NEWS 3
Rally protests mom’s detainment OPINION 6
Pandemic restrictions broken LETTERS 7
Readers debate tax increase THURSDAY DECEMBER 23, 2021 LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
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FIST BUMP: Three-year-old Aden Edge, with 11-month-old Artemis Edge and Yolanda Hummelman, chats with Santa outside of the Anvil Centre.
PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
Pandemic toy drive to put smiles on kids’ faces Theresa McManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
Hundreds of children will enjoy new toys thanks
to a Christmas toy drive. NewWestminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian, in partnership with the New Westminster Firefighters’
Charitable Society, hosted the Dec. 11 toy drive at Anvil Centre. “Due to the pandemic, many families and chil-
dren in NewWestminster and Burnaby are not going to have gifts under their Christmas trees this year,” Julian said.
“Thank you to the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society for partnering with us.We collected hundreds of toys for
Burnaby Christmas Bureau, NewWest Family Place and Purpose Society. These toys will put a smile on the children’s faces.”
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New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
3
City PROTEST
Community rallies after mom detained
Theresa McManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
The “terrifying” detention of a non-status mom after she dropped her child off at a sanctuary school in New West has sparked fears among many migrant families. Sanctuary Health reports that Canada Border Services Agency officers handcuffed a migrant mother shortly after she dropped her Canadian-born daughter off at kindergarten on Nov. 30. “She was detained in an alley on her way to her home, but home is a block-and-a-half away from the school,” said Byron Cruz, a member of the Sanctuary Health Collective. “We are very concerned because that means they were following her to the school; they knew which school the kid is going to. It’s terrible. It’s something that we are very concerned about because we don’t feel comfortable now to say, ‘OK, it’s safe to walk to school in New Westminster’ despite the sanctuary policy.” Omar Chu, a member of Sanctuary Health, said the case has raised fears in the community. “It’s terrifying,” he said. “People are wondering if they should be sending their kids to school and what the consequences of that could be. It becomes really difficult. It is putting a lot of families in a really difficult situation right now.” According to Sanctuary Health, the mother was initially handcuffed and detained by Canada Border Services Agency officers. She was later released, at which point her husband was detained. “I know that the family now is out of detention, as a whole.They are in close contact with CBSA regarding removal,” Chu told the Record Dec. 16. “The mother and daughter are both in therapy
Strong message: Community members rallied Saturday at Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary School. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
right now dealing with the trauma of what happened.” RALLYING TOGETHER On Dec. 18, about 75 community members rallied outside Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary School to call for schools to be declared sanctuary zones to protect families. “The theme definitely was that CBSA should be staying away from schools, should not be contacting schools, should not surveilling schools,” Chu said. “And also that we want all districts across the province to implement similar sanctuary schools policies to what we have in New West.” Chu said the family did not attend the rally, but is grateful for the community’s support. “I think they were heartened to see the community support that is behind them and to see the school put out a message to families,” he said. “The school put out a message to all of the families in the school, and I think that was really nice for them to see, the solidarity of the school.”
Chu said Sanctuary Health has been meeting with different school districts and pushing them to implement a sanctuary schools policy. In May 2017, the New Westminster school district became B.C.’s first district to adopt a sanctuary schools policy, which seeks to ensure that families living in the community can access school without fearing their information will be shared with federal immigration authorities, unless there is a specific case where it may be required to do so by law.To date, it remains the only school district in the province to have adopted a sanctuary schools policy. Maya Russell, a New Westminster school trustee, said families must be safe in bringing their children to school. “The sanctuary schools policy is something we really believe in.We believe that schools are in the education business and not in the border control business,” she told the Record. “We have worked really hard to build trust so that families who may have
precarious immigration status, the children are not living in hiding and they are participating in school like other children in the community.” Russell, who spoke at the rally, said the school
People are wondering if they should be sending their kids to school.
district was “alarmed” that CBSA appeared to be targeting a family based on the children’s attendance at school. “The belief in the community at least is that they appear to have followed the mother from school and appeared to be looking for her at the school,” she said. “So, all outside the school but using the child’s participation in school to track down the parent.”
Russell said the school district has heard from a number of parents who were concerned and upset that a Canadian-born student is at a risk of deportation. She said children should not be made to suffer from the problems in Canada’s immigration system. According to Sanctuary Health members, the family has been living in Canada for more than 10 years and the child was born in Canada.The couple initially made a refugee claim when they came to Canada from Mexico, but they didn’t have legal representation at the hearing; prior to being detained by CBSA, their new lawyer had submitted an application that they family be permitted to stay in Canada permanently on the basis of humanitarian and compassionate grounds. CBSA RESPONDS In a statement to the Record, the Canada Border Services Agency confirmed its officers were in New Westminster on Nov. 30 while carrying out their duties as part of an Immi-
gration and Refugee Protection Act investigation. It stressed that its officers did not enter school property at any time. The Canada Border Services Agency could not provide details on the case because of privacy laws. It explained the Immigration and Refugee Board is responsible for determining if a person is inadmissible to Canada; if a person is deemed inadmissible, a removal order is issued, and it is then up to the CBSA to act on the removal. “The decision to remove someone from Canada is not taken lightly,” said the statement. “Everyone ordered to be removed from Canada is entitled to due process before the law, and all removal orders are subject to various levels of appeal.” According to the CBSA, prior to removal, individuals may seek leave for judicial review, as well as administrative review procedures that assess the potential risk to the person of returning to their country of origin. It said a pre-removal risk assessment is one of the safeguards in place to ensure people in need of protection are not removed. Once individuals have exhausted all legal avenues of appeal and due process, however, they are expected to respect our laws and leave Canada or be removed, said the CBSA statement. “Prior to initiating enforcement action against any individual, the CBSA reviews all relevant factors related to a case,” said the statement. “When it becomes necessary to arrest someone who is evading a removal order, CBSA officers will attempt to arrest at a location where it will not cause a disturbance to the public.”
