.

Editor/Publisher White Rock Sun

David Chesney

Friday February 17, 2023

Death Angels

February 17, 2023 

Death Angels

I wanted to start this little ran by saying “Death Angels you know what I mean, you have seen them around town.”  But then I realized the whole point of this editorial is WE CAN’T SEE THEM until it is almost always too late.

I call people walking at night fully dressed in black, Death Angels.  In my mind appropriately named as they seem to be hell bent on checking out of this world on the front end of my vehicle.  Don’t think for a minute it is just young people.  Far from it, young, middle aged and seniors all seemingly are oblivious to the fact on black,rainy foggy nights they are playing Russian roulette with their lives.  

It seems that not a week goes by that I don’t  jump right out of my skin when all of a sudden a walker, cyclist, runner, scooter driver appears out of the shadows, *normally at an intersection” fully clothed head to toe in the darkest clothing they could pull out of the closet.  I think it is a miracle the emergency crews are not picking them up by the dozens in our fair city.

So if  as you were reading this, and you thought “Hey that’s me” please do yourself and all of us drivers a big favour.  Get some kind of reflective markings on your clothing or use a flashlight (most have iphones and they have one built in) just do something anything to let us know you are lurking in the shadows.  Oh yes and one final thing.  When the crosswalk DON’T WALK hand comes up, hold up even if you see you have some time left.  As drivers we are trying to watch out for you, but when you bolt out of the shadows like Olympic runner Ben Johnson you make it almost impossible to lock up the car as we try to miss you.

Now before I get down on my soapbox, can I get one more thing off my mind?  Thank you.

When walking through grocery store parking lots, please please please understand when a peaked vehicle has its back up lights on, we are backing up and we can’t possible see you if you are walking along the vehicles right beside us.  At the very least walk right down the middle of the roadway between parked cars.  It would be nice if all shopping centres had walkways between the parked cars like they provide at Walmart and Superstore.  But with that said I still regularly have to hit the binders because someone has walked right behind the car, appearing out of nowhere.

Be safe.

David Chesney

Publisher/Editor

Friday January 28, 2023

Yell It Like It Is 

November 18, 2022

Things  In White Rock That Bug Me 

• the constant complaining about high-rises in White Rock.  No matter how many times you click your heels they are not going away.

• people that walk behind your vehicle when you are backing up in a parking lot.  You can see me, I can’t see you.  Case closed.\

• servers in restaurant that don’t realize we are not going to meet the owner or the chef.  The dining experience starts and finishes with the server at the table’s edge. 

   - residents that turn up at council meetings to take advantage of QUESTION PERIOD that was reintroduced by the previous council.  Will it continue?  Probably but at the very least I would like to see the resident identify “What their question is…” when sitting down at the table in the council chambers.

• People that somehow are able to take up at least 2 parking spots when they park parallel in White Rock.  The city is slowly at the very least marking exact parking spots in the uptown retail area.  What about in front of apartments in the uptown area? 

• loud pipes on cars and motorcycles.  Self explanatory if you live in White Rock. 

• drivers on their cellphones merrily checking their emails at stop  lights as the colour turns from red to green to amber and back to red.

• People that park illegally on our waterfront and never seem to get ticketed.  What part of 15 minute parking clearly marked is confusing ladies and gentlemen? 

• expanding on that theme stop driving along Marine Drive doing 5 mph as your passenger window shops or decides which restaurant looks like a good place to eat.

• local restaurants that close on holidays and don’t open for breakfast until 9 or 10 a.m.  When questioned about this malady often the owners will say “Well I have a life and a family too”  If that is the case I  think it might be time to consider another line of work.  Being closed when everyone is off work makes no sense to me. 

• People complaining we have too many Thrift stores in White Rock.  To listen to them it cheapens our town?  I will publicly admit I have shopped  in the SUPERFLUITY store on Roper for over three decades.  I love it.  Critics might also want to check the parking lot of these venues these days.  BMW’s / Range Rovers / Jaguars and Tesla’s are a common site.

I could go on and on and on.  Today I will encounter at least one of the above “bugs me”  

Just hoping it is only one.

David Chesney
Publisher

Yell It Like It Is 

NOVEMBER 11, 2022

ABC 

I was somewhat taken back when I saw the first ABC sticker near Semiahmoo Mall.  I have to admit it didn’t surprise me in that I knew of a movement headed up by a pair of  two white Rock residents prior to the election who had badmouthed me around town and on social media. I was surprised ELECTIONS BC had no comment on this type of election influencing. The City of White Rock was lock step in line with ELECTIONS BC and without either showing any kind of opposition to this type of candidate smearing, there was no hope the RCMP would become involved.

In fact one of the gentlemen publicly declared they would be working hard to ensure CHESNEY was run out of city hall.

I think I have a pretty thick skin having weathered 8 years in public office, but I must admit something as dirty as this campaign stings a tad.   

A close friend heard about the sticker campaign and reached out to me saying “Well it looks like you are pissing off the right people.”     That has never been my intention but I am well aware I have in the past and will continue to be a stick in the spokes of the greed-heads in White Rock who want to do nothing more than fill their bank accounts with filthy lucre, as they destroy our beautiful City by the Sea.

The ABC sticker campaign is not unique, perhaps slightly more visible than other attacks on me.  It is not totally unique to me either.  A number of candidates across the Lower Mainland suffered similar attack ads.  Most have chosen to simply ignore the efforts of detractors who for personal reasons want to campaign against said candidate.  There is a line of thinking that by promoting this type of low life activity, it will simply inspire others to do the same in the future.

At the end of the day inadvertently the ABC campaign may have swing votes towards me as opposed.  You see the public is not thrilled with this type of American made negative attack ads.  It backfires.

I had two pat answers when people asked me about the stickers during the campaign.

1. BABE RUTH the great New York Yankee baseball player was asked by a report one day “Babe, does it bother you when you are playing on the road and the hometown crowds boos you?”  Babe pondered the question for a moment before replying “No not really, you see they don’t boo 200 hitters”

2. My Second reply  I toyed with using at our public swearing in ceremony on Monday evening.    

   ABC?

   “ALWAYS the BEST CHOICE”

   DAVID CHESNEY

   EDITOR/PUBLISHER

November 04, 2022 

O Canada - Lest We Forget

For the past week I have been doing my civic duty by selling poppies at various locations on the Semiahmoo Peninsula.  

This year  the volunteer database of volounteers for Legion #8 on Johnston road, has been decimated by COVID related illnesses and in some cases death.  

I volunteer because we must never forget the horror of war.  I do not have any personal references, and for that matter, outside of a few Hollywood movies and old vintage film reels, I have no point of reference of the true life horror of war.

