Tuesday Sept. 23, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 76)
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
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Seaside pride: White Rock’s famous pier and promenade are among dozens of national hot spots vying for the chance to be named one of the Great Places in Canada. i see page 12
Surrey civic election
St. Germain among mix of Rasode supporters Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Evan Seal photo
Flowers are left at a site near where the body of 17-year-old Serena Vermeersch (below) was found last Tuesday after being reported missing.
Sex offender’s relocation into Surrey last year provoked outrage
Caissie charged in girl’s death Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
A man accused of killing a 17-year-old Surrey teenager last week is a high-risk sex offender whose release from jail last year sparked community outrage. Raymond Lee Caissie was arrested early Saturday in Vancouver, and has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Serena Vermeersch. Police announced an arrest late Sunday afternoon, just four days after identifying Vermeersch as the victim whose body was found the evening of Sept. 16 in an area densely covered in brambles, Raymond Caissie near railway tracks in the accused 14600-block of 66 Avenue. She was discovered less than four hours after police issued a public appeal for help locating the teen. The discovery prompted a community warning, urging citizens to use cau-
tion when outdoors alone or after dark. At a press conference Monday morning, police confirmed that the accused was known to them, but would not disclose any information that could potentially identify him, citing a publication ban that was requested by defense counsel. However, late Monday afternoon, they confirmed Caissie – who was released into an unspecified Surrey neighbourhood last year
after serving 22 years for a violent assault – was the arrested individual. Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound, spokesperson for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, would not comment on how Vermeersch died. The teen’s mother reported her missing in the early hours of Sept. 16, after Vermeersch failed to return home. The Sullivan Heights Secondary student was reportedly last seen just after 8 p.m. the evening before, boarding a transit bus near 128 Street and 64 Avenue. Police believe she got off the bus at 64 Avenue and 144 Street, walked towards her home, up 144 Street, then east along the north side of the train tracks. Vermeersch’s death was quickly deemed a random attack, and Chief Supt. Bill Fordy said investigators worked around the clock to identify and locate the person responsible. As of Peace Arch News’ press time Monday, police were still trying to identify a dark-clothed male who was seen walking across the tracks and leaving the area in a pick-up truck less than an hour before Vermeersch’s body was found. i see page 4
South Surrey & White Rock Artists’ Open House
Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 Map and info at www.peninsulaarttour.com Special thanks
2 1 A R T I S T S - 1 2 LO C AT I O N S to our sponsor
CIBC Wood Gundy
BORDER GOLD CORP.
Surrounded by icons of every political stripe last weekend, Coun. Barinder Rasode officially declared her intention to become Surrey’s mayor. Surrounded by splashes of navy and pink, Rasode portrayed herself in front of a crowd of more than 200 people as a fierce mom ready to bring battle to the civic front (her podium had a sign that read “One Tough Mother”) as she announced Saturday that she’s adding her name to the list of people vying for Surrey’s centre chair this Barinder Rasode mayoral hopeful November. Other mayoral hopefuls, so far, include Surrey First Coun. Linda Hepner, former Surrey mayor Doug McCallum and Surrey businessman Vikram Bajwa. Candidates have until Oct. 10 to declare. Rasode had told Black Press in April that she would run for mayor if incumbent Dianne Watts did not seek reelection. However, in the time since Watts’ declaration a few days later that she would not run and her announcement last week that she would seek the federal Conservative nod for SurreyWhite Rock MP, Rasode did not formally announce her plans. Saturday, in the atrium of Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus, Rasode wheeled out some big guns of all political stripes. Three main speakers were introduced by master of ceremonies Bob Campbell, president of the West Panorama Ridge Ratepayers’ Association. Among them were former Conservative senator Gerry St. Germain, who spoke in support of Rasode in her bid for the mayor’s chair. i see page 2