(Surrey BC's David Dalley, Surrey Spiritual Summit Event Coordinator. Photo by Bronwyn Scott) People from diverse belief systems are gathering at Camp Alexandra Retreat and Conference Centre on Saturday, March 1st, for Surrey Spiritual Summit, designed to promote understanding and build positive relationships across traditions. The free event, initiated by Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, features workshops that explore such themes as values, youth, children, environment and art, with speakers from a range of backgrounds. The summit, funded by the provincial government, is designed to address the nuanced differences among our communities, focusing on worldviews rather than observable differences. “The way that multiculturalism has been done has sometimes focused too much on the superficial elements of diversity,” said David Dalley, event coordinator. The different ways we eat and dress, for example. “Sometimes it’s those deeper elements of misunderstandings around beliefs or values or religious practices, or spirituality, that’s where a...

Canucks from the 1994 Stanley Cup game, as well as current centre Mike Santorelli, surprised Strawberry Hill Elementary School students who were skating at Robson Square during a field trip on Tuesday afternoon. Jyrki Lumme, who played defence, Cliff Ronning, centre, and Kirk McLean, goaltender, laced up their skates and made their way to the ice to the great delight of the Grades 2, 3 and 4 students, whose interest was piqued by Fin the orca’s initial appearance a few minutes before 1:30. (Canucks centre Mike Santorelli making appearance at the Robson Square skating event on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Photo: Bronwyn Scott.) (Fin, the official mascot of the Vancouver Canucks, surprised fans at Tuesday’s skating event. Photo: Bronwyn Scott.) (Fin, the official mascot of the Vancouver Canucks, signing autographs for Strawberry Hill Elementary students on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at Robson Square. Photo: Bronwyn Scott.) (Kirk McLean, 1994 goaltender for the...

(Steve Charles & Lauren Bowler. Photo by David Cooper.) Leonard Cohen’s Tower of Song is the metaphorical construct giving form to the narrative of his life in Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, and although lyrics don’t meet code, the performance proves a solid tribute to the duly acclaimed Cohen, one of Canada’s greatest literary and musical icons. Not a concert, not a play, and most certainly not a musical, Chelsea Hotel makes its own mark on the arts scene with a song-based show that infuses Cohen’s poetry and lyrics with its inspiration, embodied in his somewhat mystic lovers, eternized by great care and a troubled / genius mind, and recorded by pen in the dingy, beautiful Chelsea Hotel. His ladies come and go, and are his life and purpose and muse. He needs them desperately and loves them honestly. I don’t mean to suggest that I loved you...

Surrey’s city centre just became more complete with the official opening of the new city hall building on Monday, Feb. 17th at noon. The 210,000 square foot facility also has a new parkade with 810 parking spots. There will be 750 staff working out of the new location. It features six storeys of office, meeting and community spaces and among the perks of the new design is its chamber room, which transforms into a theatre space when not in use for council meetings. A public daycare is another of the key amenities. The structure cost $97-million to build. Its location, at 13450 104th Avenue, a few minutes’ walk from Surrey Central SkyTrain station and bus loop, is more convenient for public access, according to Barinder Rasode, city counsellor. “The SkyTrain being here at this point, SFU, the new library and Central City creating this anchor to have good open public...

Some people live in the past but Frederick Sutherland has made a career of it. The owner of Cloverdale Antiques & Collectables fondly remembers a time when Cloverdale was home to 14 antique stores, but in recent years that number has dwindled and now just a handful remain in Surrey as online shopping takes hold in the minds of Canadians. He also blames foreign made, modern and disposable styles for the shutting of antique store doors, not just in Surrey but around the globe. “All over the world it’s happening, because China is buying antiques from all over the world. They’ve got our money and they’re doing the buying,” said Sutherland. He sees it as part of a trend that signals a decline of western civilization. “Our young people will no longer know what we had in the past, they won’t know how to recreate it. They’ve been taught basically...

It may have taken Anthony Jones four months of sleeping in his truck to find success, but for the founder of Hunky Haulers, which aired on Dragon’s Den in November, enduring poverty panned out. The local entrepreneur came away from that experience with two offers, one from Jim Treliving and one from Arlene Dickinson and David Chilton. He chose the latter deal of $300,000 for 10 per cent royalty and 25 per cent of the company. His only real assets to that point were three trucks and a couple of muscly men. And, of course, a great idea and the drive to see it through. His goals were to franchise the unique business model, a clutter removal service with a recycling component and a comprehensive and generous community give back program. Clutter is the key word here – junk is an offensive term for the people that work hard for...

After last week’s tragic killing outside Newton Arena, Philip Aguirre, chef owner at the Old Surrey Restaurant, is focusing on the positives and community cohesion. On Sunday evening, Jan. 12, the restaurant opened its doors to its long established customer base for an evening of complimentary appetizers and drinks to mark their 40th year in business and to celebrate the community. Live music by White Rock’s Neil Harnett and private label Kettle Valley wine helped make the occasion. From 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Old Surrey was a bustling, lively, exalted hub of activity. (Community members enjoy complimentary wine and appetizers at the Old Surrey Restaurant’s 40th anniversary customer appreciation event on Sunday, Jan. 12. Photo: Bronwyn Scott) (Philip and Valentine Aguirre with guests at the Old Surrey Restaurant’s 40th anniversary celebration that drew in crowds from the Newton community. Photo: Bronwyn Scott) (Community members enjoy complimentary wine and...

Surrey’s got style with Sofia Gobbato’s designs As a teenager the unnecessary zippers and buttons that Sofia Gobbato would stitch to her clothing was no indication that a career in fashion lay in wait. “It looked pretty ridiculous,” said the now 22 year old, who didn’t even have the benefit of home economics classes at her high school. But these days the budding entrepreneur is making waves on the local fashion scene. Not only have she and long time friend Samantha Anderson been busy putting on shows at local venues, but they’ve also been working hard to establish their new business, Velvet Hanger Vintage. The online store featuring vintage and hand made garments is set to launch in January. Gobbato will take care of the production end of things and Anderson, who graduated in October with a diploma in project management, will have a greater role in running the business....

When Tyson Venegas performed at Surrey’s Tree Lighting Festival earlier this season, he was fulfilling his ultimate goal: to make people happy with his singing. The eight year old, from Port Moody, is an old soul in a child’s body. His greatest musical idols include Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Louis Armstrong, and Michael Jackson, according to Iris Samson, his mother. Bruno Mars and Michael Bublé are also favourites. Although he hasn’t been around that long, Venegas is already turning heads with his musical skill. In May he won the B.C. Junior Talent Search and in August he took first place at the PNE Star Showdown – the same contest that Michael Bublé and Carly Rae Jepsen won years ago. Since then he’s been busy with shows every weekend, said Samson. And he loves every minute of it. “He says it all the time,...

By Bronwyn Scott Surrey just might be hip enough to be one of a handful of Canadian cities to host future Ugly Sweater Runs, according to Jordan Birch, founder of Now That’s Ugly Society. Wearing ugly Christmas sweaters has become a trend and this year the not-for-profit group hosted the first two Ugly Sweater Runs in Toronto and Vancouver’s run in Coquitlam. The five-kilometer event featuring mustachioed participants in gaudy hues of red and green were such a hit that organizers are planning to expand into five to seven Canadian cities next year. Although no decisions have been made yet, Vancouver’s run will likely move out of Coquitlam. “We’re looking for a bigger and badder venue to have a run that’s going to hold people in the thousands,” said Birch. And Surrey is a strong candidate. “We know they’re booming, we know they’re edgy.” Now That’s Ugly Society was started...