January
Al Cleaver, a former fire chief of Surrey who championed the city’s history and heritage, passes away at the age of 88. Cleaver retired as fire chief in 1986 after serving 28 years.
Off-duty police Sgt. Derek King saves a grandmother and a little girl when he sees smoke and flames erupting from a home in Clayton. He knocks on the door, alerts the grandmother, then goes from room to room, scooping up the toddler to safety. In November, King is awarded an Award of Valour from the Ministry of Justice.
February
MarketPlace IGA in Cloverdale closes after 19 years as the anchor store at Clover Square Village, leaving downtown residents who don’t drive without a full-service grocery store. A replacement is in the wings but there will be a gap in service for months.
April
Due to budgetary constraints, the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association announces it will nix two signature community events for the year: The Cloverdale Blueberry Festival and the annual Halloween costume parade.
Bombarded by aerial spraying by early-morning helicopter to combat the destructive gypsy moth, some Cloverdale residents say they’re concerned with the biological agent being used on more than 4,500 hectares in Surrey, prompting a petition. In December, the treatment is declared a success.
May
One of Surrey’s oldest buildings, the Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1471, built in 1891, is torn down by the city, despite being set aside for heritage preservation and restoration after being relocated to Surrey Centre Cemetery decades ago.
June
Members of the Vancouver Lego Club use one million plastic bricks to portray 20 millennia of Fraser Valley history an imagination-filled extravaganza at the Surrey Museum. Six minutely detailed dioramas form Lego: A Fraser Valley Odyssey, which runs from June 2 to Sept. 19, telling the story of the Fraser Valley’s prehistoric past, bustling present and post-dystopic future.
Jim and Nola Mason retire from Masons Cloverdale Home Furnishings, selling the business to son, Derek.
July
Colin Hill, a 42-year old Cloverdale father is killed by an intruder police say attempted to break into his home.
August
The Cloverdale Legion announces plans to renovate and upgrade Branch 6 after receiving word of a $152,000 federal grant through the federal Canada 150 Community Infrastructure program.
Overall, the modernization project has a budget of $310,000.
September
Cloverdale couple Kevin Holbeche and Michelle Shimizu take a decidedly Canadian approach to their recent nuptials: Exchanging their wedding vows at centre ice at South Surrey Arena.
There are 100 guests at the hockey-themed wedding.
October
Voters in the newly formed riding of Cloverdale-Langley City go with the national flow on election night, electing Liberal John Aldag to be their representative in Ottawa.
December
Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino re-opens as Elements Casino following a multimillion dollar upgrade offering new dining and live entertainment options.
The Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society kicks off a fundraising drive for the Bill Reid Memorial Shelter in Cloverdale projected to open in spring 2017.
– Cloverdale Reporter
