The City of White Rock will hold a press conference with IHIT, White Rock RCMP, and Mayor Megan Knight on Wednesday, April 24 at 2 p.m. to discuss recent developments.
When: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Where: White Rock City Hall (Council Chambers)
15322 Buena Vista Avenue
White Rock, BC
V4B 1Y6
Watch your local 6 o'clock news for a breakdown of today's press conference.
Another stabbing occurred last night on the White Rock waterfront.
The attack and stabbing occurred east of the White Rock pier on the promenade walkway.. The attack on a male was fatal.
The assailant remains at large.
Despite confirmation from the RCMP the Peace Arch News is reporting last evening's assailant matches the description of Sunday's stabbing.
The suspect is described as a Black male, 5’11”, wearing a hat and a grey hoodie with the hood up over the hat. He was last seeing fleeing northbound from the promenade towards Marine Drive.
White Rock RCMP Update 10:30 a.m.
White Rock RCMP is advising the public of a homicide that occurred Tuesday evening and is requesting anyone who may have witnessed the incident or was taking photos/videos in the area to contact police.
On April 23, 2024, at 9:26 p.m., White Rock RCMP received a report of a man suffering from apparent stab wounds in the 15400-block of Marine Drive. Despite lifesaving measures provided by first responders on scene the person did not survive.
Police arrived on scene within minutes of the initial call and the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service also responded, however the suspect was not located.
The suspect is described as a black male, 5’11”, wearing a hat and a grey hoodie with the hood up over the hat. He was last seeing fleeing Northbound from the promenade towards Marine Drive.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been called and will be working in partnership with White Rock RCMP. The area surrounding the scene will be cordoned off for an undetermined amount of time while police work to gather evidence.
Given the apparent similarities between this incident and the one which occurred on Sunday evening, police are investigating to determine whether or not there is a conclusive link between the two events.
“Undoubtedly these violent incidents have raised concerns surrounding safety in our community and we want to assure the public that their safety is our top priority,” says White Rock RCMP Detachment Commander, Staff Sergeant Rob Dixon. “Patrols in the area have been increased and our officers will be working with IHIT to identify the suspect.”
Any further information will be provided by IHIT.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT infoline at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
A night out at a popular viewpoint in White Rock turned into a nightmare for a couple who just arrived in Canada, after one of them was stabbed in a random attack Sunday.
Manpreet Kaur and her husband Jadinder Singh say it was supposed to be a relaxing night out on the White Rock Pier, two months after they had moved to the country.
“We were just sitting on the bench, talking, eating, spending quality time and feeling so relaxed,” said Kaur, who notes things quickly took a turn.
She says suddenly, Singh put his hand to his neck. He had been stabbed by a stranger, who then proceeded to walk away from the attack.
“Right after the bleeding started, we saw the knife in [the suspect’s] hand, and we realized that he cut his neck with the knife,” Kaur told OMNI News Tuesday.
City of White Rock selected for Housing Targets Assessment from the Province of British Columbia
The Province announced yesterday (Tuesday) that the City of White Rock will form part of the next cohort of municipalities selected for the development of housing targets, as part of the Province’s framework for increasing the number of housing units in British Columbia. Municipalities are selected based on the availability of the housing supply and on location.
The Housing Supply Act and Housing Supply Regulation, initiated by the Province in 2023, gives the Province the authority to establish housing targets, and requires municipalities to work to meet these targets over a five-year period.
“We look forward to working with the Province to find opportunities for housing within White Rock, while recognizing our local context and sharing with the Province our community’s housing concerns and expectations. Affordable Housing is a priority for Council, and we hope to work with the Province to find solutions to address our local housing need, in a manner that is appropriate for White Rock” said White Rock Mayor Megan Knight.
City staff will work closely with Provincial staff in the coming weeks in the development of these targets. Meanwhile, the City is continuing to work to implement new zoning regulations in accordance with Provincial legislation (Bill 44) by the mandatory June 30, 2024 deadline.
Due to the incident on the White Rock waterfront last evening, today's event has been cancelled.
It will be rescheduled.
City of White Rock Mayor Megan Knight will deliver her inaugural State of the City Address at a business brunch today (April 24 at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.)
Our SURREY EAGLES of the BCHL split the first two games with the Victoria Cougars on their home ice. The playoffs then moved to Victoria to continue the best of 7 series.
