Big changes are coming to three Burnaby neighbourhoods as new community plans are in the works
The city is about to launch a public consultation phase to get feedback on how residents think the Edmonds, Royal Oak and Cascade Heights (which is beside Burnaby Hospital) neighbourhoods should develop.
The master plans will act as a policy guide for the future of the neighbourhoods’ goals in housing, transportation (like roads, bus routes and public spaces), park space, employment and business, and climate action
The plans offer suggested boundaries for each of the neighbourhoods, but they’re not set in stone at this point the borders for each neighbourhood will be further shaped during the consultations.
The city estimates the timeline for the community plans to run as follows:
Continued on page 3
Lawyer at trial of man accused of murder raises possibility sex with 13-year-old victim was consensual
CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow comThe issue of sexual assault emerged as a “key” issue for the defence at the trial of a man accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl found dead in a Burnaby park six years ago.
During his cross-examination of forensic pathologist Dr. Jason Morin at the trial of Ibrahim Ali Tuesday, defence lawyer Ben Lynskey suggested consensual sex could have been the source of injuries to the victim’s genital region and semen found inside her body.
Ibrahim Ali is on trial in B.C. Supreme Court for first-degree murder in the death of the teen, whose body was found in Central Park on July 19, 2017, less than two hours after her family reported her miss-
ing
Ali has pleaded not guilty
The victim’s identity is protected by a publication ban
Last week, Crown prosecutor Isobel Keeley took Morin and the jury through findings in his autopsy report, including injuries to the victim’s vagina, anus and rectum.
Morin testified he had also found semen inside the girl.
He said he had focused attention on certain clothing and areas of the body because background information supplied by police and his own “initial observations” suggested the victim might have been sexually assaulted.
But Lynskey objected, saying Morin shouldn’t be allowed to share his opinion on whether there had
been a sexual assault because that wasn’t his area of expertise.
He went on to say sexual assault is “one of the key issues in the case” for the defence.
Justice Lance Bernard overruled the objection,
saying Morin had only talked about the possibility of a sexual assault
This week, however, Lynskey returned to the topic during cross-examinationTuesday, challenging Morin on the “initial observations” he had refer-
enced earlier.
Lynskey noted the injuries could have happened during consensual sex, and Morin agreed.
“You can’t say whether these injuries, in isolation, were the result of forced or non-forced intercourse, fair?” Lynskey asked.
“Correct. I can’t say the characteristics of the injuries themselves allow me to make any distinction,” Morin said.
Lynskey also noted there was no way for Morin to know whether the vaginal, anal and rectal injuries had happened at the same time as “any sort of strangulation or anything else.”
“You weren’t present when the deceased had sex?” Lynskey asked “I was not ” “And you obviously weren’t present at the time of their death?”
“I was not.”
“And you can’t say how many people the deceased had sex with, whether it was one, multiple, as part of the same incident – you don’t know, right?”
“Correct. I can’t make comment on that.”
At one point Lynskey went so far as to suggest Morin was “favouring the Crown” in his characterization of a possible injury to the victim’s cervix
“You’re straining to find evidence of a sexual injury since you know that’s the Crown’s theory,” he said
“I don’t agree with you,” Morin replied
The Crown’s theory is that Ali attacked the 13-year-old in Central Park, dragged her into the forest and strangled her while sexually assaulting her
The trial continues
wPhase 1 (spring-summer 2023): Preliminary engagement
wPhase 2 (fall 2023-winter 2024): Draft plan, seeking input on a draft with a general structure
wPhase 3 (summer 2024): Detailed draft plan, final consultation phase
wPlan adoption (fall 2024)
The Cascade Heights plan could be completed earlier (around summer 2024) due to its smaller size, depending on public engagement in Phase 1
While Edmonds is a
town centre, Royal Oak and Cascade Heights are designated as “urban villages” which are communities that act as a bridge between high-density town centres and singlefamily neighbourhoods
The city has plans for Edmonds and Royal Oak to incorporate “creative employment use” areas intended to foster “a range of creative economy or creative employment uses,” for places like arts and craft studios, workshops, galleries, smallbatch manufacturers and
flex-industrial spaces
The report says creative employment uses are “expected to be environmentally friendly and non-disruptive.”
Cascade Heights could see specialized housing for hospital staff and daycare spaces prioritized near the hospital.
Council will review the plans at its next meeting in June before officially heading
Edmonds land usE
The Edmonds neighbourhood, one of Burn-
aby’s four major town centres, is at 908 acres the largest geographical town centre in the city
In a report, staff noted it’s one of the most diverse neighbourhoods in the city
Edmonds, Burnaby’s first downtown and home to the first municipal hall at Kingsway and Edmonds Street, “was and is a major hub of activity in the city,” according to the report
The city says a “more contemporary urban fabric for Edmonds was identified,” with three defined
areas, or “nodes”:
wTheTown Centre Node: Kingsway and Edmonds Street potential building heights from 35 to 50 or more storeys
wThe Station Area Node: around the Edmonds SkyTrain station potential building heights from 20 to 40 storeys
wThe SouthgateVillage Node: at the Southgate development in the southeast of Edmonds potential building heights in the mid 40-storeys range
At this stage, all nodes would likely see high-den-
sity residential and mixeduse buildings, while the Kingsway corridor would see medium-density, midrise buildings.
