We are less than two weeks away from the White Rock by election necessitated by the departure of two members of the current council. ERNIE KLASSEN who has moved on represent us in Ottawa as our MP and councillor MICHELLE PARTRIDGE who cited health concerns.
The two new councillors that will be elected will serve a one year term until we have the full provincial 4 year term election in October 2026.
As I drive around through our community I have started to notice lawn signs popping up like mushrooms popping up in the early fall rain.
Elect so and so? Why?
Believe me from my own personal experience during my no less than 7 elections and previous by elections, it is terribly difficult to get your message out to the community. The options are very expensive, a half page ad in the Peace Arch News will run you roughly $1300.00. A mail out from Canada Post which promises to deliver your little election cards to every home in White Rock is even more expensive. Standing on a street corner, knocking on doors and hopefully attracting media attention like radio and television is incredibly difficult to attain.
So what is left?
"All Candidate" meetings which are hosted by various civic organizations, like the Surrey Board of Trade hosted event on Monday at the White Rock Community centre.
Again I will refer back to my own personal experience. Let's simply look at the numbers. There are 21 individuals seeking one of the two vacant seats on White Rock council. This in my recollection is the largest turnout of candidates for a by election. The format will be the time honoured tradition of the opening the evening's proceedings commencing by giving each candidate a 2 minute time slot to present their political overview. That will take 45 minutes. Then the format turns to "question and answer period". The questions posed are supposedly culled from questions from community members that have been submitted to the host organization. The names of the people that have submitted the questions is never identified. Each candidate will then have 2 minutes to present their response to the question. That will take another 45 minutes. Are you following me? Do the math we are now up to 90- minutes. If we even have time for just two more questions we tip the scales to 3 hours. Have your eyes and ears glazed over yet?
I have continually requested a microphone be set up at the back of the hall and the line forms at the right. First person up "I have a question for so and so." Next person "I have a question for so and so." To me it makes perfect sense. Yet continually the answer I have received back is "Well if we were to do that some of the candidates would not get asked a question. What? You tell me they don't have a friend, neighbour, wife, husband or someone that supports them enough to come on down for one night and toss them a softball question?
So here we sit with All Candidate meetings.
It is all we have, and even though I am in a very unique position to be informed more than the average voting resident of White Rock, I will still be there on Monday evening at the White Rock Community Centre. I will be the one sitting there musing how much more effective and productive it would be for what I call "HOLLER FOR A DOLLAR."
DAVID CHESNEY
EDITOR/PUBLISHER WHITE ROCK SUN
Local News
September 13, 2025
Congratulations to Jason Cairney on becoming Surrey’s new fire chief.
Surrey is fortunate to have one of the best fire services in the province, and Jason stands out as one of its finest leaders.
His steady leadership and vision are guiding the department through the challenges of our growing city.
I am confident that, under his direction, Surrey Fire Services will continue to keep our community safe, resilient, and prepared for the future.
Surrey Mayor BRENDA LOCKE
By the numbers: Surrey crime stats
The SPS took over South Surrey’s west side on July 28.
SPS takes over over South Surrey’s east side on November 25.
The Surrey Police Service issued its quarterly report on crime statistics for the areas it covers and the numbers show calls to it have dropped this year.
The SPS numbers need to be taken in the context that it doesn’t cover all areas of Surrey as the transition away from the RCMP is still slowly grinding away.
The SPS took over South Surrey’s west side on July 28, and will take over South Surrey’s east side on Nov. 25. The SPS has been patrolling Whalley and Newton, and the RCMP will continuing working the areas of Cloverdale, Fleetwood and Guildford until the transition is completed.
Here are some of the crime numbers the SPS highlighted comparing the first two quarters of 2025 with the same two quarters in 2024:
Calls for service dropped four per cent in the first two quarters of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024.
Crimes against persons went up 21 per cent.
Property crimes dropped seven per cent.
Drug crimes went up 16 per cent.
Traffic violations went up eight per cent.
Fatal collisions went up 50 per cent.
Shots fired went up 75 per cent.
Homicides dropped 20 per cent.
September 12, 2025
Back to School / Back To Work
White Rock council reconvenes following the summer break.
On September 9, 2025, the Surrey Bylaw Dept. Commercial Vehicle Unit hosted a truck enforcement check in the 9600 block of 192 Street, in collaboration with the Lower Mainland Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Team, which included Vancouver Police, Burnaby RCMP, New Westminster Police and other partner agencies.
Overall, 22 vehicles were inspected with 15 placed out of service (68%) for various safety, mechanical and regulatory issues. These violations rendered the vehicles unsafe to operate until corrective measures were completed, either on-site or at a certified repair facility following a tow.
There were 68 violations located, 14 provincial violation tickets were issued and 15 bylaw tickets were issued.
Detour
North Bluff between Oxford and Martin is being paved today. While it is open to one lane each way, you might want to avoid the area. Please note that Thrift is also a major construction zone in roughly the same area.
September 11, 2025
Standing in Honour
Wayne Cox photo
The White Rock Fire and Rescue officers and volounteers stood at attention this morning @ 10 a.m.
The somber ceremony was to honour the memory of the brave fire and rescue crews that gave their lives on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Centres in New York were attacked.
Thank you to these brave men and woman that daily put themselves in harms way to make our City by the Sea safe.
