Tuesday March 11, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 20))
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
S U R R E Y
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Fit to be tied: The Surrey Eagles refuse to buckle in their playoff yoff series with the Langley Rivermen, twice battling back k from losses to tie their series. ries. i see page 155
RCMP safety officer program to be dismantled by federal government next year
City force to replace community police Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Surrey is planning to implement a city-run security force to work with its RCMP. The news comes as the city’s top cop confirms a four-year-old policing program’s days are numbered. Chief Supt. Bill Fordy said last week that the Community Safety Officer program – a key part of Surrey’s Crime Reduction Strategy – is being dismantled next year.
It’s a program the city endorsed in 2007, budgeting for 10 officers. Armed only with pepper spray and batons, they augment the city’s full-fledged officers at less cost. While Mayor Dianne Watts announced last month that 20 more community-safety personnel would be hired over the next two years, she did not specify that they would be CSOs. She said they would be a police presence walking a beat, but would not carry guns. Watts also said at the time that the funds
for those personnel would be found within the existing city departmental budget, and that the total would be about $300,000 for the first six months of the program. The new force is to hit the ground midyear, so the cost of each officer would be about $60,000 (in addition to the cost of uniforms and weapons). The outgoing CSOs have been a central plank in the mayor’s Crime Reduction Strategy, which states as its first item under polic-
ing to “use Community Safety Officers.” Watts said it is unfortunate that the CSOs will be lost. Fordy, however, said there’s a possibility the existing CSOs could be grandfathered. As well, through a new federal program, Surrey would be able to opt for what Fordy called a “community constable” (a CSO that is armed and, presumably, better trained), a “community prevention officer” or a regular constable. i see page 4
Public hearing on hold
Highrise proponents host groups Alex Browne Staff Reporter
Trisha Bunn photos
Days of dance
A feather dance (above) was one of many highlights of Earl Marriott Secondary’s annual powwow, held at the South Surrey school last weekend. Other performances showcased the talents of dancers including Jamie-Lynn Cook (left) in a potato dance and Gary Abbott (top left). The powwow is a community event sponsored by the school’s First Nations program.
BORDER GOLD CORP.
Planning for a controversial residential towers/arts hub development in South Surrey is moving forward through a series of meetings with community stakeholders – although the proponents, the Reifel Cooke Group and the Surrey City Development Corporation, are mum on further amendments to the project. SCDC development manager Sarah Atkinson said “the project team is committed to ensuring the community is fully engaged and we are taking the time to continue to meet with stakeholders to explain the context of the proposal and to receive questions, comments and feedback.” Arts supporters, many of whom were also consulted during development of the proposal, attended a private update meeting scheduled by SCDC at White Rock Christian Academy last Tuesday. Atkinson noted the project fulfills the second phase of the Cultural Plan for South Surrey. “Hundreds of artists have contributed their time to ensure that the proposed arts centre supports the growing base of artists and their patrons,” she said. i see page 4