Racism Shadows White Rock Byelection Campaign
Two White Rock city council candidates say their recent election experience revealed an ugly undercurrent of racism in the community.
The September 27 byelection — held to fill the council seats vacated by Ernie Klassen and Michele Partridge — saw Anthony Manning and Susan Bains elected from 21 contenders. Among those who ran was lawyer Jas Singh Dhaliwal, who grew up in South Surrey and hoped to represent the people of White Rock.
After launching his campaign online, Dhaliwal said he was hit with a wave of hateful comments. On his Jas 4 White Rock Facebook page, some users posted slurs telling him to “get out of my country” and even shared memes saying “Let the Deportations Begin.”
“These remarks weren’t about my ideas or policies,” Dhaliwal wrote later. “They judged me for my identity.”
Dhaliwal said the experience left him shaken, making him question how he’s perceived in public spaces. “Now when someone looks at me, I wonder what they’re thinking. It’s scary.” He ultimately placed 20th in the race but said he’s proud of having stepped forward despite the hate.
Fellow candidate Susan Bains, who is South Asian and was elected to council, said she didn’t receive abuse to the same degree but always felt the possibility of racism lingering. “You see it in community chat groups — subtle comments about Indian restaurants or accents. It’s uncomfortable and unnecessary,” she said. “These are people opening businesses and adding to the city.”
Experts say the trend isn’t isolated. University of British Columbia political scientist Terri Givens described such rhetoric as “an infection from the south,” noting that economic frustration and anti-immigrant sentiment have emboldened prejudice across North America.
“Canada is a country built on immigration,” Givens said. “Our leaders must stand up for inclusivity and remind people that diversity is our strength.”
Both Bains and Dhaliwal agree education and open dialogue are key to tackling discrimination. “We can’t change everyone’s mind,” Bains said, “but we can keep saying — this is not acceptable.”
Dhaliwal remains unsure whether he’ll run for office again, but he hopes people learn to see beyond race. “Maybe one day,” he said, “we’ll build a kinder world.”
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