Tuesday May 8, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 37)
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
The search goes on: In an effort to locate Surrey residents who have been missing for some time, members of the RCMP’s Missing Persons Unit will be highlighting one case per month for the next year. see page 11
BNSF obtained injunction
‘Safety risks’ cited
Proposed hemp shop gets cool reception
13 fined in train protest
Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Alex Browne Staff Reporter
A peaceful protest that briefly blocked the train tracks in White Rock during the weekend led to arrests and fines for some of the participants. But Peter Nix, a member of British Columbians for Climate Action, a group opposing the use of fossil fuels and the shipping of coal through B.C. for export from Roberts Bank and Prince Rupert, said the rally succeeded in delaying the one coal train that arrived during the day-long protest on the waterfront. Nix, a retired environmental scientist from Vancouver Island, was among 13 protesters arrested by White Rock RCMP around 6 p.m. Saturday, after they walked onto the tracks to stop the coal train. Gus Melonas, director of public affairs for BNSF – which obtained a B.C. Supreme Court injunction against the protest in advance – said the train was stopped approximately 150 feet short of the demonstrators, near the white rock, to avoid any chance of injury. After police warned the protesters they would be subject to arrest if they did not leave the tracks, some refused. Thirteen were removed by police without incident, taken to the White Rock RCMP detachment and fined $115 for trespassing on railway property. see page 2
Ron Eves photo
Boaz Joseph photo
Protesters attempt to get their word out through the media and to passersby while police officials (left) keep a presence to ensure safety and order.
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A man who has been ordered to stand trial on a charge of trafficking wants to open a hemp-themed shop on White Rock’s Marine Drive. But the application for a business licence by Victor “Randy” Caine has received a cool response from city staff. “Staff do not anticipate any budgetary risk management considerations for the city. Approval of the business license, however, could lead to security and safety risks for residents above the proposed business site related to potential for petty crimes and break-ins,” Paul Stanton, the city’s director of planning and development services, notes in a May 7 staff report. Caine applied for a licence in December to open Hempyz Gifts and Novelties at 14967 Marine Dr., across from White Rock Museum & Archives. According to information from hempyz.com that was to be presented to council Monday night (after Peace Arch News deadline), the store was advertising to open in White Rock May 4 and offer everything from organic clothing to purses with built-in, smell-proof compartments and “novelty items for your favourite stoner.” Caine is executive director of the Langley Medical Marijuana Dispensary. He ran for a seat on Langley City council in the fall election. Last October, Caine was charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, in connection with a police raid at the dispensary last July. Officers reported seizing more than eight pounds of marijuana and assorted marijuana products in the raid. According to online records, Caine last appeared in Surrey Provincial Court on March 19, and has been ordered to stand trial. In his May 7 report, Stanton notes concerns about the business opening on Marine Drive have been heard both from neighbours and White Rock RCMP.
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