas of the mouth, face and neck, arms, legs and toes. More acute exposure can lead to shortness of breath, a feeling of choking, slurred speech and loss of coordination and balance. PSP can be fatal in extreme cases, particularly in young children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Wild animals do not fare any better from the ravages of PSP, with sea otters, monk seals and even humpback whales known to have suffered mortality from saxitoxin poisoning from various sources. Most importantly people need to realize that the following warning on waterfront signs throughout B.C. might save your life:

COOKING DOES NOT DESTROY THE PARALYTIC SHELLFISH TOXIN!




Look for this symbol on signs around B.C. and ensure the area is open and safe prior to shellfish harvesting.

The illegal harvest and sale of shellfish from this region have been linked to organized crime activities and Fisheries & Oceans Canada officers suspect contaminated shellfish is often sold to markets and restaurants locally. Unfortunately they rarely have enough evidence to follow the shellfish from the shore to fish stores or restaurant tables. In other cases, officers believe that it may be a cultural misunderstanding leading recent immigrants from Asia to believe that the apparently clean ocean water, especially compared to areas offshore from such countries as China or Vietnam, mean that the shellfish here are safe to eat. Unfortunately this may not be the case and with the serious medial health issues that can arise from PSP poisoning or Ecoli contamination from undercooked shellfish, this poses a major health risk to people living in the Lower Mainland. It is because of these threats that FOC enforcement officers drive around in unmarked undercover vehicles, recording licience plates near beachfront parking lots and keep a watchful eye on the behaviour of people at the beaches here, especially at low tide when shellfish harvesting is most common.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada sign in White Rock warning of prohibited shellfish harvesting

FOC officers ask that residents of south Surrey and White Rock work together to stop contaminated shellfish from getting to local markets by reporting poachers or suspected illegal shellfish harvesting from beaches across the Semiahmoo peninsula, especially the rather remote Crescent Rock which is more difficult to patrol. If you are at any of our local beaches from Peace Arch Park to Crescent Beach, boating on the water of Boundary Bay, or walking the BNSF train tracks (which is unsafe and trespassing might I add) keep an eye out for people digging for molluscs. If you happen to be lucky and wealthy enough to own one of the many bluff-top mansions in south Surrey or view properties in White Rock, have binoculars or a telescope handy to watch for unusual or suspect behaviour along the waterfront. Those living in Surrey near the 101 Steps, 1001 Steps, and Olympic Trail or Coldicutt Trail in White Rock, be aware of people with shovels and large buckets heading to or from the shore, recording licience plates of cars that may belong to possibe repeat offenders. Together we can help stop the harvest of polluted shellfish by calling Fisheries and Oceans Canada's "Observe, Record and Report" hotline at the following phone numbers which you should keep in an easy to access location at home for emergency use plus add to your cell phone contact list.

FOC "Observe, Record & Report" Hotline
Greater Vancouver: (604) 666-3500
Toll free: 1-800-465-4336

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - Feb. 27, 2012

Gerry..., Gerry..., Gerry!

There are some perks to writing this weekly column but the best one yet had to be getting invited to report on the 19th Annual National Aboriginal Achievement Awards held on Friday night at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. This ceremony first began back in 1993 in conjunction with the United Nations declaration of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous peoples. The gala evening attracted a sold-out crowd of 3,000 people mainly of native ancestry who came dressed for the occasion in stunning designer dresses and stylish high-fashion suits, many decorated with beautiful native motifs. It was presented by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation who used this show that will be broadcast across Canada later this spring to reveal their new identity name which is has been changed to "Indspire." Their new motto, "Indigenous education, Canada's future" shows the thinking behind their updated modern look. For more information on Indspire and now it helps First Nations, Inuit and Metis students and communities nationwide, visit their website at www. indspire.ca.

Editor's Note - The awards show will be broadcast Friday April 13 @ 7;30 P.M. on Global and APTN.

NAAF CEO Roberta Jamieson opened the night, introducing Museum elder Mary Charles of the Musqueum First Nation who led the crowd in prayer, followed by the introduction of the B.C. Lt. Governor Steven L. Point, who himself served as the tribal chair of the Stó:lo Nation Government and previously received a NAAA award for politics in 2000. He welcomed members from the 203 First Nation communities in B.C. to the Coast Salish tradition territory, introducing well-known and respected Grand Chief Edward John to thunderous applause, himself later receiving the 2012 prize for Politics. The awards were hosted by awarded-winning television and film actress Carmen Moore of Wet'suwet'en First Nations heritage and former NHL hockey star Theoren Fleury who is Metis and has recently become a leading advocate and role model for victims of sexual abuse in the Graham James affair. Musical performances by aboriginal artists kept the night lively with Chantal Kreviazuk and Derek Miller wowing the capacity crowd.

There were fifteen categories that honoured the night's recipients being, Business and Commerce, Education, Politics, Media & Communications, Health, Law & Justice, Sports, Public Service, Arts, Culture-Heritage & Spirituality, Environment & Natural Resources, and Lifetime Achievement with multiple awards given for Special Youth Achievement and Politics. Without getting into the details of all of the personalities and their amazing biographies that are available online, I'd like to say that it was uplifting and inspirational to share this special event with these great Indigenous Canadians on such a grand stage. One of the more notable NAAA nominees lives here in south Surrey and he was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award for this year, none other than the Conservative Senator for Langley-Pemberton-Whistler, Gerry St. Germain, who now joins the ranks of other Lifetime winners including famed artist Bill Reid, labour leader Jim Sinclair and musician Robbie Robertson. He received the largest standing ovation of the night and it made me smile when a group of people in the balcony started chanting, "Gerry..., Gerry..., Gerry, not that I think for a minute he would ever be caught dead on the Jerry Springer show.

Mr. St. Germain was born Nov. 6, 1937 at St. Boniface in friendly Manitoba and grew up in a small Metis community along the banks of the Assiniboine River before attending St. Pauls College in Winnipeg. He has flown as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, served as a policy officer in both Winnipeg and Vancouver, along with working as a developer and rancher. In 1983 Gerry ran for the Progressive Conservative party and was elected as an M.P. for the riding of Mission-Port Moody in a by-election, being re-elected again in 1984. He entered the federal cabinet when appointed Minister of Transport in March of 1988 (the first Metis to do so), becoming Canada's Minister of Forests in October of that same year. After his riding's boundaries were changed in a realignment to Mission-Coquitlam, St. Germain was defeated in the November 1988 general election by New Democrat Joy Langan. In 1989, he was elected the President of the Progressive Party of Canada, a post he held until 1995. He was summoned to the Senate on June 23, 1993 on the recommendation of Brian Mulroney just prior to the Prime Minister's retirement. In June of 2000, St. Germain sat as an independent Conservative Senator and in Oct. of that year became the only Canadian Alliance Senator in an attempt to unite the right wing parties including Reform which led to the formation of the current Conservative Party of Canada in Dec. 2003. Senator St. Germain continues to serve the people of Canada and his constituents, being the senior member from the Province of B.C.

With his appointment to the Senate, Gerry St. Germain has been on many committees, currently serving as the chair for the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal People. Under his guidance, the Committee has undertaken studies and filed reports on many policies concerning First Nations including economic development, land claims resolution, treaty implementation, access to safe drinking water and First Nations elections to name a few. With his vast political knowledge and interest in aboriginal affairs, he has introduced legislation on many occasions to help develop self-government for all First Nations across Canada. Senator Germain was instrumental in achieving an apology from the Government of Canada for all Indigenous peoples for the decades of injustices and systemic abuse resulting from the failed Residential Schools program. As if this was not enough service to the public, he volunteers his time on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vancouver and for Redeemer Pacific College at Trinity Western University in Langley. He's also known for holding a great summer barbeque for Conservative Party faithful and the Prime Minister at his Hazelmere ranch if you are lucky enough to get an invite to what many consider the social event of the year.

I've personally known Mr. St. Germain ("call me Gerry") for over twenty years, having had the pleasure of working on his residential properties in both Langley and Surrey. When I heard from his daughter-in-law Kimberley that he was going to receive a lifetime achievement award for all of the dedicated work he has done for aboriginal people and fellow Canadians, I called his home to offer my congratulations. It typical Gerry fashion, he told me that, "The nomination rocked me to my core" and that, "I could think of many people who were more deserving." While Senator St. Germain realizes the importance of his work and is passionate about advocating for educating Indigenous youth, I don't think he quite grasps the enormity of the contributions he has made to Canada and its aboriginal people. Besides being a mentor and role model to myself and many others, Gerry is a prime example of how hard work, determination and perseverance pay off, not only for yourself but society as a whole. Behind every great man is an even greater woman and you will find that his wife of 50 years Margaret ("call me Marg") to be just as self-effacing and humble as her husband. It was heart-warming to see their grown-up children Michele, Suzanne, and Jay at this event, celebrating their father's award as a family.

Gerry & Marg St. Germain

While winning the NAAA Lifetime Achievement Award may be the proverbial feather in Senator St. Germain's trademark black cowboy hat, I'm pretty sure that he has no thoughts of slowing down as he acknowledges there is still much work to be done to promote positive lifestyles and successful outcomes for Indigenous Peoples from across Canada. For me, I'd like to take this chance to tip my own hat to Gerry St. Germain for being a truly great Canadian, a positive role model and an inspiration to many people regardless of their heritage or ethnicity. To the entire St. Germain family, there are not enough words to express our gratitude, so I'll have to resort to only one which is, "Thanks!" While we still don't get to elect our Senators to the Upper House of Parliament, I'd like Gerry St. Germain to know, you've got my vote sir.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - Feb. 20, 2012

Guard-Rail-Roaded

It has been almost a year since a small black Honda sedan driven by a young woman spun out of control on Hwy. 99 heading towards south Surrey, crashing through the guard rail on the Serpentine River bridge before sinking into the icy muddy water. This happened when streets were dry, the temperature was far above freezing and after the morning rush hour at just before 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 28th. When the 20 year old driver was eventually rescued from the river by RCMP divers after being submerged for 90 minutes, she was then resuscitated and airlifted to hospital by the B.C. Air Ambulance Service. Unfortunately she succumbed to her serious injuries twelve days after the crash without ever regaining consciousness. I first wrote about this incident in a TNT column titled "Dead Man's Curve" posted on March 7, 2011 (scroll down for the details) after questioning why this accident had ever happened. The piece of broken railing I pulled from the muddy banks of the Serpentine several days after the accident were picked up by Mainroad Contracting while divers salvaged the remaining pieces soon afterwards. I've been waiting for the results of the report that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure commissioned into this deadly affair and while it was completed on Nov. 7, 2011, it wasn't until yesterday that it was finally released to the media.

In the meeting I had with the Regional Director and Regional Manager of Engineering in their Burnaby office, they gave me a copy of the consultants report compiled by Associated Engineering along with Acuren Group who conducted the metallurgical testing. Unfortunately they did not have any information concerning the RCMP accident report, the identity of the driver of a second vehicle believed to have been involved in the crash, or proposed charges being forwarded to Crown Counsel (more on that soon). What they did tell me was that the Serpentine River bridge was built in 1961 and still meets construction standards mandated for highway bridges at that time by the American Association of State Highway Officials known as the AASHO Code. The Ministry executives seemed to believe that this accident was "unique" and that if efforts were made to recreate it, it would likely be impossible to duplicate. I was informed that the vehicle approached the railing at a steep angle or "deflecting to perpendicular" putting undue forces on the railing, with the car directly striking one of the mounting posts causing it to fracture and break off. New railings such as those recently built on the northbound Serpentine River and BNSF overpass bridges to accommodate widening for the Hwy. 99 bus lane now use the new year 2000 standards which incorporate heavy concrete barriers with smooth sides rebarred directly into the bridge deck.

When asked, the Ministry staffers revealed there are 2800 bridges across B.C. with many dating from the 1960's and while not knowing how many utilize aluminum guard rails admitted there are 30 in the Lower Mainland alone. Even in our neck of the woods, there are five bridges including overtop the Nicomekyl River utilizing the antiquated aluminum guard railings and even these include a variety of slightly different designs. The Ministry is planning on renewing these guard rails to the new standard over time as they rehabilitate or replace aging bridge infrastructure. Until then, individual bridges with aluminum railings will be examined and if it is warranted will be strengthened by adding concrete barriers to the edge of the roadway adjacent to the present railings. This same system was used this last year on the Serpentine River bridge to protect construction workers in the northbound lane from southbound traffic. Unfortunately, while I lobbied to leave these concrete barricades in place and simply add the same to the other side of the southbound lane, they were instead removed when the bus lane construction was finished. I was told that these will now be replaced on the Serpentine River Bridge by the end of March and suggested that putting them on the nearby BNSF Railway overpass to protect the AmTrak and freight trains carrying dangerous goods might be a good option. Obviously removing these concrete barriers was a costly mistake and one which also threatened the safety of the water main hanging underneath the space between the two lanes of the Serpentine River bridge which supplies all of the water for White Rock and south Surrey, a danger which I also previously brought to their attention. .

Unfortunately the rosy picture painted in the Ministry offices didn't agree with much of the data in the "Hwy. 99 Serpentine River Bridge No. 1629W Barrier Failure Analysis." There is mention of the RCMP collision reconstruction investigation and while it does not contain the full accident report, it does indicate that the Honda in question crossed what is known as the west fog line at the right side of the road before hitting the eight inch concrete curb of the bridge deck and guard rail at a shallow angle, "very nearly parallel to the railing." This is far from the near head-on crash described by Ministry staffers, especially when this report reveals that in later crash modelling which was done in the laboratory, an angle of only 5 degrees was used to simulate the same impact on a railing being tested. The five inch diameter horizontal rails with aluminum alloy walls of only 1/8" thickness actually faired quite well in the crash despite being torn into various lengths when they fell into the river as they were found to have, "relatively high strength and good fracture toughness properties." In fact, pictures of several dark rubbing marks on the lateral rails were the only mechanical damage found that was consistent with contact from a vehicle. Compared to the rest of the 120 feet total length of railing and four mounting brackets that ended up in the Serpentine, these impact spots do not even appear dented which was a complete surprise.

The cast aluminum-silicon brackets bolted to the bridge deck which held the two parallel rails in place are a completely different story. While the AASHO Code was followed, it uses static forces based on the "Allowable Stress Design (ASD)" philosophy that does not specify ductility (ability to change shape without breaking) or fracture toughness requirements. The four mounting posts on the bridge which sheared from an out of control 1,200 Kg. Honda may have met the material requirements specified on the original 1961 drawings but they were found to have, "no tentile elongation making them very brittle and prone to sudden fracture when subjected to sufficient applied load." In layman's terms, they don't bend to absorb impact, they just break allowing the rail system to fail and vehicles to fall. Several of the damaged mounting brackets were blown into three separate pieces by the force of the impact and the fragility of the metal. The base plates which were bolted onto the bridge deck by four 3/4" bolts broke in two on the four posts that were sheared off. All showed significant corrosion damage where they were in contact with the bridge deck resulting in a loss of material which was identified as contributing to "brittle fracture under impact loading" by providing a sharp fracture causing notch in the metal surface. Poor casting quality with low ultimate strengths, large amounts of gas porosity and shrinkage cavities in the metal were all noted during electron microscopic inspection and listed as the main factors making the mounts brittle and subject to impact failure.

The complete guard rail design also played an important role in allowing this car to leave the roadway of Hwy. 99 where it ended up upside down at the bottom of the river with the unlucky driver trapped inside. In the ASSHO Code it states that, "Roadway railings preferably shall be designed in such a manner as to present smooth longitudinal surfaces on the traffic side, unbroken by the vertical posts or any other projections." Unfortunately with the Serpentine River bridge and many others utilizing aluminum components, the mounting brackets wrap around the horizontal railings, leaving a large flange vulnerable to impact from passing vehicles. Since the instruction in the code uses the word "preferably", this ensures the railings still conform to the design of the day when most cars didn't even have seat belts, let alone air bags. Engineers believe the Honda first lightly impacted the railings in a manner best described as a side-swipe before "snagging" on the flange of the mounting post that extended into traffic past the surface of the tubular rails. This design flaw, along with the brittle metal of the support post caused it to fracture completely away from the base plate, putting undue forces on the remaining rail web, causing successive failures along this important safety system. As the Honda spun counter-clockwise from the impact into the widening chasm between the falling railing and the bridge deck, it pulled a 60 foot length of guard rail along with it that broke and tore into many pieces before sinking into the river along with the car and its lone occupant.

The Executive Summary in the report is chilling in its conclusion and instead of paraphrasing or editing its content, I believe it is in the public interest and to ensure safe transportation on bridges across B.C. to print it here in full:
"It is our opinion that the snagging hazard, combined with a lack of ductility and toughness of the post material, were the critical factors in the failure to contain the errant vehicle. In addition, we believe that any feasible mitigative measures for this railing, and similar existing railings, would not bring these railings into compliance with current standards. In our opinion, the appropriate way to address the lack of containment exhibited by this railing and similar existing railings, is to replace the railing with a barrier configuration that is compliant with the current standards."
Whether the B.C. Government wants to admit it or not, placing concrete curbing against these defective railings is at best a band-aid solution. Until this problem can be properly addressed, it does makes sense as a temporary fix and should be done on all bridges throughout the province with 1960's style aluminum guard-rails, provided that engineering shows the bridges can handle the extra weight of the curbing. The once a year bridge inspection that is regularly done needs to be performed at more frequent intervals on aluminum guard rails as several were found to be broken last summer on the Serpentine River Bridge in areas not near the crash scene. The job of retrofitting these bridges with the year 2000 standard concrete barricades needs to be scheduled and financed because it is likely that even with a concrete curb next to the aluminum railings, many larger vehicles would simply plough right through them, likely landing in a river, gorge, roadway or train track below. If you drive a one tonne truck, motor home, bus, commercial truck or semi-trailer, give this some thought and keep an eye out for aluminum railings on B.C. highway bridges, realizing they likely cannot be trusted to save your life should you accidentally hit one.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editors note: While its reporters were at the same meeting, the Peace Arch News headline on this story read," Railings not to blame in South Surrey fatal bridge plunge." In fact, while the bridge met the 1960's building materials code, the support posts of the failed railing were identified as the main cause of this drowning with calls to replace and upgrade them to ensure bridge safety. The PAN's reporting that the Honda in question,"hit the railing on one side of the bridge with a glancing blow, then bounced across two lanes to hit the other side at a very sharp angle" is not supported by the report's findings that the car only impacted the western side of the southbound lane at a shallow angle.

UPDATE: The RCMP have informed the WR Sun that a report to Crown Counsel has been forwarded and charges are expected to soon be laid against another driver suspected in causing the crash that sent the Honda through the Serpentine River bridge guardrail with a news release likely next Monday. Stay tuned for more details.

 

The Naked Truth - Feb. 13, 2012

Accidents Waiting to Happen

It's surprising how when you get older you get a little wiser and a whole lot safer. Several of my friends are no longer with us because they lacked the proper insight to protect their own safety and notice when danger was near. Taking note of hidden dangers is a bit of an art form and you certainly have to educate yourself to notice things in our environment that might possible endanger your life. Driving for years on the streets of the Lower Mainland has certainly sharpened my survival instincts and the few accidents I've been involved in pale in comparison to the numerous close calls I have had or the bloody crash scenes I've attended. Being self employed, I'm responsible not only for my own well being but the safety of my employees which tends to focus your attention on things likely to cause injury. This led to me becoming involved with the community railway safety group SmartRail several years back, bringing attention to the many maintenance issues on the BNSF Railway line in the Semiahmoo peninsula. I lobbied for the Highway 99 cable medial safety barriers and have a meeting planned with the Ministry of Highways to review the Serpentine River bridge guard rail failure which led to the drowning death of a young lady last spring. Unfortunately there are still far too many roads across Surrey which put drivers at risk due to poor design or historical oversight.

Recently I was almost involved in a t-bone accident at the east end of 56 Ave. in Panorama Ridge at 140 St. where it joins onto #10 Hwy. There is a new frontage road servicing the properties in this area that saw substantial changes due to the expansion of the KGB/#10 interchange several years ago. I was heading east and followed the lines on the road, angling left directly in front of a truck that did not stop coming off Frontage Rd. onto 56 Ave. The driver slammed on the brakes, honked his horn and I'm pretty sure also gave me the one finger salute for good measure. I couldn't understand why this person didn't stop before proceeding off this small side street onto the main thoroughfare. When I revisited the site a few days later, it became clear the reason the other driver did not stop was that he had no reason to; there was no stop sign at the end of the Frontage Road. Unfortunately it is little oversights like this which can cause accidents and that sometimes kill people. I informed the Surrey Engineering Dept. about problems with this intersection along with alerting the West Panorama Ridge Ratepayers Association about the close call. It didn't take long before I had return emails from the city along with photographs and plans to install a stop sign plus stop line as requested plus make other subtle changes to ensure public safety. Hats off to Vince Lalonde, head of the City of Surrey's Engineering Dept. who doesn't seem to mind my constant stream of emails about safety defects on our roads and who will soon be receiving notification about four other dangerous problems I've recently noticed.

Unfortunately it is not only the City of Surrey that has engineered safety defects on their roads. The B.C. Ministry of Transportation has a variety of problems on their highways, not including the issue with the old aluminum safety railings on 2,500 bridges in B.C. The corner on Hwy. 99 just north of the Serpentine River bridge that I call "Dead Man's Curve" has an alarming number of needed safety upgrades which are made even more impressive by the carnage and body count associated with this stretch of road. The corner is not lit with street lights and is often subject to low-lying fog floating in off Boundary Bay. Drivers headed towards south Surrey may not notice the two "right hand curve ahead" warning signs which were recently installed on both sides of the freeway after I brought this to the attention of Ministry staff. The concrete divider is scarred with impact marks from many crashes and several of these have recently been replaced due to damage. Unfortunately the Ministry of Transportation has done nothing to increase visibility to this corner by installing large left hand arrow sign age which you see headed onto Hwy. 99 northbound off the KGB, or attaching large reflector strips to the dividers to make them more visible as is done on Nordel Way. Small cat-eye reflectors from decades ago which are almost invisible are the only clue that the road takes a hard turn to the right in this spot. While these threats are known, it unfortunately takes time and budget money to make necessary repairs, during which cars and trucks will continue to slam into the concrete on dark and stormy nights. ICBC knows about this problem but I guess the money paid out to fix vehicle damage is not enough to warrant investing in making this dangerous corner safer.

I really could go on for hours, reciting problems with various intersections and roads throughout the region that contribute to car accidents, injuries and fatalities through human stupidity, engineering oversight and poor design. What I wish to impress on other drivers is that unfortunately you
should not count on our roadways to be free of dangerous situations which are built in the infrastructure. There are many road ends not properly marked or barricaded with green lights inviting drivers to drive head-on into ditches as exists at 8 Ave. and 164 St. Deep drop-offs into ravines are often unprotected allowing cars to careen off streets, flipping and rolling to the bottom as happened last year at 16 Ave. and 192 St. Even the intersections near Surrey city hall have hidden dangers with 156 St./#10 Hwy. having traffic control lights over the wrong lanes and 60 Ave./142 St. being the scene of many crashes and repeated calls for upgrades.

If you know of a dangerous traffic condition that is likely to cause accidents on any of our streets, ensure you make these known to the local authorities and the media. Publicity is a great way to bring attention to these problems and put pressure on those responsible to make changes to improve safety. We all drive these streets and collectively we must work together to make sure that we all make it home in one piece. If you have a road safety concern, don't ignore it as the life you save by making it known may be your own or that of someone you love. It is this thought that constantly drives me to make our community a safer place to live.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

February 6, 2012

A "Short" Walk on a Long Pier

When it was first announced back in September of 2011 that White Rock suddenly needed to replace the light standards on the historic waterfront pier because they posed an immediate safety risk to the public, I questioned why this had suddenly become such an important project along with all of the money that was being thrown at it. During the Sept 19th council meeting, it was decided to spend almost $415,000 to replace 30 metal light standards because of corrosion problems and risk of electrical shorts. This project was put out to tender, giving electrical contractors only 12 days to respond with their competing bids. In the end, only Crown Contracting submitted a quotation for this work and was subsequently awarded the contract which also includes arches overtop the pier with decorative lights. While some money had already been allocated for the pier, this led to a budget increase of $311,378 with $100,000 coming from the federal pier restoration fund and the additional $211,378 from the city's reserve capital reserve.

I realize that the seaside town of White Rock is quite well-to-do with some of the region's highest real estate values, but you have to question how this project required a capital input estimated at an astounding $13,835 per light! Was this so important that the contract had to be rushed through with the time frame allowing only one contractor to submit a quotation for the work? It absolutely amazes me that this was would even be awarded without at least three competing bids. Did anyone think that maybe the bid they received might have been the highest one if only they had waited until more had been received? No wonder that the new Mayor Wayne Baldwin is challenging this staff decision and that of White Rock council, which he characterized as a, "last minute panic attach." Councillor Alan Campbell stands by the original decision, taking Baldwin to task for having the gall to question this political decision, arguing that the city would have lost over $30,000 in federal funding, not $20,000 that Baldwin has suggested, and that the lighted arches which were to have been installed by Dec. 15th added "only" an additional hundred grand, not the $200,000 quoted by the Mayor. It should be duly noted that then Mayor Catherine Ferguson and Councillor Helen Fathers voted against this project on the Sept 19, 2011 meeting.

Lost in this pissing contest between the former White Rock city manager and now Mayor Wayne Baldwin and long time Councillor Al Campbell, while completely disregarding which level of government paid for what (remembering that all tax payer money comes from the public), I'd suggest that the lighting system chosen should have first been considered. In the nearby Village of Steveston in Richmond, there is a time-tested nautical lighting system that has been used for decades on docks and marinas. These consist of a long 8" x 8" pressure treated post that is angle cut on top to prevent rot and thwart pesky seagulls from landing, a zinc coated corrosion proof metal conduit holding the wires, a curved piece of the same conduit hanging out from the top of the post and a simple enamelled covered light resembling an upside down pan. These are coloured on one side and white on the other to help spread the light below. The Gulf of Georgia National Historic Site (built in 1894) uses these along with the Britannia Heritage Shipyard and Murakami Village (circa 1889) along with several nearby city streets and even some local high-end condo developments. My favourites are the ones located next to the Fraser River on Westwater Dr. that are coloured the same light green as a weathered copper roof. If you are unfamiliar with this colour, think of how the roof of the historic Vancouver Hotel (built in 1913, one year before the WR pier) looks.

When it comes to historic sites, efforts are usually made to use the same construction techniques and materials available when the original structure was first built. Why White Rock would install decorative metal street lights on the pier instead of utilizing an old-school nautical concept is beyond me. The White Rock pier is exposed to the elements and salt spray from wind and waves, making corrosion a fact of life as has been proven by the previous light standards. If they had instead used the simple wooden poles and dock lights as utilized in Steveston, it is likely they would have seen decades of service without any problems while looking totally at place in this setting. These poles could have been drilled and bolted to the beams of the dock with zinc coated hardware, ensuring extreme longevity as they would not be immersed directly in water. The lights at Steveston have been in their location for at least 15 years and none are showing any sign of wear or distress. While the festive arches overtop of the pier may look nice at night, the rest of the year they distract from the view for people walking on the pier and of course, they were never part of the original design! The "Welcome To White Rock" archway at the beginning of the pier is enough of a statement without building additional ones along the length of the walkway. In case anyone didn't notice, the two lights on this arch are similar to the ones found in Steveston.

Since this project was not completed on time, if its not too late I would suggest that Mayor Baldwin save the city somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000 and cancel these arches that have no place on this historic attraction. In the future when the new lights on the pier eventually succumb to the salt and spray, I would suggest they take a page out of Steveston's history and use the old wooden dock lights found throughout this nearby community. As luck would have it, one of these poles at a condo site in Richmond that I maintain was recently hit by a car and needs to be replaced. The strata is paying an electrical contractor $1,500 to put in a new one, a savings versus the new lights on the White Rock pier of $12,335. Multiple this by 30 lights, you have a little over $370,000 which should be looked at as the money wasted on this project by jumping the gun and making a snap decision. Mayor Baldwin needs to be applauded for questioning this expense while I believe that it should be noted the former council members ( GRANT MEYERS/MARY WADE ANDERSON/AL CAMPBELL/DOUG MCLEAN & /LYNNE SINCLAIR) were the ones who made the final approval for the expenditure.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

January 30, 2012

Saturday morning's snow squalls were not enough to keep me curled up in a nice warm bed and instead I was outside beating on a drum, literally a 45 gallon oil drum, on the side of Cambie Street in Richmond for four hours starting at ten a.m. This was in relation to a story I broke to the major media outlets over three years ago, alerting them along with Richmond Council that the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facility Corp (VAFFC), owned by a consortium of YVR airlines, was planning on bringing half a million barrel Panamax tankers filled with jet fuel into the south arm of the Fraser River upstream from the George Massey tunnel. A waterfront off-loading facility would also be built near Triangle Road along with a 6 tank, 80 million litre fuel farm and a 15 km. pipeline across Richmond to the airport through residential neighbourhoods. For a historical overview of this story that has major environmental implications for the Fraser River estuary, please scroll down and review the Apr. 19, 2010 (TNT & Tankers) and Oct. 12, 2009 (Fuelling a Controversy)The Naked Truth columns. This project, known as the Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project (VAFDP) has been before the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (B.C. EAO) for quite some time and Saturday's open house meeting was held at a the East Richmond community centre to review changes to the proposed pipeline route, moving it from residential Richmond streets to the side of Hwy. 99 in that city.

 

Jane Sterk joins Pitciarn Protest

While I have been a major thorn in the VAFFC's side regarding these plans, including holding a news conference on the banks of the Fraser River at Gary Point Park in Steveston with Green Party leader Jane Sterk several years ago, the publicity I've managed to create over the third attempt to bring tankers into the Fraser River has led to the creation of the community group V.A.P.O.R., Vancouver Airport Pipeline Opposition for Richmond. They oppose the VAFFC bringing huge tankers loaded with Jet-A into the Fraser, citing safety concerns and the environmental damage that even a moderate spill would do to the ecologically sensitive estuary. Besides the many wild salmon runs that enter and leave the Fraser River basin, this area is an important part of the Pacific Flyway for migratory birds and ducks, containing the George C. Reifel, Alaskan and South Arm Marshes wildlife reserves. VAPOR has now taken taken the lead role in attempting to torpedo the VAFDP with their "No Jet Fuel" signs appearing in boulevards throughout Richmond and Delta. This group has created a website (www.vaporbc.com) with detailed information countering the VAFDP plans which are available online at http://www.vancouverairportfuel.ca/.

Face shielding protestors

While this fight involves the Fraser River and land in Richmond, there are several connections linking this proposed project to the Semiahmoo peninsula other than opposition from yours truly. One of the touted benefits of the VAFDP is that it will eliminate trucks carrying Jet-A on Hwy. 99, a danger proven all too real when one rolled over several summers ago near the Serpentine River in south Surrey, thankfully without spilling fuel or exploding into flames. Since 60% of YVR's fuel comes from the BP/ARCO Cherry Point refinery in Washington, I initially called for using BNSF Railway tankers to ship jet fuel here similar to what is done with gas and diesel, an option never originally even considered even though rail delivery from Alberta refineries was contemplated. VAPOR favors keeping the existing TMJ pipeline from the Chevron refinery in Burnaby, augmenting supply with a new pipeline up Hwy. 99 from Blaine in Washington State to YVR. Considering the historically better safety rating of pipelines and the fact that Seatac Airport in Seattle gets their fuel via pipeline from Cherry Point, other than money issues there is no reason why this would not be possible and it eliminates the risk of a tanker fuel spill decimating the ecology of the lower Fraser.

Unfortunately the real reason why the airlines favour this plan is that it cuts out the middle man and allows the VAFFC to control all facets of fuel delivery to the airport, ensuring the lowest possible fuel costs regardless of environmental risks. While the VAFFC is a not for profit corporation, the airlines that are its shareholders will all make money from this plan and you can bet this will end up in as dividend cheques, not in a reduction of airline fares. Just last week, the Vancouver Airport Authority made public plans to raise the airport improvement fee from $15 to $20 per passenger, raising $1.8 billion that will go into putting more marble and gold inlay into the palace they call YVR. Unfortunately they will not put a dime into paying for a pipeline from Cherry Point, leaving the VAFFC to attempt to once again float the concept of large tankers in the Fraser River. Once educated to the risks of the VAFDP proposal, both Richmond and Delta councils have voiced their opposition along with the former Richmond-South Delta M.P. and new B.C. Conservative leader John Cummins, the so-called "Savior of the Fraser" for his past stewardship of B.C's largest river. As for myself, I will ensure in future that I fly from Abbotsford, Bellingham or Seattle, avoiding YVR and their bloated fares at all costs.

To show just how desperate the airlines and the VAFFC have become in trying to make their environmentally insane plan more palatable to the public, midway through the B.C. EAO meeting on the VAFDP, protestors suddenly appeared with fullcolour printed placards, picketing the VAPOR members. These people were loud and obnoxious, trying to incite legitimate protestors before posing for newspaper and T.V. cameras. While the VAPOR group was there for the entire four hours this meeting was being held, these self-proclaimed "protest protestors" picketing those opposing the VAFDP were only one site for about 20 minutes. They collectively vanished as quickly as they appeared once media interest waned to their presence It would appear that the VAFFC produced the picket signs featuring colourful pictures of super tankers at sea and flaming truck explosions, which all carried individual messages as compared to VAPOR's simple red and black placards that all had the identical message, "No Jet Fuel in the Fraser."

Peek A Boo We See You

One of these suspect protestors wore a Chevron toque and when asked who he worked for would not reveal this basic information. This same person was later interviewed by Global TV and took off his headgear before going before the cameras. Fortunately this man was identified and has been linked to an oil and gas company in Burnaby that is a member of the Petroleum Equipment Institute, selling gas pumps and vapor collection equipment. You have to wonder if the "protest protestors" were asked by oil and gas companies to appear at this meeting or if they might have possibly even been paid to attend? The picket signs slogans; "Super Tankers Are Safer", "Keep Tankers Off Our Roads - Pipelines are Safer", "Move the Pipeline Off Our Roads and Put it Underground Hwy 99" and "Jet-A - Here To Stay" leave little to the imagination as to who was responsible for this tactic. These kinds of sleazy dirty tricks have no place in a public forum, where the VAFFC appears to already have an unlimited budget from the airlines to forward their plans for 500,000 barrel tankers in the Fraser. What's next, infiltrating VAPOR to find out what they are planning, something I believe may have already have happened?

Vapor members

People have until this Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 to visit the B.C. EAO website (www.eao.gov.bc.ca) and post their comments regarding the VAFFC's Fraser River jet fuel tanker/Richmond pipeline proposal which can be found at the following link: http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca/pcp/forms/VAFD_form.html. VAPOR also has a list of contacts on their website for suggested local, provincial and federal representatives to send your comments to, including the B.C. Minister of the Environment Terry Lake, B.C. Premier Christy Clark, Richmond MLA Linda Reid, Delta MLA Vicki Huntington, Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent and Fisheries minister Keith Ashfield. If the environmental protection of the Fraser River is important to you, please take some time to educate yourself with the details of the proposed VAFDP plan and efforts to once again stop these large ocean going tankers from ever entering this important waterway. Remember what happened to the Exxon Valdez in Alaska and the recent BP blowout in the Gulf of Mexico to realize the damage that can be done when accidents involving petroleum products happen in aquatic environments. Let's give YVR airlines the pipeline down Hwy. 99 that they want, but instead of going to the banks of the Fraser River run it across the border to the Cherry Point refinery and protect our fragile wetland estuary and wild salmon stocks for future generations.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

The Naked Truth - January 23, 2012

Two Minute Democracy - Any Questions?

Having just returned from holidays relaxing on the sun-drenched white sand beaches of Cayo Largo, Cuba, I find myself considering the fundamental differences in government between there and Canada. Cuba is a communist state created by an armed revolt led by Fidel Castro against the regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959. Since then, socialism has ruled this large Caribbean Island much to the dismay of their neighbours the United States of America who restrict travel and trade with Cuba, even though they themselves are now friendly with both Russia and China. Here in Canada of course, democracy rules the roost, giving people a say in who controls the government and allowing common folk to hold them accountable for either keeping or breaking election promises come voting day. No matter what government is in charge or how politics are structured, it is really all about only two basic overriding forces; power and control.

In the sleepy seaside town of White Rock, the political elite there have a rather interesting arrangement with the serfs who actually bother to get out and vote. It is known locally by the various social malcontents, community activists and eco-terrorists as the "two minute democracy" and happens in the fifteen minutes at the start of the regularly scheduled council meeting at 7 p.m. While delegations can arrange in advance to appear before mayor and council on a set issue, in this scheduled question and answer period residents and those concerned with events within city borders can step up to the microphone, address the chair (usually the Mayor) and have two minutes with which to ask questions. For those who wish to make a political statement, rambling speech or eloquent dissertation, as long as it is framed within the context of a question, you are free to ask away. Attending politicians and their department staffers will attempt to answer these questions and if the answer is not immediately known, it will be provided in writing, usually later that week. Unfortunately these delayed answers often do not adequately address the issue of concern, don't allow for a comeback asking for clarity or details, and of course they are not made public. Since these events are televised on local community TV channels, it allows people to have their two cents worth (that's one cent per minute by my math), creating a public democratic forum as it were.

Not to be outdone, the Corporation of Delta also has their own version of the Council meeting Q & A period that is also held for fifteen minutes prior to the start of the evening's festivities (usually at 6:45 p.m.) with a clearly defined protocol used to conduct it that goes as follows:
1. A speaker must be a property owner, resident of the municipality and/or a person who is deemed to be directly affected by the matter to be addressed, in order to participate in the Question and Answer Period.
2. Persons wishing to speak must register to do so. Speaker registration will be available at the Municipal Hall on the day of the meeting from 3:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
3. Speaker registration will not be carried forward from meeting to meeting. Persons that have registered but not addressed Council at the end of Question & Answer Period, will be advised to return to the next Regular Meeting and re-register to speak, or may submit their questions for subsequent written response.
4. Speakers must submit their questions in writing to the Clerk in advance of speaking. Forms will be provided by the Clerk for this purpose.
5. Speakers must respect the need for Council Meetings to proceed in a timely fashion and must proceed according to these guidelines:
a. address the Presiding Officer when speaking;
b. state their name and residential address, prior to presenting their question to Council;
c. speak clearly and concisely into the microphone at the "Speakers Podium", when one is available; and
d. agree to speak for not more than three minutes and to speak only once during the period (unless invited by Council to extend the discussion).
6. Speakers are required to ask a question and are not permitted to make a speech. A speaker will be ruled out of order if speaking to matters of current litigation or legal action against The Corporation of Delta. A speaker making political statements, using rude and/or obscene language or defamatory comments or speaking about a bylaw from a closed public hearing will also be ruled out of order.
7. Council reserves the right to defer responding to a question in order to obtain the information required to provide a complete and accurate response.

This got me thinking that if both of these towns could provide a question and answer period before regular Council meetings, why does the city of Surrey not afford the same democratic right to its people, either in a loose framework like White Rock or in a more controlled environment as in Delta? I'm hoping that its not the case that they're afraid of hard hitting questions, especially in an unscripted environment with TV cameras rolling. With the Surrey First slate members occupying every position at Council and recently being named as heads of the various committees, would it not be wise to offer a Q & A period as a way of fostering open dialogue and bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to city hall? There is not a single discerning voice left on the council with SCC members and independents being swept aside by the Surrey 1st juggernaut, making this forum even more important. We have to realize that Surrey First resists calling itself a slate or political organization, described instead as, "an independent, non-partisan team of people seeking positive change in Surrey." With members not nominated by party members and instead invited to join by Dianne Watts, you have to question this statement or at the very least keep it in the front of your mind. After all, where do you think the money came from to finance 4 x 8 foot election signs at almost every major intersection in Surrey during the recent civic election? This might explain why the iconic beaver was replaced with concrete towers as the Surrey's symbol and the slogan changed from the rather green "The City of Parks" to "The Future Lives Here" that sounds an awful lot like a developer's advertising catch phrase.

