This image is from the Change.org petition to ‘Save Wildlife Habitat in Surrey, BC.’
A Rocha Canada is working with like-minded groups to oppose Surrey’s plan for an industrial park in the protected rural area which surrounds their Brookdale Environmental Centre property.
A large area of rural land in South Surrey could soon have a land-use change that would allow for development.
Metro Vancouver’s planning committee recommended a change in the region’s urban containment boundary on Friday, which would turn the designation of 160 hectares of land from ‘rural’ to ‘mixed employment.’
The City of Surrey asked Metro Vancouver for the change in July, after a council vote and contentious public hearing.
The area is directly south of the Campbell Heights industrial business park at the border between Surrey and Langley. The Surrey Board of Trade has argued it could create more than 20,000 jobs in the region, and said 135 businesses have expressed interest in moving into the area if developed.
But any rezoning requires approval by Metro Vancouver, because the land falls outside Surrey’s urban containment boundary, intended to preserve agricultural and undeveloped areas. . . .
A vote by the full Metro Vancouver board is scheduled for October 29, with a final decision early next year.
A Rocha has consistently expressed its concern with and opposition to changing the allowable land uses in this area. Not only would it have an impact on operations at the Brooksdale Environmental Centre [at 16th Avenue and 192nd Street], but more importantly there are significant environmental concerns with the proposal. Proponents of the plan cite the ‘urgent need for employment lands’ as the primary reason for approval of this proposal.
A Rocha has been working to restore and enhance the Tatalu (Little Campbell River) and the surrounding watershed for 20 years. Changing the land use designation would allow for the first large-scale commercial and industrial development along the entire 30 km river.
None of the many long-time stewards of the river believe that a proposal of this scale and type can be placed on either side of the river without damaging the health and integrity of the river.
The conservation buffers, proposed along the river, are not enough to mitigate the impacts of development of this kind. The surrounding rural and agricultural lands are key habitat for a number of species at risk and are critical for groundwater and river recharge.
Go here for more, including their rationale for opposition and how you can help them.
A Rocha is partnering with several local groups: Friends of Hazelmere – Campbell Valley, Little Campbell Watershed Society and Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society.
A recent post of the Friends of Hazelmere Facebook page noted:
2022 calendar out now. Purchase at A Rocha market Saturdays and Tuesdays at 192nd and 16th. Or message us and we can get one to you. Showcases the bio diverse wildlife around the Little Campbell River and helps support the stewardship of the River.
A Rocha is “an international Christian organization which, inspired by God’s love, engages in scientific research, environmental education, community-based conservation projects and sustainable agriculture.” It is part of A Rocha International, which has teams and projects in at least 20 nations around the world.
Benno Friesen was a founding faculty member at TWU and a long-term MP for Surrey-White Rock.
Benno Friesen passed away September 29, at 92 years of age. Veteran journalist and author Lloyd Mackey, a close observer of federal politics over the years, wrote about Friesen, his political outlook and some of their interactions:
Benno Friesen was an outstanding example of a politician whose integrity was shaped, in part at least, by his long and well-honed Christian faith.
He was one of about 30 ‘God Squad’ Conservative MPs who served in the Joe Clark and Brian Mulroney governments of the late 70s, the 80s and the early 90s. God Squad was the affectionate and congenial term Mulroney applied to these particular MPs, most of them from western Canada, whose Christian faith helped shape them into very effective members of parliament.
I always had a high regard for Benno Friesen, who became MP for what was known, for most of his time in parliament, as Surrey-White Rock.
That said, Friesen and I did not always see eye-to-eye, although our differences had more to do with what best could be described as the kinds of things that sometimes created tension between the body politic and the world of journalism.
The tension came when, in the 80s and 90s, I first wrote a book about Ernest and Preston Manning then, later, in the early days of the Reform party, served as editor of the party’s monthly newspaper, the Reformer. It was a time when many western Canadian evangelical Christians saw the younger Manning as a potential leader whose conciliatory Christian approach would be of value to the nation.
Benno and Marge Friesen with Bob and Renae Kuhn, on the occasion of Bob Kuhn’s inauguration as President of TWU. Kuhn officiated at Friesen’s memorial service.
Many in the God Squad did not quite see it that way. They believed Reform was a splinter group that was dividing conservatism. From where I sat, it was a bit of a phenomenon that grew out of some earlier writing by the two Mannings, about “political realignment.”
