Summer 2006 – Issue Five - Downtown Surrey Business

Whalley. Take a good look.
Summer Issue Five August 2006
3 Whalley Asks City to ‘Step Up to The Plate’ 4 Movies Under The Stars 4 WCA Charts A New Course
5 Eating Out: Moon Gate Restaurant
Sp rtsWhalley
6 Sun-Smart Sun Safety
7 The People in Our Neighbourhood: A Winning Combination 8 Water-Wise Gardening
9 Whalley Calendar and Recent Events
in
Committed to Growing Great Kids
Studies have shown that the top
three reasons kids play sports are to
have fun, meet new friends and learn
new skills. They also develop good
fitness habits, positive self-esteem,
cooperation skills and a respect for
diversity.
In Whalley, our children are
fortunate to have a number of
organizations that are dedicated to
providing a well-rounded experience
for our community’s youth.
Whalley Little League celebrates
fifty years of play this year. It has
been a year of celebration that
will culminate with the Canadian
Championship in August.
According to Roy Bergerman,
district commissioner for Little
co n t i nu e d o n p a g e 2
B
Why should you
encourage your children
to take part in sports?
play
The Whalley Little League at practice.
2
NEWS
THE NEW VIEW
Sports in Whalley
ISSUE FIVE
continued from page 1
All our children deserve
the chance to play and grow.
Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart
and Sport BC’s Kidsport
Fund assist families so that
children’s participation in
sports is not dependent
on an ability to pay. Mario
player programs. With a
high level of commitment
from volunteers, the club
continues to provide fun,
quality soccer to everyone.
But they need a place to
play. Although they were
looking forward to a new
artificial turf field at Tom
Binnie Park, that project has
been temporarily postponed.
The word from City Hall is
that they are committed to
the project and are ready to
move ahead.
Schuchardt, owner of the
Canadian Tire in Whalley,
recently co-sponsored the
Whalley Cruise-In with
A&W and the Whalley BIA
as a Jumpstart fundraiser and
raised close to $1000.
Kids involved in sports
are often too engaged to
get sidetracked by bad
behaviour. Sport improves
coordination, reduces stress
and can enhance learning
back in the classroom.
Parents also want their
kids in an organization and
sport that reflects their
family’s values. Tracey Gravel
put her son Noah in roller
hockey at Stardust five years
ago, in part, because it was
a non-contact sport. “The
parents become friends and
cheer for all the kids,” Tracey
says. “No one yells or calls
down the players or refs and
the kids are allowed to play
with their friends.”
The Stardust Rink Rats
G DAVIS
Whalley Soccer Club turns
forty-two this year. One of
their goals is to include all
who want to play by keeping
their fees low. Thanks to
financial assistance from
the provincial government,
the club sponsors extensive
All our children deserve the chance to play and grow.
Steve Young started in
Whalley Little League at
age five and still plays and
volunteers as a coach. He
credits his involvement
in Little League for his
successful transition into
adulthood. “Whalley Little
League is known for laying
a good foundation for kids.
I know my life might have
turned out a lot differently
if I hadn’t had that solid
foundation provided to me.”
Team sports are an
obvious choice to learn about
team work, cooperation and
trying your best. And certain
sports, like soccer, are easy
on a family’s budget.
AUGUST 2006
B BURNSIDE
League Canada, “The name
of Whalley has become
synonymous with Little
League Baseball in Canada,
and is a name known
throughout the International
Little League family.”
While Whalley has a
tradition of champions,
Bergerman acknowledges
that, “Members and
volunteers over the past
fifty years have developed
a well-balanced program
that delivers more than
just baseball to the
community’s children.
The years a child spends
under the guardianship
of Whalley Little League
are clearly great stepping
stones to a productive and
viable adulthood in the
community.”
SUMMER
“Kids develop focus, discipline, confidence and self control,
and take that into adulthood.” —George Chan, Kurukai Karate
Kids involved in sports have less time
to get sidetracked by bad behaviours.
program ran year-round
for ten years, until Stardust
closed in June, 2005.