4 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
City PARKS
City looks at new uses for petting farm space Theresa McManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
A re-imagined future for the Queen’s Park Farm could start to take shape in 2022. City council has approved a staff recommendation that the longtime petting farm in Queen’s Park transition away from livestock towards a re-imagined future. “Transitioning the Queen’s Park Farm towards programming that demonstrates ways for residents to lead a more sustainable, self-sufficient life in the city is important for fostering social, cultural and environmental connections in this prominent location,” said a report to council. “The transition also offers potential opportunities for year-round programming that is in-
terconnected with adjacent park programs (i.e. tree nursery, beekeeping, pollinator meadow, natural forest, greenhouses, art gallery, children’s play areas, etc.). A Dec. 13 report to council stated staff will engage with a consultant to develop a concept plan for the farm in the winter of 2021/2022, based on the results from engagement in Phase 1 of the process. The city will launch Phase 2 engagement regarding that concept plan in the spring/summer of 2022. The Queen’s Park zoo opened in 1905 and featured a variety of exotic animals, before shifting to a petting farm program in 1960. Because of the pandemic, the petting farm didn’t open for the 2020 season. At that time, parks
Changes coming: The Queen’s Park Farm when it included animals. PHOTO FILE PHOTO
and recreation staff were already developing a plan that considered a new use for the space, which as urban agriculture, food production and education. This past summer, the space was used for a variety of uses, including day camp programs for kids,
CITY HALL HOLIDAY HOURS December 24: 8:30 am – 2:00 pm December 27: Closed December 28: Closed
December 29 - 30: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm December 31: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm January 3: Closed
and programs run by organizations such as the arts council and New Westminster Family Place. According to a staff report, the city received 106 responses to an online survey about its plans for the Queen’s Park Farm. It received 102 responses to a
question about its plan to shift away from the traditional petting farm to a space that considers urban agriculture, with 45% agreeing, 17% somewhat agreeing, 13% neither agreeing nor disagreeing, 3% somewhat disagreeing and 22% disagreeing. Food security activities, such as a garden, outdoor oven, etc., came in as the top use (37%) when people were asked about their preferred use of the site. Space for educational programming (19%), open community gathering space such as unprogrammed public access (10%), paid rental space for community groups/ private gatherings (1%), and other (33%) were listed as preferences. Of the “other” responses, themes included keeping the petting farm
(18 comments), offering nature and environmental-based educational opportunities and programming (six) , children’s play area (four), agricultural uses (two) and other uses (six), such as using it for outdoor fitness equipment, a covered sitting area or picnic area, a public market or an off-leash dog park A staff report stated the budget includes $25,000 that’s being carried over from the 2020 budget, as well as $54,000 in capital funding for 2022 and $85,000 in 2023. “These funds will be allocated toward working with the community to develop a concept plan for the farm in 2022 and beginning the phased implementation of that plan in 2022/2023,” said the report.
CITYPAGE THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS IN OUR CITY
For other City facility holiday hours, please visit our website at newwestcity.ca/parks-and-recreation/holiday-hours.
Q TO Q FERRY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE December 24: Holiday hours 11:00 am – 4:45 pm
December 31: Holiday hours 11:00 am – 4:45 pm
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Thursday, December 23 6:30 – 7:30 pm Thursday Tunes Grimston Park
December 25 & 26: January 1: CLOSED CLOSED
Thursday, December 30 6:30 – 7:30 pm Thursday Tunes in celebration of Kwanzaa Moody Park
December 27 Holiday hours 11:00 am – 4:45 pm
December – February Shine Bright New West newwestcity.ca/shinebright
January 3: Holiday hours 11:00 am – 4:45 pm
CURBSIDE COLLECTION SCHEDULES Fats, oils and grease in sewers is an ongoing issue in our region and can lead to clogged pipes and sewer overflows into homes, businesses, and the environment. Please put small amounts of grease in your green bins instead of down your sink. Visit wipeitgreenbinit.ca for more.
The 2022 Curbside Collection Schedule will be arriving in your mailboxes shortly. Find a removable collection schedule to keep handy throughout the year to keep track of collection days in your neighbourhood! You will also find helpful tips on what items go into which bins, where to recycle items not taken curbside, and other important information to help you reduce and recycle daily. You can also find this information at newwestcity.ca/garbage_recycling.
SUBSCRIBE TO CITYPAGE: newwestcity.ca/citypage
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New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
5
6 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
Opinion MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY
People planning to break COVID rules
We have entered a new driving it all is the highly phase in this pandemic transmissible Omicron, and it could not have which is infecting mostly come at a worse time. fully vaccinated people. There are new panThe key question in the demic restrictions just in weeks ahead is whether time for the holiday seaour hospital system (parson and I’m seeing a litticularly health care worktle more pushback to them ers) is overwhelmed by a than previously. surge in COVID-19 cases. In many instances, the Thousands of people getnew rules are like the old ting sick with Omicron is rules that we have experione thing; a large percentenced before: only small age of them heading to numbers allowed for social hospital is quite another. gatherings, no weddings This past weekend saw a or funerals, lower venue mild uptick in COVID-19 capacities, fewer events, hospitalizations but not closed gyms and dance a huge surge.That could classes. change in the days ahead, This is all happening particularly on Vancouas the Omicron variant ver Island and in the Vanof COVID-19 is racing couver Coastal Health Auaround much of the world thority, where there has and infecting people at an been an explosion of cases incredibly rapid pace. It in recent days. will be the dominant variHenry has always said ant in B.C. and much of her strategy in taking on Canada within days. COVID-19 is based on But this is also happenthree goals: minimizing seing at a time when close vere outcomes (i.e. deaths) to 90 per from contractcent of the ing the virus, I think these not B.C. eligible allowing it folks are a population to overwhelm has been the health minority in the care fully vaccisystem, public. nated (and and providing the number minimal disruptions to soof booster ciety. doses is We have growing largely accomplished 25,000 a day) and we’ve the first goal and we are all gotten use to wearing at crunch time when it masks and keeping our distance and not gathering comes to the second. I would argue the third goal in large numbers at social has largely been mainoccasions. tained, even with the new Understandably, people restrictions. feel they have done their Some scientists theorize part for so long now and that perhaps Omicron will simply want a break from become a “nuisance virus” it all. Call it “COVID fathat infects a lot of people tigue.” but does not inflict a lot of Yet the severity of the situation can be meadamage. Let’s hope so. sured by Henry’s move The next few weeks are to tighten restrictions so critical.There will be some quickly – just days – after folks who choose not to she first announced some obey the rules but I susrather modest measures. pect most of us have gotWhen daily COVID-19 ten used to our new way cases go from 350 a day of living. to more than 1,000 a day COVID fatigue or not, in just one week it is more we are entering potentially than enough reason to the most dangerous time sound the alarm bells. And during the pandemic.
