Tuesday May 15, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 39)
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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Staying on track: Last week was a busy one for Ocean Athletics, as the track and field club hosted a pair of meets – one for some of the Lower Mainland’s top high school athletes, letes, and one for even younger ones – in South Surrey. see page 31
Criminal underworld represented among mourners at South Surrey service, as officers ensure safety
Two sides out in force at Gisby funeral Dan Ferguson Staff Reporter
A number of gangsters were among the more than 70 mourners who attended the funeral for alleged crime boss Thomas Gisby in South Surrey Friday morning, a police spokesman said. “Several people that were well-known to us in the criminal underworld were present to pay their respects to Mr. Gisby,” Surrey RCMP
Sgt. Drew Grainger told Peace Arch News. The 47-year-old Gisby – described by police as a “high-ranking organized-crime figure” – was shot and killed in a Starbucks coffee shop in the Mexican resort city of Nuevo Vallarta on April 28. Members of the Surrey Gang Enforcement Team, along with members of the B.C. Integrated Gang Task Force, made a point of being seen outside Victory Memorial Park at
148 Street and 28 Avenue, where the funeral was held. “We often will have a robust police presence to ensure the safety of mourners and the public,” Grainger said. Police officers took photographs and recorded licence-plate numbers to update their information about suspected gang members. An online obituary for Gisby made no
direct reference to his murder, saying, “Tommy left us unexpectedly on April 28, 2012 and leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.” The memorial message describes Gisby as a “kind and generous spirit” with an “infectious smile and beautiful twinkling brown eyes” who loved to play golf and poker, go snowmobiling and ride his Harley. see page 2
Benefactor revered
Healthy legacy Vin Coyne Special to Peace Arch News
Nick Greenizan photo
Lily Ballantyne, a member of the Grade 8 girls team coached by Johan Mynhardt, tries to evade “tackler” Dan Kerr, of the Semiahmoo Old Boys.
A show of support for their ailing rugby coach Nick Greenizan Staff Reporter
Purple may be the official school colour of Elgin Park Secondary, but on Friday, many students, teachers and alumni eschewed the traditional tone for green and yellow instead. The switch was made in honour of longtime teacher and rugby coach Johan Mynhardt, who recently announced to colleagues and students that he is battling prostate cancer. Green and yellow are the official colours of the flag of South Africa, where Mynhardt is from. And on Friday, hundreds – many wearing
green face paint – gathered at Elgin “When I heard two weeks ago that Park for a fundraiser in Mynhardt’s Johan had cancer and was going in for honour, grilling hot dogs, collecting surgery, I knew right away that somedonations and playing informal games thing had to be done to show him how of touch rugby. Mynhardt was not able much support he has from everyone to make it out to the event, as he is still here at Elgin and in the community,” recovering from recent surgery. Jamieson said. Event organizer Mike Jamieson, a fel“I had Johan as a rugby coach… so I low teacher at Elgin Park, estimated the was fully aware of the effect he has on the event raised about $2,200 for prostate lives of the students who pass through Johan Mynhardt this school, and I knew that former cancer research. Jamieson – a former Elgin student players would jump at the chance to himself – called the event “a huge success.” show him how much he meant to us.”
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When Bob Hassell climbed onto his bulldozer to help dig the foundation for White Rock’s first hospital in l951, he had no idea of the future leadership roles he would play in securing state-ofthe-art health-care facilities for the community. Then, Hassell was just one of many volunteers donating equipment, materials, labour and money to help build a 45-bed facility at a cost Bob Hassell of $500,000. philanthropist He would return several times over the next six decades to head further expansion and acquisition of hospital facilities for what became Peace Arch Hospital – and ultimately make a major financial donation to help fund $24 million in health services. Hassell died May 9 at his South Surrey home, ending a remarkable business career that included developments throughout the Lower Mainland, California and Florida. He was 89. Born in Cumberland, he spent most of his life in South Surrey. see page 4
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