However, this spring, in cooperation with Surrey Parks,
Recreation and Culture, the
program ran out of the North
Surrey Recreation Centre.
Although they would
like a year round dry floor,
players, coaches and parents
are hoping that the floor at
the North Surrey Rec Centre
can be upgraded for roller
hockey.
Individual sports such
as racket sports and biking
also teach self-reliance and
independence.
George Chan of Kurukai
Karate has seen the mental
and physical benefits of
participation in sports such
as martial arts training. “Kids
develop focus, discipline,
confidence and self control,
and take that into adulthood.”
Sports learned in
childhood can provide
lifelong recreation and can
travel with you when you
move between communities
or countries. Friends made
through sports can be friends
for life.
If your child isn’t sure what
sport they are interested in,
the North Surrey Rec Centre
offers programs geared to
the development of basic,
‘starter’ skills in soccer,
karate, baseball, swimming
and skating.
Whalley’s deep
commitment to the
development of sport
and recreation brings
considerable benefit to the
entire community. It is up to
the community to insure that
proper funding is in place to
provide adequate facilities to
support organizations and
individuals at all levels of
involvement. —Staff
What other sports facilities
would you like to see
in Whalley? Email us at
[email protected]
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER
J U LY 2 0 0 6
ISSUE FOUR
NEWS
City Beat
Whalley Asks City To
‘Step Up To the Plate’
for Sports and Rec
Long-time and future
residents of Whalley deserve
to have the facilities they
have been promised for
years.
As part of the Whalley
Revitalization Strategy in
2003, we were supposed to
get an indoor soccer field
built at Tom Binnie Park.
There are no other indoor
soccer fields in Surrey.
Having this type of facility
in that location would have
been beneficial for the
residents of Whalley using
L TANNEN
What kind of facilities do we want
and need – now, and as we head to
the year 2020?
the field and would have also
increased positive traffic in
the area, making it safer for
everyone.
Two-and-half years came
and went and no indoor
soccer field was built. Then
we heard that we would get
an outdoor artificial turf field
instead. Now that has been
postponed. Apparently, it’s
fully designed and ready to
go but land issues are getting
in the way.
The City needs to ‘step up
to the plate’ and update its
Parks and Recreation Plan
for Whalley. Since the City
owns a lot of land in the
Whalley City Centre area, we
need to ask ourselves, “What
kind of facilities do we want
and need – now, and as we
head to the year 2020?”
The arenas at North
Surrey Rec Centre need
replacing. Is that the best
location for new arenas?
The Transit Village Project
seems to suggest that land
in that area might have a
more valuable use than
arenas. Would you like to see
a use that would jumpstart
development in the area
around the Surrey Central
SkyTrain Station to create
a vibrant downtown? Let’s
relocate and expand our
arenas to make best use of
the land and provide the
community with much
needed facilities.
Try to picture a “Sports
Central” facility that includes
two ice arenas (one with
seating for 5,000), an indoor
soccer field, year-round dry
floor arena and a full-size
gymnasium at Tom Binnie
or Kwantlen Park. Add some
activity rooms for dance
classes, a weight room and
an indoor running track.
Now you have the beginning
of a first-class facility for a
first-class City Centre.
Now add community
meeting rooms and office
space to house the Parks and
Recreation Department on
the top floors. And while
we’re planning, let’s recruit
Sport BC to move their
Vancouver offices into our
City Centre, south of the
Fraser, where the population
is growing most.
As SFU grows, there will
be additional pressure to
have first-class recreational
facilities for the students. As
residential development in
the Whalley area continues,
the City will have increased
demand for leisure activities.
Locating Sports Central
within walking distance of
SFU, SkyTrain and residents,
will insure usage.
We can all agree that
as a society, we want our
citizens to be more active.
The City has the land. The
Community has to tell them
what they want done with it.
—Staff
3
4
NEWS
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER AUGUST 2006
ISSUE FIVE
Then and Now
The Whalley
Little League
THEN: The Whalley Little League at the 1978 Little League
World Series at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA.