Other residential areas in Edmonds would include low to midrise apartments, as well as “missing middle” housing like townhomes and rowhomes.
Part of the neighbourhood is currently designated as industrial use, and public consultation will ask whether it should remain that way or if “alternative uses may be considered.”
CROSS-EXAMINATION: A defence lawyer is challenging the prosecution’s version of events in the 2017 slaying of a 13-year-old girl in Burnaby. PHOTO Cornelia naylorBurnaby City Council hereby gives notice that it will hold a Public Hearing to receive representations in connection with proposed amendments to “Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965”
1) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No 7, 2023 - Bylaw No 14563
Rez. #22-15
7000 Lougheed Highway
From: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on C1 Neighbourhood Commercial District, C2h Community Commercial District, M5 Light Industrial District, and P2 Administration and Assembly District as guidelines) and R2 Residential District
To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM5uv-a Multiple Family Residential District, C2 Community Commercial District, M2 General Industrial District, P5 Community Institutional District and the Bainbridge Urban Village Community Plan as guidelines, and in accordance with the development plan entitled “Burnaby Lake Heights Urban Village Master Plan” prepared by 7000 Lougheed Limited Partnership (Create))
Purpose: to establish a Conceptual Master Plan and Design Guidelines for the Burnaby Lake Heights Site in order to guide further site specific rezoning applications over time, for the construction of a high-density multi-phased residential and commercial mixed-use development. No specific development is being proposed by the subject rezoning application
Applicant: Create Urban Development Corporation
2) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No. 8, 2023 - Bylaw No. 14564
Rez. #22-28
6800 Lougheed Highway
From: M2 General Industrial District and R2 Residential District
To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM5uv-a Multiple Family Residential District, C2 Community Commercial District, M2 General Industrial District, P5 Community Institutional District and the Bainbridge Urban Village Community Plan as guidelines, and in accordance with the development plan entitled “Burnaby Lake Village at 6800 Lougheed Highway” prepared by Sperling Limited Partnership)
Purpose: to establish a Conceptual Master Plan and Design Guidelines for the Burnaby Lake Village Site in order to guide further site specific rezoning applications over time, for the construction of a high-density multi-phased residential and commercial mixed-use development. No specific development is being proposed by the subject rezoning application
Applicant: Sperling Limited Partnership
All persons who believe they are affected by a proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard:
1. PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON
2. SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO COUNCIL
• email: legislativeservices@burnaby ca
• mail: Mayor & Council, c/o Legislative Services, 4949 Canada Way
• fill out the webform: Burnaby ca/PublicHearings
3. PARTICIPATE LIVE THROUGH A ZOOM WEBINAR
• see details and instructions on City’s website (Burnaby ca/PublicHearings)
4. WATCH THE PUBLIC HEARING LIVE
• via live webcast at Burnaby ca
3) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No. 9, 2023 - Bylaw No. 14565 Rez. #20-32 7252, 7264, 7282 Kingsway and 7255 Edmonds Street
From: P2 Administration and Assembly District, P3 Park and Public Use District, and Comprehensive Development District
To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM5s Multiple Family Residential District, RM5r Multiple Family Residential District, C3 General Commercial District, P3 Park and Public Use District, and in accordance with master plan entitled “Kingsway & Edmonds Conceptual Master Plan” prepared by Urban Strategies Inc., and the Edmonds Town Centre Plan as guidelines)
Purpose: to establish a Conceptual Master Plan and Design Guidelines for the Kingsway and Edmonds Master Plan area, and to specifically apply the Master Plan and Design Guidelines to the subject site through Comprehensive Development zoning. The Conceptual Master Plan and Design Guidelines will guide further site specific rezoning applications for the future construction of a high-density, mixed-use, multi-phased strata, rental, commercial and office development. No specific development is being proposed by the subject rezoning application
Applicant: Aplin and Martin Consultants Ltd.
4) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No. 10, 2023 - Bylaw No. 14566
Rez. #20-35
2300 Madison Avenue and BC Hydro 165 Right-of-Way
From: M1 Manufacturing District and M2 General Industrial District
To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM4s Multiple Family Residential District, RM4r Multiple Family Residential District and the Brentwood Town Centre Development Plan as guidelines, and in accordance with the development plan entitled “Emerald Place” prepared by Buttjes Architecture Inc.)
Purpose: to permit construction of a high-density multiple-family residential development with market strata and non-market rental uses over four phases
Applicant: Polygon Development 366 Ltd.
5) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No 11, 2023 - Bylaw No 14568
TEXT AMENDMENT
Purpose: to expand the list of eligible amenities for Density Bonus and the use of Community Benefit Bonus Reserve
Reports, bylaws, and related information respecting the zoning bylaw amendments are available on the City’s website at Burnaby ca/PublicHearings from May 10, 2023.
