Tuesday October 15, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 83)
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
Sowing seedlings: Grade 4 students at Chantrell Creek Elementary dug up new homes for 75 trees, which they planted across the street from the South Surrey school, as part of the City of Surrey’s tree-planting program, Releaf. i see page 12
Rail review
Highrises proposed
Tour of the track
Arts centre eyed
Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
A quest to identify options for improving pedestrian safety along White Rock’s waterfront rail line got underway Thursday with a tour by city and BNSF officials. The walk-through was part of efforts to comply with a Transport Canada request for a comprehensive review of signage, signals and fencing “to determine if any changes are needed to mitigate public safety and rail safety risks.” “We just have to assess that and determine a plan of action,” city engineer Greg St. Louis told Peace Arch News. “You do see on a daily basis people that are walking the tracks, which is unsafe.” Triggered by the July 14 death of jogger Anita Lewis – who was struck by a passenger train as she ran across the tracks at a pedestrian crossing in the 15600block of Marine Drive – the effort includes a review of rules that have restricted overnight train whistling in the area since August 1992. Transport Canada’s own review of the sightlines, signage and train operation at the crossing where Lewis was killed found all elements to be in compliance with the Railway Safety Act and associated rules. i see page 4
Alex Browne Arts Reporter
Tracy Holmes photo
A man squats on the tracks near White Rock pier last Wednesday to photograph an oncoming freight train.
The public will have an opportunity next week to see details of a proposed residential-tower development – planned for 152 Street at 19 Avenue – which could also help create a cultural hub in South Surrey. A drop-in information meeting on the as-yet unnamed proposal will be held from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday Oct. 22, at the Rotary Field House, 14600 Rotary Way, featuring presentations by architect Patrick Cotter at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The private development would include a 350-seat performing-arts centre and a contemporary arts centre café-gallery, as well as two condominium towers and office and retail space. Surrey Parks Recreation and Culture manager Laurie Cavan said the project – while still at the designproposal stage, with no specific timeline for development – presents “tremendous opportunities for the South Surrey community at large.” i see page 2
White Rock councillor discusses cancer journey
‘I would’ve lost my ear, half of my face…’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Larry Robinson would prefer not to draw attention to the fact he has cancer. The real estate agent and first-term White Rock councillor certainly isn’t the first to deal with the condition, not even amongst his council peers. But, with a mass on the side of his face that has increased in recent months to rival the size of a tennis ball, he knows his private journey has grown decidedly difficult for the public to ignore. “I don’t want sympathy votes… to be
judged differently,” Robinson said of his previous hesitation to speak out. He decided to share his story in the hopes it will draw attention to strides in integrative cancer care, and the fact that cancer causes and treatments are as unique as the person living with it. Robinson, 64, was first diagnosed with a melanoma in 2009, after a biopsy of a “bumpy, occasionally seeping mole” detected cancer. The initial shock of the diagnosis was profound. Robinson remembers walking down the street, “not knowing where to go, what to do,
where to start.” Wandering into a health-food store, he was given a brochure for InspireHealth, a partially government-funded, membershipbased integrative cancer clinic in Vancouver. His first appointment lasted 90 minutes and was “the most compassionate time I have ever spent with a medical professional,” he said. A program Robinson attended with other cancer patients reviewed treatment options and consequences – and, “how you’re going to change your life.” i see page 4
Tracy Holmes photo
Coun. Larry Robinson’s tumour is apparent. 6–7pm Nightly is FAMILY HOUR, a tamer version of our show for the younger or faint of heart.
A N D CO M M U N I T Y H E A LT H
REGISTER ONLINE www.pahfoundation.ca 604.535.4520
Sunday OCTOBER 20 2013 + Support your ER one step at a time
T! OUT! For one hour only all tickets $10*! ...then 7 – 10pm ... WE LET THE BEASTS
www.pottershouseofhorrors.com
5*$,&5 13*$&4 t 0$50#&3 11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
*PLUS GST *PLUS GST
12530-72 Ave, Surrey