My father served his country during the second world war.  He never traveled to the battlefields of Europe, instead due to his technical ability he was stationed in Bella Coola as a wireless operator.  His outfit was created to monitor the movement of ships and aircraft over the Pacific ocean to ensure there would be no sneak attacks on Canada.

My father never ever ever talked about “The War.”  Judging from conversations I have had with poppy purchasers, that would seem to be the norm.  Mothers and fathers of those still living and purchasing a poppy in memory, all seem to have the same recollection.  They never talked about it.

WE are so fortunate here in Canada.  All of the wars have been “Away Wars” by that I mean the wars were never fought at our place, our country.   Instead the wars were fought in lands far far away.

I have been conducting my own private survey while selling poppies.  I have come to a couple of conclusions.  It would appear young people have little or no knowledge what Remembrance Day is held for.  In the best case scenario it might be their great grandfather that would have fought in the war, and the odds of him still being with us are incredibly slim.

The other conclusion is a natural observation.  I encounter most “New Canadians” simply looking at the poppies and my little tray of goodies, with indifference.  A natural reaction, how and why would they know the storied history of Canada celebration Remembrance Day.

It makes me wonder how we can “forget” if  we never “knew.”

See you on November 11 @ 11 a.m. outside of White Rock city hall for the 2022 Remembrance Day celebration.  

David Chesney

Editor/Publisher

Friday October 21, 2022

Yell It Like It Is

The 2022 Civic Election cycle is now complete.

The Monday Morning Quarterbacks will have a heyday with the White Rock and Surrey election results.

SURREY

With over 56 candidates for 8 councillor positions it must have been an daunting experience to scroll through that list of names. It is hard to judge who did what if anything in Surrey. There seemed to be very few election sings posted through out Surrey. At least compared to White Rock.

The pundits figured the vote would be split and split it was. While incumbent mayor DOUG MCCALLUM and BRENDA LOCKE staged a very public battle and war of words, White Rock's GORDIE HOGG put up some very impressive numbers. The race was close enough with just under a thousand votes separating MCCALUM and mayoral elect BRENDA LOCKE, MCCALLUM publicly conceded defeat the night of the election. Within 24 hours after a consultation with his team, McCALLUM called a press conference and announced he would be requesting a recount. Officials have not made a ruling whether or not that recount would happen. Strangely enough DOUG MCCALLULM told a local cashier in a South Surrey store last night that "He lost, yes he lost?" Earth to Doug. 

If the results stay the way they were announced Saturday night LOCKE will be the new mayor of Surrey. Enough of LOCKE'S team secured seats on council giving them control of city hall with the majority of the votes.

WHITE ROCK

Incumbent mayor DARRYL WALKER lost out his bid to return for a second term as a direct result of vote splitting. ERIKA JOHANSON and SCOTT KRISTJANSON both threw their hat in the ring for the mayor's chair. When the dust cleared and the votes were counted former city councillor MEGAN KNIGHT emerged victorious. 

On the councillor front the upset most people are talking about. Incumbents ANTHONY MANNING and CHRISTPHER TREVEYLAN ran as pair of candidates. When the votes were counted CHRISTOPHER TREVEYLAN topped the polls with the largest number of votes, while MANNING was shut out of his seat back on council. The difference in the numbers the two candidates pulled in was about 1,000 votes. So how could that be? Well some are saying the first time candidate Lindsay MANNING pulled in about 1,000 votes despite doing very little on the campaign. When the list of how the names would be posted on the official ballot, based on a public drawing of names Lindsay MANNING was awarded the top spot while Anthony MANNING was well down the list of candidates on the official voting sheet. Did the name confusion cause Anthony MANNING to lose his seat on council? 

Given White Rock does not have any clearly identified alliances (with the exception of CHRISTPHER TREVEYLAN) and I, only time will tell how the new council can work together.

Fingers, arms and legs crossed. 

David Chesney

Editor/Publisher

Friday October 14, 2022 

Yell It Like It Is

What is wrong with our current voting system? 

Plenty.

Political Contributions

Under our current system candidates running for election or re-election do not have to reveal who has made contributions to their political campaigns, until AFTER the election has been completed. Talk about closing the barn door after the horses have got out.

Locally in 2014 a group of individuals running under the banner of THE COALTION collected $90,000.00 dollars from land developers. This is not a malady limited to White Rock and Surrey, the first campaign contributors to surface in most Lower Mainland and outlying cities, are developers. To put that number in perspective most civic campaigns hover somewhere around $3 - $8,000.00.

It will be interesting when the dust clears in this civic election, to see who contributed heavily to certain candidates campaign funds. Would it not be advantageous for voters to know who is underwriting a candidates campaign?

Online Voting 

In today's fully wired technological world there really is no reason we could not have online voting. The big push back from all political parties is it would negatively impact their ability to move their supporting voters to the polls in massive numbers. The Federal elections draw the largest voter turnout, and it hovers around 50%. That means if we moved to online voting the great unwashed or 50% of the eligible voters that are not registered as supporters of certain parties would greatly impact the outcome of the election results. No parties want over 50% of the great unwashed factoring into the election results.

Compulsory Voting

In a past life I was an instructor at a private college. A number of the students were from Australia. It was panic in needle park on voting day. They had to get online and vote. Failure to do so, would mean when they arrived back home down under, when their name came up on the computer as they were trying to enter their homeland, it would indicate they had not voted, and they best have $200.00 on them to pay the fine, or they would be sitting in the airport until a friend or family member turned up with the money.

Similar to the above online voting above, this form of voting brings a tremendous amount of individuals into the voting pool that no one party controls. In my humble opinion this is the reason we, and as you can see most countries will not support ONLINE voting.

All Candidate Meetings

Normally the supposed ALL CANDIDATE MEETINGS are hosted by a service group in the community. Under the current system the order of the speakers and the questions for the candidates are controlled by the event organizer.

Myself I would support putting a microphone at the back of the hall and have the line form at the right. Individuals would step up to the microphone and say "I have this question for candidate so and so." It might take more than one night to get through all the questions, but what the heck, this is an important part of the election campaign that no one wishes to adhere to. Most often these events turn out to be well organized based on the desired outcome of the said service organization is hosting the event.

Over the years individual candidates have tried to orchestrate a more open style of all candidates meetings. The inherent problem is when it is hosted by a single candidate, the tone and direction of the meeting is focused towards their own particular passionate topics.

I want the Wild Wild West. Bring back Holler for a Dollar!

With all of this said and done, I urge you to exercise your God given right in this free country to vote. Please remember to vote tomorrow (October 15) the locations for voting in Surrey and White Rock are listed below in our ELECTION SECTION.