NOW: The Whalley Little League distinguishes this community and this country, awarded Most Sportsmanlike
Team at the 2005 Little League World Series,
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA.
Movies Under the Stars
Grab your lawn chair and popcorn, ‘cuz outdoor movie night is coming again to Whalley.
Organized and hosted
by the Whalley Business
Improvement Association,
the first event, last August
in the Gateway plaza, was
an incredible success. Over
500 residents of all ages,
dignitaries, and community
partners gathered together on
a gorgeous night to celebrate
Whalley and watch the
animated feature, “Robots”.
“We wanted to offer the
community a free evening
event that would give
residents an opportunity
to get to know their
neighbours,” says Bonnie
Burnside, WBIA Program
Coordinator. “The photos are
full of smiling faces.”
A local elementary school
sold inexpensive fundraiser
popcorn and drinks, and
the WBIA provided glowsticks for the youngsters.
Everyone participated in the
after-event cleanup, leaving
the amphitheatre-style area
spotless.
“We are so pleased to
offer this event again,” says
Lesley Tannen, Whalley BIA
Executive Director. Please
join us for a comfortable,
positive experience in the
heart of our community.”
— Sylvia Taylor
Over 500 residents of all ages and community partners gathered
together on a gorgeous night to celebrate Whalley.
About This
Summer’s “Movies”
• August 5: “RV” with Robin Williams
• August 26: “Ice Age 2” (animated)
• starts at dusk, around 8:45pm
• free admission
• Gateway Plaza location
• bring your own chairs
• glow-sticks for kids
• outdoor entertainment
• inexpensive popcorn and drinks
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER
AUGUST 2006
ISSUE FIVE
LIFESTYLE
5
Eating Out
East Meets West at the Moon Gate
Got a ‘yen’ for fantastic Asian food? Then come celebrate The Moon Gate Restaurant’s first anniversary this summer.
Chin’s many years in the
food industry as a cook,
inspector, and machinery
and processing maintenance
engineer, contributes to his
exceptionally clean, efficient
kitchen and safe food
handling practices.
And the menu! Five pages
of light, low-fat, healthy
dishes made with fresh
ingredients and lean meats
in generous portions at very
affordable prices. MSG is
used sparingly, (no MSG
on request) and will soon
be completely replaced by
soup bases. There are lots of
vegetarian dishes and eight
choices of combos to feed
one to ten persons.
“What makes us really
unique is our commitment to
pleasing the individual needs
and tastes of our customers,”
says Chin. I take the time to
talk with them and I’ve made
changes in my menu by their
input. We invite them to ask
for what they want and give
“and a great community.
I want the restaurant to
grow with satisfied, devoted
customers. I’m here to make
them happy.” — Sylvia Taylor
Head chef Thomas Chin
recommends hot and spicy
Szechuan Chicken, shown
in the inset, as served by
waitress Fiona Sham.
“What makes us really unique is our
commitment to pleasing the individual
needs and tastes of our customers.”
— Thomas Chin, head chef
feedback on the food. People
can ask for no batter or deep
frying, and altered dishes,
even our combos.”
Daughter, Rosalyn,
server and cashier, and son,
Desmond, sous chef and
accounts keeper, head the
staff of another cook and two
more servers.
“We have an extremely
good clientele,” says Chin,
R CANLAS
Family owned and
operated, this large, airy
restaurant on King George
Highway at 105th, offers a
scrumptious fusion of Indian
and Chinese cuisine.
Born and raised in
Calcutta of Chinese parents,
owner and head chef,
Thomas Chin, learned this
unique cuisine from old
family recipes.
“Indo-Chinese foods are
spicier; more ginger, garlic,
chilis, cilantro,” says Chin. It
is very common in India to
have a Chinese and an Indian
menu in restaurants.”
The Moon Gate is
known for its “Hot & Spicy”
dishes, but also offer many
subtler dishes for the less
adventurous, and everything
comes in mild, medium and
hot spices.
