Yes it’s that time again, the rewriting of the Official Community Plan.
This is my third term as a serving city councillor, and this is the third time I have seen the city and council tear up the previous council’s decision and start over.
I can well imagine the challenge this poses not only to city staff, but to developers as well. Wait a minute, did I just vaguely endorse developers. Sure. They all aren’t carpet baggers that want to hit and run, slam up some towers for offshore interests and ride out of White Rock Commons with bags full of money.
You who are reading this are probably as numb as I am about this whole OCP process. In large part when I urge residents to be part of the conversation, they look at me quizzically with the “Why Bother” look in their eyes. You never listen to us, so stop asking us to be part of this dog and pony show.
Well I am not going to stop.
My first term on council saw a flurry of high-rises approved, the majority all needing OCP amendments. Which taught me if you have four votes on council, controlling power you can do anything you want.
I may be trying to close the proverbial barn door after the horses got out, but there is a new landscape on city council since the recent bi-election. In my opinion the majority of council NOW is more than willing to listen to your concerns.
You can give up, and I would understand. And I will still take your call when you are pulling your hair out when the Development Permit billboard goes up across the street from you.
This rewriting of the OCP Official Community Plan may take the first go round look tame. The community rose up en mass. The community was in an uproar. Here is an example of the type of push back we encountered.
Lorraine Adair illustration
Did the council of the day listen?
No, the majority under the leadership of Mayor Baldwin (councillors Megan Knight/Bill Lawrence/Grant Meyer/Lynne Sinclair) fell dutifully in line and voted as a block. The late Helen Fathers and I spent 4 years wondering why we even bothered attending council meetings, in that virtually every vote went down 5-2 , with Fathers and I doing everything we could to no avail. The community was so upset, when the next election cycle came around, aforementioned Baldwin Gang were all shown the door and a brand new council joined Fathers and I.
This Monday you will have another chance to be heard. Below in the local news section there is the information on how you can participate.
Attend in person, or at the very least, take 5 minutes to submit your thoughts and vision for the future of White Rock by simply sending an email.
Email - clerksoffice@whiterockcity.ca
(deadline: 12:00 p.m. [noon] on Monday, March 2nd)
If we all stand together for White Rock we can hang on to what is left of our dream for our City by the Sea.
White Rock's largest retail outlet the Salvation Army retail outlet, reopened yesterday after their two week closure to refurbish the popular shopping location in mid town White Rock.
Kelly Breaks photo
Massive crowds anxiously anticipated the reopening and turned out in droves in search of slightly loved merchandise.
White Rock has the largest Second Hand/Turnabout/Thrift store locations per capita in the Lower Mainland.
February 26, 2026
Banner Year
The South Surrey high traffic corridors will soon be brightened up with stunning new street banners. The city of Surrey has chosen artist JULIA VAILEVA to design the city's 2026 public art banners.
The design is called Flora in Motion and will feature bright butterfly wings made up of local BC plants Pacific Bleeding Heart and the Nootka Rose. Approximately 100 poles throughout Surrey will be feature the new artwork this Spring.
The City of White Rock invites submissions from local artists for its 2026 Street Banner Program
Applicants are encouraged to explore one or more of this year’s themes: Nature; The City; History; Arts + Culture. Selected designs will be displayed for two years, rotating between spring–summer and fall–winter seasons.
“The Street Banner Program offers a unique opportunity to highlight the deep connection local artists have to White Rock,” said Mayor Megan Knight. “We welcome submissions from anyone interested in helping bring colour and character to our neighbourhoods.”
Street banners featuring community artwork are showcased across four neighbourhoods:
Uptown
Five Corners
West Beach
East Beach
The program is open to residents of White Rock and South Surrey, with applications accepted until March 22, 2026.
Submissions will be reviewed by a volunteer adjudication committee made up of community members, Public Art and Culture Advisory Committee representatives, and local artists. Selected artists will receive an honorarium and a printed street banner featuring their design.
Special Council Meeting And Public Hearing For Official Community Plan Bylaw
A Special Council meeting and Public Hearing will be held on Monday, March 2nd for Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2511.
Members of the public are welcome to attend and speak to the Bylaw in person, or can submit written comments to clerksoffice@whiterockcity.ca (deadline: 12:00 p.m. [noon] on Monday, March 2nd).
Local resident STEVE HERRINGER appeared before council wondering why he had to pay a full replacement cost for an annual parking decal he misplaced. HERRINGER identified he had been a resident in White Rock for 38 years and had purchased a parking decal annually. He indicated he and the city had copies of his receipt and that he felt the city in charging him full replacement of $65.00 made him feel like the city was accusing him of something illegal?
Staff was asked to follow up.
Delegations
White Rock Museum staff and directors were in attendance for an annual update on the waterfront facility. The presentation reconfirmed the absolute need for assistance in the creation of storage space for archives. Plans for the proposed Community Hub include a storage area for the museum.