Without sounding over dramatic there are people in this world literally dying to have the right to vote. 

It's up to you to have YOUR voice heard. Say it loud - say it proud.

David Chesney / Editor/Publisher

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

On Saturday October 15 - YOU the residents of White Rock will be asked who YOU would like to see govern OUR CITY BY THE SEA for the next four years.

I think I am in a unique position to share some insight on the 4 individuals that are running for Mayor of White Rock.

I have served four years on council with all the current candidates seeking your support to send them back to city hall for 4 more years.

For the past 4 years I have sat on a council with three of the candidates, MAYOR Darryl WALKER,  COUNCILLORS Scott Kristjanson and Erika Johanson

 My first term 2014-2018 I sat on a council with mayoral candidate MEGAN KNIGHT.

SCOTT KRISTJANSON was a valued critic of council during the 2014-2018.  KRISTJANSON often locked horns with former mayor WAYNE BALDWIN.  Through is online portal of NO MORE HIGHRISES IN WHITE ROCK Scott strongly positioned himself as an opponent to the runaway highrise development during the 2014-2018 term of council.  KRISTJANSON to me is like a Bosa tower on roller skates.  His presence in any room and most certainly has an impact as well as on council is undeniable.  I was surprised then Scott threw his hat into the ring for the mayor’s chair.  I never saw that one coming.

ERIKA JOHANSON came to power for the 2018-2022 version of council along with 4 other members of the electoral party DEMOCRACY DIRECT.  Councillor Fathers and I were the only two councillors that were independents that were elected.  I don’t remmebr the exact moment it happened but roughly a year ago JOHANSON broke ranks with the majority of Democracy Direct and took it upon herslef to ram head on into city staff as well as being in constant opposition to Mayor WALKER and the majority of council.  Erika became very vocal about how the city was being run and how she felt she was being treated.  So much so she launched a court case against the city of White Rock for being bullyied which is still pending.  The outcome of which we will not know until after the election, if then.  There is a heavy legal bill JOHANSON faces win lose or draw.

Megan Knight As previoulsy mentioned I  endured 4 very difficult years on the council 2014-2018 under the iron fisted rule of WAYNE BALDWIN and a slate of 4 members of THE COALITION.  Again Councillor Fathers and I were the odd independent councillors out.   I spent 4 years wondering at times why I was even attending the council meetings.  Literally every single vote with a couple minor exceptions, the vote for every single item on the agenda went down 5-2 with Fathers and I on the outside.  Try as we might Fathers and I had to vocally oppose that council as it apporved  many highrsies, some have not even started and some are currently still being built.  Two of that developer friendly councillors (MEYERS & LAWRENCE) are also back hoping you have a short memory.  But back to MEGAN.  Through that entire 4 year term from hell I will give MEGAN credit that she at least acted civily towards me.  She would actually say hello to me when I entered a room.  Small consolation, but noted just the same.  I am not confident MEGAN is  not in favour of more highrises.  In a recent interview in the Peace Arch News MEGAN publicly stated WAYNE BALDWIN taught her how to look at each development application by itself.  Well when you have taken tens of thousands of dollars for your election campaign (THE COALTION) it was difficult for MEGAN to break ranks.  In fact she was in lock step like the rest of the Coalition.

Finally this brings us to the incumbent mayor Darryl Walker

When Democracy Direct was elected the late councillor HELEN FATHERS and I looked at each other and said “Four more years of block voting?”  Thankfully that was never the case, in fact their voting record was all over the place.  I personally appreciated their individuality.  When WALKER was elected I learned he was the former head of the BCGEU (British Columbia Government  Employees Union)  I anticipated strong leadership.  I did not see that.  I believe if there is one fault I had with Mayor WALKER was he let council find their own way.  With 5 new members of council in my humble opinion I only wish Mayor WALKER had placed a stronger hand on the tiller.  I quickly learned DARRYL WALKER is a fine human being, and I predeict no matter what the outcome of the election is, I will be proud to call DARRYL WALKER a friend.  I know his history here in White Rock and I do believe his vision is very similar to mine.  I am there is the impression out there that DARRYL went against his election promises and has approved development that is contrary to the wishes of the majority of residents in White Rock. Not true. His heart is in the right place.  We have locked horns on a number of occasions in the council chambers, sometimes, finished up in private in his office, but at the end of the day I could stand up and shake his hand and move on with the  job of governing our beautiful city.

If I have not made it patenlty clear, I will be supporting DARRYL WALKER’S  campaign to return to the mayor’s chair.  I am hoping  I am also elected to a third term.  I honestly believe WALKER, myself, councillors MANNING and TEVEYLAN (who I also publicly supporting) can do wonderful things with another four more years at city hall.

On Tuesday October 04 there will be an ALL CANDIDATES meeting at our community centre in uptown White Rock.  I am hopeful we will have a standing room only crowd out.  You will have the opportunity to hear the 4 mayoral candidates out forth their positions for one hour at the start of the 7 p.m. meeting, followed by a drive by shooting of all the  hopeful councillors.

WHATEVER YOU DO AND HOWEVER YOU FEEL,

PLEASE EXERCISE YOUR  RIGHT AND VOTE ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 15.

Editor/Publisher

David Chseney

September 02, 2022

LISA LAFLAMME Pity Party

Unless you have been in a coma or in solitary confinement for the past month, you no doubt heard, read, saw LISA LA FLAMME the late night news host on CTV was shown the door, axed, terminated – fired.

The spin on this story is unbelievable.  Was it a case of ageism?  Perhaps a case of gender?  Or choose any one of the dozens of other excuses that have been floated out there by the media and the public in general.

I don't believe for one minute it was anything other than the financial considerations.  According to reliable sources LAFLAMME  was making $750,000.00 a year.  Now let that sink in for just a minute.  For discussion purposes here is what our Prime Minister makes - As leader of Canada, Trudeau's salary adds up to $357,800 a year. That includes a base salary of $178,900 for his role as Member of Parliament for Papineau, and another $178,900 for his gig as PM. On top of that, he receives an annual $2,000 car allowance. 

Having worked in the Canadian media industry for some 30 odd years, I have seen the once proud and professional industry become a pale comparison of itself.  A decade ago I pulled the plug on cable, so to be very honest I have only seen the aforementioned MS. LAFLAMME a couple of times.  What I have seen more than a couple of times is a friend or former colleague has publicly stated they are no longer employed as their media employer “Is going in a different direction”  The catch all phrase for clean out your desk.

