Nude Beach Here I Come
Where You Can Vacation And Be Home The Same Day
The Naked Truth
Don Pitcairn
July 5, 2026
Black Hawk Down 2
If you have never watched the movie Black Hawk Down, it is a 2001 American war film directed and produced by Ridley Scott. It follows the crew of a Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down during the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia while Task Force Ranger was attempting to capture self-proclaimed President Mohamed Farrah Aidid. It is a grim and bloody look into modern warfare and what can go wrong when you are holding a military operation in enemy territory. In this film based on a 1999 non-fiction book by Mark Bowden, two Black Hawk helicopters are taken down by rocket propelled grenades with rescue attempts to recover the men from the crashed choppers proving to be dangerous and impossible. At the 74th Academy Awards, Black Hawk Down won for Best Film Editing and Best Sound after also being nominated for Best Picture and Best Cinematography.
Several years ago U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Canada with import tariffs if they did not make attempts to strengthen the Canadian side of the border to stop illegal immigration and curb the flow of illicit fentanyl from entering into the United States. In an attempt to mollify Trump, the Liberal government budged $1.3 billion for additional border security in 2025. This included the RCMP spending $5.3 million to lease two Black Hawk helicopters for use in patrolling the border. That number of helicopters has since climbed to three and the RCMP were planning on adding a fourth Black Hawk this year. Unfortunately, Transport Canada decided in a 2024 order to stop exempting the Black Hawks from import regulations, allegedly due to a lobbying campaign by the Helicopter Association of Canada. The third Black Hawk that was to be added to the RCMP helicopters has recently found itself grounded after not complying with Transport Canada aviation regulations that look to keep used military helicopters out of Canada.
Since the Black Hawks were leased by the RCMP, there has often been one flying near the border across South Surrey, along the shoreline of Boundary Bay and over Tsawwassen. There have also been times when they have been used for other duties including low level searches circling over densely populated neighbourhoods in both White Rock and South Surrey. One of the problems with this military helicopter is that it is extremely loud. At its quietest operating level, the Black Hawk measures 105 dB or more, with peak sound pressure levels ranging from 145 to 160 dB. To give you an idea of how loud this is, 105 decibels is the sound related to using an air-powered jackhammer breaking concrete. 145 decibels is equivalent to a 747 with four engines taking off, while 160 dB is equivalent to a high-powered machine gun being fired. Needless to say, the Black Hawks appearance here for use in border patrols is not supported by residents who do not like this noisy intrusion into their homes and lives, while having little effect on crime.
Working in White Rock, along the top of the Ocean Park bluff or relaxing at Crescent Rock beach has given me many opportunities to watch the Black Hawk in action. Besides flying across the front of White Rock, this helicopter often flies nearly level with the top of the Ocean Park bluff so close that you can see the green uniformed police officers sitting inside. The joke down at the nude beach is they have not found any fentanyl but have seen a lot of crack. Amazingly the Black Hawk usually flies the shoreline of Mud Bay, which is highly unlikely to be a smuggling point for drugs, illegal migrants or human smuggling. From our kitchen window facing west towards Boundary Bay we can hear and often see helicopters including the Black Hawk through the trees. On Sunday I heard a helicopter flying north along the waterfront and was watching to see what it was. To my surprise, it was the old Bell 429 Global Ranger still used by the RCMP. This is the first time I have seen one of these helicopters since the Black Hawks appeared. Whether this is due to the grounding of the third Black Hawk and the likely cancellation of the fourth one currently on order remains to be seen.
I was wondering if the RCMP had considering using drone technology to provide aerial surveillance of large areas that required a long distance of travel. This is apparently in the development phase with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED Canada) issuing a tender notice challenge in 2024 to develop an "extended range remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS)" for use in rural, remote and border areas. The "Problem Statement" associated with this futuristic police project reads as follows:
RCMP operational members often serve rural communities and their jurisdictions cover very large territories. Having Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) technology that can travel at high speed over long distances would help increase police and public safety by arriving first on scene, retrieving as much information as possible and relaying it to emergency service personnel on their way. This technology would be particularly useful in search and rescue operations, and responding to emergency calls or natural disasters, where time is of the essence. RPAS can fly direct to location, alleviating any traffic or ground roadblocks, thus enhancing response time.
