NEWS 3
Teen’s death was homicide
NEWS 5
New cenotaph planned
COMMUNITY 11
Forty years of fun and fitness FOR THE BEST LOCAL
COVERAGE
WEDNESDAY JULY 26, 2017
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
There’s more at Burnabynow.com
GO TO PAGE 18
‘WE WON’T GO’:
More than 30 protesters with the Stop Demovictions campaign took over council chambers Monday night. The group attended the meeting because the city’s Metrotown downtown plan was on council’s agenda for final adoption. After Burnaby RCMP threatened arrests, the housing activists left and council resumed its meeting. The development plan passed unanimously. PHOTO TEREZA VERENCA
Metrotown plan passes despite protests More than 30 members of the Stop Demovictions campaign occupied council chambers until RCMP arrived Tereza Verenca
tverenca@burnabynow.com
Burnaby is forging ahead with its plans to make Metrotown the city’s “true downtown.” City council unanimously passed the controversial Metrotown development plan – a mass rezoning of the neighbourhood that will increase density even further by replacing low-rise
walk-ups with highrise towers – at its meeting Monday night. But it didn’t pass without a fight. Just before the vote, more than 30 housing activists with the Stop Demovictions campaign interrupted councillors by chanting and blowing whistles and air horns. Mayor Derek Corrigan immediately called a recess,
39
$ Includes up to 6 liters of 0W20, 5W20 or 5W30 oil. Additional cost for specialty oils and filters. Not valid for diesel engines. Environmental disposal fee ($2.50 for oil and filter) and tax are not included.
and he and his colleagues left council chambers. “People are losing their homes, and they will lose their homes as a result of this decision,” said Laura Thomson, who lives on Hastings Street, north of the Brentwood mall redevelopment. The protest went on for about two hours.The group asked that the council meeting be cancelled and that
the Metrotown plan be tabled to a later date (city council is now on a monthlong break). Protesters also asked for the provincial government to intervene and place a moratorium on demovictions. Burnaby RCMP were eventually called in. After observing the situation for about an hour, police told the protesters they’d face arrest and charges of mischief
95 OIL CHANGE & CAR WASH
if they didn’t let the meeting proceed. Ivan Drury with Alliance Against Displacement encouraged the group to retreat and noted “the fight is in the streets.” “Staying here is purely symbolic,” he said. Even though the Metrotown plan has passed, housing activists plan to push their “we won’t go” campaign, where renters are
encouraged to stay put even if they get an eviction notice. “If we can convince whole buildings to break unjust evictions and refuse to be forcefully displaced, that’s a powerful movement,” says Zoe Luba with Stop Demovictions. Corrigan, who called the demonstration a “bullying tactic,” reiterated that, in Continued on page 9
Limited Time Offer! All Makes & Models! No Appointment Necessary!
4451 Still Creek Drive, Burnaby • Service 604.571.4399 • Shop for Toyota and Pre-Owned Vehicles • www.destinationtoyota.ca