Monday Victoria defeated Surrey 5-3.
Last night in game 4 Surrey bounced back with a 3-0 shutout.
The playoffs continue game 5 Thursday at the South Surrey arena- 7:15. Game 6 is back in Victoria and if a game 7 is needed it will be played here @ South Surrey arena Monday 2 8 p.m.
Tickets at the door.
Tuesday April 23, 2024
Circle Your Calendar
This afternoon MIKE FARNWORTH Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General in British Columbia called a press conference in Vancouver for an announcement regarding the future of policing in Surrey.
The minister was joined for the announcement by Surrey Police Service Chief Constable Norm Lipinski and RCMP assistant commissioner Dwayne McDonald, who heads the RCMP in B.C.
FARNWORTH issued a date for hand over of policing in Surrey from the RCMP to the Surrey Police Service on November 29 of this year. FARNWORTH called the announcement a "milestone in the policing of Surrey." The back and forth on which police force will carry out policing in the city of Surrey has now dragged on for 18 months.
There was no mention by FARNWORTH of the pending court case filed by the city of Surrey which will be heard in BC Supreme Court next Monday.
Statement from Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke
Aside from setting an aspirational date, nothing else has changed. Minister Farnworth’s “announcement” today is simply another desperate attempt by the province to demonstrate some kind of progress on this issue, mere days before the matter is heard in court.
Everything Minister Farnworth stated today confirms why the City of Surrey has consistently and repeatedly chosen to retain the RCMP. The reality is that despite the claims of transition progress over the last five years, substantial plans for this transition have never been completed. Minister Farnworth’s comments today raise more questions and doubts about the province’s ability to responsibly navigate this matter in the best interests of public safety and the people of Surrey.
The Solicitor General has set many dates and deadlines to push through the police transition in Surrey. Today, he has set a date when the police of jurisdiction will be transferred. The original transition concept from 2019, which Minister Farnworth approved, has consistently missed its own targets and is three years behind schedule. Now he is anxious to switch the police of jurisdiction saying that SPS will have the complement of officers needed by the end of November. Like many of his announcements, there are sparse details on how this “milestone” will be completed.
The reality is that despite several public gestures of transition progress over the last five years, substantial plans for this transition have never been completed. There was no clear path forward then, and there remains no clear path forward now.
Mayor Brenda Locke
City of Surrey
Monday April 22, 2024
Police seeking witnesses to stabbing
White Rock RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance with information that could assist with identifying the suspect in a stabbing that occurred near the White Rock Pier Sunday evening.
On April 21, 2024, at approximately 9:00 p.m., White Rock RCMP received a report that someone had been stabbed near the White Rock Pier. Upon attendance police located the 28-year-old victim and provided first aid until paramedics arrived. The victim was transported to hospital by Emergency Health Services with non-life-threatening injuries.
White Rock RCMP is actively exploring all avenues of investigation to gather necessary evidence to identify, locate and arrest the suspect. They have received additional support from Surrey RCMP, Integrated Police Dog Service and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section.
The investigation is in the early stages and the motive is undetermined. Based on initial information, police do not believe that parties were known to each other or that there was any confrontation prior to the incident.
The suspect is described as a black male, wearing a ball cap and a grey hoodie.
There were many people in the area and we are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or was taking photos/ videos in the area to contact police, says Staff Sergeant Rob Dixon. Public safety is a priority so we are asking the public to assist us in our investigation to identify the suspect to prevent further incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to contact White Rock RCMP at 778-545-4800.
Monday April 22, 2024
Another One Bites The Dust
White Rock waterfront restaurants for the most part change hands, close and or open with great regularity. The uptown dining scene seemed to be more stable, until now.
BIN 101 will soon shutter its doors of the popular dining establishment on Johnston road in White Rock.
Posted on Social Media:
With over a decade of cherished memories, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Bin 101. Our final day of regular service will be on Friday, April 26th.
If you would like to dine with us before we close, please secure your reservation online at www.bin101.ca.
To our patrons who have become family, thank you for being the most important part of our Bin 101 journey. We are immensely grateful for the countless friendships and connections we have formed over the past 10 years. To all who have supported us and welcomed us into your lives - you have made this journey truly meaningful and we simply cannot thank you enough.
This is an incredibly bittersweet end to an amazing chapter, though we know the relationships we have built at Bin 101 will continue on. We can't wait to see familiar faces and reminisce about the great memories we've had here over the next two weeks.