Any questions regarding the Public Hearing processes and agenda items may be directed to Legislative Services, 604-294-7290
Please note all submissions must be received by 2:45 pm on the day of the Hearing and contain the writer’s name and address which become a part of the public record.
NO PRESENTATIONS OR SUBMISSIONS WILL BE RECEIVED BY COUNCIL AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
We’ve reached a point where we need to start planning a new City Hall. Today’s hall was built in 1955, around the same time the last interurban tram ran through Burnaby
If I had my way – and I believe many staff feel the same – we’d stay at the current City Hall indefinitely Unfortunately, the building has reached a point where we must take significant action in the near term to either upgrade the current building or build something new.
To stay where we are, we will soon need to spend about $70m for upgrades. And despite this huge cost it would only bring the building up to 60% of building code and wouldn’t meet full seismic requirements. Simply put, the responsible thing to do from a fiscal perspective and for the sake of our staff and the public is to begin planning for a new City Hall.
A project like this has many steps. Even if we start today, a new City Hall is many years off, perhaps 7-10 years.
If we rebuild, we’ll take advantage of the opportunity to build something that meets the needs of our growing community We’ll build it with the customer at top of mind. We’ll make sure it’s fully accessible (today’s City Hall has
15 stairs leading to its front doors) and sustainable And we’ll bring City staff (and the services they provide) who have been spread across multiple locations together under one roof
We’ll create a welcoming, dynamic place We’ll ensure there’s easy parking if you come by car, and easy access if you come by transit or on foot. We’ll make it a great place to do business and feel connected to your local government.
If we rebuild, the good news is we can do it without any cost to the taxpayer. It would be funded entirely
TAKE NOTICE THAT the City of Burnaby gives notice that it intends to grant two statutory rights of way (the “SRWs”) over City-owned property located at 3986 Norland Avenue and 4100 Ledger Avenue, Burnaby, B.C and legally described as PID: 030-708-958, Lot 1 District Lot 79 Group 1 New Westminster District Plan EPP87920, as follows:
1. to BRITISH COLUMBIA HYDRO AND POWER AUTHORITY (“BC Hydro”), over the 8.3m2 portion as shown on Plan EPP125255; and
2. to TELUS COMMUNICATIONS INC (“Telus”), over the 347.4m2 portion, as shown on Plan EPP125254, in consideration for One Dollar ($1.00) and to provide assistance to BC Hydro and Telus by granting such SRWs for less than market value. The estimated market value for the SRW to BC Hydro is $2,650 and the SRW to Telus is $111,050.
through amenity contributions received from new development.
Before we go any further, though, it’s time to start talking about where a new City Hall might be
We’ll soon be seeking your input on a preferred location, as well as your thoughts about other amenities you’d like to see.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Mayor Mike Hurley
TAKE NOTICE THAT the City of Burnaby intends to grant a statutory right of way (“SRW”) to British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (“BC Hydro”) over an approximately 16m2 portion of City-owned property located at 8305 11th Avenue, legally described as PID: 010-534-580, Lot “C” Block 1 District Lot 25 Group 1 New Westminster District Plan 19669, in consideration for $1.00 and to provide assistance to BC Hydro by granting such SRW for less than market value
The estimated market value for the SRW is $4,700
Burnaby.ca | CityOfBurnaby | 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 1M2
Less than four months after B C was given the ability to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs, there are signs that changes are coming to the policy
After weeks of being slammed by the Opposition during daily question period over the lack of so-called “guardrails” to go with decriminalization, the BC NDP government appeared to have wilted somewhat by the end of the legislative session
While still defending the move to decriminalization as a worthy endeavour, Premier David Eby himself offered a reminder that decriminalization is a pilot project and opened the door for revisiting the entire issue if things don’t work out as planned
More specifically, he agreed that municipalities that are concerned that decriminal-
ization has led to a spike in the use of illegal drugs in public parks and schoolyards need to have those concerns listened to.
“Nobody wants this activity affecting our kids, and we will do something,” he told the legislature on the last day of the session.
What, exactly, or even when that something will happen is not entirely clear If legislation is needed to address the problem of illegal drugs, then it will take a while, since the house doesn’t sit again until the fall People using illegal drugs in parks and playgrounds (in some cases leaving behind their drug paraphernalia) is one of those “unintended consequences” that those socalled “guardrails” were supposed to keep at bay, presumably
As the Opposition BC United party (formerly known as the BC Liberal Party) pushes
away from supporting decriminalization (as it currently stands) and the NDP acknowledges some changes may be required, it is worth noting the latest update on deaths from the opioid crisis
The data from the coroner’s service was another bleak reminder that solving the crisis if it indeed can be “solved” will likely not result from a single change in policy.
During the month of April, 206 British Columbians died from an overdose of illicit drugs (up 17 per cent from the previous April and up four per cent from March).
