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Mayor and Council
Meet your Mayor and Council
Local government in the City of White Rock is provided by one (1) Mayor and six (6) Councillors. Members of Council are elected for four-year terms by the citizens of White Rock.
Connect with White Rock City Council by sending an email to whiterockcouncil@whiterockcity.ca
Mayor Megan Knight
Mayor Megan Knight was elected as Mayor of the City of White Rock in 2022 and previously served on White Rock City Council as a Councillor from 2014-2018.
Mayor Knight has lived in the White Rock area since 1979. She graduated from Semiahmoo High School, completed her education at the University of British Columbia, and was subsequently commissioned as a British Columbia Notary Public. She has had her Notary practice in the White Rock area since 1998.
With 43 years in the community, Mayor Knight has a long record of public service and small business ownership. In 2022, she was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medallion for community service. She serves on the Sources Foundation Board, Society of Notaries Public of BC Board, Notary Foundation Board, and has also served on the boards of the Fraser Valley Regional Library Board and the Tour de White Rock.
Contact:
mknight@whiterockcity.ca
P: 604-541-2131
C: 778-867-8639
Councillor David Chesney
Councillor David Chesney was re-elected to White Rock City Council in 2022. He has been a resident of White Rock for over 30 years and has served as a Councillor with the City since 2014.
The Councillor has three decades of experience in the arts, entertainment, and media. In 2005, Councillor Chesney created Canada’s First Internet Newspaper the White Rock Sun.
During his term in office, Councillor Chesney used his background in marketing and media to help grow Tour de White Rock, one of the City’s longest running special events that attracts top cycling talent from around the world to White Rock.
As an avid supporter of the arts, culture, and music industry, Councillor Chesney has also served on the City’s Cultural Advisory and Public Arts committees.
Contact:
dchesney@whiterockcity.ca
C: 604-356-3791
Councillor Elaine Cheung
Councillor Elaine Cheung was elected to White Rock City Council in 2022. She is a multi-faceted and impactful leader with a wealth of experience in business, personal growth, and community development.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Councillor Cheung is highly active in arts-focused organizations. She was part of White Rock City’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, the filming committee, the co-organizer of the former Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance and is one the producers for the popular White Rock Pride Family Day events.
Councillor Cheung’s company ‘Hilarapy’ was the winner of the South Surrey Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year for Supporter of the Arts in 2019 and 2022 and she was one of five finalists for Business Owner of the Year 2021.
She also volunteers her time on non-profit boards such as the Peninsula Community Foundation, LMLGA, Divine Love Sanctuary Foundation, and is a volunteer for numerous programs offered by the Peace Arch Hospice Society.
Contact:
echeung@whiterockcity.ca
C: 778-222-3972
Councillor Ernie Klassen
Councillor Ernie Klassen was elected to White Rock City Council in 2022. Born and raised in Abbotsford, his parents were refugees coming to Canada after the Second World War. He grew up on a farm with 6 siblings, living on a farm in a small 3-bedroom 1 bathroom house.
Councillor Klassen has lived in many places including Pennsylvania, and Santa Barbara. In 1997, he moved to Vancouver and started Ashberry and Logan, opening a 2nd location in White Rock in 2002 which he has owned and operated ever since. Currently he lives in White Rock with his husband. His family includes three children, their spouses and two grandchildren. He has five surviving siblings, and a large extended family.
Councillor Klassen has always been involved in the community, volunteering for many groups and donating time and merchandise whenever possible. He formed and operated the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre. He was also the treasurer and board president for the White Rock Business Improvement Association for 7 years.
Contact:
eklassen@whiterockcity.ca
C: 778-222-5031
Councillor Bill Lawrence
Councillor Bill Lawrence was re-elected to a third term to the White Rock City Council in 2022. He previously served from 2012-2018 and has lived and worked in White Rock for 35 years.
Councillor Lawrence has an MBA and a B.Sc. in Biochemistry.
Councillor Lawrence was a founding member and past president of the White Rock Business Improvement Association (BIA). He is also past-vice president of the Semiahmoo Community Safety Society, of which he served as a board member for 11 years.
On Council, he was the chairperson for the Tourism White Rock Board of Directors and served on many other committees including the White Rock BIA.
Contact:
blawrence@whiterockcity.ca
C: 778-222-3529
Councillor Michele Partridge
Councillor Michele Partridge was elected to White Rock City Council in 2022. She is an award-winning local business owner, acting instructor, public speaking and media coach, and a well-known leader in numerous community groups.
Councillor Partridge moved to White Rock with her husband and two children over 20 years ago and built a successful performing arts business (The Drama Class). She sold TDC during COVID and still teaches online worldwide. In 2017, she co-founded the Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance, an organization that supports local artists and promotes arts and culture-related businesses and tourism.
Councillor Partridge has served on multiple boards, advisory committees, groups and associations including the White Rock Business Improvement Association, Soroptimists International of White Rock, the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, and the Economic Development Advisory Committee for the City of White Rock. She currently is the Chair of the Public Art and Culture Advisory Committee.
Contact:
mpartridge@whiterockcity.ca
C: 778-222-4992
Councillor Christopher Trevelyan
Councillor Christopher Trevelyan is in his second term as White Rock City Councillor after being re-elected in 2022. He moved to White Rock in 1992 and graduated from Earl Marriott Secondary School. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in History and later a PDP teaching certificate at Simon Fraser University. Christopher also attended Arizona State University.
After completing University, he returned to Earl Marriott where he teaches history, economics, and politics. He is also a qualified special education teacher. Christopher has also worked as a writer, researcher, and editor for Indus Media Foundation, which promotes the role of Punjabi soldiers during the First World War. In addition, he has collaborated with organizations such as LiveMint, and the BBC.
In 2003, Councillor Trevelyan was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal by the Lt.Governor of BC for volunteer work. Councillor Trevelyan is married with three children and feels blessed to be able to raise his young family in White Rock. His hobbies include history, classic cars, music, and camping.
Contact:
ctrevelyan@whiterockcity.ca
C: 778-867-0267
Role of Council
The main functions of a municipal council are to look after the current and future economic, social and environmental well being of its community. Council’s primary duties are to create administrative policy, adopt bylaws on matters delegated to local government through the Local Government Act and other Provincial statutes to protect the public, and to collect taxes for those purposes.
Council also acquires, manages, and disposes of the City’s assets. Council’s vision sets a course of action, and charts goals that are accomplished by municipal staff under the direction of the Chief Administrative Officer.
Under the Community Charter and Local Government Act, municipalities and regional districts have broad authority to provide services that their respective municipal councils or regional district boards consider necessary or desirable. Services may be varied both in size and type, for example, water and wastewater management, garbage disposal, recreational facilities or economic development. (Local Government Powers & Services)