Where You Can Vacation And Be Home The Same Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew MacLeod Today The Tyee

Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s legislative bureau chief in Victoria and the author of All Together Healthy(Douglas & McIntyre, 2018). Find him on X or reach him at amacleod@thetyee.ca.

John Rustad insisted he’s still the leader of the B.C. Conservatives Wednesday even after a majority of the party’s MLAs said they had lost confidence in him and the party announced the appointment of Trevor Halford as interim leader. 

“I’m planning to stay on as the Conservative Party of British Columbia leader,” Rustad said. “I’m not planning to step aside at this point. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and we’re going to carry on with that work.”

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Local News

December 04, 2025

Rustad Out? Halford In?

MLA Trevor Halford

Rumours began circulating yesterday morning that BC Conservative Party leader JOHN RUSTAD was out as the leader of the party. Despite receiving 70% approval from the membership at the summer party convention, the majority of the caucus (elected officials) of the party had circulated a letter stating they had lost confidence in JOHN RUSTAD.

The stated reason in the letter was RUSTAD was professionally incapacitated.

Emerging from the closed caucus meeting in Victoria local MLA for White Rock/South Surrey TREVOR HALFORD informed the media he had been elected as the interim leader for the party.

Confusion continues to abound whether or not the by laws for the party would allow such a coup. The Legislature was adjourned one day early yesterday and will not return to VIctoria until February.

RUSTAD claims he may fight this all the way to the courts. Stay Tuned.

 

 

December 02, 2025

Council Meeting Summary – December 1, 2025

Question And Answer Period

All Question and Answer Period submissions and their responses can be viewed on the City website. 

Delegations

Council received delegations from:

• Members of the Christmas on the Peninsula Society, requesting that the fee for the White Rock Community Centre remain at its current level for their rental each year.

• A member of the public discussing the 2025 by-election and election planning for 2026.

Translink Presentation

A TransLink representative presented to Council on recent investments in the South of the Fraser region, including White Rock, and outlined upcoming plans. The update highlighted the King George Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, which will terminate at Semiahmoo Town Centre. View the presentation here.

Community Policing Support Vehicle

Council reviewed a request from Community Policing for partial funding of an electric mobile support vehicle. The Society has been fundraising for the purchase and asked the City of White Rock to provide matching support, up to $14,000. Council approved this request.

White Rock Library 2026 Operating Hours

Council approved new operating hours for the White Rock Library for 2026, which will extend operating hours on Thursdays (9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

Contract Award – 2025 Sanitary And Drainage Rehabilitation

Council considered the annual Sanitary and Drainage Rehabilitation Program and approved key contracts and funding to advance the project. The Sanitary and Drainage Rehabilitation Program is an annual capital initiative that renews the City’s sewer and drainage infrastructure using trenchless and open-cut methods. 

Council approved awarding the construction contract to Superior City Contracting Services Ltd. for $488,742 (excluding GST) and awarded construction management services to R.F. Binnie & Associates for $29,690 (excluding GST). In addition, Council authorized a contingency of $155,000, representing approximately 30% of construction costs, to support the project.

Opposition To Bill M216 – Professional Reliance Act

Council received a staff report analyzing Bill M 216 (Professional Reliance Act) and directed staff to formally communicate Council’s opposition to the Province, the Surrey‑White Rock MLA, and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Council further instructed that a letter be sent outlining its advocacy for meaningful consultation with local governments prior to implementing systemic changes to development approval processes and requesting safeguards such as mandatory peer review for high‑risk projects and clear accountability mechanisms.

Council Policy 168 – Lighting The White Rock Pier

Council endorsed an amendment to Policy 168 following a request from Transport Canada. Transport Canada has advised the city that, as stated in the Canada Navigable Waters Act, the pier cannot display red and/or green lights at any time, as those colours are reserved for navigation markers.  

Bylaws Receiving Final Reading

Council approved the following bylaws:

• Bylaws 2549 and 2564: Council and Committee Procedure Bylaw

• Amendments will allow for an alternate approval process for agenda items coming from Council members, as well as regulate the use of cell phones by members of Council at Council meetings.

• Bylaw 2554: 2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw

• A bylaw to impose fees and charges for various services offered by the City that are not included in any other City Bylaw. 

Motions

Council endorsed motions on the following topics:

• Council Policy 106 – Amend the annual allowance for attending and representing the City at local community events from $1,200 to $600 per Councillor starting in 2026, with the savings redirected to reduce overall expenditures in light of current economic challenges and the need to limit non‑essential spending.

• Pier Donation Box – Direct staff to remove the donation box, as it has resulted in a net loss in fundraising efforts for the Pier.

• Grant Opportunity – Direct staff to explore a potential grant through SWIM DRINK FISH to support an outdoor pool in White Rock (currently being investigated through a swimming pool feasibility study).

The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026, and will be held in the Gallery Room at the White Rock Community Centre (15154 Russell Ave, White Rock).

 

IHIT investigating fatal shooting in Guildford

Jaskaran Birring

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is investigating the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man in the Guildford area of Surrey.

Background:

On November 28, 2025, at approximately 11:40 p.m., RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit (SPOSU) frontline officers responded to reports of a shooting near 152nd Street and 104 Avenue in Surrey.

Responding officers located a male suffering from life-threatening injuries. Despite life-saving measures, the man died at the scene.