When Friesen and I had opportunity to talk about the issue, I suggested that one day, the two factions – Reform and Conservative – would realign and come together, and that Christians in the two groups would help facilitate that development.
It did happen that way, through a complex four-step process which started with Preston Manning suggesting that if a leader stood in the way of reconciliation, Jesus offered a fair model – step aside or forgo one’s own self to the greater cause.
Manning formed Reform into the Canadian Alliance and graciously, I would suggest, surrendered the leadership to Stockwell Day, another evangelical who came from the Conservative side of the political spectrum. The separation of some CA MPs from Day, to align with the re-emerging Conservatives was the next step. Among the Manning-inspired evangelicals highlighting that process were Chuck Strahl and Deb Grey.
Once the CA and Conservatives merged, Stephen Harper emerged as leader and, in due course, was prime minister. And he had been mentored politically and spiritually by Manning.
In recent years, I had at least a couple of good conversations with Benno, one at St. Andrew’s Newton Presbyterian Church in Surrey.
Benno, with a glint in his eye, told me that I should know he kept a close eye on me during the 15 years Edna and I spent in Ottawa. And he indicated that it was Edna, as the administrative assistant to a CA-cum-Conservative MP, Maurice Vellacott, who kept me from straying too far off the path of conciliation that I professed to follow.
Benno will be missed. He lived his faith with integrity that was respected across party lines.
Trinity Western University honoured Friesen, calling him a “TWU pioneer, professor, political statesman and friend.”
Iain Provan
Regent College professor Iain Provan will lead a Friday evening / Saturday morning seminar November 5 – 6 at New Life Community Church in Burnaby.
The question of the good life – what it looks like for people and societies to be well ordered and flourishing – has universal significance, but its proposed solutions are just as far reaching.
At the core of this concern is the nature of the good itself: what is ‘right?’ We must attend to this ethical dilemma before we can begin to envision a life lived to the fullest.
With Seeking What is Right, Iain Provan invites us to consider how Scripture – the Old Testament in particular – can aid us in this quest. In rooting the definition of the good in God’s special revelation, Provan moves beyond the constraints of family, tribe, culture, state or nature.
When we read ourselves into the story of Scripture, we learn a formative ethic that speaks directly to our humanity.
He delves into Western Christian history to demonstrate the various ways this has been done: how our forebears identified with the narrative of God’s people, Israel, and how they applied the Old Testament to their particular times and concerns.
This serves as a foundation upon which modern Christians can assess their decisions as people who read the whole biblical story ‘from the beginning’ in our time.
Provan challenges us to grapple with ethical issues dominating our contemporary culture as a people in exile, a people formed by disciplines steeped in the patterns and teachings of Scripture. To come alongside ancient Israel in its own experiences of exile, to listen with Israel to the utterances of a holy God, is to approach a true picture of the good life that illuminates all facets of human existence.
Provan helps us understand how we should and should not read Scripture in arriving at these conclusions, clarifying for the faithful Christian what the limits of the search for ‘what is right’ look like.
Apr 2025
Martyrs in Monochrome: The Witness of Women, Christian Resilience & Photopoetry – April 18, 2025 - May 8, 2025 at 12:00 amEngaged Citizenship: The Role of Faith Communities During an Election – April 24, 2025 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
FaithTech Vancouver Presents: Integrating Faith into the Workplace – April 24, 2025 at 5:45 pm - 7:45 pm
Finding Real Friendships in Pastoral Ministry: A Pathway from Loneliness to Community – April 25, 2025 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Lighthouse Harbour Ministries Spring Breakfast – April 26, 2025 at 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Planning Ahead to Finish Well Seminar – April 26, 2025 at 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
2025 Spring Craft Fair – April 26, 2025 at 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Vancouver Orpheus Male Choir with the Langley Community Chorus: Joy of Singing – April 26, 2025 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Amabilis Singers Spring Concert 2025: Roots of Peace – April 26, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Oh Pray Tell – April 26, 2025 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Jazz Vespers with Wild Blue Herons Quartet – April 27, 2025 at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Pacific Preachers' Refresher 2025 – April 28, 2025 - April 30, 2025 at 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Kentro Christian Network: Annual Forum – April 28, 2025 - April 30, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Pat Barrett: Beautiful Life Tour – April 28, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Money, Lies, and God: An Evening with Katherine Stewart – April 28, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Celebrating Archbishop Miller’s 50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination: Farewell Dinner – April 29, 2025 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Business by the Book: William Lamb, CEO and President of Lucara Diamond Corp. – April 30, 2025 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
