“It’s very clear that my independence is resonating loudly with people around Surrey-White Rock who are tired of being taken advantage of,” Megan Knight told DESIBUZZCanada Friday. “It’s unfortunate the Surrey Board of Trade organizers are out of step with what the voters of Surrey-White Rock are looking for.” The former White Rock city councillor Knight was forced to go the independent route after BC Liberals decided to forgo the heated nomination meeting and decided to appoint party insider Trevor Halford as their candidate to replace the outgoing Tracy Redies.

By PD Raj With News Files

SURREY – Surrey-White Rock independent candidate Megan Knight is miffed with the Surrey Board of trade which didn’t her to all candidates debate this week.

“It’s very clear that my independence is resonating loudly with people around Surrey-White Rock who are tired of being taken advantage of,” Knight told DESIBUZZCanada Friday. “It’s unfortunate the Surrey Board of Trade organizers are out of step with what the voters of Surrey-White Rock are looking for.”

The former White Rock city councillor Knight was forced to go the independent route after BC Liberals decided to forgo the heated nomination meeting and decided to appoint party insider Trevor Halford as their candidate to replace the outgoing Tracy Redies.

Knight has been outspoken in her belief that the BC Liberals were not interested in an open nomination that also had failed former candidate Gurminder Parihar in the ring. She said Halford’s nod was pre-determined.

 “The fix was in,” Knight told Peace Arch News earlier.

Knight said she suspected something was off about a week after she filed her paperwork on Aug. 26. Knight said she called multiple times to get information about her application but was given the runaround.

“It was just a tap dance every day. Finally, I figured something was up,” she told Peace Arch News.

Knight then asked Gordie Hogg, a former BC Liberal MLA for Surrey-White Rock, to look into it, as well as Tracy Redies, who most recently held the seat.

She learned that the problem was not with the local riding association, but head office.

“I want a fair shot. The gist I got from people in the know is that they don’t want to take that chance of (Halford) going against me. If it was guaranteed to him, and if it was a nomination process, there might be a problem,” Knight said.

Knight, who said she wasn’t told by the party why she didn’t receive the green-light, told Peace Arch News she was shocked and disappointed by the process and how she’s been treated.

 “I would have loved to run under the Liberal banner, but now I’ve got a taste of how the big boys play… I just… wow. It made my stomach sick,” Knight said.

A frustrated Knight decided to run independently after consulting with her team and as a message to the BC Liberals party that they should follow the democratic process and not waste potential candidates’ time in first allowing a nomination and then putting their preferred candidate in the riding.

Knight is 58 years old and have lived in the White Rock area since 1979.

“I am married to Gary Holowaychuk and we have a blended family of 5 children and 4 grandchildren. We have raised our family here. I graduated from Semiahmoo high school and our kids graduated from Semiahmoo and Earl Marriott. I grew up in a very large family of 14 children in Cloverdale, BC where my father was the RCMP officer in charge of Surrey,” reads her bio

“I graduated from UBC and was commissioned as a British Columbia Notary Public and have practiced in the South Surrey/White Rock area since 1998. I sit on the Audit committee of the Society of Notaries Public of BC and have contributed to the mentorship program for new Notaries.”

Knight was elected City Councillor with the City of White Rock (2014-2018). Chair of the Finance & Audit committee, and served on Environmental Advisory, Governance & Legislation, Land Use and Planning, Peace Arch Hospital Foundation (alt), Fraser Health, Sources BC, Seniors Advisory, Metro Vancouver (alt), Vice Chair of Memorial Park, All Ages/Abilities Generations Park, External Communications, Chair of Grants in Aid, Outstanding Canadians on the Peninsula, Parcel Tax Roll. She currently serves on the Sources Foundation Board. She has also served on the Fraser Valley Regional Library Board and the Tour de White Rock Board.

“With 41 years in the community I have been involved in many different activities. To name a few I have always been involved in sports, either playing, coaching or assisting. I have participated in the Sandcastle competition, Sea Festival events, Torchlight parade, the Great pumpkin walk, Coldest night walk, Picnic on the pier, Canada day at the Bay and Tour de White Rock. I am a judge for the White Rock Youth Ambassadors. I have had the privilege of being part of the opening ceremonies for numerous places, like the Farmers Market, Spray park in Memorial Park, Picnic on the Pier and Generations Park. I attended the Totem raising at Peace Arch Park and was asked to be a Witness. I attend most functions for fundraising for our Hospital, Sources, Cancer and Red Serge. I have been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for many years.

“We are facing many challenges with Covid 19, we have a deficit of 13 billion and there needs to be fiscal responsibility in Victoria. Our most vulnerable need decent care. Small businesses need to stay open and our workers want to keep working. The cost of living is climbing and housing affordability is dire. There is a lot happening and it can’t be solved overnight. With my long record of public service and small business ownership, I have the experience to tackle these issues. I’m a hard worker and a good listener. Let me work for you and be your representative in Victoria.”