Friday July 3, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 53)
V O I C E
O F
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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Drawing the line: The arts were alive just across thee border borderr in Peace Arch Park last weekend, w with ith paintings, sculpture, live music and nd d much more on show at Blaine Artists’ rtissts’ International Arts and Music Festival. stivval. i see pa page age 1155
Construction material, trampled foliage among intrusions found at Sunnyside Acres
Urban forest under attack from visitors Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Chunks of concrete, chesterfields and construction material are not what most people expect to find when they wander through Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest. But it’s exactly the kind of thing those who steward the protected, second-growth forest say they come across routinely – and with the hot, dry weather of late, they’re worried the activities the illegal dumping represents, such as campfires and smoking, could seriously damage the 130-hectare park. “Our objective is basically to discourage anyone from being in the forest in
an unsanctioned condition,” Ron Meadley, president of the Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society, said last week during a walk through the trails. Meadley walks through and cycles around the urban forest in South Surrey on an almost-daily basis, watching for signs that people have wandered – or cycled – off of the well-established paths. The meanderings damage the understory, disturb wildlife and increase the risk of fire, he said. While some intrusions are blatant, the extent of others can take a degree of tracking to reveal. Such was the case last week, after
Tracy Holmes photo
Ron Meadley places branches across path. a vehicle parked adjacent to the forest in the 2500-block of 144 Street caught the eye of a society director, who alerted Meadley.
Although the vehicle was gone when Meadley got there, he recognized the licence-plate numbers on a vehicle parked in the same location the following evening, and wandered into the forest to investigate further. Hearing voices and noticing signs of a new path – trampled salal (native shrub), and broken ferns and sticks – Meadley called the city’s hotline (604-501-5050) to report his suspicion that something was amiss. Soon after, he discovered a cache of construction material that had been carried to the base of a large, four-trunk big leaf maple tree located about 200 feet from the roadway. i see page 8
Union disclosure
Hiebert proud of his bill’s success Alex Browne Staff Reporter
Dramatic conclusion
Tim Fitzgerald photo
Fireworks light up the sky above the Semiahmoo Peninsula Wednesday to wrap up a day’s worth of celebrating Canada’s 148th birthday. Well-attended Canada Day events took place in White Rock and Cloverdale. For more photos, see page 11.
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MP Russ Hiebert is thanking Conservative MPs and senators for making his controversial private member’s bill, C-377, law. The bill requiring public disclosure of union finances – which critics have called a transparent exercise in union-busting – passed third reading in the Senate and was given Royal Assent by the Governor General on Tuesday. Hiebert, who has not responded to Peace Arch News’ requests for an interview, issued a news release Tuesday afternoon. “I am very pleased to see my bill pass,” he said in the release. “This is certainly a great personal achievement and an important step for Canada. I am grateful to all my Conservative colleagues, MPs and senators, who have stood with me to make this bill law.” i see page 8
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