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T H E PA N D O R A S T O R E AT
WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2016
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
There’s more at Burnabynow.com
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NEWS
POLITICS
Who cut down the trees?
Two to run (so far) for BurnabyDeer Lake NDP chooses city councillor Anne Kang as candidate
City confirms about 20 40-foot hemlocks were topped in Burnaby park
By Jeremy Deutsch
By Jeremy Deutsch and Tanya Commisso
jdeutsch@burnabynow.com
jdeutsch@burnabynow.com
A community activist is concerned that illegal tree topping on Capitol Hill will not only have a harmful effect on nature, but on Burnaby residents as well. In April, Judi Marshall was walking along Hythe Avenue with her husband towards the Trans Canada Trail when they noticed the path was littered with large branches. “We said, ‘That’s weird,’” Marshall recalled. Upon investigating, Marshall discovered that several trees above the trail appeared to have been topped. Marshall suspects a local resident seeking a better view for their deck is responsible. “It’s just pure selfishness,” she said. “(The trail) belongs to all of us.” Marshall, who has spoken publicly about her opposition to the nearby Chevron Burnaby refinery, believes the once 40-foot Hemlocks partially shielded the neighbourhood from the worst of the refinery’s emissions. But due to the recent tree chopping, residents will be in danger of being hit by loose branches and increased access to fumes, according to Marshall. “He thinks he’s opened up a nice view, but he’s really opened up a nice corridor so he can get blasted (by those emissions),” she said. Marshall contacted the City of Burnaby following her discovery.The city confirmed that nearly 20 trees on city property had been recently topped in the area without a permit. The city is aware of the incident, but as the director or parks and recreation Dave Ellenwood explained, they need to catch Continued on page 8
DEBRIS Burnaby resident Bob Anderson looks over the damage to trees along the Trans Canada Trail. Residents in the area are upset someone topped several trees along the trail. PHOTO CORNELIA NAYLOR
It didn’t take long for the NDP to find a candidate to replace retiring Burnaby-Deer Lake MLA Kathy Corrigan. In fact, it took only about a week. On Sunday, the party made it official, acclaiming current city councillor Anne Kang as the candidate in the riding. The school teacher and threetime councillor said she decided to make the jump to provincial politics when she heard Corrigan was retiring. After a discussion with her family, Kang was in. “I want to make sure there was someone else who would be able to represent Burnaby the way she (Corrigan) would,” she told the NOW, adding she also has the support from her fellow council colleagues. Though a provincial election is still a year away, there are some issues Kang plans to focus on, mainly health care and education. She said she had both her children at Burnaby Hospital but argued that with an increasing population in the city and the facility’s age, it’s in need of upgrading and reinvestment. Kang also wants to tackle education funding. “With these cutbacks, it’s really hurting the kids who need special supports at school,” she said. Kang currently teaches music and suggested arts programs are first to get cut, arguing these programs give confidence and Continued on page 8
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