BILL HAWKE photography - nobody does it better at making us look better!
Where You Can Vacation And Be Home The Same Day
Recipe of the Week
Chickpea Salad
This easy chickpea salad recipe is satisfying and delicious. Filled with protein-packed garbanzo beans, fresh vegetables, and a zesty lemon dressing, it's a perfect picnic side dish or healthy lunch.
¼ cup chopped fresh mint, plus whole mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, pickled onions, and olives and toss to coat. Add the parsley, dill, and mint and toss again.
Season to taste, garnish with fresh mint leaves, and serve.
In My Opinion
I don't have to ask you whether or not you have cut back on dining out. Not only do the surveys tell me we are dining out less, a slow cruise along the White Rock waterfront clearly identifies the restaurants that are still even open, are struggling.
The contributing factors are lengthy.
Increased minimum wage
Skyrocketing rents
Food cost increases
Dining habits changing
We are drinking less alcohol
Parking rates?
There are probably more extenuating factors but the above are the most often quoted.
I believe high rents for commercial spaces most certainly factor heavily into the bleak dining landscape in White Rock. One only has to look at the recently vacated BOATHOUSE restaurant. For years the rent was rumoured to be $25,000.00 monthly. With no advance warning the landlord jumped the rend by 20% to $30,000.00. For years we had heard rumbling the restaurant was having a tough time bouncing back after covid. A malady that affected most dining establishments. Due to COVID most people avoided crowded situations with people we did not know.
In my humble opinion I believe a huge contributing factor is our drinking habits have changed. I speak of my age group "The Baby Boomer" the generation who powered every factor of society with our disposable income in the 80's. 90's and early 2000's.
According to the recent statistics;
Baby Boomers: 1946–1964 Cut way back probably due to a healthier lifestyle later in our years
Generation X (Gen X): 1965–1980 Taking up a bit of the slack yet not what Baby Boomers contributed
Millennials (Gen Y): 1981–1996 Here is where the rubber hits the road, this age group when dining out does not spend much money on alcohol
Generation Z (Gen Z): 1997–2012 May not even leave their parents basement. Door dash.
If you think you can go out for dinner and not drink alcohol think again. The common practice of ordering a "virgin" cocktail (no alcohol) is not a solution anymore. Most restaurants are now pricing those drinks at close to the version with alcohol.
Two dearly departed friends who both owned dining establishments provided great insight to dining out.
1. The profit on food was not much more than 10%. Alcohol was the saving grace.
2. If the profit from year to year dropped 10% one would simply bump the menu prices up 15% to ensure holding steady or showing some sign of growth in the coming fiscal year. This short term solution will soon reach a tipping point. And we may be there now.
Again from my own unscientific research, if the sale of alcohol has gone down, restaurants have had to reflect that loss in raising the price of entrées on the menu.
A vicious cycle.
It is tough out there and I feel for restaurants. The strong will survive, but barely and things don't look very rosy for the future.
At least IN MY OPINION.
David Chesney
Editor/Publisher
Local News
April 11, 2026
White Rock Council Monday
3:30 p.m. IN CAMERA closed to the public
4:00 p.m. Public Session
NOTICE is hereby given that the Council of the City of White Rock will be considering first, second and third reading for “White Rock Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506, Amendment No. 18, (CD – 74, 15855 and 15869 Pacific Avenue), 2026, No. 2577” in accordance with Section 467 of the Local Government Act at the Regular Council Meeting scheduled for
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the White Rock Community Centre (15154 Russell Avenue).
A Public Hearing is prohibited on this zoning amendment bylaw in accordance with Section 464 (3) of the Local Government Act.
CIVIC ADDRESS: 15855 & 15869 Pacific Avenue (see site map)
PURPOSE: To amend the White Rock Zoning Bylaw to rezone the subject properties at 15855 and 15869 Pacific Avenue from the ‘P-3 Community Care Facility (Low Density) Zone’ to the ‘Comprehensive Development Zone (CD- 74)’ to enable a forty-seven (47) unit three-storey townhouse development.
Agenda
- Community members to appear before council with concerns of increasingly exterior lights on condos and houses.
- New Westminster Labour Council / Day of Mourning. Information on workers health and safety issues.
- Update on food cart program on our waterfront this summer
- Corporate report on Westcoasters Car Club car show part of this year's 75th annual Sea Festival
- Pickleball Fees for Centennial pickleball courts
- Traffic calming on Marine Drive between Cypress Street and Finlay street
- White Rock financial plan 2026-2030 First, second and third reading
- Proposal for Official Community Plan Amendment
- Hogg Park Community Garden / request for staff report on feasibility.
Semiahmoo Mall To Open UPCC Urgent Primary Care Centre
Residents of south Surrey and surrounding communities have improved access to timely, team-based care with the opening of a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
“People living in the fast-growing community of south Surrey will have more access to urgent and primary care at this new centre, helping them get the right care in the right place,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This new UPCC will expand community-based health care and help to reduce wait times at emergency departments, so people get the timely care they need closer to home.”
The UPCC at 1711 152 St. will provide urgent primary care from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, including statutory holidays. It will accommodate approximately 57,000 patient visits annually with care delivered primarily through in-person visits and virtual care provided as needed.
Communities will benefit from clear, province wide conduct rules for local leaders.
