Forty five years ago today, residents of White Rock and South Surrey will remember where they were the day Mount Saint Helens in Washington state erupted. The force of the eruption was equivalent to 50 megatons of TNT.
The blast and subseqeutn floods, landslides and ash killed 57 people. the blast was heard her in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.
Cloverdale Rodeo Weekend
May 13, 2025
Tale of Two Cities
May 14, 2025 / 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel (15269 104 Avenue, Surrey) & online via livestream
Surrey Mayor BRENDA LOCKE and White Rock mayor MEAGAN KNIGHT have State of the City Address events planned.
Join Mayor Brenda Locke as she delivers her annual State of the City address to outline her vision for the future of Surrey.
The State of the City address is an important event to energize the city and build excitement around a renewed economic and jobs plan for Surrey. A state of the city gives business stakeholders and potential investors an inside glimpse of the current economic assets and goals as Surrey becomes the largest city in British Columbia.
During her address, Mayor Brenda Locke will share her thoughts on the City’s emerging policy directions, the progress of capital projects, along with her vision for the future of Surrey.
The day of the address follow the link below to watch the mayor in real time.
The City of White Rock is pleased to invite residents, business owners, and community partners to attend Mayor Megan Knight’s 2025 State of the City Address on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Oceana PARC.
Hosted in partnership with the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Surrey Board of Trade, this annual event provides an opportunity for Mayor Knight to share key updates, reflect on accomplishments from the past year, and outline her vision for White Rock’s future.
Note: The city of White Rock will also stream live the mayor's State of the City.
Monday Council Recap
- BRAD DAVIE the newly appointed White Rock Fire Chief was formally introduced to mayor and council last evening. DAVIE comes from New Westminster where he served for the past 2 decades. DAVIE and his family make their home in Langley.
-Staff Sergent DIXON of the White Rock RCMP detachment presented his quarterly report.
- Councillor ERNIE KLASSEN stopped in to formally say goodbye to staff and council. KLASSEN is in Ottawa today for his MP orientation. KLASSEN donated $7500.00 to the White Rock Warming Centre. The money was left over in KLASSEN'S election campaign fund.
- Council unanimously endorsed the mayor sending a letter to TRANSLINK requesting increased shuttle bus service from our uptown to the beach during the summer hours.
- Council was also informed due to councillor KLASSEN'S resignation from council to fulfill his MP duties representing us in Ottawa, there will be a by election held here in White Rock.
Staff will bring a report to council on June 09th with a by election expected to be held in September.
Fire In The Sky
It has been the practice since the beginning for the annual Celebration of Light (formerly the Symphony of Fire) to host international competitors, the 2025 event will be all-Canadian.
The dates, and teams, will be:
Saturday, July 19 Team Yukon's "Midnight Sun Fireworks"
Wednesday, July 23 - Team Quebec's "Royal Pyrotechnie"
Saturday, July 26 - Team Nova Scotia's Fireworks FX.
So it's "Go Canada Go" all the way!
Lapu Lapu Remembrance Ceremony
A number of community members gathered yesterday afternoon in the Miramar Plaza. The somber ceremony was held to honour those who died and those that were injured in the terrible incident that occurred a few weeks back at the Vancouver Lapu Lapu Festival.
May 12, 2025
Corruption in Local Government
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke recently responded to allegations that a former municipal employee defrauded the city of $2.5 million, insisting that they have adequate financial safeguards in place. The ex-finance clerk is alleged to have funneled hundreds of cheques to herself, drawing funds from deposits made to the city by developers.
Hike For Hospice Big Thanks
The 2025 Peace Arch Hospice HIKE FOR HOSPICE this year earned $40,000.00
Dozens of walkers turned up last Sunday to enjoy the annual walk around Crescent Beach. The circle route begins and ends at Blackie Spit park.
May 10, 2025
Concerts at the Pier 2025
The lineup for this year's concerts;
June 24th at Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza (East Beach): THE ODDS, with opener Aidan Farrell
July 10th at Miramar Village (Uptown): MOSTLY MARLEY
July 17th at Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza: SIMPLY QUEEN, with opener Avenue Elle
August 14th at Memorial Park (West Beach): SGAANAGWA with opener, The Wilds
August 21st at Memorial Park: FIVE ALARM FUNK, with opener Pax
All concerts start at 7 pm (headliner starts at 8 pm), and are free to attend!
Join us for a summer of thrilling music and thriving community here in White Rock.
Get ready for an unforgettable night at the Cloverdale Rodeo & Country Fair with country music legend Corb Lund!
