The bands Mother, Mother and The Beaches have both pulled out of performing in Surrey’s virtual Canada Day celebration over the city’s refusal to speak up on racism.
More than 3,500 people have signed a petition calling on the City of Surrey to show solidarity with the Black and Indigenous community – with still no comment from city hall.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum released this statement shortly after:
“As I have publicly stated, most recently at Monday’s City Council meeting, there is no place for racism, discrimination, or intolerance. Surrey is unequivocally strengthened by our diversity. Our city is like a fabric and the threads that keep that fabric together are the different cultures that we have and the diverse people that come together to work with one another. The pride we place in our cultural diversity and the inclusion and respect we show to one another did not just materialize overnight. We do not take this for granted and we are constantly looking at how we can strengthen the diverse and inclusive society we have in Surrey. Despite the gains we have made, racism against Black, Indigenous, Asian and people of all creeds, colour and sexual orientation has not been eradicated. I can assure you that we will continue to condemn and eliminate all acts of hate and discrimination in our city.”
As of Friday open campfires are allowed in Surrey, however the following are not allowed:•the use of burning barrels and burning cages.
•the use of air curtain burners.
•the use of binary exploding targets.
•the use of sky lanterns.
•the use of fireworks, including firecrackers
A Surrey man was arrested for lighting up a cigarette and refusing to wear a PPE mask on a flight bound for Toronto – his behaviour so unruly they had to land the plane in Winnipeg and kick him off. The 60 year old has been charged with mischief and a whole wack of other fines totalling more than $13,000.
Too hot to handle!
Peace Arch Park, which has been nicknamed “Passion Park’ for the amount of couples and families meeting up from both sides of the border during the pandemic – has been closed due to safety concerns of too many people.
The province says it will reopen when safe to do so.
There’s an app for that!
The feds are preparing to launch an app that will notify you if you’ve been ein the same area as someone tested positive for COVID-19. The app will first be launched in Ontario in July.
Dr. Bonnie Henry reported 19 new COVID-19 cases, and two more outbreaks at Mission Memorial Hospital and Tabor Home in Abbotsford. The Langley and Abbotsford cases were transfer patients from Mission Memorial Hospital. Mission Memorial Hospital has been closed to new admissions while testing is underway.
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh introduced a motion yesterday calling for an acknowledgement of systemic racism in the RCMP – the motion was met mostly with support but one Bloc Quebecois MP squashed the motion to which Singh called the MP a racist and was kicked out from day’s proceedings.
The Vancouver Elementary Teachers Association passed a motion yesterday that recommends that the RCMP and Vancouver PD longer attend school events – until “ both organizations take clear steps to address the disproportionate repression of people of color, including Black and Indigenous people.”