Frankly Speaking

Bonnie and I paused for a photo with Robert and Na Tigie Jawara when we visited their home in Kabala, Sierra Leone in December, 2013. Their granddaughter Tigos, who has just turned six, is with them. Students at Kabala Christian School enjoy the shade under a giant mango tree on their school grounds in Kabala, Sierra Leone. Update: The Jawara's three children who live outside Sierra Leone (two attend university in The Gambia, and one is working in South Korea) are now on their way back home for their mother's funeral, which will take place Sunday. Na Tigie's death has had a huge impact on many people there, as she was well-known in so many circles and well-loved by many. Just under three years ago, my wife Bonnie and I had the privilege of travelling to Sierra Leone and Ghana in West Africa. Our daughter Christina (Chrissy) first went to Sierra Leone in 2008, when she was in Grade 12 at Fraser Valley Christian high school in Surrey. She spent most of he...

A peaceful early summer morning in White Rock. Frank Bucholtz photo An in-depth article published last week in the Peace Arch News on the challenges of operating a restaurant business on Marine Drive in White Rock provokes thoughts on not just the business climate, but the future potential of the “city by the sea.” Online comments about the article, including a number from restaurant owners, also provide some excellent food for thought. What is White Rock’s greatest asset? Its proximity to the ocean and longtime role as a regional destination for visitors in the warm weather months. How can this asset be used more effectively to keep businesses thriving? It starts with marketing and promotion, but as several restaurant owners point out, the parking issue must be addressed in a more decisive manner. All the marketing in the world won’t help if people who come, particularly for the first time, cannot find a place to leave their vehicle. Why should there be so much attentio...

Politics in Langley is always interesting. Most people who follow politics are more engaged in local or provincial politics, but in the past 18 months, there has been plenty of interest in the Ottawa political scene as well. It began in the run-up to the last federal election, which took place on Oct.19, 2015. This was the first federal election ever held on a fixed date. Until then, the timing of an election had solely been at the prerogative of the prime minister. Most tried to use it to their political advantage. B.C. was the first jurisdiction in Canada to establish the fixed election date system, after Gordon Campbell became premier in 2001. As has become obvious here, fixed-date elections mean there is a longer period of campaigning. This was certainly the case with the federal election. There was a much longer formal campaign period – almost three months. This was the longest formal campaign since the 1800s. Prime Minister Stephen Harper of the ruling Conservatives ...