Easter brings back a flood of memories. Some good, none bad and some just a little weird.
My earliest memory of Easter was an annual trip into Vancouver to HONEST NATS DEPARTMENT store "48th and Fraser" to be exact if you remember the 50’s radio commercial. I believe my father the late UNCLE JOE CHESNEY must have had a part in the writing of that popular radio commercial because I don’t ever remember my Dad fishing out his wallet after we had picked out and up or Easter outfits.
For me it was usual a new white shirt, dress slacks and a sports jacket. Somewhere in a box buried away in my storage locker, there are 8 mm home movies of Marlene (my sister) and I all duded up ready for church. Far too often when visitors came over my Dad for some strange reason felt they would love to see our family’s history on a projector screen set up in the living room. Gather round. “Hey Dad show the people how you can make Marlene and I walk backwards up the stairs” usually got a few laughs.
Another memory that comes crashing through each Easter is the story of THE FUNNY BUNNY. You see the aforementioned father UNCLE JOE CHESNEY when he started his own radio station in Langley in the early 60’s he felt the radio station needed a listener Easter contest. The birth of FUNNY BUNNY was underway. Listeners to the radio station were encouraged to draw, sculpt, paint, weld mould or whatever you imagined a “funny bunny:” would look like. I know it sounds hokey right? Well hokey resonated with the listeners of the radio station. The annual contest quickly got out of hand. The judging of the best three bunnies usually took place at the Guildford shopping centre. Hundreds turned out to see this simple little contest.
The FUNNY BUNNY became so big we took it on the road, I say we because as the boss’s kid in my teens it was my job to move the dozens of FUNNY BUNNIES around the Fraser valley to promote businesses who agree to have a bunch of weird and wonderful bunnies in their showroom window. One ill fated trip with all the bunnies loaded up in a stretch van, I was coming from Fort Langley to Langley, when someone cut me off. It was death or glory for me and the funny bunnies. I hammered on the brakes to avoid the crash. Big problem. The FUNNY BUNNY that had won the promotion that year was a 3 foot tall bunny created out of sugar cubes. The tidal wave of sugar cubes came sliding to the front of the van and most of the other bunnies were heavily damaged. The sugar cube version could not be saved and the final stop on the 1967 FUNNY BUNNY contest had a number of funny bunnies that were not looking as wonderful as their original version.
My fondest EASTER memory was Easter Dinner which usually meant some other family would be coming for dinner, or we would be venturing into the big city of Vancouver for dinner at the Connoly’s. Today family is the feeling that circles me and causes me to reflect how lucky I have been and how lucky I continue to be.
Monday my newly adopted Viking Clan family arrives from all points east to our home on Merklin street where the games room is already being reinvented my my fiancée Gayle, who packs away Easter items like Christmas decoration. She loves it. I love her!
HAPPY EASTER from our house to yours.
David Chesney
Editor/Publisher
LOCAL NEWS
April 19, 2025
Easter Weekend Event Guide
Advance Voting Days
On the following days:
Friday, April 18, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 20, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Monday, April 21, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Every April, millions of Sikhs world-wide celebrate Vaisakhi Day, a day that marks the establishment of the Khalsa order by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji (10th Sikh Guru) in 1699. Considered one of the most important days in the Sikh calendar, Nagar Kirtans (community religious parades) celebrating the event are held in Sikh communities around the world.
The largest Vaisakhi Parade in the world occurs in Surrey, where approximately 500,000 people attend the annual Surrey Khalsa Day Vaisakhi Parade.
The day-long celebration is the largest Khalsa Day (Vaisakhi) Parade in the world, that draws in excess of 500,000 guests across cultures and religions expected to attend.
The Parade begins at 9:00am at the Gurdwara Sahib Darbar (12885 85th Avenue, Surrey) and travels along 124th Street, turns left onto 75th Avenue, continues on 76th Avenue onto 128th Street then returns to the Temple at approximately 5:00pm.