Topic: Should we host the 2030 Olympics? “The legacy will benefit the province for generations to come.”
“The Olympics are a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Charles Sandor
Gary Killacky via Facebook
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OUR TEAM
We are very concerned because that means they were following her to the school. Byron Cruz, story page 3
ARCHIVE 1986
LARA GRAHAM Publisher
lgraham@newwestrecord.ca
Quay market opens to the public A stampede of shoppers to the New Westminster Quay public market, which opened its doors in midJuly, had slowed to a trickle by the end of August, but shoppers and officials weren’t worried yet.They pointed to the opening of the PNE and the distraction of back-to-school shopping, which they believed accounted of the slowdown.They expected business to pick up again in September.The market had 53 merchants selling everything from fresh pesto and pasta to New Zealand sheepskin rugs.
CHRIS CAMPBELL
Editor
ccampbell@newwestrecord.ca
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New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
Letters INBOX
Letter on cutting city staff shows lack of understanding about how the city works
Tax hike is too high
Editor: Re: New Westminster needs to cut city staff, lower salaries, Letters to the editor, Dec. 6 Much like Bill, I’m a taxpayer, so I thought I’d chime in with my thoughts. I have a lot in common with Bill, mostly that I don’t understand how the city works, I love to make baseless assumptions about how it works, and I agree that cutting back municipal services to 1950s levels for a city that has grown substantially in the past 70 years would probably have zero downsides. So what if the fire department doesn’t respond to fires on Tuesdays and Thursdays? Do we really need the traffic lights to work all the time? I’m not a homeowner like Bill, so unfortunately I don’t know what it’s like to have my cost of living go up, except when my rent increases every year, but I think it’s worth it to hobble the city so that he doesn’t have to pay a bit more in property taxes on the house that has only increased in value since he bought it. I think it’s a real shame that the city doesn’t
Editor: I very much appreciated the recent letters to the editor from Don Doyle and Bill Davis in regard to the 4% to 6% property tax increase proposals put forward by New Westminster city council for 2022. Property taxes are already far too high, and city councillors should be laser focused only on the necessities, such as emergency services, parks and rec, roads and utilities. The Anvil Centre was and still is a bad idea, and should be sold. I do not advocate laying off city staff wholesale, but there is a very good argument to be made for an independent review of all city council, managerial and staff salaries. There are many seniors living in New Westminster on fixed pensions, of which I am one. Most of us cannot afford the proposed tax increases put forward by city council for 2022. It is high time that city council gave the taxpayers a break! Gary Tupper, New Westminster
get policy ideas from the opinion section of the New Westminster Record, because the thought of making city employees do the job of four people couldn’t possibly backfire. Corey Taylor, New Westminster
THE NEW WESTMINSTER RECORD WELCOMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. We edit for taste, legality and length. Please include a contact phone number. Send letters to: The Editor, #201A–3430 Brighton Ave., Burnaby, B.C., V5A 3H4, email to: editorial@newwestrecord.ca. (no attachments please) or fax to: 604-439-2694. Letters to the editor and columns may be reproduced on the New West Record website, www.newwestrecord.ca.
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8 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
City COMMUNITY
Couple decorating trees to spark some joy Theresa McManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
A New Westminster couple is hoping to spark joy for community members – one ornament at a time. The couple is placing a Christmas decoration on a tree in Queen’s Park on each of their daily walks in the neighbourhood. Chris (not her real name) was inspired after reading an item in the NewYork Times last year. “There was a reader’s comment that they had decorated a tree in a park, adding one ornament at a time. Other people started adding other decorations too,” says the woman. “I just thought that was really a nice idea. My husband and I, we go for a walk every day through Queen’s Park.”
In the lead-up to the holiday season, Chris started scouting locations for the prefect tree to put her plan into place. She found a tree on the Millennium Trail in Queen’s Park, not far from Centennial Lodge (just below its parking lot), that has branches that are ideal for hanging ornaments and is in a visible location for folks walking along the trail. “You know what it’s like right now with the pandemic and everything. I just thought, this is the perfect time to do it,” she said. “It’s also brought us a lot of joy, and I hoped it would bring joy to other people seeing something like that because you don’t expect to see a tree decorated when you are walking.” Chris’s goal was to bring
ward to it to see if anybody else has been adding anything.” The couple originally hung brightly-coloured decorations, but they’ve since taken on a silver hue because of the weather. Still, they continue to hang in the tree, despite strong winds, rain and snow. The couple’s plan is to take the decorations down on Jan. 2, before the city steps in and removes the items from the tree. “This is part of a new tradition we have started this year, and we are going to do it again,” Chris says. “It’s so much fun. Hopefully, people next year will notice again, and maybe there will be an even bigger response next year. I am just thrilled that even one person added something. I know
Joy to the world: Ornaments have been put up in Queen’s Park. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
some “joy, positivity and lightness into the world” through a simple act of placing decorations in the tree, but the endeavour has boosted her spirits as well. As hoped, a couple of other people have joined in on the fun and placed ornaments in the tree.