Besides endorsing a Q & A session for Surrey Council meetings in this column, I might have to appear as a delegation before Watts & Co. on Monday night to ask for them to consider instituting this concept that is used in the two communities that serve as bookends for Surrey's rather massive footprint. If they do eventually allow questions to be asked like in White Rock and Delta, I already have one in mind that I still have received no response to even though it has been sent previously to the Surrey Engineering department, Heritage Advisory Committee, plus previous Councils. What did Surrey do with all of the old "Welcome to Surrey" signs that stood at freeway and highway entrances to the city for many years? These were the large green wooden signs with rounded corners, white lettering with yellow trim and the beaver on top. While some were in an advanced state of decay, several needed only some minor elbow grease and a fresh coat of paint to refurbish them and I thought one or two might look great in front of the museum or archive building in Cloverdale. The problem with not having a Q & A at Surrey city hall is they can stonewall you with silence if they figure the answer might be politically embarrassing to them. My guess is these signs were simply chopped up and thrown away, or possibly left outside to rot like the beaver sculpture that used to grace the front lawn at city hall that I found several years ago growing weeds and sprouting mushrooms above a storage container in the Engineering yard. At least with a Q & A period, I might finally get my answer.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

January 16, 2012

 

Is A Touch Of White Rock Coming to Crescent Beach?

For many years, the oceanside town of White Rock has had pay parking along its beaches, both as a general revenue source and more importantly to pay the large yearly $300,000 lease to the BNSF Railway who own the land along the waterfront tracks including the public parking lots. This is a major inconvenience and irritant to people who wish to drive to the beach and the cost can add up quickly with a daily stay to frolic on the "City by the Sea's" beaches during the summer setting you back over twenty bucks. The businesses and restaurants along Marine Drive also complain that pay parking keeps customers away, especially during the winter months when the beach is less of a draw and free parking can be found at many malls at the top of the hill plus in neighbouring Surrey. It now looks as if the BNSF Railway might be directly responsible for soon bringing pay parking to Surrey's main marine recreational site, Crescent Beach, which for years people could enjoy driving to free of charge.

Coming north into the Semiahmoo peninsula from the U.S., the BNSF Railway tracks follow the coastline across the front of White Rock and then meanders around the base of the Ocean Park bluff beside the rugged Crescent Rock Beach. It is not until it reaches the end of Bayview St. in Crescent Beach that the trains leave the shore, cutting east of the main residential area before heading onto the trestle swing bridge over the Nicomekyl River beside the marina. There are only two access points to Crescent Beach, Beecher St./Crescent Rd. plus McBride Ave. which are just 500 m. apart and in the past, trains have stopped and blocked vehicle access to this seaside hamlet. Unfortunately this means that emergency services vehicles are also denied for the time that the train remains stationary. While the Railway Safety Act calls for blockages of no more than five minutes at road crossings, there have been cases like in 2007 where trains have cut off Crescent Beach from the rest of Surrey for up to an hour. If you need the fire department, an ambulance, or the RCMP, you are basically on your own if a BNSF freight train happens to stall on the tracks across the two roadways. With the vast array of deadly chemicals shipped on the BNSF line including inhalation hazardous chlorine and ammonia gas, the geological instability of the slide prone Ocean Park bluffs and the history of derailments along this stretch of tracks, you begin to realize why neighbours are concerned with getting in and out of Crescent Beach. It was only five years ago that a mudslide impacted a stopped BNSF freight train carrying tanker cars at the end of Bayview St. in an area that is still not protected by the landslide detector fence.

Because of this problem and responding to resident complaints including from the Crescent Beach Property Owners Association, the City of Surrey began looking at various options for allowing access that would not be impeded by train traffic. In a report to Council in July of 2010, Surrey's Engineering Depart and the Fire Chief recommended that the city not consider building an emergency access lane under the the trestle bridge because of the high construction cost ($550,000 - single lane/$1.1 million - two way), annual liability insurance rates plus the risk acceptance for bridge collisions, structure damage, vandalism, loss of revenue, environmental damage and cleanup. The option of relocating the railway carries a very high price tag, estimated at $150 million by local railway safety and transportation group SmartRail and to date the BNSF has shown little interest in returning to a safer inland route. Dispite this setback, Surrey did not give up on providing alternate access to Crescent Beach and directed staff to continue exploring this problem, realizing that rail traffic and the length of passing trains were both increasing. While there are currently an estimated 10 trains per day on the BNSF tracks, this is expected to soon rise to 13 - 15 with each taking 12 to 15 minutes to pass, creating access problems totallying an average of 3 hours a day even when trains are rolling.

In minutes from the Transportation Committee adopted by Surrey Council last Monday (by coincidence I happened to be at city hall to talk to the Surrey First team about relocating the BNSF tracks and turning the rail bed into a public walkway) was the revelation that they have selected an underpass on Crescent Rd. built below the tracks as the preferred way to deal with this problem. The key risks with this plan were identified as the $2 million cost to relocate the GVRD sanitary sewer located in the area while fulfilling BNSF Railway requirements that doubled the total cost to $4 million in order to have unobstructed access to the ocean and the almost 400 homes in Crescent Beach. Just as with Panorama Ridge, they also recommended that a whistle cessation program be developed for Crescent Beach, bringing peace and quiet to this neighbourhood wracked night and day by train air horns. The following are rather revealing statements by unidentified Transportation Committee members regarding this attempt to provide improved road access to Crescent Beach:
"Crescent Beach has become a top destination with many visitors. It is no longer just an issue for the residents."
"An option is for the city to fund to accomodate emergency access, and residents or another funding mechanism fund the additional costs to achieve full public grade separation for the railway."
"The introduction of pay parking in an option for the visitors to the Crescent Beach area."
"Pay parking could fund a portion of the (access construction) costs and residents could pay a portion."

If the Crescent Road underpass below the BNSF Railway tracks become a reality, the writing on the wall tells me that you can expect pay parking to come to Crescent Beach to cover the costs. I'd imagine this would mean Crescent Beach residents will be required to purchase a yearly decal like what happens in White Rock, with all others putting coins or credit cards into meters and wireless pay stations. Whether other Surrey residents would be charged full price for parking at the city's only marine recreational site is unknown or if instead they would be treated as visitors, lumped in with other people from across the Fraser Valley to help pay for the construction. While the BNSF's train breakdowns and blockages are responsible for creating the need for a separated grade crossing, it is interesting to note that they have not offered to "pay the freight" as it were to cover any of the needed infrastructure upgrades. Of course, once the underpass is paid off I'm sure the City of Surrey will keep pay parking in place, especially after installing pay stations in Newton just over a year ago with little warning. Pretty soon it looks as if only the naturist Crescent Rock Beach will have free parking in neighbourhoods near the various bluff stairways, something that can't be said for Wreck Beach in Vancouver where the University of B.C. picks driver's pockets with meters, tickets and towing.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

January 09, 2012

Surrey Off-Track and Asleep at the Switch

Tonight (January 09) will be a pivotal time and possibly a historic moment in the future development of rail transportation and public nature pathways within the city of Surrey. At the scheduled Regular Council/Public Hearing meeting, Mayor Dianne Watts and her Surrey First team will be considering a rezoning application (7910-0301-00) for several properties in south Surrey (18689 and 18749 - 24th Ave.) to reclassify these lands from General Agriculture (A-1) to Comprehensive Development (CD). There is an extremely important reason why this project needs to be stopped in its tracks. As rail transportation advocate Ken Jones recently warned, "the development of this property could seriously impact the proposed alignment of the most economical, efficient, and environmentally-favourable route for the relocation of the BNSF Railway off the existing waterfront route through Blaine, White Rock, Ocean Park, Crescent Beach, and the Nicomekl and Serpentine River estuary (Mud Bay)." This routing can also facilitate the planned High Speed Passenger Rail that is also being planned for the west coast of North America which will have to bypass the twisting and convoluted coastline of the Semiahmoo peninsula.

 

Council Briefs For This Evening's Council Meeting

By-law No. 17536

0727386 B.C. Ltd. c/o Pacific Land Group Inc. (Oleg Verbenkov)

18749 - 24 Avenue (also shown as 18689 - 24 Avenue)

Rezone the property from A-1 to CD. To permit subdivision into eight (8) business park lots and one (1) large remainder lot to facilitate the development of industrial businesses.

File: 7910-0301-00

The fact that Council is considering this proposal flies directly in the face of previous decisions that have been made regarding relocating the BNSF Railway off the coast of the Semiahmoo peninsula. In October, 2006, Council received Corporate Report R220 from the Engineering Department and Fire Chief regarding railway relocation and voted to, "Support in principle the concept of the relocation of these tracks away from the oceanfront provided it is entirely funded by others and subject to appropriate public consultation." Unfortunately, while supporting this cause, Surrey has done little to move this proposal forward including not taking the necessary steps to clearly define the route. In Oct. 2002, the Delcan Final Report on the North/South Connector Corridor Study completed for Surrey supported a modern railway be built at the Pacific Border Crossing (Hwy. 15/176 St.) on a new preferred relocation alignment for High Speed Rail and BNSF freight. This proposal would then allow the existing waterfront railway route to be used as a Metro Vancouver Greenway from the U.S./Canada Border to the Fraser River and Tsawwassen, by connecting to the current Greenway that runs along the east side of the 91 Freeway and Delta Dyke Trail along the coastline of Boundary Bay for use by walkers, runners and bicyclists.

It is interesting to realize that the original north/south railroad connecting Canada to the United States was the Great Northern Railway that was located on the 176 St. corridor, cutting across the Hazelmere Hill just north of 16th Ave. before heading towards Cloverdale and on to Brownsville Bar across from New Westminster. You can still see the old rail bed, choked with blackberries and weeds passing along the base of the hill as it heads northeast towards Redwood Park. The local community rail safety group SmartRail that is headed by Ken Jones, the forrmer two time White Rock councillor who also served for 5 years as the MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, has proposed an inland industrial route on the east side of the truck route through Blaine heading along the west side of the Campbell Heights Industrial Park before joining up with the CN coal train corridor and the existing BNSF track at Colebrook along Panorama Ridge. According to a report by SmartRail, "We feel this will meet the needs of High Speed Passenger Rail through this section; provides a faster, secure, at grade route for freight, facilitate grade crossing overpasses and accomodate double tracking of the route for passing of trains on a solid roadbed." The current BNSF line across the beaches of White Rock and south Surrey was relocated in the early 1900's when longer heavier trains could not make the Hazelmere grade, building the new tracks on the beach at the base of the slide prone Ocean Park hillside, which destroyed the fragile marine bluff ecosystem and creating an eroded sterile cobble shoreline now known as Crescent Rock beach.

Considering Mayor Watt's interest in light rail instead of SkyTrain being used for public transit in Surrey including possibly reserecting the Interurban line through the Fraser Valley to Chilliwack, its unrealistic for the City of Surrey to not comit any funds to make the BNSF relocation project happen. To do this would be a historical departure from the very active role that Surrey originally played in facilitating the building of railways through this region in the early years of its existance. While Surrey devotes a large portion of its annual budget to the construction and maintenance of roadways for automobile and truck traffic, it needs to shoulder some of the financial responsibility for the planning and construction of railway transportation infrastructure. The City and Township of Langley both contributed funds towards the construction of the overpass at 204 St. that was made neccessary because of long coal trains blocking traffic through the city core. The Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Program will soon be putting overpasses above many of the at-grade CN crossings including construction that has already begun at 152 St. and Colebrook Rd. This entire project has a price tag of $360 mllion that is being funded by a dozen government and business organizations including Transport Canada, Gateway, Port of Vancouver, Translink, CN CP, BNSF, both Langleys, Delta and last but definitely not least, Surrey.

If the City of Surrey wants to play a role in future railway development here, it needs to become actively involved in the process, utilizing its authority to control property zoning. SmartRail's Paul Lemay points out that, "Surrey has the power to designate a specific railway corridor for planning purposes, to reserve land for that future use and to stipulate a first right of refusal purchase option on any private land holdings located along the designated corridor." Such an important first step would represent a very small investment towards bringing this railway relocation project into reality especially when federal authorities are looking for help with funding and building of a land portfolio. Once a new railway corridor has been zoned, purchased, and is under municipal control, the City of Surrey would then be in a strong position to negotiate a swap of the new rail corridor for old with the BNSF. It has been previously calculated that it would cost $150 million to build a new north/south rail line in a safe and secure inland corridor away from our public beaches and the landslide zone at the Ocean Park bluffs. This would greatly increase speed and efficiency of freight travel between Canada and the U.S., dramatically reduce the pedestrian danger through White Rock and Crescent Beach, while ensuring that passenger rail service does not see schedule disruptions as often happens here due to mudslides onto the tracks. Throw in the long-term tourism, recreation and fitness benefits of turning the BNSF rail bed into Surrey's version of the Okanagan's Kettle Valley Railway morphed with Vancouver's Seawall, you begin to understand why this project needs to be seriously considered.

Members of SmartRail will be appearing before Surrey Council on Monday night to express their concerns regarding the rezoning of properties in the proposed future rail corridor, asking council to become more actively involved in the process that will only become more complex and expensive should Surrey First members not consider the future ramifications of their decision. As President of Surrey's United Naturists (SUN), I will be making a presentation to Mayor Watts and company, voicing my environmental and public safety concerns regarding leaving the BNSF Railway in its current waterfront position that is no longer suitable with increasing train traffic and the waterfront's importance as the main marine recreational site for the almost one million residents of the Fraser Valley. Don't be fooled into thinking that SUN's main focus is the naturist beach, as creating a more safe, reliable and efficient railway system along with a marathon-length nature path around Boundary Bay is of primary importance. If you would like to help "derail" this proposed property rezoning on 24 Ave., get involved with your community and plan on attending Monday night's council meeting at Surrey City Hall, 7:00 p.m. to make your voice heard on this very important topic. Without having any opposition members in council, it is vital for the public to play devil's advocate and bring another point of view to Council chambers for Dianne Watts and Surrey First councillors to contemplate.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Jan. 2, 2012

Dare to Bear

To start off the New year, I figured what better way that to look at what many people in the region were doing on the first day of 2012, which is either participating in or being a spectator at the many Polar Bear swims held locally. If you have never tried a polar bear swim, I must warn you it is not for the faint of heart as the water and air temperature around here are usually the same, hovering a few degrees above freezing. This year the water and air both measured at a balmy 4 degrees, double that of the 2 degrees experienced the last few years. With half a dozen swims under my belt, I must admit I think it would be a better idea to sleep in and then jump into a jetted hot tub with an ice cold beer. Even better yet would be to spend New Year's on a tropical beach, preferably with soft white sand, warm turquoise water and swaying palm trees. Maybe try thinking about these warming thoughts while you loose feelings in your extremities experiencing the sensation of a thousands of frozen pins are being slowly shoved into your skin during a Polar Bear Swim.

In the Semiahmoo peninsula, the White Rock Lions held the 42nd annual Polar Bear Swim in the placid waters of Semiahmoo Bay directly in front of the famed 430 tonne White Rock boulder. Swim coordinator Don Miller estimated that it was likely they came close to meeting the 485 registered swimmers of last year with well over 400 signing up for the New Year's Day swim that was held on Sunday at noon. He calculated that there were 2,500 to 3,000 people in attendance with crowds lining the pier and promenade to get a view of the zany costumes, skimpy attire and crazy antics of people running in and out of freezing cold water. While the nice weather, broken sunshine and calm seas brought out the revellers looking for a quick cure to a morning hangover, in the past this event has attracted over 600 swimmers to White Rock's public beach. Chances are that that church attendance put a damper on swim attendance, with many sitting warm in the pews likely saying "Amen" to that.

Around Kwomais Point just south of Crescent Beach, the Skinnydippers Recreation Club and Surrey's United Naturists (SUN) co-hosted the sixth annual Polar "Bare" Plunge, Canada's first and only organized clothing-optional swim, celebrating "Nude" Year's Day at Crescent Rock beach. This charity swim collected $165 in donations for the War Amps CHAMPS and PLAYSAFE child amputee programs, highlighting the danger of using the adjacent railway as a shoreline nature trail. Fifteen naked or scantily clad men and women took part in the Plunge with ages from 17 to 61 years and the longest swim logging in at a record 8 min. 15 sec. with T-shirts being given out as prizes. At the request of the event organizers and BNSF Railway, CN Police were on site to enforce the Canadian Railway Safety Act and the BNSF's no trespassing policy to ensure none of the estimated 75 spectators climbed to the tracks for a better view of the festivities as has happened in the past.

At the very same time that nudists and naturists were going west into the water of Boundary Bay in their birthday suits, residents of neighbouring Delta were heading east wearing bathing suits, participating in their 32nd annual Polar Bear Swim in Tsawwassen. This event held by the Tsawwassen Lions featured warm up activities including the Winter King and Queen Stilt Walkers along with hot dogs and hot chocolate for the kids. Around 1,500 people watched from the warmth and security of the shore as 350 swimmers splashed about in the frigid ocean at Centennial Beach in Boundary Bay Regional Park. The farthest away participant award along with the oldest swimmer were both won by 72 year old Rex Marshall who hails from earthquake prone Christchurch in New Zealand and he received the John Mitchell Award in honour of a long time participant of the Delta Polar Bear Swim who passed away last year. No word on if the King and Queen got off their peg legs to join the mad dash to the ocean.

In the grand-daddy of them all, thousands of Vancouverites and folks from surrounding burbs took the plunge into the waters off English Bay Beach in the West End for the 92nd annual Vancouver Polar Bear Swim. This is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Swims in the world, growing from 10 hardy souls in 1920 and reaching a record 2,246 swimmers last year along with an estimated ten thousand onlookers and well-wishers. The Vancouver Polar Bear Club was first formed by Peter Pantages and a memorial trophy named after him is the prize for a 100 yard swim race to a bell that is the highlight of the event. The costumes, both for singles and groups, are something to be seen with super heros, reindeer, mermaids, Vikings, space aliens and drag queens all being a common site. Rather than driving to Crescent Rock or Wreck Beach, some city residents also streak in their one-button bathing suits through the crowds, hardly raising an eyebrow. This swim accepts donations of non-perishable food or cash for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.

Now if you think all of this merriment is foolhardy, there are some folks who take Polar Bear Swimming to new heights. Because the White Rock swim starts at 12 noon, the Boundary Bay swims at Crescent Rock and Centennial Beach both take place at 1 p.m., and the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim starts at 2:30 p.m., there is an opportunity to participate in all three swims in one day. Several years ago I met a woman at the Crescent Rock appropriately wearing a rather large Mad Hatter's hat. She and her companion had already participated in the White Rock swim and threw caution and clothing to the wind (save the hat) to join in the Polar Bare Plunge. Later that evening while watching CTV news, I saw the same hat lady and her friend running into the waters of English Bay in Vancouver. While they may not have won any individual awards in any of the swims, they certainly earned my respect for being the only people I know of who have completed the Polar Bear Trifecta. If you want to join the "Mad Hatter's Club", remember that as the old saying goes, "The third time is the charm."

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

December 27, 201

Christmas Gift List -2011

If there's one thing I love about Christmas, it's the annual holiday traditions including this one in the White Rock Sun. Here in alphabetical order so as not to ruffle any feathers are the list of TNT gifts we hope Santa left under the tree in 2011 for the movers and shakers from the Semiahmoo peninsula.

Wayne Baldwin, White Rock Mayor - A heavy ornate brass door stopper that he can jam under the front door of the White Rock council chambers, ensuring he will keep to his promise of minimizing "in-camera" or closed door meetings which unfortunately became the norm with the previous council that was more concerned with optics than transparency.

Bob Bose, former Surrey Councillor - Comfy slippers, a warm comforter and a rocking chair he can use now that he's officially retired since being removed from Surrey Council after 23 years serving as a councillor and mayor. Also, stacks of fine hardwoods that he can turn in his woodworking shop now that he has the time to enjoy his favourite hobby besides civic politics.

Stephanie Cadieux, MLA – More funds for the B.C. Social Development Ministry so she can properly finance the Crown agency Community Living B.C that provides services to the nearly 17,000 British Columbians with developmental disabilities who are struggling after group home and service cuts that helped to finance billion dollar construction projects like Gateway and the SFPR. Good thing that those with mobility challenges seem unaffected to this point.

Dave Chesney, WR Sun Publisher/Editor – Batting practice lessons at south Surrey's Softball City after striking out three times in running for White Rock council. To bad, so sad for White Rock residents who missed out on having a voice of reason in Council, something that still makes me shake my head. A special thanks from myself for letting the "Pitbull" take off the muzzle every week to prove that my bark is indeed worse than my bite, "Grrr..."

Peggy Clark, WR City Manager - A golden watch to go with her sudden retirement announcement that she turned in last week to new Mayor Wayne Baldwin, the former city manager. Whether this was from a gentle push, a hard shove, or just perfect timing for Mrs. Clark remains to be seen but it will be interesting to see if other staffers follow her lead with the changing of the guard at WR city hall.

Mark Donnelley, singer – For "Mr. O'Canada", French lessons so that he can sing our national anthem at Canuck games with a passage being done in French to show we really are a bilingual country. This would be great during the Montreal Canadian games or just to bring a tear to the eye of forewards Maxim Lapierre, Alexandre Burrows, coach Alain Vigneault and even goalie Roberto Luongo who was born in Montreal, Quebec.

Doug & Karen Ellerbeck - For these Royal Ave. residents that were the focus of White Rock's flawed Policy 611 tree bylaw which saw trees shading their house cut down under cover of darkness by city crews in order to increase real estate values across the street, their gift is quite simple: New neighbours plus the landscape tie retaining wall and privacy hedge originally promised to them by Director of Engineering Rob Thompson and those at White Rock city hall. This nice couple are still waiting for those responsible for this debacle to fulfill their end of this gun-to-the-head agreement.

Kevin Falcon, MLA – A pencil and paper, abacus, calculator, laptop and the Mira supercomputer to help our Finance Minister figure out how to balance the B.C. budget that is facing rising costs and decreasing revenue streams. Unfortunately, I don't think Harper's Conservatives will give the Libs a Xmas present of their own by releasing them from the $1.6 billion fiscal obligation for having to cancel the HST that was rejected by B.C. voters. This will become the "Big Owe" from our Olympics.

Bruce Hayne, Surrey Councillor - Size 24 steel toe work boots as he has awfully big shoes to fill after bumping off long-time councillor and three term former mayor Bob Bose. Will Bruce fight for the environment like Bob used to do as a member of the Surrey Civic Coalition (SCC)? We'll find out as he has been appointed as the Environmental Assessment Committee Chair, a position formerly held by none other than Mr. Bose. It was Hayne's company that came up with the "The Future Lives Here" slogan and concrete monolith logo, replacing "The City of Parks" and the iconic beaver for the city of Surrey.

Russ Hiebert, MP – Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? Russ receives a very large pink piggy bank capable of holding a whopping $211,000 for getting his nose out of the Ottawa cash trough and dropping his yearly office expenses from a B.C. high $637,093 in the 2008-2009 federal fiscal year to a paltry $425,711 in 2010-2011. While we can now remove the dollar signs from Russ's name, $urrey MP Nina Grewal has now taken over as B.C.'s top $pender at $543,563. Oink..., oink..., oink..., more Grewel please.

Judy Higginbotham - After failing to get "re-elected" as an independent during the recent Surrey civic election with signs stating just that, she needs a new campaign slogan that might help to get her back into city hall. Might I suggest, "Break the Slate - RETURN Judy Higginbotham to Surrey Council" Simple, factual, to the point, without being misleading. If this works for her in the future, I'd like Judy to know I prefer Sleeman's draft in bottles, not cans.

Gordon Hogg, MLA – A membership card from John Cummins' B.C. Conservative party before the next provincial election, jumping from Christy Clark's Liberal sinking ship that already saw him moved out of cabinet to the backbenches. A look at Mr. Hiebert's federal election results will show Gordo that S. Sry/WR is one of the most Conservative ridings in B.C., something he should think about as the right wing looks for greener pastures.

Gus Melonas, BNSF Railway spokesperson - A lump of coal in his stocking for the ever increasing number of coal trains coming from the Powder River Basin in the States headed for Robert's Bank. These extra long trains will clog the waterfront of White Rock while likely releasing coal dust that will irritate beach goers, promenade walkers and those sitting along Marine Drive restaurants. Rerouting the railway away from the beaches will turn Gus's coal into a diamond, allowing for a pedestrian walkway rivalling Vancouver's Seawall to be built here.

Lance Peverley, editor Peace Arch News - A new commenting system for their online stories that will not allow the PAN to access private information to release during elections. Oops, it looks like some people open their presents early, so instead, how about a way to get Facebook users to actually utilize the new system suddenly put into place by Black Press after they became aware of the possible legal ramifications from this questionable activity at the PAN offices.

Gerry St. Germain, Senator – A mirror so he can look himself in the eye and reflect on the damage that will be done to our society if the Conservative dominated Senate passes Stephen Harper's Omnibus Crime Bill that has been rammed through the House. Bill C-10 will allow them to suspend habeas corpus, monitor the internet usage of all Canadians without a warrant, pass out mandatory minimum sentences and model our prison system after the Americans. When Health Canada is allowing legal grow-ops, are six pot plants really worth six months in jail G-man?
Surrey First – A 4' x 8' slate chalk board on which to write a hundred times, "We will not abuse our power and authority..., We will not abuse our power and authority." Unfortunately having complete control of council already appears to be going to their heads with the appointing of councillors as Chairs of every committee that was recently announced at Surrey city hall. John Acton said it best, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Watch for it.

Dianne Watts, Surrey Mayor – Eight short leashes to attach to the members of Surrey First to make sure they stay under control and continue to follow her lead like obedient little lap dogs. Don't expect too much straying from the party line by these councillors that were appointed by Mrs. Watts to join her team, rather than being nominated and elected as occurs in most other modern political organizations.

Murray Weisenberger, B.C. Green Party Chairperson - Last, but definitely not least, having a B.C. Green Party member elected in the next Provincial election, following victories by their federal leader Elizabeth May in Saanich-Gulf Islands and long time "greenie" Adrianne Carr to Vancouver council. Could this happen in S. Surrey/White Rock? Anything is possible I guess, including flying reindeer and a fat man in a red suit squeezing down a chimney.

That's all for this year folks, merry Christmas everyone! Have a safe and happy New Year and all the best to you and yours in 2012.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

December 19, 2011

Deer Rudolph;

Keeping with the spirit of the season, I'd like to let everyone know that Rudolph is alive and well and indeed living in south Surrey. Well, maybe not actual reindeer and certainly not a flying one with a bright red nose, but Pacific coast blacktail deer can be found in Sunnyside Acres Park along with areas near the Nicomekyl River and out towards Campbell Heights. What is funny is that someone several years back took it upon themselves to put red circular noses on the jumping deer warning signs in Surrey, giving them a Christmas look 12 months out of the year. Coming up with this concept is one thing but having the ambition to actually spend time and money putting red stickers on street signs all in the name of humour is something else. If anyone knows the perpetrator of this rather hilarious crime, please let me know who they are as I would like to buy them a beer at the Forest Ale House to celebrate their rather quirky sense of fun. In case you were wondering, no it wasn't me but I must admit I've looked at the bullet hole sticker sheets in the local dollar store thinking they would work on the jumping deer signs in nearby Langley.



I used to chuckle while driving down 24 Ave. near Softball City and 148 St. at the deer hazard signs posted on the side of the road, believing they must have had been there a long time before bulldozers started turning farms and forests across the Semiahmoo peninsula into human breeding grounds (read "subdivisions"). In fact, one of these yellow warning signs with the black deeer silhouette has a coating of green algae growing on it, giving an idea how long it has likely been there. Having hunted with both with a rifle and bow, I scoffed at the notion that there would be deer in the surrounding woodlands that measure only 370 acres and which are criss-crossed with trails used by runners, cyclists and people walking dogs. Imagine my surprise two years ago when driving up 24th Ave. early one morning I came across a large doe deer that was unfortunately laying dead in the ditch after being struck by a passing vehicle. Needless to say I was as surprised as all of the other motorists who slowed down to take a look at the rather grisly scene. I assumed at the time that the unlucky doe was likely lost and in unfamiliar terrain, possibly after having been driven out of the Morgan Heights area by the ongong and relentless development in that region of south Surrey.

When leaves begin to turn colour in the fall the hunter in me begins to awaken and my keen eyes start watching passing woods for tell-tale signs of game trails, hoof prints in roadside gravel, or animals suddenly becoming visible as the leaves drop. In November of this year I was driving home through the 24 Ave. wooded corridor, thinking that I should put on camoflage clothing and with camera in hand go looking for any sign of deer possibly habitating this small urban forest as a TNT topic. Imagine my surprise when a female blacktail bounded out of the woods several cars ahead of me and ambled across the ashphalt roadway through traffic. Vehicles in both directions stopped to let the animal pass and it then sauntered into a nearby neighbourhood showing little fear of the vehicles or the people in them. I followed, turning onto 142 St. taking the following picture of this deer as it made its way through this rather well-heeled neighbourhood of large estate homes. If you are lucky enough to live in this area and are wondering why your summer petunias or winter pansies keep disappearing, it is because they are as tasty to deer as carrots are to rabbits. Who would think you'd need deer fences to protect your shrubs and plants here in south Surrey like what is often used on the Gulf Islands to stop browsing herds?



Sunnyside Acres is the last significant area of natural woodland in south Surrey, bounded by 20th, 24th and 28th Avenues and 140th, 144th and 148th Streets in two staggered blocks. This forest is obviously home to a small breeding herd of blacktail deer, at least twenty other species of mammals, over 70 species of birds and a large variety of plant life, many of which are rare or endangered. Sunnyside Acres was dedicated as an Urban Forest in 1988, mainly due to the dedicated efforts of the Save Our Sunnyside (SOS) group who recognized its unique ecological characteristics and recreational opportunities for Surrey residents. The SOS group became the Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society and its members have worked alongside the City of Surrey's Parks, Recreation and Culture Department to sustain the forest and Elgin Creek in as close to a natural state as possible. For more information on the Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest, visit the Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society website at www.sunnysideacres.ca which will also allow you to volunteer with their natural habitat enhancement programs. The City of Surrey also offers opportunities for volunteering in Surrey Parks' Environmental Programs & Surrey Nature Centre with info on their website at www.surrey.ca under the "Nature Centre & Environmental Programs Volunteer Opportunities" section of the Culture & Recreation department.

So when you are driving through south Surrey or anywhere else in this wonderful province of ours and you see the yellow and black leaping deer sign, realize that they are put there for a reason in prime deer territory. Besides killing or injuring them, deer can cause a lot of damage to your vehicle or create a loss of control with severe consequences that include death. Keep an eye on the sides of the road, slow down especially at dawn or dusk when deer are mobile, put on your bright lights at night and watch for the tell-tale sign of their eyes reflecting back to you from the bush. After all, you wouldn't want to kill Rudolph with your car, having him fly over your hood with Christmas just around the corner? What would Santa do then, especially if it was foggy? While the red nose stickers on the jumping deer signs are rather funny and help attract your attention to them, don't forget these warning signs are there for your protection as much as the deer.

Santa Don

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

December 12, 2011

A Hummer For Christmas

Now don't worry folks, its not what you think. After all, with the high price of gasoline and the worry about increasing greenhouse gases leading to global warming, does anyone really want to wake up to find a big gas guzzling SUV 4X4 under the Christmas tree? There is another type of hummer that many people would love to have on December 25th and rest assurred there will be some at our house on that special day. While most Semi-pen residents are unaware of their presence, Anna's hummingbirds overwinter in this region and if you have a feeding station stocked with fresh sugary liquid, you can marvel at their speed and agility along with their flashy red and green holiday colours. Anna's hummingbirds are 10 to 11 cm. long with a bronze-green back, pale grey chest and belly, plus green flanks with a long straight slender bill. The adult male has an irredescent crimson-red head and throat with a dark slightly forked tail. Females and juveniles have a green crown, a grey throat with some red markings, grey chest and belly and a dark rounded tail with white tips at the ends of the feathers.

Quite by accident, the laptop computer that I'm writing this column on came with a screensaver picture of a mother hummingbird feeding her two babies while sitting on a branch and they appear to be Anna's. I first became aware of these rather interesting and resilient little birds several years ago when I was shocked to see one at a client's house in the dead of winter. It regularly perched above a porch light for warmth, venturing to a nearby feeder hung under the eaves that was still stocked with sugar syrup. At the time, I wrongly thought that the fact this person had not taken his feeder down at the end of summer had contributed to this hummingbird not migrating and would likely cause its eventual death from the cold. In fact Anna's Hummingbirds breed on the Pacific coast of North America from Mexico to southern British Columbia and they winter between northwestern Mexico and southern Alaska. Many stay in the same region, changing their elevation from mountain tops to lowlands, while others remain in the same territory year-round regardless of weather fluctuations including ice and snow.

My parents live at the top of Chilliwack mountain and they put out their hummingbird feeders in mid-March when the first currant bushes start to open their showy pink flowers. Being in forested terrain, swarms of Rufous red-throated hummingbirds numbering up to twenty at a time perform aerial ballet and dogfights around the two feeders which must be refilled daily. By mid-August, many of the summer residents suddenly disappear and begin migrating to warmer climates and their feeders fall silent. This year I decided to purchase a hummingbird feeder of my own and hung it in front of my kitchen window at my home near Crescent Beach in the early spring. Unfortunately, other than the occasional fly, bee or wasp, the feeder sat unused even though I regularly took steps to install fresh sugar solution. I removed it at the end of the summer rather disappointed with the results but after my sister told me about seeing and then identifying several Anna's hummingbirds at Surrey's Darts Hill garden in November, I decided to put it back up for the winter. Within days, we had both a male and female Anna's zooming around the place and perching at the top branch of a nearby cherry tree.

It is thought that Anna's Hummingbirds are able to winter so far north because their diets contain a larger proportion of insects and arachnids than most hummingbirds. They catch these while flying, aiming for small insects with their beaks open very wide or by raiding spider webs for cocooned bugs. Not only do these insects provide nutrients during the winter when there are few flowers blooming, they also provide a slower metabolizing source of food which may help them endure the long cold nights. Studies have also shown these tiny birds will also consume tree sap which is readily available from a wide variety of evergreens in our parks and forests. Anna's Hummingbirds have a fairly large body weight for a hummer which may help them survive along with their ability to go into a state of torpor where their body activity slows greatly. Even so, they do live a precarious existence in the winter and the presence of hummingbird feeders and planting of winter flowering species such as witch hazel, hellebore and sarcococca not native to here has probably helped to expand their northern range while increasing their population thought to number over three million.

Feeding Anna's hummingbirds is a fun and enjoyable pastime but if you choose to do so in the wintertime, please be responsible. A hummingbird searches far and wide and selects a feeding territory based on the available food supplies that it finds, with your feeder becoming an important part of its diet. If the feeder runs out of syrup or freezes up overnight there might not be sufficient food elsewhere in the area for the bird to survive. Whle summer hummingbird nectar is usually made with ordinary white table sugar in a 4:1 ratio of water to sugar, for winter feeding use a 3:1 mix (1 cup H2O, 1/3 cup sugar) which should remain thawed to around -4C outside while providing the hummers more energy. You can bring in feeders overnight, putting them out again at day break, or have two feeders cycling them daily to ensure they don't freeze. Another trick is to hang feeders near a porch light or to sit them on ones that are flat topped, obviously keeping the light on for heat. If you have to microwave feeders to thaw them, or use boiling water to make new liquid, ensure it is not hot when it goes outside otherwise you will burn sensitive long tongues. Most importantly, change sugar solutions weekly and clean the feeder with a mild bleach solution to keep mold and bacteria from contaminating the syrup. That's the buzz on Anna's, hope you enjoy their company this winter.

 

 

December 05, 2011

Coal on a Roll

Dust storm and diesel smoke rising from passing coal train

When I first moved into the Semiahmoo peninsula, I was alarmed at the condition of the BNSF Railway tracks along the waterfront. Working with SmartRail, a local community railway safety group, I formed Surrey's United Naturists (SUN), not only to bring attention to Crescent Rock Beach but to help publicize the dangers that this industrial freight line brought to our neighbourhoods. Over the years, the BNSF have made great strides to improve their infrastructure here, replacing old segmented rail with continuous weld, replacing rotted wooden ties with new ones, putting in more rip-rap boulders for wave defence and most recently upgrading the trestles over both the Nicomekyl and Serpentine rivers. While some of this work has had a negative effect on the environment, it has greatly improved rail safety, a fact that I have previously given the BNSF their proper due for especially considering the multi-million dollar cost of these upgrades. While I thought these repairs were done in response to the publicity that SmartRail and SUN had created, it would now appear they were likely done from a purely business standpoint in order to handle long heavy coal trains that are headed our way.

It was in May of 2008 when the first of four test trains of Powder River basin coal from Wyoming and Montana rolled through the peninsula on the BNSF tracks. Soon after this, coal trains became a daily sight with shipments from Peabody Energy and Cloud Peak Energy headed to the Westshore Terminal in Tsawwassen and beyond to Asian customers. It has recently been revealed that in June of this year, Cloud Peak Energy signed a further ten year deal to ship Powder River basin coal from Roberts Bank to China where this low-grade coal is destined to be used for electrical production. To give you an idea of the increasing coal train traffic we are already seeing, the BNSF moved 1.9 million tons of coal through White Rock in 2009 followed by 3.3 million tons inn 2010. Dirty coal and its pollutants may be losing its appeal here in North America but certainly not in Asia where concerns about green house gas emissions are being all but ignored. There are plans for a coal mega-port at Cherry Point in Bellingham that will handle up to 48 million tons a year which is currently under an environmental review but plans are already in place to supply Roberts Bank to capacity with excess shipments being shipped to the coal loading facility at Prince Rupert. These of course, will all rumble across the White Rock beaches next to some of the most expensive real estate and prime recreational location in the area.

There are problems that come with large coal trains lumbering their way through the low-speed portions of the Semi-pen waterfront. In order to increase profitability, these trains are made very long with the SmartRail record being one which had 144 cars on it, not counting the many locomotives necessary to haul the commodity. These will block large portions of the shoreline to beachgoers, leaving people stranded while waiting for them to pass. This invariably will lead to train/pedestrian conflicts, especially if people realize that a long coal train is approaching and a quick jog will save them waiting next to the tracks. These heavy trains also carry a fairly large seismic signature, creating soil vibrations which might increase the likelyhood of landslides from the unstable Ocean Park bluffs and possible derailment threat. More than anything though, it is the release of coal dust from the open cars which will create the greatest health problems along with the nuisance of having to deal with coal dust contamination. If the Gateway Pacific Terminal gets built at Cherry Point, they expect 20 mile and a half coal trains to pass through Bellingham every day. With the new Cloud Peak Energy contract in place, we will see much greater coal train traffic that will increase drastically if the American EPA turns down the Cherry Point application.

Coal dust mixed with diesel exhaust particulates are not just a nuisance staining the patio furniture on your deck or coating your car and house with dark grey dust. This fine dust contains toxic heavy metals such as mercury, selenium and lead. When inhaled they increase respiratory disease and cause asthma, wheezing and coughing, especially in children. Pollution from coal trains is linked to stunted lung development and the increased risk of heart attacks, lung cancer and infant mortality. The nearby Westshore Terminal at Roberts Bank was found to emit over 700 metric tons of coal dust a year and this was way back in 2001. Even the BNSF Railway admit that coal dust is a problem with each coal rail car losing up to 500 pounds of coal dust while en route which pollutes cities, farmland, rivers and lakes. Coal dust even threatens track safety and was pinpointed in several derailments near the Powder River basin after it fouled ballast allowing rails to move apart. The BNSF are aware of this problem and have changed loading procedures to ensure a wind resistant "loaf of bread" top to the rail car loads. Surfactant spraying at the mines can also be used but was initially resisted by the coal mining industry because of costs estimated to top $100 million. Fortunately the BNSF now requires surfactant spraying along with their rounded loading profile which hopes to reduce coal dust release from their cars by 85 percent. Tarping or capping of coal railway cars which would effectively seal their dusty loads as is currently done with some bulk commodities including residential garbage has not caught on with railways like it has for trucking companies who are mandated to do so.