Vendors offering free food; music and festivities occur along the Parade route, but due to heavy traffic organizers encourage attendees to walk to the festival area. There is no parking in the area of the event.
For more information including a map, transit and shuttle information visit: www.SurreyVaisakhiParade.com.
Address: 12823 Crescent Rd / Corner of 128th street and Crescent Road
We are excited to be open all Easter weekend! Join us Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for a delicious twist on your weekend favorites—we’re serving up Dim Sum and our famous Bennys all three days.
Whether you’re brunching with friends or fueling up for a day of festivities, we’ve got you covered. See you then!
City Hall & Facilities Closure Notice – Easter
White Rock City Hall (15322 Buena Vista Avenue) and Engineering and Operations (877 Keil Street) will be closed on Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21 for Easter and will reopen on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Recreation Facility hours for April 18 to April 21:
Facility
April 18
April 19
April 20
April 21
Centre for Active Living
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Centennial Park Leisure Centre - Office
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Kent Street Activity Centre
Closed
Open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Closed
Closed
White Rock Community Centre
Closed
Open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed
Closed
There are no waste collection changes April 28 to May 2, 2025
Sign up for waste collection change notices and find your waste collection schedule at whiterockcity.ca/waste
Missed a collection? Submit a Request For Service online or call Engineering & Operations at 604-541-2181.
April 17, 2025
The 2024-2025 Winter Extreme Weather EWR season in Surrey-White Rock ended on April 15, 2025.
All EWR shelters in Surrey and White Rock are now closed for the season.
For up to date information about shelter availability, please contact 211 British Columbia by calling or texting 2-1-1. As a reminder bc211 shelter lists detail available shelters and are updated twice a day at 11:30 am and 7:30 pm.
The Surrey Board of Trade extended an invitation to the candidates from the Surrey/Langley/White Rock/Delta ridings to attend a Federal Election Candidates event last evening.
Very few invitees took them up on their offer.
Our South Surrey/White Rock riding accounted for close to 50% of the attendees.
The federal leaders debate in French this evening on CBC television. Note the new time of 3 p.m. our time. The early start is due to the Montreal Canadians playoff bound hockey game this evening.
With the federal election around the corner, CBC News will deliver in-depth coverage and expert analysis to keep you informed every step of the way.
The leaders of the country’s five major political parties will face off at the 2025 Federal English Leaders’ Debate, live in Montreal, on Thursday, April 17, a 3:00 p.m. PT. Watch it live on CBC-TV, CBC News Network and everywhere you stream CBC News, including the CBC News app, CBC's YouTube channel, CBC Gem and CBCNews.ca.
Busy during the live broadcast? You can watch the rebroadcast at 9:00 p.m. PT on CBC News Network and CBC Gem.
Click here for more information on how to follow the federal leaders' debates.
Happy Birthday To Us!
Thank you to White Rock resident GARY GUMLEY for reminding us White Rock turned 68 yesterday.
You might say we are a senior "cityzen"
April 15, 2025
White Rock Council Monday Rewind
The Corporation of the CITY OF WHITE ROCK Regular Council Meeting Agenda Today (Monday, April 14) at 4:00 p.m.
- STEPHANIE BECK executive director of the Peace Arch Hospital presented an overview to council on the current activities at Peace Arch Hospital.
Construction will soon begin on full kitchen facilities to create a full operational kitchen to enable the food at the hospital to be prepared on site. It was pointed out currently there is not even a toaster in the kitchen to make toast.
BECK also Identified in the past year there were 55,000 visitors to the Emergency section of Peace Arch Hospital.
- MLA TREVOR HALFORD spoke to council regarding his opposition to the legislated Provincial density orders.