“After about a week, we noticed somebody had added one. I was so excited. I was jumping up and down. It just made my day to know that somebody added one,” Chris says. “It’s really fun. I always look forward to our walk, but I really look for-
there’s probably a lot of other people who have noticed it and smiled. If there are little kids walking by, they really notice things. I just hope it’s brought joy to somebody else.” And who is the local couple behind this simple gesture aimed to spread joy this holiday season? They’d prefer to stay anonymous as they don’t really enjoy the limelight. “Part of the idea was being anonymous doing it,” Chris says. “I’d like people to wonder:Who is doing that? I notice when we are approaching the tree to do it, my husband keeps looking behind to make sure nobody is going to see him do it. I would like it to be like a mystery.”
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New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
Community MUSIC
Jazz exhibition filled with local talent John Kurucz Contributor
Serious, gigging musicians have to run through walls to make it work at the best of times. The last two years have not been the best of times. So, despite being dealt a case of the pandemic blues, Cory Weeds is making lemonade with the lemons he’s been handed. The lifelong Burnaby resident is spearheading the upcoming Jazz @ The ’Bolt festival Feb. 11 to 13, 2022 at the Shadbolt Centre, a weekend exhibition featuring more than 75 jazz players from across North America. It will be Weeds’ first serious musical kick at the can since staging the festival’s first iteration two years ago. “If we have people there enjoying it, that’s a win, especially given what we’ve been dealing with for the last 20 months,” said Weeds, a horn player who doubles as the festival’s artistic director. “This is going to be a colossal collection of musicians from across B.C., NewYork,Toronto and from all over Canada under the same roof making great music.” Weeds kicks off the festival’s opening night performing with the Mike LeDonne and the Groover Quartet plus a Big Band. From there, he’ll link up with more than a dozen
Jazz beat: New Westminster drummer Jesse Cahill. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
other musicians across a handful of other bands over the three-day fest. He will be, as seasoned musicians do, wearing many different hats, with many different people. “It’s probably a little much, but I’ve got to just do it,”Weeds said. “I’ve always had a talent for multitasking.” Multitasking has been the order of the day for
anyone with a musical bent during the COVID times.Weeds busied himself with organizing livestreams, participating in livestreams and running his jazz label, Cellar Live. Both provincial and federal grants have also helped keep the boat afloat. “I just tried to keep my head above water and managed to get through
OK. I’m very grateful because not everybody was so lucky,”Weeds said. “I feel like over these last 20 months, music has taken care of me. Not that I think music owes me anything, but it certainly paid me back during this time.” Like Weeds, New Westminster drummer Jesse Cahill has been a musical COVID outlier in that his career didn’t fall off a cliff.
He kept going financially via livestreams, grants, teaching lessons and landing the odd recording gig that fell into his lap when out-of-country musicians weren’t able to travel. There’s a bit of survivor’s guilt there. “I feel a little bit guilty, but I have fared quite well,” Cahill said. And much like Weeds, Cahill will be multitask-
ing like there is no tomorrow come February. He’ll perform six sets over Feb. 12 and 13 alongside the Jesse Cahill Trio with Nicole Grover,The Tilden Webb Trio and the Nightcrawlers, among others. Drumming for more than 30 years, Cahill will no doubt draw on his chops to see him through performing that many sets. But the freefor-all nature of jazz doesn’t hurt either. “I was drawn to improvising and not having to do the same thing all the time,” Cahill said. “It’s a special kind of music, it’s a music that’s kind of in everything. Especially with the drums, if you go far enough back, you’re always talking about a jazz drummer.” Some of the other acts included in the three-day bill include The Ostara Project, a septet showcasing some of Canada’s finest female musicians; the Mike LeDonne and the Groover Quartet from NewYork City; Aboriginal group Blue Moon Marquee and dozens more. For tickets, log onto https://tickets.shadbolt centre.com or call 604205-3000.
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New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
11
City EDUCATION
More New West sites needed for new schools Julie MacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca
How can you build big enough schools in a city that’s short on land? That’s one of the challenges facing the New Westminster school district, as outlined in its newly adopted long-range facilities plan. The document shows School District 40 would need 31 more acres of land just to meet provincial standards for its school sites – and that’s not counting future enrolment growth. Eleven of the district’s 12 school sites are below the provincial area standard based on their approved capacities.The only one that isn’t? F.W. Howay Elementary School, in Massey-Victory Heights. Of the other 11, the
site with the biggest land shortfall is Glenbrook Middle School. At just 1.4 acres, the school site is more than 6.3 acres short of the area standard. Its crosstown counterpart, Fraser River Middle School, is 3.6 acres short. Among elementary schools, Qayqayt suffers the biggest land deficit, at 3.7 acres short of standard.That’s followed by Queen Elizabeth (3.38 acres), Herbert Spencer (3.16 acres) and Lord Kelvin (2.95 acres). Bettina Ketcham, the school district’s secretary-treasurer, noted in an Oct. 12 presentation to trustees that the district’s “undersized” school sites pose challenges in a rapidly growing district like New Westminster. She pointed out the existing properties aren’t large
Portables: Enrolment is growing locally. PHOTO RECORD FILES
enough to add more capacity to schools – either temporarily, through portables, or permanently, via expansions. She said the district faces “geographic constraints” because New Westminster is such a small municipality in terms of land size.
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“New West is unique in that way.We have a lot of neighbouring jurisdictions and municipalities that might have pressure when it comes to enrolment, but of course not quite the same pressures (when it) comes to area standards with green space,” she pointed out.