New Mobile Speed Reader Sign Installed on Marine Drive
The cloud-connected mobile speed reader sign will enhance road safety, monitor driver behaviour and provide real-time traffic analytics.
The mobile speed reader sign is in partnership with the RCMP and partially funded by ICBC.
September 09, 2025
Next All Candidates Meeting
The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade is pleased to provide an opportunity on September 15 for voters to hear directly from candidates about their plans, compare platforms, and make informed choices that will impact their businesses, families, and daily lives.
Please reach out to heather@businessinsurrey.com to register for the White Rock By-Election Candidates Event scheduled for September 15 from 5:30-7:30pm at the White Rock Community Centre.
If you’d like to submit a question for the candidates, to be considered for the event, please email it to: aman@businessinsurrey.com by September 9
Monday Sep 15, 2025
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM PDT
Check-in and seating: 5:30pm
Program: 6:00 - 8:00pm
Location
White Rock Community Centre
15154 Russell Avenue, White Rock
Another South Surrey Shots Fired Incident Yesterday Morning
Surrey Police Service (SPS) officers are investigating an early morning shots fired incident that has resulted in a vehicle damaged outside a residence in the 5800 block 124 Street, Surrey.
Shortly after 4:00 am Monday morning (September 8) SPS Frontline officers responded to a call of a possible shots fired outside a residence in the 5800 block of 124 Street, Surrey. Upon arrival, officers discovered damage to a parked vehicle and evidence consistent with gunshots. Officers spoke with several residents in the immediate area and fortunately there were no injuries to anyone.
Officers remain on scene and will be examining the area for evidence this morning and will likely be canvassing the neighbourhood for any CCTV footage. SPS’s Frontline Investigative Support (FLIS) Team has taken over the investigation and at this early stage, they are still in the process of determining the possible motive and connections to any other incidents.
Anyone with information about this incident or anyone who may have been in the area of 58th Avenue and 124 Street at approximately 4:00 am on September 8, 2025 and has dashcam or CCTV footage is asked to contact the SPS non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 25-77900 (SP) or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca .
September 08, 2025
White Rock All Candidates Meeting
The newly formed HALP Healthy Active Living Peninsula hosted the first all candidates meeting yesterday morning at the White Rock Curling Club.
Sixteen of the twenty one confirmed candidates for the White Rock bi-election were in attendance. The meeting format was set up in such a manner the members of HALP could hear first hand how each candidate felt about three main issues HALP is focused on:
1. Update the refrigeration unit at the curling club
2, Install a rood over the lacrosse box in Centennial Park for year round pickleball play
3. Go on record with their thoughts on White Rock's current consideration in building an outdoor swimming pool in the city
Each candidate was give 5 minutes to state their campaign platform and respond to the three questions above.
The organizers began the meeting by addressing the push back they had received from their choice to invite White Rock mayor MEGAN KNIGHT to speak and address her feeling about the three topics identified above.
September 07, 2025
Police Investigate Early Morning Shots Fired in South Surrey
Surrey Police Service (SPS) is investigating an early morning shooting that occurred in South Surrey.
Yesterday (Friday morning) September 5, 2025, at approximately 3:50 am, SPS responded to reports of shots fired in the 14300 block of 28 Avenue, Surrey. Upon arrival, members located numerous shell casings on 28 Avenue. It does not appear that any residences were damaged and nobody was injured.
SPS Frontline Investigation Support (FLIS) Team are attending and have taken conduct of the investigation.
Investigators believe this incident is related to an ongoing extortion investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident, the identity of the suspect, or in possession of any dashcam or CCTV footage should contact the SPS non-emergency line at 604-599-0502 and quote file number 25-76794 (SP) or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca.
Surrey city councillor LINDA ANNIS "First" To Declare
Surrey councillor LINDA ANNIS has come out far in front of any other confirmed candidates for the 2026 civic elections by announcing she will run for Surrey Mayor on October 2025.
ANNIS in 2022 ran on a slate of candidates called Surrey First. ANNIS was the only member of that slate to be elected.
Since then ANNIS has been at odds with current Surrey mayor BRENDA LOCKE and believes she will bring a different direction to Surrey council.
Mayor LOCKE has not indicated if she will seek another term. Meanwhile former Surrey mayor DOUG MCCALLUM has been publicly stating for months he will return as a candidate in 2026 for Mayor of Surrey.
B.C. is currently experiencing poor air quality due to wildfire smoke.
White Rock has a real-time air quality sensor located at Memorial Park and can be monitored at https://tinyurl.com/3zzubwmr
September 05, 2025
Voting takes place on September 27, 2025
The election results will be made public on October 01, 2025
Nominations Received
The following individuals have submitted their nomination documents to become candidates in the 2025 By-Election in the City of White Rock. Nomination documents for each candidate can be viewed by selecting the candidate's name. Candidates are listed in the order in which they submitted their documents. (Click here to view the list of Contact Information for Candidates)
Candidates for Councillor - Two (2) to be elected:
Two of 21 the candidates
Wayne Cox photo
On-site parking (limited, pre-book online)
Tickets & parking passes: 
BINGO - RAFFLE - EATING CONTEST- PRIZES - KIDS CORNER- 
White Rock Beach Beer - 15181 Russell Ave White Rock (next to the world famous WYLAND WHALE WALL)