- Generations Splash Pad located on Centennial Park will receive $1.7 million dollar expansion
- a motion to eliminate the current parking lot on city property in front of the soon to be created HELEN FATHERS/CENTRE STREET walkway was defeated by the MAYOR KNIGHT and councillors PARTRIDGE/LAWRENCE/CHEUNG/TREVELYAN
The RCMP Surrey Police Operations Support Unit’s General Investigation Unit (SPOSU GIU) is investigating a hit-and-run collision in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood that has left two pedestrians with minor injuries.
At approximately 8:15 pm on April 13, 2025, police received reports of several pedestrians being struck by a vehicle in the 2800 block of McKenzie Avenue. The driver that struck the pedestrians did not remain at the scene. The vehicle was last seen leaving westbound on McKenzie Avenue.
RCMP SPOSU officers attended the scene and found that two people, a teen aged boy and an adult man, had sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Both were transported to hospital for evaluation and treatment.
If you witnessed the collision or have any information, including CCTV or dashcam footage, please call Surrey Police Service at 604-599-0502 and quote file 2025-20007 (SU).
THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF WHITE ROCK
NOTICE OF WAIVER OF A PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE is hereby given that the Council of the City of White Rock will consider waiving a Public Hearing for proposed White Rock Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506, Amendment No.3, 2025, No. 2517 in accordance with section 464(2) and 467 of the Local Government Act; and further
NOTICE is hereby given that Council will consider first, second and third reading for the bylaw at the Regular Council Meeting scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the White Rock Community Centre.
BYLAW 2517: White Rock Zoning Bylaw, 2024, No. 2506, Amendment No. 3, 2025, No. 2517
PURPOSE: The purpose of Bylaw 2517 is to amend the City of White Rock’s Zoning Bylaw to make refinements to general regulations that apply to zones that contain Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) and to further clarify provisions for the development of SSMUH.
COPIES OF THE BYLAW MAY BE INSPECTED: in the Corporate Administration Office at White Rock City Hall, 15322 Buena Vista Avenue, White Rock, BC, from
April 1 to April 14, 2025, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding weekends and statutory holidays.
Surrey Council to vote on $4.17 in contract to improve South Surrey Athletic Park for the design and construction of a covered sports court at South Surrey Athletic Park
During tonight’s Regular Council Meeting, Surrey City Council will vote on awarding $8.3 million in contracts to enhance outdoor sport facilities at three premier sites for local athletes.
This includes awarding:
A $4.17 million contract to Liberty Contract Management Inc. for the design and construction of a covered sports court at South Surrey Athletic Park, which will provide an all-season outdoor amenity for multiple sports, such as lacrosse, ball hockey and pickleball.
Design for the covered sports court at South Surrey Athletic Park is set to begin in May with construction expected to be completed by July 2026.
Funding for this project will be available from the proposed 2025 capital projects budget. For more information about other projects being planned or under construction, visit surrey.ca/capitalprojects.
April 12, 2025
What's On Your Mind
CBC morning radio host STEPHEN QUINN made the trip to White rock on Wednesday to gauge what is on the mind of the voters in the upcoming federal election.
The CBC crew set up shop outside of the Presbyterian Church where the ALL candidates meeting was taking place and asked South Surrey/White Rock residents "What Matters To You?"
7:00pm, Every Song is a Little Adventure (A Joni Mitchell Project) at Blue Frog Studios
7:00pm, Tight Rope at West Beach Bar & Grill
8:00pm-11:30pm Stage Pilots at The Beer Shack
Green Party disinvited from federal leaders' debate, commission says;
The Leaders' Debate Commission says it has rescinded its invitation to the Green Party to participate in the two federal leaders' debates.
The commission says because the party intentionally reduced its number of candidates running in the federal election, it "no longer meets the intention of the participation criteria."
If you are over or approaching the age of 50 you might want to pay attention to this colonoscopy song because if you haven’t had the test you need to talk with your doctor.
Consider scheduling a time to talk with your doctor about “Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer” and the various tests for screening to find colon polyps and cancer.