Friday
September 25, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 77)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Bee students: A Semiahmoo Secondary grad is in Boston this week with a team of fellow UBC students, showcasing a project designed to save honeybees. 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
Golf centre to make way for Surrey parkland, roadway
Civic expropriation to close Riverside Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
The owner of a South Surrey business is being forced to close his doors after nearly 50 years, after the city expropriated his family’s King George Boulevard property. Ken Poirier, general manager of Riverside Golf Centre at 3600 King George Blvd. told Peace Arch News this week that it is “beyond his comprehension” why the city would force the sale of the 16-acre parcel of land, which currently houses a driving range, Par 3 nine-
hole golf course and pro shop. According to the expropriation notice delivered in January, and a subsequent inquiry that took place in April, the city’s objective is to “acquire open land for park purposes for biodiversity conservation, passive recreation and the viewing of wildlife and scenery.” “They’re shutting down a business that has been in the community for nearly half a century,” Poirier said. “Why do we have to be sacrificed for a conservation area? It’s a beautiful park already,
where you can have active recreation.” The city also plans to extend Crescent Road across King George Boulevard, to connect with Winter Crescent. Poirier said he has received an outpouring of support from “outraged” customers, and has collected close to 500 signatures on a petition calling for the city to halt its plans. Yet, according to City of Surrey solicitor Anthony Capuccinello, the expropriation was completed in June, and the city already i see page 4
Melissa Smalley photo
Ken Poirier prepares for course closure.
Anti-terror message
No plan to incite fear – Watts Alex Browne Staff Reporter
Boaz Joseph photo
Police investigate a rollover crash, involving a cement pumper truck, at King George Boulevard south of Highway 10 early Wednesday morning.
Reconstruction investigators shut down thoroughfares
Truck driver critical in dramatic crash Kevin DIakiw Black Press
A man was left in critical condition and major arterials in Surrey were closed after a dramatic crash this week. Police say the driver was the only one hurt in a crash that could have been even worse. At about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, a cement pumper truck was heading southbound on King George Boulevard just north of Highway 10, when it veered off the road and swiped a vacant bus stop. The pumper then thundered
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across Highway 10, hitting two vehicles, whose occupants escaped injury. The pumper continued southbound down King George, jumped the median, and headed into oncoming traffic travelling north – amazingly avoiding a collision with other vehicles. The truck then jumped the median again, returning into southbound lanes on King George and rolled over into a ditch. The driver of the pumper was extricated from the vehicle and an attempt was made to airlift him to hospital.
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However, that was interrupted, as crews began CPR on the driver. He was transported by ambulance to hospital where he remained in critical condition as of Peace Arch News press time Thursday. The investigation kept King George Boulevard closed in both directions between Colebrook Road and 60 Avenue for the majority of the day, police also closed a portion of Highway 10 later that day to allow for collision reconstruction investigators access to the crash scene.
Federal Conservative candidate Dianne Watts is standing by the message of campaign literature delivered door-to-door in the South Surrey-White Rock riding last week. Her campaign card – which says, beside the C ons er vat ive logo, “We will fight jihadist terrorists at home and abroad” Conservative flyer and includes an Jihadist quote. quote originally attributed to an Islamic extremist, “You will not feel secure in your bedrooms” – has received fallout from political opponents and area residents who claim it is “fear mongering.” But Watts denied this in a written statement to Peace Arch News issued Wednesday morning. “I do not believe there was any intention to fearmonger,” she said, adding that the Conservatives’ stance on intervention to defeat ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) forces was instrumental in her decision to run for the party. i see page 4