For newcomers to our area, it used to be a quiet and peaceful place with people choosing to live here for moderate temperatures, lots of sunshine, clean air and being away from flight routes to and from Vancouver International Airport (YVR). That changed back in May, 2007 when commercial aircraft suddenly appeared, flying low over both White Rock and South Surrey on inbound flights to the airport. This occurred when Nav Canada, the company that manages air traffic control over Canada, decided to make changes to their approaches and departures, without bothering to inform the communities that were to be impacted. What made this tough to swallow was that Nav Canada offices were in Newton, about a five minute drive from where Surrey City Hall was located at that time, yet they did not alert Surrey about the impending changes to flight routes.
To say that the poop hit the turbofan over this sudden and noisy change would be an understatement. The Semiahmoo peninsula community came together to pressure both White Rock and Surrey governments, plus Nav Canada and the Federal Transportation Minister on this issue. For a year this was the hot button issue for municipalities south of the Fraser including Delta and Richmond as well. When the jet smoke finally cleared, noise monitoring terminals (NMT) were placed throughout the region, the automated flight paths were moved towards Delta, with visual flight rule (VFR) planes coming from the south directed to fly "in the middle of Boundary Bay. The idea behind this was to keep commercial jets away from formerly quiet residential neighbourhoods, direct them away from eagle nesting sites and also keep them away from the shores of Crescent Beach. For some historical content, check out this Surrey corporate report from April of 2008: Surrey https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/corporate-reports/RPT_2008_R070.pdf
One of the other outcomes from this time was that YVR adopted WebTrak, allowing anyone online to track airplane movements throughout the Lower Mainland airspace plus review the decibel readings at the noise monitoring stations throughout the region. It shows what planes are arriving (red) or departing (green), their height, speed and type of aircraft. You can watch this aerial ballet in real time with a 10 minute security delay, which should give you an idea of the complexity involved in safely running the many airports throughout the Lower Mainland. Of particular concern for Semi-Pen residents is planes arriving from the south heading to YVR. Since 2008 these planes, especially those given visual flight clearance by Nav Canada's Air Traffic Control, are supposed to avoid the peninsula and stay in the middle of Boundary Bay. You can find YVR's Noise Management website and WebTrak at the following links but note that military, police and "special operations" flights are not shown to the public.
The problem is that the final agreement by Nav Canada to move commercial jets away from the Semi-Pen was made 18 years ago. Much has changed in aviation over that time and Nav Canada has seen many staffing changes with Air Traffic Controllers and Nav Canada management getting old and retiring. Over the past year I have started to see more and more commercial jets flying over Crescent Beach and Ocean Park with increasing regularity. Most of these will stray over the Crescent Beach as they make their turn to the north heading to YVR. We live in Crescent Heights and it is not uncommon to hear and see planes flying down 128 St. in Ocean Park. On March 24th I heard a plane far west of our house and went to WebTrak to see a jet that was at 132 St. As if to showcase how common this now is, in the middle of writing this TNT we had two jets fly over our neighbourhood. The first was a Westjet B738 at 9:38 p.m. that crossed the tip of Crescent Beach, generating a 59 dB noise signal at Ocean Cliff elementary on 20 Ave. where the NMT is located. Not long after that, another B738 800 Max crossed into Ocean Park on a NE trajectory, flying directly over the Ocean Cliff NMT at 9:54 p.m. generating a noise reading of 68 dB.
For noise, those under 70 dB are considered safe with this level being similar to normal conversations or a dishwasher running in your kitchen. Anything over 70 is considered harmful with 75 dB being likened to landscaping equipment (mowers and blowers) heard from inside your home. 80 dB is equivalent to the inside of an airplane or an electric vacuum running in the room. While the noise outside the house from these commercial planes can be annoying outside in the yard or at the beach, they become aggravating when you are asleep and they fly over the house after 11:00 p.m. waking you up. This gets even worse when the weather improves and we sleep with the windows of the bedroom open for fresh air, letting the jet noise into the room instead of it being deadened by double pane high efficiency windows. When you are used to peace and quiet plus purposely bought property away from YVR flight paths, you notice the noise pollution from these planes flying overhead when they are not supposed to be there.
