NEWS 3
NEWS 10
Saluting Burnaby’s best
Christmas Bureau open
ENTERTAINMENT 11
Ready to rock at beer fest FOR THE BEST LOCAL
COVERAGE
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11 2015
There’s more at Burnabynow.com
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS.
GO TO PAGE 18
A symbol of community takes shape Brentwood Park unveils traditional totem pole Cornelia Naylor
cnaylor@burnabynow.com
SYMBOL OF COMMUNITY First Nations carver Jackie Timothy places an abalone shell eye onto a human figure in a totem pole he recently completed for Brentwood Park Elementary . The pole was dedicated at a ceremony at the school last month. PHOTO CORNELIA NAYLOR
Brentwood Park celebrated the transformation of an old driving range pole into a traditional First Nations work of art and symbol of community last month. The school held a ceremony on Oct. 20 to honour its newly completed totem pole. The pole is the work of First Nations carver Jackie Timothy, who started on the project in February. Set up outside the school in a sheltered area,Timothy laboured at the carving for months, interacting with students, who often watched, chatted and helped clean up his work space. “The kids have been really a blessing to me,” said Timothy, who is originally from the Tla’amin First Nation near Powell River. Continued on page 8
Housing debate heats up at city hall
City points the finger at higher levels of government, but citizens’ group says response is a ‘diversion’ Jeremy Deutsch
jdeutsch@burnabynow.com
A group opposed to major development plans for the Metrotown area vows to continue the fight, despite a move by Burnaby council to proceed with the rezoning of properties. The issue came to a head Monday night, as council discussed a city report related to growth and the affordable and social housing issues facing the community and dealt with a series of rezoning applications. The 15-page report details the current situation around affordable and rental hous-
ing in Burnaby and also offers a response to various suggestions to handle the issue. One suggestion has been to put a moratorium on the demolition of existing buildings, but the report said the city does not have the legislated authority to withhold a building permit for construction of new buildings and/or for the demolition of existing buildings, where the applicant satisfies the provisions of the building code. As for establishing a rental replacement policy, the city said it also does not have the mandate to require the private sector to provide rental units. City politicians were pinning the problem
market smart. property wise
DON’T MAKE YOUR MOVE YET!
Your Local Expert! LESTER LIN REALTY.ca
Call me FIRST… for over 2 decades of
‘Trusted Experience in Real Estate!’
WaynePasco.com
on senior levels of government, arguing the likely lead to an increase in rental rates. federal government has neglected the issue But Ivan Drury, an organizer with the Alfor two decades. liance Against Displacement, one of sevMayor Derek Corrigan said solving the eral groups that has opposed the developproblem is an impossible task without mon- ment plans in the Metrotown area, called ey and the legislative authority that resides the city’s report and response a “diversion” with the provincial and federal from the real problem. governments. He said the issue isn’t This is a “This is a conundrum about building new rental conundrum we’ve been unable to solve. units, but instead stopping We continue to in our own we’ve been unable the demolition of existing way find solutions, but it is exmarket rental housing. to solve. tremely frustrating,” he said. While Drury agreed the Corrigan also suggested the city doesn’t have the aucity has to continue to balance thority to determine land building a “livable communiuse on existing zoning, he ty” and providing amenities people expect, argued the city has unlimited power adding that pushing property taxes up only Continued on page 4 punishes the property owner and would
604.790.5404
604.628.3897
*Offer includes any one sandwich, pita or wrap, one regular side, and one soft drink. May not be combined with any other offer. Offer has no cash value. Offer valid at Nando’s Kingsway ONLY until November 30th, 2015.