The first time White Rock Council heard about promoter Brooke Colby鈥檚 plans for a at the city鈥檚 storm-ravaged pier was through the media.
Mayor Darryl Walker said he鈥檇 heard nothing about the event when contacted by Peace Arch News Dec. 31, after Colby鈥檚 company had emailed a media release about a bid to have a member of Robbie Knievel鈥檚 (son of the legendary Evel Knievel) 鈥楾eam Knievel鈥� 鈥渏ump the gap left in the pier.鈥�
鈥�(The plan) makes absolutely no sense at all,鈥� was Walker鈥檚 reaction at the time. 鈥淚 doubt very much that we鈥檇 even consider it.鈥�
When Colby appeared before council to pitch the event on Monday night it was partly to apologize for announcing it prematurely, without checking with the city first, and partly to explain the jump would not, in fact, take place on the pier itself.
But he held to his claim that the cable network-oriented event 鈥� which he explained would be a jump on the sand beside the pier at low tide to simulate jumping the gap itself 鈥� would be a marketing bonanza for the city鈥檚 waterfront.
鈥淚 want to apologize for the event jumping out of the gate a little quickly,鈥� Colby told council Monday, adding the plan involves Knievel and several other members of his team, with motorcyclist Cole Freeman doing the actual jump.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not, actually, going to jump the broken part of the pier,鈥� he told council, adding, 鈥淭hese guys like to stay alive.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 all just like, when they鈥檙e in Las Vegas, and they鈥檙e jumping over the Caesar鈥檚 Palace fountains 鈥� they鈥檙e not really.
鈥淭hey jump a long way and they break a world鈥檚 record, but it鈥檚 all about just making money for the beach. It鈥檚 all sponsored, paid for by a lot of viewers, from Fox Network and Red Bull 鈥� I鈥檝e a list a mile long.鈥�
Walker told PAN Wednesday that although nothing Colby said Monday had swayed his initial opinion, he was more prepared to consider the idea.
鈥淚t seemed like an interesting subject to get a little more information on,鈥� he said.
Walker said his intention generally is to meet with people who have ideas to contribute to the city, particularly if it鈥檚 something that 鈥減uts White Rock a little bit more on the map.鈥�
鈥淚f he wants to come in with a proposal, it would be unfair of us not to listen,鈥� he said.
Colby said Monday all he needed to know was that the city was not too upset with him for 鈥渓etting it go to the media too quickly.
鈥淲e want to work together with you guys when the pier re-opens. It鈥檚 a family event, it鈥檚 like the Harlem Globetrotters coming to town.鈥�
Colby also noted the planned event would be non-profit.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to contribute 鈥� I don鈥檛 care what it takes to make that beach busy again. We want to make it look busy and pretty like it always was when we were children here.鈥�
Colby, son of late former South Surrey White Rock Chamber of Commerce executive director Larry Colby, has garnered headlines before.
In the 2014 civic election he announced a bid to challenge then-incumbent Wayne Baldwin for the mayor鈥檚 chair but was due to a personal health problem.
In 2017 he was one of the at a waterfront restaurant that would have featured male exotic dancers. The event had its Liquor Control and Licensing Branch special event permit licence revoked because no adult entertainment zoning was in place, which ultimately led to the exotic dancing portion of the program being moved to a private residence.
Colby told council he wanted to have a meeting with Walker to further discuss the event, 鈥渁s soon as we have our vision plan ready.鈥�
鈥淟isten, I鈥檒l meet with darn near anybody,鈥� said Walker, to laughter from residents attending the meeting.