The tribal drums are already beating loudly LAFLAMME’S replacement will make $100,000.00 a year.  Well that will certainly help the bottom line and please the shareholders.  Media has desperately trying to regain its glory years when they were the only option.  Thanks to or because of the internet traditional media has had its asses kicked from here to Cornerbook and back.

The tact that has been taken to try to turn it into an age or race item is sickening.  Just a futile attempt to stir the pot of emotions.  Had CTV come clean about her wage there would be no public outcry, no day after day media discussion, no side taking no tears.

I can't even venture what the payout for LAFLAMME (CTV employee of 35 years) would have been after all these years.  Probably somewhere in the range of 10 years salary for the average Canadian.  And wait for it.  With all this attention some other media outlet will pick her up.  

I also don’t buy LAFLAMME’S assertion she had many more stories she wanted to tell.  Like she come up with the news.  She READS it period!

Yes media in general is going in a different direction, STRAIGHT DOWN THE TOILET!

David Chesney
Editor/Publisher

NOTE: The LISA LAFLAMMER pity party is already starting to turn. 

Click here to read the story in the NATIONAL POST yesterday

August 19, 2022

Pictured here is the group who have the seats and control Surrey council. 

Mayor McCallum and his 4 supporters WHO VOTE LOCK STEP WITH WHATEVER MAYOR MCCALLUM SAYS.

How many of his supporters can YOU NAME?

Election /  Silly Season

Every city in British Columbia will go to the polls in October to elect a group of individuals to govern the community  for the coming 4 years.

Generally speaking the elections will occur with little or no fan fair.  The civic elections have the lowest turnout of voters  as compared to Provincial and Federal elections.   One exception for the lack of interest is the city of Surrey.

The current reigning group of elected officials were all elected back in 2018 were all members of SAFE SURREY slate.  The exception to the rule is councillor LINDA ANNIS. The platform SAFE SURREY was elected on was to replace the RCMP in Surrey with a local police force.   The seats in city hall were barely warm before a massive split occurred.  Councillors BRENDA LOCKE and JACK HUNDIAL though supportive initially of a private police force for Surrey, once the numbers started to come out both councillors broke away and have spent the last number of years at odds with Mayor DOUG MCCALLUM and the rest of SAFE SURREY electoral group.

If you spend anytime on social media you no doubt have seen the attack ads against BRENDA LOCKE who has announced she will be running for mayor.  There are no less than 5 candidates running for the Mayor’s chair, including incumbent DOUG MCCALLUM who is confident he has the support of a silent majority in the city.

It would appear at this point in the fledgling campaign SAFE SURREY is directing their focus on keeping BRENDA LOCKE out of the mayor’s chair.  LOCKE has constructed a slate of candidates for council under the banner of SURREY CONNECT.  Their main platform for the election campaign will be to scrap the private Surrey Police and secure a long future for the RCMP.  Is is possible?  BRENDA LOCKE thinks so.

Surrey mayoral candidate Brenda Locke is sticking to her vow in 2021 that if she’s elected mayor in October, with sufficient support on council, the Surrey Police Service will not replace the Surrey RCMP.
“Absolutely we’re going to stop the transition in its tracks and we will be reversing it,” she told the Now-Leader recently, echoing the pledge she made during her candidacy launch at Bear Creek Park last July to bring Canada’s largest policing transition to a “screeching halt.”
“There is no good argument for this. I have still not heard one,” she said of transitioning to the SPS. “We’re doing this without a plan, without a feasibility study.

There are now 5 declared candidates for City of Surrey mayor.  The big fear by those that want MCCALUM out, is with all these candidates the vote will be split  left right and centre perhaps allowing MCCALUM to rise to power and sit as Surrey’s mayor for another 4 years.
Until then we can expect to be constantly hammered by negative ads against BRENDA LOCKE.  So far the only candidate MCCALLULMS SAFE SURREY ruling power on council seems to be worried about is BRENDA LOCKE.

LOCKE should wear their negativity as a badge of honour.

David Chesney

Publisher/Editor

Friday June 17, 2022

Why Is It Only I Can See.........

1. Constant flagrant abuse of the NO DOGS on the promenade and pier?

2.  Construction workers parking in the NO PARKING for trades parking?

3. Speeders totally ignoring the 30kmh speed limit on Johnston road?

4. We hand out a number of Food Vendor licenses for the promenade, and only a couple come.  If they do happen to come why set up @ 2 p.m. on a sunny weekend day?  Use it or lose it!

5. Dozens of Buskers Licenses are issued annually.  I can count on one hand the 5 buskers I see on a regular basis, once again use it or lose it!

6. Both sections of our waterfront (east & west beach) have QUIET ZONE signs posted.  Hourly during the good weather motorcycles with straight pipes roar back and forth.  Have you ever seen anyone tickets?

7.  Restaurants along Marine Drive posting advertising banners on the fronts of their patios.  Until I bring it to someone;s attention, NOTHING!

8. Planters along Johnston Road that have deteriorated into garbage cans?

9. Dogs on the beach?

10.  Motorcycles in the NO PARKING space by Memorial Park and parked in spaces that are not even parking spots on the waterfront..  No tickets?

11.  Motorcycles parked illegally outside of the West Beach Bar and Grill and no tickets are ever issued?

12. Residents that turn up at council and pretend they have a question for council, only to use Question & Answer PEriod as a Let's Hammer Council session?

David Chesney

Publisher Editor

Friday June 10, 2022

Roy Hennessy

Good morning, good morning the best to you each morning HE double N, E double S Y Hennesy's his name.

The morning jingle Roy played daily on his morning show on CKLG.

Before I launch you down this trip down Memory Lane listening to “The Real” ROY HENNESSY please read the following retrospective of one of the true icons of Vancouver Radio History.

Roy Norman Hennessy, the larger-than-life veteran radio broadcaster who got his start at CKOK in Penticton, died Tuesday in Toronto at the age of 80.

Hennessy’s obituary states: “Gone! created and insisted upon by Roy Hennessy himself. Cremation has taken place and a private family gathering will be held in Vancouver at a later date. Donations may be made to a charity of choice."

What follows is taken from Jim “JJ” Johnston’s Facebook “JJ-365 Salutes” Facebook series,

(click here for the historical lead up)

So now that you have read the back story on Roy’s radio career, let me share a personal insight into the man, the myth.

Roy hired me to handle the music director/promotion director duties shortly after he moved over to FM/99 (formerly CKLG FM).  The year was 1978.  It was the beginning of a long and wonderful friendship.

Years later after Roy had retired he often made the big trip west from his home in Toronto to visit friends and family.  He would often call me up and say “Hey I’ve rented a car, how about if I drive out to White Rock and we have lunch on the beach?”  Which we did many times.

