Royal City Record October 18 2013

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2013

W E S T M I N S T E R

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AFTERMATH: DOWNTOWN IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AFTER COLUMBIA STREET FIRE

City shows its ‘magic’ after fire

mail services, free location space, stress-relieving services for people going through trauma, use Carpets are being cleaned, of vehicles and more. Musicians windows washed and merchan- have offered their services for dise readied as downtown busi- fire-relief benefits, while Fire nesses prepare to reopen after Chief Tim Armstrong has offered last week’s fire. to make firefighters and fire Many of the businesses trucks available for events. surrounding the two build“It’s such an incredible ings destroyed in the fire have thing to see everybody coming reopened, and others are work- together in a situation like this,” ing feverishly to reopen as soon Johnston said. “This is why we as possible. Some of the busi- love New West.” nesses located in the E.L. Lewis Germiquet agreed that it’s Block and the Hamly Block are been amazing to watch busiworking on relocation plans. nesses from across the city come “Most of them want to stay in together to support the downdowntown New West. town. In fact, I haven’t talked “The response from to anyone who doesn’t,” the business commusaid Kendra Johnston, nity has been overexecutive director of whelming,” she said. the Downtown New “It is holistic in nature. Westminster Business It’s not just businesses Improvement Area. “It’s from a particular area just a matter of trying to of New Westminster. find appropriate space, We have businesses whether it’s temporary from Queensborough, or permanent, and in the Kendra Johnston Sapperton, uptown, meantime trying to help New West BIA West End – they all them sort out insurance recognize that geograissues and that kind of stuff. Of phy doesn’t matter, it matters course, there is a lot of emotion that colleagues of theirs in the in that. For some there is no business community need some rush, they are still processing; assistance and they are there to for some it’s a difficult decision help. To me that is phenometo make.” nal.” Firefighters hadn’t even left The New Westminster the fire scene in the 600 block Chamber of Commerce has partof Columbia Street and offers of nered with Westminster Savings assistance were coming in from to set up a Downtown New the community. Westminster Fire Relief Fund to “To me the magic is every- help businesses affected by last body in New Westminster is week’s fire. Any funds raised or coming together for their col- donated can be deposited into leagues,” said Cori-Lynn the account at any branch of Germiquet, executive director of Westminster Savings (account the New Westminster Chamber #452538201). of Commerce. “This demonThe chamber is assembling a strates a really strong business committee whose members will community.” review proposed terms of referThe chamber and the BIA ence and criteria, and begin the are compiling lists of the types process of receiving requests. of service being offered, which The chamber and the BIA are includes office space, use of res- also compiling lists of people taurants and other locations for ◗Downtown Page 9 fire-relief benefits, computer and BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

Checking it out: Above: Onlookers use the parkade to get a vantage point of the burned-out lot a few days after the fire. At left, a crowd gathers on the sidewalk on the morning of the fire. The Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Area wants everyone to know that the downtown is open for business. Photos by Jason Lang/

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