It may sound a little like something from Robocop but the essential outcomes required by this program are quite stringent. The proposed solution must weight less than 150 kg, be able to operate in winds up to 100 km/h, operate in temperatures from -30 to +45 C, and fly in rain, snow or ice. It must also have a max airspeed of 100 km/h, have automatic navigation and flight controls, fly a minimum range of 400 km, stay aloft for at least 5 hours and be VTOL. It also requires core IT RCMP security with data encryption at rest and in transit, have encrypted communications, storage and processing of data within Canada and use a cloud service provider for back-end services. If this was not enough, ideally it should weight less than 25 Kg, fly remotely over mountainous terrain, operate at an ideal altitude of 400 ft. above ground level, detected motion and send an alert, plus have real-time live video streams. Lastly, it must be able to capture high-res video images with date and location, be compatible with the Tactical Awareness Kit plus meet core IT security requirements for the RCMP.
While this is only a phase one proof of feasibility challenge from ISED Canada, it shows that they are intent on developing this long-range aerial reconnaissance system for use by the RCMP. Considering the cost to operate and man a fleet of helicopters across our huge country, it should not be a surprise to learn they are looking for a technologically advanced way of keeping an eye in the sky looking out for crime. This challenge closed in Nov. 2024 and in May of 2026 the company Web4You in Mississauga, Ontario was selected to develop a hydrogen cell drone with 8 hours of flying time for use in remote communities and along Canada's borders. Not surprisingly, they are collaborating with Ukrainian drone specialists to drive innovation in this fast growing critical technology that may have future Canadian Department of National Defense applications.
Here is a link for more information on this RCMP drone program including more specifications.
Naturally yours,
Don Pitcairn
Local News
July 07, 2026
White Rock Fire....to the rescue
White Rock Fire Rescue Type 3 crew, equipped with a calf system and staffed by 3 IAFF members, deployed to the Boston Bar area yesterday afternoon to aid in fighting the fast moving Brunswick Creek Fire.
Our three man crew will be supporting wildfire operations alongside crews from across the province. Wishing them a safe deployment, steady work, and a successful return home.
2026 Canada Cup International Softball Championship:
Team Canada set to headline a world-class field at Softball City in South Surrey from July 3rd–12th
Our host team TEAM CANADA fresh off a first-place finish at the 2026 WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup Group Stage in Czechia, Team Canada will feature its roster for the 2026 Canada Cup International Softball Championship, set to take place July 6th-12th at Softball City in Surrey.
The countdown is officially on as the 2026 Canada Cup International Softball Championship returns to Softball City in Surrey from July 3rd-12th, bringing together the world's top fastpitch talent for 10 days of elite international competition.
Featuring national teams and elite programs from across the globe, the Canada Cup once again solidifies its reputation as one of the premier women's fastpitch events in the world. Fans will have the opportunity to witness Olympic-calibre athletes and the next generation of stars compete on Canadian soil, including Team Canada, who returns to Surrey ready to compete in front of a passionate home crowd.
Team Canada begins its Canada Cup campaign on Monday, July 6th with a marquee matchup against Brazil at 6:00 PM, before returning to the diamond on Tuesday, July 7th to take on Venezuela at 6:00 PM. The action continues with a highly anticipated showdown against New Zealand on Wednesday, July 8th at 6:15 PM, before Canada closes out round-robin play with key matchups against Czechia and China on Thursday, July 9th and Chinese Taipei Development on Friday, July 10th.
Tuesday, July 7th
10:30 AM – Chinese Taipei Development vs China
12:30 PM – Singapore vs Samoa
1:00 PM – Israel vs Chinese Taipei
3:00 PM – TC Colorado vs Peru
3:30 PM – Canada Elite vs The 222’s
5:30 PM – New Zealand vs Chinese Taipei Development
6:00 PM – Venezuela vs Canada
8:00 PM – Brazil vs Czechia
8:30 PM – TC Colorado vs Singapore
Wednesday, July 8th
9:00 AM – China vs Venezuela
10:30 AM – Peru vs Israel
11:30 AM – Chinese Taipei Development vs Czechia
1:00 PM – Samoa vs Canada Elite
2:00 PM – Chinese Taipei vs The 222’s
6:15 PM – Brazil vs China
6:15 PM – New Zealand vs Canada
8:30 PM – TC Colorado vs The 222’s
8:30 PM – Chinese Taipei vs
All the exciting action is at Softball City in South Surrey.