One particular lunch a pair of Roy’s other friends who lived in White Rock joined us at our favourite lunch spot COSMOS GREEK RESTAURANT ON MARINE DRIVE.  As we settled in for lunch on this particular day, Roy proclaimed loud and proud, “Well it’s official, I am a bastard!”  We all looked at each other knowing Roy’s history and wondered what the heck he meant by this proclamation.  Roy went on to explain on this particular trip out west he had arranged a surprise birthday party for his father who was in his 90’s.  Roy had contacted the retirement home his father was living at in Ladner.

As the story goes Roy had rented the Tsawwassen golf and country club, contacted a limousine company and  the rest home and arranged for the mini buses to pick up the tenants and his father and bring them to the lunch.  

Following his welcome speech and a few anecdotes about him and his father’s history in Ladner, Roy announced lunch would be served shortly, and thanked all for coming to the lunch.  Roy then retired to the side of the banquet room and sidled up to the bar and asked the bartender to draw him a scotch on the rocks.  As he stood there surveying the scene, as Roy explained “I felt a tug on my sports jacket and I looked down and here stood a lovely little old blue hair who looked up at me and said “Oh Roy this is such a wonderful lunch you have arranged for your father.  It is so special special given the fact you are ADOPTED!  Roy for a split second contemplated  what he had just heard and thought, ”Oh I guess this lovely little lady must be confused due to her advancing age.”  He thanked her and turned to pick up his scotch when he felt another tug on his jacket sleeve.  Again Roy turned and lo and behold here was another little old lady who basically parroted what the first lady said.  So special you would do this considering you were adopted.  Huh?  You see Roy had no idea what these 2 ladies were talking about.  As he was driving his father back to the care home he turned to his father and related the two assertions he was adopted.  His father fell silent for a moment and then said to Roy “Yes Roy you were adopted at birth, your mother and I decided we would raise you as our won and decided to that extent we would not tell you that you were adopted.”

So the three of us who collectively probably knew Roy for over  a hundred years all sat there in silence.  I thought for a moment before I said “Well Roy that is an interesting story, you see I am a bastard too.  I was adopted at birth.”  Roy  got a beautiful smile on his face and reached out across the table and shook my hand and said WELCOME TO THE OLD BASTARDS CLUB.  The moment had only just set in when MILES MURCHISON one of the other lunch guesst piped up and said “Make it three I am adopted too.”

…and today I am missing that OLD BASTARD and dear friend Roy Hennessy

Thank you Roy.  For everything.

David Chesney
Editor/Publisher

Friday June 03, 2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US

It is strange but for some reason we seem to acknowledge milestones in our lives, usually divisible by the number 5.

Well I  suppose unconsciously we land in that category - because today, we hit the milestone of the White Rock Sun turning the odometer 15 years.  Fifteen years?  Can that be.

It is indeed the 15th anniversary since I pushed the UPLOAD button to publish the first issue of the White Rock Sun, CANADA’S FIRST ILNTERNET NEWSPAPER.  I thank YOU because if you weren’t reading these words I would know I was sadly mistaken on people’s desire to read local news.

Years ago when I was a independent contributor to Surrey’s NOW NEWSPAPER with my “Canada Calling” entertainment column, I can distinctly remember the publisher of the day pining on how if they could just get the public to pay 25 cents for each issue of the paper, the bottom line would shine bright.  In those days the published circulation of the paper was something like 40,000 copies distributed twice a week in the footprint of Surrey and White Rock.

The rub here though was, the news group could certainly  state the fact they did in fact print up 40,000 copies of the paper twice a week.  The problem was how to get them into 40,000 homes.  The solution was to secure non salaried paper delivering system.  Usually young boys looking for a little extra walking around money were the target for “distribution”.  What followed was a constant stream of people calling the office complaining “I didn’t get my paper again this week.”  You see the first rainy day, too cold or too hot day, Little Johnny didn’t feel like distributing the papers.

Enter the internet.  Back in the early 2000’s I was gainfully employed in the music industry, and then along came a little old thing called NAPSTER.  This simple form of technology allowed people to share their musical library with the world FOR FREE. NAPSTER sent the industry reeling.  And it still has not recovered.  It was one thing when we purchased an album and told a friend to come over with a cassette and they could make a copy.  Now we could invite the whole world over to tape the album.  

A similar technology within a short period of time steam rolled over the publishing industry.  Let’s stop here for a moment  and try to remember when we last bought a magazine or paid to purchase a copy of  the Vancouver Sun or Province?   I cannot forecast how much longer the print industry will continue to gasp for air.

What I do know is whether we like it or not, this is the future.  
Thank you for continuing to read and write.  If the good lord is willing and the technology wheel doesn’t rise.  The White Rock Sun will still be going strong for another 15 years.

Davide Chesney

Publisher/Editor

May 19, 2022

It's Deja Vu All OVer Again

The onslaught of high-rises that occurred in White Rock over the past number of years is now spreading throughout the Lower Mainland. Vancouver is in the news these days with their plan to redevelop the Broadway corridor. Currently an underground tunnel is being constructed along the Broadway corridor. Plans are to take advantage of the transportation route to become a residential corridor. METRO VANCOUVER the body that oversees and proposes where development should occur, has for years designated that densification should occur along transportation routes.

Examples include the highrise towers on the Canada Line at SW Marine Drive, as well as the tower clusters on the SKYTRAIN route at Lougheed highway. If you haven't been by Oakridge centre you will be amazed. Currently under construction are too many towers to count.

Vancouver's plan to build desperately needed high-density housing, and why not everyone is on board

City expects 1 million new residents in 30 years and hopes a new subway line can be the key to housing them. 

A plan to build highrise towers in an already densely-populated area of B.C.'s largest city is raising questions about how urban centres can be livable and affordable as populations grow rapidly in the coming decades.

With a new subway line being constructed under Broadway, a busy Vancouver street that runs through multiple neighbourhoods, city planners have seized on the opportunity to increase the amount of housing in one of Canada's most expensive cities.

The Broadway Plan calls for existing homes along the line to be replaced with multi-storey towers, able to accommodate up to 50,000 more residents. Mixed-use developments as high as 40 storeys may be allowed near SkyTrain stations while older rental stock, often small 10-unit buildings, could be replaced by housing developments between 15 and 20 storeys.

Langley Township councillor ERIC WOODWARD

I don't even know what to think about Langley Township's idea of a tower town @ Hwy 1 & 200th street. I suppose one could say "Well HWY 1 is a transit corridor) but that puts a ton more cars on the freeway. I can't seem to find and public reaction from the residents of Langley just yet but it is going to be interesting in an election year how the public feels about this major shift in densification. I suppose we will know after the civic election in October.

