Frankly Speaking

This week's column in the Peace Arch News and Surrey Leader Surrey’s latest Civic Treasures have all demonstrated a lengthy and passionate commitment to the community. Historian Roger Bose, reporter and musician Alex Browne and artists and mentors Cora and Don Li-Leger will be formally named 2015 Civic Treasures at the annual business and the arts reception on Oct. 6. This award is a significant one, as it is one of a small number of initiatives by the City of Surrey to recognize the importance of intangible but important aspects of city life. There is much more to Surrey than development, real estate, crime, roads and transportation. Bose is one of the many members of the pioneering Bose family who have played an important part in Surrey life for more than a century. He is a valuable source of historical knowledge in the city, regularly takes part in activities to promote Surrey’s rich history and is an instrumental research contributor to an upcoming book about t...

This week's column in the Peace Arch News and Surrey Leader The Little Campbell River flows through the Semiahmoo First Nation's lands in South Surrey. Frank Bucholtz photo The recent revelation of the salaries, income and expenses of the Semiahmoo First Nation prompted a lot of reaction from right across the country – and most particularly from a few members of the band, which is based in South Surrey. Although the Semiahmoo First Nation has only 93 members, chief Willard Cook collected a salary of $267,729, including $420 for expenses. Councillor Joanne Charles collected $200,756 in salary and expenses, while councillor Roxanne Charles collected much less, just $32,198 in salary and expenses. Revelations of the salary, income and expenses comes as a result of the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, passed by the Conservative government. The stated purpose is to let band members and taxpayers be fully aware of the financial position of First Nations acros...

Mission Mayor Randy Hawes - photo courtesy of the Mission Record An editorial I wrote for this week's Mission Record, suggesting the importance of taking the long view on water supply: Mission Mayor Randy Hawes makes an excellent point about water, as residents of Mission and most parts of B.C. live through some of the driest conditions in memory. Hawes asks this question. If communities such as Mission are bumping up against Stage 4 water restrictions this year,  how will any of them ever be able to supply enough water to their residents when the population is much larger in the future? Virtually every planner, public agency and citizen is predicting such a population gain. Hawes says it’s time for some serious long-term planning for a sufficient water supply, not just for Mission and Abbotsford, who currently share water resources, but for the entire Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley region. He told Mission council Tuesday that Harrison Lake is one of the be...