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Where You Can Vacation And Be Home The Same Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

TNT The Naked Truth

Don Pitcairn

Monday February 10, 2025

Offensive Fence

The old adage "If you first don't succeed, try, try again" certainly comes to mine on the concept of fencing in the BNSF Railway at Crescent Beach.  The idea is simple enough, install chain link fencing to keep people from trespassing on the train tracks.  The long term goal is that by cutting down on pedestrian trespassing, train whistle cessation for the two at grade crossings might be possible, bringing some peace and quiet to this sleepy seaside hamlet.  This story goes way back with a different corporate report coming out seemingly once a year to see how this project could possibly be moved forward.  The initial idea was for Surrey to build a fence on BNSF property to keep trespassers out.  After five years of fruitless negotiations, the BNSF would not not budge on their demands for an annual lease payment (with built in increases), plus indemnity and liability being covered by the City.  I wrote about this years ago accusing the Railway of being more interested in squeezing tax-payer money out of Surrey than they were about railway safety.

Apparently hoping that the third time is the proverbial charm, a new corporate report from the City of Surrey outlines their latest plan to fence off the BNSF Railway to stop trespassing and hopefully quiet the 130 dB train horns from blasting day and night.  The new 1.8 m. high chain link fence is proposed to run along Surrey property south from the crossing at Beecher street along the west side of Bayview Street to where the homes end and the ravine park begins.  Of course there will be an opening at McBride Ave. allowing cars and people to reach the beach.  On the other side of the tracks this new fence will run along the back of Heron Park, do a quick turn and then continue running south along the edge of Maple Street to the McBride Ave. crossing and on to the south end of Crescent Beach.  In this plan there is no fencing planned for adjacent to the shoreline just past the last two homes, even though this area is criss-crossed with trails that people use to leave the beach when the tide is high or the drainage ditch is full of water.  I know several people who have received trespassing tickets from BNSF Police in this spot when it was the only safe area to exit the beach. 


The reason why this project was originally shelved was that it runs along the very narrow Bayview Ave. where a large number of roadside parking spots would be fenced off.  The same is true for along Maple St. where people often park in summer as the trees along the green space provide cooling shade for their vehicles.  There are five parking spots off the road at the very end of Maple that are coveted by people with mobility challenges as it is only steps to the beach from this prime location.  If this ridiculous plan goes ahead, there will be an ugly industrial fence along the entire area, while a large number of parking spots will be wiped out.  The City estimates that 50-60 parking spaces on Bayiew Ave. will be eliminated while 7-15 will disappear along Maple St.  I guess that staffers did not visit these areas in summer as my parking estimates are for a loss of 35-40 along Maple St. and over 100 on Bayview Ave., with possibly more if this includes the gravel parking area near Beecher Street.  In a previous corporate report on Crescent Beach parking it was revealed that illegal landscaping and no parking signs had reduced parking in this hamlet from 1,200 to 800 spots.  This fencing program will reduce the overall beach parking spots by about a further 15%.

For much of Maple St., thick foliage infested with Himalayan blackberries are a major deterrence to anyone looking to access the tracks, especially if they are wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sandals.  Many areas along Bayview Ave. are the same with the tracks being inaccessible from blackberries that are impenetrable.  If you look at the artist renderings in the 2025 corporate report the fence will be located adjacent to the asphalt.  This means that pedestrians walking to the beach, including with families with children, strollers and wagons will be on these narrow roadways with nowhere to go when cars are driving by.  Keeping people off the tracks might make the rail corridor safer, but it is going to endanger anybody walking next to the fence that places them in harm's way.  Surrey might be able to reduce train whistles with this dangerous plan but they would likely be replaced by the sound of ambulances and emergency vehicle sirens.  The artists renderings in the most recent corporate report clearly show how pedestrians would be impacted and threatened by passing cars.  It would be an absolute travesty to even consider such a thing and those endorsing this ludicrous plan really need to have their heads examined.