More than three-quarters of the deaths are men, and illicit fentanyl was present in eight out of 10 deaths so the other pillar of drug policy, the availability of a safe supply of opioids and stimulants for drug users, is not a factor in the deaths, according to Chief
Coroner Lisa Lapointe
B.C.’s decriminalization “pilot” is set to last three years to allow enough time to gather evidence and data to see what’s working and what’s not That means, barring any change to that timeline, it will still be in place when the next provincial election is held in 2024 There is a good chance that drug decriminalization could be a key separation point between the BC NDP and BC United election platforms
Both parties have been advocating for tougher positions when it comes to law and order and public safety issues We shall see whether the decriminalization pilot project can navigate its way through these increasingly storm-tossed political seas KeithBaldreyischiefpoliticalreporter forGlobalBC.
Editor:
I live right by the Royal Oak SkyTrain station, which is one stop away from Edmonds. I can definitely attest to the screeching
I have lived by multiple SkyTrain stations over the years, and the sound from the SkyTrain at this location is the worst I cannot keep my window open at night because of how loud it gets, but summer is coming around, and I have no choice but to try and live with it.
Please reduce the screeching so I can go to bed in peace!
Abhinav Kumar w
For the last five years, I have lived between Brentwood station and Holdom
I understand the comments of “you chose to live close the the track now live with it” However, the noise from the trains has
gotten much louder
The longer trains are louder than the shorter ones. I am grateful that they shut down at night They wake me at 5 a m when they start up.
Good thing I’m an early bird It would be nice to lose the daytime screeching sounds of the trains.
Jocelyne Whittred w
The noise is definitely unbearable Even when riding the train It’s simply torturous to endure!
Rawda Tomoum w
I have lived approximately 150 metres from SkyTrain for 25 years, and the noise is getting more noticeable/annoying.
While travelling on SkyTrain about two weeks ago, I rode on one of the original cars and the noise was absolutely unacceptable One couldn’t even talk to the person next to themselves. I could hardly wait to get off.
Bob RogersThe BurnaBy now welcomes leTTers To The ediTor We do, however, edit for taste, legality and length Please include a phone number where you can be reached Send letters to: The editor, #201a–3430 Brighton ave , Burnaby, B c , V5a 3h4, email to: editorial@burnabynow com (no attachments please) or fax to: 604-444-3460
Letters to the editor and opinion columns may be reproduced on the Burnaby NOW website, www burnabynow com
As we continue into 2023, Burnaby RCMP remains focused on taking a progressive and community-minded approach to policing. We are committed to working with partner agencies and listening to our community as we explore and push for new approaches to complex issues, including mental health response
Staff wellness and cultivating a supportive and healthy workplace culture are also priorities. In 2023 we are expanding our internal and external focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion, as we continue to build meaningful relationships and find new ways to connect with the diverse communities we serve
We would like to thank the City of Burnaby and its citizens for their ongoing support.
MENTAL HEALTH CALLS FOR SERVICE
3,242 TOP VIOLATION TICKETS
CALLS FOR SERVICE IN 2022:
43,754
MOVING OFFENCES
1. Alarm
2. Unspecified assist
3. Check well-being
4. Suspicious circumstances
5. Assault
In July and August our Police Mental Health Outreach Team conducted pro-active well-being checks and handed out over 300 care packages.
VICTIM SERVICES
Offers assistance to victims and survivors of crime
2,490 total files in 2022
300 files supporting intimate partner violence 367 crisis call outs
Total property crime ▲ 8.6%
Total violent crime ▲ 11%
Total sexual offences ▲ 12%
Burnaby.RCMP.ca | @BurnabyRCMP | 6355 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 2J2
Non-emergency Phone: 604-646-9999 | In an emergency, call 9-1-1
A former Burnaby librarian’s commitment and passion to youth literacy is still remembered 10 years after her death.
Julia Nelson was a teen services librarian at Burnaby Public Library from 2010 to 2013. She died in 2013 after a six-month battle with leukemia when she was just 33 years old.
In her honour, the library set up a trust to support its teen services department and a program of teen workshops called Julia’s Studio, which features creative programs for youth aged 13 to 19,
taught by local artists
Julia’s father, Paul Nelson, donates to the fund every year, and this year he will match donations that BPL receives between now and the end of August up to $2,500
Nelson said his daughter’s legacy shines in the creative efforts of Julia’s Studio and expressed his gratitude to the library for keeping Julia’s name going
“The library has advanced it so beautifully. Every year, they’ve enriched it more,” Nelson said
“I think that this outreach that they’re doing, it’s like a new mission of libraries It’s more than just information, it’s commu-
nity connections.”
The Julia’s Studio workshops are free and feature a variety of subjects from watercolour painting, digital drawing and writing to topics like tarot and self-
care.
Nelson sat in on one of the classes for fun some years ago
“It was absolutely wonderful,” he said “And you could see that there were
young people there who were doing something they had never done before ” He added the quality of the artist instructors is wonderful.
