The City of White Rock has approved an ‘Amazing Race’-style of event for 2014.
Council voted unanimously Nov. 4 to include The Great White Rock Race in next year’s special-events schedule.
Proposed by Tracy Wattie of Prizebox Entertainment for a Saturday in April, the scavenger-hunt-type race is to take place throughout White Rock, with participants all starting from one location then using their smartphones to answer clues to identify the next site.
The hunt would take participants to White Rock businesses and landmarks, various waterfront locations and more, leisure services director Eric Stepura told council, in recommending the event’s approval.
“It’s a really good opportunity for people to learn a lot about White Rock,” Stepura said.
Stepura said the race will be held in addition to other new-to-White-Rock events that made 2013 a busy year, including Irish Heritage Days, the Moon Festival and International Artist Day.
He recommended one other event proposed for White Rock next year be rejected – a weekend-long St. Patrick’s Day Festival suggested by Paul McDonough of Jimmy Flynn’s Celtic Snug.
Location is the issue, Stepura said.
The festival was proposed to take place March 15-17 in the parking lot across from the restaurant, in the 15000-block of Marine Drive. In a report, Stepura notes the pay-parking revenue loss would be “considerable” and that closure of the parking lot “could have unintended consequences to nearby businesses that rely on proximity parking for their patrons and to pier visitors.”
“We feel we cannot support that event just based on the impact it would have on surrounding merchants,” he told council.