Burnaby’s first and favourite information source
All Nations Classic comes to SFU PAGE 23
Delivery 604-942-3081 • Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Aging reporter takes the Fortius challenge PAGE 11
Your source for local sports, news, weather and entertainment! >> www.burnabynow.com
Turning fear into hope Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
For Burnaby’s Julie Desroches, it’s not just a pirate-themed Halloween display. It’s a symbol of resistance, of honour among thieves and living life as a better human being. That’s because the Desroches family’s annual Halloween display was inspired from a place close to death. Six years ago, around Halloween, Julie Desroches, a child psychologist and mother of two, was struck with a pregnancy-related abdominal infection that left her hospitalized and nearly dead. “The whole pirate thing for me became very symbolic of what I went through. I was facing my own stormy sea,” she told the NOW. She saw her supporters – friends and family – as her “pirate crew,” as she struggled with the medical and legal systems. She watched a lot of pirate movies in the years it took to recover, and dur-
Arrrr ...
Rodney Halko, Julie Desroches, Emma, 6, and Benjamin, 9, are decorating their Burnaby home in a pirate theme to help raise money for a centre in Africa.
For more info, scan with Layar
Jennifer Gauthier/ burnaby now
ing that time, she came up with the idea to create a pirate-themed Halloween display. Last year, she was finally well enough, and with the help of her friends and family (her crew), made it a fund-
run by a man Desroches met 15 years ago while volunteering in Africa. The money went towards a roof for the centre, and this year, Desroches wants to
raiser to help children in Africa. Through donations collected online and on Halloween night, the Desroches raised $2,500 for the Saint Stephen Children’s Centre in Makondo, Uganda,
Pirate house Page 8
Four more throw hats into city mayor’s race Jacob Zinn staff reporter
Boy, that escalated quickly. As the deadline to file candidacy papers came to a close, four independent mayoral candidates entered the political fray, announcing their interest in Mayor Derek Corrigan’s seat on council. Political newcomer Raj Gupta, former Burnaby Greens school trustee Helen Chang and former mayoral hopefuls Sylvia
Gung and Allen Hutton have all stepped forward to run for Burnaby mayor in November, against Corrigan and Burnaby First mayoral candidate Daren Hancott. Chang, who was elected to school board in 2005, has lived in Burnaby for 30 years and has a passion for multiculturalism. Since 2011, she has organized multicultural forums to raise awareness for such issues as hate crimes, immigration, medical fraud and bullying. She has also lobbied the federal government to enact a
Hate Crime Statistics Act. On her second run for mayor, Gung has promised to freeze taxes, halt pay hikes and remove the school board “to thwart its political agenda.” She has also pledged to ban behaviours exhibiting sexuality, however minimal, including holding hands in public and kissing the bride at weddings. With more than three decades of volunteer work ranging from transit to planning, Hutton has an interest in ensuring the wellness of Burnaby citizens. He wants
to continue preserving and maintaining natural areas in the city and expand parks and public pathways for future generations. He also is calling for openness, accountability and fiscal responsibility from the local government. Gupta, a realtor for 24 years who has lived in B.C. since 1974, ran provincially for the B.C. Conservative Party in VancouverKensington last year and is now venturing into municipal politics. He has a laundry Mayor Page 9
Have you gotten your flu shot? See if your eligible for free. A headstart for your child.
Als
French FrenchImmersion Immersion Opening a New Montessori Now taking registration Preschool Classroom in Regular fee waived if registration is done l us EdithsMontessori.com Cadl ay! through website edithsmontessori.com September 2014! to
604-522-1586
o
Family Doctor’s Office Accepting Patients Call: 778-999-9966
BC DRUGS Medical Office & Pharmacy
Mon-Fri 10:00-6:00pm
9618 Cameron St. Burnaby Lougheed Plaza by Red Robin