Telling White Rock’s Storm of the Century in Pictures and Postcards

January 29, 2019 By Ric Wallace

Ric Wallace, Artographer & White Rock Beach resident
Tel: (604) 259-0105
VIRTUAL EDGE COMMUNICATIONS
PO Box 75214, RPO White Rock, Surrey BC V4A 0B1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Telling White Rock’s Storm of the Century in Pictures and Postcards

The historic and disastrous storm of the century on December 20, 2018 in White Rock, BC caused millions in damages but LUCKILY spared the lives of White Rock residents and visitors. As an east beach resident and participant in the Artist Walk program on the waterfront, Ric Wallace was seconds away from the action working on his computer. As the storm intensified, he could hear a loud BANG, BANG, BANG of the glass balcony canopy on a neighboring house, and with a camera always at the ready, he ventured out across Marine Drive to get a first-hand look.

While snapping pictures, Wallace tried unsuccessfully to protect his camera and lens from the salt spray and did something no professional photographer would do under normal circumstances: more than once he went into the washroom to dry his lens and camera with toilet paper and under the hand dryer. Venturing back out into the storm, he asked a stranger if she would mind if he used her back as a salt-spray shield, and he continued recording this historic happening as both stills and video. Suddenly another bystander shouted that the boats had come loose and were smashing into the pier.

 

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Wallace rushed west up Marine Drive – the promenade was too risky because of the high waves and debris littering the walkway. He captured on camera the sailboats smashing into White Rock’s landmark pier, acting as crowbars with the force of the waves and wind thrusting the vessels under and up through the pier, lifting the decking that gave the pier its strength. He also watched and recorded the successful rescue of the stranded visitor, who was cut off from the shore by the now missing midsection of the pier.

Knowing that many people would want a keepsake of this moment in history when White Rock’s over 100-year-old pier was destroyed by the Storm of the Century with a wind force likened to a Category 1 hurricane, Wallace has produced a selection of prints suitable for framing, and now has available postcard sets, time-stamped on the back indicating when the photograph was taken, showing the progression of the damage to the pier as well as the dramatic Coast Guard rescue. The waterfront restaurants Moby Dick’s Fish & Chips and Charlie Don’t Surf  both have purchased photo enlargements to display on their walls to share this historic event with their customers for years to come.

Storm of the Century Postcard Sets
$42 Set $55 Set $100 Set $125 Set
Contact Sheets Included With All Sets

The collector postcards will be offered for sale as a set to share the story of the destruction of the midsection of the White Rock Beach pier. There is a 14-postcard pack of the Storm of the Century for $30 and another pack containing the 14 storm postcards plus an additional 10 postcards of the pier and beach in its glory for $40 (before Stormageddon 2018) . There are other collector packs listed online at WhiteRockBeach.ca, which are expected to become highly prized collector items as well.
The postcard sets will come with a Certificate of Authenticity which might make these cherished items for generations to come or investments to be sold online or at auctions in years to come. These postcard sets are for sale online at WhiteRockBeach.ca and WhiteRockPier.ca. They will also be available at the White Rock Beach Gallery (WhiteRockBeachGallery.com) on the west beach waterfront, weather permitting, or people can contact Ric Wallace directly (RICco.ca).

Ric Wallace has been made famous many times for recognizing when an opportunity comes knocking. The BANG BANG BANG he heard while he was working at his computer was the UNIVERSE KNOCKING LOUDLY and telling him to get out and take some photos of this historic event. The universe also rewarded him for his efforts by telling him to register the domain WhiteRockPier.ca which had just become available Christmas morning December 25, 2018.