Taxing His Patience
White Rock resident and commercial property/business owner KELLY BREAKS of Blue Frog studios takes the city of White Rock to task.
White Rock Mayor Megan Knight responds:
Kelly, I've read the comments and understand the frustration.
I understand firsthand the challenges of running a business and the pressures of meeting payroll, paying taxes, and managing rising costs.
For context, on your tax bill of approximately $31,000, the City of White Rock receives about $15,900, with the balance going to the Province and other agencies. The Province's portion is shown in yellow on the tax notice.
Rather than trying to have this conversation through FB comments, I'd welcome the opportunity to sit down together and talk. Whether you'd like to meet one-on-one or host a discussion at Blue Frog with a group of White Rock taxpayers, I'd be happy to do either.
I'd like lower taxes too, but we need to have an honest conversation about the trade-offs involved. It's easy to say taxes should be lower; the harder conversation is deciding what we're prepared to do differently to achieve that.
WRPA Summer Tournament in Support of the Childhood Cancer
The White Rock Pickleball Association is delighted to report that our 2026 WRPA Summer Pickleball Tournament was an outstanding success!
Through player donations, raffle basket sales, silent auction bids, and our 50/50 draw, participants, guests, and supporters came together to make a meaningful difference for families facing childhood cancer. We are proud to announce that we will be presenting a cheque for $10,000.00 to the Childhood Cancer Family Support Society.
Ongoing Centennial park Special Evenings
July 06, 2026
Birch Bay Goes BOOM!
Good morning Birch Bay! Or, should we say “morning after”… if you’re local I bet many of you have already been down to the beach helping the cleanup effort. In other local chat groups there’s a lot of division over the impact of July 4 celebrations here that seem to be growing more massive every year.
The community-driven "citizens display" at Birch Bay leaves behind a staggering amount of waste.
Over the last few years, the annual July 5th beach cleanup has routinely hauled away between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds (5 to 6 tons) of debris from the shoreline in a single morning.
The majority of this weight is charred fireworks casings, plastic wrappers, and cardboard launch tubes.
May The Fourth Be With Them
The Fourth of July fireworks over Drayton Harbour outside of Blaine shook the evening.
Let's hope the word doesn't get out that just a couple of nights after massive crowds descended on our waterfront for White Rock's Canada Day fireworks, only a handful of lucky Saturday night visitors to White Rock got a bonus show.
SSSSHHHHH don't tell anyone.
July 05, 2026
We Had A Good Run
Canada’s wild ride at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to a conclusion with a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful effort in the Round of 16.
The Canadians fell 3-0 to Morocco on Saturday in Houston. Canada came into the match ranked No. 30 in the world; Morocco entered the day at No. 6.
Morocco moves on to the quarterfinals against France, while Canada is eliminated. Still, this represents a best-ever performance for a team that hadn’t won a game at a senior men’s World Cup prior to this year.
The City of Surrey will broadcast over 100 of the FIFA WORLD CUP games on a giant screen in the Surrey City Hall Plaza.
Some of the games will have live performers on the plaza between games.
Friday July 03, 2026
Surrey Canada Day 2026 draws over 80,000
 Classic rocker LEE AARON
Doug Shrober photo
More than 80,000 people gathered at Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre in Cloverdale yesterday for Surrey Canada Day 2026, reinforcing its reputation as Western Canada’s largest free Canada Day celebration.
the event delivered a full day of free festivities, headlined by Canadian country star Josh Ross, with performances from Lee Aaron and Tyler Shaw. The celebration featured live entertainment across four stages, an Indigenous Village and Marketplace, amusement rides, food trucks, beer gardens, and a fireworks finale.
Attendees enjoyed a wide range of attractions across the site, including the Community Hub, which featured DJs, dance battles, and, new this year, the Chapman’s Chill Zone offering free ice cream samples. The Indigenous Village and Marketplace provided opportunities for cultural sharing and connection, while families took part in free activities and performances in the Family Zone.