...and then there is Delta

North Delta highrise project approved by council

Council voted 4-3 to give the project fourth reading on Monday, March 28

Talk about sticking out like a sore thumb. Could Delta have not slowly integrated some 10 or 15 storey towers as opposed to a giant 29 storey tower right out of the clear blue?

Now don't you get getting all smug sitting back in your recliner looking out at the Salish sea. If you think the developers are not still licking their lips about getting back into White Rock, I have some ocean front property for you in Aldergrove. Mark my words the October civic election should be of a huge concern to all the residents of the Semiahmoo Peninsula. Stay tuned.

David Chesney

Editor/Publisher

May 06, 2022

Should He Stay Or Should He Go?

The civic election right across all the communities in British Columbia will be held on October 15 of this year.

Normally would be candidates begin their election campaigns in earnest right after the labour day weekend in early September.  This is not the case in Surrey  for sure and to a lesser extent here in White Rock.

The big rumour generator of late  is GORDIE HOGG, former White Rock councillor, former mayor of White Rock, MLA for a number of years, and MP on the federal scene, and now if one is to believe the rumours, heading for Mayor of Surrey or White Rock.

Quote From VOICE ON LINE (Voice of the IndoCanadian Community)

FORMER South Surrey-White Rock MP Gordon Hogg, who is also a former White Rock mayor and MLA, confirmed to the VOICE on Tuesday that he has been approached by Surrey First to run for mayor of Surrey.
He added: “I am going to be meeting with them [this coming weekend] and I am not sure what my decision will be as a result of that.”
Asked if he was seriously considering a run, he replied: “I’ve been approached by that group. I have also been approached to consider running for mayor of White Rock and I am meeting with my family this week to see whether or not there’s some type of agreement on that.”

I also was fed a rumour on the weekend GORDIE had approached SURREY CONNECT the electoral group that up to now everyone thought BRENDA LOCKE had a lock on the mayoral bid in October.  The rumour was GORDIE had approcahed SURREY CONNECT to say if BRENDA stepped aside and ran for ac councillor’s seat he would consider heading up that part as mayor?  A quick call to BRENDA LOCKE confirmed there was absolutely no truth to that rumour.

There is a multitude of names being thrown around who may or may not be running for council up in Surrey.  Given the high profile (for all the wrong reasons) of Mayor DOUG MCCALUM and his SAFE SURREY coalition it isn’t surprising everyone is coming out of the woodwork and floating out the idea they are running for mayor up in Surrey.

Down south here in White Rock the rumour mill is also spinning at full speed ahead.  For months the seedy underbelly of our community has been whispering about a former mayor of White Rock collecting a group of disgruntled citizens to form a party to, in their words, TAKE BACK CITY HALL.

Rumoured to be fully funded by developers who are far from being finished their work in our “city by the sea”, the collection of ne’ere do wells has been driving hard to the net to secure GORDIE HOGG as their mayoral candidate.  Totally unconfirmed it is my belief if this group comes out of the shadows they will run on a banner of “SENSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.”  If elected they will shrug off highrise opposition by saying “Well, it made sense to us!”

I consider GORDIE HOGG a friend.  I approached GORDIE  with the rumour of meeting with this group back in January, and he did confirm he listened to what they had to say but told them he was not going to make a decision until June 01.

I personally think GORDIE HOGG would make an excellent mayor of White Rock, but not if he is in the pocket of developers who are licking their lips just dying to get back in power to lay waste of our community.  Don’t kid yourself folks, the one thing we have going for us is an ocean view.  Without it, we are Aldergrove.

White Rock continues to be at a crossroad with what future development looks like, while Surrey is at a dead end and needs to turn around and start all over again. 

David Chesney

Publisher/Editor

Friday April 08, 2022

Order In The Court & Council

Backgrounders

D. Chesney

Publsher/City Councillor for WHITE ROCK

Friday April 01, 2022

Fudge it budget.

Fudge it budget.  A common term often used by individuals when they have not paid one iota of attention to the process and then simply shake their heads at the finished product.

This leads me to White Rock council’s current attempt to create a budget for the operation of the city for the coming year.  A difficult time indeed.  At the conclusion of last year’s budget Councillors JOHANSON and KRISTJANSON asked for major changes in the way the budget was created and presentd.  Their claim was it would be easier for council and the community to understand the process.  

As has been well documented councillor JOHANSON and the head of our financial department seemingly locked horns during the process, with the Director of the Financial Services leaving the employ of the city and councillor JOHANSON launching a suit against the City of White Rock in BC Provincial court.  

FYI the budget is brought forward to council following an extensive study of each department at the city reporting on what amount of monies they will need to fulfill their job’s purpose.  Upon presentation to council the aforementioned two councillors immediately reqeusted information from the previous wayof creating the budget be brought back.  You could have pushed staff over with a feather, but do it they did.  Then when it came back to council, councillor KRISTJANSON asked them to go back to their desks and bring in a budget that showed only a 3% tax increase.  Shocked, stunned, angry disbelief are just a few words to describe the reaction from staff.

So council rolled up our sleeves and began trying to trim the budget from the original numbers proposed from staff.

During this process the entire time of discussion was spent focussed on the residental tax rate.  The amount of time spent on looking to see if we could help the commercial property owners was zero.  That is until I put forth a motion to canvass the commercial property owners on their satisfaction with the huge levy we hit every commercial property owner with in order to fund the Business Improvement Association (BIA). My motion was soukndly defeated 5-1. More on that in the coming weeks.

While standing in line shopping at the Breadbox on Johnston Road the other day owners Mary and Andrew and I were discussing the high cost of doing business in White Rock.  I had not noticed another shopper had arrived and suddenly she chimed in “Yeah where the hell are my tax dollars going, they can’t even fix the potholes on my street for years now.  Plus where did they spend all the money they got from all these new people who have moved into those ugly towers.”  

I love it when this happens.  I politely introudced  myself as one of those layabouts at city hall, and asked her if she realized we were at this very moment creating the operating budget for the city for the upcoming year.  She replied no.  I then infomred her this coming Monday (April 4) she can come down to city hall after 5 p.m. and look council and staff in the eyes and ask any questions about the budget.

I most certainly hope she will attend.  

If she dows that just might push the list of attendees to 4 or 5.

You the residents of White Rock deserve better.  Monday is your opportunity.

David Chesney
Publisher/City Councillor

Thursday March 24, 2022

Radio Radio

Do you still listen to the radio?    I do.  

