NEWS 3
How to help refugee kids
NEWS 11
The art of quilting lives on
SPORTS 28
Wrestling family in the spotlight
5
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2016
EDUCATION
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
There’s more at Burnabynow.com
SEE PAGE 13
CITY COLOURS
$5M bonus in school budget By Cornelia Naylor
cnaylor@burnabynow.com
Higher than expected enrolment and international student fees in the Burnaby school district will bring in $5 million more in funding than anticipated this year, according to an amended budget approved Tuesday. Compared to the preliminary budget passed in April, the updated financial plan shows about 194 more students than projected enrolled in regular programs this year, along with 164 more than expected students with special needs. That helped push the district’s total provincial operating grant $1.6 million higher than projected in the original budget. International student fees, meanwhile, were nearly $3 million higher than expected thanks to 188 more international students enrolling in the district than anticipated. The district’s expenses are also up in the amended budget by nearly $3 million, thanks mostly to salary-cost increases, including teacher and support staff raises and 13 more teaching positions than in the original budget. Last April, the district projected an over $3.6-million operating deficit for the 2015/16 school year. With the higher than expected revenues, that deficit has been cut to just over $1.9 million in the amended budget. The gap will be covered with some of the nearly $10 million the district has in surplus accounts, leaving local schools with just over $7.3 million in reserves.
IN THE INDIGO: Chieko Chijiwa, left, and Yukiko Yosa, with seven-year-old Sophia, try their hand at indigo dyeing in a workshop at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre on Sunday. The Nikkei Centre held the aizome workshop to introduce people to the centuries-old technique that produces the distinctive colour sometimes known as “Japan blue.” See more photos online at www.burnabynow.com. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
Lee says hospital in works – but NDP doubts it By Jeremy Deutsch
jdeutsch@burnabynow.com
A new or refurbished Burnaby Hospital is still in the works according to the city’s lone Liberal MLA, but critics won’t be holding
their breath. Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee said he spoke with the Minister of Health recently and was told there was a location for the new hospital and the project would start in the next three
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years. He said there is $4 million in funding for the planning process of new hospital, which would be located at the current site. Lee noted a new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancou-
ver and the redevelopment of Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster are ahead of a new hospital for Burnaby. “The planning itself is very fluid right now, at this stage, depending on how
the project for St. Paul’s and Royal Columbian are going,” he told the NOW. “I firmly believe this is coming and it’s in stages coming.” Lee also suggested there might be adjustments to the capital plan for the hospital
in an effort to try and avoid overlapping services with the two new hospitals in the region. Last week, the NDP’s Kathy Corrigan was critical Continued on page 8
COFFEE WITH RICHARD! Saturday, February 27 9:00 - 10:30 am Caffe Artigiano 4359 Hastings, Burnaby
I hope to see you there!
Richard T. Lee MLA Burnaby North
604.775.0778
Richard.Lee.MLA@leg.bc.ca www.richardleemla.bc.ca