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River Middle School and its feeder schools, notably the over-capacity Qayqayt (in the heart of downtown) and Lord Kelvin elementary schools. “We are challenged for space, especially when it comes to Qayqayt Elementary having very small greenspace that’s located adjacent to the school,” Ketcham said. “It is owned by the district; however, to service 550 students, it is quite a small field space.” The school district is looking for the funding for both a new middle school and a new elementary school in the central/ western portion to the city to find a more permanent solution to the space squeeze. It’s put those requests in its five-year capital plan for the Ministry of Education.
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Ketcham noted the school district has been able to “counterbalance” that lack of land by building schools next to city parks – such as at Glenbrook Middle School, which adjoins the playing field and playground space at Terry Hughes Park. “That’s been a blessing,” Ketcham said. “But as we go through a period of rapid growth, that is a bit of a challenge at this time.” That challenge is most heavily felt in areas with rapid population growth, which corresponds to higher school enrolment. Right now, that means downtown New Westminster. And that means the school district has its immediate attention focused on the Fraser River zone – encompassing Fraser
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12 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
City POLICING
Police board adds new member to its roster Theresa McManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
A well-known New Westminster resident is the latest addition to the city’s newly expanded police board. Ruby Campbell is a longtime volunteer and the City of New Westminster’s former manager of intergovernmental and community partnerships. “I am honoured to serve on the police board,” she said in an email to the Record. “I trust the New West police board is committed to learning and improving, and I am up for the challenge.” After being named to the police board at the end of November, Chief Const. Dave Jansen swore in Campbell at the beginning of December. Her first meeting will be in Jan-
uary. “Like many of us, I have been listening to people calling on police reform and fully support the need for a different approach,” she said. “So, when the Province’s Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act Committee conducted a public survey, I decided to submit my own thoughts.” Campbell said that completing that survey made her think about the city’s strong not-for-profit sector and the work organizations are doing to assist with the mental health crisis, poverty reduction and unhoused population. “I see the value of notfor-profits from serving on the board of Fraserside Community Services, as well as from my years of previously working at the City of New Westminster,
Police board: New member Ruby Campbell. PHOTO RECORD FILES
where I worked closely with community organizations,” she said. “I just kept thinking how important it is to ensure our city’s not for profit organizations, businesses and community are engaged to help inform the challenge before us.”
FURTHER EXPANSION PLANNED The police board’s role is to oversee and provide direction to the New Westminster Police Department. It also submits the NWPD’s budget to city
council for its consideration. In addition to Mayor Jonathan Cote, who chairs the police board, other current members include Heather Boersma, Karim Hachlaf, Shirley Heafey and Sasha Ramnarine. Campbell, like Boersma, Hachlaf and Ramnarine, is a provincial appointee; Heafey is a city appointee. According to Jansen, another member was initially named to the police board through an order in council from the province, but he took a job in policing that him ineligible, so he had to resign.With Campbell’s appointment, he said the board has expanded to five members and the mayor, but another addition could be coming. “Most boards have six
and a mayor.We are at five and a mayor now,” he said. “Our board has asked government to expand to six and the mayor.” In February, the police board was short on members because one person had completed their term in November 2020 and another member was on a leave of absence. Boersma and Heafey were subsequently sworn in as members of the police board, but the board supported advocating to the province for a larger police board. Because of a shortage of members, the New Westminster police board was unable to name a director or an alternate to the British Columbia Association of Police Boards for 2021/22.
New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
13
City TRANSPORATION
MLA hoping for news soon on bus service Julie MacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca
Queensborough’s MLA says bus service to New Westminster Secondary School is still on his radar – though it’s taking longer than he expected. Aman Singh, who represents Richmond-Queensborough in the B.C. legislature, promised during the 2020 provincial election campaign that an NDP government would provide free, dedicated TransLink buses to take Queensborough students to and from NWSS. That has yet to happen. “We are still working on it,” Singh told the Record. Singh admitted that, before becoming part of government, he had no idea how much time would be involved in such a plan. “They have to go
through treasury board, finance committees, all those things.The plan is there,” he said. “It’s also a bit complicated because it deals with TransLink, school board and Ministry of Transportation.” The issue has long been of concern to the New Westminster school district because, with only one high school in the district, students living in Queensborough must make their way to NWSS on the mainland.That leaves families relying on a patchwork of regular public transit, private vehicles or cycling. The distance from the Queensborough neighbourhood to the high school doesn’t meet the minimum standard for regular Ministry of Education school bus funding, but New Westminster’s ge-
Long wait: Students in Queensborough waiting for the bus. PHOTO RECORD FILES
ography – with the island neighbourhood relying on one bridge to the mainland – complicates the commute. The issue was acknowl-
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edged in the district’s recently updated long-range facilities plan. “There has been a growing need for improved transportation from
Queensborough to New Westminster Secondary School, due to the geographical remoteness of the Queensborough community, which is beyond
reasonable walk limits, requiring secondary students to navigate over a busy and often congested highway bridge crossing on their way to school,” the plan notes. The New West district parent advisory council (DPAC) has also been following the issue. DPAC chair Kathleen Carlsen told trustees at the Nov. 23 school board meeting that the parents’ group had written to Singh urging him to follow up on the busing promise. Singh told the Record that the issue is working its way “through that bureaucratic financial stuff.” A timeline for having the buses in place is not yet known.
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14 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
The Powerhouse at Stave Falls:
We’re open during winter break
Bring your friends and family to enjoy a new experience over Winter Break. Our demos, hands on activities, and wonderful Tour Guides will help you learn how we’re powered by water. This National Historic Site of Canada is filled with the generators and other machinery that produced power in the 1900’s, truly bringing to life the history of clean energy in B.C.
Visit bchydro.com/stavefalls for information on our special Winter Break schedule and more.