The Province has introduced legislative amendments that would allow it to establish a mandatory, province wide code of conduct for all local elected officials in B.C. with clear processes for complaints, investigations and sanctions. Conduct issues can include bullying or harassment in meetings, harassment of staff or disrespectful behaviour between elected officials that can make governing a community challenging.
“While many local governments have conduct codes today, they are not consistent across jurisdictions and often lack clear steps to address conduct issues,” said Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities. “Once in place, a provincial code of conduct will ensure all local elected officials are held to the same ethical standards across B.C., help avoid dysfunction at the local level and improve fairness and public trust in local governments.”
The posted signs along Crescent Beach still clearly state NO DOGS allowed along the beach area walkway between May 15-September 15. The official announcement below gave dog owners hope they would be able to walk their dogs along the beach in the summer months.
With roughly a month to go Surrey has not released the results of its pilot program study they conducted last year.
Dogs at Crescent Beach
Surrey Council voted Monday, June 23, 2025 to endorse a pilot project that allowed on-leash dogs on Crescent Beach's walking path, on weekdays only (excluding Statutory holidays). The pilot project is now complete. City staff is preparing a report based on the findings of the pilot project for council consideration.
Dogs at Blackie Spit
Dogs are also welcome in areas of the neighbouring Blackie Spit Park, located to the north of Crescent Beach.
Blackie Spit Park has parking, its own beach access, a trail system and two dog off-leash areas, including the only dog off-leash swim area in Surrey.
You can use this fenced swimming area when the tide is in, so check before you go and ensure your dog doesn’t enter the adjacent Environmentally Sensitive Area.
April 08, 2026
Clean Out The Attic!
Museum of Surrey open submissions for Community Treasures exhibitions series
Museum of Surrey (MOS) is opening applications for the Community Treasures exhibition series, for 2027. Community Treasures is a gallery space for community members, individuals, and cultural organizations from Surrey to showcase their treasures and share their stories with the public.
These temporary, submission-based exhibits give visitors an inside look into Surrey’s unique stories and experiences – straight from you, the community. Visitors get to view items that would normally be unavailable to see elsewhere.
Editors Note: Do you realize Surrey once had its very own singing cowboys ALBERTA SLIM?
"Slim" took the backseat out of his big old Cadillac car in order to squeeze his trick horse kitten into where the backseat used to be.
Final selections are chosen by the Museum’s Community Advisory Board. Members review in September and exhibits are scheduled for the following year.
All Surrey residents are invited to read the Community Treasures guidebook to learn more about application guidelines and send their submissions online
.......or contacting the Exhibits Team on thewebsite.
April 07, 2026
Movin' On Up
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Whalers organization as I take the next step in my journey with the Surrey Eagles Junior A hockey club in the BCHL.
It has been an incredible experience to be part of the Whalers and to help foster the growth of junior hockey in our community. I’m excited about the new challenge ahead, but I will always cherish my time here and the support from Ownership and the entire Whalers organization.
Thank you for everything you’ve done to shape hockey in South Surrey. The future of junior hockey here is bright, and I look forward to watching it continue to thrive.
David Rutherford - Former Whalers Head Coach
Fun Dull Fact!
I live near the longest wooden pier in Canada.
The White Rock pier in British Columbia.
It stretches 470 metres (1540 feet for our American friends) it was rebuilt after a major storm wiped it out in 2018.
No Dogs allowed, but it didnt say anything about cats
April 06, 2026
A Third Candidate For Mayor of Surrey
UPDATE April 08
Mike Starchuk announced his slate for council at the Tuesday evening meeting. KEVIN WILIE, NARIMA DELLA CRUZ, YOUSEF ALDABAINAH, DR. MARGARET MUBANDA and ASIYANA HANIF will make up the slate for IMAGINE SURREY.
Mayoral candidate Mike Starchuk is set to officially launch his “Imagine Surrey” campaign tomorrow evening.
Starchuk will also introduce his full city council slate and outline key ideas for the future of the city.
Mike Starchuk is the past MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, former Surrey City Councillor, and a proud "active/retired" member of Surrey Fire Fighters' IAFF Local 1271.
A resident of Surrey for more than 50 years, he has dedicated his life to helping others in his community.
Location: Royal King Palace Banquet Hall (Payal Business Center) 8158 128 St, Surrey
Tonight / Saturday April 11 - 2 shows / EARLY SHOW SOLD OUT
Antonio Larosa is a country-rock and roots artist whose music blends the grit of blues, the soul of vintage rock, and the storytelling of classic country. With a voice that channels the spirit of Elvis Presley and the emotional weight of Chris Stapleton, Larosa creates songs that are heartfelt, lived-in, and unapologetically honest.
Guaranteed after watching this video on how crows communicate, you will forever be listening to their calls.
They may be talking about you.
Thought For The Day
We’re back …
This Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Pacific, we’re gathering for
SoulFull Sessions LIVE.
This month’s theme is Presence, and Todd and I will be exploring simple, lived tethering practices that help return us to the moment, alongside ancient rituals that support awareness, attunement, and connection.
Tethering to Presence: Rituals & Practices for Present-Moment Living
A grounded 35 to 45 minute conversation and exploration for anyone wanting to live with greater presence and alignment.
Grab a cuppa and join us round the soulful fire for a touch point connection about what matters more in our lives.
This month’s theme is Presence, and Todd and I will be exploring simple, lived tethering practices that help return us to the moment, alongside ancient rituals that support awareness, attunement, and connection.
Grab a cuppa and join us round the soulful fire for a touch point connection about what matters more in our lives. 