Since 2008 the City of Surrey has been a permanent member of the YVR Aeronautical Noise Management Committee. It is time for Mayor Locke and city staff to again raise the south Surrey overflight issue with YVR and Nav Canada. They need to be reminded that jets arriving from the US and given VFR clearance must be directed to fly over the middle of Boundary Bay and stay away from the residential neighbourhoods of South Surrey plus the marine recreational areas of Crescent Beach and Crescent Rock beach where people go to relax with nature. Surrey needs to ask for and receive maps showing the flight arrival tracks on a monthly basis for the past two years to see if this problem is increasing and get an idea how often it is occurring. When you consider we had two Boeing 800 Max planes fly over our neighbourhood in only 14 minutes on a Sunday night, it gives you an indication that Nav Canada has completely forgotten about their agreement from May of 2008 that overflights would only happen when there were safety incidents that warranted the use of our air space. Considering there were no other planes in the region tonight, this was not the case.
Should you wish to make an aircraft noise complaint to YVR, you can do so online at https://complaint-ca.emsbk.com/yvr8 . I would suggest noting in their extra information section that planes arriving from the south on VFR are to be directed by Air Traffic Control to "the middle of Boundary Bay" as was agreed to by Nav Canada and the City of Surrey back in 2008.
You can also leave a voice message on YVR's noise information line at 604-207-7097, giving the event information plus again notifying them that VFR overflights across the Semiahmoo peninsula have not been allowed unless for safety reasons since 2008.
Commercial jets flying over South Surrey can also be reported to the City of Surrey, informing them these VFR flights are supposed to be in the middle of Boundary Bay, not over quiet neighbourhoods and the waterfront. https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/report-problem-or-submit-request
Last but not least, while the City of Surrey media department does follow this TNT in the White Rock Sun and will be aware of this issue, emails to Mayor Locke, Surrey Council, or the Clerks office at clerks@surrey.ca should help to clip Nav Canada's wings.
Surrey Police Service Investigating Ocean Park Home Invasion
Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating a home invasion that resulted in injuries to a 65-year-old woman.
Friday morning at approximately 11:15 am, SPS officers responded to a residence in the 14400 block of 32B Avenue where it was reported that armed individuals had attended and departed. Inside the residence, a 65-year-old female was located suffering from a serious injury consistent with being struck by an object. She has been transported to hospital to receive treatment.
SPS Major Crime Section investigators are now assisting with the investigation.
This incident is in the early stages of investigation, and the motives of the suspects are not known.
Anyone with information should contact SPS’s non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 26-28314 (SP) or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Semi Trucks On 16th Avenue - How Safe Are They?
This past week Abbotsford police department Traffic Enforcement Unit partnered with Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) and the Passenger Transportation Branch to conduct commercial vehicle safety checks in Abbotsford.
As a result of the enforcement initiative, the following occurred:
9 vehicle inspections conducted / 44 violations identified / 5 vehicles removed from service / 1 vehicle towed
12 violation tickets issued / 9 Notices and Orders issued 30 violation tickets issued by Traffic Enforcement Unit members (including speeding, insecure cargo, no driver’s licence, among others)
The Extreme Weather Alert issued for Surrey-White Rock has been extended.
Based on current forecasts, it is expected that this Alert will remain in effect tonight Monday (March 30) nights.
March 29, 2026
No Kings In Blaine
NO KINGS DAY protests took place all across the United states yesterday. Our closest neighbours right across the border in Blaine WA were out in force in downtown to join the ever growing movement in America.
Millions of Americans around the America yesterday took to the streets nonviolently to make it clear: Extolling their country belongs to the people. They do not answer to strongmen, greedy billionaires, or anyone wishing to rule through fear and violence. They have the power and are claiming it together.
Bruce Springsteen gave a performance of his protest song “Streets of Minneapolis” on Saturday at the No Kings protest in St. Paul, Minnesota, honoring the locals and commending them for their “hope” and “courage” amid ICE’s clashes with demonstrators earlier this year.