5922
21
City MENTAL HEALTH
Care worker added
Julie MacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca
A boost to mental health funding will allow for more counselling hours and a new youth care worker in the New Westminster school district. School District 40 received an increase of about $70,000 this year – part of a pot of money designated by the province to help with mental health in B.C. schools in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The B.C. Ministry of Education announced the $5 million extra in funding for mental wellness at the beginning of September. At a Nov. 9 operations committee meeting, School District 40 secretary-treasurer Bettina Ketcham outlined how New Westminster is using its share of that money.
She noted that the $70,000 came on top of the school district’s regular amount for mental health funding, which is about $52,000.The district also had $4,783 left in mental health funds from the previous year’s budget, for a total of $127,628 in mental health spending in 2021/22. Ketcham said the district has an “aggressive plan” to use all that money. Among the new spending is an extra day of counselling time (0.2 full-time equivalent staff) at New Westminster Secondary School.The district has also hired a new youth care worker, as of Nov. 1. Ketcham said the district is also looking to supplement mental health services in its schools by adding about 15 hours a
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week of clinical counselling at the new Wellness Centre that is being set up at NWSS.The district is actively recruiting for that position now, she noted. “It is a front-and-centre focus for us at this time,” she said. Other money will also be used for supplies for the Wellness Centre – such as books for parents and youth, board games, stress relief items and food supports. Trustee Danielle Connelly said the amount of money available to New Westminster won’t go far in the face of pandemic recovery. “It’s not a lot for the work that we all know is needed, especially coming out of where we’re coming from,” Connelly said.
New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
15
Community HEALTH
Canada Games closure upends heart program John Kurucz Contributor
The ripple effects around the fate of the Canada Games Pool are circulating further across New Westminster, as longtime program participants in a cardiovascular rehab program grapple with the prospect of being displaced. Participants in theYMCA’s longstanding Healthy Heart program were informed recently that the program will be without a home in New West for the foreseeable future. Equipment from the soon-to-be decommissioned pool will be moved to the Centennial Community Centre, which forces the Healthy Hearts programming gear – treadmills, rowing machines and exercise bikes – into storage. Though suspended in March 2020, in-person classes will likely have to move elsewhere when they resume as well. A copy of the letter circulated to Healthy Hearts members was shared with the Record and suggested that at best, the program may move into the new aquatic and community centre when it opens in the city in late 2023. Samantha Hartley-Folz is the acting general manager of community operations for theYMCA of Greater Vancouver. She told the Record in a phone interview Dec. 6 that storage space has been secured for the equipment, though where the program could end up once in-person activities resume re-
Shut down: The Canada Games Pool has been closed permanently. PHOTO RECORD FILES
mains up in the air. “There’s a possibility that we may not have access to the space at the [Centennial] community centre to run our Healthy Heart programming once our in-person sessions resume,” she said. “There is no final word on that.” The news comes just days after Fitness New West participants were told they’ll be left in a similar lurch due to the crunch for available space.That programming has been in place since 1983 and an online petition has been launched to allow participants to remain in their longtime home at Centennial. On Nov. 24, the city announced that it will decommission the Canada Games Pool rather than repair a leak in the pool’s
tank. A city press release stated that fitness equipment from Canada Games Pool would be relocated to the gymnasium at Centennial, and gym programs that normally take place at that site will be relocated to other recreation and community facilities. Healthy Heart programming began in 1976, and classes were in place in New West from the outset.Though available to all ages, participants tend to be seniors managing chronic diseases, including congestive heart failure, heart disease and diabetes, while preventing cardiovascular disease and future risk factors. The program helps participants transition back to active living after open heart surgery, heart attack
and stents. Pre-COVID, theYMCA Healthy Heart program was providing in-person programming to 275 participants in five locations in Metro Vancouver, with more than 75 participants at the Centennial location. Since August 2020, the program been moved into the virtual realm and supported 133 participants. Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks and recreation, told the Record in an email that the city is working with theYMCA to find a new venue somewhere within the city limits. He noted that the YMCA booked the Centennial space from late 2005 through to November 2019 at a discounted rental rate and with complimentary space for pro-
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gram equipment to be stored. “The New Westminster parks and recreation department has stated that we value the ongoing relationship with theYMCA and the Healthy Heart
program and when the time is appropriate to resume this program in New Westminster, we want to do all that we can to help secure a suitable venue,” Gibson said. For her part, HartleyFolz holds no ill will towards the city and instead praised the efforts of staff to help find a new location within the city. It’s her hope that some form of hybrid classes – combining both online and in-person – will be up and running somewhere in New West by February 2022. Virtual classes remain unaffected in the meantime. “We know how crunched the city is for space, so it may be delayed,” Hartley-Folz said. “That’s why we continue to offer the Virtual Healthy Heart programming, so it’s accessible to folks around the Lower Mainland.”
