Friday August 7, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 63)
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
Regal representation: Newly crowned Miss White Rock Tia Berezan is part of the youth ambassador team which will promote the city at local events and on road trips through 2015-16. i see page 11
S U R R E Y
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FOR DE TAILS
‘Suicidal’ claim riles family of police-shooting victim
‘Questions from a father’ over death Melissa Smalley & Tracy Holmes Staff Reporters
Nearly three weeks after he was fatally shot by police outside of a South Surrey RCMP detachment, family members of 20-year-old Hudson Brooks have more questions than answers about what happened that night. The incident, under investigation by the Independent Investigations Office, took place in the early morning hours of July
18, when, according to police, officers responded to a man screaming in the 1800block of 152 Street. Police allege a struggle ensued and Hudson was shot; an officer also suffered a non-lifethreatening gunshot wound, however, investigators confirmed two days later that only police-issued firearms were found at the scene. Matt Brooks, frustrated that news articles regarding his son’s death continue to note the
Mounties’ reference to a “suicidal” male, told Peace Arch News last Friday that the description couldn’t be further from the truth. “Suicide is something that came from the RCMP,” Brooks said, noting media repeating the reference are losing credibility in their reporting of the issue. “If it came from a caller, the caller was misinformed. Anybody that knew Hudson knows that suicide and mental-illness dia-
logue is so far from reality.” Though he didn’t want to make any additional public statement, Wednesday Brooks provided PAN with a list of questions surrounding the circumstances of his son’s death, the subsequent investigation and the lacking media coverage that has followed. Among those in Brooks’ “Questions from a Father,” he details discrepancies about i see page 4
15 storeys at Nichol Rd
Tower eyed west of the town centre
Melissa Smalley photo
Robin Douglas shows his eviction-hearing notification to White Rock bylaw and RCMP officers, as his landlord looks on, during a heated standoff.
Brief standoff as bylaw officers attempt to measure tent
Pro-pot pastor shifts services to porch Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
Despite orders from the City of White Rock to shut down the Church of the Holy Smoke – and frustration from the property owner who thinks stronger action should be taken – it will continue to operate, according to the man at the helm of the Marine Drive gathering place. Prior to a brief but tense standoff Tuesday in front of his 14737 Marine Drive rental property, which included White Rock bylaw officers and several RCMP officers, Robin Douglas told
BORDER GOLD CORP.
Peace Arch News that he and supporters of his marijuana-centred church will no longer be gathering in the tent structure, instead moving the activities onto the home’s porch. “We’re not having any gatherings in the tent, but we are having gatherings in my new office, which is on the porch of my house,” Douglas said. “We still have people stopping by and people coming in and celebrating with us.” The tent is still standing in the yard, now housing his 1993 Cadillac, however, according to a notice delivered to Douglas last Friday
from the city’s director of planning and development, it is still in contravention of city zoning bylaws due to setback requirements. City bylaw officers were at the property Tuesday afternoon – along with White Rock RCMP officers and the property owner – attempting to measure the tent and yard. When Douglas refused to allow White Rock officials access, RCMP officers threatened Douglas with arrest should he continue to obstruct the city workers from the yard. i see page 4
Residents will have a chance to learn more about a highrise development proposed for the White Rock/South Surrey border at a public information meeting next week. Tuesday’s meeting, hosted by proponents Texor Homes Inc., will provide details about the 15-storey, 134-unit residential development proposed for the corner of North Bluff Road and Nichol Road, 10 blocks west of the town centre. Though Texor has never built in White Rock before, according to vice-president Howard Steiss, a 15-year resident, the company is aware of resistance faced by other proposed towers in the city. “I think it’s a tremendous challenge to create housing, especially in a city like White Rock,” Steiss said Wednesday, noting challenges developers face include preservation of single-family neighbourhoods, trees and views. “That leaves only a few places that could accommodate future housing growth that’s needed to sustain a city.” The proposal would require rezoning as well as an amendment to the city’s Official Community Plan – currently under review – which designates only White Rock’s town centre as high-density. Tuesday’s meeting takes place at the Centre for Active Living, 1475 Anderson St., from 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Melissa Smalley
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