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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013
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Parade turns a corner
Plan for coal on agenda
Shorter, more inclusive event full of high energy
BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER
BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER
New Westminster representatives are joining forces to host a townhall meeting about a proposed coal facility in Surrey. The townhall meeting, taking place on Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. in the Douglas College theatre, is being hosted by BurnabyNew Westminster MP Peter Julian, New WestminsterCoquitlam-Port Moody MP Fin Donnelly, MLA-elect Judy Darcy and the City of New Westminster. Fraser Surrey Docks has submitted a project permit application to Port Metro Vancouver to develop a direct transfer coal facility that could handle up to four million metric tonnes of coal at a site that’s located across the Fraser River from Westminster Quay. Fraser Surrey Docks has hosted two open houses in Surrey, but none in New Westminster. “This is an important issue for New Westminster, particularly for neighbourhoods like Westminster Quay and Queensborough,” Julian said in a press release. “I’m glad that representatives from all three levels of government are coming together to hold this important consultation.” Organizers have invited representatives from Port Metro Vancouver, Fraser Health, the environmental community and Fraser Surrey
tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
Overcast skies didn’t deter crowds from flocking to New Westminster for the Hyack International Parade. Although rain fell as participants and parade-goers gathered for the parade, it gave way to cloudy skies as the big event got underway. The parade included 110 entries, such as floats representing the Calgary Stampede, Portland Rose Festival, Olympia Washington Capital Lakefair and the Penticton Peach Festival. Other highlights of this year’s parade included delegations from The Royal Westminster Regiment, celebrating its 150th anniversary, and Moriguchi, Japan, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its sister city relationship with the City of New Westminster. “We really worked hard to get the parade heading in the right direction,” said Douglas Smith, executive director of the Hyack Festival Association. “I think we have really turned a corner with the parade.” Instead of offering a two-hour parade that loses energy midway, he said efforts have been made to make it lively for the duration of the parade. “It was closer to one-and-ahalf hours,” he said. ‘”We probably cut it back by one-half hour. I think it really worked.” Smith said organizers have also done a recruitment drive to identify new participants for the Hyack Parade.
Jason Lang/THE RECORD
A winning entry: Fresh from wins in parades in the Pacific Northwest, New Westminster’s float makes a hometown appearance in the Hyack International Parade. Miss New Westminster and her ambassadors waved and danced their way along the parade route. “That made a huge difference,” he said of an effort that drew more multicultural groups. “It really added to the energy level. It is achieving our goals of making this as inclusive as possible.” Gavin Palmer, president of the Hyack Festival Association, said all parade participants were juried, which helped the association improve the overall quality of the parade. “We met our stated goal to present a high-energy parade with quality entertainment,” he said.
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Palmer said he was surprised by one of the parade entries. Expecting to ride in a regular vehicle, he was shocked to discover his wife Jacke had arranged for a horse-drawn carriage. “She went as Queen Victoria. She looked very regal,” he said. “It was the first time in 15 years we have had horses in the parade. Everybody knew but me. She kept it a secret. It was just awesome.” They 42nd annual Key West Ford Hyack International Parade took place on May 25, the final day of the nine-day Hyack Festival.
Stephen Gorrie CELL
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“The Hyack Festival is synonymous with New Westminster and it is important that we showcase our city in a really positive manner,” Smith said in a press release. “We have taken steps to update and improve every event that is part of the festival. The results, we think, are really starting to show.” “We have worked very hard to make the Hyack Festival as relevant as possible,” Smith said. “It is all about creating events that people will respond to, that resonate with people.”
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