When I first moved to South Surrey over 20 years ago I lived directly across from the Crescent Park Annex, a small school situated at the southeast corner of 24 Ave. and 124 St. This old one-room schoolhouse opened in 1918 after being built on land donated by Ocean Park resident Benjamin Stevenson for use as a neighbourhood school. It was followed by the Crescent Park Elementary built in 1948 and Elgin Secondary that opened in 1993.
At that time the Annex was still being used for grade 1 students from the Crescent Heights neighbourhood but with declining enrollment at Crescent Park Elementary it was eventually closed. It is now open on rare occasions for various school board functions but the only time you now see children there are when they are in the playground with parents supervising them. The property is now being used as a defacto neighbourhood park that includes a covered play area with a hockey net and a tether ball pole (bring your own ball).
It was while researching this old school that I realized the historic photo in the Registry was not of the Annex but of another similar school. This got me digging deeper and trying to find an old black and white picture of when the Annex was first built. After futile online searches I visited the Surrey Archives site and eventually found a sepia tone photo of the Crescent Park Annex from when it first opened in 1918. That is the photo you see here, which I forwarded to Canada Parks so they can correct the photo mistake for this school building contained in their Registry.
All of this research into our local schoolhouse made me suddenly wonder what the original name actually was. It turns out it was simply known as the "Crescent School." In the old photo you can see part of the name plus view the original siding and gabled entrance. I think that after 105 years the time has come to restore the name back to Crescent School, possibly with the 1918 year affixed to it. Since it is a heritage building, possibly replacing the present stucco with siding and rebuilding the period correct front entrance could also be done. The building should be open for community events, rentals and as a filming location since it will likely never be used again to educate Surrey students.
Join us today, Tuesday August 19 at 12 p.m. to celebrate the official opening of the Generations Playground Splash Pad.
The Splash Pad is a new interactive water play area for all ages and abilities, designed to promote fun, accessibility, and cooling relief during the summer months.
Surrey Schools anticipates greater need for student supplies ahead of 2025-26 school year
The district is anticipating an increased need for student supplies this year as enrolment continues to grow at a rapid pace in Surrey and White Rock
With the new school year fast approaching, Surrey Schools is calling on donors, community partners and the public to help provide school supplies, backpacks and other essentials for students returning to the classroom.
This year, the district’s Advancement Office is anticipating a greater need for school supplies than previous years, increasing at the pace of student population growth, which continues to grow rapidly. Last September, district enrolment reached 83,259 students, up by more than 1,500 students in the 2023-24 school year.
In addition to backpacks, some of the most in-demand items – including ones most people may not think of – are:
binders with lined paper;
pencil cases with supplies (pens, pencils, erasers, scissors, highlighters, markers, pencil crayons and glue sticks); and
hygiene items (feminine hygiene items, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and body wash).
To support students, the district is partnering with a few organizations to run various drives for school supplies, food and monetary donations that will help families with the return to school in a few weeks.
On Saturday, Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Choices Market in South Surrey at Alder Crossing Mall (3248 King George Blvd.) is celebrating its 20th anniversary by hosting a community BBQ. As a strong supporter of local organizations that work toward building healthy, sustainable communities, Choices is partnering with Surrey Schools at their anniversary event to collect monetary donations to support Surrey Schools meal programs this coming academic year.
How You Can Help
The district’s Advancement Office happily accepts donations throughout the year and welcomes contributions from individuals, companies, corporations, businesses and foundations.
If any community partners would like to support other initiatives with Surrey Schools to help prepare for the next school year, the district is currently seeking funding in the following areas:
The message below was received from Surrey Parks with the stairs now remaining closed for an additional week in summer.
There is additional work required on the stairs, anticipated that they will be closed until Saturday August 23. As indicated on the sign, you can contact the City Parks line at 604-501-5050 for updates and the City Website contains updated information as well.
August 17, 2025
...And They're Off - For Good
The City of Surrey has yanked the lease back from Great Canadian Entertainment (GCE), the organization who runs both Elements Casino and Fraser Downs on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds.
GCE noted this means “effective immediately” there will be no more racing at Fraser Downs.
According to a press release sent out Aug. 15 from GCE, the City of Surrey exercised its option under something called “lease recapture rights” and terminated the lease for the racetrack. The termination includes the backstretch, the stabling facilities, and the 5/8 oval, which has been open for 49 years.
“We know this decision touches everyone who has been a part of Fraser Downs’ long and proud history, from the racing community and our dedicated team members to the many people across the region who share a passion for standard bred racing,” noted Rodrigo Perez, the acting general manager for Fraser Downs.
“We are grateful for the commitment and contributions to horse racing in British Columbia,” Perez continued. "Our priority now is supporting our team members through this transition and collaborating with the City of Surrey on the requirements to complete the property transition.”
