The first of three new murals in White Rock has been completed.
Located on the back of the Balsam Street Comfort Station, the mural, titled “City by the Sea” was created by artist, Rory Doyle.
According to the artist:
“The mural intends to celebrate a vintage era of White Rock’s oceanside strip through blockbuster type, housing a panoramic look at West to East. Nodding to the classic Greetings from postcard, each word holds its own experience including classic cars cruising the strip, the historic train passing through and the sun setting behind vibrant sea life.”
The next two murals will be located on the front of the Balsam Street Comfort Station as well as the city's Parkade on West Beach.
Canada names 3 Local Players to Women's Rugby World Cup 2025
World number 2-ranked Canada name their squad of 32 to compete at Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.
Head Coach Kevin Rouet has named Canada’s 32-player squad for Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, which kicks off in Sunderland, England on 22 August.
Canada will compete in Pool B with matches against Fiji at the York Community Stadium on Saturday, 23 August, before further matches against Wales in Salford on 30 August and Scotland in Exeter on 6 September.
Forwards
Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) – University of British Columbia
Backs
Shoshanah Seumanutafa (White Rock, BC) – Counties Manukau
July 25, 2025
Road Safety? We Have A 50/50 Chance
On July 22, 2025, Surrey Bylaw Enforcement - Commercial Vehicle Unit hosted a commercial vehicle enforcement check with our partners from Coquitlam Bylaw, Township of Langley Bylaw, New West Police, and the BC RCMP Hwy Patrol. The check was setup on the 7400 block of 128 Street, targeting commercial vehicles.
43 vehicles were inspected with 21 vehicles placed out of service (49%) for various safety, mechanical, and regulatory issues.
Through the duration of the check, a total of 42 tickets were issued with 74 violations identified.
Community Alert: Ricki Randall Taysup
In July 2024, Ricki Randall Taysup, now 37, was arrested in connection with an incident on June 22, 2024, in the 13600-block of 18 Avenue, where he allegedly chased and threatened a woman in the Ocean Park area. He was charged with uttering threats and has since been released on probation with strict conditions.
There have been unconfirmed reports of Taysup being seen in areas such as Crescent Beach, 16th Avenue, and Crescent Park in early 2025, potentially in violation of his probation terms. These sightings suggest he may have appeared under the influence, raising concerns for public safety, particularly in the Ocean Park area where prior incidents occurred. However, these reports could not be verified through official sources. Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any parole violations to the Surrey Police Service (SPS) non-emergency line at 604-599-0502. If you believe there is an immediate threat, call 911.
Taysup should not be confronted. If you see him, maintain a safe distance.
Taysup is under court-ordered conditions:
● prohibited from being in certain areas of the South Surrey/White Rock peninsula (see map below)
● possessing non-prescribed drugs or alcohol (except personal-use marijuana)
● carrying weapons, including knives, bear spray, or other incapacitating sprays.
Taysup’s July 2024 arrest followed community reports of harassment targeting women and girls in Ocean Park, prompting significant concern. His history allegedly includes a prior conviction for sexual assault, though specific details are not publicly available.
- Council last evening in a unanimous vote agreed to abandon any plans for a new Community Hub in uptown White Rock. The focus will now be on the current city hall site.
- Councillor MICHELLE PARTRIDGE submitted her resignation from council. This will mean the already scheduled September bi-election to fill the seat vacated by councillor ERNIE KLASSEN will now have two new councillors to be elected.
Nomination packages are now available for pick-up at City Hall (15322 Buena Vista Avenue) and can be dropped off between 9:00 a.m. on Aug. 12 and 4:00 p.m. Aug. 22, 2025. For more information on the by-election, visit www.whiterockcity.ca/elections
- the city's financial plan was given its final approval
- the North Bluff Corridor study and its ramifications to the Official Community Plan passed 3-2 with councillors Chesney and Trevelyan voting in opposition
- the next regular meeting of White Rock council will be Monday September 15 @ 4 p.m.
75,000 celebrate food, music and culture at western Canada’s largest multicultural festival
The City of Surrey’s 18th annual Surrey Fusion Festival yet again transformed Holland Park into the ultimate celebration of music, food, and culture this past weekend. Presented by Coast Capital, attendees experienced this year’s theme, Flavours of the World, at over 50 cultural pavilions representing countries from six continents. The festival was headlined by international reggae stars Easy Star All-Stars on July 19, and South Asian music icon Miss Pooja alongside Geeta Zaildar on July 20.
