Thursday July 31, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 61)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Clowning around: Korki the Clown and friends will be among those providing free entertainment for all ages at this weekend’s White Rock Sea Festival. i see page 15
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
Bollards installed at White Rock boat launch to prevent vehicles from blocking tracks
Beach visitors ‘not getting message’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Incidents of vehicles parking across the railroad tracks at White Rock’s West Beach boat launch prompted city officials to install a row of bollards at the site this week. Director of engineering and municipal operations Greg St. Louis said Wednesday the posts are to block vehicles but will not prevent public access. He said the problem of vehicles being stopped on the tracks to unload kayaks and
other beach gear has persisted despite recent ing lights and a gate can be installed. The and ongoing attention to rail safety, includbollards will be locked in place; emergency ing last month’s installation – and city crews will carry keys. and subsequent removal – of a ❝It’s going to restore the Coun. Grant Meyer said locked gate at the site. nighttime whistling to Transport Canada has agreed “On several visits, there the measure will reinstate what it was.❞ were people parking across the city’s overnight whistling Grant Meyer the tracks still,” St. Louis said. exemption. White Rock councillor “They’re not paying attention. “The main thing is it’s going “If a train would’ve come, it to restore the nighttime whiswould’ve collided with the vehicle.” tling to what it was,” he said. The work is an interim measure until flashMayor Wayne Baldwin announced the step
during Monday’s council meeting. “It’s one of the conciliatory things we can do – if that’s what we have do, that’s what we have to do,” he said. Work at the site earlier this month led some residents to believe that crossing arms and lights would soon be installed. But despite the speculation, “it’s nothing to do with trains,” St. Louis said, clarifying the steps were to add landscape lighting to the recently built plaza at Bayview Park. i see page 4
Safety issues cited
Police ‘out in force’
Bus drivers question review
Focus on festival safety
Sheila Reynolds Black Press
Trevor Caston has been a transit operator for 19 years and used to enjoy talking to his passengers. But now, in light of the hundreds of attacks on drivers – 58 on Lower Mainland workers in the past month alone – he’s less comfortable engaging the public. “I don’t know what’s coming through the door,” Caston says. He and fellow transit workers ❝We need to take this were at the Surseriously and rey courthouse Tuesday after…make the noon to attend changes to the scheduled get better.❞ sentencing of Brandon WatterIan Jarvis worth on charges TransLink including robbery and breach of recognizance in connection with a February incident where a bus driver was punched in Surrey and had his glasses stolen. The case and other violent driver attacks of late have transit workers pushing for better protection. i see page 5
Alex Browne photo
Deanna Pedersen (left) and LaVerne Hogg put some ‘fishy’ finishing touches to the new under-thesea-themed City of White Rock float just in time for this weekend’s Sea Festival. FLY FOR
P R E S E N T E D BY:
WHITE ROCK BC
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2014 START TIME 5:30PM OVER THE PIER AT WHITE ROCK BEACH
CHildren with Intestinal and Liver Disorders
SEE FEATURES ON PAGES 18-22
White Rock RCMP are reminding those planning to take in the city’s waterfront festival this weekend to be on their best behaviour. Const. Shaileshni Molison said extra officers and auxiliary constables, as well as CN Police, will be patrolling in an effort to avoid a repeat of Canada Day antics – which she said led to a closure of the White Rock pier. “There was a lot of drinking, underage drinking… so many people on the pier,” Molison said Tuesday of the July 1 event. “In order to control the crowds, we had to close down the pier for a short time. It was extremely overcrowded, so just for safety.” Molison said an estimated 5,000 people were at the beach for the evening’s fireworks. In addition to “lots” of liquor seizures, police made a few arrests, she said. Molison said there will be zero tolerance for liquor infractions – or any disruptive acts – this weekend. She noted it is a federal offence to be on the railroad tracks, and trespassers will be ticketed. “We just want everyone to be aware that we will be out in force,” she said. The White Rock Sea Festival takes place Aug. 1-3, and includes live music, a kids zone and a Torchlight Parade. – Tracy Holmes
65th Anniversary! AUGUST 1, 2 & 3
SEE OUR SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGES 18, 19, 20, 21& 22 PROGRAM AND MAP ON PAGE 20 & 21