When Julia worked for the library, she was the only teen librarian. Now, BPL has four teen librarians in all its branches
Julia, who got her master’s degree at McGill University, had always dreamed of working in NewYork and she realized that goal She worked at a big branch of the New York Public Library in the Bronx, her father said.
She eventually came back to Canada with her husband and worked as a
librarian at the FraserValley Regional Library and the Coquitlam Public Library before coming to Burnaby.
“She was one of three sisters, middle daughter, and she was sort of the creative spark of the family very creative,” her dad said He described Julia as a scholar: in addition to her master’s, she had a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from UBC.
Donations to the Julia NelsonTrust at the library can be made at bpl bc ca/ support-the-library. Select “The Julia NelsonTrust –supportsTeen Services” in the drop-down menu under “Fund.”
AbhinayaNatesh
anatesh@burnabynow com
Keep your picnic blankets and lawn chairs handy as a spectacular
music party is coming to Burnaby this June
Foodstock 2023, a fundraising festival hosted by the GreaterVancouver Food Bank, will take
place on June 18 at Swangard Stadium, bringing the fundraising festivities to Burnaby for the second year.
The festival, slated to be
headlined by Juno Award winners SaidTheWhale, will also have a strong lineup of local talents like Fake Shark, Savannah Read, Dani Camacho and
The ticketed 19+ event will also feature games from Knotty Games and local vendors including Burnaby’s Dageraad Brewing, NewWest’s Pacific BreezeWinery,Vancouver’s Luppolo Brewing, Creme Ice Cream, BurgerHolic and more.
The proceeds from the event sales will go toward feeding those in need inVancouver, Burnaby, NewWestminster and
the North Shore Fifty per cent of all beverage sales and 10 per cent of all food and marketplace sales will be donated to the food bank
Foodstock 2023
When: Sunday, June 18; noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Swangard Stadium (6100 Boundary Rd., Burnaby)
Cost: $33.28; tickets via Eventbrite.ca search for Foodstock 2023
Saturday, May 27 COMMUNITY
The city is hosting a neighbourhood cleanup full of community spirit alongside the Lower Mainland Green Team. Clean up litter and paint yellow fish on storm drains around Ron McLean Park
With members of city council and staff attending, this month’s spring cleaning event will be at Byrne Creek Ravine Park Volunteers will receive a short orientation and go on a short cleanup route with city staff in small groups (equipment will be provided)
The city recommends wearing bright colours for visibility and wearing sunscreen and a hat.
For more information on how to register, see the Meetup page at tinyurl.com/ GreenTeamBurnabyMay2023
WHEN: Saturday, May 27, 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Meet at Ron McLean Park (7820 Hedley Ave.)
COST: Free, register in advance
Saturday, May 27
If you missed last week’s Burnaby Blooms celebration, don’t worry you can check out this micro-event on Burnaby Mountain.
The city is hosting the event with entertainment like
the Wilson-Gibbons Duo and Michelle Carlisle, as well as pre-registered workshops like “Make a Fresh Pansy Wreath” and “Blooming Spring Lanterns”
WHEN: Saturday, May 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area (100 Centennial Way)
COST: Free
Do you need to shred some old tax papers? Pacific Assistance Dogs (PADS) has you covered A donation to PADS will allow you to safely dispose of your confidential documents For more info, see pads ca/shred
WHEN: Saturday, May 27 from 10 a m to 2 p m
WHERE: 9048 Stormont Ave.
COST: By donation
Sunday, May 28
Join the Burnaby Lake Park Association to celebrate the birds of Burnaby Lake. One of Metro Vancouver’s favourite birding locations, the park is located on the Pacific Flyway migratory route and is a stop for all kinds of bird, including seasonal visitors sandhill cranes There will be guided walks throughout the day. If you can, bring a pair of binoculars along to see the birds from far away
WHEN: Sunday, May 28 from 11 a m to 3 p m
WHERERs: Burnaby Lake Regional Park, Piper Spit
COST: Free, for more info see tinyurl com/ BurnabyLakeBirds2023
Common Ground Community Farm is hosting a community farm work day in South Burnaby. You can “share in the labour and the love required to keep this community growing,” and meditate while weeding.
WHEN: Sunday, May 28 from 10 a m to 3 p m
WHERE: Common Ground Community Farm (7354 North Fraser Way)
COST: Free, RSVP online at tinyurl.com/ CGFarmBurnabyMay2023
Compiled by Lauren Vanderdeen
LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com
The Burnaby Blues + Roots festival has announced legendary musi-
cian Buffy Sainte-Marie as this year’s headliner.
Sainte-Marie, a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and activist, is known for her 1964 an-
ti-war anthem Universal Soldier. She was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 and has won multiple awards, including an Acad-
emy Award. This outdoor festival will have food trucks (including the Brownie Bakers, the Jerk Shack, Shameless Buns and more) and a
We have openings, but not for long! Choose from our beautiful one-bedroom suites that boast spectacular Northwest or Southeast views, modern compact kitchens and luxury plank flooring.
