Wednesday August 5, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 62)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Nursing in Nepal: White Rock’s Genelle Leifso had a chance to make a difference recently – by volunteering her skills as a nurse in earthquake-ravaged Nepal, through the auspices of the Canadian Red Cross. i see page 11
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
August 12th
31-per-cent increase in South Surrey over same period last year
Violent crime soars across Surrey Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Violent crime in Surrey has skyrocketed by 34 per cent, with attempted murders six times that of the same period last year. RCMP statistics indicate Newton led the city with the spike in attempted homicides, experiencing a 900-per-cent jump in the second quarter of this year compared to last year. It was followed by Whalley at a 300-percent climb in attempted homicides, while other communities saw no change.
Homicides were down 33 per cent overall. Police say the large number of attempted murders are due to the drug turf war playing out, largely in Newton and Whalley, where two groups are battling over a dial-a-dope operation. The police said in a release there has been a recent drop in the number of shootings, in part because of a multi-jurisdictional clampdown on the people believed to be involved. The statistics released Friday are made public by the Surrey RCMP every quarter, as was mandated by council as part of the
Crime Reduction Strategy in a move toward further transparency. Overall in Surrey, most violent crimes were on the increase, including sexual assault (up 65 per cent), abduction and kidnapping (up 55 per cent), and robbery, which was up 33 per cent. No community was spared the spike in violent crimes. Cloverdale/Port Kells saw the biggest jump at 46 per cent, followed by Guildford/Fleetwood at 41 per cent. Newton followed with a 33-per-cent jump, and South Surrey was right
behind with a 31-per-cent spike. (For the first six months of 2015, South Surrey reported 239 violent crimes, compared to 172 in the first half of 2014.) Whalley saw the lowest climb in violent crime at 28 per cent. Sexual assaults were also up dramatically across the city, with the only drop being in Whalley, which decreased by 11 per cent. The most dramatic rise in sexual assaults was in Cloverdale/Port Kells, which increased by 150 per cent (four to 10). i see page 4
Cities lobbied
Signs urged for bus loop Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
Rob Bosley photo
Community celebration Thousands flocked to the waterfront over the long weekend to take in the festivities at the 63rd annual White Rock Sea Festival, including fans (top) of main-stage headliners The Legendary Powder Blues Band Saturday evening. Far right, Marley Rehm, 8, visits with a cockatiel from the BC Exotic Bird Society; right, White Rock Youth Ambassadors lead the way in the children’s parade at East Beach.
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Rob Bosley photo
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Boaz Joseph photo
White Rock should team up with Surrey and TransLink to improve the signage surrounding its transit hubs, according to a resident who spoke at city council last week. Longtime White Rock resident Roderick Louis presented his case to council July 27, highlighting what he described as “abysmal” signage at the White Rock Centre bus exchange at 152 Street / Johnston Road, and along Marine Drive between east and west beaches. “There is no signage at this bus exchange that tells you you’re in White Rock, or to tell you how to get down to the beach,” Louis explained, as he scrolled through photographs on a PowerPoint presentation. Using transit hubs like New Westminster and Bridgeport stations as examples, Louis suggested the addition of maps, directions to points of interest and other relevant information – available in multiple languages – be included in signage at the bus exchange. Pointing out that the majority of bus stops along Marine Drive don’t have schedules or information directing riders back to the town centre, Louis said much work needs to be done on the waterfront as well. i see page 4
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