Considering that White Rock and south Surrey get no postiive gain from having coal trains rolling across our waterfront, you have to wonder how long we can afford to have an industrial freight line running next to our main marine recreational site adjacent to some of the most expensive real estate in the reigon? While the occasional train might be fun to look at, its not relaxing to have them passing one after another while trying to enjoy a quiet day down at the beach. Why even the Amtrak is of no use to Semi-pen residents as we can't get a passenger rail stop here, even at the old train station no matter how badly councillor Grant Meyers wants it. If the elderly population of White Rock starts experiencing respiratory ailments because of coal dust and diesel exhaust, expect a grey tide of opposition against coal trains. Until that time look out for tell-tale signs of coal dust contamination like what is being experienced by people in Panorama Ridge next to the CN line. If at the beach, watch for black tide that is a line of coal dust being washed to shore that has already been seen here once and blamed as coming all the way from the Westshore Terminal at Robert's Bank. Much more likely was that it was blown from a passing BNSF coal train by strong outflow winds experienced that day which would have pushed any dust out towards the sea instead of into town. While real estate in White Rock may be all about "location..., location..., location", if you really wanted to increase property values here it would instead involve railway "relocation..., relocation..., relocation."

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

P.S.

Peace Arch News sudden change to using Facebook instead of Disqus for online commenting does not appear to be having much success. In all of their news stories since Dec. 1st there has only been one lonely comment posted which was from a school board trustee candidate looking to locate lost election signs. So much for promoting public discourse and fostering the open exchange of ideas. (see below)

 

November 28, 2011

It's a good thing that WR Sun editor Dave Chesney keeps the back issues of The Naked Truth posted as its suprising how often I have to make reference to them concerning ongoing stories that just like the stench from a fresh pile of excretement simply won't go away. Before reading further, I'd direct you to peruse the Oct. 31 edition titled "PANonymous Postings" which detailed the Peace Arch News revealing personal information concerning candidates who had been making supposedly anonymous comments to their online articals. Once you have the background information including what was revealed in a PAN story "White Rock Politicians Coy Over Online Comments" (Oct. 19) and the PAN editorial "Voters Will Have Final Say" (Oct 24), please carry on to find out about a sudden change of policy at Black Press announced the first business day after the election.

After allowing anonymous comments to be posted on the Disqus system which was the source of the data that led to the outing in the PAN of the three candidates in question, Black Press has suddenly done an abrupt about face and as of Dec. 1st will only allow online comments to be posted by customers utilizing a Facebook account. You can read about this online at the Tyee (www.thetyee.ca) Could this be because they suddenly realized that they had indeed violated their own privacy policy, journalistic guidelines and possibly the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act? I find it rather interesting that they waited for the elections to conclude before announcing this major change of corporate media policy. Could this have happened because I questioned their use of this information and the way that it was revealed and publicized? I'd certainly like to think so because it means I was right and that they are scared of possible future litigation.

In the TNT update posted on Nov. 3rd at the end of the "Panonymous Postings" column you can read my letter to David Black, CEO of Black Press concerning the PAN's behaviour followed by the response from Randy Blair, President of Black Press Lower Mainland defending their policies and stating that this form of journalism is "acceptable" to Black Press. This did not end the email exchange and the following letter looking for additional insight and answers to one particularly important question that was previously dodged was sent to them:

Dear Mr. Blair,

Thank you for your timely response to my concerns over privacy issues and election tampering as President of Black Press Lower Mainland, but I must admit I do not agree with several of your explanations regarding the conduct of the Peace Arch News and still await an answer from you on a very important question.

In the case of two of the three council hopefuls, they were not in office and making comments as average citizens, posting anonymously as the Disqus system allows. I would like to think postings that a person puts on a Black Press site are not suddenly free game should they consider running for office, or that their right to privacy for possibly years in the past is suddenly put under a microscope.

None of the White Rock council candidates outed in this story used assumed or false names, posting anonymously to allow for free speech and intelectual exchange of ideas and concepts as you allow. I'm also not certain, but I think these postings were all done before the election started. Big difference from former councillor James Coleridge here and no laws were broken either.

If as you say, "The protection of so-called "private" information contained in email transmissions and online commenting is trumped by the public's right to be aware of the conduct of individuals they are being asked to elect to represent them", then I guess that hacking peoples cell phones to obtain illicit information on them should also be allowed by Black Press.

I believe if you are going to allow to post anonymously on the Disqus website that a bold disclaimer should be attached to the top alerting people that if deemed newsworthy their private information could be revealed and names disclosed for public consumption. Rather shocking this is not done or also warned about in your so-called privacy policy, especially for those thinking of running for office.

Lastly sir, I'm still waiting for an answer to the one question that I would like you to respond to, especially since it is quite probable I will run for public office some time in the near future: Have any of the other newspapers in the Black Press chain resorted to divulging information contained in the Disqus system and revealed commentators names and personal information in the pursuit of a news story?

I would appreciate if you would clarify this important point for me and for anyone else considering running for public office. Not only do I value my privacy, I believe it to be rather important for many other freedom loving Canadians as well. Naturally yours, Don Pitcairn.

Considering the gravity of the situation and the importance of the topic being discussed, the response I received from Black Press was a feeble, "I believe my previous response has addressed all of the issues you have raised." I guess they didn't want to answer if any other Black Press papers had revealed personal information gleaned from the Disqus system but a google search of "Disqus anonymous postings revealed Black Press" returned nothing of the sort which came as no surprise. I'm hoping that with the election now over, those affected by the PAN's original story and editorial will make complaints to the B.C. Press Council and the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner so we can learn if the media was simply filfilling its watchdog role as they have stated or overstepping its bounds and trampling people's rights in the quest for a scoop.

What is funny about this sudden change of heart at Black Press is that there is nothing to stop someone from easily creating a fake Facebook account and posting their comments on the PAN/Black Press website under an assumed or created name. A PAN commentor using the handle "SouthSurreyite" posted the following revelation on the still running Disqus site regarding the change to Facebook coming Dec. 1st which is worth considering: "I think this initiative has been brought up by someone who doesn't understand that or more likely, someone who wants to increase advertising revenue for this site. Just a guess, but come Dec. if you use a Facebook account to post a comment, a link will be posted on your wall and "they" are hoping your friends will click on that link driving up web site visits here. More advertising revenue. Maybe they aren't so dumb afterall? :)" Whether we will see such insightful comments in the future remains to be seen.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

The Naked Truth - Nov. 21, 2011

Vote Notes

The smoke has cleared, the dust finally settled and the numbers have been crunched revealing the winners and losers in this year's civic election in both Surrey and White Rock. Here are some of the more notable facts, figures and interesting results from across our region, focusing on the Semiahmoo peninsula.

To hardly no one's surprise, Dianne Watts and her Surrey First team that refuses to call itself a slate steamrolled to victory over all competition, retaining the mayor's chair and taking all eight seats in council in a crushing win. To call Watt's victory a landslide would be an understatement, taking 80% of the popular vote, beating out independent candidate Russ Buchannan by a dominant 55,826 to 6,267 vote margin. It would appear that rubbing shoulders with former U.S. Presidents Bush and Clinton at the Sheraton did little to tarnish Watts's image or electability. Surrey First kept all of their seven incumbents on Council, adding new member Bruce Hayne to ensure complete domination of future agendas. It makes me wonder why they are even going to bother holding council meetings the next three years as it is unlikely dissenting opinions will be voiced or hard questions asked. The Surrey Civic Coalition was shut out with long-time councillor and three time former Mayor Bob Bose being shown the door to regular life as a Surrey resident after 30 years in public office, finishing in ninth place almost 8,000 votes behind the nearest Surrey First candidate, Barinder Rasode. Veteran politician Judy Higginbotham was also left at the wayside, with her "re-elect" strategy which I questioned last week failing to deliver the desired results, finishing a further 8,000 votes back from Bose. Top place amongst Surrey First councillors went to Crescent Beach resident Judy Villeneuve, who received 45,523 votes and will be back to add to her 23 years of service to the city. Emulating the success at city hall, Surrey First Education took the top five positions for School Board Trustees with the final spot belonging to the SCC's Charlene Dobie at over 18,000 votes back showing the political power that the Surrey First political juggernaut enjoys.

In the "City By The Sea" former White Rock City Manager Wayne Baldwin beat out prevous councillor Lynn Sinclair to take the Mayor's chair by a 2,169 to 1,690 margin with recording studio owner and BIA watchdog Larry Anschell finishing well back in third with 706 votes, making me wonder how important it is to live and not just work in this small seaside town. Hopefully Baldwin will bring to City Hall both the wisdom and experience from having worked there for 23 years along with being the president of the Canadian Association of Municipal Managers. Grant Meyer, who won his seat in the 2009 by-election to replace James Coleridge after he was stripped of his councillor position, took top marks amongst all those running receiving 2,527 votes. Incumbent councillors Mary-Wade Anderson, Al Campbell and Helen Fathers were all returned to power, joined by newcomers Loise Hutchinson and Larry Robinson, the later whom I'd think should be able to stick-handle his way around White Rock politics. Unfortunately the third time was not the charm for White Rock Sun editor Dave Chesney who once again was a bridesmade and not a bride, coming up 300 votes short of joining the party on Buena Vista Ave. While I personally believe Mr. Chesney would have made a great addition to council, lets hope that the newest group can work together to provide effective governance for this seaside city instead of resorting to acriminous dialogue and ideological tantrums prevalent at WR City Hall over the past three years that included such gems as Policy 611. Thankfully the release of private information and the public disclosure of supposedly anonymous web postings by a local community newspaper during the campaign appears to have had little effect on the results with two of the three candidates involved in this questionable journalistic expose being voted into office.

While the results for the candidates were rather interesting, there is one number which caught everyone by surprise and needs to be scrutinized. With its small geographical area, 20,000 person population, elderly demographic and small town politics, you'd think that the city of White Rock would have a high voter turn out especially considering that the weather on Saturday was quite nice for mid-November. This was not the case though with only 4,587 out of a possible 15,530 eligible voters taking the time or interest to get out to vote. This equates to a paltry 28.7 per cent, down considerably from the 36.9 per cent of voters who cast ballots in 2008. This makes me question if the petty politics in the "Rock" are turning people off, if they really don't care, or have simply given up hope? In Surrey the large numbers at the advance polls led many to believe there would be a much higher turnout in this year's civic election and in the end an extra 8,288 people showed up at the polls with 70,253 out of a possible 279,140 eligible voters, equating to 25 percent, casting a ballot. This is a one percent increase from the 24 percent in the 2008 election results but still way below the 2005 levels of 35 percent when Watts defeated Doug McCallum to begin her reign as "Queen of Surrey." Considering that people across the globe in such countries as Libya and Syria are fighting and dying for the right to vote and to control their political elites, not bothering to take the time to put your mark on democracy here is a total bloody disgrace, especially so soon after Rememberance Day. In over thirty years of voting eligibility, I have not missed one election, casting ballots in all civic, provincial and federal elections and even stepping up to run for public office once. Now I realize I may be more politically inclined than most, but if you can't be bothered to vote, please realize that you have just lost your right to bitch, whine or complain about anything any level of government does no matter how these decisions affect you. Make your mark, or shut the hell up! As for myself, I've just earned the right to three more years on my soapbox known as the TNT. Not bad considering all it took was ten minutes out of my weekend along with the simple stroke of a pen in the local polling station.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Nov. 14, 2011

"Re-Ject" the "Re-Elect"

With most people already viewing politicians as existing somewhere below lawyers and just above the belly of a snake, this civic election brings along a new low with candidates running for council who are suddenly getting creative with the word "re-elect." In nearby North Delta, Jeannie Kanakos name is on an election sign with two other candidates that currently hold office, utilizing the "re-elect" signage even though she is not currently a member of Delta Council. For the record, Mrs. Kanakos was formerly elected for one term, holding the position of councillor from 2005 to 2008. Here in the city of Surrey Judy Higginbotham, a veteran councillor who was in office for almost a quarter century from 1984 to 2008, has posted election signs prominently featuring the word "re-elect" even though it has now been several years since she held office after opting to run federally for the Liberals in a losing bid.

Up until now, posting the words "re-elect" on candidate signage informed voters that the person was the incumbent and currently held the political office that was being contested. While I realize that both of these ladies has previous council experience having being elected in the past, does this qualify them to use this important wording on their election signs now? I believe doing so is deceitful and is likely being used to confuse voters into voting for someone they might not know isn't currently a member of Council. In Mrs. Higginbotham's case, the "re-elect" word is prominently displayed and on her smaller roadside signs is posted on top in bold large text. While Judy may have somehow justified bastardizing the "re-elect" title utilizing it as she has, it is interesting to note how other candidates and electoral slates in the city of Surrey have decided to use this powerful message.

Our popular Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts and her Surrey First Team have large 4 'x 8' election signs posted at almost every major intersection across the city, yet the words "re-elect" are conspicuous by their absence, even though the bold name of the two term mayor and her full colour picture are prominently displayed. Also featured on this sign are the names of the eight Surrey First Council candidates, seven of whom are incumbents and many well known in the community. Only newcomer Bruce Hayne is not a current sitting member of Surrey Council and yet none of the others is graced with the "re-elect" logo. It is only on the Surrey First Education team signs that has five candidates running for the Surrey Board of Education where the "re-elect" banner is used as they are all current trustees. Even then, it is somewhat subdued being only used once and in a smaller font than most of the other sign lettering.

Not to be outdone, the Surrey Civic Coalition or SCC have also decided to not run under the banner of "re-elect", instead printing "incumbent" under the names of those candidates currently holding office. Veteran councillor and former Mayor Bob Bose is placed on their large signs with the other SCC members running for office, with the word "incumbent" in small letters just below his name in the same blue colour as used for the rest of the sign. No flaming red, no screaming yellow, no large bold lettering, and if you were driving by you'd probably never see it. The same goes for the SCC School Board candidates with current trustee Ijaz Chatha being discretely advertised as the "incumbent." As far as I'm aware, none of the other candidates running for office in Surrey who were previously held office but are not an incumbent are utilizing the "re-elect" label. If Mr. Bose had run for mayor this year, you can bet he would not have considered utilizing the "re-elect" moniker even though he was our mayor for a total of nine years. The same could be said for Bill Vanderzalm who many don't realize was Mayor of Surrey for six years in the early 1970's.

I informed Surrey's Chief Election Office about what I saw as a questionable use of the "re-elect" wording in Mrs. Higginbotham's signs and received the following response from Jane Sullivan, the City Clerk:
"The role of the City and the Chief Election Officer is to conduct an election in an impartial manner. It is not our role to comment or provide an opinion on the actions of a particular candidate or campaign, which are more appropriately matters for public debate. The Province is responsible for enforcing municipal legislative provisions by way of legal proceedings. The City only has authority to enforce its own bylaws."
What is interesting to note is that Section 152(3) of the Local Governance Act states that, "A person must not, by abduction, duress or fraudulent means..., compel, persuade or otherwise cause a person to vote or refrain from voting." It was this election law which landed White Rock councillor James Coleridge in trouble with the B.C. Supreme Court for fictitious emails, seeing him stripped of his position and fined $20,000 for a portion of the by-election costs several years ago. If Mrs. Higginbotham were to gain office as Surrey Councillor once again, there is a possibility one of the losing candidates or a group of only four voters who felt they were unduly swayed by the "re-elect" signage could take her to court and challenge the validity of her victory.

While I personally like Mrs. Higginbotham and admire her years of dedicated public service, I believe that any electoral candidate trying to promote themselves with the "re-elect" slogan when they are not the incumbent needs to be held accountable for this decision. It is entirely likely that if Judy had ran for Surrey council in 2008, instead of adding to what is now known as the "Higginbotham Curse" by once again trying out for politics above the civic level (google "the tyee higginbotham curse" for the history), the grand dame of Surrey would probably have been re-elected. Unfortunately this was not the case and just as her election signs state that, "Surrey Knows Judy" I'm here to say, "...And Judy Should Have Known Better." Rules need to be put in place to stop this behaviour in the future because since I previously "elected" to run for public office (yeah, I lost), doing so again would mean I "re-elected" to again campaign if you follow this twisted logic. Something to think about on Nov. 19th when we all do our civic duty to protect democracy and exercise our right to VOTE!

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

The Naked Truth - Nov. 7, 2011

Dog Owners Barking Mad

It's interesting to see what raises the hackles of voters in municipal elections but imagine my surprise at learning during the White Rock all-candidates meeting that the possibility of allowing people to walk their dogs on the promenade was suddenly a hot-button issue. While the promenade is a well known tourist and fitness attraction, you have to leave fido at home or risk incurring the wrath of the White Rock By-law reps who patrol the waterfront with ticket books at the ready for the slightest infraction including cars parked a minute over their legal limit. With no off-leash dog park contained within White Rock's rather confined borders, residents are becoming fed up with not being able to bring their four-legged friends along with them for a stroll in the fresh air and some much needed exercise. One even went so far as to recently promise in a local newspaper that they'll be, "voting with paws in mind on Nov. 19th!"

Things are a little different up in south Surrey where you can walk your leashed pet along the Crescent Beach walkway year round with the nearby Blackie Spit off-leash area allowing a taste of freedom for canine companions. Of note, dogs are not allowed on the public beach from May 15 to Sept 15 because of summer crowds, small children, hot sun, warm temperatures, and of course concerns about fecal coliform contamination. The City of Vancouver also allows people to take their dogs on the famed Seawall that wraps around historic Stanley Park while the resort municipality of Whistler lets residents and visitors alike bring their pampered pooches into the Village Stroll and the paths around Lost Lake. Surrey City Hall is currently seeking to update its master plan for off-leash dog parks and is considering both Bakerview (Bark-erview?) park and the Pioneer Trail (Tail?) area in south Surrey as possible additions with other locations being considered. For a full list of present and potential dogs parks across all of Surrey, visit the city website at http://www.surrey.ca/dogparks.

While recently down under in Brisbane, Australia I was taken on a short tour of some of the local sights which included the Wellington Point Reserve that sticks into the sheltered waters of Moreton Bay. Besides the great water views and large fig trees that are found there, what caught my attention was signage stating that dogs were prohibited from this area only on weekends on public holidays. In other words, those times when the park, public walkway and waterfront would be busy and packed with people. Dogs were also excluded from the designated swimming beach, kids playground and picnic area which made sense, while being allowed into the water on areas away from the public beach. With their semi-tropical weather, this waterfront attracts people year-round and especially during their scorching hot summers. I thought allowing partial dog use was a novel concept and planned to share it with White Rock council after the election was over but now think this might be worthy of consideration for all candidates currently running for civic office. It certainly would be worth knowing who supports dogs on the promenade and who would like to see the long running ban continued in order to vote accordingly.

In White Rock's case, I believe allowing dogs onto the promenade, especially in the off- season when people aren't sunning themselves on the grass next to the walkway might be an idea worth exploring. By allowing pets from Sept 15 to May 15, you could attract more people to the White Rock waterfront when it is historically quiet while increasing the fitness of people and pooches. Of course, many of these people would have to pay for parking while at the promenade, increasing White Rock's bottom line and helping to pay the BNSF Railway's pricey land lease. For those people too lazy or ignorant to pick up their pet's poop, large fines would not only encourage compliance but would also help pad the balance sheet even further. I'm certain that restaurant and business owners along the west and east beach strips would welcome the increased traffic and sales that would come their way, hopefully reducing the extreme spread in business between summer and winter months. As far as the historic White Rock pier goes, I think it should still remain off limits to dogs since there are already enough problems with rust and corrosion at the base of the metal light standards.

Now maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree with this TNT but there are lots of voters who have dogs and many are becoming tired of rules that limit pet-friendly activity. Why not open the 2.5 km. promenade up to leashed dogs for eight months of the year and invite more visitors and residents along with their canine companions to utilize it? It'd be better to see smiling faces and wagging tails on the beachfront walkway instead of it being vacant and disused for most of the time. The "City by the Sea" needs to invent itself in order to survive and prosper and while there has long been talk of using arts and culture to bring investment and tourist dollars, allowing dog walking on the promenade would instantly make White Rock more inviting. Hopefully the politicians will realize that if you make people feel welcome - we'll come and our little dogs too.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - Oct. 31, 2011

PANonymous Postings

With today being Halloween, I wanted to write about something dark, macabre and positively frightening. No, I don't mean vampires, werewolves, witches or zombies (in alphabetical order might I add), but instead want to focus on the Peace Arch News recently publically outing the authors of anonymous postings to their website, divulging certain individuals running for public office and possibly affecting the results of the upcoming civic election. In case you missed this front page story, it was written by reporter Tracy Holmes and published on Oct. 19 under the headline "White Rock Politicians Coy Over Online Comments." As if this story wasn't enough, the PAN followed it with a subsequent editorial on Oct. 24 titled, "Voters Will Have Final Say." To be quite honest, I don't know which one of these pieces of what I would deem "yellow journalism" was worse, with editor Lance Peverley responsible for allowing the original piece to go to print and likely being heavily involved with the rather slanted and self-serving editorial. As for the candidates involved, I won't bother naming them again as I believe they have already been dragged through the mud enough simply for freely voicing their opinions as they should be allowed to do.

The original "news" story apparently violated the PAN's own code of ethics not to mention ignoring any concept of journalistic integrity, placing this community paper in the recycling bin with the likes of the National Enquirer and the now defunct Guardian newspaper that are prime examples of scandal-mongering sensationalism. Comments posted below news stories by individuals under aliases or pseudonyms should have been afforded the same privacy that is given to those people who provide anonymous tips to the newsroom or reporters. The following are excerpts from the PAN's own privacy policy posted on their Black Press website which seem to be at odds with how this story was concocted utilizing personal information gleaned from their own computers:

The security of your personal information is very important to us etc...
We value your trust very highly, and will work to protect the security and privacy of any personal information you provide to us etc...
Personal information means information about you which is, or can be, tied to you as an individual etc...
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information. We do not disclose personal information to others.
I don't understand how the PAN could not have realized that what they've done destroys any credibility they may have once had. Anonymous speech is free speech with political critique and commentary, reporting of crime, and many other situations requiring the need to speak anonymously to preserve the truth, promote public safety and protect basic rights. Anonymity also helps to promote the spread of the best ideas because the concept is not contaminated with the reputation of the speaker or writer which may influence opinions.

The accompanying editorial that was printed five days later was unapologetic for the PAN's appalling lack of principles and ignored public concerns about identifying individuals who believed their postings to be anonymous. It would be interesting to know what the B.C. Press Council and the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner think about such underhanded tactics that were used during an election campaign to effectively smear certain candidates. The same can be said for the Canadian Association of Journalists who have "Principles for Ethical Journalism" and "Ethics Guidelines" in which their right to privacy section dealing with internet information states, "journalists should not use subterfuge to gain access to information intended to be private." I'm hoping that Black Press President/CEO David Black might also have something to say about the recent activities at the PAN office and that of its editor. You can be certain I will be contacting all of these organizations to look into the PAN's conduct involving this story and the possible ramifications from it. While it's doubtful that any of the candidates outed by the PAN for posting their thoughts and comments online will attempt to fight this injustice before the Nov. 19th election, expect some to seek redress after this date. Whether the Peace Arch News can be held liable for damages by releasing this personal information remains to be seen but you can bet some lawyers will be looking into the details, especially if this story sways voters as the editorial made clear reference to.

In the past I've forwarded many news tips to a variety of media sources and reporters from across the Lower Mainland resulting in many stories including some which were front page news in the Vancouver Sun and Province newspapers. At other times I've asked for and received anonymity, not wanting to be involved in the story for a wide variety of reasons, the most often being the fear of over-exposure. Some have had a darker side involving violence, organized crime, and sexual liaisons that I did not want to be associated with after having been made aware of them through various acquaintances and community sources. The Peace Arch News has been the recipient of some of these tips, ensuring to date that I was not revealed as the news source in the stories which I requested privacy. Now I'm left wondering if I decide to run for public office again that some of these skeletons in the closet will be dragged out into the public eye for close inspection and scrutiny on a slow news day. One thing is for sure, unless it is a story I wish to be involved with, in the future I won't be sharing any information with the PAN that I feel might at sometime become damaging to my reputation. Trust is essential to good journalism and unfortunately the PAN's credibility has been shredded as effectively as the newsprint that now lines the bottom of my daughter's budgie cage. On the flip side, I continue to sit on several blockbuster stories that would have serious ramifications only because releasing this information would jeopardize the informants that I have promised to protect, hoping one day they will do the right thing and go public with what they know.

PAN Editor Lance Peverley

Besides sending PAN editor Lance Peverley plenty of letters or "let-eds" as I call them, which require the person's full name, address and contact information necessary for publication, I've commented widely on a variety of stories that have appeared on the PAN website. My user name on the Disqus commentary system used on the PAN website is "don_sun" and was purposely chosen to be easily identifiable by anyone remotely aware of events and personalities within the Semiahmoo peninsula community. Indeed, in the past some PAN readers have put the dots together figuring out this riddle, just as I have also managed to confirm the identities of several other frequent writers. Most of my postings, all forty of which are still readable to those of you who know how to manipulate the system, were informative, others humorous with some placed simply to garner a backlash or promote commentary. Instead of waiting for the PAN to release my personal information and expose myself to their remaining readers at an inopportune time, I thought it best to use the TNT to come out of the closet as it were. From now one if I ever decide to post anything on the PAN's Discus system, I'll ensure to attach my name to any comments, concerns or thought provoking musings that I put on their forum, not to mention being very careful about what I write. For all others, it would be in your own best interest to remember the following warning:

ANYTHING YOU PRINT ON THE DISCUS SYSTEM CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION BY THE PEACE ARCH NEWS!

Have a safe and happy Halloween everybody.
Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

UPDATE November 03, 2011

Attn: Mr. David Black
President/CEO Black Press

Re: Privacy concerns & election tampering - Peace Arch News

Dear Mr. Black,

The following blog (http://whiterocksun.com/index.php?mode=naked_truth) has been posted on the electronic pages of the White Rock Sun (www.whiterocksun.com) detailing the Peace Arch News recent use of private information to identify the authors of anonymous postings to the Disqus commenting system for stories on the PAN website that is part of the Black Press family of community newspapers.

I would ask you to review the details contained in this blog along with both the corresponding PAN story (http://www.peacearchnews.com/news/election/132183903.html) and subsequent editorial (http://www.peacearchnews.com/opinion/132499678.html) which not only publically revealed the authors of anonymous comments who are candidates for White Rock City Hall but did so during a civic election campaign, which is likely to sway voters and alter the final outcome. I believe this violated the Black Press Privacy Policy, portions of the B.C. Privacy and Information Protection Act, along with the Canadian Association of Journalists Ethics Guidelines by exposing personal information collected from PAN computers that should have been kept strictly confidential, thus revealing anonymous sources.

It is likely that the three candidates in question who were outed in this fashion will soon be filing complaints with the proper government authorities and journalistic associations and several have voiced the possibility of pursuing legal action against the Peace Arch News and Black Press for damages to reputation once the Nov. 19th civic election is over. As head of Black Press, I'd ask you to review this situation and ascertain if people's right to privacy have been compromised by the PAN and their editor Lance Peverley's actions. Moreover, I'd like to know if this form of journalistic and editorial behavior is acceptable to you and whether any of the other newspapers in the Black Press chain have resorted to these same questionable measures in pursuit of an election news story?

While I'm a firm believer in the freedom of the press, anonymous blog postings on media websites are a form of free speech which is essential to good governance, public discourse and democracy. Revealing personal information and outing authors of these posts who originally were anonymous ensures that in future this important message medium will be stifled and ignored over fears of public humiliation and the publishing of private data . Personally, I believe the PAN's actions on both their news story and related editorial to be a serious and unethical breach of trust that puts their journalistic integrity and that of the Black Press Group Ltd. as a whole in jeopardy.

I trust you will give this correspondence the attention that it deserves and look forward to receiving a direct response from yourself personally regarding this matter due to its serious nature and the resulting repercussions that it is likely to have. Unlike the Peace Arch News, I promise to keep all communications received from you in the strictest of confidence and will not share, forward or publish them unless authorized to do so in writing. You may also want to express my concerns to PAN editor Lance Peverley and reporter Tracy Holmes whom I did not Cc on this email due to my own legitimate privacy concerns that I now have with their office.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn,

Subject: Fwd: Privacy concerns & election tampering - Peace Arch News
From: rblair@blackpress.ca
Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:02:02 -0700
CC: ricko@blackpress.ca; dblack@blackpress.ca
To: sun-assn@hotmail.com

Don:

Black Press takes privacy issues seriously, in the context and circumstances of how they arise.

In this case, the individuals in question are, as you noted, running in the upcoming civic election. Holding or campaigning for political office has long been accepted by mainstream society as placing those individuals on a different level of public exposure and scrutiny.

Expectations of anonymity, or false identity on the part of political candidates cannot be reasonably held, as illustrated in two well-known and documented cases in B.C. involving political figures who over-stepped those boundaries, and paid for their decisions with their positions.

In 1988, Paul Reitasma, Liberal MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, was exposed by the media as having written to newspapers under assumed names, praising his reputation and criticizing that of his opponents. He was ejected from the B.C. Liberal caucus, and later resigned when it appeared a recall petition would be successful.

In 2009, White Rock Coun. James Coleridge was ousted from council, after a court ruling found he had engaged in deceit and lies when he and his wife used false names to allege challenging candidates were running a secret, pro-development slate that would result in high rises being developed in the city. The Peace Arch News broke that story by tracking the IP address used to send the email to the Coleridges' computer.

Public condemnation in both cases was indisputable.

Clearly, senior political party executives, municipal politicians, and of particular note the court, all agreed that deceptive conduct on the part of political representatives was not to be tolerated.

The protection of so-called "private" information contained in email transmissions and online commenting is trumped by the public's right to be aware of the conduct of individuals they are being asked to elect to represent them.
Black Press fully supports the efforts of the Peace Arch News and its editor Lance Peverly in bringing to readers' attention the actions of Coun. Helen Fathers, and candidate Cliff Annable, who both used online anonymity to post comments in regard to their campaigns, and then initially denied doing so when questioned by the Peace Arch News reporter.

Both of those decisions in this respect reflect upon their character, and voters have the right to know if candidates are engaging in deception in order to garner support, or gain an advantage over competitors.

To answer your question, this form of journalism is not only "acceptable" to Black Press, it is viewed as the mandate of a free media fulfilling its watchdog role, vital to maintaining an open democratic process, and holding all political candidates to the standards the public expects of them.

Regards,

Randy Blair
President,
Black Press Lower Mainland

 

October 24, 2011

There's No Place Like Home..., There's No Place Like Home...

Words spoken by Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) to return her and dog Toto safely home from the Land of Oz.

How time flies when you're having fun! The three weeks I spent down in Australia as a member of the Canadian Palma Rifle Team flew by and I'm now writing this column sitting in the front of a New Zealand Boeing 777-200ER cruising at 950 kmh and 12,500 metres high somewhere over the south Pacific. It's likely this will be as close to the infamous "Pitcairn" Island as I'm ever likely to come in my lifetime. If you're wondering about this obscure geographical reference, think Master's Mate Christian Anderson, the tyrannical Commanding Lieutenant William Bligh, a tall sailing ship known as the HMAV Bounty and a band of cutthroat mutineers that made marine history around the world. Fortunately this rocky atoll got its name from an officer on one of Captain James Cook's previous south Pacific expeditions, so I'm not related to any of the merry band of pirates who ended up killing each other on this fortress island that sat at the edge of the maps centuries ago.

World long range champ Richard Jeeves with his 1000 yard grouping

The 2011 World Long Range Target Rifle Championships being held in Brisbane finished up with a bang on Wednesday with the top ten finalists battling for marksmanship supremacy, firing shoulder to shoulder from the 1,000 yard firing point. While well known Great Britain Rifle Team member Jane Messer was leading by several points going into the final, she could not hold the bull's-eye in strong and erratic winds, with fellow teammate Richard Jeens shooting a final score of 725 to win this prestigious event. South African Andre DuToit and Englishman David Luckman tied with the identical scores a point back in the combined aggregate and had to shoot off to decide the next two positions, with Du Toit taking the silver medal after a further five shots which were all bull-eyes. Top Canadian at long range was yours truly finishing well back in 51st place just one shy of the awarded badges. Unfortunately you don't get a consolation prize or even an honorable mention for this, though my new Aussie friend Neil Gibbins, the master of ceremonies did shake my hand on the range the next day, cursing my bad luck.

The Palma Team Match was fired on the Friday and Saturday with the Great Britain Rifle Team stepping out to an early lead that they never relinquished, scoring 7,027 out of a possible 7200 points. In fact, they won every long range but one of the six that were fired except for the final 1,000 yard shoot when victory was really never in doubt. English shooting legend Nigel Ball who has previously won the B.C. Target Rifle Grand Aggregate several years ago in Chilliwack was the high score on the range, carding a 446 out of a possible 450 points, shooting only four shots out of 90 bullets fired that did not find the centre of the target. The well-funded South African team proved their ability to shoot through rapidly changing winds and hot Australian sunshine, taking silver 35 points back from the Brits with 6,992 followed by our neighbours the Americans who got the bronze with a score of 6,980. The host Australians finished in fourth out of the medals after doing quite well in the individual matches and bringing home plenty of hardware for their efforts. Canada ended up in fifth spot, never challenging any of the powerhouse teams for a medal position. The Kiwis from New Zealand finished in the final spot, with their fancy hardwired LED wind modules proving little use other than to look like a big black spider being shoved into the back of their team van. The one Canadian highlight of this long range event was amiable Newfoundlander Barry Langille, who did not drop a single point at the 800 yard distance, winning the three range aggregate in the world individual plus going clean in the two team shoots held there, earning himself the title, "King of the 800."

While disappointed with the open team's results, this was the first Long Range Target Rifle Championships since 1992 that Canada has won team medals in and the victories of our Under 25 and Veterans team in the World Team Match was definitely a step in the right direction. The Dominion of Canada Rifle Association (DCRA) embarked on an ambitious training regimen four years ago to improve our marksmanship at this international event and to return to the podium, both of which were accomplished. The next World Long Range Target Rifle Championships and Palma Team Match will be held in the United States in four years at the historic Camp Perry in Ohio, giving us Canucks more time to hone our skills, improve our shooting plus coaching and to give another shot at owning the podium. With perseverance, training and an increased focus on international team shooting, I would expect the Canadians to improve the "caliber" of their shooting and ultimately challenge the world's best.

I hope that this little insight into the world of competitive full-bore rifle shooting has been interesting, educational and ultimately informative. I'm looking forward to getting back home with friends, family and my wonderful wife Sheryl who made this overseas outing possible, resuming my regular routine and adjusting to a normal life away from the range. I've been following the news from back home and look forward to getting my feet wet by wading into the fetid swamp that is municipal politics with the civic elections scheduled for November 19th. Mayor Ferguson is stepping down in White Rock with many people vying for her job there while in Surrey, Princess Dianne(a) Watts appears to finally have a fight on her hands with the first real challenge to her reign after rubbing people the wrong way by hobnobbing with former U.S. presidents Bush and Clinton. Heck, even White Rock Sun editor Dave Chesney is getting into the action, once again throwing his hat into the ring vying for a White Rock councilor position. It's so nice to know that the world doesn't stop spinning just because I happen to be on the other side of it.

Canadian Team final round

On a closing note to this little adventure, while New Zealand placed last in the Palma Match, they fared much better on the rugby field with the All Blacks winning the 2011 World Cup over France by a razor thin 8 to 7 margin in a game strong on defense. With "Nazzy" Air sponsoring their country's team, the flight crew jetting us home and missing the game on TV, they adorned the cabin of the plane with New Zealand flags and banners plus All Blacks souvenirs. The Captain relayed scores over the intercom and video screens and when the final announcement was made, people cheered, clapped and burst into song. I must admit the bottles of champagne they popped and then served for passengers after the victory tasted mighty sweet. Hats off to the Kiwis for their win in a country where rugby is more of a religion than a sport and where the silver fern that is their national symbol adorns their lush countryside and team jerseys.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

October 17, 2011

The King of the Queens

A week has quickly gone by down at the Belmont rifle range here in Queensland with the historic Queen's Prize being fired and the Grand Aggregate for the National Rifle Association of Australia completed. To give you an idea of how competitive this fullbore rifle shoot is and the level of marksmanship being exhibited, John Whidden from the USA Rifle Team won the prestigious and historic Queen's Prize match dating back to the 1860s by a score of 399 out of a possible 400 points, with half of his shots finding the centre V-bull that is half the bullseye diameter. Out of eight distances fired with ten shots per range, he missed the bullseye only once over three days of shooting. Five other marksman were nipping on his heels only one point back, showing the need for a steady hand, an eagle eye and nerves of steel.

It turned out it was the young guns of the team who did Canada proud, with 17 year old Tyler Sangster from Amherst Nova Scotia placing 42nd in the A Class of the Queens Prize as the highest Canuck in the competition scoring 394. What makes his finish so interesting is that while firing in the A grade because of his high score at the Canadian Championships in Ottawa, his father had to accompany him to Australia as Tyler was too young to bring firearms into Australia because of stringent controls that exist here. Canadians took five of the top ten places in the Queens Prize B Class for novice shooters or those classified as either Expert or Sharpshooter. Justin Hearn, age 22 from Newfoundland took top honours and impressed all in attendance at the prize ceremony with his beloved east coast accent. We also placed third and fourth plus nine and tenth in these results, including Surrey resident Al Katona who owns a tire recycling business in the Lower mainland.

Champ Jim Bailey

The National Rifle Association of Australia Grand Aggregate also wrapped up with Jim Bailey from Australia winning with a score of 770 out of a possible score of 775. Highest Canadian from the A class competitors was Fazel Mohideen from Mississagua Ontario who placed 44th out of nearly 500 competitors. In the B class, Canadians took the top three positions with Don Coleman, Justin Hearns and Jeff Jenkins placing first, second and third respectively. Once again, Al Katona from Surrey showed his marksmanship, putting himself as the fourth Canadian in the top ten with his tenth place finish. Of special note, Jenni Hauser who has helped out team greatly along with the Brisbane Rifle Club won what is known as F Class that uses heavier grade rifles with scopes and bi-pods much to the delight of her ex-Vancouverite husband Mirco Teglasi who still shoots for Canada while living for years in Australia.

Two major team matches shot at 600, 800, 900 and 1,000 yards were contested this week here in Australia with both Canadian entries receiving medals. The World Under 25 Rifle Team match was won by the USA Young Eagles Red team, followed by the USA Young Eagles Blue with Canada's five man team (including one woman) placing third to collect the bronze ICFRA medal. Not to be outdone, in the World Veteran's Team Match, Canada's ten man team also took home bronze, finishing third after the USA who won silver and host Australia who ran off with the gold on home soil. Of special interest, Palma Team Captain Bob Pitcairn from Chilliwack won his first ever bronze medal in eleven previous Palma Matches that includes the 1967 Canadian centennial match, adding it to his two golds and one silver previously won completing his medal collection. If his last name sounded familiar, you might understand how I first became involved in this sport that now has me writing The Naked Truth from Australia.

