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Fraser Downs Race Dates Cut; 2011 Season in Doubt

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:30:45 +0000

In a letter sent to the horse racing industry by the British Columbia Government’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, it was announced that race days at Fraser Downs would be drastically cut in 2010, and the whole 2011 season would be “rescinded” for now, subject to review. Following is the complete text of this letter:

Horse Racing Industry Participants:

As discussed at the open meeting with industry on July 27,2010, the financial challenges affecting the horse racing industry have created a very difficult environment for racing in this province and elsewhere.

While we all hope the fiscal picture has stabilized and will begin to improve, it is much too early to reach any conclusions in that regard. Perhaps more importantly, it is clear a significant and fundamental change in business approach is necessary if the industry is to have an opportunity for real and sustained recovery.

The Horse Racing Industry Management Committee has been striving to balance a number of competing challenges (declining revenues, everyone’s desire to have better and more race dates despite that, etc). The committee has been strategic, thoughtful and organized in its efforts to achieve the best results possible, including making difficult financial allocations that did not necessarily reflect traditional practices.

To date, the committee has focussed on the current year, in order to fully understand and explain the financial realities, stabilize circumstances and mitigate any negative consequences.

However, we have clearly heard the industry is concerned about what will happen in the future. Participants in the industry are looking for a longer-tern vision. In this regard, the committee intends to implement a plan that creates the best possible opportunities for success. This will require some difficult decisions.

I am writing today to communicate decisions taken by the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC) regarding the current and coming race seasons.

This plan is endorsed and supported by the Horse Racing Industry Management Committee, which believes the following steps will best prepare horse racing in British Columbia for a successful and sustainable future.

Race days and financial allocations for the duration of 2010

GCGC has advised the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB), in its role as regulator of the industry, that GCGC is adjusting the race season for the standardbred sector for both 2010 and 2011.

For the remainder of 2010, GCGC has requested that GPEB reduce the number of assigned race days for the standardbred sector from 37 to 23 days during the period between October 15 and December 31, 2O1O. This reduction will not only avoid any overlap between British Columbia’s thoroughbred and standardbred racing seasons, but will also improve the value of purses available for distribution among the remaining standardbred race dates.

GPEB has approved this revised racing schedule, which includes Fridays and Sundays during the mid-October to December period, as well as Thursday, November 11.

At present, the committee does not anticipate any change in 2010 financial allocations made to either the standardbred or thoroughbred sectors as a result of this reduction in standardbred race days.

Standardbred race days and financial allocation for 2O11

For 2011, GCGC has requested that GPEB rescind all assigned race days for the standardbred sector but has indicated that it may in future request approval to race in 2011 with the number of potential race days yet to be determined.

GCGC has verbally advised the committee that the viability of a 2011 standardbred race season will be significantly enhanced if the Harness Racing BC Society (HRBCS) can reach an arrangement with the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) and Horse Racing Alberta (HRA) to establish an inter-provincial standardbred racing season. Discussion with HRA have already identified the possibility of a season that would involve four (4) months of racing in BC (January to April) and four (4) months in Alberta (September to December) starting in 2011.

The Horse Racing Industry Management Committee proposes to establish a dedicated task force involving the HRBCS to ensure timely and effective negotiations between the relevant parties, with the goal of formalizing this arrangement prior to October 15, 2010.

The intention is to establish a coordinated inter-provincial standardbred racing season beginning in 2011 and continuing thereafter. Such a coordinated effort has the potential to stabilize the breed in both provinces, provide a lengthy race season for interested standardbred participants in both BC and Alberta, and allow the BC industry to achieve some operating savings through a shortened season at Fraser Downs.

Given a shortened 2011 standardbred season, the committee anticipates a reduction in the allocation to the standardbred sector in 2011. This reduction will reflect industry revenues but ideally, will also facilitate increased purses for the remaining race days.

Once the 2011 season has been determined, the committee will make decisions concerning the allocation of available funds in the best interests of British Columbia’s horse racing industry.

Sincerely,
Derek Sturko
Chair, BC Horse Racing Industry Management Committee

pc: Honourable Rich Coleman
Committee members
Chris Curtis
Doug Scott

Rededication Ceremony at Surrey Centre Cemetery

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:57:04 +0000

The Cloverdale Legion will be hosting a rededication ceremony of the renovated World War I veterans’ area on June 5 at 1:00 PM.

The Cloverdale Legion has been working with the City of Surrey Cemetery Services to renovate the existing World War I veterans’ area. The project involved having the WWI memorials returned to their original setting. Upright memorials that had been flat have been resurrected and pillow type memorials have been raised, cleaned and retouched. The cornerstones have been replaced with new granite cornerstones, the grass area surrounding the graves has received new sod and leveled, a new Memorial Garden has been created, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has supplied two new upright markers.

A short and moving ceremony has been planned to include a short on site parade, and address by the Branch Padre to rededicate the veterans’ area and memorial, a tribute to the passing of John Babcock, the last Canadian WW1 veteran, and the Last Post is to be performed on a 1916 WWI bugle, a recent donation to the Cloverdale Legion.

Toward the conclusion of the ceremony, the Mayor will plant the last plant in the Memorial Garden.

Olympic Torch travels through Cloverdale

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:13:35 +0000

Runner carries the Olympic torch past the colour guard to Museum Plaza

The Olympic Torch Relay passed through Cloverdale on February 8. A huge crowd lined both sides of Highway 10 and filled the Museum Plaza.

The Cloverdale Legion colour party provided an honour guard.

The Lord Tweedsmuir Senior Jazz Band provided entertainment to the crowd.