Chani Nattan, Inderpal Moga and Miss Pooja (left to right)
The crowd received a special surprise when Chani Nattan and Inderpal Moga joined Miss Pooja during her performance. The duo previously performed at the Let’s Hear It BC JUNOS Plaza Party earlier this year, an event also produced by the City of Surrey.
Attendees are invited to provide their feedback on the event and help shape future events via an online survey for a chance to win a $200 gift card to Guildford Town Centre at surreyfusionfestival.ca.
Surrey Police Service Expands Operations into South Surrey
Monday ( July 28) Surrey Police Service (SPS) will expand their policing service in Surrey as they begin providing policing service to the west side of South Surrey.
Since becoming the police of jurisdiction for Surrey on November 29, 2024 (see previous news release), SPS’s policing presence has been primarily concentrated in Whalley/City Centre (District 1) and Newton (District 3). The RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) has been policing the remaining police districts: Guildford (District 2), Cloverdale (District 4), and South Surrey (District 5), as part of the phased policing transition plan.
Over the past eight months, SPS has hired over 100 more police officers. This growth, along with the continuing demobilization of RCMP SPOSU members, has allowed SPS to expand its policing operations in the city. In March, SPS expanded its investigative capacity in Newton, and now SPS is ready to take over frontline and investigative duties for the west side of South Surrey. Specifically, SPS will assume responsibility for the geographic area including, and to the west of, Highway 99, including the Peace Arch Border crossing and the Semiahmoo First Nation. SPS plans to expand their service to the east side of South Surrey this fall.
Although South Surrey residents will be seeing more SPS officers in their community, there is no change to how they access police services – police office locations and phone numbers remain the same (604-599-0502 for non-emergencies or 9-1-1 for emergencies).
“Surrey Police Service is excited to continue expanding our community presence and we look forward to serving South Surrey,” said Chief Constable Norm Lipinski. “We appreciate the support from the residents and businesses during this comprehensive move to Surrey’s own police service. We also remain grateful to the RCMP for assisting us on the delivery of effective public safety in the City during the policing transition.”
In 2026, SPS plans to assume policing responsibilities in Cloverdale as the next step towards transition completion. Representatives from the City of Surrey, RCMP, Province of BC, and SPS are all working together to develop and implement each phase of the policing transition. The RCMP SPOSU will continue to provide temporary policing support in Surrey until SPS is fully established. Residents will continue to see both SPS and RCMP officers and vehicles in Surrey until the transition is completed.
NOTE: White Rock council will receive a verbal presentation this evening at the regular council meeting
@ 4 P.M. in the Community Centre uptown White Rock / Open to the public.
There will be a motion brought forth at today's council meeting on whether or not to add a Community Hub location question on the upcoming White Rock September bi-election
July 19, 2025
White Rock RCMP are launching the Home Vacation Check (HVC) program
Time for some rest and relaxation away from home?
Let the White Rock RCMP know!
The community policing section of the White Rock RCMP are launching the Home Vacation Check (HVC) program. If your residence is in White Rock, attend the White Rock RCMP Detachment located at 15299 Pacific Ave., during business hours, 5 days prior to your departure date and complete our HVC forms.
White Rock Kicks Off Pride Week with Pride Flag Raising
The City of White Rock, in conjunction with the White Rock Pride Society, yesterday afternoon welcomed the community to its annual Pride Flag Raising ceremony, marking the official start of celebrations across the city from July 18 to 25, 2025.
Celebration of Light Returns for 2025
If you love fireworks it is that time of the year again.
The SYMPHONY OF FIRE this year is broken down into three shows each presented by a Province.
NOTE: WHITE ROCK will once again have a fireworks display over Semiahmoo Bay as part of this years Sea Festival.
Sunday August 03 to close out the annual Sea Festival.
In my years as the manager of promotions for EPIC records in British Columbia I had the extreme pleasure of working with many giants of the music industry. I was in the right place at the right time.
One of my favourite acts I worked with on many occasions was OZZY OSBOURNE. His world tours landed in Vancouver a number of times. I had left the employ of CBS when the OSBOURNES TV show debuted. Out of curiosity I tuned in the show and was somewhat taken back. The “character” OZZY played a drug addled old man shuffling aimlessly around his Beverly Hills mansion was not the OZZY I knew.