The World Long Range Championship will be shot over four days this week with 15 round matches fired at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Once this individual aggregate is completed the Palma Team Match will be fired over two days on Friday and Saturday with a sixteen man shooting team, four coaches, four assistant coaches and a head coach overseeing all the action. Course of fire is once again 15 rounds at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards and if the wind has been anything like what we've already seen, I'm sure the coaches will be very busy. Teams from Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and South Africa will be shooting shoulder to shoulder over days to see which country has the greatest marksmen in the world. The Canadian Palma Team is hoping to looking forward to this competition and hopefully ending up in the top three, ensuring that every member of the group who flew down to Australia brings a medal home to Canada. I'll make sure to bring you all the results, drama and intrigue in the final installment of the TNT from Australia.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

October 13, 2011

Gunning For Gold in the Land of Oz

(Chilliwack range)

While the focus of this column generally lies somewhere within the geographical boundaries of south Surrey and the Semiahmoo peninsula, the next few week's offerings will be coming to you from "down under" in the island continent of Australia. I'm currently calling the east coast city of Brisbane home, here competing as a member of the Canadian Target Rifle Team that is attending the 2011 International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Association (ICFRA) World Long Range Championships. This event which attracts international marksmen from around the planet also includes the 40th National Rifle Association of Australia (NRAA) annual championships and a prestigious team championship known as the Palma Match. We shoot .308 caliber match rifles in the prone position at targets from 300 to 1,000 yards away, with the bulls-eye at the furthest distance being only 20 inches across. Throw in a stiff buffeting wind and heavy driving rain and this sport can become rather challenging under extreme weather conditions.

Long range shooting began way back in the 1850's with the production Minie and Enfield rifles which were used at ranges out to "800 paces" against Russian artillery in the Crimean war. The British National Rifle Association was formed in 1859 with their first team shooting match being held at Wimbledon, England in 1860, seventeen years before the first lawn tennis championship occurred. In the USA, the National Rifle Association (NRA) was formed in 1871 with their first long range team match taking place between the Yanks and the Irish in September of 1874. The first multi-international match was fired in Sept. 1876 between teams from Canada, Australia, Scotland, Ireland and the USA to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States independence, with eight man teams firing 15 shots at 800, 900, and 1,000 yards over two days with America winning. To give you an idea of the history of rifle shooting in this province, the B.C. Rifle Association (www.bcrifle.org) was formed in 1874 and has continued promoting marksmanship and competitive target rifle shooting to the present day.

The Canadian shooting team down under consists of 33 men and women age 18 to 73 years old from as far away as the Maritimes, Ontario and Alberta with a healthy contingent of nine B.C. folks living in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Interior. This team is comprised of three sub-teams, being the junior - under 25's, the veterans - over 60 yrs, and the open or adult Palma team, each which will compete against the same age groups. We arrived in Brisbane on Oct 5th and practiced for a couple of days to adjust to the conditions and semi-tropical climate and have already competed in what is known as the Presidents Match that consists of 10 round shoots at 300, 500, 600, 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. With a steady hand, keen eye and a bit of luck, yours truly made what is known as the "Leaders Board" and am currently the high Canadian in this competition sitting in 30th place amongst nearly 500 marksmen who are some of the best shots in the world with plenty of shooting still to come. Ian Hogg from PEI and Judy Anderson from Kamloops B.C. have also done us Canucks proud, winning individual ranges with perfect 50 point scores and high "V counts" which is a ring half the diameter of the bulls-eye that is used to break ties and encourage better shooting. This event has attracted teams from Canada and the USA., Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand and of course Australia, with individuals hailing from such countries as Germany and Japan.

The modern Palma Match got its resurgence as a Canadian Centennial Project in 1967 with the Canadians beating out the Americans that year. In its current format, the Palma is shot every four years at distances of 800, 900 and 1,000 yards at imperial ranges such as the Belmont range that is our base in Australia and Camp Perry in the States and 700, 800, and 900 metre ranges on metric ranges as in Connaught in Ontario that is home base for the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association or DCRA (www.dcra.org). Teams consist of 16 men and women in four groups of four who fire 2 sighting shots and 15 rounds on score at each distance, repeated over two days. Each squad is controlled by a coach who applies corrections for wind and elevation to the iron peep sights of .308 caliber target rifles. A central coach oversees the four targets with most teams now using headsets for communications in order to be heard over the constant crack of bullets headed for bulls-eyes. Full bore team shooting is an endurance sport requiring physical fitness and strong mental discipline and the Palma Match is a unique shoulder to shoulder, international competition of marksmanship skills. Future Palmas are already being planned for the United States in 2015 and then in New Zealand eight years from now.

I'll endeavor to keep you all informed as to the ongoing state of our team and some of the Canadian victories as this rifle competition continues over several weeks. Special thanks must be given to our friends at the Brisbane Rifle Club who has graciously allowed the Canadian team to use their clubhouse and facilities during the competition and have welcomed us in typically warm Aussie fashion. Next up in the shooting schedule is the Australia Match, fired by teams over four ranges from 600 to 1,000 yards, followed by the NRAA Queens Prize where the winner will be "chaired" on teammates shoulders. You can follow the results for yourself, which are posted daily on the NNRA website at nnra.com.au. While missing our families and loved ones back at home in Canada and not getting to partake in the traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, we did have a wonderful team meal on Sunday night featuring grilled jumbo shrimp and marinated kangaroo meat on the "barbie" washed down with plenty of ice cold Foster's lager. No sign of Crocodile Dundee, though they did have some rather large steak knives on the table.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

October 03, 3011

The City of White Rock has recently completed open public meetings concerning their proposed revisions to the contentious Policy 611 that allowed the cutting down of city owned trees on boulevards or parks to enhance, improve, or create views for those lucky enough to see the ocean. This policy goes hand in hand with the two-tiered tree management program which only is applied to those neighborhoods in the City by the Sea unlucky enough to not have a view of the water. Both of these public meetings drew capacity crowds to the council chambers, attracting environmentalists and tree preservationists along with those wanting a clear-cut view of Semiahmoo Bay. Rob Thompson, the Director of Engineering and Municipal Operations chaired these meetings and was there to explain the policy changes and answer questions from those in attendance. If you care to view the complete details of the proposed revisions to Policy 611 and the changes they will make to this policy more palatable, they are posted as a corporate report on the city website at the following link: http://www.city.whiterock.bc.ca/_login/_upload/Council%20Report%20611.pdf

The main changes to Policy 611 are that it will now protect only "established" views, recreating original views obscured by new tree growth. Another major change is that there will be no consideration for view improvement at the expense of trees on parkland, which was previously allowed. The city will no longer consider pruning or entire tree removal in order to establish a new view. Property owners must have owned their residence for a minimum of two years in order to apply for tree work under the new policy 611. Each tree will carry a price tag of between $2,000 to $18,000 depending on the tree size with collected funds being used for increasing the overall tree canopy in the city. Significant trees including those in area ravines plus raptor trees will not be touched and the city has promised that they will no longer consider topping trees as a way to control growth. Unfortunately with the Hump Hillside not being included in the ravine lands classification, it is likely that there is still nothing to stop the BNSF Railway from completing a defacto clear-cut once again for the privileged few on Marine Drive who would love nothing better than to raze the entire urban forest on this slide prone hillside above the tracks.

The Ellerbecks who live on Royal Ave. were the first White Rock residents who learned how draconian the original policy 611 was, with neighbors across the street from their house applying to cut down trees which gave their property shade, privacy, slope stability and a place for wildlife. It was their house where protesters camped out to stop chainsaws, where a tree was poisoned with chemicals and finally a city employee used a hand saw under cover of darkness to cut down a flowering plum tree that was in full spring bloom. This was done to improve the view from a home across the street that was for sale at the time, with the owner/realtor promising ocean views from all three floors. Unfortunately the landscape retaining wall and privacy hedge that were promised to occur after the tree removal were never completed with the city appearing to renege on this part of the arrangement. Since these folks have suffered the most under Policy 611, I thought it would be interesting to give their views on the proposed changes. Here are their recommendations concerning the proposed revisions recently forwarded to city staff:

1. Policy should be a by-law in order to :
- give credence to charges and fines for vandalism, (damaging or destroying public property, eg. trees)
- incorporate public and private tree policies with the integrated storm water management plan which outlines the intrinsic and monetary value of trees and the optimum tree canopy for the community.
- state that views should not be more important than the value of trees to the community as a whole.

2. City should investigate more thoroughly their own potential culpability and liability if clear cutting trees for views should cause landslides, erosion, drainage problems in the future. Does this present council, who have initiated this policy, have any liability for future damage caused by it's implication? Does White Rock have insurance to cover this eventuality?

3. Revision does not say anything about applicants who have their house up for sale at the time of their applications. This should not be allowed.

4. "View" must be defined by policy-by-law.

5. Replacement of trees must be addressed at time of removal and location stated.

6. Policy 611 is based on greed: some citizens- property owners are receiving a private benefit (6.c) not available to all property owners and at a huge future potential cost to taxpayers if landslides etc. occur.

7. The implementation of policy 611 has caused extreme antagonism between neighbors, between citizens and city hall,
-vandalism ( poison at trunk of tree)
-threats reported to city and RCMP.
-harassment of citizens who guarded the trees.
-a plum tree in full bloom cut by union workers at the direction of council in the middle of the night without the proper safety measures taken to safeguard homeowners, neighbors or workers.
-policy was supposed to ensure that applicants paid for all costs related to tree removal. The applicants and city reneged on this contract.
-people who vandalize, trespass and damage city property (trees) are never charged, fined or even chastised; they are rewarded by being allowed to apply to clear-cut city assets.
This policy has opened a can of worms:
-now some homeowners want the city to prune or remove city trees from parks so that they will have an enhanced view.

possible tree poisoning adjoining Ellerbeck property?

Photo taken July 10, 2012. A clear indication someone's view got a whole lot better

-some citizens have intimated that peoples will resort to vandalism if the city does not clear-cut trees that block their view. This is a threat that the city is obligated not to capitulate under.
-the policy does not state what percent of the view would be obstructed before pruning or removal is considered.

8. Why is this council destroying public assets in order to give financial benefits to some citizens at the expense of all of the citizens of White Rock?

9. Trees belong to everyone: all citizens, not just those on the hillside, homeowners,taxpayers and most important to voters in a democratic society.

10. Council has a mandate to make policies (by-laws) that benefits all citizens, that contribute to the common good.

Whether any or all of these recommendations will be acted on by White Rock remains to be seen but with the "Clear-Cut" Councillors Sinclair, Campbell, Anderson and Meyers originally supporting Policy 611 even after the public backlash it created, I'm actually surprised that any changes were considered to the original policy. Of course, this is an election year and it is doubtful they would want stories about protestors and pictures of fallen trees to be front page news during the November campaign. It is likely the election results will show how the residents of White Rock feel about Policy 611, even with the proposed changes being made to it. Unfortunately, Policy 611 as originally drafted has created the notion that personal real estate wealth and 180 degree unobstructed views trumps community property and the environment, with some people not worrying about the repercussions of killing city trees. The giant fir directly west of the Ellerbeck's driveway is suddenly losing much of its new foliage with large amounts of needles lining either side of the street. This tree is directly next to the western red cedar that was poisoned before the city took charge and cut it down and then forgot about their promise to check to see what the chemical in question was. As to whether the large fir is now dying of natural causes or something more sinister remains to be seen but it does appear to be a rather strange coincidence.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

September 26, 2011

Sorry folks but more discourse on White Rock's tree policy 611 and the four "clear-cut councillors" that was promised by WR Sun editor Dave Chesney will have to wait for another week. After spending most of Sunday on the shores of the peninsula cleaning up a truckload of garbage, I want to share the experiences of the day with those who visit the White Rock Sun and The Naked Truth on a regular basis, hoping you have already read last week's, "It's a Dirty Job But Somebody's Got to do It" TNT (scroll down if you haven't). It's funny but after cleaning a smashed forty foot pleasure boat off this rugged and secluded Crescent Rock beach shoreline several years ago, you'd think that completing a litter pickup as part of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup would be old hat. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth and the day was a rather unique learning experience that made me look at the waterfront and litter found there in a completely different light.

Starting from the 101 Steps just south of Crescent Beach that morning, our group of four volunters armed with extra large orange garbage bags and litter tongs worked southwards towards Kwomais Point, encountering a variety of garbage on the way. Shoreline refuse generally falls into two categories, that dropped or left by beach goers and that brought in by the tides and winds. Near Crescent beach, you often see doggie waste bags thrown into the blackberries growing between the beach and the tracks and there were plenty of these hanging like smelly Christmas tree ornaments. Most annoying were the plastic Starbucks iced coffee cups, usually found in pairs that some latte sipping yuppie had brought to enjoy at the beach, then left in the rocks when they turned around to go home. I've seen this plenty of times and I have to ask, "Who the hell are these people and what is wrong with them? If you can't clean up after yourself, stay at home or drink your "tar-bucks" in the restaurant instead of fouling the shoreline. The same can be said for the drunken night time partiers who smash bottles and leave giant messes for others to clean up.

What quickly became evident was that much of the debris was plastics, in all shapes, sizes and colours. By far the most prevalent refuse of the day was beverage container lids, especially plastic bottle tops. I guess that people often properly dispose of the bottles but the small lids get forgotten or end up in the water to drift to far-flung shores. Next to this was plastic water bottles that many have been trying to have banned as was recently announced for Surrey schools. While I originally thought this was a misguided big brother government initiative, I now realize that there were many stretches of Crescent Rock beach where you'd pick up one of these things every 20 feet! In my backpack I had two refillable stainless steel water bottles, the type without Bisphenol A thank you very much, and I can assure you I will never purchase another plastic water bottle as long as I live. Aluminum beverage containers, especially beer cans were also very common, with many not having any French writing indicating they had likely drifted north from our American friends in Washington State.

To say that smoking is a filthy habit was patently true as over 50 packs of cigarette wrappings were collected, along with piles of butts and even a couple of chewing tobacco plastic tins. In previous Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanups across Canada, the litter associated with smoking has been found to be one of the largest environmental contaminants. There were plenty of plastic lighters also located making me wonder why simple paper or wooden matches have fallen out of vogue. Do you remember the good old days when you would get a pack of matches when you bought your smokes? Now most stores and gas stations don't carry them, stating they are a safety hazard while selling you a two dollar lighter instead that will take hundreds of years to break down. As far as I'm concerned, plastic disposal lighters along with non-biodegradable cigarette packaging and filters should be removed from retail stores. What you have to realize is that people who are not concerned with poisoning themselves or destroying their health will likely not worry about polluting the environment or harming wildlife.

Having the BNSF Railway located on the shores of the Semi-pen for over a hundred years has lead to some of their materials finding a home at the beach. Steel tie plates, rail connector bars, metal spikes and even a few sections of the old segmented rail that have recently been replaced were found in many locations. It was chunks of the landslide detector fence, entangled in the rocks below the tracks that was the most prevalent, showing how this safety system works to alert engineers to the frequent slides that occur from the Ocean Park bluffs, especially in winter when heavy rains saturate the soil. Near these wires were often long pieces of black plastic "Big-O" drainage pipe, likely from illegal homeowner drains along hill-top properties which flooded the slope causing it to fail onto the tracks below. While we took steps to remove as much of this material as possible, bolt cutters will have to be used to cut much of the LDF that is hopelessly entangled in the rip-rap boulders placed below the tracks for wave erosion control. Three creosoted railway ties were also removed from where vandals had thrown them, with carrying these 100 pound beams up the rocks to the tracks proving to be a strenuous and dirty exercise to say the least.

Parents visiting White Rock in summer with their children need to realize that their kid's beach toys will float and not decompose. From Kwomais Point to the Coldicutt Trail where this cleanup ended, the variety and assortment of kid's sand toys was truly remarkable. We found buckets of all shapes, sizes and colours, plastic rakes and shovels, along with many molds for figurines and sandcastles. My guess is that these likely came from the public beach area, either left by accident, buried under sand or drifting away when the tide came in. If you bring these items to the waterfront, please ensure they go home with you or else they will contribute to the litter problem on our coast. Remember that this plastic mess on the beach never goes away until someone like myself or other members of SUN take a day out of our lives to ensure that this garbage is collected and properly disposed of. Flip-flops and sandals were also found in abundance but thankfully there were no runners containing disarticulated feet as have been found elsewhere in the strait. With the fall now officially here after last Friday's equinox, the beach will likely remain free of children's plastic toys and footwear until the start of next summer with parents hopefully becoming aware of the extent of this problem and taking steps to address it.

The rest of the garbage varied widely with some rather interesting artifacts belong located along the way. I've come to detest drinking straws, wondering why you need a plastic tool to drink from a container that already holds a liquid? Could we not learn to sip from a cup or pour liquids into our mouths from a bottle? Plenty of fishing gear including floats and rope were found which is not too surprising considering the crab fishing season recently ended. Styrofoam used in dock floats and not properly contained was frequently located in the rocks with the waves breaking it into smaller and smaller pieces. Bike frames, shopping carts, golf balls, car tires and parts, a pellet rifle, shotgun shells, aluminum fry pan and even an old rusted kitchen sink were unexpected finds as were the several containers that we located with trace amounts of marijuana. The one piece of flotsam I did keep was a bright orange emergency whistle that was courtesy of the United States Coast Guard, which is so loud it needs to be heard to be experienced. Unfortunately I blasted this thing in our kitchen after cleaning the sand out of it and we still can't get our quivering dog to come out from underneath the bed. Remember, there are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Sorry to Juliette, our lap loving Peek-a-Pom designer mutt.

In total we collected eleven extra large orange garbage bags full of debris plus many piles of refuse that were too big to be placed in them. All of this was placed beside the BNSF Railway tracks and they sent a team on a high-railer down to collect it all for us. Without the BNSF Railway's help, cleaning up much of Crescent Rock beach would be an arduous task and I would like to personally thank their spokesperson Gus Melonas and Rick from the yard in New Westminister for making this possible. The strong winds and intense rain storm followed by bright sunshine made for a rather extreme day down at the coast that won't soon be forgotten. Besides taking pleasure from returning the shoreline to a natural condition, we also got to enjoy the best of Crescent Rock beach wildlife with plenty of ducks, shore birds and blue herons along with close up encounters with an inquisitive harbour seal and a family of four sea otters we found hiding in a culvert under the tracks. Special kudos have to go to Shawn Fitzsimons, who unbeknownst to us and unaware of our efforts was simultaneously cleaning the shoreline from the Coldicutt ravine to west beach. As thrilled as I was to find out some of our work had been done, Shawn was equally impressed when the BNSF truck came by and offered to take his collected garbage!

After this successful cleanup of the 6 km. stretch of Crescent Rock Beach, plans are being made to possibly do another shoreline clean-up in the spring after the winter storms are over to remove any garbage that may have floated in or been unearthed by wave action. If you would like to get involved and are physically capable of the challenges found on this rugged shoreline, please contact me at my email address below and I'll add you to the volunteer list. Hopefully those organizing the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup will see the advantages in doing a twice yearly expedition to our shores to reduce the garbage and pollution that unfortunately accumulates there. Until then, watch your waste, ensuing you take all refuse from the beach and possibly look for ways to reduce your dependency on packaging and plastics. Take it from me, there is nothing worse than walking on a beautiful beach enjoying fresh air and the scenery and finding garbage sticking out of the sand or floating in the waves. Clean and pristine is the only way to go.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

EMAIL sun-assn@hotmail.com

+BNSF high-railer was on tracks this afternoon looking for "things." When I asked if this meant fallen trees, wave washouts or mudslides, the driver responded "maybe" with a grin.

 

September 19, 2011

It's a Dirty Job - But Someone's Got to do It

Crap removed from Crescent Rock Beach

This weekend marked the beginning of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup (GCSC) that is being organized by the Vancouver Aquarium and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada to remove litter and debris from waterways and shorelines across Canada. This joint conservation project aims to promote the understanding of shoreline litter issues by educating Canadians about this problem and encouraging them to rehabilitate shoreline areas in their community through collective cleanups. The Vancouver Aquarium conducted their first local shoreline cleanup in Stanley Park in 1994 with a small team of volunteers. In 2002 the GCSC became a national program, allowing all Canadians from coast to coast to make a difference in their local communities by improving their local environment. This year marks the 18th annual shoreline cleanup that is sure to be the biggest yet, both in the number of volunteers, the distance of shorelines cleaned and in the debris removed. For complete details or to join in to help this worthy cause, visit the GCSC website at http://shorelinecleanup.ca

The sources of shoreline litter are as diverse as the many discarded items that are found on the beach. Most of these items originate from shoreline and recreational activities including items like food wrappers, beverage containers, plastic bags, caps, lids and aluminum cans. This garbage is left by from beachgoers, blown into water by winds or carried by streams and storm drains to the shoreline and beyond. Fishing and boating create debris ranging from oil bottles, rope, nets, crab traps, fishing line and tackle. Smokers using beaches as their personal ashtrays and garbage cans result in cigarette butts being the most commonly found litter item that also includes cigarette packaging, plastic cigar tips, matches and disposable lighters. Medical and personal hygiene items can be harmful and it requires special handling to remove this type of debris that includes diapers, condoms, tampons, syringes and needles. Illegal dumping of building and construction materials, cars and auto parts, household appliances plus vehicle tires and batteries only add to the shoreline refuse. Teams participating in the GCSC record the type and amount of litter collected, with the compiled data being used to determine the amounts of different litter and efforts to reduce it at the source.

Around the Semiahmoo peninsula, many of our local oceanfront shorelines are being cleaned throughout the week by various community organizations, concerned citizen groups and environmentalists. Two of White Rock beaches were the first to be cleaned on Sat., Sept. 17th with the Coldicutt Park beachfront and White Rock Beach west of Oxford St. being scoured by Papa Plumbing and Balanced Basics for Life respectively. On Sunday the Friends of Semiahmoo Bay were the first environmental group to get started in the cleanup, removing debris from the ecologically sensitive areas of Blackie Spit at Crescent Beach that included the spit, beach, salt marshes, saveyne meadow and sand dune site. Scouts, Cubs and Beavers of the 1st Semiahmoo Sea Scouts will be cleaning the banks of the Nicomekyl river in front of the historic Stewart farmhouse on Crescent Road on Monday, Sept. 19th starting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 is the day to circle on your calendars with a grand total of four remaining area beaches being cleaned. White Rock beach east of the pier will be patrolled by the Organic Connections Cafe starting at 10:45 a.m. from a location still yet to be determined. The Lord Tweedsmuir Green Team will be mucking out the Little Campbell River estuary starting at 12 noon at the entrance to the beach from the Semiahmoo band car park. Lastly, Surrey's United Naturists (SUN) will be cleaning the rugged and remote stretches of Crescent Rock beach from the Crescent Rock boulder just south of the 101 Steps staircase at the west end of 24th Ave. starting at 10 a.m., working westward from the Olympic trail at 13 Ave. and 131 St. near Ocean Park where fresh volunteers can join in at 1:00 p.m.

While this is the first time that Surrey's nude beach group has participated in the CGSC, they have cleaned the hard to reach shores before with the assistance of the BNSF Railway. In March of 2009 a pleasure craft came against the rocks near Kwomais Point and was destroyed in a winter storm. This older model forty foot boat was smashed to pieces with diesel soaked debris strewn with nails and screws washing northwards all the way to the public Crescent Beach. This garbage included everything from the kitchen sink to the toilet along with every possible item you could imagine that you might find on a boat of this size. Members of SUN and area environmentalists worked together on a day that began with a snow squall to collect everything except the two diesel engines, placing piles of this dangerous garbage next to the railway tracks. Lead sheeting and several lead marine batteries along with diesel fuel Jerry cans and propane containers were part of the dangerous goods left behind when this boat wrecked on the point. In total, 30 cubic yards of debris were picked up, with BNSF Railway crews utilizing a crane equipped high-railer to collect the wreckage that was then placed into a 40 yard bin supplied by Super Save Group and the City of Surrey. If you care to read about the details of this shipwreck or see pictures of the cleanup, they are still posted on the archived version of the SUN's Rock Report at the following link:
http://crescentrockbeach.org/HTM/The_Rock_Report_2009_03.htm

Remains of Kwomais Point shipwreck

With a week to go before the final stretches of shoreline are cleaned during the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, please give thought to rolling up your sleeves and helping to collect litter and flotsam from the beaches of the Semi-pen. The long-range forecast for next weekend looks favorable with sun and above temperatures in the forecast, likely making it a great day for an outdoor adventure. If you care to help clean up the clothing-optional Crescent Rock beach, while there may be the odd die-hard naturist there soaking up the last of this summer's rays, the cleanup crew will be fully clothed for protection against everything from broken glass to creosoted railway ties people removed from railway property. The best part is that the litter will not have to be lugged up the various area staircases, with the BNSF once again volunteering their time to pick up debris piles left by the tracks at the edge of the rail corridor. If an American railway can offer to help clean up the shore of the Semiahmoo peninsula, ask yourself as a resident and fellow Canadian, why you can't get involved with the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup? See you at the beach folks, with boots, work gloves, lunch and water bottle at the ready.

Naturally Yours

Don Pitcairn

Examples of some interesting posters used for the California Coastal Clean Up

 

September 12, 2011

The "Odor" of B.C.

Just when you think the political pigs couldn't roll in the mud even more than they already do, comes word that disgraced former Premier Gordon Campbell will be awarded the Order of B.C. on October 4th this year. This honor that replaced the earlier Order of the Dogwood that is intended to honour any current or former long time resident of the province of B.C. who has demonstrated a high level of individual excellence and achievement in any field or endeavour benefiting the people of the Province or elsewhere. The Order represents the highest form of recognition the Province can extend to its citizens. Most importantly, those who are elected or appointed members of a governmental body are ineligible as long as they hold office. To date, the only former Premier to receive this award was Bill Bennett in who received it 21 years after he left office, serving in the position from 1975 to 1986 and a decade after being found guilty of insider trading in Doman Industries. When you consider the long list of 34 other premiers dating back to 1871 including such notables as W.A.C. Bennett, Dave Barrett and even Johnny-come-lately Bill Vanderzalm who also was a former Mayor of Surrey, you have to ask how Mr. Campbell managed to qualify for this prestigious award despite being routinely despised and ultimately controversial even before this latest snafu.

Mr. Campbell still was an elected official when he was nominated for the Order of B.C. on March 10, 2011, stepping down and handing the reigns of power to Christy Clark three days later on March 14th. Of course he was more recently given the plum patronage position of high commissioner to the U.K. by Stephen Harper's Conservative government, formerly known as the government of Canada. Would it not have been wise to let the furor over Mr. Campbell's ill-timed and badly conceived Harmonized Sales Tax that was recently defeated in the referendum die down before awarding him one of this province's highest honors? It was only in November of last year with his reputation in tatters and with the lowest ever approval rating of any premier in history (a dismal single digit 9%) that this reviled politician finally resigned. Couldn't the advisory committee who reviews nominations, headed by Chief Justice Lance Finch of the B.C. Court of Appeal, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, president of Vancouver Island University, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities, the associate deputy minister and two previous Order of B.C. recipients not have waited until Gordo's seat in the legislature had at least gotten cold? It is decisions such as this that make me think that B.C. stands for "Beyond Corrupt." To complete this merry fiasco, the Liberal cabinet will review the advisory committee's recommendations and make the final decision with Lieutenant-Governor Point signing the cabinet order to make Campbell's appointment official. Anyone care to bet that cabinet okay's Gordon's flashy new trinket? I'm giving good odds on this one folks if anyone is interested (know your limit - play within it).

Needless to say the backlash against this decision has been widespread and vocal with media opinion pieces, online blogs and twitter comments lambasting his selection that most view as undeserved and untimely. The B.C. Refederation Party of B.C, has created a "Gordon Campbell does not Deserve the Order of BC Award" Facebook petition that now has more than 5,000 friends, while there is a @NoOrderForGordo Twitter account that has also been set up. The petition state,"We the undersigned citizens of British Columbia demand that Gordon Campbell not be awarded the Order of British Columbia. On Gordon Campbell's watch poverty rates in BC soared to become the highest in Canada, homelessness increased massively, children's health, safety and education were neglected or made worse, legal contracts were broken, our rivers and parks were destroyed by ill-conceived hydro projects and BC Ferries, BC Hydro and other public services have been destroyed. There is no justification for giving Gordon Campbell an award for his tenure as Premier of BC." Funny how they didn't mention the HST debacle or the B.C. Rail saga that continues to fester like an ever ripening boil on the Fiberal's backside. What I find most disturbing from all of this outrageous and reckless political behavior is the sense of entitlement that the B.C. Liberals have along with their bloated sense of self-importance and invincibility. It was perverse thinking like this that led to the Socreds eventually imploding, handing power to the NDP while the newly formed Reform party under Gordon Wilson became the official opposition. Could the same thing happen with John Cummins new B.C. Conservative Party splitting the vote while the Liberals go down in flames? Wisely, if not unfortunately, Mrs. Clark has decided not to test the electorates anger this fall by forcing an early election. I guess she'll have to get her mandate from Lava Life or Plenty of Fish just like the rest of us.

Gordon Campbell/Barbara Steel

Besides calling talk radio shows, writing letters to the editor, calling your MLA or perhaps writing blogs and columns such as this one, you have to ask yourself what a resident of south Surrey and White Rock can do do to stop this debacle and send a message to Victoria that the peasants are not amused? While it is likely that Gordon Campbell will receive his "Order of B.C.", forever tainting and tarnishing this award in the minds of many, you can still have your say in the upcoming municipal election scheduled for Nov. 19th. Our very own Surrey Councilor Barbara Steele is the current president of the UBCM (Union of B.C. Municipalities) and was part of the committee that accepted his nomination. Oblivious to the wishes of her constituents, this former B.C. Liberal candidate put cronyism ahead of common sense and decided that Campbell along with controversial applicants Ken Dobell (Campbell's former deputy minister caught illegally lobbying) and David Emerson (who crossed the floor to the federal Conservative government shortly after being elected as a federal Liberal) were worthy recipients. While Barbara Steele may be a part of Surrey Mayor Dianne Watt's "Surrey First", rather than mindlessly voting for this slate as a whole, ensure that you do not vote for Mrs. Steele this fall, rewarding her incompetence with a return to private life and relieving her of her taxpayer funded paycheque. Hopefully someone running for councilor will take the high road and ensure the public knows that Mrs. Steele was directly responsible for this travesty that diminishes one of our highest provincial honors to that of a Cracker Jack prize.

I think that this whole sordid affair stinks and should be aptly renamed the "Odor of B.C." symbolizing the strong stench of corruption and self-absorbed Liberal elitism shown by those on the selection committee. If Campbell is awarded his undeserved medal, lets hope that one of the other recipients has the guts to refuse to take theirs, realizing that the selection process is deeply flawed and hopelessly out of touch with reality, ignoring many of those more worthy. It is interesting to note that Steve Fonyo was stripped of his Order of Canada medal for too many drunk driving convictions while our former premier got nailed for a DUI in Maui resulting in rather hilarious mug shots that are still circulating the internet. Of course this did not disqualify him from our highest honor, putting the entire "Order of B.C" value in question. Unless Surrey Councilor Barbara Steele uses her position as UBCM president to correct this glaring mistake that was approving Gordon Campbell's nomination, I say hold her accountable for this fiasco two months from now and show her the electoral door on Nov. 19th by voting for someone who knows a travesty and an injustice when they see one.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

September 06, 2011

 

Blinded by the Lights

He was just blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun
Oh, but Mama, that's where the fun is
I was blinded, I was blinded, I was blinded

"Blinded by the light", written by Bruce Springsteen, also performed by the Manfred Mann Earth Band

...by day

...by night

Driving home southbound on Highway 99 last week after dark, I couldn't believe my eyes as I headed up the hill towards the 32 Ave. exit. While I knew all about Surrey's new Pioneer overpass that serves to connect bicycle and pedestrian paths throughout the Semiahmoo peninsula and beyond, I had no idea about plans to light this structure. On July 27 after that night's Surrey council meeting the switch was flicked on for the illuminated light display embedded in either side of the overpass. Rows of coloured LED lights along with high powered flood lamps bathe the beams, supports and pedestrian safety cage in brightly coloured lights that change in rhythmic flowing patterns from blue to green to yellow and white. Not to be outdone, the Tynehead overpass across Highway #1 at 168 St. in north Surrey pulsates in every colour of the rainbow, looking much like a possible future Pride Parade route for the gay community in the city. City hall has posted promotional videos of these structures on YouTube under the title "City Opens New Pedestrian Overpasses" at the following link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntVCwLgbEyY or check out pictures on their website at http://www.surrey.ca/plans-strategies/8544.aspx for Pioneer and http://www.surrey.ca/plans-strategies/8193.aspx for Tynehead. While these lights are beautiful, there are many reasons why their use in this project is dangerous and need to be turned off before someone gets seriously hurt or worse.

The Tynehead overpass over Highway #1 is 122 metres long and connects Tynehead Regional Park with the nearby Fraser Heights community. The Pioneer overpass over Highway 99 at 35 Ave. spans 73 metres and extends the Pioneer Trail connecting neighbourhoods on both sides of the highway to regional cycling routes that eventually will extend to the U.S. border. These projects included 3.9 km of pathways and 9.6 km of street-side bike lanes which were marked earlier this year. This is all part of the City of Surrey's long term expansion of walking and cycling paths which will eventually see the building of 29 km. of pedestrian and cycling pathways, 28 km. of park paths and 92 km. of on-street bike lanes. Along with a third overpass built in Cloverdale, the 103 m. wide North Creek Pedestrian Bridge that was also part of this project, these new overpasses totalled $6.7 million dollars, with $3 mill. for Tynehead, $2.5 mill. for Pioneer and $1.2 mill. for North Creek. Of the three, only North Creek which runs across a large wooded ravine system does not have the powerful LED coloured lights illuminating the structure. These projects were a partnership between the City of Surrey and the federal and provincial governments through the Building Canada Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the same economic action plan that financed the installation of the cable safety barriers in the median of Highway 99 that I successfully lobbied all levels of government for.

The rational behind the colourful light show was that it would function as a public art project that would enhance the City of Surrey's liveability and cultural vitality. Councillor Judy Villeneuve who is liaison to the public Art Advisory Committee had this to say about the brightly lit overpasses, "I am very proud of the strong design of these two overpasses. These illuminated artworks, created by two award-winning artists, provide Surrey with two signature gateways for people entering our city." Two different designers created the stunning light show with John Webber designing the rainbow effect on the Tynehead Overpass and Doug Welch designing the aqua coloured Pioneer Overpass illumination. Mayor Dianne Watts words showed the intent behind this project stating, "This proposed art concept will ensure a significant landmark feature along Highway 1, and will further the City's image as progressive and a leader in public art." The artworks were supposed to enhance the architectural design of the overpasses, which were created by the team of Busby, Perkins & Will Architects and Associated Engineering. Overall I must say that they definitely created an effect that is noticeable from a great distance away and is visually appealing. Unfortunately just like the West Pender Place condominium development in Vancouver that overlooks Coal Harbour which is now lit up by a computerized LED lighting system extending 120 m. into the sky, there are unintended consequences not foreseen by the artist who created it. In this case which ironically was broadcast on Global TV news on Sunday night, neighbours are now petitioning for the lights to be shut off as they effectively destroy the million dollar view while reflecting off all polished surfaces in nearby high-end condo towers.

The problem with both the Pioneer and Tynehead overpasses is that the bright colourful lights distract drivers at night on two of the busiest highways in the Lower Mainland. The rthymic changing of colours attracts motorist's eyes and attention upwards away from the roadway where they should instead be watching for traffic, broken down vehicles, animals and other obstacles. Even worse, the shiny stainless steel curtains used to protect the sides of the elevated walkways reflects light from the LEDs mounted directly below them. When seen while driving, the lights playing on both of these grids creates an strange optical effect making them move and shimmer much like waves in a pond or a cascading waterfall. Simply take a drive by at night or look at the YouTube video of these structures to see what I'm talking about. To make matters worse, these overpasses are in stretches of highways that are devoid of any street lighting, making them appear even brighter than they already are. The onramp from 32 Ave. heading north onto Hwy. 99 terminates directly below the overpass, ensuring that drivers are thoroughly distracted at a point where they should be paying maximum attention to the road. At the 32 Ave. off-ramp heading southbound, traffic often backs up onto the highway during the evening rush hour creating an especially dangerous condition. As winter approaches and the days become shorter, distracting drivers with a bright light art display when they should be paying attention to road hazards will likely cause accidents involving freeway speeds. Surrey council might as well erect giant electronic billboards on either side of the overpass and flash advertising at motorists as they zip by or allow drivers to watch videos on their smart phones as they enter the city.

The lighting problems on the Pioneer overpass in particular are not limited to the span itself. While the city has obviously spent a great deal of infrastructure money lighting the walkway, the paths leading to both sides are completely blackened with no street lighting whatsoever being located in this dark and desolate area. Then Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon may have thought that the Pioneer overpass would get people out walking and bike riding in the community but it is unlikely most people would feel comfortable passing through this area at night. When traversing through the brightly lit overpass, your eyes adjust to the light and once you step out off the overpass on the far side you are effectively night blind. If someone were to attack you at this time, you would have little defence and probably wouldn't be able to offer the police a description of that person. In fact, the night I first saw the strange bright lights on the Pioneer overpass, I drove to the west end of 35 Ave. off 152 St. to see the display first hand. Walking into what is effectively a tunnel of light, I noticed several Surrey RCMP officers talking to some young people on the bridge. I quickly attracted their attention with my inspection of the structure, explaining to them why I was there and offering my opinions on the serious safety risk the new lighting posed to drivers on the highway below. It turns out the officers were on scene responding to complaints from neighbours about frequent drug dealing that is allegedly occurring on the brightly lit span. I guess the druggies like the colourful lights with darkened pathways and green space on either side where they can easily run away and hide in the bushes. Most of the adult neighbours I talked to that evening and the next day expressed their dismay with the project and the distraction it posed to drivers, especially visitors coming into Canada from the United States.

This lighting of these pedestrian overpasses and surrounding area needs to go back to the drawing boards just like the new "The Future Lives Here" City of Surrey signs that saw several retrofits until they finally made sense in the real world rather than on the drafting table. Having large, colourful, bright moving lights above busy highways will eventually cause accidents in these locations and it is likely they will involve serious injuries or possibly deaths. You have to ask yourself, what is the point in spending millions of dollars to build a cable median safety barriers along Hwy. 99 to stop cross-over accidents and then installing a lighting system on an overpass that is sure to distract and mesmerize passing drivers? While beautiful, the LED lights and strange visual pattern they create are incredibly dangerous for the thousands of vehicles that pass them every night. The optical illusion created by them is not much different than the old guard rail lights on the Port Mann bridge that played on the various safety railings and confused drivers leading to multiple accidents. Finally engineers realized the problem and pulled the plug on the lights, installing conventional overhead lighting across the Port Mann which solved this problem. Surrey needs to put their art display somewhere else and focus on safety on these pedestrian overpasses and the busy highways below by installing regular lighting including the pathways leading to these structures. After all, you don't want to welcome people to the city of Surrey by killing them through stupidity and poor design. If council really wants to improve liveability in Surrey, I say start right here.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - August 29 , 2011

YES!!!

Well the results are in and B.C. voters have voted by an almost ten percent margin (54.73% yes to 45.27% no) to cancel the hated Harmonized Sales Tax or HST. Political orientation or financial consequences aside, this result is a victory for democracy in this province, with the B.C. Liberals not listening to the people who elected them and trying to foist this unpopular value added tax that moved $2 billion of tax burden from corporations onto the backs of people living in this province. This victory was a wake up call to those in Victoria and in particular the Premier's office who believed they knew what was best for British Columbians regardless of the consequences. Unfortunately the principal architect of the HST, former Premier Gordon Campbell who was run out of office last year in disgrace, was not available to enjoy the result having recently been given a plum patronage appointment as the high commissioner to the United Kingdom by Harper's federal Conservatives who first brought the HST to Canada.

