New Westminster Record December 29 2022

LOOKING BACK: TOP NEWS STORIES OF 2022

Downtown issues dominated the headlines

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

As we say goodbye (or perhaps good riddance) to 2022 and get ready to welcome 2023, we’re looking back at the stories that made headlines in New Westminster this year

Of course, it’s impossible to capture all the news good, bad, ugly and otherwise that happens in our community in the course of 12 months. But we sat down with our story files and narrowed down our choices to what we saw as the biggest news stories of the year

Here, we start with the one issue that dominated the news cycle in NewWestminster in 2022: the downtown.

January’s headlines gave a snapshot of what was to come for the rest of the year, with stories about downtown safety, sewer construction, a random street attack and the extreme weather shelter all hitting the headlines

Similar themes followed throughout the year, many dealing with livability and safety concerns and efforts to address homelessness, as many unhoused people have been known to seek shelter in parts of the downtown

In response to complaints from residents and businesses, NewWestminster Police Department Chief Const. Dave Jansen presented a report to the police board outlining a variety of actions being undertaken by the police department He noted that a police response isn’t always the best solution for addressing many of the safety and livability concerns being raised about downtown NewWestminster and said the NWPD would continue to work closely with the city to address issues in the downtown

Jansen’s report outlined some of the responses being undertaken in response to concerns raised about the downtown, including focusing patrols in “trending areas” when officers are not responding to calls for service, working with city hall on short-term and longer-term solutions, such as homeless outreach, businesses support and engagement, and supporting the development of the peer assisted crisis team that would provide a new model to address crisis health management

In July, city council endorsed in principle a new NewWestminster homelessness action strategy, a five-year vision and plan to address homelessness and related issues in the city

The issue of unhoused people extends far beyond downtown, but the city’s core is home to many of the non-profit organizations providing services to vulnerable criticizes It’s also where some of the shelter facilities are located

At its final meeting of 2022, city council received a staff presentation and report about its downtown livability strategy Items included in the $4.4-million proposal include initiatives related to general cleanliness, enhanced access to 24/7 public toilets, enhanced homeless outreach and added emergency shelter capacity and business support and engagement Some of the specific items to be funded include public toilets, garbage receptacles, street-cleaning programs and a contractor who specializes in human waste and street cleaning

That report came on the heels of delegations to city council and the police board, where Front Street businesses appealed for assistance in addressing livability, crime and other issues in the area

ABOUTTHAT SEWER PROJECT

On Columbia Street, Metro Vancouver’s sewer project saw a mountain of pipes lining the streets and construction taking place for most of the year.

In 2021, city council had begrudgingly supported the project, after being told by Metro Vancouver that a discharge of raw sewage and a sink hole on Columbia Street are two of the potential consequences of delaying repairs to a major sewer line in downtown NewWestminster

When stacks of pipes were still piled in area around Hyack Square in February, council asked for an update from MetroVancouver about when the project would be complete and equipment would be off the road.

“If they don’t have somewhere else to put them, can we give them parking tickets?What

can we do here?” said Coun Jaimie McEvoy

The NewWestminster Interceptor is a large pipe that carries sewage from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, most of Burnaby and parts of New Westminster to the Annacis Island wastewater treatment plant in Delta

In March, MetroVancouver officials updated council, saying Phase 1 of the project had been delayed by weather, supply chain issues, COVID-19 impacts and underground obstructions They pledged to have the stack of pipes removed from the area around Columbia and Eighth streets by the May long weekend

As promised, the pipes were removed from that location by Victoria Day But as the year drew to a close, work still continued on the project on various

parts of Columbia Street

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Although livability and sewer construction issues created challenges for folks living and working in the downtown in 2022, it was also a time for celebration.

In June, the City of New Westminster celebrated the 10th anniversary ofWestminster Pier Park The summer of 2022 marked the return of the ever-popular Fridays on Front events

In the summer, crowds descended on Columbia Street for the first COVID-era return of the NewWest Pride Street Festival and the first-ever Car Free Day

As 2022 came to an end, the downtown sparkled with Shine Bright NewWest light displays, festive shopping nights and other community events

Cover stories: Here are the stories highlighted on the front page

Images of 2022: Today’s front cover features some highlights of the past year, in photographic form. Clockwise from top left: New West Pride’s Street Party returned in style in August; May Day brought the tra-

ditional festivities back to Queen’s Park; Remembrance Day returned to a major in-person ceremony at the cenotaph; newly elected mayor Patrick Johnstone hugs mom Marilyn

on election night in October; mourners gathered to remember Queen Elizabeth II in September (photo

Church, which became the centre for the city’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February; downtown New West hosted its first Car Free Day festival n the summer; and

Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) performed at RiverFest, which drew crowds back to the waterfront in September for its first large COVID-era gathering.