6
LIFESTYLE
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER AUGUST 2006
ISSUE FIVE
Sun-Smart Sun-Safety
Even though fun in the sun isn’t what it used to be, we can still enjoy ourselves and stay safe too.
Sun Awareness Week
from May 29th to June 4th,
reminded us that paying
attention for one week, or
just in the summer, isn’t good
enough, and wrinkles are the
least of our concerns when it
comes to sun exposure.
Just last year, this issue
hit home with the death
of the much-loved Surrey
North MP, Chuck Cadman,
20 years ago and continues
to increase. We are exposed
to more ultraviolet (UV) rays
because the protective layer
of ozone has become thinner
due to the effects of pollution
and chemicals.”
UV rays penetrate clouds,
fog and haze. Water, sand,
concrete and especially
snow can reflect, and even
increase, the sun’s burning
“No one is completely safe from the
sun. The risk of skin cancer today is
much greater than it was 20 years ago
and continues to increase.”
— Canadian Cancer Society
from skin cancer. His wife,
Dona, dedicated herself
to crusading against skin
cancer, and convinced all
the MP’s in Ottawa to get
tested early this year. One
case was discovered and is
under treatment. Tragically,
if discovered early enough,
Chuck may have survived.
The Canadian Cancer
Society says, “No one is
completely safe from the sun.
The risk of skin cancer today
is much greater than it was
rays. UVA rays penetrate
deep into the skin causing
wrinkles and aging. UVB
rays are 1000 times stronger
and the main cause of
sunburns and skin cancer, so
it’s critical to use sunscreen
that protects against both.
Tanning booths are just
as risky.
“If you’re tanned, you’re
already damaged,” says
Whalley naturopath,
Dr. Henry Dent.
Effects of over-exposure
in the short-term include:
dehydration, sunstroke/heat
exhaustion, stroke, heart
attack, high blood pressure,
sunburn, and blistering. In
the long term: premature
aging, skin damage, cancer.
“It’s not about becoming
prisoners indoors,” says
Therese MacDonald, Public
Health Nurse for Fraser
Health Authority, “it’s about
prevention and changing
how we enjoy the sun.”
For more info contact the
Canadian Cancer Society
locally at 604-583-2228 or
their Consumer Line at
1-888-939-3333. — S. Taylor
High-risk People
• have light-coloured skin, eyes and hair
• work, play or exercise in the sun
for long periods
• had several blistering sunburns
as a child
• take drugs that make them
UV light-sensitive
Your Personal Computer Store
for Business, Personal, Education
C O M P U T E R S Y S T E M S LT D .
“It’s about prevention and
changing how we enjoy
the sun.”
— Therese MacDonald
Sunscreen Tips
• no sunscreen blocks all rays
• SPF of 30 or more if you’re
working outside or out all day,
water-proof if you’re in water,
even sprinklers
• apply sunscreen generously,
at least 20 minutes before
going outdoors
• reapply every two hours or
more often if you’ve been
swimming or sweating
• look for products with the
Canadian Dermatologist
Association logo
To be sun-safe
• use extra protection 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and when UV readings are 3 or more
• take an umbrella for shade
• keep babies under one year out of direct sun at all times
• cover arms and legs with light, tightly woven clothing
• wear a wide-brim hat
• wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15
• use sunglasses with medium to dark lenses (grey, brown, green) to prevent eye damage
• drink plenty of fresh water – no sugary drinks
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Fax 604.581.6439
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... serving the community since 1967
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER
AUGUST 2006
ISSUE FIVE
A Winning Combination
When it comes to community, when one wins, everyone wins.
Physiotherapy
can help you
move well,
stay well.
Here at our practice we want to
help you feel better and be better.
From head to toe, from TMJ
problems to MVA, sport or work
injuries, our comprehensive
services are here to help you.