The voter turnout for this mail-in ballot referendum was nearly identical to that of the last B.C. election. In the 2009 general election, 55.6% of registered voters cast 1,640,452 votes while in the 2011 HST referendum, 1,610,125 ballots were validly cast by 54% of the people. Surrey led the charge in having the HST scrapped with three local ridings making the top ten across the province for having the highest percentage of those voting "Yes" for extinguishing the tax and returning to the old method of GST plus PST. Surrey-Green Timbers was the most outspoken area in B.C. with their opposition, registering a whopping 75.5% against the HST. Surrey-Newton followed close behind in third place at 72.2% while Surrey-Whalley came in sixth at 68.9% opposed. It should be noted that politics likely played a role in these high values with all three being NDP dominated ridings. Closer to home in the Semiahmoo peninsula, residents of the two local Liberal held ridings were evenly split with Surrey-Panorama voting against the HST 53.3% to 46.7% while Surrey-White Rock surprisingly voted to retain the tax by a 45.5% yes to 54.5% no vote. While Gordon Hogg was likely pleased that voters sided with the Liberal government in the White Rock area, you'd have to think that newcomer Stephanie Cadieux in Panorama Ridge should be concerned with the final results in her district. In B.C. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon's Surrey-Cloverdale riding, voters cast slightly more votes for the "No" side with the final results being 47.5% yes to 52.5% no. The most positive result for the "No" side to preserve the HST came in the high brow riding of West Vancouver-Capilano that achieved a lofty vote of 64.5 percent for retaining this value added tax.

While the victory of Bill Vanderzalm's "Fight HST" group was well above the 50% result needed to qualify for a victory, it was a political gaffe by Gordon Campbell that likely paved the way for the referendum results which killed the HST. Originally the referendum would have needed a threshold of 50 percent of all eligible voters or close to 1.5 million people to cast ballots against the tax for it to be eliminated, including a positive result in all of the provinces 85 electoral districts. In September of 2010 responding to concerns over the high bar placed on what would have also been a non-binding referendum result, then Premier Campbell decided that the issue would be decided by a simple majority that would be binding. He announced that if more than 50% of those people who voted in the referendum wanted the HST rescinded, the Liberal government would reverse the tax deal they had signed with Ottawa. Had this change not been made, the results of the HST referendum released on Friday would have fallen short of victory by almost 650,000 votes and failed in two dozen ridings. When asked about this change of policy that drastically altered the referendum playing field, Kevin Falcon didn't bother coming to his former boss's defence. "I'll leave it to the people who made that decision to explain the decision," he is reported as saying. "All I would say is that there wasn't a broad lengthy discussion about that decision." Unfortunately for the Liberals they seriously misjudged the public's anger over the imposition of the HST and likely believed they could manoeuvre around this subject long before the next election. Now they will be left to clean up the mess they created and try to balance the province's finances with the revenue from the previous PST tax regime that is now scheduled to be back in place by March 31, 2013.

HST lawn sign at Surrey City Hall

Personally I would like to thank Bill Vanderzalm, Chris Delaney, Bill Tieleman, plus their family members for the tireless work they put into the "Fight HST" campaign along with their army of volunteers who succeeded in collecting over half a million signatures needed to force the referendum on the HST. Hopefully in the future, provincial governments here will ensure that the electorate is engaged when significant changes to the tax structure are being proposed, especially soon after elections. I've been fortunate enough to have never needed welfare payments and I believe that corporate welfare in the way of taxes like the HST should not be used to attract investment into the province at the expense of the working poor. While we were often given the ruse that the HST was needed to improve the economy and make us competitive with other jurisdictions, how does this equate with regions like Alberta that have no provincial sales tax? If B.C. truly is "The Best Place on Earth" as we like to trumpet, shouldn't businesses here have to pay their fair share to operate in the province rather than be dependent on government hand outs, especially if they are making money from our resources? I'm always amazed how profitable businesses always have lots of money to finance political campaigns but not to pay taxes? The same can be said for the "Smart Tax Alliance" who reportedly spent upwards of $25 million on advertising
fighting to preserve the HST against the measly $250,000 that was used by the "Fight HST" group to extinguish the tax, most of which went to produce the many baby blue "Vote Yes - To Extinguish The HST" campaign signs that appeared on boulevards and along roadways throughout the province.

In this classic David versus Goliath battle, it was the little guy who won against big business and their cronies in government that were representing corporate interests instead of that of their constituents who voted them into power. Let's hope the Liberals have learned a lesson from this and now get on with governing the province for the people of B.C. and stop Premier Christy Clark's ridiculous charade of threatening to hold an unwanted snap election in the fall that would be in violation of fixed four-year election dates contained in the Constitution Act.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

August 22, 2011

Ants in Your Pants

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down, to the ground,
To get out of the rain
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...
(The Ants Go Marching - Written by Unknown)

Being an avid outdoorsman and naturalist (yes, that's the correct spelling this time), I'm always keeping an eye on the environment for new and interesting discoveries as I travel around the province and beyond. Sometimes you don't have to go far to see rather amazing or rare creatures with them often living quietly in your own backyard. Case in point the reported cougar sighting this weekend at Cougar Park in Surrey near Scottsdale Mall which closed the surrounding area to the public as a precaution because of this big cat. While recently driving home along Crescent Road near Elgin Heritage Park I noticed a rather odd looking brown mound on the side of the road. Stopping to take a closer look, my suspicions were proved correct as I stood beside the large nest of the Western thatching ant officially known as "Formica obscuripest."

The nest in question measures a metre across and almost half a metre high, composed of leaves, pine and fir needles, twigs, grass and anything else they can find laying on the forest floor. The entire mound is alive with movement and swarming with tens of thousands of medium sized bicoloured red ants that have black abdomens and large heads. Buried deep within the nest is the queen and various chambers the ants use for storing their food and raising young. This is not the first time that I've encountered them this year,finding another mound in a woody area directly across from the front doors of Surrey City Hall that was a varitable bee hive of activity on a cold but sunny afternoon back in mid-February. If you look for their distinctive conical brown mounds while hiking through the forested parks of South Surrey, it is likely you may find your own giant ant hill to enjoy.

Western thatching ants are fierce fighters who are ready to attack anything that threatens their home mound or food source. These ants have huge heads and razor sharp mandibles and can bite really hard even for their diminuitive size. Adding to their painful bite they also perform chemical warfare, releasing a burning spray of formic acid which is the same chemical found in stinging nettles. It is best to give these big ant nests plenty of room and not disturb them as with their large numbers they can cause painful bites and blisters especially if they get on the insides of your pants or shoes. If you think there are a lot of ants on the outside of the nest, you'll be surprised at the numbers which will pour out of the mound at the slightest provocation or from being alerted to your prescence by shadow or breath. The speed at which they can fan out across the ground from the nest should not be underestimated.

Formica obscuripest are fun and entertaining to watch at a safe distance as their mounds crawl with activity and their shiny bodies glisten in the light on sunny days. They spend much of their time marching back and forth from the nest on well established pheremone trails seeking out other insect species on which to prey. The Crescent Road colony had even managed to drag part of a dried up mouse carcass to the base of the hill which they were rapidly consuming. An interesting phenomenon demonstrated by thatching ants along with other of their species is the habit of "herding" and maintaining aphid colonies on nearby shrubs and trees. This occasionally leads to an aphid problem because while these cowboys of the ant world milk the aphids for the sweet honeydew they secrete, they also protect these sap sucking insects against natural control organisms such as lady bugs and wasps. Thatching ants reproductive swarms of winged males and queens emerge from the colony and take flight in late summer to early fall looking for new territories to conquer and for readily available food to power their ever growing mounds.
I'll be contacting Surrey's Park's department to see if it might be possible to put a small fence around this large ant mound in order to keep people at a safe distance and stop ill-informed miscreants from destroying the nest. A large stick laying across the bottom of the mound served as notice that it was likely that someone had previously attacked the pile, with any damage quickly being rebuilt by the colony. It is important that this small piece of nature be protected and respected as these ant mounds have been known to exist in the same location for decades, with one particularly large colony in a Victoria park reportedly having been in the same spot for 25 years. While ants may be small they occupy almost every corner of the planet and it has been estimated that they weigh the same as humans across the face of the earth. Workers live only an average 90 days but ants have been around for 150 million years and it is likely these social insects will be here long after we have disappeared and they deserve our respect.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

August 15, 2011

Naturists "Wreck-ing" Surrey

In case you missed it or were not meandering around on the 6.5 km. of shoreline between Crescent Beach and White Rock on Saturday, the fifth annual Crescent Rock Beach Day was held on the unofficial clothing-optional beach for Surrey serving naturists and nudists from across the Fraser Valley. Fortunately this event was scheduled a month later this year due to continued unseasonably cold and cloudy weather and mother nature cooperated with bright blue skies and warm temperatures which were welcomed by sun seekers. Not to be outdone, the Wreck Beach Preservation Society held their 15th annual Bare Buns Run on Sunday, with cooler cloudy weather helping those participating in this 5 km. charity run. While the past two years has seen Surrey's United Naturists (SUN) and the Skinnydipper's Recreation Club participate in AANR's (American Association for Nude Recreation) world record skinny dip attempt, this season there was no mass nude-in, except for a multitude of people peacefully relaxing and soaking in some rays along the waterfront.

Fortunately this year the Surrey RCMP did not visit Crescent Rock Beach responding to complaints of public nudity on this rugged and secluded shore. This was not the case last year when a single complaint of nudity resulted in an officer coming to the beach, telling naturists to put their clothes on under threat of arrest along with directing topless women to
get dressed. This police activity resulted in SUN filing an official complaint with the Office of the Police Commissioner initiating an investigation into the officer's conduct as it related to the Canadian Criminal Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Without boring you all with the intricacies of case law involving a variety of trials related to this topic, the end result was that the Surrey RCMP admitted that nude sun tanning on a remote beach such as Crescent Rock was legal and that a woman's right to go topless anywhere in Canada was the same as a mans. In a meeting I had with Surrey staff Sergeant Dave Brown, he informed me that while police would still attend on complaints involving lewd behaviour or sexual misconduct, they would no longer be be attending simple nudity complaints at Crescent Rock. I was told at that time that the White Rock RCMP detachment would also respect this policy in the future and not bother nude sunbathers along the bluffs.

It doesn't seem like it was only five years ago when nude sun tanning at Crescent Rock Beach became front page news for almost the entire summer with the pros and cons of having an officially sanctioned clothing-optional beach in Surrey debated throughout the community. While there is no signage to indicate nude beach boundaries or the existence of the naturist beach, nude sunbathers along Crescent Rock now seem to hardly raise an eyebrow, except with visitors who are likely unaware their little nature hike might include members of the human race in a natural state. From what I understand, the nude beach is the highlight of the trip for people using the twice a day Amtrak passenger train between Vancouver and Seattle with regular riders paying little attention. What needs to be questioned is why the City of Surrey and White Rock do not acknowledge the naturist use occurring there, posting signage leading to staircase entrances along with nude beach boundary signs near the textiled public beaches? Reading through both of these cities websites, there is no mention of a clothing-optional beach being present while they triumph their cultural diversity and inclusion of minority groups. Unfortunately while they take steps to include those with different colours of skin, they regularly ignore those who choose to expose their skin in the great outdoors.

Vancouver accepted the clothing-optional nature of Wreck beach 30 years ago and eventually posted nude beach signs at all bluff staircases and waterfront accesses 20 years ago. With Surrey growing up fast and it already being the province's second largest city, you have to ask why they continue to stick their heads in the sand about Crescent Rock Beach? Instead of ignoring it or pretending that it does not exist, why not accept diversity and take the needed steps to ensure that naturists and nudists are accepted as part of the community and officially recognize its clothing-optional status? This would only add to the modern recreational possibilities available in the city and likely serve as a tourist attraction during the warm summer months. I have met people from across the planet at Wreck over the years and at Crescent Rock have talked with folks from across the Fraser Valley who appreciate not having to drive all the way to Wreck for the simple pleasure of sunbathing. On Sunday afternoon my wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Raj at Crescent Rock, an Indian man from the Punjab who is here visiting family in Surrey, showing just how global and multi-cultural naturist sunbathing can be. I hated to admit it but his tan was better than mine, a fact we both laughed about while sharing stories about our home towns.

While there are city signs throughout south Surrey and White Rock pointing to various beaches, there are none showing the way to Crescent Rock Beach or informing about possible naturist use on warm sunny days. While local residents may know the locations of the 101 Steps, the 1001 Steps, the Olympic Trail and the Coldicutt Trail, it is unlikely that many who live in Surrey have even heard of these names, let along know how to find them. You have to ask why these access points are not properly signed and advertised in city brochures and on their websites in the list of recreational possibilities? Heck, even the resort municipality of Whistler has a nude beach, actually a large floating dock in Lost Lake, and they don't try to hide this fact, especially from tourists who enjoy having the opportunity to erase tan lines while relaxing between mountain adventures. There last week on vacation, I met folks from Sweden, Germany, France, Greece, the U.S.A. and of course Australia. Why not put Surrey on the map, acknowledge its clothing-optional beach and reap the benefits as Vancouver has done for years with Wreck Beach, considered one of the top nude beaches in the world?

I recently I opened my email account, receiving an note from a former Surrey resident now living in Vancouver. Here is the completely unedited text, minus the lady's name for privacy: "I would like to become a SUN member. I have been enjoying Crescent Rock Beach since I was 16 years old and able to drive myself there! I'm now 31, and Crescent Rock Beach remains one of my favourite beaches and favourite places in the world. I'm very passionate about the beach and would love to volunteer to help out in anyway." Think about this for a moment, here is a person who has been coming to Crescent Rock for half her life and though living in Vancouver, still wants to visit the Semiahmoo peninsula to enjoy the rugged seclusion, abundant wildlife and beautiful sunsets that can be had there. Are these experiences not something that we should share with people, rather than trying to pretend they don't exist? I've invited her to help on Sept. 25th when SUN will be assisting in the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up, removing garbage, debris and flotsam from the waterfront starting at 10 a.m. from the 101 Steps at 24 Ave. in Crescent Heights to the Olympic Trail at 131 St. in Ocean Park with the help of the BNSF Railway. Hopefully I won't have to send her a map to find the way and our city halls in Surrey and White Rock will finally address this ongoing travesty by posting proper signage to Crescent Rock Beach.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editors Note: For more information on SUN, visit their website at www.crescentrockbeach.org and to help them in the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up,visit http://shorelinecleanup.ca/en/cleanup/event/fall2011/1001-steps-south and http://shorelinecleanup.ca/en/cleanup/event/fall2011/crescent-rock-south-beach

 

August 08, 2011

Watts Courting Trouble

Surrey Mayor Diane Watts

Tucked away in the back pages of the local fish wrap last week was a story completely ignored by large corporate media outlets in print, radio and TV that should have been front page and prime time news across the region. Without a doubt it certainly was more notable than a call by White Rock councillor Grant Meyers for south Surrey to join White Rock, a sensitive subject I covered a month ago in my July 11th TNT column titled "The 'A' Word." With Surrey mayor Dianne Watts still recovering in hospital from a horse riding accident, news finally came out that Mrs. Watts, her husband Brian and the leasing company which owned her former vehicle were being sued by Shawnene Redekopp. This was the lady who was on the receiving end of a T-bone accident that occurred at the corner of 128 St. and 24 Ave. way back on Apr. 23, 2010. This crash raised eyebrows and left many unanswered questions from the moment of impact just past eleven o'clock on a dark rainy Friday night. What is well documented is that Mrs. Watt's white Cadillac Escalade was travelling eastbound through this traffic light controlled intersection while Mrs. Redekopp was headed north in her black Chrysler 300 sedan. Watt's Caddilac sufered extensive damage to the front of the vehicle while Redekopps's Chrysler was heavily damaged on the driver's side of the vehicle. Both vehicles were reported to be wrtie offs.

Shawnene Redekopp's black sedan

(pictures from Global screen shot)

The occupants fared no better than the cars in this crash. Brian Watts who was reportedly in the front passenger seat of the Caddy managed to walk away with only soft tissue injuries. The Mayor who admitted to driving broke ribs and had several serious strains that resulted in her spending hours in hospital along with taking a month off work. Mrs. Redekopp was not so lucky, breaking many bones on the left side of her body including ribs and collarbone, plus rupturing her spleen (which was surgically removed) and damaging her pancreas resulting in repeated operations at VGH. It took more than a month before drain tubes were finally removed from Shawnene's abdominal cavity and she has not been able to resume work or keep house as claimed in the lawsuit. Airbags deployed in both vehicles upon impact, including those in Shawnene's car that has a five-star side impact crash safety rating and side curtain air bags to help soften the blow and protect occupants. They are clearly visible in the interior of her heavily damaged sedan in the only published photos of the accident scene.

I was in a similar accident back in the mid 1980-s, T-boning a man from Price George who ran a stop sign in Vancouver in a rented Chrysler "K" car. In this case, crash speed was 50 kmh, the same speed limit on the roads in Crescent Park. The front end of my 1972 Dodge Dart pushed back so that the fan chewed up the radiator, making it undriveable. The K-car's side was crunched but the vehicle was still road worthy and was driven back to the nearby Budget rental yard and dropped off with the unhappy business owners. I was uninjured except for some soreness from the over the shoulder seat belt and never filed a claim with ICBC. The other driver had some bruised ribs on his left side and a couple of small nicks from flying chunks of safety glass but needed no medical attention either. In vehicles with no air bags, side impact beams or modern safety equipment, we both walked away sharing a beer afterwards at a local bar before taking taxi's home. I guess that the vehicles in the Watts/Redekopp crash were either travelling faster than the posted speed limit or that maybe they just don't make cars like they used to.

The 24 Ave and 128 St. intersection is located at the corner of the Crescent Park Elementary school and controlled by a demand light system. The traffic lights are regularly green for 128 St., the road that Mrs. Redekopp was travelling on that night. For 24 Ave. traffic, the light remains red until someone drives up, stops on the sensor pad near the painted stop line, activating the signal change. Soon after the accident, Mrs. Redkopp claimed she had the green light while Dianne and Brian both said they had the green when they entered the intersection. For Watt's version of this story to be true another vehicle or pedestrian would have had to trigger the lights to change it meaning another car or person would have likely crossed the street before the two cars hit, likely being visible to Mrs. Redkopp. There is no way the Watt's SUV could have accelerated from a dead stop to the speed involved in this impact in such a short distance especially with wet streets. Early reports were that there were no witness to this crash and I know that neighbours were away that weekend and did not attend the accident. What is interesting to realize is that the light stays green on 24 Ave. for only nine seconds and that Mrs. Redekopp was eventually ticketed $167 by the Surrey RCMP for failing to stop for a red light, a charge she denied to me a month after the incident and is now obviously disputing.

The RCMP's behaviour in response to this car crash involving the mayor and her husband has been troubling from the start. When this accident first happened and word quickly got out that Mayor Watts had been in a late night car crash, a media release from headquarters to confirm this collision reported that "alcohol was not involved." It is amazing that they came to this conclusion so quickly, let alone released the results to the media right away. What is interesting was while telling everyone alcohol played no part in the crash, they would not inform members of the media to the accident location other than to say it was in south Surrey. A reporter for the Vancouver Courier pressing a RCMP member over the phone for the crash address was told, "This interview is over" and the officer then hung up the phone. In an interview after the crash, Mrs. Redekopp whose husband Les owns Pancho's night club in Whalley, told me police initially accused Shawnene of being under the influence of alcohol. She informed them she'd not been drinking and offered to have them take a blood test at the hospital to prove her innocence, a test the Redekopp's claim was never done. It is my understanding that Mayor Watts was not tested for sobriety, either by breathalyser or blood test, something I believe should be mandatory for all drivers involved in serious night-time crashes. Very soon after the crash, the picture featured on the front page of the Surrey RCMP website showing Mayor Dianne Watts with Superintendent Fraser MacRae along with several officers in red serge disappeared, being replaced with one featuring an RCMP Stetson and riding gloves. Whether this is a simple coincidence or not remains a mystery but it is wise to remember that Dianne Watts was responsible for bringing the RCMP E Division headquarters to Surrey.

Surrey city hall even managed to play a rather bizarre role in concealing the reason why Dianne Watts and her husband Brian were in the Ocean Park region of Surrey that fateful night. Staffers in the mayor's office originally reported to the news media in a press release that the couple were attending an event on "city business" that evening. Wondering what kind of official function would be scheduled for a Friday night in my neighbourhood (I heard the sirens from home and had my daughter walk past the carnage oblivious to the mayor's presence), I filed a freedom of information request with city hall asking questions similar to the following:
- What was the nature and purpose of the official function that Mayor Watts and her husband were attending on the evening of Apr. 13, 2010?
- Where was this event being held and who was responsible for hosting it?
- Was this a catered event, was alcohol being served and was the party licensed?
- Were any other members of council or senior city of Surrey staff members in attendance?
When I received my FOI response, none of these questions were answered with the official reply stating that this event had actually been a private function and because of this fact my questions were mute. What I have been told by several community sources is that the event in question was a dinner party held at a large mansion in Ocean Park at the home of a prominent Surrey business leader. As to what Shawnene Redekopp was up to that evening or where she was going, these questions also remain to be answered, presumably in court.

The legal action undertaken by Shawnee Redekopp is also worth scrutinizing. She claims her serious injuries were caused because Dianne Watts was operating her vehicle that night without due care and attention, at a rate of speed which was excessive and while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or fatigue. In response the Watts are denying all of these allegations contained in the statement of claim filed at the B.C. Supreme Court. They content Mrs. Redkopp's injuries were caused by her own "negligent conduct", countering with the same claims of undue care, speeding and impairment as causes of this crash. While it may be a while before this case ends up before a judge, it is noteworthy to realize that these allegations were filed by Mrs. Redkopp seven months ago on Jan. 14 of this year. To date there has been no press release from the mayor's office regarding this legal action which considering the seriousness of the crash, resulting injuries and the possible legal and financial ramifications is more than surprising. Whether any of this helped Mrs. Watts in her decision to not run for the leadership of the provincial Liberal Party back in December remains unclear but her silence on this lawsuit is as deafening as the almost complete absence of coverage of this lawsuit in the mainstream media. If you wish to peruse the legal documents pertaining to this case, they are posted online on Laila Yuile's July 26 blogspot at the following link:
http://lailayuile.com/2011/07/26/surrey-mayor-dianne-watts-named-as-defendant-in-civil-suit-relating-to-2010-car-accident/

With a lack of eye witnesses to the Watts/Redekopp crash, I have approached many of the emergency services personnel who were present that night, trying to find out if anyone was willing to come forward with information concerning the condition that night of the drivers involved. My questions have been met with "deer in the headlight" stares, downward glances with mumbled, "I don't know" responses or the usual terse, "No comment." Now that this case is before the courts and with both sides making the same allegations against each other, it is time for people with information to step up to the plate. I'm calling on members of the Surrey RCMP, Hall 12 Fire Department, B.C. ambulance attendance plus doctors and nurses at Peace Arch hospital to reveal any and all information that may be pertinent to this case. As emergency services professionals and health care providers, they have the legal, moral and professional obligation to shed some light on this incident. Just like this column, once we have the bare facts, hopefully we can get to the naked truth on what really happened to cause this car crash involving our accident prone mayor on April 23, 2010. Please phone Surrey RCMP's non-emergency number at 604-599-0502, the Mayor's office at 604-591-4011 or the WR Sun editor at 604-541-7696 where he will then forward your information to Mrs. Redekopp's legal representatives.

Hopefully it will turn out that this was a simple car crash involving normal speeds, drivers who were completely sober and resulted from a red light being missed. While conspiracy theories and community gossip have shrouded this accident from day one leading to this she said/she said lawsuit being filed, one thing is for certain; Shawnene Redekopp does not agree with either the RCMP or ICBC investigation into this crash alleging wrong doing on her part. As to what evidence she may have to back up this claim or if the mayor's version of events is the true one will likely remain a topic for speculation until this case is finally heard. Until then, those with information for either side need to reveal what they know about the the condition of the parties involved before the crash, what happened at the Crescent Park accident between the Watts and Redekopp and the conduct of all emergency services personnel involved after the t-bone. As for corporate media, I trust they will finally give this case the publicity it deserves and report on this story as it moves forwards in the court system with many of the outstanding questions finally being answered.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

contact Don Pitcairn - sun-assn@hotmail.com

 

August 1, 2011

White Rock - AFFLUENT or EFFLUENT

Too bad the "My City By The Sea..." naming contest closed several weeks ago as with the most recent experience of fecal contamination involving the waters of White Rock I would have submitted, "My City by the Sea is Full of Crap." It was bad enough last summer having White Rock's unchlorinated well water pumping bird droppings (some say pigeon poop, others say seagull crap) into household and business taps but now having 60,000 gallons of untreated toilet water flow from a blocked sewer pipe into a storm drain and then down onto the beach a week ago really does take the cake. To put this into a perspective that most people can understand it is equivalent to the average volume of three inground residential pools full of fecal matter being flushed onto the waterfront. Of course this happened on a weekend, on the hottest day of the year, just before the long awaited Sea Festival showing that Murphy's Law definitely applies in this small seaside town.

The eateries along Marine Drive have been the focus of the initial investigation as to why the original blockage happened, with grease, food, poop and even reports of large pieces of chicken being disgorged onto the sands of White Rock. It turns out that an antiquated diverter connection linking the sewage system to storm-pipes designed to carry run-off water was also to blame with most of these having thought to have been severed years ago. Whether residences contributed to the problem by flushing items down toilets which should instead have gone into the garbage or recycling still remains to be seen but the sewer main was flushed by city engineering crews only three weeks before the blockage. While swimmers were initially evacuated and the beach closed for several days, W.R. Director of Engineering Rob Thompson gave the all clear on Wednesday afternoon that consecutive tests of Semiahmoo Bay water by Fraser Health have shown the water is now safe after several tides flushed out the crap like a giant toilet bowl. What remains to be seen is whether people come to the Spirit of the Sea festival or stay away in droves, giving the beach time too recover from this rather crappy form of pollution.

(Editors Note-The Crowds seemed the same with notably less swimmers in the bay)

This marks the second time in just over a year that White Rock has made front page news by having fecal matter washing into places it was not supposed to be, with each incident giving this tourist mecca a black eye. In both of these cases, it would appear that antiquated infrastructure contained in the city was partly to blame. With the e-Coli contamination of the public water supply, rooftop membranes on hilltop reservoirs allowed bird feces to seep in, with long forgotten city pipes still connecting the two separate drainage systems allowing for the sewage backup to be released into the Bay. The City now realizes that it might be a good idea to inspect businesses along the waterfront for oil and fat separators on a regular basis instead of just when they are initially installed. Rather than relying on what Rob Thompson refers to as "corporate memory" for what upgrades have been done to city pipes, it might be wise to run fiber optic cameras down these to check for unforeseen problems in the system which might again allow sewage too pour into the waterfront. Had this backup happened in the evening under cover of darkness, it is likely the spill would have been much larger and the lingering effects possibly closing the waterfront on the busiest weekend of the year, delivering a devastating blow to restaurants and merchants across Marine Drive.

While these problems are White Rock's unfortunately the sewage leak affects much more than the over 18,000 people who live within its cramped confines. The beaches of White Rock serve as the main marine recreational site for almost a million Fraser Valley residents along with the many visitors who are drawn to this area during summer months. Having to close the beach to vacationing families, little children enjoying time off from school, or those hoping to finally get a break from our rather dismal weather is certainly not fair. The Semiahmoo First Nation who have relied on the Bay for thousands of years get to see the water contaminated yet again, through no fault of their own. Of course we Canadians share the water of Semiahmoo Bay with our neighbours to the south and it is unlikely that residents of Blaine were happy to hear about untreated sewage being pumped into the water just north of the border. Whether any environmental damage resulted from this spill still remains to be seen but it is important to note that fisheries in the U.S. waters near Blaine were closed as a precaution. If you ever wonder how Boundary Bay, once one of the most productive oyster beds on the west coast could become so contaminated that it is illegal to collect any form of shellfish, you have to look no further than events such as this.

For an affluent community with high real estate prices and many wealthy residents, you have to ask why they have to put up with effluent being released into water, whether it is from the taps or at the beach. As stewards for this area, White Council and their Engineering Department need to ensure that proper finances are directed to maintaining and possibly upgrading important infrastructure that was never designed to deal with the capacity of development in what was originally a summer cottage enclave. We cannot afford any more uncontrolled release of untreated sewage into the waters of Semiahmoo Bay, especially during warm summer months. What I found concerning about this entire fiasco was that a city official admitted that they do not take water quality samples from areas near White Rock's outflow pipes. To ensure that cross-contamination of drainage water with sewage is not still occurring, when fall storms coincide with low tides, I will be collecting my own water samples directly from the outflow waters and taking them in for laboratory analysis. If it turns out that sewage releases are a continuing and constant problem, I will expect the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Federal Ministry of the Environment take steps to force White Rock to clean up their act, ensuring we keep Semiahmoo Bay as pristine as possible for those who like to swim, soak or even fish in these waters.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

July 25, 2011

The Dirt On The Yurt

White Rock has a long history of having some rather unique dwellings and if you know the locations of the "Castle" house, the "Gargoyle" house and the "Mannequin" house to name a few, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Now it appears that south Surrey has outdone them all with one of the most unique "homes" you are ever going to see. Tucked away in a wooded lot in Crescent Park is a round tent like structure that heralds from ancient Mongolia known as a "yurt."

These portable dwellings date back to the time of nomadic warlord Genghis Khan in the 13th century. While it looks at first glance like a glorified tent, a yurt is much more than that and can be used for year-round living including in cold northern climates. The original designs of these structures involved five basic elements which are lattice walls, wooden roof beams, a "roof ring", door and a felt or hide covering. Modern yurts follow this same design but with conveniences and technology of the 21st century with various layers of insulation and fabrics including some developed for use by NASA. With insulated walls and roof, their circular shape makes them easy and efficient to heat in winter and they are cool in summer with windows, doors and the central skylight dome all opening to allow for cross ventilation, no matter which way the wind is blowing. The exterior shells are waterproof and UV protected, giving many years of trouble-free service no matter where they are erected.

I was given the tour of this rather unique structure by the owners who wish to remain anonymous so as not to draw looky-loos and the curious to their residence. To say that it is beautiful and inviting would be an understatement and I was impressed by the modern day comforts that make this yurt a self-contained living area. While it obviously functions under what is generally known as the "great room" concept, a full kitchen and bathroom including hot water, shower and sanitation services make this a home which can be lived in 12 months a year, even with our heavy rains and occasional cold out-flow winter conditions. The wooden lattice walls with roof poles that soar high ahead to a circular skylight give the yurt a warm feeling along with spacious comfort. While it looks large, a small group of people with a couple pickup trucks could easily disassemble and move the entire yurt in a day, putting it back together in a new location where it would be quickly ready for use.

Besides this special building in Crescent Park, there is another interesting south Surrey connection with yurts. If you Google "yurt", the first return is the Wikipedia listing giving information about them while the second listing is for Yurtco Manufacturing located at 15062 40th Ave. in the flats just north of Morgan Creek. A visit to their website at www.yurtco.com yields a treasure trove of information about yurts and the huge variety of accessories that can be put into them. This company builds them in sizes from 8 feet starting at $2,695 all the way up to 32 feet across giving 805 square feet is living space. These have caught on at eco-resorts, fishing camps and holistic yoga retreats throughout the province and can also be found at many provincial and federal parks across B.C. If you want to try something different, look for yurt accommodations for your next vacation and check out what the Mongols have enjoyed for centuries.

Unfortunately the property where the Crescent Park yurt now sits is going to be redeveloped soon and the old house that is bulldozer bait and modern day yurt must both be removed before construction of a new home begins. Should you be interested in acquiring this novel shelter which would make a great addition to any recreational property, simply contact the White Rock Sun's editor (chesneytheking@telus.net) and he will put you in touch with the owners. While they paid almost $30,000 for this yurt several years ago from Yurtco, it is on the market with an asking price of $14,000, obo. Of course, you could also consider erecting it on a different lot in the Semiahmoo peninsula, ensuring that you join the list of quirky residences here that are always the talk of the town.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

July 18, 2011

Gordy's Our Guy

With much media attention last week being focused on Premier Clark's apparent flip-flopping on the concept of raising gas taxes to pay for the long promised Evergreen (Nevergreen?) Skytrain extension along with B.C. Ferries boss David Hahn's gross salary and pension overpayments, an important B.C. Liberal Party announcement involving one of our local MLA's flew under the radar this week. Adding to his long list of accomplishments, our very own South Surrey/White Rock MLA Gordon Hogg was voted in by his Legislative colleges on Tuesday to serve as the Liberal Party caucus Chair for the next year.

This is not the first time that Mr. Hogg has held this lofty position, previously being selected as the caucus Chair in 2004 and again in 2005. His duties will include chairing all meetings and planning sessions involving caucus, setting caucus agendas, working with the Premier on caucus issues, liaisoning with the party Whip and acting as the caucus's key representative. While this position involves a financial stipend, with Gordon already being the Parliamentary Secretary for Non-profit Partnerships to the Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government, there will not be any double-dipping for this new post. For a full history of Mr. Hogg's impressive political and community involvement including 20 years on White Rock Council (10 as Mayor) and 14 years as our MLA that included many key ministerial posts, visit his government website at http://www.gordonhoggmla.bc.ca/ clicking on "About Gordon." Try not to be impressed.

What is politically fascinating about Mr. Hogg's victory in this secret ballot is that it apparently went against the wishes of Premier Christie Clark. According to Liberal insiders, Margaret McDiarmid who is the MLA for the Fairview riding which is Clark's home constituency was approached by several of Christy's supporters to run for caucus Chair. While reportedly favoured by Clark, others in the Liberal party approached the well-liked and respected veteran politician Hogg to once again be the caucus's representative. While the actual numbers were not released, it is believed that the lovable Gordy won in a landslide, supposedly by a two thirds majority of caucus members. Even though most of the Liberal members knew of the Premier's hand-picked nomination, the vast majority voted against her choice and it is likely that some of her own cabinet ministers even put their X on Mr. Hogg's ballot. Makes you wonder how many will also vote "yes" to extinguish the HST doesn't it?

If ever there was a bitch-slap, this is one that should leave a red stinging hand print across Christy's cheek and should serve notice that the Liberals are not unified behind Mrs. Clark's leadership. It would appear that many Liberals are not impressed with her shoot from the lip electioneering mode and parade of smiling orchestrated photo-ops. If the Liberals lose the HST referendum battle, you can bet that there will not be much support for Premier Clark's idea of calling a fall election. It's starting to look as if Christy Clark might be the provincial version of Kim Campbell, the federal Progressive Conservative leader who became Prime Minister when Brian Mulroney retired, leading the party to a crushing defeat where it was reduced from a comfortable majority to only two seats in parliament. Whether history repeats itself and we see the B.C. Liberals implode in such a spectacular fashion remains to be seen, but it is wise to remember what happened to the once mighty Social Credit Party. The right-of-centre coalition's cracks are beginning to show and unless Christy can stop the theatrics and rookie mistakes, expect more fireworks to come in the near future.

I contacted Gordon to give him my best regards and congratulate him on being nominated Liberal caucus Chair and after returning my call (imagine that) was humble as ever saying he was, "honoured to be selected by my colleges." While you might expect most politicians to say something like this, in Mr. Hogg's case, it would be hard to believe he did not sincerely mean it. His keen interest in the British Parliamentary practices and history was quite apparent as was his zeal for being recognized by his peers by being selected for the third time as their representative. Asked if he felt his position might be an embarrassment to Premier Clark and cause friction between the two of them, he kept to the high road and talked about the good rapport they had several years back while traveling together as ministers through northern B.C., expecting this same cordial relationship to continue. From Mr. Hogg, I would expect nothing less.

So here's a tip of the hat from myself, the White Rock Sun and many constituents from across the Semiahmoo peninsula who admire the hard work, tireless dedication and professional demeanor that Gordon Hogg has brought to the political theatre and this riding for decades. It should come as no surprise that he is as well liked and respected by members of the Liberal caucus as he is by many of the residents of our community. For all the many times I've mentioned Gordon Hogg's name in conversation and heard, "He's a good guy", I'd like to say back to him, "Good on ya Gordy."

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

July 11, 2011

The "A" Word

There is a topic I've been trying to avoid even though it appears to be garnering much attention on the streets of White Rock these days and that is "amalgamation." The reason I've tried to steer clear of this debate is that I live in south Surrey and believe that any thoughts of ending the over half-century experiment of White Rock's independence must come from within the former "Ward 7's" cramped borders. That ended this week when reporter Ted Colley, also a south Surrey resident, pointed out the elephant in the room in a front page editorial piece in the Surrey Now newspaper, stating that the seaside city should take the "A-train" (that's "A" for Amalgamation) and rejoin Surrey ASAP.

There are a myriad of reasons why this talk is now gaining momentum in the "City By The Sea." High property taxes, lack of growth, business relocation, aging infrastructure and a council out of touch with its residents are some of the main concerns but the list is long and varied depending on who you talk to. Whether White Rock can continue to stand on its own, or even if it should bother trying is open to discussion that is sure to be long and lively. Watching what is going on just up the hill in south Surrey with new malls, apartment blocks and trendy subdivisions sucking the life-blood out of White Rock make many question White Rock's future viability. Reading Mr. Colley's column, you'd think it would be best for White Rock to raise a white flag and then throw in the proverbial towel.

There are others in the community who believe that White Rock rejoining with Surrey is not the answer but instead the opposite might be true. Murray Weisenberger, the B.C. Green Party Chairperson who ran against the juggernaut known as Dianne Watts for mayor of Surrey in the last civic election believes that south Surrey should instead join White Rock. In this way the Semiahmoo peninsula would have equal and equitable representation in one city hall while expanding White Rock's borders and tax base. He also thinks that this would curtail some of the clear-cutting for development we are seeing in Surrey from the Surrey First (we'll log the other planets later) dominated council. Simply ask yourself how many people you know who live in south Surrey who say they are from White Rock? Many of the businesses here, especially car dealerships, openly tout the White Rock banner even though they are located miles away. Heck, when the new Value Village opened in Newton, they even advertised it as the new "South Surrey location." How chique and trendy, even for the "V-V Boutique."

As to how much of south Surrey might want to join White Rock or where the new civic boundaries could be drawn opens up a wealth of interesting possibilities. The most obvious and simple solution is to include all property south of Hwy. 99. Of course, I'm sure there are plenty of people living in the Grandview Heights and Morgan Crossing area that would love to put White Rock on their address, possibly reaping a sizeable monetary reward for this simple guilty pleasure. Looking farther afield, I'm reasonably certain the well-heeled neighbourhoods of Morgan Creek might consider joining with the rest of the Semiahmoo peninsula under the White Rock name. Further east near Langley, the Campbell Heights industrial park would give a much needed industrial and business tax base to this new and improved White Rock. This would likely allow for the preservation of large forested tracts in south Surrey that appear to be poised for destruction by the Surrey First council who are ignoring directives from their very own Environmental Advisory Committee to preserve this area as a nature buffer.

Personally, I think if south Surrey were to join with White Rock as a new city, all land south of #10 Hwy would be ideal. As luck would have it, #10 Hwy. is generally the northern border for news and community interest stories carried by the White Rock Sun. What makes this idea even more charming is that a bigger city hall would be needed for the newly expanded White Rock. Since Mayor Ferguson and her council have voiced a desire for a new city hall there and with Mayor Watts in Surrey planning on moving staff to Whalley, oops - I mean City Central, I believe the old Surrey city hall would make a rather ideal choice. Since Hwy. 10 runs along what is essentially 58 Ave. until just past 136 St. where it then curves south crossing the King George Blvd on the defacto 56 Ave., simply draw the northern border east along 58 Ave. till it reaches 144 St., encompassing the current Surrey City Hall and Courthouse before heading south to Hwy 10 and then east towards Cloverdale.