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16 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
City EDUCATION
Money allocated to fund substitute teachers Julie MacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca
New Westminster school trustees have agreed to allocate up to half-a-million dollars to address a shortage of substitute teachers and education assistants. At their Nov. 9 operations committee meeting, trustees heard a report on the challenges of finding teachers-on-call and casual EAs to replace absences around the school district. At trustees’ request, district staff returned to the Nov. 23 board meeting with more details and a suggested strategy for tackling the ongoing problem. “Because of our daily staff absences, we consistently need to reassign specialty teachers, principals, vice-principals to cover our classroom needs, and also make adjustments to our
assignments for EAs to address the shortages that we face on a daily basis,” said Robert Weston, the district’s executive director of human resources. “This is clearly unacceptable in the long term and must be addressed.” A report from Weston and secretary-treasurer Bettina Ketcham noted that teacher absences in the district in October averaged 36 per day and reached as high as 47. It said the district needs an average of 35 teachers-oncall and 25 casual EAs on any given day. Finding those people, however, hasn’t been possible. The school district has created a pool of priority teachers-on-call and casual EAs, but those efforts haven’t come close to meeting its needs.The dis-
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trict currently has six priority teachers-on-call, but all six are currently filling in for temporary vacancies and aren’t available for daily call-out. It only has one priority EA, since others have been posted into vacancies in the district. So it’s been a daily scramble to fill teacher and EA absences, with the district competing for the services of a limited pool of staff available around Metro Vancouver – often losing out to larger districts that require on-call staff to be available for a certain minimum number of days each week. On average, the report notes the district manages to fill 28 of the 35 teacher absences daily, and 18 of 25 EA absences. Closing that gap,Weston said, will require a longterm, multi-pronged strat-
egy that includes “reinvigorating” its recruitment processes to reach people outside of Metro Vancouver and to target university graduates for replacement teaching positions. Over the long term, the district wants to create a permanent replacement team consisting of 20 teachers-on-call and 15 education assistants. The district wants to start building that team by prioritizing money for it, starting in the 2022/23 budget cycle and building slowly over the years – both to accommodate budget priorities and to give itself the time to recruit a “quality workforce,” the report notes. Weston and Ketcham recommended to the board that the district should start by confirming five priority teachers-on-
call and five priority EA positions, to be funded out of one-time surplus funds for the time being. Ketcham told trustees that will cost an estimated $278,900. But she recommended the board continue with a motion from trustee Maya Russell to set aside “up to $500,000” for the task. Keeping that wording will give staff some flexibility with costs, Ketcham said. Trustees agreed to the plan but noted much more work lies ahead to address the underlying causes of high absenteeism. Trustee Mark Gifford described the current initiative as a “stopgap measure.” Gifford pointed out that working through the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a different set of stressors and said hope-
fully the current situation won’t become the new normal. But he said the district needs to find ways to support “wellness and connection” for its staff over the long term and make sure that any who are struggling have the support they need to continue in their work. Trustee Dee Beattie noted EAs face particular challenges because their jobs are part-time and many seek second jobs to make a living wage – not just in New Westminster, but provincewide. She said the district needs to push for 35-hour work weeks for education assistants. “There’s just too much burnout happening, there’s just too much sickness happening,” she said.
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New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
City HEALTH
Exposures growing Julie MacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca
On the one hand, there’s vaccination for children. On the other, there’s Omicron. It remains an open question how those two variables will play out when it comes to COVID-19 cases in New Westminster schools. Heading into winter break (which runs from Dec. 18 to Jan. 3), local schools had seen rising numbers of COVID-19 exposures, as several schools saw multiple exposure dates in December (see details below). Overall, COVID-19 exposures have been more prevalent in schools this year than in the 2020/21 school year. By winter break last year, the Record’s database shows that New West
schools had seen 38 reported exposures involving 83 exposure dates.This year, those numbers were up significantly: 56 exposures involving 139 exposure dates. It’s not possible to say exactly how many cases those exposures involve, since public health releases only exposure dates and not case numbers. The New Westminster school district previously released Fraser Health data showing that, in the first eight weeks of the school year, the district saw 42 cases of COVID involving children, plus a few more (“fewer than five,” though an exact number was not reported) involving adults. Those numbers reflected the period up to Oct. 28. In the same time period, there had been
23 reported exposures – meaning that, on average, each “exposure” involved about two cases. An “exposure” means someone who has since tested positive was in the school during their potentially infectious period on the date or dates in question and other people may be at risk of having come in contact with the virus. Health officials do not publish the number of cases involved, so it’s not known whether the dates involve more than one person. Six New Westminster schools remained on the Fraser Health list heading into winter break: Lord Kelvin, Lord Tweedsmuir and Qayqayt elementary schools, Fraser River and Glenbrook middle schools, and New Westminster Secondary School.
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Call Simon for prompt & professional service 30 yrs exp.
#1 Backhoes & Excavators Trenchless Waterlines Bobcats & Dump Truck & All Material Deliveries Drainage; Video Inspection, Landscaping, Concrete, Stump/Rock/Cement/Oil Tank & Demos, Paving, Pool/Dirt Removal, Paver Stones, Jackhammer, Water/Sewer, Line/Sumps, Slinger Avail, Concrete Cutting, Hand Excavating. Basements Made Dry Claudio’s Backhoe Service
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All advertising published in this newspaper is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to buyers at the advertised prices. Advertisers are aware of these conditions. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading, is never knowingly accepted. If any reader encounters non-compliance with these standards we ask that you inform the Publisher of this newspaper and The Advertising Standards Council of B.C. OMISSION AND ERROR: The publishers do not guarantee the insertion of a particular advertisement on a specified date, or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers. Further, the publishers do not accept liability for any loss of damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any corrections of changes will be made in the next available issue. The Richmond News will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion with liability limited to that portion of the advertisement affected by the error. Request for adjustments or corrections on charges must be made within 30 days of the ad’s expiration. For best results please check your ad for accuracy the first day it appears. Refunds made only after 7 business days notice!
New • Repaired • Rebuilt Fences & Decks.
GUTTERS YOUR ELECTRICIAN Lic#89402. Insured. Guar’d. Fast same day service. We love BIG & small jobs! 604-568-1899 goldenleafelectrical.com
LIC. ELECTRICIAN
2 Bedroom/1 Bathroom Dwelly ARC, Katonien Street, $125,000 Dwelly Prefabs are sensibly priced, low maintenance dwellings able to withstand massive snow loads and dramatic seasonal tempera− tures with lower utility bills. 604−754−4076 https://thedwelly.com/
West Coast Cedar Installations since 1991.
DRYWALL
CALL 604-525-2122 baysideproperty.com
FOUND
LEGAL
REAL ESTATE
INDUSTRIAL/ COMMERCIAL
Brand New Rentals in Port Moody Inlet Glen Apartments
Video Inspection, Jack Hammering, Hand Excavating, Concrete Cutting, Rootering, WET BSMT MADE DRY
Rob • 604-307-6715
DIFFICULTY SELLING?