Suite 112 - 13710 94A Avenue
604.581.1911
www.surreyphysiotherapy.com
G ROBAZZA
On June 7th, two longtime Whalley residents,
Chuck Bailey and Jane-Anne
Anderson, were honoured
for their outstanding
community service and
mentorship at a Surrey Arts
Centre awards gala by the
Surrey Leader newspaper.
Chuck Bailey not only
fulfilled his own childhood
dream of “living in the most
wonderful place on earth
and playing baseball”, but the
dreams of so many kids and
the community, since 1962.
Known and loved
internationally as the
“Grandaddy of Little League”,
Bailey started coaching in
Winnipeg, where he grew up,
and continued for 25 years
in Surrey Little League until
Mario Schuchardt (R) gives Chuck a
cheque in support of the Whalley Little
League.
1983. Involved in Whalley’s
league since 1973 with the
Springematic family, he
served as Surrey’s District 3
administrator for 14 years,
president of Whalley Little
League for the last 10 years
and president of BC Little
League for the last five.
“A lot of kids I coached
are now grown up and are
good citizens and great
people with great jobs. That
means the world to me.
It’s an honour to serve my
community in this way, and
it’s what keeps me young.”
But closest to his heart, is
the two-year-old Challenger
Program, where physically
and mentally challenged kids
play baseball, assisted by
teenaged “Buddies”. Starting
with 23 players, it has grown
to 81, with an eventual goal
of eight teams of players and
Buddies.
“We try to make it so the
kids are playing as close to
real baseball as possible. To
see their smiling faces makes
everything worthwhile. But
I couldn’t have fulfilled this
dream without the incredible
work of Lara Henning and
so many others. The City
of Surrey and Mayor Watts
is totally behind us in our
goal of creating a devoted
ballpark for these kids.”
“Everything I do is for and
with children,” says JaneAnne
Anderson, owner-operator
of Whalley Daycare, a
family business for 30 years.
“People can’t just sit back and
complain, they have to get
out there and make things
better and just give whatever
they can. It’s also a great way
to get to know people and
the community.”
Serving on numerous
community projects and
boards, from the Global
Childcare Association to
the Whalley Community
Association to the Harvest
Box affordable produce
project, Jane-Anne has
tirelessly devoted herself to
making the lives of children
and their families, happier,
healthier and safer.
Jane-Anne with
Lean and Diego
T GRAVEL
The People in Our Neighbourhood
LIFESTYLE
7
Her own two teenage
daughters are involved
in volleyball, soccer
and baseball, as well as
volunteering at church and
community events.
Jane-Anne believes that
getting kids involved in
sports and volunteering
contributes to a life-long
active, healthy lifestyle and
social life. “They’re just too
pooped to look for trouble,”
“Everything I do is for and with
children. People can’t just sit back and
complain, they have to get out there
and make things better.”
— Jane-Anne Anderson
“I’ve lived by the Whalley
Ball Park since childhood
and know how important
it is for kids to be involved
in sports, not for the
competition or winning, but
to learn good values, team
spirit and cooperation.”
Jane-Anne chuckles.
“Surrey has a wonderful
coaching and mentorship
base,” she says, “and there’s
something for everybody. We
just need to get involved, for
our kids and the community.”
— Sylvia Taylor
8
LIFESTYLE
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER AUGUST 2006
ISSUE FIVE
Gardening
Water-Wise Gardening
When it comes to conserving water, every drop
does count. Fortunately, there are lots of simple
and inexpensive ways to be water-wise in your yard
or container gardens.
“G
“Garden plants use much
less water and are more
productive and useful
than lawns,” says Alison
MacNamara, Team Leader
at Canadian Tire’s garden
centre at 104th and King
George Highway. “They are
very therapeutic, give us
beauty and healthy food,
connect us to nature, and
are a great opportunity for
teaching kids to care about
the environment.”
There are plenty of
products that
conserve water, like
potting soil with
water-retention
crystals, selfwatering pots and
ceramic water-bulbs
for slow release.
Drip irrigation
hoses and bags keep water
close to the ground to
decrease evaporation and
runoff, and give the plants
the slow, deep drenching
they need.
arden plants use much less water and are
more productive and useful than lawns.”