In Crescent Beach, parking is needed for people to enjoy going to the beach.  The BNSF works area near Beecher St. needs to be secured and posted for for both no trespassing, no parking and as a tow away zone as it should not be a public parking lot.  In areas where there are trails accessing the train tracks, Surrey should follow Delta's lead and simply fill them with dead and dried blackberry canes from other locations to keep people out.  The RCMP/SPS rides shotgun with the BNSF Police on their high-railer cars and it is time for them to start handing out tickets for train track trespassers.  In 2021 Transport Canada raised the fine from $100 to $500 for anyone caught on railway property.  Some signage stating that the fine for trespassing is $500 per person might catch people's attention.  This asinine plan from Surrey does not to need to back to the drawing board for a fourth time, it needs to be put into a shredder.  The $600,000 needed for the proposed fence would be much better spent for rail safety improvements somewhere else in the City of Surrey where it does not endanger the lives and safety of both residents and visitors.  Please take a moment to let the General Manager of Surrey's Engineering Dept, Mr. Scott Newman, know that this BNSF fence plan is both ridiculous and dangerous.  His phone number is 604-591-4042 and email is SNeuman@surrey.ca .

Here are the links to the corporate reports with the 2025 listing showing a detailed map and artists renderings.

Naturally yours,

Don Pitcairn

I wish to acknowledge we live work and play on the traditional lands of the Semiahmoo People.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local News 

February 10, 2025

White Rock Council - Today's Agenda

(click here for the agenda)

 

 

BC RCMP notifies IIO BC of an incident in Surrey



The BC RCMP has notified the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIO BC) of an incident in Surrey where one individual has died.

Yesterday (Sunday February 9) at approximately 2:39pm, police received a call that an individual was in distress and reportedly armed with a firearm in a school yard, in the area of 7000 block of 188th street. 

Police officers from the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) attended and located the individual.

After an extensive interaction, shots were fired in the area of 185th Street and 70th Avenue in Surrey, B.C. BC Emergency Health Services (EHS) was staged nearby and were immediately called in to attend and provide medical care, however the individual has died. No one else was injured during this interaction.

The IIO BC was notified and are attending the scene to investigate police actions in this incident. The area has been cordoned off in order to support the investigation.

As the matter is now under investigation by the IIO BC, no further information will be released by police.

Please note that all aspects and circumstances of this incident will be the subject of independent investigation by the IIO BC. For more information about the IIO BC and media updates, you can visit its website at www.iiobc.

 

February 05, 2025

Major Traffic Flow Change April 01 - This Is No Joke

Commuters who use the Fraser Highway in Surrey should be prepared for some big delays beginning this spring.

A stretch of the highway between 140 Street and 96 Avenue will be closed from April 1 as part of the construction of the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension.

The closure will be 7 months long, set to wrap up around Oct. 31.

 

Cold Weather Overnight Shelter Extends Operation 

 

White Rock's Coffee Landscape Welcomes Coffee Chain

Vancouver based coffee chain ARTIGIANO has announced their plans to expand their current location of 30 stores with new shops in East, West and North Vancouver, Burnaby and White Rock all opening by the end of June.

The actual location in White Rock has not been identified, currently BEAN AROUND THE WORLD is the only chain outlet for coffee in White Rock proper. 

STARBUCKS who at one time had a location on the waterfront in White Rock on West Beach has two locations in South Surrey. 

 

FEBRUARY 04, 2025

City trucks have been working on clearing priority routes including bus routes, emergency access routes, and major roads. If your vehicle is not equipped for winter weather, please stay home. Residents and businesses are required to clear snow and ice from sidewalks surrounding their property following a snowfall as per City Bylaw No. 1529.

Learn more about public responsibilities for clearing snow and ice at https://tinyurl.com/35uy46ys .

 

February 03, 2025   

We are going to be getting snow, rain, and cold weather this week, here is the link to the White Rock snow clearing map. 

Major routes are cleared first, followed by smaller roads, and the hills are shut down. Be careful and watch for black ice as well.

 

Time to Help

NAOMI MITCHELL has been a fixture in our community for decades. Her tireless volounteering for events is only a small portion of how much NAOMI has given to our community.

If you have visited the White Rock Playhouse in recent memory you would have seen and or met NAOMI who has helped for years in the operation of our community theatre. She has given unselfishly to us, now it is time for us to return the favour.

GO FUND ME LINK 

My name is Stu and I am the proud son of Naomi Mitchell

My mom is an awesome lady. She raised my brother and I on her own while working full-time as an elementary school teacher. She is now 85 years old and rents a humble, one-room basement suite which is all she can afford on her small pension. Money has always been tight for my mom, but since her retirement she has managed to put a small amount away each month and, until recently, had saved $35,000 for emergencies and end of life care.

Last week my mom fell victim to a heartless phone scam which robbed her of $20,000 from her savings. The perpetrators said that her bank accounts were at risk of being siphoned, and kept her on the phone for a full day, instructing her to make two $10,000 cash withdrawals which they would ‘transfer to a safe account’.