What is interesting about this concept is that most of the elected officials currently in Surrey currently live in the south Surrey area including Mayor Dianne Watts. Would they jump ship and try to get elected in the suddenly enlarged White Rock, stay put or move north to reside in the proposed smaller Surrey, likely changing the political landscape? With a civic election upcoming in November, it'd be interesting to include a referendum question asking residents south of Hwy. 10 if they wished to leave the giant metropolis of Surrey and join with the rest of the Semiahmoo peninsula in a greatly improved White Rock? Whether this is possible, either politically or realistically remains to be seen but if anyone out there wishes to take this idea and run with it, please be my guest. Of course, if successful you have to wonder how long it would be before Crescent Beach would be wanting to separate from the new White Rock.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

July 04, 2011

Train of Thought

Train Kept A Rollin' all night long
Train Kept A Rollin' all night long
With a heave, and a ho
But I just couldn't tell her so, no, no, no
(lyrics from "Train Kept A Rollin'" - various artists from Aerosmith to Led Zepplin)

What better way to celebrate July the fourth in the Semiahmoo peninsula than to look at what the American based BNSF Railway possibly has in store for this region. Last week a member of the community rail safety group SmartRail managed to catch up with some of their Canadian employees working on the tracks near Crescent Beach. Identifying himself as a local resident (but not a SmartRail member), he engaged them in a conversation about train vibrations, mudslides, vegetation control and train speed but there were several other topics that raised his eyebrows and hackles as well.

Most importantly, the consensus from these employees was that we will definitely be getting more trains here which is why the BNSF has been putting so much money into upgrading the tracks throughout the peninsula. In the past five years the BNSF have rebuilt the rip-rap wave defences, replaced the old segmented rail with continuous weld, built new sidings and passing lanes near the border and Burns bog, graded all drainage ditches while installing new culverts and most recently replaced about twenty percent of the wooden ties. All told, these represent an investment of approximately $20 million which considering the short distance of track here is a sizeable outlay of cash, even for a corporation the size of the BNSF Railway. Thankfully these improvements have greatly improved the safety of freight and passenger train travel along the waterfront, especially along the slide prone Ocean Park bluff at Crescent Rock beach.

It looks as if the railway is going to be putting even more money into infrastructure improvements here as these workers revealed they are currently repairing the train bridges here supposedly because they are "sinking." They also expect the BNSF to begin wholesale replacement of bridges here in the next several years because of rot in the pilings and this constant sinking they revealed. A friend of mine who works for CN Rail in their track maintenance division examined the condition of the tracks and bridges here a little more than five years ago and was surprised by the overall poor condition of the tracks at that time along with that of the bridges, believing it would only be a matter of time before they would need to be rebuilt. When you look at the first sized rust holes in the metal bridge over the Little Campbell River, you wonder how much longer these structures can hold up, especially with coal trains up to 140 cars in length rumbling over them.

Of greatest concern is their revelation that there has been talk (no word on by whom) of possibly twinning the tracks through the beach area alongside the promenade. Most people here do not realize that the White Rock waterfront formerly had many stretches of double tracking in the past and that a new siding installed last year near Peace Arch Park has doubled the rails in front of the Semiahmoo First Nations reserve. My SmartRail friend let them know he believed this would likely cause a civil war here if this was attempted but was told by the employees that the railway would probably win in the long run as they own the land along the waterfront and can do as they please. They also talked about rumours in this community to move the tracks to a safer inland location in around three years but while they thought this was a good idea, did not believe it would happen in their life time - if ever.

I put these concerns to BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas, asking about the possibility of increasing train traffic, sinking bridges, bridge replacement and double tracking through White Rock. What he told me in a prompt return email was that future rail traffic is dictated solely by business demands, none of the BNSF's bridges are sinking in B.C. and that they are presently refurbishing the Serpentine River structure at a cost of over $1 million. As for the concept of installing double track at White Rock, he replied that it was the first he'd heard of that idea, declaring emphatically that it was, "Not in the plans." Personally, I cannot fathom why the railway would consider this notion, especially after having the new passing lane built next to the Watershed park in North Delta. The BNSF has enough problems with pedestrian/train interactions along the White Rock waterfront and I doubt they would want to double the risks along this busy beach area while also getting the community in an uproar.

With the capital investment involved in upgrading their rail corridor through the Semi-pen, it does not look like the BNSF Railway is planning on moving out of White Rock anytime in the near future. One thing is for certain, it will likely take government involvement to reroute this century old rail line away from the main marine recreational site for almost a million Fraser Valley residents. You only have to look the CN line in Surrey and Langley where the federal government has contributed $75 million of a total $300 million investment in the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative that will soon install nine grade separation overpasses in the region. If Langley M.P. Mark Warawa can secure this level of federal funding for transportation and rail improvements there, can our local M.P. Russ Hiebert get "on board" with the concept of railway relocation and help to move these waterfront tracks, allowing for Surrey's SeaWalk possibly connecting to the Delta Dike Trail to finally be built?

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

June 27, 2011

"Corruption, Incompetence, or Plain Old Stupidity?"

With city workers creeping around at night to cut down the final tree on Royal Ave. with a hand saw, you'd think that the lunacy associated with the first use of the dreaded Policy 611 that allows White Rock boulevard and park trees to be chopped down for increased real estate values would finally be over. Unfortunately this is White Rock where there is never a dull moment with events involving city hall usually bordering between the absurd and insane. For the "clear-cut councilors" who continue to support policy 611, namely Sinclair, Campbell, Anderson and Meyers, this debacle continues with word how the people who lost their trees and privacy are now being faced with a huge bill to replace a retaining wall promised by the city. Royal Ave. resident Doug Ellerbeck is on record as saying, "I don't know if its corruption, incompetence, or plain old stupidity?" He forgot to mention, "D - All of the above."

The Ellerbecks

In case you missed it, when the Ellerbecks agreed under duress to having two of the three boulevard trees in front of their house axed, the city promised to use money from the neighbours to pay for the installation of a hedge along with a new retaining wall. These were supposed to improve their sudden loss of privacy while ensuring slope stability lost with the death of the trees holding the steep bank in place. The city provided estimates of between $2,000 - $4,000 for this retaining wall with the money left over from the hedge installation paying for the wall to be built. Now the city has received quotes of $11,000 and $20,000 to do this work, meaning that even with the low contract, the Ellerbecks will now be required to pay between $7,000 and $8,000 of their own money to have this promised wall replaced. If White Rock approaches you with another policy 611 application, remember their experience and tell the city politely to attempt to perform self-intercourse and get yourself a lawyer.

Needless to say, being faced with such a large bill, the Ellerbecks are now deciding if they should instead considering suing the city for breach of trust and reneging on their contract. They are looking at whether the Constitution Canada Foundation might take their case for a class action law suit over the preservation of city owned trees that are currently being removed to increase individual real estate values through view improvement. Their other option is to use the money now requested for the retaining wall to instead pay movers and sell their house to stop what they see as government sanctioned harassment by neighbours facilitated by elected officials and city staff. Regardless of the outcome, they plan on making the support of the defective policy 611 an important issue in the upcoming civic election in November, looking to axe this quasi-slate of councilors seemingly intent on clear-cutting the hillsides above Semiahmoo Bay, regardless of the environmental or political cost.

Barry Belec

On a slightly different tangent, famed White Rock horticulturalist and long-time resident Barry Belec who opposes policy 611 has found himself caught up in his own fight with neighbours over trees. On his property at the old "orchard house" located at 15778 Buena Vista, an excavator on a bordering lot recently dug down along the property line directly next to a 140 foot tall Douglas fir tree to, "check for roots" for a possible future development. This was one of the specimens contained in the historical tree list that Mr. Belec had submitted to the EAC ten years ago which was turned over to Mary-Wade Anderson, subsequently went missing and was never acted on. While by-law officers originally slapped a stop work order on the digging, it was determined there was no legal reason to halt the trenching that later saw tree roots beside the thick trunk cut with chainsaws to a reported depth of 10 feet. White Rock's arborist witnessed this work but was powerless to stop it even though this tree has now been dangerously weakened and poses a serious threat to Barry's house and possibly his life should a strong easterly wind now blow. If deemed hazardous, it is unclear who will be responsible to pay for the bill to have this tree felled, but my money is on White Rock not paying a dime.

The brazen disregard of the importance of trees in the city of White Rock, the catering to real estate and developers financial interests and continued clear-cutting of mature trees has to stop. Besides making White Rock the joke of the Lower Mainland, the callous disregard of public safety endangers people through increased landslide threat and risk of blow-down of tall heavy trees onto buildings and vehicles. Cities such as Vancouver, West Vancouver and even nearby Surrey value city boulevard and park trees, seeing them as vital to a healthy environment and society, a position hilariously advertised in White Rock's city news. Unfortunately this sentiment is not shared by the "clear-cut councilors" and until they are removed from office, this desecration and continued abuse of power will likely continue until White Rock resembles Haiti where deforestation now results in landslides and floods every time there is a heavy rain. Does the "City by the Sea" need to resemble a corrupt third-world fiefdom where the new slogan is more truthfully, "Sh-tty By the Sea"? Think about this when you vote on November 19th, knowing that to change the current mindset of council, several heads will have to roll.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editors Note: For more information on this continuing policy 611 saga and legal ramifications, visit the "Say No to Policy 611" blog online at http://saynotopolicy611.blogspot.com/ or the West Coast Environmental Law website at http://www.wcel.org/resources/environmental-law-alert/dear-white-rock-trees-have-value

 

 

June 20, 2011

Vote "No" to the HST, err..., I Mean "Yes"

Hopefully if the mail ever starts being delivered again by Canada Post across the province you will soon receive your mail-in referendum ballot regarding the fate of the HST. This will be your opportunity for direct democracy, telling the B.C. Liberals what the people wish to do about this sales tax that was foisted on an unsuspecting public shortly after the Liberals were voted back into power. Before you mark your "X" and drop it in the mail box you may want to consider the following points.

Prior to the election, the Libs showed no interest in the HST and promised not to implement this tax once in power. Of course this was a blatant fabrication or outright fraud depending on your point of view. They even had the gall to announce that the HST "wasn't on the radar" before being handed back the reigns of power but suddenly did a complete about face on this issue once dangled a multi-billion carrot by the federal Conservative government. I believe that democracy isn't just one day every four years and the people you vote for as your elected representatives should do just that, represent their constituents. If not for Bill Vanderzalm, Chris Delaney and their Fight HST organization, we would never have gotten the chance for this important referendum.

The HST represents a $2 billion tax shift from corporations and businesses to individuals who are the end users of products and services. Of course, the HST covers many goods and services previously exempt from the former PST and effectively ends provincial sovereignty over sales tax. While the HST was championed by the Liberals when it was implemented as being "revenue neutral", it has instead taken a large gouge out of every B.C. taxpayer's wallet, with estimates from $350 to $500 per person. The Liberals have stated that the HST would be good for the economy but by making many services more expensive, they have decreased demand and heightened unemployment in those industries. Since the HST was introduced, I have laid off two of my full-time employees due to cancelled jobs because of the 7% tax increase from the previous 5% GST for the 12% (not 10% as falsely advertised) HST. Meanwhile, the underground economy is booming and unscrupulous business owners are avoiding the HST and income tax by working under the table for cash.

The stick-men ads about the HST that you see being played on TV over and over "ad nauseum" (I always wondered where that term came from) are being paid for with $5 million of your tax dollars and these were supposed to be non-partisan and showcase information about this tax. In fact they are blatant government propaganda being used to distribute false information that is spin-doctored to resemble fact. Do you really believe that "the government is listening" and that they have "reduced the HST from 12% to 10%"? This certainly is not the case when you visit any cashier in the province and won't happen until 2014 in any case. Whether the Liberals are still in power at that time or if Premier Christy Clark or Finance Minister Kevin Falcon retain their seats remain to be seen. Given the Liberals track record of honesty regarding the HST and its timely imposition, how can you now trust anything they say about it or future promises they make? Case in point, remember what happened to B.C. Rail several years back? If retained, I expect the HST to gradually increase over time as has occurred in many European countries saddled with a Value Added Tax or VAT which is what the HST is.

Speaking of lies about taxes, do you remember when Prime Minister Jean Chretien, also a Liberal, promised "Vote for me and I will eliminate the HST!" He used this gimmick to get himself elected and then promptly forgot about this tax that is still with us long after Chretien is gone. Personally I don't think his facial deformity was from Bells Palsy as reported but from talking lies out of the side of his mouth and I'm surprised more politicians don't suffer this malady. Remember the old joke, Q. How can you tell when a politician in lying?, A. His lips are moving. Unlike municipal elections where using deceit and fraud can get election results annulled which is what happened to White Rock councilor James Coleridge, there is nothing on the books holding politicians accountable at the provincial and federal levels for being untruthful to voters. This is your chance to have your say, to make Canadian history, and hold the Liberals accountable for lying and imposing the HST against our collective will and at the end of wicked recession to boot.

Don't be fooled by the stupid wording of the referendum question that must have been designed by lawyers consulting with bureaucrats and the village idiot. If you wish to get rid of the HST and save yourself money while sending a message to Victoria, then vote "YES" to extinguish the HST and replace it with the previous PST. Don't worry about the sky-is-falling fear tactics being used by the B.C. government and special interest business lobby groups trying to sway the vote. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have your say and to take a tax the Liberals tried to shove down our throats and instead have them stick it where the sun don't shine. I hope "cHriSTy" Clark, the new Gordon Campbell in drag premier who has HST in her name, gets the message loud and clear that this is a democracy, not a benevolent dictatorship. You work for us Premier, not the other way around.

 

June 13, 2011

The Best Things in Life?

It's more than a coincidence that this edition of The Naked Truth comes out on Monday which is garbage day is this neck of the woods near Crescent Park in south Surrey. Unfortunately Monday isn't the only time you'll see trash on the curb in this rather upscale neighbourhood, in fact any day is good on our street or anywhere else in Surrey for that matter. For reasons unknown, putting ugly used furniture, worn out appliances and outdated electronics at the end of the driveway with a "Free" sign seems to be the new vogue in Surrey, creating a never ending eyesore that runs from the waters of Semiahmoo Bay north to the Fraser River.

It is interesting to note that the city of Delta does not have this problem as they still have what many call their "crap on the curb" week where households put out their large unwanted items once a year for disposal by city contractors. If you have a worn out couch smelling suspiciously like cat piss, an old laundry machine that rips your clothes to shred instead of cleaning them, or a rotted out propane barbecue that can't cook a burger hot enough to kill ecoli, this is the one time of year when you can put this stuff out for disposal. Surrey used to have a similar program but it was "trashed" years ago in order to save the city money. Since this time, illegal dumping of household items has grown exponentially and "free" items are now sprouting up on every street corner. On three nearby roads, I counted seven "Free" items this Sunday including computer monitors and old tube T.V.'s.

The pathetic part of it all is that used electronics can be recycled free of charge at local bottle return centres but I guess this is more work than taping a "Free" note to the T.V. and dragging it to the curb. These forlorn items are so passe that you probably couldn't give them away let along hope to sell them at a garbage..., I mean garage sale. They usually sit next to the road for a couple of weeks, soaking up the rain until inevitably some punk kid puts a rock through them late on a Friday or Saturday night or dumps them into a ditch or nearby creek. It's funny to realize that you never see a modern flat screen T.V. sitting by the roadside with a "Free" sign taped to it. If anyone has a 55 inch Samsung LED 3D SmarTV that is taking up space and would like to get rid of it, please give me a call and I will save you the embarrassment of having to leave it at the end of the driveway because you are too lazy to dispose of it properly.

In case people don't realize it, you can place free ads on Craig's List online at www.craigslist.ca where used items that have a value and a hope in hell of being used by someone likely less fortunate than yourself can be advertised without being a blight on the neighborhood. This certainly makes more sense than leaving this junk in front of the house waiting to be rained on or vandalized, reducing its chance of ever being picked up. Another option is to post it on Surrey's new recycling website at www.surreyreuses.com where there motto is "Don't trash it, give it away." This is part of the the Reuses Network that is a cooperative effort supported by a variety of communities across B.C. to foster a new approach to waste prevention. The third option, where you castoffs are junk, garbage, or plain old trash that is too big for the garbage truck is to put it in the back of a pickup and take it to the landfill yourself and pay for disposal, just like what responsible people do. Oh yeah, you can drop off scrap metal and appliances there free of charge too.

While Surrey has recently taken steps to address the problem of illegal dumping, they have turned a blind eye to the ever increasing use of the "Free" junk being left for days, weeks and sometimes months at the front of residential properties throughout the city. With the many ways to properly dispose of this stuff or give it away over the internet, I see no reason why this should continue to be tolerated. Garbage day is one day a week, not seven and those people should be ashamed by this behavior, not to mention having some of the ugliest 1970's style furniture ever made sitting in front of their homes. Let's hope Mayor Watts and her Surrey First compatriots will put a by-law in place to stop those using our streets as personal perpetual dump sites when other more aesthetic options are easily available. Hopefully they'll take my "Free" advice.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

June 06, 2011

The Name Game

Finally..., the decision we've all been waiting for..., White Rock's new brand has been chosen and is officially: "City by the Sea." Send out the news releases, buy the confetti, build the floats and let's plan a parade in honour of this historic moment!

Wow, not bad when you consider what went into making this epic decision. The branding of the city has been on city hall's agenda for the past decade, taking until now for a slogan to be selected. You've got to admit, the "City by the Sea" concept is certainly better than the rather bizarre "Island of White Rock" or "Silver Beach" concepts floated by the U.S. based Whisper corporation back in 2007 that were widely rejected. This public relations exercise cost $68,000 and yielded results that I'm certain could have been out done by any class at the White Rock elementary school.

It has now been almost a year since a six-member community task force was formed to once again look at the branding of this seaside city. They tabled their first report to council in February and I happened to be lucky enough to be there for the unveiling. Having previously perused the Whisper submission, at least this one made some sense and was workable in the real world. City hall will be giving everyone the month of June to answer the question, "What does My/Our City by the Sea mean to you?", in a campaign that will be advertised on the city’s website and local papers. A further $5,000 contract was also tendered from the city's economic reserve to finalize the details of this brand.

What is comically funny about all of this is that the nearby seaside town of Crescent Beach in south Surrey branded itself last year without fanfare or spending a small fortune. The story I've been told is that a member of the Crescent Beach Property Owners Association was on the east coast last year and found licience plate frames in Maine saying "Crescent Beach - Village by the Sea." It had a nice ring to it so this thoughtful person bought a stack of them and flew them home from across the continent. These were then distributed to people around Crescent Beach who were rather amused by the whole thing and I was lucky enough to snap one up. I think it looks rather nice on the back of my wife's new mustang convertible. Total cost - 10 bucks cash with no GST/PST/HST or duty at the border.

While White Rock and Crescent Beach may both be small seaside enclaves in the Semiahmoo peninsula, it shows you that bureaucracy and politics cost us all dearly. White Rock with its own mayor, council, city hall staff and workforce spend at least $73,000 to come up with a similar slogan to the people in Crescent Beach that cost them $10. The cars sporting these licience plate frames have been driving the streets around Crescent Beach for some time and word has spread about the "Village by the Sea" brand. From what I've been told, they are a bit of a status symbol identifying people as residents of this hamlet. Hopefully the White Rock branding task force didn't simply copy the "Crescent Beach - Village by the Sea" concept but you have to wonder.

I still think a contest where people could have submitted their ideas for White Rock's branding would have made more sense. Besides getting free advertising for the contest, prizes of a weekend's stay in town with dinner at several of their fine eating establishments could have helped to promote local businesses. Why I even gave Mayor Ferguson and council my very own slogan, "White Rock - Bordering on Spectacular" but it was turned down. I guess the prize tag of "free" didn't appeal to them when you have a budget of $24 million. As for Crescent Beach, it took one person's decision to bring home a slogan.

Naturally yours,

Don Pitcairn

 

May 30, 2011

Nothing to Sneeze At

First things first, I'm not a doctor, but if it walks like a duck and looks like a duck, it could still be a quack. For almost a decade, physicians, medical associations and even the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta have been telling us to sneeze into our elbows rather than our hands to reduce infections and stop the spread of flu. While decreasing the chances you might pass on bacteria or viruses to other people, I'd like to let you know why this concept might also be bad for your health.

Sneezing is a complex reflex action affecting many parts of the body. It starts with irritation of the lining of the nose and ends in an explosion of air from the nose and mouth allowing us to forcible dispel particles affecting our mucous membranes. Nerve impulses travel from the nose to the brain and then back to other nerves that control the muscle of the abdomen, chest, diaphragm, neck, back, face and eyelids as well as the mucus glands and blood vessels of the nose. There are four main types of sneezing which occur which are as follows:

Paroxysmal sneezing - This type of sneezing is mostly acute in nature and often caused by bacterial or viral or fungal infection. They happen during the start of the disease.
Continuous or allergic sneezing – Usually a chronic condition caused by allergic tendencies of the body, often happening from constant exposure to dust, pets, etc.
Seasonal sneezing – Mostly in growing seasons when pollens are present in wind. Seasonal allergic rhinitis usually results due to pollens of tree, grass or weeds.
Perennial sneezing – Persists throughout the year due to persistent exposure to environmental pollution or allergens.

What the doctors don't tell you is that sneezing is a violent physical action and that air speeds resulting from it can reach speeds estimated from 150 to 300 kph, or similar to the F4 tornado that recently leveled the mid-west town of Joplin, Missouri. The physical requirements of sneezing put many of our muscle groups into spasms, forcing your body into tight convulsive movements. By sneezing into your elbow, you put your body in an unnatural position which nobody in their right mind used to do before someone thought this might be a great idea.

Being indoctrinated into using my elbow as a handkerchief, I recently sneezed likely due to pollen in the air, wrapping my arm around my face to do so. The result from this convoluted yoga move and resulting facial explosion was that I strained my shoulder, pulled muscles in my neck and threw out my back all in one swift motion. If I'd sneezed naturally without becoming the human pretzel, it is likely this would not have occurred. It took several hours before the vertebrae in my back slipped back into place with an audible pop, while three days later my neck was still stiff.

Instead of sneezing into your elbow, sneeze naturally with your head straight ahead with our without your hand in front of your mouth, avoiding injuries that might require a visit to either the doctor or chiropractor. Since you can only spread germs by sneezing when you have a cold or flu, I'd suggest copying what many Asian societies do and wear a surgical mask in public when you are infectious. Come to think of it, bowing when you meet someone instead of shaking their germ filled hands suddenly makes perfect sense. Maybe the CDC should encourage bowing as a meeting gesture instead of hand shakes, hugs, and kisses. Above all, when you are sick, stay home, rest and get better!

Besides protecting your health, not sneezing into your elbow might also lower the amount of laundry you do. For those people who insist on sneezing into their arm, enjoy walking around with your sleeve looking like a used Kleenex covered in snot and boogers. At least with the old-fashioned handkerchief, you could roll it up and stuff it in your pocket so no one would have to look at it. As for me, I can always wash my hands.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

May 23, 2011

Getting Free from "Eco-Fee$"

Having operated a commercial gardening company for many years, I'm quite familiar with the arsenal of chemicals, both herbicides and insecticides collectively known as pesticides, used to control a wide variety of nuisance plants, weeds, and bugs. During this time, I have also witnessed the steady withdrawal of many of these products from the marketplace as their risks, both to mankind and the environment, became commonly known. As a kid, I watched my dad use DDT to control aphids on his dahlias, the spray company I worked for as a teenager soaked lawns with Diazanon for leatherjackets, and some of my neighbours still use Weed-n-Feed to fertilize their lawns regardless of whether weeds are present or not. Many municipalities now have bylaws against using cosmetic pesticides to control weeds, with commonly used Roundup (non-selective vegetation killer) and Killex (selective weed killer for use on lawns) being replaced with earth friendly alternatives.

When you buy pesticides at your local hardware store or garden centre they are covered under a take-back product stewardship program and you pay an "eco-fee", "environmental levy" or "environmental handling fee" to cover the cost of recycling. It's not a tax, meaning that this money doesn't go to the B.C. government as general revenue. The eco-fee goes directly to the Take-Back program stewardship organizations to pay for the cost of recycling or safe disposal with the price adjusted regularly to reflect actual costs of recycling or disposing of the material. The following are some of the products currently charged an eco-fee when you purchase them in the province of B.C. along with the organizations which collect and recycle these materials:

Beverage containers and electronics - Encorp Pacific
Paint, flammable liquids, gasoline, pesticides, fluorescent lights - Product Care Association
Cell phones and household batteries - Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation
Used oil, containers and filters - BC Used Oil Management Association
Medications - Post Consumer Pharmaceutical Stewardship Association
Automotive Batteries - Recycling Council of B.C.
Vehicle tires - Tire Stewardship BC

While I can see charging an eco-fee on dangerous chemical products, I can't understand why the government would charge this same levy on non-poisonous earth friendly products which are now beginning to appear on the market? Instead of Roundup, which contains Glyphosate, you can now buy Path Clear by Scotts which uses acetic acid or vinegar as its main chemical component. For lawn weeds that formerly were sprayed with Killex that contains a mixture of 2-4Dt, Mecoprop and Dicamba, the same company now produces Weed-B-Gone that utilizes an simple liquid iron solution to eradicate broad-leaf weeds from lawns. Both of these products are marketed under Scotts "Eco-Sense" label identifying them as "green" products. If you don't have to pay an eco-fee on a jug of vinegar or bottle of Geritol, then why are these non-toxic weed killers still subject to this eco-fee? Would it not make sense to charge the eco-fee on the poisonous product, making the environmentally sensitive ones more appealing to the consumer?

While many people are still harping about the imposition of the HST and looking forward to the upcoming mail-in referendum ballot regarding this value added tax, most do not realize that July 1st, 2010, the day the HST was ushered in to this province, was also the date when many of these eco-fees were either instituted or expanded. To make matters worse, while many of these products were formerly PST exempt and only subject to the 5% GST, they are now all charged the full 12% HST, including on the eco-fee! For an example of how this works, a $10 hand sprayer bottle of Weed-B-Gone I bought last week is hit with a $0.60 eco-fee for a total of $10.60 and then dinged with the HST of $1.27 for a grand total of $11.87. It is increases like this almost two dollar hit on the price that causes inflation, empties your wallet and leaves people wanting to get payback on the government that lied about bringing in this tax.

If Christy Clark (the lady with HST in her first name) and the Liberal party wants to help protect and preserve the environment of B.C. then why not eliminate the eco-fee on "green" products and instead charge a higher rate for similar chemicals that carry health and ecological risks? This would make these green products more affordable while ensuring that poisonous brands are charged at a higher rate. While most people are looking for green solutions that they can incorporate into their everyday lives, these buying decisions are made much easier if lower prices appear on safer products. If we are to keep these eco-fees, they need to be adjusted so that they not only reflect the cost of recycling and collection but also are rated to the toxicity of the product being sold. If you'd like further information on product stewardship and recycling in the province, visit the B.C. Ministry of Environment website at http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/recycling.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

May 16, 2011

On Butterfly Wings

There are many types of specialty gardens such as water gardens, rose gardens and even night-time moon gardens, which are planted for a variety of purposes. A very unique garden that not many people know about exists in White Rock at Centennial Park. You may have missed it while walking to the arena, surrounding playing fields or nearby tennis courts but centered between them all is the Eva Benet Butterfly Garden at the top of the Duprez ravine next to the forest just east of the main parking lot.

Financing for this special project came from noted philanthropist Mrs. Benet's estate a decade ago which was given to the White Rock Surey Naturalists Society (that's "naturalists", not "naturists" and no, they don't garden in the nude) for use in various community environmental enhancement projects. White Rock donated land from this portion of the park and the original garden installation was completed in 2003 with over 50 different plants that were selected to be attractive to butterflies. Various butterfly species are drawn to this garden during the growing season with the differential flowering times of the plants providing a continuous bouquet of colour and nectar for them to feed on. Make sure you leave you butterfly net at home but please stop by to check out this interesting environmental treasure and the spectacular winged visitors that come to feed and rest here. If you have kids or grandchildren rest assured they will be fascinated, especially in summer when butterfly numbers are at their highest.

If you want a butterfly garden of your own, many of the varieties of plants are available at local garden centres, or for professional assistance I'd recommend the Petals & Butterflies Farm Nursery located at 121 - 210 St. in south Langley off Zero Ave. Mrs. Gwen Odermatt has operated Petals and Butterflies for the last fifteen years where she gardens in an environmentally sustainable manner to grow interesting and unusual perennials and shrubs that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial wildlife to gardens. She is available to put her wide knowledge about plants to help you select the appropriate ones for the correct location in your garden and can be reached by email at petalsandbutterflies@shaw.ca or by phone at 604-530-9205. The information boards attached to the kiosks at the Eva Benet Butterfly garden also contain species lists which can easily be duplicated giving you the same wide variety of plants that are found there.

The Eva Benet butterfly garden was unfortunately not being given the level of care it probably should have received in the past few years and invasive weeds including the dreaded Morning Glory vine were taking over much of the landscaped beds choking the flowering plants. A dedicated team of gardeners is now working to control unwanted vegetation, replant the flowers that died off and restore the garden to its original condition. Should you be interested in helping to maintain the Eva Benet butterfly garden, a wonderful lady named Frances from the W.R. Sry. Naturalists has informed me that they could use a couple of strong backs and people who are not afraid of getting their hands dirty. It might also help if you have a profound respect for nature and love butterflies and flowers, knowing that, "No garden truly blooms until butterflies have danced upon it" - Kristen D'Angelo. To volunteer simply give Frances a call at 604-535-2642 and I'm sure she will be more than willing to put you to work.

To find out more about the W.R. Sry. Naturalists or to join their environmental organization, they meet the second Thursday of each month (except July and August) at 7:30 p.m.in the Sunnyside Community Hall at 1845-154th Street, Surrey, or check out their parent organization, the B.C. Federation of Nature website at www.bcnature.ca. Just remember not to ask them about nude sunbathing at Crescent Rock beach or Surrey's United Naturists (that's "naturists", not "naturalists"). While they find the confusion between these two similar words rather amusing, they are much more concerned with nature than being au natural.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

May 09, 2011

All Fired Up About Pollution

This now marks the third installment of the TNT involving the BNSF Railway's contentious installation of new creosoted railway ties along their waterfront tracks throughout the Semiahmoo peninsula shoreline, replacing these "sleepers" that were rotten, cracked or broken. The previous editions were on March 28 - "Ties That Bind" and as part of the April 4 - "Fantastic Four" in a segment titled "Creosoaked." Simply scroll down to the applicable dates to educate yourself on the scope of this work and its wide reaching environmental and public health implications before reading on about continuing problems with this transportation project.

It has now been more than a month since the new ties were installed and the damaged or worn out ties were placed in piles along the BNSF Railway corridor. While the new ties were quickly installed once they had been dropped off beside the tracks, the BNSF unfortunately does not appear to be in any hurry to clean up the old sleepers. Piles of these timbers have been left all along the tracks at the base of the Ocean Park bluff next to Crescent Rock naturist beach from White Rock to Crescent Beach. Last weekend when we finally received a break from our cold and damp spring, I got the chance to visit Crescent Rock and catch a few rays of sunshine. Unfortunately the warm temperatures and clear skies could do nothing to improve my mood once I made it to the beach for the first sunbathing of the year. As I got near my favorite sandy spot south of the 101 Steps south of Crescent Beach, the rank odor of creosote smoke drifted up to meet me.

While used by naturists to peacefully relax during warm sunny days, the isolation and seclusion that Crescent Rock provides also attracts nocturnal party goers to the waterfront, often to have drinking parties surrounding big bonfires. This quickly consumes most of the firewood that washes ashore, leaving these people to then scramble up onto the tracks and forested hillside in search of fuel. Unfortunately the firewood of choice now appears to be the old creosoted ties which are now being tossed down from the tracks onto the beach and burned in large piles. This releases toxic smoke into the air along with leeching any chemicals that are held in the ashes along the shoreline. The unburnt tie ends have also been left to wash away in the next high tide, likely following the currents towards the more public Crescent Beach. I later visited the shorelines of Semiahmoo Bay near the First Nation reserve and White Rock's West beach and found more evidence of creosote tie fires there.

With more good weather hopefully around the corner and Grad season quickly approaching, it is important that the BNSF Railway collect these old ties as quickly as possible so that more of them don't end up getting burned at the beach. Why the railway did not clean up their mess soon after this job was completed needs to be questioned and the Canadian Ministry of Transportation who has jurisdiction over railways and the B.C. Ministry of the Environment have to ensure this clean up is done immediately. The B.C. government has recently completed an environmental enhancement project that removed tonnes of creosoted wood from the shores of Mud Bay while the Washington State Department of Ecology has been doing the same from the shorelines of Puget Sound for years. Why the BNSF was allowed to install 23,000 freshly creosoted ties along the waterfront while leaving the same number of old ties to then rot in ditches next to the tracks for over a month is a question that needs to be answered. At least they finally managed to recently remove the stinky ties from beside the White Rock promenade that were keeping some people from the beach.

Besides polluting the air, land and sea, burning creosoted railway ties also exposes people standing near these fires to many of the dangerous chemicals that they contain.
While railroad ties have weathered by the time they are retired by the railroads, the U.S. EPA recommends wearing long sleeves, pants and gloves when handling them and washing these separately from other clothing. Long-term, direct skin exposure to the coal tar creosote in railroad ties has been linked to cancer of the skin and scrotum - not exactly the type of stuff you want laying around at Surrey's nude beach. The EPA also cautions against burning old railroad ties which can release toxins in the air that can be dangerous to respiratory health. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among 300 chemicals in creosote and are the same as those contained in cigarette smoke, a known carcinogen.

The sooner the BNSF cleans up their act and gets rid of these old creosoted ties the better. They did help Surrey's United Naturists (SUN) to remove broken shipwreck debris from Crescent Rock beach several years ago that was soaked with diesel fuel and covered in screws and nails which were also being burned. Let's hope in the future that this railway utilizes non-polluting concrete or composite ties in this ecologically sensitive area that is also a main marine recreational site for Surrey residents and collects the old creosoted ties as soon as replacement has been completed. While I feel little sympathy for drunken fools standing around a stinking creosote fire, I still hope that nobody was stupid enough to be cooking weenies or roasting marshmallows in the toxic smoke spewing from the flames.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editors note: Whether by coincidence or fortunate planning, BNSF work crews were on the tracks on Monday, picking up the old railway ties near White Rock and loading them into railway cars along the new siding beside Peace Arch Park, the one recently built using concrete ties, not creosoted ones.

May 2, 2011
Sign of the Times

Signs, Signs, Everywhere there's signs.
Blocking out the scenery, Breaking my mind.
Do this, Don't do that, Can't you read the sign?

Driving through streets in the South Surrey/White Rock/Cloverdale riding over the past month this chorus from the Five Man Electrical Band's song titled "Signs" has been an ever present jingle running through my head. Sprouting like mushrooms overnight, thousands of large freestanding coreplast and smaller plastic bag signs have been erected throughout the riding by crews tied to the various political parties or the independents running for this federal seat. I must admit, I've had a hand at designing, financing and erecting a few of these election signs for a couple of the candidates whom I support.

While the number of signs on the streets far surpasses anything we have seen before, this has not overwhelmed the rowdies, vandals and politically disgruntled who have attacked these signs with unfettered violence and gusto. In past elections these signs were usually knocked down and easily re-erected but this time we've seen wanton destruction of the larger election signs with many having their wooden frames shattered and large holes either punched, kicked, torn or cut in them. This has kept repair crews busy, especially after recent Vancouver Canuck loses when fan frustration seems to be focused not only on our team's poor play but on election signs that make a tempting target for releasing pent up anger fuelled by Budweiser or Molson Canadian.

We have nine candidates running in this riding with the three main established parties along with the Greens, Christian Heritage, Progressive Conservatives and several independents all vying for the crown. What is interesting to note is that Elections Canada does not control the number of election signs that can be erected in any single riding. I asked many of the candidates how many signs they had installed and found the Greens and Aart Looye had each put up 30 big signs, while the NDP here reported 150 large signs. The Liberals admitted to posting 150 4'x4' signs, a figure the NDP staff found amusingly low thinking it was at least 200, along with 1,000 smaller lawn signs. Not surprisingly I never received a call back from Russ Hiebert's Conservatives but I have heard estimates they had 300-400 large signs along with several thousand of bag signs. Even the Christian Heritage party with their "I Like Mike" slogan appear to have at least 50 of the bigger signs in the riding.

Imagine if you will that each and every candidate had the funds and crews to each install 200 large signs plus a thousand lawn signs. This would create a a scene with an astounding 1,800 big election signs along with 9,000 lawn signs! This signage blizzard could basically cover the entire riding from one end to the other, with the surreal scene of the boulevard on 152 St. near 16 Ave. in south Surrey as an example of this excess. This may sound a little suspect until you look around and see the ever increasing signage, especially from those candidates including the incumbent who have run past campaigns. Around the Lower mainland and especially out in the Fraser Valley, parties have taken to now utilizing full size 4'x8' sheets of coreplast for giant election signs that are appearing at almost every main intersection. You have to ask yourself, when is enough, enough already?

I believe there are two ways to level the playing field and stop this competition to see who can outspend and outpost the other candidate. You could pass bylaws such as the one in White Rock that bans political signage from all public lands including boulevards, allowing them to only be posted on private property. In these times of voter apathy and low election turnout, you have to wonder if this only serves to thwart candidate name recognition and decrease interest in the democratic process. The other preferred option would be to limit the number and size of election signs that could be posted in a particular riding. Knowing this area all to well, I don't see why more than 50 larger signs, maximum size 4'x4', would be necessary while allowing a further smaller 250 lawn signs for each candidate to help decorate the riding.

Think about this while on your way to the polling station for today's vote if you didn't take advantage of the advance polls. Do we want to see more and more signage wars on our streets in this disgraceful display of wanton waste and misguided spending? Maybe by allowing uncontrolled demonstrations such as this without any reasonable limits, it only serves to prepare our M.P.'s for when the finally get to belly up to the golden trough that is Ottawa. It's time we put some limits on election signage and stop this lunacy before it goes any further and becomes even more of an environmental blight and eyesore in our community than it has already has become.

As it is the Conservatives have more red, white and blue on the streets here than on July 4th in America, the Liberals have more red and white showing than when Canada won the gold in men's hockey during the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and the NDP have us looking like Northern Ireland during their Orange Order marching season. Jingoism may have its place in world politics but its about time we tone this street level advertising down, instead of simply tearing these signs down as some people do.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

April 25, 2011

The cutting of trees for ocean views in the Semiahmoo peninsula regardless of slope stability issues is not just a problem in White Rock and their dreadful Policy 611. This behaviour where 180 degree unobstructed views are demanded at all costs is also a problem along the top of the slide prone Ocean Park bluff in Surrey above the BNSF Railway tracks.

People taking advantage of the nice weather this weekend to visit Crescent Rock beach noticed that several trees had recently been cut down on what appeared to be BNSF property a few blocks north of the 1001 Steps staircase. Further investigation revealed that a residence at 1885 Ocean Park Rd. that is currently being developed by Tuscan Developments had been the scene of some land clearing on the steep hillside. Forested slopes below the lot had been cleared of brush right down to the dirt with trees being heavily pruned or cut down at this property and also on several of the neighbours. What was concerning was that the land that has now been cleared shows obvious signs of previously sliding down the escarpment onto the railway tracks below in multiple locations.