— Alison MacNamara
• ‘blanket’ soil with
black earth, manure
or triple-mix to
decrease dehydration
and weeds
• deep-till soil to
increase water penetration
and encourage root
growth
• let your lawns go brown to
increase root growth and
hardiness
• re-cycle rainwater from
collection barrels
There are also plenty of
easy “Dos”…
• choose drought-resistant
varieties
• add compost to retain
moisture, air and nutrients
• plant further apart to
encourage deeper root
growth
• weed well to decrease
competition for water and
nutrients
… and a few “Don’ts” about
sprinkling:
• sprinklers create runoff
and dehydration
• sprinkling during peak sun
hours ‘burns’ plants
• timed sprinklers activate
even when it rains
Water-wise gardening
makes it easy to act locally
while thinking globally.
— Sylvia Taylor
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER
AUGUST 2006
ISSUE FIVE
COMMUNITY
Letters to the Editor
Community Calendar
What’s Up in Whalley
July
August
21
22
26
28
T GRAVEL
September 2
8
8-9
9
17
Christine Evans – Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
Bridgeview Day – Bridgeview Community Centre – 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Philosophers’ Café – Jabez Coffee Bar 10294-135 Street. From 7-9 p.m.
Shane Weibe - Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
Bocephus King – Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
Movies Under the Stars at Station Tower, Gateway – “RV” starring Robin Williams, movie starts at dusk
Canadian Little League Championship hosted by Whalley Little League
Matcon BC Day Celebrations at Canadian Little League Championship (Whalley Ballpark)
Lantern Workshop – #6 10324 East Whalley Ring Road from 6-9pm
Jimmy Zee - Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
Lantern Workshop – #6 10324 East Whalley Ring Road from 6-9pm
Lantern Workshop – #6 10324 East Whalley Ring Road from 6-9pm
Dustin Bentall - Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
Lantern Workshop – #6 10324 East Whalley Ring Road from 6-9pm
Lantern Workshop – #6 10324 East Whalley Ring Road from 6-9pm
Babe Gurr – Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
Movies Under the Stars at Station Tower – Gateway – “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown” Movie starts at dusk
SFU Philosophers’ Café – Jabez Coffee Bar 10294-135 Street. From 7-9pm
Lester Quitzau – Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
Thank you very much for sending me
copies of The New View. I appreciate your
thoughtfulness. Your newspaper is very
well done. Colourful, lively, informative...
impressive. Well done!
Doug Strachan
Manager, Communication Services
School District 36 (Surrey)
What do you think about The New View or about other issues
important to Whalley’s future? Please submit your letters to
the Editor to [email protected]. Stay tuned.
R CANLAS
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5
5-12
7
9
11
15
16
18
22
23
25
26
30
31
Wandering Angel’s Lantern Procession starts at Tom Binnie Community Centre
Grames Brothers – Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
SFU Surrey: Grand Opening: www.sfu.ca
Roger Dean & Young & Tin Cup – Coast Capital Plaza Concert Series at noon at Central City
26th Annual Terry Fox Run – Bear Creek Park – registration: 9am
Can you tell where this wall is in Whalley?
Recent Events
the new view
Whalley Community Festival and Block Party
Issue 5
Summer, August 2006
L TANNEN
L TANNEN
L TANNEN
The New View is a
monthly publication of
the Whalley Business
Improvement Association
Suite 300 - 10524 King George Hwy
Surrey, BC V3T 2X2
www.whalleybia.com
Phone 604-580-2321)
In association with Helix Consulting
Printed by Mostad, Surrey
E HERRON
Above: Tony Prophet and friend at the 8th
Annual Whalley Festival
Left: Alma Libre onstage at the Festival
Right: Kla-how-eya facepainters at the 3rd
Annual Block Party
Comments or questions about The New View
can be directed to
[email protected]
Above: Lois and friend show off their tees.