HEARTOFTHECITY:ColumbiaStreetdominatedtheheadlinesin2022,makingdowntownNewWestminster ourtopnewsissueoftheyear. PHOTOJENNIFERGAUTHIER/RECORDFILES

by Julie MacLellan); Rev. Mykhailo Ozorovych at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian

Photos by Jennifer Gauthier (unless otherwise indicated)

LOOKING BACK: TOP NEWS STORIES OF 2022

October election brings changes to city council, school board

A civic election will inevitably dominate the headlines and when the departure of a popular mayor paves the way for a hard-fought three-way race, it’s even more in the spotlight

Such was the case in NewWestminster after

mayor Jonathan Cote announced he wouldn’t run for re-election

The Oct. 15 election saw Patrick Johnstone capture the mayor’s seat for Community First New West defeating the NewWest Progressives’ Ken Armstrong and inde-

pendent candidate (and former city councillor) Chuck Puchmayr Johnstone led his Community First teammates incumbents Jaimie McEvoy and Nadine Nakagawa, with newcomers Ruby Campbell andTasha Hender-

son to another victory for the NDP-affiliated, labour-endorsed team

But this time, it wasn’t a sweep: the Progressives’ Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas broke in, leaving Community First incumbent Chinu Das and newcomer Bereket Kebede

out in the cold

The Progressives’ incumbent trustee, Danielle Connelly, also won re-election to school board, where she sits with six Community First representatives: incumbents Maya Russell, Dee Beattie and Gurveen Dhaliwal,

plus newcomers Elliott Slinn, Cheryl Sluis and Marc Andres

And, as it turned out, NewWest folks were following the results closely: our election night coverage online proved to be our best-read local news story of 2022.

SHINE BRIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Monday,

REASONS FOR

LIGHT

Find 12 eco-art sculptures named for reasons to enjoy the seasons, such as love and generosity Created by local artist Nickie Lewis, the sculptures will “shine bright” with lights at night in New Westminster parks. Lewis’s art installations focus on nature and sustainability Find the location map at newwestcity.ca/shinebright

CHRISTMAS TREE CHIP: Join the New Westminster Firefighters Charitable Society for this event in front of City Hall (511 Royal Ave) Bring your Christmas tree for chipping by donation on Saturday, Jan 7 or Sunday, Jan 8, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

TAXES AND UTILITIES YEAR-END REMINDER

CITY HALL HOLIDAY HOURS

For other City facility and services holiday hours, visit our website at newwestcity.ca/holiday-hours

LOOKING BACK: TOP NEWS STORIES OF 2022

Mother Nature strikes back: A year of wild weather

JulieMacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord ca

In the wake of the late-November snowstorm that brought traffic in the city to a halt, we headed to the files to check out all things weather-related from 2022

The year had kicked off with a rarely seen snow day for NewWestminster schools, thanks to a large dump of snow in early January The snow day didn’t affect many kids, as it happened, because a full return to classes was delayed by the arrival of the Omicron variant But it certainly provided a beautiful white backdrop for those who wanted to play in the snow and a nightmare for drivers who’d have preferred anything but It was just the first of

what would become a series of weather-related news stories throughout the year

In June,Tracey McKinlay’s family went public with their sister’s story The NewWestminster woman was one of 619 British Columbians who lost their lives in the heat dome of 2021, and her sisters spearheaded a campaign to raise awareness of the need to protect vulnerable residents in the event of more extreme heat

The heat didn’t return with the ferocity of 2022, but wildfires once again caused air quality problems throughout MetroVancouver at times throughout the summer

Much more unusually, the heat and air quality issues extended well into

the fall with air quality advisories, smoky skies and glowing red sunrises in NewWest well into October

Then November arrived, and with it a massive windstorm that knocked out power and uprooted some giant trees around NewWestminster

The city warned people to stay away from treed parks and public spaces as it worked to clean up damage throughout New Westminster.