A quick check of the Surrey COSMOS satellite mapping system (www.surrey.ca/city-services/665.aspx) showed that the area in question was beyond the property line and the right of way that Surrey holds at the top of the slope and that the land and trees clearly appear to be owned by the BNSF Railway. At the next residence just north of this location, a fresh landslide from sometime in the last year was also plainly visible. Now all of the steep hillside below these properties has nothing to hold it back in heavy rains and it is likely that we will see a reoccurrence in the near future of more slide activity in this area, simply so that millionaire homeowners can have completely unobstructed views without even a single leaf or branch to get in the way of the water.

A staff report to Surrey council on this property above the shoreline tracks contains the following statement concerning slope stability on the hillside that measures anywhere from 25-45 degrees and in some sections up to 70 degrees in steepness. "The slope should remain vegetated at all times. The presence of vegetation aids in creasing the stability of the slope against shallow instabilities (surface slides). This is accomplished by the root systems which provide cohesion to the soil as well as water removal from the superficial layers which increase the effective stress in the soil." Unfortunately this area has now been stripped bare and all trees removed and it is unknown if there are replanting plans in place to ensure proper plant coverage.

A second statement in this report refers to dumping of waste material that could help trigger slides onto the tracks below. "The disposal of any debris and/or organic waste down slope of the property is not recommended. The debris increases the loading on the slope while also reducing the drainage capacity of the soil. Superficial slope stability problems could arise if this situation occurred." In this case, the vegetation mowed down has all been left to rot at the top of the hillside while loose earthen fill and even an extremely large and heavy tree stump have been dumped over the cornice and left at the top of the slide prone hillside. Whether this material will be eventually removed or left to increase the slide risks remains to be answered.

Because of the constant landslide threat to passing BNSF Railway freight trains and the Amtrak passenger train being cancelled for days from slide activity here, you have to wonder how much longer the BNSF will continue to tolerate people clearing trees and vegetation from railway property on this steep hillside? Many of the slides that occurred this winter were the direct result of residents landscaping far out from their property or hiring arborists (read loggers) to clear trees not on their property. The city of Surrey is also to blame for this continuing clear-cutting as their aerial photographs show trees and land being cleared year-to-year, yet nothing is being done to stop this practice regardless of the environmental threat and transportation risks.

Surrey needs to properly protect the Ocean Park bluffs by changing their environmentally sensitive area designation from "medium" to "high" while identifying some of the large evergreens stands there as "significant." More importantly, residents, development companies and especially arborists have to be held accountable for clearing Railway owned property which dramatically increases the long-term slide risk. The BNSF Railway also needs to step up and protect their property by seeking financial compensation in the courts for illegal tree cutting on their land or to recoup costs in the case of a slide or derailment on their tracks. There also needs to be a 24 hour Tree Protection Bylaw infraction number where concerned citizens can phone the city of Surrey to report after hours or weekend tree clearing.

Similarly, the city of Surrey needs to be proactive and educate bluff property owners in Ocean Park as to the risks involved in removing trees for view improvements. People need to know the Tree Protection Bylaw requirements and related fines including the promise of court action by the BNSF Railway should tree cutting be involved in slide incidents which threaten safe rail operations in this vicinity. If Surrey had bothered to do this before, it is likely that their twelve inch city storm sewer near Crescent Beach that was torn out this winter in a bluff landslide would not have been destroyed. It'd be interesting to know how much this infrastructure repair cost them in relation to simply sending letters to residents living above the tracks informing them that cutting trees and clearing of brush above the tracks involves risks, both to the trains and their wallets.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

April 18, 2011

Being concerned for the environment and our community, it appals me that there are still members of society who insist on dumping their refuse on the side of quiet country roads or vacant lots under cover of darkness rather than taking it to the landfill or transfer stations. Most of this garbage is usual household trash or worn out furniture that can be disposed of properly at little expense but sometimes includes remnants of criminal activity, especially bags of soil and equipment from marijuana grow-operations. Regardless of content, illegal dumping has many deleterious effects including the following taken directly from the city of Surrey website:

Increases health risks - Abandoned and decaying garbage attracts rats and other disease-carrying creatures.
Increases environmental risks - Illegal dumping of hazardous waste will contaminate soil and water. Harmful chemicals are produced as rainfall percolates through garbage, potentially damaging ground and surface water and fish habitat.
Increases costs - Collecting abandoned garbage costs money which is passed onto to taxpayers.
Encourages more dumping - Abandoned garbage, even small amounts, will become full-scale dumpsites in only a few days. Allowing garbage to accumulate on vacant lots, in front and backyards and green spaces only makes the problem worse.
Contributes to other illegal activity - By tolerating illegal dumping you send a message to violators that these and other types of non-desirable activities are okay in your neighborhood.

Last year alone Surrey spent over $800,000 to clean up trash dumped throughout the city, often having to clean up the same area time and time again. In order to discourage this costly form of anti-social behaviour, the city has now embarked on an advertising campaign in local newspapers to expose the issue of illegally dumped garbage in an effort to educate the public. In addition, they are starting a pilot project where hidden closed circuit video cameras will be placed throughout the city in the areas where garbage is dumped on a very frequent basis. Surrey hopes that they can capture video images allowing them to prosecute the individuals that are dumping illegally. The city is planning to ensure that when any of these individuals are caught, they will be advertising the use of the cameras and the subsequent results from the pilot project. This is all in an effort to have people that may be contemplating the illegal dumping of materials in Surrey to think twice since no one will know the locations of the cameras.

The city of Surrey is always looking for different ideas regarding various methods of dealing with this problem. I've suggested to them that the installation of signage similar to those regarding the soil deposition on farmland or "Soil Watch" be installed but instead read "Dump Watch", listing the dump site as under surveillance along with posting fines. City staffers decided this idea has some merit and are now planning to run a pilot program to see if in fact it makes a difference. In the near future Surrey will be installing these signs regarding the illegal dumping of materials in the area along Colebrook Road in the flats below Panorama Ridge that has been historically plagued by illegal dumping along with the frequent burning of stolen cars. Hopefully the RCMP will also beef up patrols along this quiet country road, especially late at night to try and catch these people in the act.

I also think that an effective slogan such as "Don't Mess with Surrey", or "Don't Trash Surrey" should also be used in conjunction with the advertising campaign and new signage. Sorry but I can't take credit for this idea that originated back in 1985 when the state of Texas had a big problem with a similar scourge - litter. To battle this big, expensive roadside mess, the Texas Highway Commission launched an extensive public education campaign. Using research, they identified the state’s worst offenders and how best to reach them to change their behaviour. With that the "Don't Mess With Texas" legend was born and this catch phrase has been reminding Texans to keep litter off their roads ever since. If you have an idea you think would help with the illegal dumping problem here, please send it to garbage guru and hard-working Surrey councillor Marvin Hunt at jmhunt@surrey.ca .

If you see people illegally dumping trash, report their licience plate, vehicle description and location to the RCMP who will attend if not busy with more serious criminal matters. If you wish to report illegal dumping on public property you can call the Surrey Engineering Service Request Line at 604-591-4152 or go online at submit a service request for cleanup at http://www.surrey.ca/city-services/667.aspx. A city worker will investigate the complaint and if appropriate will enforce Surrey by-laws relating to the unlawful dumping or the accumulation of garbage. If these inspectors are able to track down the person responsible for the dumping, they will then take all of or some of the following actions:

Send the offender a warning letter.
Give the offender a $100 fine up to a maximum of $2000.
Initiate legal action by the City of Surrey to recoup cost of the clean up.

Eight hundred grand would pay for a lot of services in Surrey that are actually needed instead of being wasted to clean up after the few unscrupulous morons responsible for desecrating both public and private property through illegal dumping. By working together with the police and Surrey's Bylaw deparment along with the help of the anti-dumping ad campaign, "Dump Watch" signage, plus hidden video cameras, hopefully we can reverse this growing trend and eliminate this blight on the land.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

April 11, 2011

The Drill on the Hill

If you thought they were drilling for oil on Marine drive this week to help with White Rock finances or possibly sinking a new well looking for water not containing pigeon poop, arsenic, or now chlorine, think again. The crew and machinery working on the Hump hillside along Marine Drive were taking soil samples and installing monitors to look at slope stability after movement of this steep hillside was noticed last year..

Besides the heavily treed hillside that helps to hold the slope in place, there are several large old metal retaining walls which were installed to prop up the roadway at some of the steepest portions. The fact that the hillside is moving should come as no surprise, especially to White Rock's engineering department as before the old sidewalk and safety railing were replaced last year, the previous railings were all leaning towards the beach at angles of anywhere from ten to twenty-five degrees. Noted Squamish geologist Frank Baumann who specializes in natural hazards research including slides and avalanches inspected the Hump hillside several years back at my request and was alarmed by the angles of the formerly straight railing that showed notable ground creep along Marine Drive from one end of the Hump to the other.

Last year several large trees were removed by city hired arborists from the top of the old retaining wall sections over concern they might blow over and take down a section of the retaining wall and all of the in ground infrastructure the city has along Marine Drive including storm and sewer drains. The city is now professing to be doing its "due dilligence" regarding slope stability on the Hump and concerns this hillside could fail, taking Marine Drive down onto the BNSF train tracks below. While some not familiar with the history of White Rock might think that this scenario is far-fetched, the archives have several photos taken from the end of the pier around 1920 shortly after this hillside was cleared of trees showing the Hump with a large lateral slump slide near the pier and four other vertical slides from the top of the hill onto the beach. Much of the hillside was backfilled using horse and wagon when the roaway was moved from the waterfront to allow room for the train tracks. The last hillside failure involving Marine Dr. reportedly happened back in 1974 not far from where the three drill holes and sensors have now been placed.

I'd like to know where the city's concern over slope stability was when the BNSF Railway was allowed to clear-cut the treed slope in front of the "Top of the Rock" development at the end of West Beach? They did nothing to stop BNSF arborist crews from first taking down 40 trees on top of a former landslide site and again allowed more destruction the following year when 36 trees that had been marked for preservation were clear-cut ensuring clear ocean views and full market value for unsold condos across the street. White Rock Council could have easily zoned the Hump hillside as "Ravine Lands" or "Significant Stands of Trees" as they have done in the past for most of the forested slope above the tracks on the Ocean Park bluffs. Instead they did nothing while passing a two-tiered tree management bylaw along with the dreaded Policy 611 that is pitting neighbour against neighbour and greedy developers and real estate agents against those concerned about the environment, slope stability and railway safety in this community. Look no further than the Ellerbeck's on Royal Ave. who now need a new retaining wall after city crews cut down two city owned boulevard trees to improve real estate values across the street.

Rob thompson, head of the White Rock Engineering Department, is on record as saying that the city needs to have a "sustainable vegetation management plan along the (Hump) slope" along with approaching slope stability from a "wholly safety, risk management perspective." If this is the case, then its a little too late as the horse left the barn well over a year ago. Why did we not see Mr. Thompson standing up before White Rock council, requesting the city stop the BNSF from clear-cutting the Hump for views, not once, but twice? Why did Mr. Thompson not ask those at Transport Canada to take railway safety here seriously and stop the BNSF's needless tree cutting on the Hump? More importantly, why has he done nothing to ensure that the BNSF replants trees on the razed Hump hillside with lower growing varities as had been promised when the tree removal had been completed? All of this makes me wonder if the city of White Rock is reconsidering building a parkade on the Hump, looking to see if it can allow development there, or simply checking the stability of the slope so it can remove even more trees for Marine Dr. resident's views.

It would appear that the CPR dominated council seems content to allow all the urban forest of White Rock to disappear from the city with the loud whine of chainsaws and chippers replacing the warble of songbirds and the peaceful sound of wind through the trees. Slope stability and the related railway safety seem to be a distant thought while increasing real estate values through view creation that results in an increased property tax base with arborist and geotech work being paid for by those profiting from views trumping all other concerns. It is becoming apparent that the only way to stop this madness is to "clean the slate" sort of speak and remove those from White Rock council who support the two-tiered tree management bylaw and policy 611. To date, only councillor Helen Fathers has taken a stand against both, while Mayor Ferguson now realizes the damage caused to both trees and the city's reputation and appears to be changing her tune. The rest of the CPR dominated council and their cronies who support clear-cutting in White Rock include Lynn Sinclair, Alan Campbell, Doug McLean, Grant Meyer and Mary-Wade Anderson. If you want a White Rock that doesn't resemble the barren landscape of the moon in a couple of years, these people will need to be replaced in the upcoming November municipal election.

For additional information and some history on this seemingly never ending Hump story, scroll down and read the following archived TNT columns still posted in the White Rock Sun dated Sept. 21, 2009 - "Stumps on the Hump", Oct. 19, 2009 - "Clear-Cut Case of Negligence", Nov. 30, 2009 - "Stopping the BNSF in Their Tracks" and Mar. 8, 2010 - "Gone but Not Forgotten." Unfortunately I doubt this story is even close to being over and you can expect more tree clearing for views (read "increased real estate values") and an eventual landslide onto the BNSF tracks in the future. Just as in my "The Naked Truth" columns, history has a way of repeating itself.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

April 04, 2011

The Fantastic Four

For a quiet little corner of the Lower mainland, it never ceases to amaze me the constant and steady supply of stories ranging from the bizarre to the truly unbelievable that occur within the cozy confines of the Semiahmoo peninsula. I`ve had to stop shaking my head as all its ever gotten me is now being prone to whiplash and post-concussion syndrome. Fortunately it hasn`t ruined my sense of humour and I keep on humming along with Elvis Costello`s line from the song (The Angels Want to Wear My) Red Shoes that goes, "I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused..." Here`s a quartet of topics for this week`s TNT - The Naked Truth that I hope will enlighten, educate and possibly enrage. Just like with regular TNT, you can count down the paragraphs at 4..., 3..., 2..., 1..., and wait for your head to go BOOM!


Clear-Cut Danger on Royal

The City of White Rock finally had its way this week, killing with the last remaining tree in front of the Ellerbeck`s property on Royal Ave. Not content to wait for April Fool`s Day, city crews crept onto the property on Thursday morning at 5 a.m. under the cover of darkness and used a hand saw to cut the offending flowering Japanese Plum tree that was somehow blocking views of neighbours across the street. They didn`t cut off any branches to reduce weight and danger as would be the standard arborist practice but instead felled the tree whole, leaving it leaning precariously against the slope at the top of the hill. No word on whether the good folks across the street would be paying for this final desecration or if the city would instead pick up the bill because it was its own staff and not hired tree crews doing the chopping.

What is interesting is that cutting this tree, located on a steep slope surrounded by thick groundcover, mature shrubs, a high retaining wall and a vehicle sitting in the driveway below was a dangerous situation. Having a city employee wielding a handsaw in darkness on a heavy tree wrapped with electrical lights that were plugged in put the staff member in grave peril. Had they been discovered by neighbours, it is likely they would have been considered a vandal caught in a criminal act (remember, these trees have been cut and poisoned before) and likely physically assaulted and placed under citizen`s arrest. The CUPE Local 40201 president has been contacted and was not impressed with this tree cutting, while WorkSafe B.C. has initiated an investigation into what is an unsafe workplace act. If White Rock`s arborist Aelicia Otto supervised this nocturnal cutting as has been reported, then she should be fired for letting this dangerous work proceed, no matter what her orders from City Hall were. If White Rock had a problem with demonstrators protecting the last tree, they should have applied to the courts for a restraining order to have the work done safely, instead of resorting to terrorist tactics to back up their bullying of residents.

The first annual White Rock Cherry Blossom Salute went ahead as scheduled on Saturday but was more of a wake than a celebration of the importance of trees with the desecrated plum still laying on the ground where it fell. This day long event attracted supporters and well-wishers in a constant parade throughout the day. As luck would have it, the Saturday's Vancouver Sun newspaper featured a front-page headline "From Stump-Ville to Jewel on the Pacific" about Vancouver's 125th birthday and also contained a topper titled "For the Love of Trees" directing readers to a full-page weekend extra article, "How do we achieve an urban forest?" I forwarded the web link to Mayor Ferguson and Council asking them to peruse this article and considering the information that it contained, hoping they might be able to change their views - without cutting down any more trees. Please take the time to read this well-written piece for yourself at:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Ideas+achieving+urban+forest/4549974/story.html#ixzz1IQm0WRoM

For those of you who missed it, the lone weeping Cherry tree remains as a memorial to the incompetence of the CPR dominated White Rock council and greed of residents willing to destroy city property to increase their real estate values. Halogen flood lamps have been placed under this tree that is now in full springtime bloom so you can enjoy the delicate pink flowers both day and night for the next few weeks. If you go to pay homage at 15040 Royal Ave, just down Johnston Rd. past 5-Corners, realize that you can forget about views and the environment because it is now clear that Policy 611 is all about money and the abuse of power. Remember this when you vote in the municipal elections in November when it will be time for residents to do some clear-cutting of their own and hopefully remove those responsible for allowing this putrid piece of public policy to be used in this corrupt manner. I hope I`m not the only one with an "axe to grind" with members of CPR regarding their tree cutting policy.


"Creo-soaked"

BNSF Railway crews were busy this last week, using a variety of complex machinery to replace thousands of old creosote railway ties with new ones saturated with this cancer causing witches brew of chemicals that is dangerous to many forms of life found along these waterfront railway tracks. Before work proceeded, piles of freshly creosoted ties were placed in ditches alongside the tracks throughout the Semiahmoo peninsula and up into Delta along the edge of Burns Bog. Where these piles had been sitting for only days, creosote oil had already saturated the ground, leaving a toxic film floating on the surface of water-filled ditches draining directly into Boundary Bay and salmonid rearing ponds alongside Hwy. 91 below Watershed Park.

Worms and insects have surfaced from the ground and died in the toxic footprint of the new ties, leaving piles of dead bodies entangled with the yellowing vegetation that is also dying. After only one rain, the new ties have leached creosote oil four to five inches laterally out from the wood so that crushed ballast rock between two fresh ties is completely saturated. As to how far this fresh wood preservative has penetrated into the ground, I`m sure a test dig by geologists would quickly give results. What many people fail to realize is that the BNSF Railway was originally built on the intertidal zone of the beach here, ensuring that any chemicals released from the wooden ties will likely be washed down onto the shore and into the ocean waters. The old ties are now awaiting pickup next to the rails, also stacked neatly in drainage ditches next to the tracks. You`ve got to look on the bright side - you won`t need to bring sun tan oil to the beach this summer and the creosote will give your skin a dark brown colour that won`t easily wash off! As the delusional Charlie Sheen would say, "Winning!"

All of this has been reported to the B.C. Ministry of Environment`s RAPP line (1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or online at www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/rapp/form.htm) for poaches and polluters along with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Transport Canada. Whether any of these government agencies will actually do anything about this or simply allow the U.S. owned BNSF Railway to go about their business of contaminating our environment along ecologically sensitive beachfront used by almost a million residents of the Fraser Valley as their main marine recreational site remains to be seen. If you decide to risk death from passing BNSF trains and a trespassing charge from CN Police to see the pollution for yourself, make sure you bring a good pair of rubber boots. My leather work shoes are permanently stained with creosote oil simply by walking through the dying grass alongside the tracks at the base of the bluffs just south of Crescent Beach. Better bring along an empty stomach too - if looking at the pollution doesn`t make you sick, the stench of this chemical laced oil is enough to make you want to throw up.


Campaign miss-fire

M.P. Russ Hiebert`s promise to cut down on printing costs and flyers constantly arriving at doors throughout the riding, which has shown no let-up even after it was revealed he spent more than ten times what nearby M.P. John Cummins paid for printing in 2009, took a big hit when glossy re-election flyers appeared at people`s doors the day before the election writ was dropped. It was first assumed by other candidates that tax-payer dollars were used to produce and distribute this re-election literature but Mr. Hiebert has proclaimed that this was not the case and that the leaflet soliciting campaign donations was financed through Conservative party funds. I for one would like to see who the receipts for printing and mailing were made out to and for a copy of the cancelled cheque showing payment. I hope that`s not too much to ask from a long-sitting member of the so-called Harper (not Canadian) government?

What is not known is whether the printing and mailing costs of this flyer will be included in Mr Hiebert`s spending report for costs incurred during the election campaign? Elections Canada has been informed of this situation and asked to clarify its legality under the Elections Act, along with being asked to close this loophole if it exists that allows candidates to jump the gun on the election. After all, how fair is a race when everyone is sitting in the starter blocks while one person runs off for the finish line? Incumbents have enough of an advantage already without bending the rules and starting election campaigns early. Once more, it is events such as this that brings Mr. Hiebert`s ethics and morality into question, at a time when he should be trying to improve his once squeaky clean image of the clean-cut, church-going, family guy. Isn`t it amazing what happens to people once they have have spent time with their noses in the trough in Ottawa? When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty, oink, oink.


Liberal With a "Hart"

With the federal election in full swing, I decided to save the best one for last this week. I was thinking that Ignatieff`s Liberals must have been ready to throw in the towel for this riding when I visited the party website at http://www.liberal.ca/candidates/hartmut-staub/ and saw Hardy Staub`s name listed as HARTMUT STAUB. While first thinking this was a misspelling or that maybe they were trying to engage the strong ethnic vote in Surrey, imagine my surprise when research revealed that Hardy`s birth name is actually "Hartmut." I think I like "Hardy" better, after all it is defined on www.dictionary.com as "capable of enduring fatigue, hardship, exposure; sturdy; strong: eg. hardy explorers of northern Canada." Sounds a lot like the kind of person we need to represent South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale back in Ottawa. Heck, I might even have to consider voting Liberal this time!

 

 

March 28, 2011

The Ties That Bind

While it was wonderful to see the BNSF Railway finally taking steps to replace all of the cracked, broken or simply rotten railway ties along the shoreline of the Semiahmoo peninsula, the sudden installation of 23,000 freshly creosoted wooden ties into the rail bed poses a serious environmental threat to the waters of Boundary Bay and a public health risk to anyone visiting the beaches of White Rock and south Surrey.

Creosote is a witches brew of various chemicals derived from the distillation of coal tar that has been used since the 1800's by industry to protect telephone poles, marine pilings and railroad ties from wood-boring insects, foul weather and rot. Exposure to creosote can cause a wide array of serious health effects and eating food or drinking water contaminated with this compound causes a burning in the mouth and throat along with stomach pain and vomiting. Contact with skin results in first degree chemical burns while getting it in your eyes can damage the cornea. Accidental poisonings are known to cause mental confusion, convulsions, kidney and liver problems, unconsciousness and even death. The vapours can cause burning of the respiratory tract along with skin rashes and increased sensitivity to sunlight. Skin cancer and cancer of the scrotum have also resulted from long exposure to low levels of creosote, especially through direct contact with the skin. Both the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have identified coal tar creosote as a probable human carcinogen.

Even now the new ties at the shoreline and all along the White Rock promenade are emanating a powerful oily aroma that can cause irritation of the throat and lungs, especially in people with compromised breathing function. With warmer sunnier weather on the way, it is likely the noxious stink from the new railway ties will increase even further, burning eyes and searing lungs while driving away people who normally use the promenade as a public walkway. Studies have also shown that when pregnant animals breathe creosote fumes it may create harmful effects to the baby, so pregnant women and those with infant children might want to limit their exposure to these vapours. With the beaches of the Semiahmoo peninsula serving as the main marine recreation site for almost a million Fraser Valley residents and visitors, you have to ask why the BNSF are acting like Canada was Panama and treating this area as if it were a third world banana republic, utilizing a product that has been banned from use across most of Europe.

Very soon, millions of young salmon fry will exit the mouths of the Little Campbell, Nicomekyl and Serpentine Rivers and swim along the waterfront where an oily film from creosote is already leaching from piles of toxic ties dumped into trackside ditches that drain directly into Boundary Bay. Even worse, old ties are also being replaced on the two train trestle bridges, ensuring creosote seeping from these new timbers will fall directly into the mouths of the Nickomekyl and Serpentine. With both of the train trestle bridges over these salmon-bearing rivers that contain thousands of creosoted pilings soon needing replacement, even more creosoted wood can be expected to pump toxins and petrochemicals into the ecologically sensitive waters of Boundary Bay. It is likely these long-lasting chemicals will then move into the food chain in a sheltered area that is an integral part of the Pacific Flyway for millions of migratory birds and ducks with unknown environmental consequences.

BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas's reported statement that concrete ties are "unsuitable for that stretch of railway" is laughable as they have used concrete ties to construct a new siding last spring near the Canada/U.S. border beside Peace Arch Park and the Semiahmoo First Nations Reserve in south Surrey. These same environmentally safe concrete ties were also used for the entire length of the two mile long passing lane for the Amtrak built several years ago alongside Hwy. 91 in North Delta with $4.5 million of our tax dollars. Instead of replacing old rotten wooden ties with freshly creosoted ones throughout the Semiahmoo peninsula shoreline this spring, the BNSF could have laid new concrete ties when they installed the new continuous weld rail just last summer. Why use concrete ties for building new tracks including sidings and passing lanes in the region, but simply replace creosoted wooden ties on old tracks regardless of the risks to people or the environment? In a case such as this, cheaper isn't better, especially for people's health or marine life.

Residents here need to realize that all of this is happening only months after an environmental enhancement project financed by the B.C. government under Gateway removed tonnes of creosoted wood and pilings from the shore of Mud Bay, a project that is also slated for the beaches of White Rock. When you consider that the Washington State Department of Ecology has been removing truck loads of creosoted wood from the shores of Puget Sound for years, maybe the Canadian government should make the American owned BNSF stop railroading us into accepting dangerous creosoted ties instead of modern non-polluting concrete ones, especially alongside sensitive marine ecosystems. What is the point in cleaning up our beaches while allowing the BNSF to dump trainloads of freshly creosoted ties along the waterfront? Even B.C. Hydro has stopped using creosote in their utility poles, opting for ones treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) that binds more effectively to the wood and does not contaminate or injure its workers who maintain their transmission lines.

Creosote can also affect the environment by polluting ground water sources and aquifers as what is known as a "Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid" or DNAPL. Unlike diesel fuel or heating oil that are less dense than water, DNAPL's including creosote are heavier than water giving them the ability to migrate to significant depths below the water table where they can slowly dissolve into flowing groundwater. Creosote leaching from ties on the BNSF corridor has the ability not only to flow from the ballast rock along the ground surface and out onto the shoreline but to possibly contaminate water sources far from the tracks if it moves into groundwater in what is known as an aqueous phase plume. With creosoted ties being used on the railway here for over a hundred years and White Rock drawing its community drinking water from deep inland wells, it would be interesting to know if EPCOR has ever discovered any traces of creosote or the many chemical compounds it contains in water drawn from these sites.

One thing is certain that with its toxicity to wildlife and significant health effects to humans, creosote has no place beside White Rock or Surrey beaches. With an upcoming federal election, now is the time to start asking potential candidates what they will do about eliminating this dangerous wood preservative from the environment, especially along sensitive aquatic ecosystems and areas such as the promenade where crowds including young children are known to congregate. The federal Transportation Minister and Environment Minister along with South Surrey/White Rock/Cloverdale M.P. Russ Hiebert need to be held accountable for allowing creosoted ties and not concrete ones to be used here on the BNSF Railway line. All the more reason we need to consider relocating this century-old railway off the shoreline and moving it inland with the planned high-speed rail in a safe and secure corridor where it will not have a chance to pollute our waterways or poison our people.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

Editor's Note

Links for background information on health impact of creosote;

http://wiki.verkata.com/en/wiki/Creosote#Wood_creosote
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=65&tid=18

Make your concerns known ASAP to Russ Hiebert at info@russhiebert.com and contact Fisheries at 1-800-465-4336 or 604-607-4186. Write to the Peace Arch News and the Surrey Now. Tell others in our area so they’re also informed and have an informed voice.

 

March 21, 2011

Real Estate Rules the "Rock"

Citizens Tree Block Watch

It didn't take long for White Rock council to flex its muscle with city hired tree hackers (I'm not going to call them arborists) from B.C. Plant Health Care, a misnomer if ever there was one, sneaking onto Royal Ave. early on Tuesday morning under the cover of darkness to drop one of two healthy trees scheduled for termination. It was only after the roar of chainsaws and the chipper woke up surprised residents that the cutting was stopped by neighbours putting themselves in danger by hugging the Japanese plum tree that had already lost a couple limbs in the process. This remaining wounded sentinel now stands as a monument to Council's blatant ignorance and the unashamed greed of those wanting the trees cut, not for views as some would like us to believe but to increase real estate values, and it is now being protected around the clock by volunteers. These people, some who are retired senior citizens, are spending their time braving the cold and elements to defy the city of White Rock and preserve trees here.

There was a major revelation this week of just how real estate agents agents and their developer friends rule the "Rock" these days. It was learned that the owner of the house directly across the street from the Ellerbecks on Royal Ave. who applied for and benefitted most from having the cedar tree mowed down last week is none other than prominent real estate agent Tammy Evans of Treeland Remax. Once this information was confirmed, many on the protest line were contemptuously wondering if the company name stands for "Tree lands here" and "Tree lands there?" According to data provided by an environmentally concerned realtor who is strongly opposed to policy 611, this house was originally purchased in May of 2002 for $484,000. It has recently been sold with $150,000 in recent improvements and while no pricing information was available on the MLS listing service indicating it was a private sale, Mrs. Evans ReMax website boasts this home has, "Ocean View from all three levels!" Maybe not before it first came on the market but it certainly has now, courtesy of White Rock council and their hired hack and slash artists masquerading as arborists. While policy 611 was written to retain or improve views, this situation shows that instead of enjoying the newly created vistas, Mrs. Evans is likely moving soon while enjoying a cash windfall by having city trees in front of her neighbour's house chopped.

This is not the first time we have witnessed clear-cutting for views in White Rock involving a ReMax real estate agent. Potential buyers for the The Top of the Rock development on Marine Dr. several years ago were reportedly told that the trees in front of this building were going to be levelled for views as an inducement for sales. Indeed, this is exactly what happened and over the following summers the BNSF Railway first cut 40 trees, followed by a further 36 that had been previously marked for preservation, leaving unobstructed views for all suites while pedestrians on Marine Dr. now are left to climb the hill baking in direct sun. It seemed not to matter that most of these trees were cut down on a previous 150 m. wide lateral slump landslide site that occurred above the train tracks the last time this hillside was clear-cut in the early 1900's. The City of White Rock could have easily stopped this tree removal by simply classifying the hillside below Marine Drive as "Ravine Lands" or "Significant Stands of Trees", giving this area protection from clear cutting. While their own OCP states that this green space was to be left in a so-called "natural state", they instead chose not only to sit on their hands but to literally stick a thumb up their collective asses and do nothing in a shameless case of pandering to wealthy developers and their real estate friends. Of course, increasing real estate values also boosts White Rock's property tax revenue at a time when they can't afford to maintain what few boulevard trees are left in the city.

The newly formed "Save the Trees" community group that is protecting the remaining tree at 15040 Royal Ave. are deeply disturbed by the direction of the current council and are promising a campaign of continued civil disobedience and political protest aimed at revoking White Rock's policy 611. Besides posting guards on Royal Ave., bright pink "Save Trees - Axe Policy 611" signs have now been attached to boulevard trees throughout the seaside city. They are contemplating holding the "White Rock Cherry Blossom Festival" to coincide with the same event held in Vancouver running from Saturday, March 26 to April 22. In this case, Japanese structured poems known as haiku's opposed to policy 611 and tree cutting in White Rock are to be attached to the weeping cherry tree in front of the Ellerbecks. A cherry blossom bouquet with pink ribbons might also be delivered to Mayor Catherine Ferguson during a council meeting during this springtime festival. Other upcoming dates ripe for public protest against policy 611 and the CPR dominated council include April Fool's Day on Friday, April 1st, Earth Day Canada on Friday, April 22, and Arbour Day on Friday, April 29th to name only a few. While no details have been revealed yet as to what might be planned, anyone with a little ingenuity might imagine how these events could be used to publicize the bizarre practice of destroying city owned environmental assets to increase privately held real estate values. With the civic election coming later this year, there is already talk among the Save the Trees people of a signage campaign featuring the slogans, "Save Trees - Axe CPR" and "Remember 611 When You Vote." Showing the level of discontent, there are also grumblings of possibly pushing for yet another referendum for White Rock to rejoin with Surrey to end this type of small-town, small-minded madness once and for all.

A petition is being circulated and signed by those opposed to policy 611 which will likely be presented to Mayor and Council at Monday night's meeting at city hall at 7 p.m. that I'm certain will be a real barn-burner. Make sure you wear anti-bullying pink if you are against the tree-killing policy 611 and decide to attend to voice your concerns. You can expect the fifteen minute question and answer period, also known by some as the "two-minute democracy", to be highly entertaining, enlightening and hopefully informative. The contentious policy 611 and tree cutting on Royal Ave. are once again on the agenda and the Save the Trees folks are hoping that Mayor and council will see fit to return this policy to staff for review while suspending all further tree cutting until the public is consulted. Paul Wilkes of Save the Trees has stated he's hoping White Rock will "cease and desist" plus consider axing a policy that puts views and the all-mighty dollar above environmental protection and slope stability in this seaside town. If this does not happen, expect a warm spring and long hot summer of non-stop confrontation and public protest including a proposed call by Save the Trees to boycott any person or company even remotely involved in clear-cutting trees for views in White Rock, which now includes Tall Timbers Tree Service, Boston Pizza and ReMax Realty from the previous Hump razing along with B.C. Plant health Care and ReMax Realty (yet again) over the current Royal Ave. fiasco.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - March 14, 2011

The Bare Facts about Surrey Stripping

Rumours out of Newton are that Kelly's neighbourhood pub is considering changing their format and bringing strippers back to this part of town that originally had exotic dancers in the Delaney show lounge at the 7300 block of King George Blvd where Price Mart is now located. With three other pubs in the nearby vicinity, the Fin (formerly the Dolphin/Newton Arms), Robin Hood, and Brewsters, along with many close-by restaurants serving more drinks than food, it would appear that the owners of Kelly's might be looking at trying something new to attract a different clientele. With the HST and changes to B.C.'s drinking and driving laws keeping thirsty customers away, this should not come as a surprise with many bars now struggling for survival.

Stripping is nothing new in Surrey with the G-Spot, T-Barz and the Byrd, all in north Surrey plus the Legacy Showroom in Cloverdale currently featuring nude entertainment. The venerable Tudor Inn near the 176 St./Hwy. 17 "Truck" border crossing showcased peelers for years before finally closing its doors over a decade ago. It has recently reopened under new management as the Tudor Ale House and currently there are no plans to resurrect its old status as the only south Surrey location for clothes-free entertainment. I visited this old watering hole when it was first being renovated, watching as the brass dance pole was removed while managing to procure a framed photograph of dancer Jamie Wilde for an old buddy who had been a fan and friend of this talented dancer. While he appreciated the picture, he was left crying in his beer when told that strippers would instead be replaced by live music, comedy shows and UFC fights.

Nude dancing may have been ruled out at the Tudor but the same owners also run the historic Black Forest restaurant at 32 Ave. and the KGB which has been remodelled and renamed the Forest Ale House. During this year's NFL football Super Bowl half-time show in January, a lingerie show featuring scantily clad female models wearing sheer lingerie parading through the bar added to the musical montage being performed by the Black Eyed Peas. The lingerie models were such a hit with customers, both men and ladies, that Forest Ale House management decided to try it again and last Friday at 4:30 p.m. their second lingerie show was held. No word on if this will now become a regular occurrence at this neighbourhood pub or if the skimpy lingerie featured in this show is to be offered for sale to the public. Once again, it needs to be clearly understood that there are no plans by the new owners to bring full-off strippers to this location.

Years ago there were a myriad of different B.C. liquor licences for a large variety of different drinking establishments which also included those featuring nude entertainment. This all changed in 2001 when the rules were changed and what is known as a "Liquor Primary" covering most bars, pubs, nightclubs, stadiums theatres, plus recreation and convention centres was created. The Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) does set rules for exotic or adult orientated performances and if entertainment is permitted under the terms and conditions of a liquor licence then a municipality or regional district may restrict or prohibit any or all types of entertainment. This was the case last year when the resort town of Whistler quickly banned nude entertainment for during the Winter Olympics. While Surrey has a long history of opposing anything to do with public nudity (remember Dianne Watts wanting to shut down Crescent Rock beach?) they currently do not have any bylaws outlawing bars from providing exotic entertainment. The same is also surprisingly true for the rather sedate seaside town of White Rock.

B.C. LCLB policy for stripping states that:
- entertainers must be at least 19 years of age and wear appropriate clothing that covers the person's breasts and genitalia while walking through the audience.
- performance must be confined to the stage or approved space and not in the audience area, while the use of animals may not form part of any show.
- exotic dancers may not act as servers while working in their role as an entertainer unless changing into clothing typical for their other position before starting work.
- all licensed establishments who provide exotic dancing or adult-orientated entertainment must have surveillance cameras in all private show booths.
The LCBC entertainer code of conduct states that exotic dancers may not:
- perform while intoxicated, engage in live, realistic or simulated sex acts, or in any acts involving coercion or violence.
- insert any object into, or extract any object from the vagina or anus, and not urinate or defecate while performing.
- touch, share food and beverages or pass objects to members of the audience or do the same with other performers.
- dance/perform on table tops or other areas outside the approved areas, or deliberately engage a patron(s) in an adult-oriented activity.
- tipping and distribution of promotional material are permitted provided there is not physical contact between the entertainer and an audience member.

Keep in mind this does not mean that it is likely you will see brass poles suddenly sprouting from stages at drinking establishments throughout the Semi-pen or walk into your local pub to be greeted by the Chippendale dancers performing on "ladies night." It is a business decision by pub owners whether they believe that exotic entertainment might bring in customers and increase sales, or scare existing clientele away from their establishments. Violent games like hockey, boxing and mixed martial arts attract large crowds to local pubs and these blood sports are widely accepted in modern society. Exotic entertainment might see a resurgence, especially since nudity does not carry the social stigma that it used to and strip clubs are often visited by women and couples these days. Whether this will result in a dedicated strip club eventually opening its doors here remains to be seen but its best to remember the old adage that "sex sells."

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

The Naked Truth - March 7, 2011

Dead Man's Curve

Last Monday a small black sedan driven by a young woman headed southbound on Hwy. 99 towards south Surrey went out of control and crashed into the icy Serpentine River. Her car submerged in the murky waters and over 90 minutes passed before RCMP divers were able to locate and remove her from the wrecked vehicle. Emergency resuscitation was performed and amazingly a faint pulse was detected and the lady was then airlifted to hospital where she continues to be listed in critical or "grave" condition. What has been missed by mainstream media is that 60 feet of guard rail on the Serpentine River bridge were torn from their mounts during this accident. The vehicle in question was a late model Honda Civic, a compact car weighing only 1,200 kg. While much attention has been focused on possible speeding (now refuted by Surrey RCMP) and the involvement of another car in this accident (a BMW by some accounts), I wondered how such a small car could manage to tear out a large portion of highway bridge guardrail?

The Serpentine River corner on Hwy. 99 suffers from many safety failures and lack of adequate roadway signage that has made it the scene of many serious accidents in the past. There are already three memorial crosses sticking from the grassy boulevards near the Serpentine from crashes that have happened in the last ten years. More recently a car tangled with the new median cable barriers just north of the corner after hitting a dog on the loose (animal was killed, driver uninjured). This was just past the spot where a tanker truck loaded with jet fuel crashed through the concrete barrier into oncoming traffic late last year, fortunately without serious consequences. I know there have been previous fatalities at this location in the past before roadside memorials became fashionable instead of attending a graveyard to grieve the loss of a loved one or family member. I decided to have a closer look at the bridge in question, trying to understand how this terrible crash could have possibly happened.