Below: The crowd at the Festival
Publisher
E HERRON
L TANNEN
L e s l e y Ta n n e n
Editor
S y l v i a Ta y l o r
Co nt r i b u t i n g Wr i te r s
Bonnie Burnside
Nancy Spratt
Don Summers
S y l v i a Ta y l o r
E HERRON
Adver tising
Above: BMX Mountain Bike stunts at the
Block Party
Right: Staff Sergeant Barry Hickman and
the Root Bear at the Block Party
9
Kent Waugh
10
LIFESTYLE
THE NEW VIEW
SUMMER AUGUST 2006
ISSUE FIVE
SURREY LEADER
Whalley Community
Association Charts A New Course
The Whalley Community Association (WCA) members met recently
to develop a strategic plan to determine the direction they want
to take over the next two years.
“Often people only get
involved in their community
when they feel economically
threatened,” says Karen
Waters, secretary of the
organization. “We wanted to
develop plans to encourage
people to help make the
community better.”
Up to now, the WCA has
been involved in organizing
the annual Whalley
Community Festival as well
community has input into
the City’s new Official
Community Plan (OCP).
They want the City to show
their commitment to the
area through significant
capital investment.
“We want to see a new
library and recreational
facilities in the City Centre
Plan and an amphitheatre at
Holland Park,” says Waters.
“We want to have places
as the Community Mosaic
Project now located in the
greenspace beside Sunrise
Pavilion.
A top priority for the
WCA is ensuring that the
people can gather and enjoy
music and art in our own
community.”
The City Planning
Department is committed
to holding workshops open
to all community members
in the hope that they will
contribute to making
Whalley the kind of City
Centre the community
envisions.
The WCA is having a
website designed to keep
people in the area up-to-date
on the community plans.
It will include links to sites
that give examples of how
other cities have revitalized
“We want to see a new library and recreational facilities in the City
Centre Plan... We want to have places people can gather and enjoy music
and art in our own community.” — Karen Waters
their downtown cores,
and turned them into places
where residents want to
be and where people from
outside make an effort
to visit.
The Whalley Community
Association invites anyone
who lives, works, owns
property or operates a
business in Whalley to
get involved in promoting
Movies Under The Stars
community pride and
improvement.
Until the new website
is online, you can get
information on the Whalley
Community Association
through the Whalley Festival
website
www.whalleyfestival.com
or the Whalley BIA at
(604) 580-2321.
— Staff
August 5: “RV” starring Robin Williams
August 26: “Ice Age 2: The Meltdown” (animated)
Station Tower Plaza, Gateway
Movie starts at dusk (8:45pm). Free Admission.
Prescription Sunglasses
10706 King George Highway
Surrey BC V3T 2X3
Telephone 604.581.1055
SALE
Clearly see how good you can look
Try saying West Whalley Ring Road five times fast. Challenged?
So ... Let’s change the name. And while you’re coming up with one new name,
why not do the same for East Whalley Ring Road?
Send us your suggestions and we will pass them on to the City.
[email protected]
A Call for Volunteers
Looking for a great way to do volunteer work for the Whalley
community? Visit www.whalley2006.com for contact and
volunteer information for the 2006 Canadian Little League
Championship.
12
BUSINESS
THE NEW VIEW
We want good
transportation routes,
but have you considered
how having a highway and
designated truck route
through our downtown
affects the community?
PETER PARKER
What we need is
a streetscape that is
pedestrian-friendly.
Businesses need more people
to slow down, park and shop.
What if King George
was treated to a treelined boulevard with new
flowering medians, street
parking and enforced speed
limits? The result would be
much more conducive to
pedestrians who would shop
in the area and help create
a more vibrant downtown
core.
We want to be encouraged
to walk down the street,
shop, and enjoy a coffee
or snack with friends. An
updated look for the King
George would be a great
start.
Many people have trouble
picturing King George as
anything but a highway
because of its original
purpose and design and
ISSUE FIVEs
Time for a Change
Whalley is changing
from a suburb into an
urban core. Historically,
suburbs were designed
with one thing in mind:
automobiles. You needed
cars to get around, and since
suburbs had an excess of
land, large, free parking lots
were part of the design for
commercial and shopping
developments.