Snowbirds Say Goodbye To Their Old Planes & White Rock
When the Canadian air force Flight squadron THE SNOWBIRDS roar over Semiahmoo Bay this August, the show will mark one of their last performances in their current jets. The next time we see The Snowbirds they will be flying brand new CT-157 Siskin II turbo prop planes.
The Snowbirds arrive in our City by the Sea on August 12 in the dinner time.
Seems like the perfect time to pack a picnic basket and head for the beach.
Cop Shop
White Rock RCMP has established a temporary Community Policing Trailer for the beach this summer.
Located in the pier head parking lot in the 15000 block of Marine Drive, it will be used by staff and volunteers during community events and beach patrols throughout the summer.
Please note that this office will not be manned 24/7. Should you require police, please continue to call 911 or non emergency 778-545-4800.
Expect to see more of a beach presence this summer from the RCMP.
Thursday July 02, 2026
What A Canada Day Gift
MP ERNIE KLASSEN stepped up to the microphone yesterday at our Canada Day celebration kick off in Memorial Park, and kicked it right through the goalposts. News of a forthcoming federal grant came the day before a government was going forthcoming for the reconstruction of our iconic pier.
The guessing game began on how much we would be receiving and all that guessing was concluded when KLASSEN announced the government was making a $26 million dollar grant for the pier reconstruction. The $26 million dollars when added to the already $4 million dollars the city had accumulated through grants and private citizen donations, means we have the entire amount to rebuild Canada's "Longest Pier."
Details on the design and timeline for reconstruction will be forthcoming soon from the city of White Rock.
Building Canada strong means backing our communities.
Through the Build Communities Strong Fund, we’re helping to rebuild local infrastructure — like the White Rock Pier in B.C.
To build a strong Canada we must support our communities.
Through the Building Strong Communities Fund, we’re helping rebuild local infrastructure, like the White Rock Pier in B.C.
The day long celebration came to a crashing and booming end with a fireworks display over Semiahmoo Bay. The crowds get larger every year and the event's popularity may signal its demise.
The city will be conducting a post event review to assess how bad the traffic situation alone may be cause for concern.
The best -place to perhaps watch the fire works may be turning on your TV and dialing into the live beach web cam.
(See the link for the live web cam at the bottom of the main page here on THE SUN)
Wednesday July 01, 2026
10,000-seat Arena and the Vancouver Giants are coming to Whalley
The City of Surrey and the Surrey City Development Corporation have announced an agreement in principle for the development of the City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre, with the Vancouver Giants as the anchor tenant.
Once complete, the 10,000-seat arena will become the new home for major sports, concerts and cultural events in Surrey, with the Giants relocating to the new venue. The project is anticipated to generate $2.4 billion in economic benefits for the city over the next 10 years.
The project will also include a luxury hotel, conference space and housing, helping create a new sports and entertainment district that will attract investment, support economic growth and expand Surrey's capacity to host major events.
The City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre will be built on land to be acquired by the City, directly across from City Hall and Surrey Central SkyTrain Station. The property will be secured through a strategic land swap agreement under which the City will acquire the five-acre parcel at 10355 King George Blvd. in exchange for three City-owned parcels at:
“This is an exciting project for the City of Surrey that will really form the core of a new sports, culture and entertainment district,” Bill Aujla, President and CEO of the Surrey City Development Corporation, said. “Bringing together this new parcel of land, with experienced parties to build, operate and tenant this new 10,000-seat arena, is going to unlock significant opportunities for the City.”
The City Centre Arena and Cultural Event Centre is anticipated to be completed by 2030, with a net estimated cost of $360 million. Funding for the project was provided for in the City's 2026 Budget.
E-Scooters / High Powered E-Bikes - SHUTDOWN!
Unless you live in Vancouver, Kelowna, Vernon, West Vancouver and North Vancouver city and district riding E-Scooters or High Powered e-Bikes it is illegal everywhere else in British Columbia.
The Province of BC enacted a 7 year trial period back in 2021 concludes in 2028.
Until Surrey and or White Rock passes a by-law both e-scooters and high powered e-bike motorcycles will remain illegal!
Congratulations Everyone
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Thought for the Day
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