My mornings start early by some people’s standards and I would be lost without my CBC.  Weekdays STEPHEN QUINN and AMY BELL guide me through the choppy waters of daybreak.  SHERYL MCKAY on CBC with North By Northwest make weekend’s coffee go down smooth.  

The only time I listen to “commercial radio”is when I am driving.  It’s a miracle I have not pulled over and taken a hostage.  The drivel and inane patter radio hosts, especially morning hosts, drives me nuts.

I was raised on radio.  CKNW was The Top Dog.  Morning host FROSTY FORST in his day had the largest listening audience in Canada, not per capita, period.  Radio consultants would fly into Vancouver, book a hotel room and scratch their heads listening to FROSTY.  They could not for the life of them figure out how this home spun folksy morning show could garner such high ratings.  To complicate matters FROSTY avoided the public spotlight like the plague.  CKNW often had billboards and bus boards around town with the pictures of all their announcers, except for FROSTY the only thing he would agree to is a caricature.  In that same era of radio CKNW had the #2 rated radio shaow in Canada, BILL HUGHE’S Roving Mic.  HUGHES @ 8:35 each morning would board a bus full of tourists visiting Vancouver who were heading out for a bus tour of Vancouver and talk about the most basic topics. "OH you're from Australia? My wife and I visited your beautiful country last year"  

I used to go to bed early as a pre-teen so I could listen to CFUN radio with DAVE " Hapyy Pappy " MCCORMICK.  Radio was the onlly place we could “hear the hit - they had the tunes and we were tuneless.”

Radio merrily stumbled along as the soundtrack to our lives.  Then one dayit all changed.  A gentleman by the name of HOWARD STERN shocked the world with his New York radio morning show.  Edgy, contgroversial, were just a couple of words used to describe his style.  Soon radio stations across America and to some extent here in Canada (Q-107) in Toronto quickly started simulcasting the raw edgy talk radio morning show.  You see HOWARD only played DELBERT McC;INTON songs, if ever.

Radio programmers quickly jumped on the bandwagon and told their announcers people wanted to hear more talk and less rock.  The airwaves soon were filled with jackasses woefully unable to create any kind of interesting talk.

And that is where we are today.  Instead of reflecting back our community to us, we are stuck with the radio hosts asking questions like “Have you ever sent an email to the wrong person – Has your child ever said anything that embarassed you in public? – Have you ever had a bad date? “  Well call, text or email me with your stories and I will repeat them on the radio and pretend I actually think they are funny or interesting.”

As previoulsy mentioned for the most part radio had THE HITS, then the old adage “Video Killed The Radio Star” (welcome to MTV/MUCHMUSIC).   

So if you believe that - all I can say is “Internet Killed The Radio Star”

David Chesney

...take us home DOC

February 17, 2022

It was nearly two years ago I stepped off an airplane from Mexico at Vancouver International and walked into the twilight zone.  I encountered people wearing something that resembled hazmat suits, and most people had masks over their faces?  What happening here?  Filming the sequel to Soylent Green?

I had been in rural Mexico for 3 weeks and to be perfectly frank I had not watched TV, listened to a radio (in English) or read a newspaper.  I had not heard the word COVID.  That was the day my life changed.

Once I got back home in White Rock I began to do research to find out what was going on.  Two years later I am still not 100% sure I know what went on.  I quickly fell into lock step and began washing my hands, sanitizing them whenever I had the chance, started wearing a mask in public places, sanitized my hands going in and out of stores.

Then I began to watch the divide that was beginning to take hold on society.  The look in people’s eyes told the story.  There was fear.  We all began to push ourselves away.  Being a habitual hugger I immediately felt the effect of this new world order.

This week Victoria relaxed a number of the Covid restrictions.  Masks and social distancing remain in place.  Daily other provinces in Canada are either dropping those restrictions or considering  dropping the mask mandate in the coming weeks.  I think we all know we could boomerang right back to full restrictions in a heartbeat.

It now comes down to a personal decision.  The recent protests at the truck crossing on the Semiahmoo Peninsula have proven that.  The vast majority of the protestors were not there in support of truckers, which started this  divisive situation we see now.  It almost seems like isolated pockets of anarchy are bringing about change.  Fingers crossed this form of protest does not escalate.  The police have been given sweeping power through the Emergency Measures Act the Trudeau government is invoking.

I wear a beaded bracelet I have been wearing since the start of the pandemic, it simply reminds me daily.
Stay Safe
Be Calm
Be Kind

This too will end.

David Chesney/Publisher

February 11, 2022

" I Love You"

I love you Helen.  For the past number of years whether in person or on the phone, we would more often than not say the words I LOVE YOU.

Monday shortly before we started our 7 p.m.regular council meeting, mayor DARRYL WALKER had the difficult job of informing council our dearly beloved fellow councillor Helen Fathers had passed away.  We all sat there in stone cold silence.  Despite Helen being sick for a number of months it still came as a shock of the finality of  Helen’s passing.

I can’t even remember exactly when I first met Helen, but I am thinking it was some 20 years ago when she first took over managing the White Rock Farmers Market.  The popular Sunday market was on my trap line every Sunday morning so it would not be unusual to see Helen patrolling the grounds saying hello to the vendors and all the visitors to the market.  She continued in that capacity until sickness refelled her some 16 months ago.

When the market relocated to its current location in Miramar Plaza, Helen would sit at the main gate and welcome residents to the Sunday market.  One year the t-shirts the staff wore were emblazoned with “The Heart Of Our Community.”  No kidding and Helen was the heartbeat.  I knew better than to try to talk to Helen on Sundays at the market about anything of consequence.  The steady stream of well wishers made it impossible to even talk to her for a minute or two without constant interruptions of visitors to the market that stopped for a Helen moment.

My first 4 year term on council was very  difficult.  I can honestly say without Helen standing shoulder to shoulder with me I probably would not have made it.  On more than one occasion as my fellow councillors piled on with glee, Helen stepped in like a big mama bear and pulled them off.  This past term has been a joy.  We all settled in very nicely.  With 5 new councillors Helen quickly stepped to the front to offer any help or assistance to all the new members of council.  The respect for her was obvious . Our annual rides in the Sea Festival parade today come to mind. I know a lot of people in White Rock, but riding through town with Helen I felt like Dave who? Helen touched so many people in our community. She leaves a huge hole not only in my heart but in our community. We are all now challenged with taking up the slack.

Family was everything to Helen.

Her loving husband Rob, daughter Ellie and mother Margaret were her riches.  She loved them all so deeply, today I can’t imagine the loss they feel.   

