Thursday July 3, 2014 (Vol. 39 No.. 53)
V O I C E
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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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Giant killers: Despite a lack of rugby-league experience, a Canadian U19 team shocked a pair of powerhouse countries at the Commonwealth Championships in Scotland. i see page 25
Semiahmoo First Nation calls for Transport Canada safety directives to be put on hold
Burial-site concern over rail fences Alex Browne Staff Reporter
The BNSF is not alone in concerns with trespassing on the White Rock waterfront. According to Semiahmoo First Nation councillor Joanne Charles, railway plans to fence off the far eastern and western ends of the area is also trespassing on “significant” centuries-old native burial and archaeological sites.
She told Peace Arch News Wednesday that the band is asking the railway and Transport Canada to put on hold fencing on East Beach at the Finlay Street crossing and plans to block access on West Beach at the bottom of the Coldicutt Ravine, until an archaeological assessment of the beach area can be done. “There need to be permits under the Heritage Act,” Charles said. “People should not be digging anywhere for anything without them.”
Measures to fence off and control access to the BNSF right-of-way, driven by safety concerns, have been made mandatory by a Transport Canada order, but a furor broke out when the City of White Rock interpreted the ruling to include a permanently locked gate at the West Beach Boat Launch crossing (which Transport Canada has since said was not necessary). Charles said the band wrote to Trans-
port Canada with its concerns about other planned fencing as soon as the controversy erupted several weeks ago. A meeting with BNSF officials is still pending rescheduling, she added, but work has been curtailed at the Finlay Street crossing. “Transport Canada and the BNSF and the city may have been meeting on this since November, but Semiahmoo First Nation has i see page 4
Birthday parties These young celebrants joined the estimated 100,000 at Canada Day celebrations in Cloverdale Tuesday, taking part in day-long live performances and activities. In White Rock, Canada’s 147th birthday festivities attracted some 5,000 to its beachfront party. Both events culminated with evening fireworks. Trisha Bunn photo
ATM customers robbed 12 times over 20 days last year
‘Surgical mask bandit’ trial set for fall 2015 Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
The trial of a White Rock man accused of committing 12 ATM robberies last year has been set for 20 days in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster. According to court officials, the proceedings against Travis Jensen-Pickford are scheduled to get underway on Nov. 16, 2015.
Save the Date AUGUST 1, 2 & 3
He is facing 36 charges in connection with armed robberies that occurred in White Rock and Surrey between May 12 and June 15, 2013. All but two of the crimes took place on the Semiahmoo Peninsula. One occurred in Newton and another near 186 Street and Fraser Highway. In each instance, a victim was approached by a masked gunman while withdrawing money from an ATM during non-banking hours.
The robber’s unusual choice of disguise led to police referring to the man as the “surgical mask bandit.” A preliminary inquiry was held in Surrey Provincial Court in April. During Supreme Court proceedings last week, dates were also set for a pre-trial conference (June 15, 2015), a voir dire (15 days starting Sept. 14, 2015) and jury selection (Nov. 5, 2015).
Surveillance image
Armed ATM robberies.
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