IHIT has taken conduct of this investigation and continues to work in partnership with the SPOSU, the Surrey Police Service (SPS), the Integrated Forensic Identification Services (IFIS) and the BC Coroners Service.

Update:

IHIT is identifying the victim as 26-year-old Jaskaran Birring of Chilliwack in an effort to advance the investigation. Mr. Birring had previous interactions with the police and was believed to be involved in the drug trade. 

Early indications suggest this was a targeted incident related to organized crime. Investigators are working diligently to determine the circumstances surrounding the homicide and to identify all parties involved.

Approximately fifteen minutes after the shooting, a white Dodge Ram pickup truck was located fully engulfed in flames in the area of 136th Street and 115 Avenue in Surrey. IHIT investigators are seeking information and video evidence from any witnesses who may have been at either location on November 28 between 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

 

White Rock Hosts Official Community Plan Update



• The community is invited to view the proposed draft changes to the Official Community Plan at a Community Information Meeting on December 16 at the White Rock Community Centre.

  On October 20, draft updates to the Official Community Plan (“OCP”) bylaw were presented to Council. On November 3, Council directed staff to provide an opportunity for the public to view the proposed draft changes to the OCP (view the November 3 Council meeting).

  
  Community Information Meeting

  • Date: Tuesday, December 16

  • Time: 4 to 8 p.m.

  • Location: White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Avenue

  
  Highlights of the OCP 2025 Update project

  The proposed updates to the draft Official Community Plan bylaw incorporate:

  • Feedback from residents from previous open houses, pop-up engagements and surveys conducted between February and September 2025 for the OCP 2025 Update and the North Bluff Road Corridor Study projects.

  • Proposed updates to land use designations and policies related to the North Bluff Road Corridor Plan.

  • Provincially mandated requirements based on the City’s 2024 Housing Needs Report.

  • 
    Background

  The City is updating its Official Community Plan (OCP) in response to new provincial requirements introduced in 2023. However, it is key to ensure that the OCP continues to reflect the community’s needs and priorities. To achieve this, through a series of public engagement initiatives, the City engaged the community to evaluate how existing OCP housing and associated policies can be revised to fulfill new legislative requirements in a manner that will align with the community’s current goals and priorities.

  Additionally, the proposed updates incorporate land use designation changes and policy updates from the recently endorsed North Bluff Road Corridor Plan, as directed by Council at the July 21, 2025 meeting.

  View the draft Official Community Plan and learn more about the OCP Update 2025 project at www.talkwhiterock.ca/ocpupdate2025

 

 

November 29, 2025

Bright Walk in White Rock

The fifth annual Bright Walk in White Rock park lighting event is now officially open daily. The winter display featuring over 50,000 dazzling lights across Memorial Park, bringing holiday cheer to the waterfront.

The wonderful waterfront installment is now on until January 18, 2026.

Remember to visit the Christmas Market in the museum next time you are down on the waterfront.

 

November 26, 2025

..And the wall came tumbling down

The tall cement retaining wall that runs from along Victoria avenue to Foster street has undergone a major change.

The builders of the new house pictured in the top of the two photos was instructed by the city of White Rock in order to get a building permit the new owner would have to tear down the retaining wall and at their expense construct a new wall 6 feet closer to the house.

The city of White Rock determined last year all the houses above the retaining wall were encroaching on to city property. The owner of said property took the city to court and loss and thus last week work began on the dismantling of the wall. Any future new residences along the entire stretch on Victoria avenue (lower) will face the same directive to create a new wall on their property back at the official property line.

It is interesting to note if you look closely at the second photo there are actually two cement braces holding the wall up.

When the original wall was constructed that whole section fell on to Victoria avenue.

 

 

Charges Laid Against Former City of Surrey Employee

In early 2024, the Surrey RCMP Economic Crimes Unit began an investigation into a significant fraud reported by the City of Surrey.

The RCMP investigation examined allegations of financial irregularities as reported by the City of Surrey. Investigators alleged that a municipal employee accessed the financial systems and created a series of fraudulent files in connection with their official duties over an extended period of time. The alleged fraud is believed to have resulted in an estimated loss of $2.5 million to the City of Surrey.

On November 18, 2025, the BC Prosecution Service approved the following charges against 40-year-old Sunny Catlin:

• Count 1: in connection with the duties of her office, committed fraud or a breach of trust, by issuing and depositing cheques from the City of Surrey without authority and for her own benefit, contrary to Section 122 of the Criminal Code.

  Count 2: did by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means defraud the City of Surrey, of money of a value in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.

  Count 3: committed theft of money, the property of the City of Surrey, of a value in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), contrary to Section 334(a) of the Criminal Code.

  Count 4: did commit forgery by knowingly making false documents, City of Surrey deposit release authorization packages, with intent that they be used or acted upon by the City of Surrey as if they were genuine, contrary to Section 367(a) of the Criminal Code.

Sunny Catlin’s first court appearance is scheduled for December 2, 2025. Investigators have concluded their investigation and are working closely with the BC Prosecution Service to complete the disclosure process.

 

Official Statement from MAYOR LOCKE:

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TNT The Naked Truth

Don Pitcairn

December 02, 2025

 

 

Night Owl

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Thought For The Day

 

Today's Video

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Events

 

 

 

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Tomorrow In THE SUN

IN MY OPINION

Monday evening TRANSLINK representatives visited White Rock council to update plans for a RAPID BUS from Whalley to White Rock.

Is it true, no news is good news?