The OZZY I knew was sharp as a tack and a true pleasure to be in his company.
In an effort to not wander I will concentrate on just a few Kodak moments.
Prior to one of OZZY’S concerts we visited CFOX radio the rock radio station that was responsible for OZZY’S popularity in Vancouver. As we left the radio station OZZY looked across the street and noticed the beautiful old restored post war residence on Richards street. Anyone who drove that street in the 80’s will vividly remember there was an old house that had put hung dozens of birdhouses all along the outdoor veranda. OZZY saw the owner and elderly gentleman sitting on the porch, OZZY said “Can we go over for a visit?” I said sure. We walked up the stairs and OZZZY introduced himself to the gentleman and told him how much he admired his bird houses, the elderly gentleman said “Sit down and visit.” So for a half hour we sat and whiled away the afternoon shooting the breeze. I will never know if the elderly gentleman knew who OZZY was of how he had somewhat rose to infamy by biting the head off of a dove.
On another tour to help the radio station promote the upcoming show I devised a promotion called "YOU CAN OPEN FOR OZZY". No not your band but the music that would be programmed in the Coliseum between opening act MOTLEY CRUE'S set and OZZY’S show would be a play-list of music the lucky winner could create that would be pumped through the venue system. Part of the prize package was also to meet OZZY and receive a gold record.
The draw for the winner was made a week or so before the concert, I contacted the young winner who lived in Richmond and got his address details and told him a limousine would pick him and ONE of his friends and deliver them to the backstage entrance of the Coliseum where I would meet them. The night of the concert arrived and it was a beautiful summer night. OZZY and I happened to be standing out back between the tour buses drinking in the beauty of the North Shore mountains. All of a sudden we both heard this helacious noise coming from the driveway into the backstage area. Up pulled the limousine with my LUCKY WINNER and the doors flew open and about a dozen young kids poured out of the limo, the pot smoke billowed out like something from a Cheech and Chong movie. Then one kid jumped out, pumped his fists in the air with the devil sign and screamed OOOOOOZZZZZZYYYYY! He had not seen us thankfully, OZZY turned to me and “Said who the hell is that? I explained he was the lucky winner he was going to meet. OZZY fled into the venue and hid in his dressing room. I got the lucky winner settled down backstage and went to calm OZZY down, OZZY said he would only meet the kid if I could get a couple of big security guys to accompany him. No problem. I found a couple of security guys I knew and explained what was needed. No problem Dave.
So I get the lucky winner sequestered in an empty dressing room backstage, find the gold record the kid was doing to get. Settle him down and I went and got OZZY and the security guys. I found OZZY in his dressing room surrounded by kids playpens, stuffed toys galore, baby cuddle seats etc. as he and his wife Sharon who was travelling with OZZY on tour had two young children at that point. The four of us walked back to the kid in the dressing room, as soon as OZZY walked into the room the kid came undone, start crying and shaking and mumbling. We quickly got the presentation done and as OZZY was walking out of the room with security on either side, the kid stuck his hands down the front of his pants and let out a blood curdling scream…. OOOOOZZZYYYY! We all spun around at the same time, not knowing if the kid had a gun or what was happening, the security smothered OZZY, the kid pulled up his shirt and on his t shirt underneath he had written the Tibetan script from OZZY’S latest album on his homemade t-shirt. He proudly shouted through his tears and trembling voice “OZZY I FIGURED IT OUT.”
We all collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
You're free now OZZY I thank you for your time and professional courtesy on each and every encounter.
Come to the Cloverdale station today (Saturday) and enjoy the music of Garth Johannsson, part of our Summer Music Festival! There is no admission fee for the two sets at 11:00 and 1:00.
Garth's versatile voice allows him to excel in various genres, though he particularly enjoys rockabilly and classic hits from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, including rock and roll, country, and Gospel.
A Surrey native, Garth developed his passion for music early on, delving into singing, accordion, and piano from a young age, later forming his first band at 13. Over the years, he became a sought-after performer in local venues across British Columbia, showcasing his exceptional vocal talent. Recently, he has returned to the music scene, captivating audiences at restaurants and coffee houses.
Face paint by Haven Makeovers Balloons by Capt’n Korki