As luck would have it, the tide was out when I pulled off the old 99 armed with several orange traffic cones, a red reflective vest and yellow hard hat. The safety railing had already been repaired, probably by Mainroad Contracting, with shiny news pipes replacing those torn from the bridge deck. A piece of the damaged guardrail had ended up in the mud near the water's edge and I wrestled it out of the muck by the bridge back up onto shore for inspection. What surprised me most was to find out that this guardrail was made of five inch extruded aluminium pipe, hollow of course with thin walls, mounted on cast aluminium brackets that had been bolted into the concrete. Both ends of the pipe in question were twisted and torn and the bracket showed where the metal had freshly snapped in two, obviously from the Civic that had ended up at the bottom of the four metre deep water of the Serpentine River a week ago. Rather surprisingly, the entire nine foot section of damaged guardrail weighed around twenty pounds. Even more disturbing, the exact same lightweight guardrails are also in use on the 99 for the bridge over the much wider Nicomekl River just south of King George Blvd. and for the BNSF Railway overpass near Mud Bay park where it is entirely possible for a car to fall thirty feet onto the tracks. Imagine surviving the crash and watching helplessly as a freight train bore down on you while trapped or lying injured in the wreckage. It almost makes drowning in a silt-choked river sound like a better alternative.

There is only an eight inch curb along the bridge deck and then the guardrail that obviously does not have the strength to keep even a small vehicle at highway speed on the roadway. Had this car not gone into the river, it is very likely that the occupant would have only received minor injuries, if any at all. While weight may have been a consideration in using this form of railing, if it cannot stop minor accidents such as this, then really it is only there for decoration and needs to be re-engineered and replaced. Large transport trucks cross this bridge constantly and the high-pressure water main which supplies all of south Surrey sits unprotected above ground at the south end of the structure. It was interesting to note that on the far side of the southbound roadway, eighteen inch tall concrete curbing had been placed along the bottom of the guardrail for the entire length of the bridge (see pictures). At the Vedder River bridge on Hwy. 1 in Chilliwack that has been the scene of several accidents where large trucks recently ending up in the water, similar concrete curbing has been placed along both sides of the bridge to protect the steel guard rails along with several improvements in warning signage and road painting. Why the concrete curbs were placed beside the guardrail on only one side of the Serpentine River bridge and not the other is a question that deserves to be answered.

With the northbound side of the Serpentine River bridge being widened and millions of tax dollars now being spent on the new Hwy. 99 bus lane, it is time that "Dead Mans Curve" as I call it, gets some much needed safety upgrades. Northbound there are two "Left Hand Arrow" signs warning of an upcoming turn but they are small and need to be replaced. "Restricted Vision" signs have to be posted, warning that the curve makes it hard to see traffic slowing around the bend. A series of large directional signs, the yellow ones with the thick black sideways arrow, should also be erected all along the corner. Lastly, modern road reflectors on curbing or bendable plastic posts need to be placed on either shoulder to show the turn in the road at night. Southbound there is currently no warning of the upcoming turn and "Right Turn Arrow" signs are sorely needed. The large concrete curbing on the outside of the curve needs newer modern reflectors mounted on top as the old "cat-eyes" glued to the sides are almost invisible at night. Once again, directional arrow signs need to be posted throughout the curve along with shoulder reflectors on either side of the road. To top off these improvements, installing overhead highway lighting throughout this dangerous turn and over the bridge deck would be a significant safety improvement but one with a hefty price tag.

Hopefully if these proposed changes can be implemented we will see an end to more fatal crashes at the Serpentine River corner of Hwy. 99 and no more roadside memorials being built in the future. I would like you to think about the following verse taken from the memorial to 29 year-old Jarret Wright who died on March 25, 2007 and whose wreath and flower adorned cross sits in the grassy shoulder just before you head onto the Serpentine River bridge towards White Rock. It is a bereavement poem titled, "Native American Prayer", whose original version, "Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep", has been attributed to author Mary Frye back in 1944.

I give you this one thought to keep,
I am still with you - I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glint on the snow,
I am the sunlight on the ripen grain,
I am the gentle Autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush,
I am and swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone -
I am still with you still - in each new dawn.

So for Jarret Wright, a lady named Marina who also died at this curve on May 28 of 2003, other lost souls who have crashed here over the years and the young woman who manages to still cling to life after last Monday's Serpentine River accident, lets fix this deadly stretch of road before anyone else is hurt or killed because of poor engineering and substandard safety railings.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - Feb. 28, 2011

When Bullying Becomes Terrorism

White Rock's Policy 611 that covers tree management on city lands is now showing that it appears to be causing more problems and controversy than it is solving. While the very first line of the policy states that, "City policy is to retain trees on City lands were practical", recent events in White Rock have shown that this premise is not to be believed. Why the Mayor and Council are entertaining cutting down perfectly healthy trees on city boulevards that provide privacy, shade, slope stability and spring flowers should be questioned by anyone in the city even remotely concerned with nature and the environment. The Ellerbecks on Royal Ave, previously detailed in my Feb. 7th TNT (Clear-Cut Case of Bullying), are now in a "battle royal" with neighbours who seem to believe that they have the God given right to cut down street trees regardless of how their neighbours feel about this action. Even more remarkable, if you have lived in your home for decades or have mature trees, new neighbours who have just moved in across the street can ask Council to cut down trees on city boulevards bordering your private property. You can expect more of this type of action in the near future with trees being scheduled for removal at additional residential locations along with a clear-cut of over twenty trees for views being planned for MacCaud park.

What this ill-advised Policy 611 really does is take away the city's responsibility for tree maintenance and subsequent slope stability issues and place costs squarely on the shoulders of those neighbours who wish to improve their views and real estate values by either upgrading existing views or creating new ones by cutting down offending trees. If you have the ability to pay for arborist reports, geotechnical surveys, tree work and replanting costs, then this policy will ensure that city trees get destroyed free of charge to White Rock taxpayers. Compare this to any affluent city that usually have their own arborist crews care for and maintain city boulevard trees with concern for the environment, not for possible view improvement. The city of White Rock seems so short of funds to pay for city trees that they have become morally bankrupt as well, pitting neighbour against neighbour in the fight for views versus privacy and the environment versus human greed. Of course, improving views increases property values, ensuring White Rock will see extra tax income once tall trees are converted into cordwood and small saplings get planted in less desirable neighbourhoods without ocean views in this seaside city. To review all the details of this policy, simply visit the City of White Rock website where it is posted for public scrutiny.

Unfortunately over the weekend the bullying behaviour escalated by persons unknown. Early Friday morning, someone decided to take matters into their own hands and applied toxic chemicals around the base of a cedar tree on city property in front of the Ellerbecks on Royal Ave. It appears that bromine, an oxidant and poison used to sanitize hot tubs and pools was liberally sprinkled on the ground around this tree in a vain attempt to poison it. This chemical was discovered and subsequently removed, likely without damage as the lack of rain failed to wash it into the soil and roots. RCMP were notified and have begun an investigation into who would take such an outrageous step to destroy public property and this area is now under police surveillance to stop any future poisoning attempts. White Rock's arborist Alicia Otto collected samples which have been sent in for chemical analysis to confirm the chemical that was deposited.

As if this were not enough, Councillor Helen Fathers, the one voice on White Rock council who is questioning the unintended consequences of Policy 611, was also the victim of an equally cowardly attack. On Friday night, not 24 hours after the tree poisoning incident, her two vehicles were badly vandalized, both liberally coated from end to end with red spray paint while two of the tires on the family truck were stabbed through the sidewalls with what appears to have been a screwdriver. While there is a chance that this damage was simply random, the police believe that she was the victim of a targeted attack as no other vehicles were damaged in this way throughout all of White Rock or south Surrey. Whether this brazen criminal act was related to the attempted tree poisoning on Royal Ave. still needs to be ascertained but I do not believe that the timing was the result of a mere coincidence. Instead of getting ready for her daughter's birthday party on Saturday, Helen had to spend time removing the vandalism and arranging to have her tires replaced.

Councillor Fathers and daughter

Famed White Rock horticulturalist Barry Belec, known locally for standing up for trees and the environment also appears to have been the victim of targeted vandalism against his vehicle which has had the drivers side mirror smashed four times in the past year. While he first thought that the first two events were simply from other vehicles driving too close at night and accidentally hitting his mirror, since that time he has folded his mirror tight to the door of his truck. In the last two instances, the mirror was first unfolded outwards and then smashed with something like a baseball bat, breaking not only the glass but the rest of the mirror housing itself. Repairs costs are over $400 for each act of vandalism and he has now given up replacing the mirror, driving without one instead of absorbing constant insurance deductibles and trips to the body shop. With Councillor Fathers also being victimized, he now believes it is likely the same person is responsible for the damage to his vehicle too.

Beside helping the RCMP apprehend whoever is responsible for this poisoning or targeting vandalism of residents and councillors vehicles, people living in White Rock need to ask themselves if having a two-tiered Tree Management bylaw along with Policy 611 for city trees is helpful or simply divisive. Even in neighbouring Surrey you do not have incidents such as this and the city takes great care in maintaining and preserving its boulevard trees at their own expense. Bad government spawns terrorism and the person who is likely behind this attempted poisoning and vandalism is attempting to use violence to threaten and intimidate people living here who are trying to protect trees and the environment. The only way to stop this is to throw this cowardly psychopath in jail for their criminal acts and to change White Rock's Tree Management bylaw and in particular Policy 611 so that it does not encourage this type of insane anti-social behaviour.

If you have any information on this incident please call:

White Rock RCMP or Crimestoppers 1-800-222-8477

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

Monday February 21, 2011

The Knives are out for Russ Hiebert

While I realize using common metaphors that include violent overtones have suddenly become unpopular after U.S. Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin put crosshairs on Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, in this case the point, dare I say, needs to be carefully examined.

Deep divisions over Russ Hiebert's political style and conduct and that have been known for some time within the Conservative party have suddenly boiled to the surface with many members of the Electoral District Association (EDA) resigning. Former EDA president Jim Scott and communications chair David Wiens have gone public with their grievances over Hiebert's constant spin doctoring and lack of representation for his constituents. Others have questioned the continued self-serving Hiebert mail outs, the purpose of the recent electronic town-hall meeting, and the nonstop photo-ops that make it appear Russ is constantly in election mode. Former White Rock mayor Hardy Staub went even further, attacking Hiebert's personal integrity and going so far as to suggest that the Conservatives will lose the long held riding in the next federal election if Russ remains as the candidate. Two recent front page articles in a local community newspaper regarding Mr. Hiebert's reign, along with a long list of letters to the editor and website comments both against and in support, show just how polarized the electorate is on Russ remaining as our M.P.

Personally I will admit to having voted for Mr. Hiebert in the past, formerly supporting most of the Conservative Party platform and believing that he was the best candidate for the job. My family has had a long association with the Conservative party, having helped in Federal Transportation Minister Chuck Strahl's election office in Chilliwack over the past decade, while I also have long-time friends from within the party. I've previously been offered assistance in getting myself elected by a high-ranking member of the Conservatives but was only interested in running in the riding where I lived instead of parachuting into another community. Unfortunately there is no nomination process for Conservative candidates in a district that already has a member elected, ensuring they remain in power regardless of public opposition or those in the party who might want to run against them. Unless Prime Minister Stephen Harper changes this policy, Russ Hiebert will stay on as our Conservative candidate until he either resigns or is voted out of office. I will not be voting for Mr. Hiebert in the future and there are a lot of Conservative voters and card carrying party members here who now feel the same.

With much of the community anger against Mr. Hiebert coming from his high office expenses the previous year that included flying his family to and from Ottawa in pricey business class seats, a new nickname has surfaced (no, not Ru$$) calling him the "$637,000 Man", similar to the Six Million Dollar Man T.V. show from the 70's. What most constituents here don't realize is that Mr. Hiebert has quietly passed the six years needed to quality for the gold-plated M.P. pension scheme, ensuring that he will already receive a minimum of $28,000 a year in payments. It has been estimated by the Canadian Taxpayer Federation that for only six-years of work, M.P.s can collect on average of $788,000 in pension payments over their lifetime. The payout to Mr. Hiebert will continue to rise at an ever increasing rate the longer he remains as the South Surrey/White Rock/Cloverdale M.P., with some long-time serving M.P.'s in Canada raking in retirement pensions of well over $100,000 a year for an average of 20 years or longer. While no Steve Austin, should he keep on being elected Russ Hiebert has the possibility of becoming a "Two Million Dollar Man" without the need for bionic limbs, electronic sound effects and slow-motion running, NUH-NA-Nuh-Na-nuh-na-nuh...

For those who are upset about Russ's spending habits, they should look into Canada's M.P.'s gold-plated pension to really see how the pigs frolic in the trough of tax-payer's dough in Ottawa. In this obscenely lavish penson plan, for every dollar an M.P. contributes, taxpayers fork out between $4.50 and $7, as opposed to most private sector plans which are matched dollar for dollar. It takes only six years to qualify and the plan starts paying out at age 55, plus is indexed for life which is now set at 3.3% a year, a rate two to three times the current rate of inflation. In contrast, the Canadian Pension Plan or CPP pays a maximum of $11,000 per year and you have to work your whole life to earn it and only get it fully paid ten years later at the ripe old age of 65. Ordinary taxpayers are limited to contributing up to 18 per cent of their annual income to RRSPs or private pension plans, federal public servants enjoy pension programs that amount to about a third of their income, but MPs and senators do much better than that with pension benefits worth about half their income. To make matters worse, the M.P. pension scheme is not self funding, with its interest rate set by federal regulation and backed by future taxpayer payments, instead of being invested in the market with actual money. You might want to think about this the next time you vote for who to send as your representative to Ottawa and ask yourself if you feel like you're getting your money's worth.

Now that the Conservative's dirty laundry is hanging on the line and blowing in the breeze, you can expect a continued stink about whether Russ Hiebert is truly the man worthy of being the Conservative candidate in this riding or if he should remain as our M.P. For all the good he has done it appears his style and charisma, or lack of it depending on who you talk to, will continue to be a major topic of conversation across this region. With a spring federal election looking possible, it is advisable to warn Mr. Hiebert to watch his back as sometimes in politics it is difficult to tell your friend from foe. With the knives being sharpened and backstabbing already beginning, it's unlikely there will be a dull moment in Semi-pen politics. Et tu, Brute?

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

The Naked Truth - February 13, 2011

One Down - Seventy To Go

16th Avenue & 136th Street

If it's February, then it must be time again to bring up the ongoing safety threat posed by 71 utility poles left in the roadway of North Bluff Rd. along the White Rock Surrey border. If you scroll down to the archived TNT's from yesteryear (yup, its a word first coined by my buddy Richard Foth 25 years ago), you will find a previous edition on Feb. 8, 2010 on this topic including a letter first alerting White Rock council on this safety concern way back on Feb. 20, 2009. It would seem prophetic to be writing about this topic on Valentine's Day because it is a topic that I'd "LOVE" someone to deal with. Rather than rehash the gory details here, refresh your memory banks from this previous column and then read on to find out about a sudden new development in this on-going story.

I hate to be the one who has to stand up and tell you, "I told you so", but in this case I have to because no one else seems to give a damn. While I was away working on my mid-winter suntan the very first utility pole on North Bluff Rd. at Bergstrom St. (136 St. for Surrey residents) was sheared in two in a serious traffic accident. A Humvee travelling eastbound from Surrey crossed the intersection and for reasons unknown didn't notice the power pole strategically placed at the bus stop across from the Ray Shepherd elementary school. This large SUV cut the pole in two with the PCB laden transformer falling onto the sidewalk in a shower of sparks and the rest of the pole with the top high-voltage power lines still intact falling into a nearby Douglas fir tree. While the accident details have still yet to be forwarded to the White Rock Sun by the local RCMP detachment which seems to work at the speed of the adjacent city hall, residents living nearby have stated this vehicle drove away after the crash and was finally stopped by the cops near 140 St.

B.C. Hydro crews eventually arrived on scene 45 minutes after the accident, during which time the crash site was left unsecured while police dealt with the situation further down the street. Linesman who dealt with the downed pole told neighbours that if it had been raining or if the tree was wet, it was likely that anyone sitting at the bus stop would have been electrocuted and probably killed. The pole is now propped up in the air by several large posts that have been bolted to the shattered end of the pole which has been marked with bring fluorescent orange paint for visibility. Why no one at Hydro thought of painting these poles previously needs to be questioned as does White Rock's decision last year to attach yellow and black diagonal striped obstruction signs to only four poles located at the Central Plaza bus loop, one of which has already been hit by a Transit bus yet again. Funny to think that some people were angry when I put yellow caution tape around these poles from one end of White Rock to the other in order to bring attention to this glaring safety problem.

Fortunately the bright minds at B.C. Hydro have suddenly realized that putting replacement poles back in the same old holes in the road is no longer an option and this time they are planning on moving the pole off the asphalt away from the Bergstrom corner bus stop. They have marked an area at the back side of the sidewalk where the new pole will be located and already cut back branches from the nearby fir tree to allow for space for the high-tension wires. While they ignored the pole located in the intersection at the nearby Cory St., it appears Hydro is also going to be taking action about a pole directly in front of the nearby ESSO station at Nichols Rd. (140 St.). They have spray painted a large orange circle with an "X" in it onto the sidewalk with the word "POLE" written in capital letters beside it. I trust this is not simply directions on where Polish people should stand when visiting White Rock but instead shows that Hydro is concerned with a possible explosion and fire that could result if a utility pole were to fall towards the gas pumps or underground storage tanks. Considering that a car ran through this station before slamming into a nearby house only three weeks ago makes me think that the three rings of caution tape I placed on this pole might have been a good idea eh?

Does this indicate pole in fron of Esso is about to be moved off the roadway?

I contacted Rob Thompson, White Rock's director of engineering. regarding these recent developments and he was aware of the Hummer accident and plans to move the first of the 71 utility poles off the roadway, yet surprisingly he was in the dark about Hydro's plans for the one next to the ESSO station. What he did inform me was that the City of White Rock has plans in 2011 to deal with the utility poles in the roadway of east White Rock from Johnson Rd. to State Rd. This will be done, not by moving the poles and wires or putting them underground but by extending the sidewalk and curbing to create islands around them while keeping what is known as "parking pockets" in the areas in between. It is likely that this will be part of a beautification funding that is a cost sharing program with B.C. Hydro funding a third of costs and the local government paying for the other two thirds. Future plans are also in the works to deal with the poles in the roadway at the Central Plaza between Johnson Rd. and Martin St. along with reconfiguring the bus loop area which has been an even worse safety concern for probably as long as the utility poles have been left on North Bluff after the road was widened.

Let's hope that during the time it takes for the city of White Rock to deal with the utility pole problems on North Bluff Rd. that steps are finally taken to ensure public safety and properly protect the remaining poles from oncoming traffic. In the past year alone, two commercial vehicles have collided with poles on the east end of North Bluff Rd., tearing large chunks of wood from several poles extending into the roadway or sitting directly next to street corners like at Finlay St. next to the Peace Arch hospital. When situations like this occur in Surrey, they protect vehicles and drivers by placing large concrete curbing with coloured reflectors angled in front of them along with attaching regulation obstruction signs to the poles as was done on 24 Ave. when it was widened. Protective measures such as this might have stopped the accident from happening last week on North Bluff Rd. or at least reduced the chance of the pole being brought down and the substantial risk of someone being electrocuted.

Until this happens, you should know that a B.C. Hydro representative I contacted regarding the utility poles on North Bluff Rd. has informed me that "...the lighting on the poles provides safety to the public" and in an even more hilarious statement, "Of course, we encourage drivers to take care while driving in this area." Think about these comments while driving east along White Rock's border with Surrey and passing the constant parade of darkened utility poles standing there only feet away. It might explain why the bike lane signs which have been sprouting up in other areas around the Semiahmoo peninsula have suddenly all disappeared from along North Bluff last week.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

The Naked Truth - Feb. 7, 2011

Clear-Cut Case of Bullying

Doug & Karen Ellerbeck

I really enjoyed my week away from the Semi-Pen, quietly relaxing on the Pacific coastline of Mexico with my wife Sheryl, making sure that I left my cell phone and computer behind so that I could not be reached or informed on events in south Surrey and White Rock. Good thing I did because I think if I'd heard of the idiotic events at White Rock city hall involving a property at 15140 Royal Ave. and plans for more tree removal for views sanctioned by Council, I think I would have jumped on the next plane home.

Long term residents Doug and Karen Ellerbeck who live there have been putting up with a neighbour across the street, one Mrs. McGinn, who for over 10 years has been asking them or the city to trim trees at the front of their house for views. In July of 2006 while they were away, a city recommended arborist entered their property and butchered the trees in question, reportedly with official permission. As a commercial landscaper, after looking at the old cuts and faded photographs of the last hack job, I can report that this pruning was destructive and non-aesthetic, leaving ugly branchy stumps for when these people returned home. Other trees have since been damaged by someone's failed attempt to kill them also while they were away, actions which in Vancouver have led to large putative fines being imposed on nearby homeowners who were found at fault. The White Rock RCMP now regularly patrol their property to stop any more vandalism from happening to their trees while they are not home for extended periods.

Last Monday, White Rock Council including CPR members voted unanimously to remove the boulevard trees in front of the Ellerbeck's house (Note: Helen Fathers was away on vacation and did not participate in this travesty), bowing to the pressure from the neighbour across the street. In explaining their decision Councillor Lynn Sinclair stated that there was, "an obligation on the part of the city to preserve what people had when they came here." Councillor Campbell added his two cents worth saying that he viewed the tree removal request as, "common sense" and explained further that he did not think that, "anyone's views should be impeded by a renewable resource." Adding to the CPR's rather myopic views, Coun. Doug McLean suggested the city should, "share the cost of the work", estimated at up to $15,000 including a geotechnical survey to determine the slope's stability. Really folks, I'm not making this stuff up - this is your Council hard at work!

What is truly asinine about all of this is that the removal of the three trees in question, a weeping cherry, flowering Japanese plum and a young cedar will do nothing to improve the views from across the street. The weeping cherry which flowers in the spring and has beautiful yellow, orange and red fall colours is a maximum of 8 feet tall and because of its growing habit will not get any larger. Removing this beautiful tree will simply expose other shrubs in the yard and the Ellerbeck's house, carport and driveway to scrutiny. The Japanese plum has a dark purple leaf, light pink flowers, edible plums and red fall foliage, reaching a maximum height of 20 feet. If removed, the Jap. plum behind it on private property will still remain and it barely covers the neighbours view of the roofline anyways. The cedar at the roadway if removed will not offer any more views as behind it are several large Douglas firs reaching over 80 feet tall. Why White Rock Council would all vote to have these three small trees removed is completely beyond rational thinking. Check the photos out for yourself or drive by to look at this debacle with your own eyes. You'll walk away shaking your head at the insanity.

The Ellerbecks have enjoyed their home and these trees since 1987, which using Coun. Sinclair's own thinking should obviously be retained as they were originally there. In a written submission to council that reportedly was never presented to them as promised, the Ellerbecks stated the following, "The trees on the hillside provide slope stability from flooding and landslides, light diffusion, noise abatement, dust supression, privacy and security, ...they are beautiful and are the only flowering trees on this block." They believe that White Rock Council has disregarded their privacy and property rights, capitulating to the bullying and lobbying efforts of people who now want ocean views from their bottom floors after installing suites, many of them illegal or rented to strangers. Of note, they pointed out several of the neighbours across the street have large hedges, tall shrubbery or planted boxes giving privacy to lower suits from the busy roadway which will likely remain while their yard gets razed.

While White Rock and the BNSF have succeeded in clear-cutting much of the Hump hillside, regardless of the landslide risk to passing BNSF freight trains carrying volatile chemicals and dangerous goods, this is the first time that trees are planned to be removed from city lands effecting bordering private property. Expect to see bright pink ribbons attached to the trees in question to mark the ones planned for removal as pink is the colour for the anti-bullying movement that includes the upcoming Pink Shirt Day on Apr. 12th. Public protests are being planned should arborists show up with chain saws and chippers, including the use of passive resistance and dare I say "tree hugging." The Ellerbecks feel that the removal of their small trees are the first step in having the large firs removed from the property further down the street, which they believe is the real driving force behind the planned clear-cutting of trees in front of their yard.

This issue is now being appealed to White Rock city hall by the Ellerbecks who feel that Councillors "Merry-Glade" Anderson, "Dug Mc-Clean", "Lynn "Seeing-Clear", "Ashphalt Al" Campbell and "Alder-man?" Grant Meyers along with Mayor "Cut-n-run" Ferguson have set a precedence where money and lobbying can buy a view, even at the expense of someone else's property. As far as I'm concerned, White Rock's new Tree Management bylaw is a joke and I wouldn't wipe my ass with it, even if it was printed on paper made from the last remaining trees in the city. You can expect events like this to be just another nail in the coffin of CPR during the next municipal election when signs reading "CPR tree policy - Chop, Pile, Remove" will likely show up on city streets. Given their recent decision and bizarre explanations that were given, I think that CPR doesn't stand for "Citizens for Positive Renewal" anymore but instead for "Crazy, Psycho, Retarded."

California redwoods

On a final note, after speaking with the Ellerbecks, I have offered to help them re-plant their yard should their trees on city property be removed from the roadside. They have decided that they have room on either side of their driveway for a couple of "Sequoia sempervirens", more commonly known as California redwood or giant redwood. The biggest of all trees on earth, they regularly reach heights of 200-300 feet, with the world record holder "logging in" at 379 feet and living for up to 2,000 years. They grow very quickly here with large impressive groves in south Surrey's Redwood park and near Fort Langley on 96 Ave. should you care to see some locally. With White Rock's warm sunny climate, relatively heavy precipitation and often humid conditions, I would expect these monuments to CPR's stupidity to be around long after we close the book on their term in office or dare I say White Rock's history before it re-amalgamates with Surrey because of continued ridiculous and unjust Council decisions such as this.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

January 31, 2011

Speed Kills!

Recent road carnage on 16th Avenue including two crashes in Ocean Park which were both attended by the air ambulance helicopter and another that killed a south Surrey man in Langley near 200 St. have made me think that we need more than the Motor Vehicle Act to deal with driving behaviour that falls under criminal activity.

Sixteenth Avenue isn't a highway and yet there are is a small segment of society who seem to believe that it is the local racetrack long after the Langley speedway in Campbell Valley shut down. Langley school bus driver Jim Neiss was heading to work from his home in the Semi-pen several weeks ago when a tandem dump truck going the other way reportedly passed several vehicles at high speed, crossed over a double solid line at the crest of a hill, and slammed into his Ford Explorer head-on crushing it like a sledgehammer hitting a beer can. There was no need for the air ambulance in this case as Mr. Neiss was killed instantly while the dump truck driver emerged unscathed with his rig receiving relatively minor damage after landing in the ditch.

The other 16th Ave. car crashes in the last month, one at 132 St. and the other at 140 St., have resulted in serious injuries to drivers and passengers but fortunately no deaths. These were not "accidents", they were "inevitable", for they were caused by drivers travelling far in excess of the speed limits without any respect for the health and safety of others. Driving at 100 kmh or more in a 50 kmh speed zone isn't just reckless, it endangers other peoples lives. In the crash at 132 St., a SUV with a child in the back seat reportedly rear ended a full-sized sedan, ploughed through a thankfully empty bus stop shelter, before rolling and flipping into a neighbour's back yard several houses down the street. A postal employee delivering mail nearby said it sounded like four gun shots which would have been the noise of the car crash, the bus stop exploding, and the SUV every time it hit the ground while rolling. Ask yourself how fast the lady driver was going at nine in the morning to cause all of this damage and to end up so far away from the intersection? The other crash at 140th street just last week resulted from a car careening through the ESSO station past the gas pumps at high speed before hitting a passing car and them crashing into a neighbour's house in another display of wanton recklessness.

It is dangerous driving like this which needs to be addressed and it was the recent impoundment late last year of two high-end sports cars caught street racing on the Mount Seymour Parkway in North Vancouver which gave me an idea. If a driver's excessive speeds kills or injures other people, why not use civil forfeiture legislation to take their vehicles away for good rather than just slapping their wrists with fines? I'm sure the two jerks who lost a $225,000 Ferrari Scuderia and an $85,000 BMW M6 to the B.C. government for driving at speeds over 200 kmh are enjoying bussing to work instead racing around in their hot rods. Should the dump-truck driver who killed Jim Neiss not also have his rig taken away for driving in a manner which threatened the lives of everyone on the road? Instead of ICBC cutting cheques to the people who caused the crashes on 16th Ave. near Ocean Park allowing them to replace their now destroyed vehicles, why not instead forward this money to Provincial coffers where it could be used to hire more traffic cops to patrol the roads?

Speaking of ICBC, there is more they could be doing to stop insane driving such as what we have witnessed in these three recent 16th Ave. crashes. If you are drunk and involved in an accident, your insurance is considered null and void and ICBC will come after you to recoup all expenses including medial costs along with not paying for your wrecked ride. Why not have the same provision for people who choose to drive at excessive speeds on public roads resulting in serious accidents, injuries or death? Why should we pay for these jerk's stupidity and the crashes they cause through dangerous driving, while at the same time going after drunks for their accident costs? If police crash scene investigations reveal that someone's dangerous driving (speeding at 40 kmh above the posted limit) caused a crash, then their insurance should not cover any of the damages. If this simple concept was instituted, besides lowering speeding and accident rates we might even get a break on our car insurance. Heck, if they sell off enough road racer's vehicles, the B.C. Liberals might even be able to lower the HST!

If you are wondering why this topic gets my hackles up, I drive a lot of miles in a year and have been at the scene of many horrific accidents and witnessed carnage, injury and death up close and personal. Most of these crashes involved one major factor - SPEED. When I was a teenager taking a defensive driving course I viewed a classroom movie involving staged car crashes in an intersection. For every 10 mph increase in speed, it doubles the force of a collision resulting in accidents with high rates of serious injury and death at 40 mph and higher. This is why I lobbied to have the median cable barrier installed on highway 99 to stop head-on cross-over accidents with their high death rate. It is also the main physical factor explaining why "speed kills" and why we should not tolerate people using our streets as their own personal race track or drag strip.

If we have to sell people's cars or withhold vehicle insurance provisions so slow lead-foot drivers down, then so be it. I'd rather get home safe than be the victim of someone else's negligence behind the wheel. We've seen what the new drunk driving laws have done to reduce levels of impaired driving in B.C. and it is likely that voiding insurance and taking vehicles away from speeders would have the same life-saving effect. We now have Alexa's law for the blond-haired four-year old who was killed by a drunk driver in ladner several years ago and I believe that the Semiahmoo peninsula's Jim Neiss should be the catalyst for cracking down hard on excessive speeding causing collisions, injuries or death.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

 

Jan. 24, 2011

Fences Don't Make For Good Neighbours

Further chain link fencing circling the west end of Semiahmoo Park that was announced by the Semiahmoo First Nation band councillor Joanne Charles last week has already been installed which means that access to the entire area will now be limited during daylight hours through several gates. This follows fencing in December that first sectioned off the east side of the Park with the presence of a sinkhole and off-leash dogs along with their left behind feces being used as the rational for this sudden enclosure. While this prime ten acre piece of property will still be open to the public on a "trial basis", if new posted rules prohibiting pets are not obeyed a warning has already been given by the Semiahmoo band that the park will likely be closed for good to anyone not aboriginal.

You have to wonder how many people will visit Semiahmoo Park anyways now that it resembles a prison with wall-to-wall chain link fencing? The six foot tall wire runs adjacent to the BNSF Railway corridor, blocking all access to the waterfront from the grassy fields. Gone are the days when you could throw a frisbee, fly a kite, or kick around a soccer ball before returning to your blanket at the beach unless you now go for a hike around the length of the property. As far as a sinkhole being used as an excuse for this fencing, would it not have been easier to hire a backhoe for a couple of hours to examine the problem rather than spend upwards of $30,000 on unsightly chain-link that has industrialized this formerly pastoral setting? Hell, why not spend a few more bucks and throw a row of barbed wire across the top to complete the scene right out of Stalag 13 that now welcomes visitors to White Rock?

It is interesting to note that the fencing of Semiahmoo Park comes at the same time when municipal leaders in the Lower Mainland are expressing fear that long-awaited reforms could see tens of thousands of non-aboriginals residents move into developments on first nations reserve land over next 20 years. This scenario was highlighted in a draft discussion paper by the Lower Mainland Treaty Advisory Committee (LMTAC) which considered the effects of the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act and the First Nations Certainty of Land Titles Act. What is of concern is that local governments cannot collect property tax and utility fees from these reserve land developments, meaning that neighbouring municipalities may end up subsidizing regional services such as Translink for this influx of nearby residents. The Squamish First Nation is already planning to develop residential towers on their property, particularly in West Vancouver and Vancouver with projected populations of up to 25,000 people.

White Rock councillor Mary-Wade Anderson who is a member of the LMTAC has given credit to the Tsawwassen First Nation, which after years of fighting with the Corporation of Delta over services has now signed on as a member of the Metro Vancouver Regional District and collects regional taxes from its non-aboriginal residents that help to fund Translink and Met-Van coffers. This differs from many other First Nations reserves which do not have a treaty framework and instead negotiate so-called "good neighbour" agreements with local governments for the provision of utilities and other city services, often at reduced rates. If you want to view an example of non-aboriginal housing developments on nearby reserve land, simply drive to the Tsawwassen First Nation located beside the B.C. ferry terminal causeway and check out the four-story tall 86 unit Tsatsu Shores sitting on the waterfront along with the nearby Stahaken development across the road that consists of 91 lots including 23 select waterfront building sites.

Tsatsu Shores

Could it be that the fencing of Semiahmoo Park is but the first step towards a waterfront development possibly being built on what has been considered shared park land between Surrey, White Rock and the Semiahmoo First Nations for the past 50 years? There is much talk on the streets of the Semi-pen of apartment buildings or oceanfront condos. This might explain the band council's sudden desire to, "preserve and strengthen our ownership of the land" after years of allowing unfettered public access and use of this desirable seaside property. Of course, this would likely seriously impact the wonderful shoreline vistas enjoyed for decades by people living above Marine Drive across from the now fenced off compound while putting additional pressures on nearby city services in both White Rock and Surrey.

Time will tell if these rumours become reality but it's important to remember that it was back in the 1970's when the Semiahmoo First Nation first brought forth a proposal to build a shopping centre on the land now suddenly fenced off. Stay tuned to find out if this "park" soon becomes a "parking lot" for an upscale commercial or residential development that would no doubt bring substantial financial payoffs to Semiahmoo First Nation band members.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

The Naked Truth - Jan. 17, 2011

The Daily Double - Semi-pen Style

Unlike the long-running T.V. game show Jeopardy, you don't get a chance to double your money by reading the following TNT but I hope you'll get twice the bang for your buck in this column that focuses on several prominent figures in our community. Hey Alex, I'll take "A-holes" for $200!

M.P. Ru$$ Hiebert

In case you missed it, telephones will be ringing at 25,000 households across south Surrey, White Rock and Cloverdale on Monday evening as our M.P. Ru$$ Hiebert invites everyone to join in a "Telephone Townhall Meeting" to discuss federal Conservative government strategy in a so-called " live interactive conversation" with special guest Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Watch for Hiebert's name on your call display if you want to avoid this hour long self gratifying love-in.

Nothing I like better than receiving phone messages during the dinner hour as 6:30 p.m. is usually when my family sits down to eat. I hope Ru$$ Hiebert checks Canada's no-call registry before his auto diallers are programmed as I'm on the list of people across the country who don't want to be bothered with unsolicited calls. I hope this will finally end the bulk mail outs that have not stopped including a useless black and white 2011 calendar adorned with Ru$$'s smiling face and yet another bogus questionnaire which arrived at my door this week including an extra one for a now deceased former owner (yet again). It makes you wonder why these were necessary and how much they cost as the questions posed in this questionnaire are the same ones being dealt with in this e-meet-n-greet?. Don't forget to scrawl your comments on the latest propaganda mail out that can be sent back to Ru$$'s office free of charge if you have not yet tossed it in the blue box.

While this communication exercise is touted as allowing people to pose questions or comments on the upcoming federal budget, don't expect too many disparaging comments or tough questions for Ru$$ or his good buddy Jim. The company that runs these eTown Halls proudly boasts on their website, "You can have a call screener who sorts questions and provides you a real time list of the questions that are in queue. If there's an important issue you want to focus on, you can go directly to the caller who is asking a question on that topic. You control the pace, the timing, and the questions you answer." Another statement is all too true, "Participants in your live forum will be eager to engage in personalized contact that contrasts sharply with the junk mail that they are accustomed to receiving." Once more it sounds like Ru$$ will be campaigning on the taxpayer's dime, avoiding an actual face-to-face meeting with his pissed off constituents where he wouldn't have the opportunity to cherry pick ripe questions.

If Ru$$ Hiebert really wants to find out what residents here think then why not solicit emails with suggestions to his constituency office or put an electronic questionnaire on the www.russhiebert.ca website? How about asking Conservative Party members in South Surrey/White Rock/Cloverdale for their input that is unlikely to change existing federal policy anyways? Better yet, have P.M. Stephen Harper call a spring election so we can really find out what people living in the riding think of Mr. Hiebert since his high-flying expenses were revealed (reviled?) during a time when the common folk were suffering through an economic recession.

*EDITOR'S NOTE

Who Can Still Call You?

Consumers should understand that registering on the National DNCL will reduce but not eliminate all telemarketing calls. There are certain kinds of telemarketing calls that are exempted from the National DNCL Rules.

The exemptions include telemarketing calls made by, or on behalf of:

Canadian registered charities;
Political parties, riding associations and candidates; and
Newspapers of general circulation for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions.

 

$urrey Now Editor Beau Simpson

I was wondering why all of the landslide activity in south Surrey onto the BNSF railway tracks, the eight days of AMTRAK passenger train cancellations through the Semi-pen, tree chopping for views including mistaken clear-cutting by the city of Surrey at Kwomais Point park and the recent storm drain destruction on the bluff near Crescent Beach has been completely ignored by the $urrey Now? Does it take a derailment of a freight train carrying HAZMAT, the rupture of a 90 tonne Chlorine gas car on the jagged boulders lining Crescent Rock beach or the blockade of Crescent Beach roads during an emergency evacuation to get their attention? After all, they are a so-called "news" paper.

These issues pose the greatest public safety risk in Surrey and are the most serious environmental threat to the sensitive marine environment of Boundary Bay. As Surrey's largest community newspaper with a circulation of 115,000, is it not Mr. Simpson's responsibility to report such news that has recently captured the front page of the Vancouver Province, been featured in this month's MacLean's magazine, shown on Global T.V. News and covered extensively in the local Surrey Leader, Peace Arch News and White Rock Sun? Its not like they don't know about this story, especially with a noted Semi-pen community activist and known rabble-rouser (hi there) sending them detailed news releases on the subject including photos of the recent destruction. I guess when it comes to the $urrey Now, no news is good news.

I'm starting to question if Mr. Simpson wants to keep Surrey residents in the dark on this danger and not embarrass the Surrey First ($urrey 1$t?) politicians running city hall? After all, he probably doesn't want to jeopardize the lucrative city of Surrey advertising contract that the Now has enjoyed for years or to piss off our teflon Mayor Dianne Watts. Flipping through the $urrey Now, you can't help but notice page after page of brightly coloured city of Surrey ads, many of them full page. Of course, with the city ad contract other advertisers follow the money, fattening this bloated corporate fish wrap even further. Wouldn't want to anger the political power brokers and kill the goose that lays the golden egg, an explanation that might be behind several of the Now's editorials over the past years that took a swipe at yours truly for bringing public exposure to various issues in our community.

I sent an email to Beau last week with these concerns about how the $urrey Now's coverage on these important subjects is conspicuous by its absence, which as expected has gone unanswered. Maybe the newspaper's name needs to be changed to the "South Surrey Never" to reflect their coverage of important events affecting the Semiahmoo peninsula. If this is the case, then all the more reason to tell your friends to visit the White Rock Sun where we don't play favourites or edit content for fear of possible reprisals, either from advertisers or political elites.

Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn

 

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