And that is the challenge
facing us today.
With the design of our
City Centre based on cars,
we are struggling with long
blocks, fast cars and the
inability to jaywalk safely
from one side of King
George to the other.
Since the truck Weigh
Station at the south end
of the Pattullo Bridge was
closed, the number of semis
traveling along King George
Highway has increased
dramatically. During the day,
it is common to see large
trucks lined up to turn left
onto 104 Avenue through
two or three lights. And
when they turn the corner,
stand back and watch them
drive over the curb.
AUGUST 2006
the fact that every day over
35,000 vehicles travel along
the corridor. Slowing the
traffic would help current
businesses and encourage
new businesses to locate
there, and the completion
of the Ring Roads will help
alleviate traffic.
Just because King George
is seen as a corridor from
Pattullo Bridge to the U.S.
border doesn’t mean it has
to be ugly or have the same
speed limit for the whole
length. It also doesn’t mean
that the community that
lives, works, shops and does
business, between 96th and
112th Avenue, wants it to
remain that way.
— Staff
King George should
be our main street,
not a highway.
What do you think?
Tell us. Write to
[email protected]
The City Centre area
of Whalley is approximately
five square kilometres. How
big is that? If you took this
area and laid it on a map of
Vancouver, it would stretch
from the waterfront to 12th
Avenue. It is a big area in
need of a new plan.
The current Official
Community Plan (OCP) was
developed in 1991, but with
the arrival of SkyTrain, SFU
and the increased residential
development in the area,
Whalley is long overdue for a
new look.
Recently, several senior
planners from the City of
Surrey met with the Board of
Directors from the Whalley
BIA to discuss the terms of
reference for the new OCP.
Once the terms of reference
have been defined, the City
Council will be asked to give
a go-ahead on the project
and the process for a new
OCP should be complete
within a year.
There are a number of
issues the planners will be
considering,
including the
image of the
area, identifiable
neighbourhoods,
opportunities
for sustainability, Lynn and Aileen from the Planning Department at the
transportation, Whalley Festival
and encouraged the public
and future growth.
to take part in a community
Because of our large
‘mapping’ exercise. Since the
land mass, it is critical we
City Centre area has been
start looking at the area
designated as the centre for
in terms of special nodes,
all of Surrey, it is important
like Gateway, the Hospital
District, Central City Transit that people who live and
Village and King George, that work outside of Whalley
also have the opportunity to
interact and interface with
share their expectations.
adjacent neighbourhoods.
How much thought have
Each area should have its
you given to what you want
own urban design and meet
your City Centre to look like?
the needs of the people that
The C in the OCP stands
live and work there.
for community ... that’s you.
Community involve-ment
Take every opportunity to
is key to the success of a
make your views heard.
new OCP. The City Planners
will be holding workshops
The Whalley BIA will be
and urging people to take
helping to organize community
advantage of opportunities
workshops. For info on the
to get involved in the
date and time, please email
community plan. Recently,
your contact information to
the planners attended the
Whalley Community Festival [email protected].
GRAFFITI ALERT
The Whalley Business Improvement Association has a contract with Goodbye Graffiti
to remove graffiti from businesses within the Whalley BIA area. If you see graffiti on buildings
in the area, please contact the BIA office at (604) 580-2321. At present, the WBIA does not
have permission to clean up tagging on SkyTrain or Hydro property so please call them
directly at: TransLink: 604-953-3040; BC Hydro 604-604-224-9376
Residents concerned about graffiti on private property can contact Surrey Crime Prevention
at (604) 318-9822 or (604) 502-8555.
— Staff
S u i te 3 0 0 - 10524 King Geor ge Hwy, Sur r ey, BC V3T 2X2 • Phone 60 4.580.2321 • F ax 6 0 4 . 5 8 0 . 6 3 21 • w w w. w h al l ey bi a. c o m
RICK CHAPMAN
A Highway Runs Through Us
SUMMER