Samantha & the Bin 101 family
Sunday April 21, 2024
Three Strikes...And We're Gone
SEA GODS paddle board shop co-owner MANDY JOHNSTON has had enough with street crime in White Rock.
JOHNSTON recently told the news media after the third break in, it was time to move out of White Rock.
Life Imitates Art
Local author SAM WIEBE won;t be making any friends at city hall or the police station with his new novel OCEAN DRIVE. The book based in Washington (for the American market) is based on the premise a bid for a casino in town draws a criminal element.
“It’s not the place people think it is,” said Wiebe about White Rock recently. “(That shooting) really underscored that. The people who live there have it seen it change. And it has gotten more violent.”
Wiebe, who calls New Westminster home, spent a good chunk of his teen years in the mid-1990s to early 2000s in White Rock and says he was aware of an underlying crime vibe then.
Surrey Vaisakhi Parade Incident Yesterday
First responders worked together to manage a hazard at Saturday's Vaisakhi parade
On April 20, 2024 at 3:44 p.m., Surrey RCMP received a report of a hazardous situation near Anvil Way and 128 Street along the route of the Vaisakhi parade.
A scissor lift parked on private property made contact with some wires. Several police officers, with assistance from Surrey Fire Service, BC Emergency Health Services, and Bylaw Services responded. First responders cleared the parade crowd from the area around the hazard, making it safe until BC Hydro attended. There were no injuries reported.
Out of an abundance of caution, and in coordination with parade organizers, the parade was halted and the crowd safely dispersed leading up to the conclusion of the event.
Surrey RCMP estimates 550,000 in attendance at the Vaisakhi parade.
“Aside from the hazard involving the scissor lift, there were no major incidents reported and no arrests were made”, says Sergeant Tammy Lobb, Media Relations Officer with Surrey RCMP. “Today was an excellent example of how first responders work collaboratively to ensure this large-scale, community event remains safe and enjoyable”, added Sgt. Lobb..
The outflow gate to the coho pond at the Little Campbell Hatchery has been opened, allowing the 20,000 salmon smolts to enter the river.
Visit the Semiahmoo Fish & Game Club at 1284 184 St in south Surrey to witness this spectacle of nature. It makes for a fun and free family outing.
The 30 acres of property and nature trails are open daily to the public from dusk to dawn.
The City of Surrey invites the community to embrace the outdoors and participate in the Environmental Extravaganza, a seven-week series offering over 100 free family-friendly events and programs celebrating nature in Surrey. Join group activities such as walks, talks, hands-on stewardship programs, stories, and more or explore at your own pace with self-guided activities.
This year’s Environmental Extravaganza showcases a new learn-to series where participants can learn to fish, create eco-friendly art, identify invasive plants, be a community scientist, identify owls, and grow pollinator friendly plants. It also offers opportunities to celebrate BC Trails Day with a series of nature trail walks, support Invasive Species Awareness Month by removing invasive plants at a nature work party, take part in the City Nature Challenge by recording biodiversity, participate in Arbor Day by helping plant native trees and shrubs, and celebrate World Ocean Day by engaging in a week of ocean-themed activities.
Now in its 27th year, the Environmental Extravaganza is one of the many programs, activities, and events offered by Surrey Parks to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. It runs from April to June at various locations throughout Surrey and is made possible through the collaboration of numerous community partners who share a common goal of environmental stewardship in Surrey. Surrey’s Environmental Extravaganza runs from Earth Day in April until World Ocean Day in June.
For a comprehensive listing of all events and activities, pick up a copy of the Get Outside Guide at your local recreational facility or visit surrey.ca/extravaganza.
Saturday April 20, 2024
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight
Doug Spencer former B.C. detective says the province needs to step up and offer more education to prevent young people from being recruited into gangs.
Spencer, who now speaks at schools across the province about the dangers of joining a gang recently shared insight into what he believes we were dealing with here in White Rock in regards to the shooting on Roper street back in February.
Police haven't identified or given any details about suspects in that shooting, but Spencer said he believes the shooting may have involved young people. Video of the incident shows one of two shooters firing dozens of rounds at an SUV as the driver tries to flee the scene.
