Thursday April 3, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 27)
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
Making her mark: Tanika Bonneville may have ave appeared slightly out of place ace in Bermuda – the only girl on a rugby pitch full of boys – but she fit right in once the whistlee blew. i see page age 33
Fraser Downs the only possible recipient of Newton’s 150-slot licence, mayor says
Pulled slot machines leave questions Kevin Diakiw Black Press
The fate of a Newton strip mall remains unknown after the provincial lottery agency announced it will pull the plug on 150 slot machines there in mid-May. However, Fraser Downs is one possible location for those one-armed bandits, according to Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. Last week, the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) decided it will remove the slots from the Newton Country Bingo Hall at 7093 King George Blvd., saying there was no
longer a business case to keep them there. It came on the heels of a City of Surrey initiative to have them removed, citing blown construction deadlines, a claim that BCLC and Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Ltd. denied. With the slots out of the picture, a planned redevelopment of the site worth more than $20 million is on hold, perhaps permanently. Gateway, which owns the property, says its business case is much different without the gaming component. And while BCLC has pulled the slots,
Evan Seal photo
Gateway still holds the provincial licence to run 150 slot machines. The company will be looking for a place to activate those. Asked if a spot in Surrey or the surrounding area is being considered, Gateway spokesperson Tanya Gabara said it’s far too early to tell. “Obviously now we have to reevaluate what we’re going to do moving forward,” Gabara said, adding a move is likely in the offing. However, Watts said Wednesday that the only place she’d consider adding the slots right now would be to Fraser Downs Race-
track and Casino, at 17755 60 Ave. She said she mentioned to Gateway three weeks ago that Fraser Downs was a viable alternative. “(Fraser Downs) is still under-utilized, and it’s still under-built,” Watts said. “If there’s any opportunity in the city, that would be an opportunity that would be reviewed.” She said the fact Great Canadian Casino already owns the casino there is not an impediment. “If you look at Las Vegas, there are casinos that co-exist with one another,” Watts said. i see page 4
Tracy Holmes photo
Dan Ferguson photo
Fire was the theme for area emergency crews this week, with suspicious blazes fought in (from left) Port Kells, Cloverdale and Langley. A fourth – minor – fire occurred in White Rock.
Four blazes in less than 40 hours
Suspicious fires keep emergency crews on alert Tracy Holmes
19600-block of Wakefield Drive – occurred early Wednesday morning and police are investigating it as an attempted murder. A woman and her two children, aged 14 and 8, escaped the residence before it became fully engulfed. The mother and 14-year-old were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. At Peace Arch News’ press time Wednesday afternoon, police were searching for the woman’s
Staff Reporter
Fires, intentional and otherwise, kept police and fire crews in Surrey, Langley and White Rock busy this week. Three of four that broke out between 9 a.m. Monday and 1 a.m. Wednesday caused significant damage. An intense blaze at a home on the Surrey/Langley border – in the
estranged husband. Following a barn fire in rural Cloverdale Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. – in the 16600-block of 50 Avenue – one man is in custody and faces charges of arson and assault with a weapon. Deputy fire Chief Dan Barnscher told PAN a large barn housing goats, chickens and roosters was “fully involved” when crews arrived. While firefighters were
Best Location, Best Value in White Rock!
able to free many of the animals – a number of which then proceeded to follow crew members around the scene – an unspecified number were found dead. Barnscher said it is unclear if the animals died due to the fire. The SPCA was contacted because “there was some concern over the care of the animals there, or lack of care,” he said. Surrey RCMP Cpl. Bert Paquet
Independent & Assisted Living Community for Seniors
LIMITED TIME OFFER
Largest Suites, Best Value on the Peninsula!
15340 17th Avenue White Rock
15366 17th Avenue White Rock
Independent & Assisted Living Community for Seniors Spacious Fireplace Suites from
$
1,795
604-531-7470
said Wednesday that investigation is ongoing, but said an arrest in connection with the fire was made shortly after a 46-year-old Surrey man called police that night to report an assault. “Our investigation revealed that… he was not a victim of assault, but actually a suspect,” Paquet said. Police received that report just i see page 4
604-531-1160