Our suites come packaged with our exclusive PARCActive Living™ program, including a well-equipped gym, along with classes, art and cultural programs, chef-prepared cuisine, an onsite Wellness Nurse, complimentary transportation and more. You’ll find comfort and freedom combined – located in the lively urban hub of HighGate in Burnaby These suites start at $4,090 and won’t last!
Call Terrie or Erin today for a tour to see for yourself why Mulberry has been voted the Best Independent Living community in Burnaby.
family zone. Beer and wine service will be available for the 19+ crowd.
With more performances by Grammy-nominated artist Allison Russell; pop, rhythm and blues groupThe Dip; hymn-jammer Boy Golden; Arctic soul bandTheTrade Offs with lyrics blending Inuktitut and English; and more, this year’s festival promises to be one to remember.
This is the first year that the festival will be free.
The event has a capacity of 9,000 attendees and will not be ticketed For more information, see: burnabybluesfestival com
When: Saturday, Aug. 12, gates open at 1 p.m., opening act at 2 p.m., event runs till 10 p.m. Where: Deer Lake Park festival lawn (6450 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby)
Cost: Free admission
More students will have access to housing at Simon Fraser University after the opening of the Courtyard Residence.
The Burnaby post-secondary school says the residence has 369 student rooms and will also be the new home forThe Simon, which provides short-term accommodations for campus visitors
“Affordable on-campus housing is a win-win for everyone because it decreases pressure on the rental housing market while enriching the univer-
sity experience of our students,” SFU president Joy Johnson said in a news release.
“We are excited to welcome nearly 400 additional students to Burnaby campus with the completion of this building and we look forward to continuing our expansion of campus housing in the years to come ”
The Courtyard Residence mainly features single-occupancy rooms for first-year students It includes private shared washrooms, a lounge and kitchen, front desk support, laundry room and multi-functional spaces
The City of Burnaby says a local developer has failed to meet its obligation to help house displaced tenants, and now renters say the very policy designed to protect them has failed
The developer, meanwhile, disputes the city’s account altogether
Tenants were evicted from a three-storey rental
building at 4330 Maywood St in Metrotown last summer
That property has been rezoned to make way for a 24-storey tower, with 28 non-market rental units to replace those in the demolished building The development application was made by Kirpal Properties, and the property is now owned by Madeira Manor Ltd
The City of Burnaby maintains the developer “defaulted” on a policy intended to protect renters displaced by development, and now the city has taken over subsidizing 11 tenants’ rents using a bond posted by the developer
According to city spokesperson Chris Bryan, the developer told the city they would be “unable to pay rental top-ups for any of the 11 tenants in interim housing ”
He added: “The city was advised that the project would not be proceeding and the property would be sold Therefore, we do not know when a new buyer would take over the project and proceed with building the development with the replacement units ”
Burnaby’s tenant assistance policy, orTAP, is intended to support renters during “demovictions,” when purpose-built rental
Continued on page 15
Check out Burnaby Heights –a vibrant community full of amazing shops, renowned restaurants and friendly services… truly one of the best kept secrets of local gems!
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One of the most beloved neighbourhood favourites is The Valley Bakery, which has been serving delectable European baked goods in the Heights for over six decades. Using only the finest of ingredients, Valley Bakery’s selection is beyond compare. Try their delectable cakes, delicious cookies, fresh baked breads and seasonal favourites to name a few Voted Burnaby’s Best Bakery for over 20 years running!
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buildings are demolished to make way for new developments.
It’s been hailed as one of Canada’s best tenant protection policies and was a policy copied inVancouver’s Broadway Plan last year.
The policy requires developers to pay for renters’ interim housing while the rental building is demolished and the new development is under construction.