RENTAL
DRAIN Tiles, Sewer, Water,
FENCING
604-230-0627
A-1 Steve’s Gutter & Window Cleaning & Repair from $98 ! Gutters vacuumed and hand cleaned. 604-524-0667
604-341-4446
TODAY'S PUZZLE ANSWERS
New West Record THURSDAY, December 23, 2021
SUDOKU
HOME SERVICES HANDYPERSON
MOVING
2 Guys With A Truck Moving & Storage 604-628-7136 PAINTING/ WALLPAPER
RENOS & HOME IMPROVEMENT
ALL RENOVATIONS: •Kitchen •Baths •Additions •Patio •Stairs •Deck •Fences •P Painting •D Drywall & MORE
778-892-1530
a1kahlonconstruction.ca
SPECIAL WINTER PAINTING DISCOUNT BONDED & INSURED EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES PROFESSIONAL, SAFE AND RELIABLE
604-900-6010
INTERIOR & EXTERIOR Residential & Commercial
35%OFF 23 years experience. Free Estimates
MrHandyman.ca
LAWN & GARDEN
25 years Experience. Fully y Ins’d. Lic’d & WCB SNOW REMOVAL • Lawn Maintenance • Power Rake • New Sod & Seeding • Tree Topping & Trimming • Power Wash • Gutters • Patio’s • Decks • Fences • Concrete • Retaining Walls • Driveway ys & Sidewalks & Much MORE All work guaranteed Free Estimates
PAINTSPECIAL.COM
Bathroom Renovations TILING - All Installations Santo • 778-235-1772
778 -895-3503
Kitchen & Bathrooms, all Tile, all Flooring, Drywall, Paint. ALL REPAIRS +More! INT & EXT • 778-836-0436
3 rooms for $375, 2 coats any colour (Ceiling & Trim extra) Price incls Cloverdale Premium quality paint. NO PAYMENT until Job is completed. Ask us about our Laminate Flooring & Maid Services.
PLUMBING
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Relocating/Moving with truck $80/hr Experienced movers, wrap pack load unload. Furniture disposal dump runs, etc. Short notice ok. 604−782−6600
A-1 Contracting. Bsmt, bath, kitchen cabinets, tile & laminate flrs, painting, decks.. and more. Call Dhillon, 604-782-1936
ROOFING
Re-Roofing & Repairs Specialists
20 Year Labour Warranty Available
604-591-3500
Bros. Roofing Ltd. Over 40 Years in Business SPECIALIZING IN CEDAR, FIBERGLASS LAMINATES AND TORCH ON.
Liability Insurance, WCB, BBB, Free Estimates
604-946-4333
A. RIGHTWAY PAIN NTING Ltd.
778-984-0666
604-240-2881
MOVING
19
• Hot Water Tanks • Plumbing • Heating • Furnaces • Boilers • Drainage • Res. & Comm. • 24/7 /77 Service
New Roofing & Repairs. Gutter Cleaning • $80 Free Est. • GLRoofing.ca
604-240-5362
RUBBISH REMOVAL
Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a Sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.
PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE
BRADS JUNK REMOVAL..com com REMOVAL
• FULL SERVICE JUNK REMOVAL & Clean-Up at Affordable Rates • Pianos & Hot Tubs No Problem • Booked Appointments • Same-Day Service • Residential & Commercial 20 YARD YARD BIN RENTALS RENTALS 20 $ from a week dumpfees fees + +dump from$249 249for/week
604.220.JUNK (5865)
604-437-7272
ABE MOVING & Delivery & Rubbish Removal $50/hr per Person.24/7 • 604-999-6020
ACROSS 1. Chinese Muslim group 5. Alternative name 10. Resounds 12. Supporter 14. Furnishes anew 16. Beloved Hollywood alien +*1 )"&/%!,$/$ 42,(19. Ballplayer’s tool 20. Coarse edible red seaweed 22. Former CIA 23. Basketball player 25. Travel necessities 26. Honey producer 27. Military analysis (abbr.)
28. Diego, Francisco, Anselmo 30. Mental sharpness and inventiveness 31. Popular Easter meal 33. Man (Spanish) 35. __ de la __ 37. Counterweights 38. Made a harsh, grating noise 40. Monetary unit 41. Commercials 42. Cool! 44. Partner to cheese 45. Expression of creative skill 48. Unit of angle
50. Transported 52. N. American people of Kansas 53. Computer game character Max 55. Moved swiftly 56. Everyone has one 57. Tin 58. A mole is one 63. Nocturnal hoofed animals 65. Oppositional to 66. Monetary units 67. Not on time
17. Male organ 18. Tab on a key ring 21. Criminals 23. Taxi 24. Cheer of encouragement 27. Wartime American escort carrier 29. Polish river 32. Current unit 34. Life form 35. Painful contractions 36. Glowing 39. Press against lightly 40. Melancholic
43. Something you can be under 44. Of the mind 46. E. Indian cereal grass 47. Couple 49. Sharpshoot 51. A baglike structure in a plant or animal 54. __ Blyton, children’s author 59. Human gene 60. Data mining methodology (abbr.) 61. Examines animals 62. Mineral 64. Cools your home
DOWN 1. Hogshead (abbr.) 2. Misery resulting from 3.4,0#,'( 3. Defunction European group 4. Line on a map 5. Becomes less intense 6. Back muscle 7. Frosted 8. Ethiopian town 9. Midway between south and east 10. Wipe from the record 11. In a continuous way 13. Breathe 15. Cleaning device
20 THURSDAY, December 23, 2021 • New West Record
NEW WEST
DENTUREWORKS INC. We wish you a Merry Christmas info@newwestdentureworks.com www.newwestdentureworks.com
“your smile is your most important feature”
Quan Gifford, R.D. *Member of Association of BC. Making Smiles for over 22 years
Advance Lower Suction
#270-522 SEVENTH STREET, NEW WESTMINSTER | 604-553-1222 FULL SERVICE DENTURE CLINIC
