We want to hear from you! Your input will inform the Corridor Study.
The City is conducting a Corridor Study to assess the long-term land use and density in Uptown (town centre and town centre transition designations) along North Bluff Road in consultation with Surrey’s approved Semiahmoo Town Centre Plan.
Attend the North Bluff Road Corridor Study Open House and learn about the project and help identify community values, priorities, and future needs.
Join us on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Avenue, White Rock.
April 01, 2025
White Rock Council Rewind
- QUESTION/ANSWER PERDIOD
At the beginning of each council meeting members of the community and can simply ask staff and council questions direct. Last evening a host of topics were discussed. Infrastructure on GOGGS AVENUE east-side needs attention sooner than later as there was a water main break last week, the second this year. Residents of 1220 Fir Street were on hand to express their concern about the highrise hub uptown as well as possible plans for a four storey building on the current community hub location.
- REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
- Council approved a request by staff for funding to replace the last half of streetlights with new LED lights.
- Initial review of an application for a four storey building to be located @ 14981/14985 Marine Drive. Staff recommended council hold off the application until the Marine Drive study is completed in late 2026
- Dogs on leash on the promenade during the summer months in the hours 5:30 a.m. - a.m. received a third reading. Final reading will be considered at the next council meeting.
- The 5 year Financial Plan received final reading.
City of Surrey proposes 2.8% general property tax increase
City of Surrey’s 2025-2029 General Operating and Capital Budgets are now available for the public to view. The Budgets have been formulated based on direction from Surrey Council, reflecting City strategies, resource requirements to maintain service delivery and feedback on community priorities obtained during the City’s budget engagement process.
The property tax increases proposed in the 2025 General Operating Budget are as follows:
2.8% General Property Tax increase (approximately $77 for the average assessed single-family home) to fund:
General inflationary pressures
Hiring of additional 20 Fire Services positions and 10 bylaw positions for 2025, as well as funding 25 police positions.
City-wide operations
1% Roads and Traffic Levy (approximately $27 for the average assessed single-family home)
If the proposed increases are approved, the City’s portion of property taxes for the average assessed single family home in the City of Surrey would be $3,169, which would place Surrey in the bottom third of the region for property taxes collected for the respective average assessed home in Metro Vancouver.
Among other key initiatives, the City is moving forward with transformative projects ranging from a 10,000-seat Sports and Entertainment Arena and an Interactive Art Museum—both set to become cornerstones of Surrey’s emerging City Centre Entertainment District - to smaller investments including an Ash-Scattering Pier off the banks of the Fraser River.
The proposed Capital Plan also includes moving ahead with the new Newton Community Centre, as well as a significant $446 million investment in capital road works over five years to enhance the City’s transportation infrastructure.
A public meeting of the Finance Committee will be held April 14, 2025 at 1pm to consider the 2025 Budget.
The public can provide comments in person at the Finance Committee meeting or through written submissions
(email clerks@surrey.ca or fill out an online form). The deadline for written comments is April 11, 2024.
The 2025 General Operating and Capital Program Budget reports can be found at the following links:
Friends, family and fans of local artist ELIZABETH HOLLICK turned out in droves Friday evening to the White Rock Playhouse to pay tribute to ELIZABETH.
Hundreds of sketches, art books and paintings were given away, raffled off or auctioned off to those in attendance.
Last summer ELIZABETH suffered a stroke which has necessitated that she be moved to a care home. Elizabeth was in attendance and took a time to visit with each of the well wishers.
An unforgettable evening of art! Elizabeth Hollick had a stroke, and to make room to support her care she has decided she would like to give away 70 original paintings. Free!
As well, there will be a small number of paintings to purchase through an auction and 100 filled sketch books (also free!)
Elizabeth Hollick is known for her decades of community involvement, through murals including “The Wonderful Year We Fell In Love” outside the playhouse. She is also the founder of the Larger than Life drawing group, and was awarded the Order of White Rock for her service to the community. Her cheerfulness, humour and generous nature are beloved in White Rock.
It only seemed appropriate the event be held at THE PLAYHOUSE uptown that a number of years ago was adorned with a beautiful mural created by ELIZABETH.
...an they're off
Supporters of South Surrey/White Rock Liberal candidate ERNIE KLASSEN turned out yesterday afternoon at the Peace Arch to be a part of the official kick off for KLASSEN'S election campaign.
KLASSEN told the crowd he chose the Peace Arch as a symbol of one of the defining issues of this years election, Canada's sovereignty.
He related how his mother and family had fled the Ukraine in the 40's to come to this wonderful new world of Canada to build a life and a family.
March 29, 2025
You're The Answer
For months TRANSLINK has been trying to come up with a solution to their massive debt load and annual operating costs?