I helped my mom file a report with police who said there was no hope she would see the money again.

It has been heartbreaking to see her go through this, not only losing money, but her faith in humanity.

I hope both of these losses can be restored as my mom witnesses the kindness and compassion of friends, family and even strangers.

Thank you for your time, generosity and support!

 

January 31, 2025

Who Knows Junos?

Photo caption: Mayor Brenda Locke and the 2025 Vancouver JUNO Host Committee announcing Let’s Hear it BC JUNOS Plaza Party at Surrey City Hall on Jan. 30, 2025.  

The City of Surrey will produce and host the Let’s Hear it BC JUNOS Plaza Party at Surrey Civic Plaza from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 15. As one of six cities on the Let’s Hear it BC JUNO Tour ahead of the JUNO Awards in Vancouver on Sunday, Mar. 30, the Let’s Hear it BC JUNOS Plaza Party will bring the spirit of the JUNOS to the heart of Surrey. This free music festival invites residents to experience over 30 artists across six stages. Attendees can also enjoy family programming, local music organizations, exhibitors, and food trucks.

The Let’s Hear it BC JUNOS Plaza Party will bring the JUNOS experience to Surrey with an all-day celebration of music, food and culture. Attendees can look forward to free live music from local and regional talent across six stages: the Main Stage on the Plaza; 5X Art Party with South Asian DJs; family programming on the Community Stage; and local musicians performing throughout the Plaza, City Centre Library, and Dominion restaurant in the Civic Hotel. Headliners will be announced later in February. 

“The Let’s Hear It BC JUNO Tour is all about bringing the spirit of the JUNOS to your hometown and showcasing the incredible talent that thrives in all corners of our province. From emerging artists to seasoned performers, we’re bringing their stories and sounds to the stage for everyone to enjoy,” shared Nate Sabine, co-chair of the Vancouver JUNO Host Committee. “Surrey has long been a vibrant epicenter for music, particularly South Asian music, nurturing incredible talent and shaping the sound of an entire generation. This makes it a natural stop for the tour, especially in the year the JUNOS introduced the South Asian Music Recording of the Year category. This event is more than just a celebration of music—it’s a celebration of community, culture, and the creative spirit that makes our province so special. Join us as we shine a spotlight on the voices that deserve to be heard!”  

The Let’s Hear it BC JUNOS Plaza Party offers a unique opportunity for residents to experience the spirit of the JUNOS for free. For more information, visit surrey.ca/junosplazaparty.

 

  


 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Funnies

(click here for the rest of the funnies)

 

In My Opinion 

Thank You President Trump

 

THANK YOU for waking up this great nation of ours.  

You see we just been rolling along trying to be nice to everyone, to be a very welcoming country and generally being proud that most non-Canadians in good humour mock the fact how nice and polite we are.

Qualities you seem to be devoid of.

(click here for the full story)

 

Video Of The Day 

 

SCOTT GOMEZ in his first year of coaching THE SURREY EAGLES of the BCHL gets a visit from one of his old NHL buddies PAUL BISSONNETTE from the popular web series SPITTIN CHICLETS.

 

Joke Of The Day 

A friend of mine has two tickets for the 2025 Super bowl.

They are box seats plus airfares and hotel accommodations. He didn't realize when he bought them that this is the same day as his wedding - so he can't go.

If you're interested and want to go instead of him, it's at St. Peter's Church in New York City at 5 PM. Her name is Donna. She will be the one in the white dress.


Thought For The Day 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Events

Support the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser on February 22, 2025, at White Rock Beach.

This winter-friendly, family fundraising walk supports local charities and helps individuals experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Join the cause by walking, fundraising, donating, volunteering, or teaming up with friends to make a difference—because it’s cold out there.

Support the Rotary Club of White Rock in making a difference! Join our team or contribute to our fundraising efforts today. Together, we can create lasting change in our community and beyond!

 

Centennial Arena Family Day Fun

Join us for a FREE Family Day Skate on February 17 with free admission and rentals, featuring Family Stick N Puck from 10:45 - 11:30 a.m., Family Skate from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and a special visit from Korki the Clown!

 

 

 

Tomorrow In THE SUN

The Tyee

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check the waterfront weather in White Rock in real time.

It's always sunny in White Rock 

 

West Beach Camera

   

 

 

 

 

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