"The only reason all of those guys didn't die is it's amateur hour," Spencer said on CML. "When these kids shoot – they're kids, literally – they're so scared that they just run and fire and there's no expertise, thank God, where'd you have way more homicides in the Lower Mainland."
"History has repeated itself," he said, explaining that students were recruited into gangs in Vancouver schools in the 1990s. "What they get told by the groomers and recruiters is a bunch of lies."
Spencer also suggested these young recruits are crucial to gang operations on the ground.
"They need little soldiers. They need feet on the ground to do their killings and all the bad stuff for them, because the gangs themselves, they're not willing to do it," he said. "They get these young little minions to do it and they take all the risk."
But Spencer said it's not enough to dismantle gang activity in the field.
"You've got to stop the recruitment. Stop the kids willing to smuggle guns and do shootings and stuff," he said, adding the province should ensure there is yearly gang-awareness programming for youth.
"You have to educate the kids, give them the knowledge that gangs are a dead-end road … then the kids have that ammunition and knowledge to stay clear of that and stay clear of substance abuse and all these bad things."
Did you know how Library Service began in the Fraser Valley?
The Fraser Valley Regional Library began service to rural populations from Ladner to Hope in 1930. Consisting of a consortium of municipalities who could not afford libraries of their own, service began with a Book Van which displayed books along outside shelves travelling throughout the valley stopping at grocery stores, gas stations and schools. The Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded a grant of $100,000 to establish this project for five years.
Hired to manage this project was Dr. Helen Gordon Stewart who met this challenge with dedication, hard work and the enormous energy needed to organize an area of 2,600 square kilometres and 24 governing bodies. The task at hand was to select books, hire staff and purchase a truck suitable for use as a book van. In 1934, FVRL became a tax supported regional public library system, the first of its kind in North America.
Photo: Debut of Fraser Valley Regional Library Book Van at Chilliwack Cherry Festival, July 1930. Source: Fraser Valley Regional Library.
Courtesy Surrey Historical Society
TNT The Naked Truth
Don Pitcairn
Make Every Day Earth Day
Welcome to Earth Day! In case you were not aware Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd. With it falling on a Monday this year I thought it would be appropriate for this TNT to delve into the day dedicated to preserving our beautiful blue and green planet. Earth Day was first observed in 1970, making 2024 its 54th anniversary.
I don't know why I didn't figure this out sooner.
I used shampoo in the shower and when we wash our hair the shampoo runs down our whole body.
Printed clearly on the shampoo label is the warning,
"For extra body and volume."
No wonder I have been gaining weight.
I got rid of shampoos and start using dish washing liquid. Its label reads
"Dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove."
THE WHEELHOUSE THEATRE IS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL AT THE CORNER OF KENT AND NORTH BLUFF (16TH AVE.) IN WHITE ROCK. HISTORY IN THE MAKING! SOME SEATS LEFT !!
FOR THE FIRST TIME A PRIDE SOCIETY AND A CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE ARE JOINTLY HOSTING A TOWNHALL DISCUSSION TO ADDRESS LOVE WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
As part of the agreement to resolve our human rights complaint, we agreed to host an open dialogue between the Catholic Church and the White Rock Pride Society. Please join us in the first joint forum and be part of our journey.
The event is free, but due to space and the interest, please register for this historic collaborative event.
White Rock Social Justive Film Society - Tomorrow Night
A conservative Indo-Canadian family in small-town British Columbia must come to terms with a devastating secret: three sisters were sexually abused by an older relative beginning in their childhood years. After remaining silent for nearly two and a half decades, the sisters finally decide to come forward—not only to protect other young relatives, but to set an example for their daughters as well. Warning: This film deals with mature subject matter and might trigger traumatic memories. Viewer discretion is advised.
Date: Friday April 26th, 2024 Location: Turnbull Gallery,
South Surrey Recreation & Arts Centre, 14601 20th Ave, South Surrey Time: Doors open at 6:00pm, Film starts at 6:30pm
Get ready to kick up your boots and let loose because Country Night is back at South Surrey this Friday! Join us for a chance to WIN TICKETS TO THE CALGARY STAMPEDE while enjoying live music from Tyler Cody and the Day Drinkers
Don't miss out on the ultimate country party. Music kicks off at 8 pm, and Happy Hour starts at 9. See y'all there!
Join us for a chance to WIN TICKETS TO THE CALGARY STAMPEDE while enjoying live music from Tyler Cody and the Day Drinkers