I could prattle on and on and tell  you all the funny stories and good times Helen and I shared.  But I won’t.
All I can say is, what I always said when I said goodbye to Helen, I Love You.

David Chesney

Friday January 21, 2022

Digging In

Mayor Doug McCallum with his hand picked council supporters

Turning the calendar page over to a new year, 2022 takes on special meaning to every elected politician in British Columbia.  This will be the final year of the term of civic elected officials.

The nightmare occurring north of us in Surrey is beyond words.  Mayor DOUG MCCALUM has been in the news for months for all the wrong reasons.  Since the new Surrey council was elected they seem to have been split into three distinct camps.  Mayor MCCALUM’s group which consists of  councillors DOUG ELFORD, LAURIE GUERRA,  MANDEEP NAGRA and ALLISON PATTON.  These councillors are lock step with Mayor MCCALUM and that gives this group the proverbial hammer of votes to approve virtually everything that comes before council.  A breakaway group led by BRENDA LOCKE and JACK HUNDIAL  have formed a vocal opposition to the MCCALUM GROUP.  LOCKE has indicated she will seek the mayor’s chair in October with support from HUNDIAL and RAMONA KAPTYN who will seek a seat on Surrey council in the next election.  The remaining two councillors LINDA ANNIS and STEVEN PETTIGREW seem to be totally independent.  It was thought LINDA ANNIS would join LOCKE and HUNDIAL but that seemed to be based  Seeley on her being the group’s choice for mayor on a slate as it readied itself for the October election.   PETTIGREW continues as a lone wolf with a very vocal approach to Mayor MCCALUM’S style of leadership.  The war of words will only continue to become more intense as we move towards October election time.  There will also be outside forces bound to enter the fray.  First out of the gates are Surrey Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal & Surrey MLA Harry Bains are both playing cagey when asked to confirm they will seek the mayor's chair in October

That brings us to White Rock council. 

In the last civic election a group of individuals with a well managed team behind them, swept into power in White Rock with 5 of the 7 votes garnered by DEMOCRACY DIRECT candidates JOHANSON, KRISTJANSON,  MANNING and TREVEYLAN under the leadership of mayoral candidate DARRYL WALKER.  As much as residents in White Rock say they do not support “slates” (a collection of individuals running under the same banner) every time a slate is put forth they end up in power.  Previous elected slates include CITIZENS FOR POSITIVE RENEWAL and THE COALITION which held power for the previous term of council 2014-2018.

DEMOCRACY DIRECT captured the community’s imagination by taking a very strong stance against THE COALITION’S vision of a highrise community in White Rock.  

Councillor Fathers and I both were returned to city hall in 2018.  The fact both of us had just spent 4 years as odd persons out against THE COALITION, we both wondered how the new council which certainly held the power, would be to work with.   It didn’t take long for us to observe DEMOCRACY DIRECT was not voting in a block as THE COALITION had.  DEMOCRACY DIRECT councillors seemed to be all over when it came to voting.  Let me add here Councillor FATHERS and I would in broad strokes review upcoming council meetings in general terms, but neither of us ever said “How are you going to vote?”  I have been surprised on more than one occasion when Councillor FATHERS has cast her vote on an item.  That my friends is democracy in action.

This term has been a difficult one.  Not because of the make up of council, but outside extenuating circumstances kept us on our toes.  The destruction of our world famous pier in December just 2 months into our term rocked city hall as much as it did our community.  Hiring a new Chief Administrator Officer was the next big decision for council.  The CAO is the only employee of the elected council.   Council directs him, and he carries our requests to the various departments of city hall.  This flow of command seems to have been difficult for at least one member of council.  We have also witnessed a large number of staff leaving the employ of city, and virtually every one of them has gone on to another city that is able to pay them more money to do the same job.  I am proud of the staff that we work with at city hall, and I understand given the fact few actually live in White Rock, would be leaving for pastures that greener in more ways than one.

SO here we go, you may not have noticed it yet, but electioneering is always underway with members of council jockeying for October when White Rock and all the other communities in British Columbia make the decision on who will lead them into the next 4 year cycle.

When I am asked if I will run again, I answer in the affirmative.  When pushed for when I will start my election campaign, I simply reply.  It started the day after I was elected for this term.

Thank you it has been an honour to serve you.

David Chesney

Friday January 06, 2022

SHOP LOCAL

Did you?

As we went into the holiday season I was bombarded with SHOP LOCAL messages, posters, commercials blah blah blah.  I say blah blah blah because there is nothing original about the messaging, nothing that actually caused me to want more information.

But then again I don’t need to be told to shop local.  I have done it all my life.  The reasoning being is if I don’t support the local businesses they will simply disappear.  Not a week goes by that I don’t end up in a conversation with someone pining for the good old days of Buy Low and Penguin Meats, to name a few.

This year over the holidays we dined at 4 local restaurants, and my Christmas purchases tallied 2 from Blue Frog, a few purchases from the White Rock Museum craft fair,  and 3 from  Jill Martynyk’s Romancing The Home’s pop up store in Semiahmoo Mall.  Does the liquor store count?

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not going to buy anything I don’t really want or need for a gift.  It is the community connectivity that is a beautiful by product of this action.  Have you seen the movie PAY IT FORWARD?  Well we can do it right here.

IT is also important for me  to know my merchant.  How much more of an enjoyable expedience is it at Hillcrest Bakery when “George” is working?  When the weather permits it, I walk as often as I can to get around town.  It not only inadvertently affords me much needed exercise, but it allows me to stop and talk with friends and neighbours.  That is so important to me.  Over the past week I have encountered more than once an elderly customer in a business that is taking an inordinate amount of time to make and pay for their purchase as they use the opportunity to interact and talk with another human being.  If you aren’t careful you miss what is going on and  your blood pressure starts to rise.

White Rock like most cities in the Lower Mainland spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund organizations like THE WHITE ROCK BIA and WHITE ROCK TOURISM (handled by Surrey Tourism?) in an attempt to attract shoppers and visitors to our City by the Sea.  It’s effectiveness is suspect in my humble opinion. A very creative promotion a small town Ontario BIA created last year, was to under the cover of late Sunday night, brown paper over all the windows on the shops along main street with GOING OUT OF BUSINESS signs. The next morning the residents of the small town woke up thinking all the businesses had left town. The promotion won an award and it was the wake up call the community needed. Just picture driving along Johnston Road and seeing all the business windows covered up?

IF you need a New Years resolution, may I suggest you crest the doorway of any local business, extend your hand and introduce yourself and have a look around.  I guarantee you will feel better and we will all benefit from YOU shopping local

David Chesney
Editor/Publisher

P.S

Thank You Shelagh Boutell for this insoring quote