Thursday January 9, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 3)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Cat’s tale: Blue, a White Rock stray who needed ed medical attention, is happily re-settled led ed d in Vancouver after intervention by a volunteer rescue group. i see page 133
Overflow crowd holds grassroots safety meeting, in wake of unsolved Newton homicide
Newton residents want a show of force Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Kevin Diakiw photo
Shilo Wishart speaks.
Possible solutions to Newton’s crime problem and an appeal to a killer were all heard Monday at a meeting organized in the wake of last week’s beating death of Surrey mom Julie Paskall. “I don’t care who you are, you need to stand up and be a man,” Shilo Wishart told those who packed the Newton Seniors’ Centre. “Do the right thing and turn yourself in.” Wishart, 21, was among more than 100 residents
– mostly seniors – who crammed into the centre to press police and other officials for answers; Newton Community Association organizers estimate they had to turn hundreds more away due to the facility’s 125-seat capacity. Wishart said Paskall had been her babysitter, and described the 53-year-old as “a woman, a friend and a loving person.” “No one deserves this,” she said. Police believe that whoever attacked Paskall outside Newton Arena on Dec. 29 may also have
assaulted a woman at the Newton bus loop on Dec. 16, and have asked the public to be extra vigilant when frequenting the area. Meeting attendees said an enhanced police presence and installation of closed-circuit surveillance cameras would help reduce crime and make them feel safer. One woman suggested starting a “walk safe” program; many others in the crowd said the city needs more community policing initiatives. i see page 8
Gord Goble photo
Glowing review
The last moments of sunset cast brilliant gold and orange hues over Crescent Beach pier Saturday, silhouetting shoreline trees and visitors out to enjoy the fresh winter air.
Historical record set by South Surrey students
Semiahmoo scholars mark Cambridge three-peat Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
For the third year in a row, a Semiahmoo Secondary student has won a prestigious scholarship to study at Cambridge University. The win by Anmol Jawandha – announced Monday – marks the first time in the history of the Blyth Cambridge Scholarship Trust that any school has had three students win the award, officials confirmed. “Isn’t that amazing?” Semi principal Bea Hadikin beamed Tuesday. “I just can’t help but focus on
the fact that we’re a pubairfare to pocket money, it lic school. The work our essentially leaves winners teachers are doing, and the with no expense unpaid students are engaged in, is while studying in the U.K. at another level.” Up to four are presented Last year, Semi’s Fred Zhu each year to Canadian stuwon; in 2012, one of the dents who “have shown Blyth scholarships went to academic excellence, Semi’s Tristan Downing. intellectual depth, perWorth about $150,000, sonal integrity and sucAnmol Jawandha the scholarships are among cess beyond their studies.” student the largest financial awards Jawandha told Peace Arch available to Canadian stuNews that while he believed dents pursuing undergraduate he’d done well at the interview stage degrees. Covering everything from of the process, even imagining a win
Independent & Assisted Living Community for Seniors Largest Suites, Best Value on the Peninsula! 15366 17th Avenue White Rock
604-531-1160
was “kind of surreal.” “I just couldn’t tell myself that I would get it,” he said. Scholarship founder Sam Blyth personally congratulated Jawandha in a phone call Tuesday afternoon. “He wanted me to enjoy the experience and work hard when I get over there,” the 17-year-old said of the conversation. “I was just thanking him for the opportunity.” Jawandha said attending Cambridge would not be in his future if not for the scholarship. Accepted to the Pembroke College for Engineer-
ing, he plans to pursue a career that will impact struggling communities. Karine Guezalove, co-ordinator of Semi’s International Baccalaureate program, said Jawandha was one of three Semi students to apply. She described the winning streak as “absolutely unheard of.” “When they were applying last year, I was thinking no way, no way,” she said, of the idea the school could once again notch a win. She added the win is not unconditional. Jawandha must meet required IB exam scores in May.
Best Location, Best Value in White Rock! Independent & Assisted Living Community for Seniors Spacious Fireplace Suites from
$
1,795
LIMITED TIME OFFER
15340 17th Avenue White Rock
604-531-7470