RCMP Quarterly Report
Staff Sergent ROB DIXON appeared before council to update the activity of the local detachment. In the last quarter the detachment responded to 1580 calls. The annual total was 6870 calls for service. DIXON was asked to comment on the major news item of extortion and subsequent homes targeted with shootings. DIXON indicated there had been isolated incidents in White Rock but due to ongoing investigation no further details would be forthcoming. DIXON was also asked the possibility of updates on foot patrols and bicycle patrols when he returns to council for the next quarterly update in May. DIXON indicated he would be happy to respond to the request.
UTILITY FEES
Finance requested the ability to transition utility fees from annual property tax notice to quarterly utility bills. Approved unanimously
Information Plaques In City Parks
Staff will update and create a clearer guideline for the naming of public spaces within the city's boundaries.
Public Art Oxford Comfort Station
Council approved a $25,000.00 budget for the creation of a mural on the the city building located on Marine Drive @ Oxford Street.
MOTION
A motion to have staff investigate the cost and possibility of a waterfront custom car/hot rod show was approved unanimously. The proposed car show could possibly be staged on the Sea Fest weekend. Initial concerns was the car show would be held in two of the waterfront parking lots which would caused a lost of revenue.
The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026, and will be held in the Gallery Room at the White Rock Community Centre (15154 Russell Ave, White Rock).
February 23, 2026
Police Investigating Overnight Fatal Collision
Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating a fatal overnight single-vehicle collision in South Surrey that has claimed the life of the driver.
At approximately 9:37 pm on February 22, 2026, Surrey Police Service, Surrey Fire Services (SFS), and BCEHS received calls for a vehicle that had rolled over into a water-filled ditch on 168 Street north of 40 Avenue. SFS firefighters were able to remove the driver, a man in his 20’s and the lone occupant of the car, and they, along with BCEHS paramedics, administered life saving measures. Sadly, the driver later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
SPS’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) were called to the scene, and they have assumed conduct of the investigation. At this early stage, the cause remains under investigation.
Surrey Police Service is asking anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have been driving in the area of 168 Street and 40 Avenue at approximately 9:30 pm on February 22, 2026, and is in possession of dashcam footage, to contact the SPS non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 25-17735 (SP).
New stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge fully open as Pattullo Bridge demolition begins
First Nations bridge name - The stal̕əw̓asəm name can be understood as “a space where you can view the river.” The English name is Riverview. The name recognizes First Nations’ historical and current connections to the area. Former Musqueam Indian Reserve No. 1 and Kwantlen Indian Reserve No. 8 were in qiqéyt, an important village site near the base of the bridge in Surrey. The hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ name is featured on the bridge’s crossbeam, and First Nations art is being installed across the project.
Pattullo Bridge demolition
With the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge open, deconstruction of the Pattullo Bridge is now underway.
This is necessary to complete construction of the Columbia Street on-ramp, Highway 17 off-ramp and some connections for the new multi-use paths.
Crews have mobilized equipment and are conducting preparatory activities ahead of concrete and steel removal.
Removal of the Pattullo Bridge will take approximately two years to complete.
The stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge is a vital link for people in the regional transportation network, and an important component of the goods movement network, serving local and national needs.
Quick Facts:
The stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge is a single tower cable-stay bridge, which differentiates it from the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges. Each cable has up to 80 strands, and the longest cable on the main span is approximately 300 metres.
The total length is 1,235 metres, equivalent to more than 12 Canadian football fields.
There are approximately 62,400 cubic metres of concrete in the bridge, enough to fill 25 Olympic swimming pools.
February 21, 2026
Why we can’t have nice things
The Pattullo Bridge was originally supposed to stay open for cyclists and pedestrians until the morning of February 17. Unfortunately, those plans changed when the bridge had to be shut down earlier than expected this Monday evening.
According to Staff-Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, Senior Media Relations Officer for Surrey Police Service, on-site security contacted police after people were seen attempting to climb the bridge’s arch.
When officers arrived, two individuals had already climbed partway up and were instructed to come down safely.
What made things worse? About 30 more people were reportedly lined up, waiting for their turn to climb. For safety reasons, authorities decided to close the bridge entirely.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what happened:
Security called police after spotting people climbing the arch
2 individuals were told to come down
Around 30 people were waiting to climb next
Bridge closed early for public safety
A situation that could have been avoided ended up cutting access short for everyone. Safety always comes first.
The BASELINE PUB on Johnston road is the latest local venue to support and feature live music. No better way to do that than to have much loved local singer songwriter NEIL HARNETT set up shop this weekend.
When I was younger myself and friends seemed to have a preoccupation with blowing stuff up or burning things down. Fortunately we grew out of these destructive habits before anyone got arrested or blown to smithereens. As I got older and hopefully a little smarter, I started to pay attention to safety, especially fire safety, after being at the scene of a few house fires. To date I have been to three residential fires before the fire trucks arrived, including one several years ago where I alerted the startled owners that their house was on fire. You get a real sense of the power and energy from a house fire when you watch as it burns through the roof and starts blowing flaming shingles into the air. Fortunately in all of these cases, either nobody was home or the people got out of the building safely and without injury.
Lorraine Adair illustration
Kelly Breaks photo