There are currently no horses in the backstretch and no training going on at Fraser Downs right now. The track has been closed while GCE deals with a rat infestation in the six barns there. The infestation had been the subject of a lawsuit that Harness Racing B.C. brought against GCE, with the HRBC losing that suit earlier this year.
The press release also notes that the grandstand, which includes elements casino, is not included in the lease recapture. GCE added the casino will continue to operate “without impact” going forward. Yuk Yuk's Surrey is also located within Elements and they will be unaffected as well.
Fraser Downs opened on the Fairgrounds in 1976 as Cloverdale Raceway. The name was changed in 1996 to Fraser Downs. The track is a 5/8-mile oval for standard bred harness racing.
August 16, 2025
BNSF Train Blocks Waterfront Pier - People Crawl Under Train To Get Off The Pier
Witness video shows children and adults crawling under a stalled BNSF train along the White Rock waterfront on Aug. 13, 2025.
A BNSF train came to an unexpected stop along the White Rock waterfront on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, and stayed there for about 90 minutes, blocking access to the pier and leaving some pedestrians to make a risky decision.
CATHY SHUM who lives on the waterfront, said she heard the train “screech to a halt” around 6:30 pm.
“When we went for our usual evening walk, we realized it was blocking the pier. People would have been stuck on the other side.”
By then, the promenade was busy with families, runners, diners, and dog walkers enjoying the summer evening.
That’s when SHUM saw something she couldn’t believe: people crawling under the train and climbing between cars to get by.
“I think that’s very dangerous to be doing that. You don’t know when the train is going to start up again… the barriers are there for a reason,” she said.
“There was an alternative… maybe an extra 10 or 15 minutes of walking… but at least you’d cross safely.”
SHUM'S post on her FACEBOOK quickly filled with comments from locals calling the behaviour “stupid,” “horrible,” and “something I’ve never seen in 40 years here.”
Police in White Rock are asking residents to stay safe around tracks and trains after a dangerous incident near the pier head on Wednesday (Aug. 13).
At around 7:15 p.m., the RCMP responded to a stopped train blocking the crossing and saw pedestrians, including children and their parents, crawling under it or walking along the tracks.
“Never crawl under a train, enter the tracks against crossing signals, or walk on/along tracks at undesignated crossings,” said White Rock Detachment Commander, S/Sgt. Rob Dixon. “It’s illegal and your safety is not worth the shortcut.”
White Rock RCMP added that a stopped train can move without warning, which could lead to injury or death.
White Rock RCMP were alerted early yesterday morning to the fact there was a body located in the city of White Rock's water reservoir site on Thrift avenue just East of Johnston Road.
Fire & police convened at the area and quickly ascertained there was a body in the park portion of the property.
The scene was quickly taped off.
The investigation began to identify the cause of death and whether or not foul play was involved.
Surrey/White Rock Board of Trade to Host White Rock By-Election Candidates Event – September 15
The White Rock by-election is set to take place on Saturday, September 27 to fill two vacant council seats. 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.
“The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade is committed to ensuring our business community is informed and engaged in the democratic process. With one-third of council seats to be filled, this by-election will shape the direction of White Rock’s future — from economic development and infrastructure to livability and community priorities. Our all-candidates event gives residents and business leaders a direct opportunity to hear from each candidate and make an informed choice. An engaged electorate is the foundation of a strong and vibrant city,” said Joslyn Young, CEO of the Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade.
The Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade is a non-partisan business organization dedicated to advancing the economic interests of our community. We engage constructively with all levels of government—regardless of political affiliation—to advocate for policies that support business success. As part of this commitment, we host dialogues with political candidates during every election to better understand their vision for the business community and to ensure our members’ perspectives are heard.
IF YOU ARE RUNNING AS A CANDIDATE IN THE 2025 WHITE ROCK BY-ELECTION OR REPRESENT A CANDIDATE:
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 Oceana Parc.
Attendees must register online at businessinsurrey.com as seats are limited.
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.
August 14, 2025
White Rock Gets A Touch Of Jamaica
It's called Back 2 Jamaica Eats.
I know a lot of you have been asking for great Jamaican food and here it is!
Your up to date guide to entertainment this week around the Semiahoo peninsula.
Let's kick it off the week with a great jam @ White Rock Beach Beer.
Open Mic is back this week - Tuesday, August 19 - at our joint, with Dennis Pook hosting what is always a great night at White Rock's original micro-brewery.
See you at 'The Beach'.
...or maybe a little tush push over at the Crescent Beach Legion with CHRISTY & the cowboy.
Hey dancers! Review of 22, Perks, Tipsy, Boots On The Ground and more tonight.
The air conditioning works great!
Kitchen is closed so feel free to bring your own or order in! See you all there
Aug 23 + 24