With hits like “The Truck Got Stuck” and “Hair in My Eyes Like a Highland Steer,” Corb Lund brings the perfect blend of country, roots, and cowboy spirit to the stage.
All you need is a General Admission pass — no extra concert ticket required!
White Rock Tower Plan – What Aren’t They Telling Us?
Apparently, the White Rock City Hall never mentioned that their planned 25-storey tower, THE HUB project will also take over the lot currently occupied by that 6-storey apartment building on the right. Looks like they’re just waiting for it to be torn down.
The above picture and text was recently posted on social media.
As if there is not enough mis-information regarding the proposed White Rock Community Hub.
The Peace Arch News has figured out they have caught lightening in a bottle due to the high interest and opinions on the proposed community hub. Week after week there has been a steady stream of Letters to the Editor section chastising (the most polite word I could think of) council and city staff for even considering building a so called Highrise Hug on the city property at the corner of Russell avenue and Johnston road.
To refresh your memory the current council in a vote of 4-3 directed the city to explore building a community hub on said property. Only myself and councillors TREVELYAN and KLASSEN voted in opposition.
There are many questions that must be answered as far as I am concerned. None of the answers would cause me to vote in support to building a highrise on a piece of land the city has expropriated from Imperial Oil under the guise the property would be turned into a park. This was the plan put forth by the BALDWIN controlled council back 2014-2018. Myself and the rest of council unanimously approved the purchase for park space given the incredible number of high-rises that were or were about to be plunked down in our town centre.
An article like the above only inflames the situation. Most readers won't get past the headline and the firestorm will be fully underway before the city can get corrected information out. To say the least I have an inside track on this topic and if there has been any plans on purchasing the adjoining building mentioned in the article, it has been a very very private conversation and has not included the entire council. I doubt its validity.
The city recently hired and introduced an independent consultant DARCY DUPONT who is currently pouring over all the possibilities, weighing out the pros and cons, meeting with community stakeholders and speaking personally with staff and council. I feel confident his decision will be based on facts and figures.
Does that mean I will change my vote to the affirmative. No.
The city is soon set to release a timeline of online engagement and Open Houses to attain feedback from the community once they have all the information to present.
So let's all just step back for half a minute take a big deep breath and weigh out all the information.
The BOYS OF SUMMER are back at Nat Bailey stadium.
Let's turn back the hands of time to June 15, 1951 for the GRAND OPENING.
Originally called Capilano Stadium home of the Vancouver Mounties.
Now the home diamond to the Vancouver Canadians
Joke Of The Day
An ex husband an ex wife are in court fighting in a bitter custody battle over their child.
The judge asks the woman: "Why do you feel you deserve custody?"
The woman says: "I brought that child into this world. My child literally came out of me! That is why I deserve custody."
The judge nods his head, and says "That is a simple and logical reason. It makes sense."
Then the judge turns his head to the man and asks: "She said her side of things. Why do you feel you deserve custody?"
The man sits in his chair and slowly drinks from a can of coke then he holds up the empty can in his hand and says, "Was this my coke or my ex wife's coke?" Confused the judge says "I believe that was your coke". The wife is also confused and the judge looks over at her and asks "Was that your coke?" The ex wife says, "No, it was his coke."
The man looks at the judge and says, "Good we all agree. So when I put money in a coke machine and a coke pops out the coke is mine not the coke machine's correct?"
READ Surrey White Rock Society is excited to partner with local author Sherry McMillan to host a pop-up StoryWalk®featuring her charming children’s book, "What the Seal Saw."
Sherry’s book, "What the Seal Saw", is set around the White Rock Pier and reflects her mission to nurture a love of nature and language in young children with big imaginations.
We’re setting up the StoryWalk® near the Pier, making it easily accessible to the public.
Event Details
Date: Monday, May 19 Time: 1 - 3 p.m.
Location: Memorial Park Plaza, 15300 Marine Drive
READ Surrey White Rock Society is a local non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about literacy challenges and supporting individuals in developing the skills they need to improve their opportunities in life. READ offers adult and family learning programs, training workshops for service providers, free lend able StoryWalk® kits, and information and referrals for learners of all ages.
June 24th at Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza (East Beach): THE ODDS, with opener Aidan Farrell
July 10th at Miramar Village (Uptown): MOSTLY MARLEY
July 17th at Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza: SIMPLY QUEEN, with opener Avenue Elle
August 14th at Memorial Park (West Beach): SGAANAGWA with opener, The Wilds
August 21st at Memorial Park: FIVE ALARM FUNK, with opener Pax
For more information or to share your thoughts, visit 