Following an introduction from Gov. Tim Walz, who called President Donald Trump a “wannabe dictator,” Springsteen took the stage at the Minnesota State Capitol to address the crowd. “This past winter, federal troops brought death and terror to the streets of Minneapolis,” he said. “Well, they picked the wrong city. The power and the solidarity of the people of Minneapolis and Minnesota was an inspiration to the entire country.”
No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.
Don't Take Your Guns To Town Son
During a recent routine fare check at the Whalley GATEWAY Skytrain Station transit police discovered a loaded handgun with ammunition. The individual subjected to the random search also had outstanding arrest warrants when apprehended. He is now in custody where he will remain until he appears in court.
The particular SKYTRAIN along with the Whalley stop both have been of grave concern to authorities as well as individuals using rapid transit from Whalley heading west.
For years these particular stops have resembled a drug bazaar in a third world country.
Keep it up SPS!
March 26, 2026
What's Happening With Kerry Lynne Findlay?
DAVID DENHOFF the campaign manager for former federal cabinet minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay has quit and thrown his support behind rival candidate Caroline Elliott.
Findlay entered the race with significant momentum. An ERG National Research poll released in mid-February showed her commanding a substantial lead among those considering a BC Conservative membership, capturing 44 per cent first-choice support — more than double Caroline Elliott’s 19.5 per cent. Though a recent poll put PETER MILOBAR and CARO
All leadership candidates are required to submit $40,000 in fees to the party by April 1, followed by another $60,000 April 18.
Candidates are also responsible for repaying any loans they might take out. As well as paying vendors, suppliers and staff.
“I’d be surprised to see Kerry-Lynne Findlay on the final ballot,” said Denhoff.
Late Tuesday night Findlay posted a response, suggesting she had removed Denhoff as part of restructuring. “David played a major role on our team. He was never the official Campaign Manager,” Strong campaigns are built on structure, accountability and execution. That’s exactly what we were addressing last weekend. David played a major role on our team. He was never the official Campaign Manager. When someone is asked to step aside, there’s a right way to handle it. Endorsing a rival on your way out the door isn’t it. That’s not principled – that’s opportunistic. "
We Are The Champions
Congratulations to the White Rock Whalers on their playoff win in the Harold Brittain Conference Championship!
The Whalers took the championship in the best of 7 playoffs 4-1 over the Mission City Outlaws for an exciting series.
White Rock Whalers JR. A Hockey Club is a a proud member of the Pacific Junior Hockey League.
Their home Ice is Centennial Arena, White Rock.
Our other Junior hockey team that makes its home on the Semiahmoo Peninsula play their final regular home game this Sunday @ South Surrey Arena. (information below)
March 25, 2026
Maternity Ward Closes Again
The maternity unit at White Rock’s Peace Arch Hospital is facing its sixth and longest temporary closure of the year.
Beginning this morning ( Wednesday, March 25, at 8 a.m. until Tuesday, March 31, at 8 a.m.,) expectant parents will be diverted to other care facilities.
Six days marks the longest the unit has been forced to divert patients since the closures became a regular occurrence.
Fraser Health says the diversions are due to an ongoing shortage of OBGYNs after “unexpected departures.”
The timing of future diversions is “dynamic,” Fraser Health says, and may be announced on short notice in reaction to unexpected absences and doctors calling in sick.
“If you are in labour or have a pregnancy concern, please call the Maternity Unit first. Our staff will direct you to the appropriate hospital for care,” said the health authority in a post to social media.
Hats Off To Surrey
Join us every Wednesday evening this April at a different local park to plant large park trees and help grow Surrey’s urban forest. We’ll provide the tools and training; you bring the enthusiasm!
Meet your neighbours, bring a picnic, and be part of something special.
Everyone is welcome. Let’s make a difference, one tree at a time!
Join me as I sit down with JENNIFER M MAKI for a Soulful Session as we talk about KINDNESS & COMMUNITY.
Why do I live in White Rock?
What is my history with White Rock and what is my vision for the future of OUR White Rock?
What with our Official Community Plan underway, a Fall election this year and the changing face of White Rock there is no shortage of things to discuss.
Video of the Day
Thought For The Day
The South Surrey - White Rock Federal Liberal Association would like to invite you to join them for an evening variety show in support of their work to keep building Canada strong.
It's sure to be a fun evening! Get your tickets here:
