Friday
July 17, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 57)
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
Home course: A few years after a car crash ended her running career, South Surrey cyclist Justine Clift will compete in front of family and friends at her hometown race, when the twoday Tour de White Rock begins today. i see page 19
Bob Campbell says he was mocked, punished for speaking out
Environmentalist quits city committee Kevin Diakiw Black Press
A high-profile member of Surrey’s environmental committee has quit, citing the way he’s been treated and the dysfunction of the committee itself. Bob Campbell, a five-year member of the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee sent his resignation letter to council last month.
Campbell is the recipient of several community awards, including the Queen’s Jubilee and the City of Surrey’s Friends of Heritage Award for his activism over the years. He was also vice-chair of ESAC for three years. He’s been openly critical of several environmental issues, including Surrey’s loss of tree canopy and the creation of a galvanizing plant in South Surrey. He says in his letter of resignation he was
often derided by the former chair of the committee, Surrey Coun. Bruce Hayne. “I was openly mocked by the previous chair when I attempted to raise and discuss important issues,” Campbell writes in the June 26 letter obtained by Black Press. He says he took an active role in the community on environmental issues, often receiving calls from the media about them. “My activism was rewarded on Jan.
16, when I received a most inappropriate letter from Coun. Hayne in which he accuses me of speaking out of turn to the media,” Campbell writes in the letter, which was sent to all city councillors. In his correspondence with Campbell, Hayne took issue with two stories where he felt Campbell was speaking on behalf of ESAC. i see page 4
Getting a taste for entrepreneurship
SMHA ‘encouraged’
Cool approach to summer business City votes
to explore twin rink
Melissa Smalley
F
Staff Reporter
or most kids and teenagers, summer is a time to relax, enjoy a break from the rigors of school and spend time hanging out with friends. But for 12-year-old Jonah Daniels, summertime brings an opportunity to work on a business that he launched last year with the help of his parents, Roxayn and Jamey. It all started with a Grade 5 school project in which Jonah, a part-time White Rock resident, prepared a speech about youth entrepreneurs. Inspired by the amount of young people starting businesses that he discovered while researching his speech, Jonah came up with the idea to start his own venture, selling homemade, all-natural popsicles. “My mom always made me eat a lot of healthy foods,” Jonah explained. “So instead of buying popsicles at the store, she made her own, and very healthy.” Called Rebel Pops – to highlight the family’s rebellion against processed, unnatural foods – the frozen treats are sold by Jonah at White Rock Farmers’ Market every Sunday, as well as at markets in Maple Ridge and on Granville Island. The popsicles are made of organic fruits and herbs sourced locally and blended into unique, original creations – plum vanilla spice, peaches and cream and huckleberry wild rose are just a
Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
Melissa Smalley photo
Jonah Daniels, 12, and his parents Roxayn and Jamey sell Rebel Pops at the White Rock Farmers Market. few examples. “It usually takes a few different runs to fine-tune a new recipe,” Roxayn, the ‘ice-pops designer’ said. “We get inspiration from different places – maybe a jam that we’ve made, or a tea that we’ve tried.” Jonah said he helps his mom make the hundreds of Rebel Pops each week – a “very labourintensive” process – but said the
aspect of the business he most enjoys is meeting customers at the markets. “I really enjoy the energy, it’s such a happy energy,” he said. “I love seeing people walk away with a smile on their face, enjoying our product.” With a keen interest in business, Jonah said he’s researching different ways to improve their marketing, how to source out the best-
quality ingredients and how to improve their customer service. The family hopes to expand into other local markets, or perhaps into local health-food stores. For Roxayn, seeing her son so passionate about their business venture is a source of inspiration. “I’m continually amazed at what he can do at his age,” she said. “Kids can do a lot more than people expect sometimes.”
Proponents calling for more ice time in White Rock say they are “encouraged” by the direction the city is taking to address the shortage, after council voted Monday to explore the twinning of Centennial Arena. “This is probably the most visibility we’ve had on ice-time issues in a number of years now, so I’m very encouraged on the direction we’re going,” Ian Maguire, presi- ❝I think we dent of Semi- need to come ahmoo Minor Hockey Asso- up with some ciation (SMHA) solutions.❞ told Peace Arch Megan Knight News Tuesday. councillor “We’re happy to hear the city is taking it seriously, and we look forward to working with them.” The issue of an ice-time shortage for local hockey players and figure skaters was brought to council June 15, when Maguire told council members and staff that his organization spends $600,000 each year on ice time outside of the community, and urged the city to take action for more ice space. On Monday, White Rock’s director of leisure services, Eric Stepura, i see page 8
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