Developers pay rent topups for the tenants, whose rents prior to demoviction are frequently well below the current market rate, while the tenant pays the
rent they paid before they were displaced The new development must include rental units for the displaced tenants, at the same rent, to replace the demolished units
The developer says it isn’t in default of itsTAP obligations
“We did not say we cannot pay for the (TAP) payments that’s false,” Saahil Kirpal, development manager at Madeira Manor, told the NOW, adding, “There were two tenants that were actively complaining that they’re not receiving their top-ups. And all the rest of the nine (tenants) used to get them. So it came to the point
that they were harassing the city; they were harassing us; and they were harassing our tenant relocator And so, we came to a mutual consensus with the city that the city take over the payments, and we’ll pay them (the city) upfront, so we gave them (the city) all the money upfront ”
Kirpal said the tower project is going “full forward” and is in pre-sales
Kirpal told the NOW the developer paid a bond to the city of $570,000 to secure theTAP when the development application was officially approved by council in 2022
The city says it has
cashed the developer’s bond to pay the tenants’ rent top-ups “as long as the bonding lasts” and has hired a tenant relocation co-ordinator for the renters
Bryan said, “Developers are not allowed to opt out of rental top-ups due to
conflicts with tenants ”
Two of the tenants affected say they have been extremely stressed since the city informed them of the situation, as they were guaranteed housing in the new development and now their future is uncertain
Marcella Zimmer, who lived at the Maywood building for almost a decade, said the stress has taken a toll on her health
“I am so worried it’s just consuming,” Zimmer told the NOW “It’s consuming because you don’t know where you’re going to end up I don’t know what’s going to happen to me And so I’m living dayto-day basically”
LilyWong, another former renter at Maywood, wants to know what will happen after the bond runs out
“What happens if the city cashes in the bond, and they run out of money?”Wong asked
The city is offering Wong and Zimmer two options moving forward: the first, a one-time lump sum payment of around $13,000 (after which they would not be entitled to any more financial support like rent top-ups)
The second option is to continue the monthly rent top-ups until around spring 2024, until theTAP bond is depleted
Medical assistance in dying (MAID) has received lots of media attention over the past few years This is especially true as the Canadian government considers expanding eligibility for people whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness This has led to increased concerns about the ethics of MAID
Even in its present form, MAID is fraught with ethical tensions As scholars engaged in research
on MAID, we have heard about these tensions firsthand through interviews with physicians and nurses who provide MAID-related care, clinical ethicists who perform MAID-related consults, family members of patients who have received MAID and patients who have requested MAID
From these conversations, we highlight three emerging tensions:
wPalliative care versus MAID provision;
wTransparency versus privacy; and
wProviding a dignified death versus a dignified life
These tensions can contribute to unpredictability in health service provision, strained relationships, moral distress, harm for prospective patients and the erosion of public trust.
There is debate about whether a health-care worker can participate in both palliative care and the MAID program
Palliative care involves efforts to improve the quality of life of patients facing serious or life-threatening illness by preventing or relieving suffering through early identification, assessment and treatment of pain, including physical, psychosocial and spiritual
pain. MAID, on the other hand, provides patients experiencing intolerable suffering the option to end their lives with the assistance of a doctor or nurse practitioner.
Some people see the two services as co-existing within end-of-life care. Others view them as having incompatible intentions and goals, and may see the two services as being in conflict.
For instance, as one medical professional informed us, pharmaceuticals that might be provided to relieve pain during palliative care could undermine cognitive capacity and limit
a patient’s ability to provide consent to MAID:
“It was brutal. I knew at that time we wouldn’t be able to do the provision because we would have to medicate her so much… then we’d have to reverse it to get consent, and that was really hard.”
The federal government notes the importance of transparency for the improvement of MAID and maintenance of public trust However, patients and care providers sometimes have strict privacy concerns, wanting their
participation in MAID kept confidential because of disapproving family, colleagues or community members
This is particularly true in smaller communities where privacy may be more limited, healthcare professionals are highly visible and people may be concerned about MAID-related stigma
One patient in our study had family members insist on keeping their cause of death a secret Another participant spoke about a patient’s request for the MAID team to do
Continued on page 17
Continued from page 16
the provision at a longterm care home without letting the staff, family or other residents know.
When medical providers are asked to assist patients in such secrecy, transparency may become compromised.
MAID is often celebrated for supporting suffering patients to exercise control and die with dignity.
With the passage of Bill C-7, which removed the requirement of a reasonably foreseeable death, Canadians are now applying for MAID when suffering is impacted by socioeconomic factors such as inadequate housing, medical care, food security or income supports.
As a result, there has been growing concern about offering this service in a limited social welfare state that does not provide the conditions for people with an illness or disability to live with dignity.
There have been news reports of people being offered MAID when they just needed assistance to
live.This has included a veteran who merely required a wheelchair ramp, individuals who did not have access to food or adequate housing and patients who needed home care.
We have also recently seen reports of prisoners who may be requesting MAID to escape the harsh conditions of prison life.
Canadian legal scholar Trudo Lemmens has similarly noted that MAID may be quicker to access than certain medical and financial supports, including, for instance, access to specialized long-term care, specialized pain clinics and the Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits.
“It is crucial that individuals are not placed in a position where MAID will be seen as the only alternative to suffering.”
The fuTure
These tensions surrounding MAID place staff in complex ethical predicaments and are deserving of greater attention Current policy and legislation do not adequately address how they ought to navigate potential conflicts be-
tween palliative care and MAID, between transparency and privacy, or how to best handle MAID requests being made due to unmet socioeconomic or medical needs.
This situation is made worse by the fact that some of our participants felt ill-prepared to step into a MAID-related role due to limited training or support.
We encourage the federal government to reconsider its role in improving the quality of life of its citizens. In many situations, Bill C-7 has made “dying with dignity” easier than “living with dignity.” It is ethically problematic if a state is more willing to facilitate death than to provide the necessities of life
Julia Brassolotto receives funding from Alberta Innovates and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Alessandro Manduca-Barone and Monique Sedgwick do not work for,consult,own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article,and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment
B.C.’s first seniors advocate says she will step down in March of next year, on the 10th anniversary of her appointment.