TransLink’s board Friday cam up with a solution by approving a 4% fare increase effective July 1, 2025.
Single-zone fares will rise by 15 cents to $3.35, two-zone fares by 20 cents to $4.85, and three-zone fares by 25 cents to $6.60.
The transit authority expects a $72 million shortfall this year and an annual $600 million deficit starting in 2026.
No Track for Amtrak
All but one Amtrak Cascades trains in the Pacific Northwest have been taken out of service, due to corrosion.
In the short-term, buses have been secured to transport passengers to their destinations through March 30.
Amtrak is determining how to replace the grounded trains by redistributing other trains in its national fleet.
The Pacific Northwest is set to be the first home for one of Amtrak’s next-generation trains starting in 2026.
The first set of what will eventually be 83 initial train sets rolling out nationwide are set to be deployed to the Amtrak Cascades route between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, B.C. Their manufacture schedule remains on track.
Surrey Police Service (SPS) is notifying the public of a number of distraction thefts that have occurred since January 1, 2025, in the City of Surrey.
Since the start of the year there have been several distraction thefts that have occurred in Surrey. While there are varied suspect and vehicle descriptions and locations throughout the city, officers with SPS and the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) are actively investigating all these similar offence incidents.
Some common Modus Operandi (M.O.) include:
One or more persons approach a victim and advise them they need gas and convince the victim to provide them with money on the spot or to withdraw cash from their bank accounts.
One or more persons approach a victim and attempts to sell them gold jewelery or an iPhone. After the transaction, the victims discover that the gold is fake, and the phone does not function.
One or more persons approach a victim and during their interaction remove the victims’ jewelery and replace it with costume jewelery.
SPS is advising the public to be aware of their surroundings and to familiarize themselves with these current crime M.O.’s. If anyone notices suspicious persons or vehicles following them, they should contact SPS immediately. Finally, SPS is discouraging the public from purchasing any items from strangers who approach them in public or from non trusted sources.
March 28, 2025
Where There's A Fence - There's A Way
Surrey's fencing of BNSF land along Bayview St. continues and may be adding to railway trespassing.
Instead of folks walking to the end of Bayview St. and cutting directly across the tracks, they are now walking along the rail corridor from the McBride Ave. crossing.
All this $650,000 fence is doing is adding to the number of people on the railway. Just wait for when it's a warm and sunny weekend to see how busy it gets.
Surrey Langley SkyTrain Construction Update
Construction for the Green Timbers Station is starting! To safely build the station above Fraser Highway, a full road closure between 140 St and 96 Ave will be in effect from April 1 through October 2025.
What to expect:
Utility upgrades, roadwork & station foundation construction
Full closure of vehicle lanes, sidewalks & pathways
Primary alternate route: 96 Avenue via 148 Street
Intermittent Overnight Closures (8 p.m. – 5 a.m.) will also occur between 96 Ave & 148 St as needed. Traffic will be redirected via 148 St & 96 Ave.
Plan ahead & follow detour signs! Thank you for your patience.
Former premier CHRISTY CLARK had hoped to parachute into the riding.
Don't Fence Me In or is it Out?
The fencing has begun along Bayview St. in Crescent Beach with heavy concrete no-post curbing and an industrial chain link fence that stands 7' tall.
Because of the unexpected costs for 215 concrete blocks, mounting brackets and base prep, which total an estimated $150,000, Maple St. will not be fenced off. the new installation will remove over 100 free sparking spots and quick and easy access to the beach area south of Beecher Street.
This weekly TNT column in the White Rock Sun has few constraints put on it by Editor Dave Chesney other than to be focused on local issues. Because of this I usually shy away from topics you might find in the National Post newspaper and try to avoid stories about Ottawa and Washington DC like the plague. With White Rock perched along Boundary Bay and Surrey sharing the USA border with Washington State, I have decided it's time to delve into international politics for a change. The fact my given name is Donald also has something to do with this and how the American President is giving all us Donalds a bad reputation. I also don't want to ignore the elephant in the room that is the US tariffs, which go into effect this week one day late on April 2nd.
This is an attack on democracy, and David Eby has no justification for the Bill. Join me at my town hall meeting to voice your concerns, and sign the petition to stop Bill 7.? Location: White Rock Community Centre15154 Russell Ave, White Rock
FRED PARTRIDGE and "The Dame"
Utility upgrades, roadwork & station foundation construction
Intermittent Overnight Closures (8 p.m. – 5 a.m.) will also occur between 96 Ave & 148 St as needed. Traffic will be redirected via 148 St & 96 Ave.
Plan ahead & follow detour signs! Thank you for your patience.