Cloverdale Rodeo Election Results

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:23:26 +0000

Elections for the Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition Association board were held at the AGM on January 20. Results of the elections are as follows:

Incumbent Directors Shannon Claypool, Ken Kachur and Rob Marshall were voted back onto the board.

The 2010 executive consists of:

Shannon Claypool President
Gerry Spielmacher 1^st Vice President
Penny Smythe 2^nd Vice president
Ken Kachur Treasurer and Personnel.

A Sign of Spring

admin — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:20:47 +0000

Crocuses have popped up in the planters in downtown Cloverdale. The one pictured is outside the Museum.

New Recreation Centre for Cloverdale

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:14:10 +0000

A new $15 million, 60,000 sq. ft. multipurpose complex is being built at the corner of 176 Street and 62A Avenue. This new centre will meet the needs of Cloverdale’s rapidly growing population, which has jumped to 53,000 and is projected to grow in the next five years.

Some of the highlights of this new facility will be a triple gymnasium, a wellness centre and fitness and exercise rooms. There will be activities like drop in sports, arts and cultural programs, preschool and children’s programs as well as a wide range of programs for seniors, like carpet bowling and pickleball.

The Centre is expected to open in early 2011.

Remembrance Day 2009

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:26:35 +0000

The largest Remembrance Day crowd in recent memory packed the Museum Plaza for the Remembrance Day service. In this photo, Mayor Dianne Watts lays a wreath on behalf of the City of Surrey.

For more Remembrance Day photos, click on Cloverdale Legion.

TownShift: Suburb Into City, An Ideas Competition for Surrey’s Town Centres

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:02:15 +0000

“TownShift: Suburb Into City” is open an international ideas competition seeking innovative ideas for five of Surrey’s established Town Centres: Guildford, Fleetwood, Cloverdale, Newton and Semiahmoo. The aim of the competition is to “Shift” thinking and opportunities for each of these “Town” hubs towards more intense, public-minded and productive urban futures. Approved by the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, this competition is proposed in order to generate innovative new thinking about suburbs transforming towards sustainability in an era of increasingly expensive energy. TownShift has been conceived to open up debate and communicate design ideas amongst the general public and city-building professions, and we hope its results will shape this rapidly-evolving city for decades to come. Indeed, the civic slogan proudly displayed on Surrey’s new urban brand is “The Future Lives Here.”

Competition submissions to TownShift are open to all designers, urban development professionals, artists, city planners, engineers, sidewalk superintendents, and interested citizens from Surrey, Canada and anywhere else in the world. TownShift has no requirements whatsoever for educational or professional qualifications. Evidently, some familiarity with design, urbanism or construction practices is an asset, but not obligatory, and new ideas in city-building can come from any source. Inter-disciplinary and multi-member competition teams are encouraged, as are entries from students of all types and ages. This is an Architectural Institute of British Columbia sanctioned ‘open’ competition.

Registration for the competition closes January 4, 2010, and submissions are due by January 6, 2010.

For more information see www.townshift.com

Casie creates a stir

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:39:21 +0000

Auction items and donations continue to roll in for Casie Coleman’s special day on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 11 – BC Breeders Classic Day at Fraser Downs.

“Everyone I approach has been anxious to contribute,” Casie told Norm Borg on the Trot Radio national network this week. She credits the staff at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria for saving her life 10 years ago following an accident in the barns at Sandown Park when she was a 19-year-old groom. Casie, born and raised in Surrey and a grad of Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary, was mixing an alcohol-based liniment to warm her horse’s feet when flames ignited and left her with third-degree burns to her legs and right arm as well as first-degree burns to her cheeks and neck.

“Those people at the hospital in Victoria put me back together,” she says. “Now I have the opportunity to give something back to them.”

Proceeds from a silent auction in the Atrium at Fraser Downs on Nov. 11 will go to the Burn Unit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. Casie herself has been collecting donations from her travels on the Eastern harness racing circuit where she has been recognized with two O’Brien Awards (2005 and 2006) as Canada’s Trainer of the Year.

Anyone wishing to get involved by contributing auction prizes or cash donations can contact Kelly Hudon at kelhud@shaw.ca

From Mike Heads’ HorseRacing Central Newsletter – October 30, 2009

Rotary Club roasts Bill Reid

admin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:15:10 +0000

The Cloverdale Rotary Club roasted well known Cloverdale booster Bill Reid before a packed house at the Eaglequet Coyote Creek Golf Club on October 22.

Bill is a former MLA for Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale, former Minister of Tourism, and currently Executive Director of the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce.

First up was Grace McCarthy, herself a former cabinet minister, and considered by many the Grande Dame of B.C. politics. She reminised how she had first met Bill in 1972, and went on to describe him as one of the forces behind Expo 86.

Next up was Kevin Falcon, current MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, and Minister of Health. He joked that he was only there because he had received an invitation addressed to “Dear Resident”. He said he had received crabs from Bill, quickly adding that they were caught by Bill at Birch Bay.

Surrey Councillor Linda Hepner quipped that she had come to the event under the mistaken impression that it was for Bill Reid the Haida artist.

Paul Orazietti is Executive Director of the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association, and shares an office with Bill. He recounted the top 10 things heard in the office, our favourite being “welcome to Cloverdale, centre of the universe”.

Bill was also given an award by the Rotary Club for his many years of service to the community.

Bill was very touched by the tributes. As his wife Marion was heard to observe, this was the first time in her life she had ever seen him speechless.

The event was also a fundraiser for Bill’s favourite charity, the CH.I.L.D. Foundation for children with intestinal and liver disorders.

Hats off to Bill Reid, one of the driving forces in the community, and one of those great characters who help make Cloverdale such a wonderful place to live.