Isobel Mackenzie said she will continue to engage with seniors over the next year in addition to producing the office’s annual reports on assisted living, rural seniors, community programs and long-term care
Health Minister Adrian Dix said Mackenzie has had an “extraordinary” career committed to making life better for seniors, not-
ing she came to the role after 18 years working in home care, licensed care, community services and volunteer services
Dix called Mackenzie a “fierce advocate” for seniors and their families
“As B C ’s seniors advocate, Isobel has made important recommendations to government to help bring system-wide change to better the well-being of seniors and ensure they have access to the resources and support they need.”
The Office of the Seniors Advocate is an independent office of the provincial government with a
mandate of monitoring seniors’ services and reporting on systemic issues affecting them
In more than 30 years in the field of seniors care, Mackenzie said she has had the opportunity to meet and work with seniors “from every imaginable background and geography”
“This has informed me, it has changed me, and I will be forever grateful for the privilege of this experience,” she said
“The work to improve is never done and we can always do better, but I am confident that we will continue to make progress.”
MEYERS, Mary (Lena) Magdalena
May 11, 1922 - May 1, 2023
Mary was born in Prud’Homme, Saskatchewan to Stephen and Esther Viczko She is surv ved by her daughters: Jane, Shir ey (Norm), Bernadette, and Theresa; and her sons, Christian (Brenda), Mark (L nda) and Patrick (Jan) She also eaves behind numerous grandchildren, great-grandch ldren, and one great-great grandson
In her ate teens Mary moved to B C where she met and marr ed Ernest Anthony Meyers They took up res dence n Burnaby, where they reared their seven ch ldren
For many years Mary was an active member of St Theresa’s Par sh, where she vo unteered her t me helping out at Church Bazaars or Strawberry Teas One year her cul nary stay ng power was especia ly tested when she baked 30 app e pies for a church supper
She was a very socia person and oved sports Wel nto her eight es she bow ed, square danced, and payed back catcher and third base on a softbal team She also loved attending Symphony concerts
Mary valued famiy and education highly and instlled n her chi dren the mportance of achievement, comm tment and a strong work eth c
The service and reception to pay tribute to Mary’s ife wil be hed on Saturday, June 24 from 11:00 a m to 2:00 p m at Coquit am A l ance Church, located at 2601 Spuraway Avenue in Coquit am (corner of Como Lake and Mariner)
dtjames@glaciermedia.ca
January 1, 1963
April 20, 2023
Rudy Todd Riggs, esteemed Red Seal Carpenter, champion of the self determined underdog and man of incredible wit, sadly passed away on April 20th, 2023.
Rudy held many titles in his life, but his favourite was father.
He is survived by his three children, Kayla, Jake and Anna, and grandson Mason. Rudy was part of a large family Dad (Francine); sisters Mary (Danny), Joanne (Tony); brothers Rick (Loretta), Gerry, Lloyd and Gabriel (David).
May he find comfort in heaven knowing we all carry him in our hearts
ROSS, Randolph Hugh
January 17, 1953 May 18, 2023
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Randy at the Irene Thomas Hospice after a short battle with cancer. Predeceased by parents Pat and Hugh Ross, he is survived by sister Kathy, brother Frank and niece Chris (Daren).
Randy was born in Ormstown, Quebec, but raised primarily in B.C. He moved west with his family to Prince Rupert, where the forest was his playground, and many great memories were created. Graduating from Steveston High School in Richmond, he returned to school much later in life, obtaining a B.Ed. from Simon Fraser University. Randy’s lifelong interest in books and learning led him to a career in library services at SFU, where he worked until his retirement in 2018. His passion for movies and armchair travelling filled his retirement hours with entertainment.
The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff at Royal Columbian Hospital and Irene Thomas Hospice, who not only attended to his needs but did so with caring and compassion.
There will be no service by request. Farewell, "R. R. Superstar."
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and Granddad on May 6, 2023, at Mad son Care Centre in Coqu tlam, B C after a ong and valiant struggle with Parkinson’s Disease
Ron is survived by his ov ng wife of 67 years, Marlene, his son, Randie (Pearl), his grandson Michae (Jeanette), h s granddaughter Lauren (Tom) Mazzetti, his sister-in- aw, Sh rley Wi son as we l as many nieces and nephews and other relat ves throughout Canada and the world Ron was predeceased by h s parents, W l iam and Nellie and his brother, Alan Ron was a fam ly man, and loved noth ng more than be ng at home, tend ng to h s garden and spend ng time with his fami y He oved music, dancing, read ng, and watching TV, espec al y in h s ater years Ron especially enjoyed spending time with his grandch ldren both as chi dren and then as young adults
We wi l miss Ron dearly Although our hearts are heavy wth sadness, we find soace n the wonderful memories we a l shared with h m
The fam ly would like to thank al the doctors who helped Ron along h s d fficult ourney and the nurses and care staff at the Mad son Care Centre for the wonderful y k nd and gent e care they gave Ron in the final year of h s life
In l eu of flowers, the family would ask donations be made in Ron’s memory to Park nson Soc ety BC or charity of your choce https://www parkinson bc ca/ A pr vate, fami y graveside serv ce w l be he d on May 27, 2023
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