Thursday June 19, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 49)
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Glasgow-bound: Cali Martinez and a handful of fellow South Surrey rugby players are headed this month for Scotland, where they’ll take on some of the world’s top U19 rugby players. i see page 33
BNSF installs more fencing, plans to turn Coldicutt staircase into dead-end
‘Worst trespassing in the northwest’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
More fencing is going up on White Rock’s West Beach – this time, in an effort to curb trackside trespassing between the west end of Bayview Park and the Coldicutt Ravine staircase. Once the 40-foot chainlink barrier is up, it means the boat launch will be the city’s only legal access to the waterfront west of the pier. The work, by railway owner BNSF, started
Tracy Holmes photo
Fence posts put in west of the promenade. Tuesday and was to be completed Wednes-
day – but it is not the last of new fencing planned for the seaside tracks. BNSF spokesperson Gus Melonas told Peace Arch News that designs are in the works for the foot of the Coldicutt stairs “to block people from entering onto the right-of-way” – effectively turning the popular pedestrian access into a dead-end north of the tracks. As well, discussions are to take place with the Semiahmoo First Nation next week regarding fencing eyed to stretch east for
about 140 feet starting from the Finlay Street pedestrian crossing. The work, Melonas said, is “per discussions with Transport Canada and in agreement with BNSF plans to further enhance safety.” He said the recent increased focus is “driven greatly” by the July 2013 death of a jogger on East Beach and an incident in February in which a senior who wandered onto the West Beach tracks was struck a glancing blow. i see page 4
Gord Goble photos
Dam fine work Work to fix and seal cracks in the concrete South Surrey sea dam that controls the Nicomekl River is underway. The repairs – along with those to the Serpentine sea dam at 4650 King George Blvd. – are to be complete by Sept. 13.
Community support building to maintain summer tradition
Sea fest organizers all set to make a little magic Alex Browne Staff Reporter
The White Rock Events Society is hoping that a synergy of community pride and volunteerism – as well as momentum generated by the 65th anniversary of the celebration – will result in a revived and reinvigorated White Rock Sea Festival for the Aug. 1-3 weekend. And society president Michelle Pedersen says many of the pieces are
already coming together – including a White Rock city float for the 28th annual torchlight parade (Sunday, Aug. 3, 9 p.m.) with a centrepiece designed by a Disney artist. Adding excitement to this year’s plans is confirmation of the Powder Blues Band as mainstage headline entertainers for Saturday night. And Pedersen noted a well-timed dance Friday night at Star of the Sea Hall featuring White Rock’s
Ra McGuire and Trooper – presented by the White Rock Business Improvement Association and Rock.It Boy Entertainment – will ramp up energy for the weekend. The Vancouver Aquarium will also be a high-profile participant, Pedersen said, with stations and displays as part of its new proactive publicity campaign. “They approached us, so that’s definitely confirmed,” she said.
“That’s going to be huge.” The fireworks display – a wellloved feature of the celebration threatened in recent years with cancellation due to lack of funds – has also been “locked in” to conclude the Saturday night festivities. Pedersen’s mother, Deanna, is co-ordinating and designing the city’s parade float with the theme, ‘Enchanted Waters: a magical look under the sea’ – featuring a
10-foot-tall coral castle sculpture created by film sculptor John Sund. “Something like that would usually take two months and cost at least $10,000 – he did it for us in two weeks and we did not pay that,” Pedersen said. She noted that a credible float on the summer-festival circuit is what attracts reciprocal participation in a hometown parade. i see page 4
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