Opinion

Instead of spending millions to extend 84th Avenue through the south portion of Bear Creek Park, one reader argues, city council should be actively trying to preserve the park for future generations. (Photo submitted by John Burgess)

LETTER: City of Surrey’s plan to extend 84th Avenue is wildcat scheme

McCallum’s project will destroy portion of Bear Creek Park, our city’s natural jewel

  • Jun 23, 2021
Darlene Bennett. (Submitted photo)

OUR VIEW: Surrey woman proves you can fight city hall

Darlene Bennett has scored a milestone achievement in what’s been a raging debate since city council took power in 2018

  • Jun 23, 2021
Frank Bucholtz

COLUMN: Bottomline, everyone is paying more this year

There is no doubt that McCallum’s claim was misleading, writes columnist Frank Bucholtz

  • Jun 17, 2021
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.

Roses and Rotten Tomatoes (June 17, 2021)

Our weekly collection of compliments and complaints sent in by readers

  • Jun 17, 2021
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.
Surrey City Hall. (File photo)

OUR VIEW: Surrey public hearing theatrics juvenile

They are called public hearings for a reason. Not public spectacles.

  • Jun 16, 2021
Surrey City Hall. (File photo)
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.

Roses and Rotten Tomatoes (June 10, 2021)

Our weekly collection of compliments and complaints sent in by readers

  • Jun 10, 2021
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.
File photo

OUR VIEW: Surrey residents riled over tax increases

Surrey’s taxation discrepancy is puzzling, to say the least

  • Jun 9, 2021
File photo
Rita of Cascia. Image wikipedia/public domain

ZYTARUK: Former Surrey mayor lobbying council to adopt a patron saint for the city

Bob Bose is lobbying council to adopt as our own Sta Rita of Cascia, an Augustinian nun who died in Italy 564 years ago

  • Jun 4, 2021
Rita of Cascia. Image wikipedia/public domain
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.

Roses and Rotten Tomatoes (June 3, 2021)

Our weekly collection of compliments and complaints sent in by readers

  • Jun 3, 2021
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.
Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prepare for the worst: 10 steps to get ready for wildfire smoke

The summer of 2021 has the potential to be worse than any wildfire season before it

Smoke from wildfires burning in the U.S. fills the air as the Grouse Mountain tram transports people down the mountain, in North Vancouver, B.C,, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. The World Air Quality Index, a non-profit that tracks air quality from monitoring stations around the world, rated Vancouver’s air quality as the second worst in the world Saturday. Environment Canada has issued a special air quality statement for Metro Vancouver, showing a very high risk to health due to wildfire smoke from Washington and Oregon. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Stephanie Gilpin, whose parents, aunts and uncles were sent to residential schools, looks at the shoes, flowers and stuffed annimals placed at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, in memory of the 215 children whose remains were found at the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School at Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops on Sunday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

SIMPSON: Surrey’s refusal to acknowledge First Nations land was terrible look – now it’s even worse

Discovery of 215 buried children makes Surrey’s Indigenous snub that much more shameful

  • Jun 1, 2021
Stephanie Gilpin, whose parents, aunts and uncles were sent to residential schools, looks at the shoes, flowers and stuffed annimals placed at the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, in memory of the 215 children whose remains were found at the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School at Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops on Sunday. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)
A COVID-19 warning sign on the Surrey-Langley border. The PCR test has been the yardstick with which we’ve measured this pandemic, but what how does the PCR test work? (Photo: Malin Jordan)

High cases counts may not have justified ‘circuit breaker’

Cases went up, but an increased death rate didn’t follow

A COVID-19 warning sign on the Surrey-Langley border. The PCR test has been the yardstick with which we’ve measured this pandemic, but what how does the PCR test work? (Photo: Malin Jordan)
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.

Roses and Rotten Tomatoes (May 27, 2021)

Our weekly collection of compliments and complaints sent in by readers

  • May 27, 2021
Do you have someone you would like to thank? Or maybe something to get off your chest? Email your rose or rotten tomato to edit@surreynowleader.com.
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Photo courtesy NIAID-RML via AP.

OUR VIEW: It’s up to us to finish this pandemic

Half-hearted efforts earn a failing grade where this battle is concerned

  • May 26, 2021
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Photo courtesy NIAID-RML via AP.
Fraser Health held a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Surrey on Friday, May 7, 2021. Roughly 400 people pre-registered to get their vaccine the week before. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

COLUMN: Localized COVID-19 data could have helped Surrey communities hit hardest

Looking at school exposures in the second wave, it was clear Newton was seeing a significant amount of cases

Fraser Health held a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib in Surrey on Friday, May 7, 2021. Roughly 400 people pre-registered to get their vaccine the week before. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Surrey <em>Now-Leader</em> reporter Tom Zytaruk looks back on 30-year career Surrey <em>Now-Leader</em> reporter Tom Zytaruk looks back on 30-year career

ZYTARUK: Surrey journalist been there, still doing that

Sunday marks Tom Zytaruk’s 30-year anniversary of being hired full-time as reporter with Surrey Now, Surrey-North Delta Now, The Now, Now Community serving Surrey, White Rock, North Delta, Surrey Now, and now, Surrey Now-Leader

  • May 21, 2021
Surrey <em>Now-Leader</em> reporter Tom Zytaruk looks back on 30-year career Surrey <em>Now-Leader</em> reporter Tom Zytaruk looks back on 30-year career
Frank Bucholtz

AND FRANKLY: Creating Marine Drive one-way a bold move by White Rock council

Detours, lane closure, will present challenges, but businesses need help to survive

  • May 20, 2021
Frank Bucholtz
Surrey-based entrepreneur Ekam Panesar, 19, says he’s ready to take on the big delivery apps with his Dishpal App. (Zoom meeting photo)

OUR VIEW: Surrey’s resiliency shines

In dark times, let your light shine bright

  • May 19, 2021
Surrey-based entrepreneur Ekam Panesar, 19, says he’s ready to take on the big delivery apps with his Dishpal App. (Zoom meeting photo)
In this Sept. 25, 2018 photo, visitors walk near Canada Place, a tourism and convention center in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

OPINION: B.C.’s tourism and hospitality sector desperately needs a restart plan

Pandemic’s trickle-down impact is particularly large and insidious at a local and community level

  • May 18, 2021
In this Sept. 25, 2018 photo, visitors walk near Canada Place, a tourism and convention center in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A COVID-19 warning sign on the Surrey-Langley border. As cases rise, but deaths fall lower, is it time to rethink our pandemic response? (Photo: Malin Jordan)

RETHINK: Are we following the right tack with our COVID response?

Cases are up, deaths are down; are renewed restrictions justified, or is it time to ease up?

A COVID-19 warning sign on the Surrey-Langley border. As cases rise, but deaths fall lower, is it time to rethink our pandemic response? (Photo: Malin Jordan)