If climate change experts are correct in their predictions of rising sea levels and stronger storms in the future, a pier that is higher and stronger along with a higher and longer breakwater should be considered to insure that the now estimated $16.2 Million for repairs or replacement of the pier is not wasted money and effort. The White Rock Beach pier is like a part of the family and many memories are tied to it – everything from first dates, weddings, anniversaries, birthday, learning to swim, fishing or snapping award- winning sunrises or sunsets captured from the pier.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ric Wallace, Artographer – Tel: (604) 259-0105
Visit WhiteRockBeach.ca or WhiteRockPier.ca

Filed Under: Postcards, Ric Wallace, White Rock Beach gallery Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

For the Love of Crows By Sheila T

May 27, 2018 By Ric Wallace

I had never paid much attention to crows. I thought they were just noisy, obnoxious pests. At least, that’s how I saw them when I lived back in Ontario. But then we moved to “Supernatural” British Columbia in 2012, and a couple things changed my mind about these black rascals.

It was low tide and we were strolling along the beach out in front of the 486-ton white rock looking for interesting stones and shells. Although I heard no sound other than the light lapping of waves, I started to get an odd sense – as if we were being followed.

I stopped suddenly, turned around and saw one lone crow following in my footsteps as I picked up and discarded unwanted stones. My sudden stop and about-face caused this crow to stop suddenly as well, and he seemed to look around as if to ask, “What’s wrong – is someone following us?” It was a comical moment and I began to wonder if there was more to crows than I’d previously noticed.

Shortly after that day, we noticed a particular crow near our own home. He had a broken beak but it never seemed to prevent him from hunting for food and having success. We named him “Brokebeak” and began throwing a few peanuts out for him and a couple of his pals.

About this time, we also embarked on an intensive walking program to both lose weight and get in better shape. Our walks would usually take us from our East Beach location heading west along the White Rock Beach promenade, all the way uphill on Oxford Street, then east on 16 Avenue into town where we would stop sometimes for a cold drink before continuing the trek back home.

What we noticed when we reached the alley leading to our home – and with still about one kilometre to go – was the sudden appearance of our new friends. I commented that they seemed to recognize us. Ric threw them some peanuts that he had in his pocket and they dove for them.

Yes, they had recognized us as we’ve since learned. They can recognize faces and they know people who are kind to crows and those who aren’t. While they can be both thieves and pranksters (more on that to follow), they also demonstrate a lot of intelligence.

They tend to follow us some distance when we go for walks – even as far as the White Rock pier or farther. Often Ric has gone out among the tidal pools at low tide with his tripod and camera, and our feathered friends will show up, patiently waiting for treats to follow after he takes his pictures.

cool-photographer

Our crow pals also seem to watch the house, and when they spot our car pulling out, they swoop in and fly along beside the car to get our attention. They’ll often fly along side until they get their peanut rations. And they also watch for us to return home. But we have one rule: if they’re noisy, they get no reward. Only quiet birds get treats.

8″x 8″ acid-free matted print of Edgar Allen Crow in a 12.25″ x 12.25″ black aluminum frame  (ABOVE)
$135 all taxes included
8″x 8″ acid-free matted print of Edgar Allen Crow in a 14″ x 14″ black MDF frame (BELOW)
$125 all taxes included

Just the 8"x 8" print – $19 all taxes included.

Both of these ready-to-hang framed prints are in stock and ready to purchase from

We don’t expect everyone to share our love of crows, but there’s no denying their intelligence and cleverness. While that might not encourage affection, it should at least afford them a bit of respect.

8″x 8″ acid-free matted print of Edgar Allen Crow in a 14″ x 14″ black MDF frame (ABOVE)
$125 all taxes included
Just the 8"x 8" print – $19 all taxes included.

This ready-to-hang framed print is in stock and ready to purchase from

8″x 8″ acid-free matted print of Edgar Allen Crow in a 12.25″ x 12.25″ black aluminum frame  (ABOVE)
$135 all taxes included
8″x 8″ acid-free matted print of Edgar Allen Crow in a 14″ x 14″ black MDF frame (BELOW)
$125 all taxes included

Just the 8"x 8" print – $19 all taxes included.

Both of these ready-to-hang framed prints are in stock and ready to purchase from

Filed Under: Postcards, White Rock Beach gallery Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,