May 2025
Serve Our Schools – May 1, 2025 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pmReligious Diversity in Catholic Schools: Why does it matters to the Church's reconciliation efforts? – May 1, 2025 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tonye Aganaba – May 2, 2025 at 8:00 am - 10:00 am
An evening of worship through stories & songs: Cynthia Lok – May 2, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Preaching in a New Key: A Conversation About Preaching in Vancouver – May 3, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver Cantata Singers: Reflection – May 3, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Regent College 2025 Convocation – May 5, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
BAM Vancouver Luncheon with Russ Swaim – May 7, 2025 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
A Rocha BC: Volunteer Day – May 10, 2025 at 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Spreading the Word Writing Conference – May 10, 2025 at 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
Movie Screening: The King of Kings – May 10, 2025 at 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
2025 Interchurch Praise & Worship Night – May 10, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Concert for Peace – May 10, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Gloria Dei Chorale presents Reflections of Peace – May 10, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Brian Doerksen: Old Fashioned Dance celebrating ‘Love For A Lifetime’ Album Release – May 10, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Paul and Women in Leadership – May 13, 2025 at 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Deconstructing a Young Earth, Deconstructing Faith – Two Stories, Two Directions – May 13, 2025 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Celebrating Archbishop Miller’s 50th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination: Farewell Mass – May 13, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Vancouver School of Theology 2025 Convocation – May 13, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Meeting – May 14, 2025 - June 7, 2025 at All Day
All of Life Interview with: Dr. Todd Statham & Dr. Peter Schuurman – May 14, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
CONVERGE: A Joint Young Adult Event – May 16, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Business as Mission Bootcamp – May 17, 2025 at 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Day of Renewal: Church Leadership British Columbia – May 22, 2025 at 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Returning to the Highest Chief: Life After Residential School – Book Launch with Mary Jane Joe – May 22, 2025 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Western Youth Summit – May 24, 2025 at 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Flourishing: Rediscovering Hope, with Carlos Whittaker – May 24, 2025 at 12:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Bez Gospel Choir Spring Concert: Look Up! – May 25, 2025 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Vancouver Oratorio Society Spring Concert: The Great I Am – May 25, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:15 pm
Pacific Life Bible College Spring Preview Day – May 26, 2025 at 11:30 am - 4:30 pm
First United 140th Anniversary Golf Tournament – May 26, 2025 at 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Compassion: Thoughtful, Engaged & Generous – May 27, 2025 - May 29, 2025 at 12:00 am
Compassion: Thoughtful, Engaged & Generous: Dr. Terri Givens – Radical Integrity in Leadership: Empathy in Action – May 27, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Journey Home Community: The Welcome Table – Annual Spring Gala – May 29, 2025 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Paperboys (Trio) – May 30, 2025 at 8:00 am - 10:00 am
Connection Point 2025: A Night of Worship & Community – May 30, 2025 at 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
The Parenting Conference: Sowing to the Spirit – May 31, 2025 at 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Jun 2025
March for Jesus: Jesus Christ Our Only Hope – June 7, 2025 at 12:30 pm - 11:30 pmProvincial Leaders Dinner (with Sam Sullivan) – June 12, 2025 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
58th Annual BC Leadership Prayer Breakfast (with Anthony Robles) – June 13, 2025 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
St. John's Centennial Gala – June 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Kenya, Africa 2025 Partner Visit – June 21, 2025 - June 30, 2025 at All Day
Day of Celebration: United Church of Canada's 100th Anniversary – June 25, 2025 at All Day
Jul 2025
Soccer Camp 2025 – July 7, 2025 - July 11, 2025 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pmFLO Summer Soccer Camp 2025 – July 14, 2025 - July 18, 2025 at 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Behold Israel: Discovering Daniel Conference – July 26, 2025 at 12:00 am
Aug 2025
Godly Play North American Gathering – August 14, 2025 - August 16, 2025 at All DaySep 2025
Living from the Heart Course - Online – September 26, 2025 - May 7, 2026 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pmOct 2025
Western Regional Conference on Faith and History 2025 – October 16, 2025 - October 18, 2025 at 12:00 amNov 2025
India & Nepal 2025 Partner Visit – November 1, 2025 - November 12, 2025 at All DayELO Forum Vancouver 2025 – November 5, 2025 at All Day