NewWest barely had time to catch its breath when the next big weather event arrived: the Nov 29 storm that started with a snowfall warning and ended up in a night of chaos, as bridges closed and traffic around the region ground to a halt.

In NewWestminster,

major routes came to a standstill as drivers had nowhere to go The city opened a warming centre at Queen’s Park Arena that stayed open until past 2 a m to offer refuge for stranded drivers

Around the city, residents stepped up to help spending hours push-

ing stuck cars up hills, offering food and drinks to folks stuck in traffic, and even opening their homes for commuters to use washrooms and get warm In Queensborough, volunteers from the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar offered food and hot drinks to drivers and provided

a place to sleep for those who couldn’t make it home at all.

The night of chaos led regional politicians, including NewWestminster city councillor Daniel Fontaine, to call for a “snow summit” with regional and provincial officials to help debrief on what led to the problems and try to stop it from happening again

And did we mention the return of snow and freezing rain that led to a warning to stay off the roads as the city headed into Christmas weekend?

Whew

In short?That was more than enough weather excitement for one year. Let’s hope Mother Nature decides to play it cool and serve us up a boring year in 2023

Topic:

back at the bike lane debate that heated up in 2022

“Manifesting 2023 as the year where we no longer whine about bike lanes They’re a universal good They make cities greener and safer ”

“Have you cycled in the snow this week? When I walk, I fear cyclists more than I do car drivers most pedal pushers do not stop for me at crosswalks nor do they care. ”

MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY

Will a new ministry help B.C. cope with natural disasters?

One of the more intriguing moves made by Premier David Eby when he appointed his new cabinet was the creation of a brand-new ministry to focus on planning for natural disasters, particularly those caused by climate change.

Its official name is the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, and the minister is Bowinn Ma, the MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. She had previously served in a junior portfolio as the Minister of State for Infrastructure.

Ma will likely fast become a familiar face if the pattern of weather and natural disasters that have befallen B C in recent years continues, and there is no reason to think

they won’t.

The last few years have featured extraordinary events that were almost unheard of previously: a record-setting “heat dome” that claimed more than 600 lives, more than 1,000 wildfires that destroyed an entire town and an “atmospheric river” that brought devastating flooding to the Fraser Valley.

Most recently, a record cold snap and a huge snowfall brought parts of B.C. to a halt and exposed the weakness of municipal and provincial snow-clearing abilities (something hardly given even a thought to until this year)

Ma has already held one news conference (along with Transportation Minister Rob

Fleming) to deal with the recent snow and cold weather event, and she is certain to be holding many more in the time ahead.

But aside from building a public profile, Ma will also be expected to steadily improve the co-ordination of various ministries and different levels of government to respond to emergencies.

It will be interesting to see how Ma works with municipal governments when dealing with disasters. Will the province take more control when it comes to mass flooding or huge snowfalls?

Eby has already indicated he is prepared to go over municipalities’ heads when it comes to creating housing, so it is quite possible Ma may take the same approach

The creation of this new ministry is a sign that climate change and its devastating effects are now elevated to a top level of government concern (emergency management had previously been part of the public safety ministry).

B.C. got its first health minister in the 1940s as population growth resulted in a more complicated and larger health-care system.

In 1975, as environmental values began to take hold in the public consciousness, the province’s first standalone environment ministry was created.

And now we have a climate readiness portfolio Welcome to the times

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

Sarah Siegel via Facebook

Mary Ruth via Facebook

DAVID EBY

LOOKING BACK: TOP NEWS STORIES OF 2022

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

One of Jonathan Cote’s final motions as mayor continues to reverberate through some communities within NewWestminster

In July, city council approved Cote’s motion to begin the process of updating the City of New Westminster’s logo and phasing out the use of the “Royal City” moniker in its branding The motion also called on the city to develop a plan to engage with the community in the development “of a new brand identity that is inclusive and allows for collective pride in our city”

Coun. Chuck Puchmayr joked that Cote had left council with “a nice parting grenade” before the

election Council approved the motion, with only Puchmayr voting in opposition

Cote said he didn’t view his motion as leaving a grenade for the next council, but as being the right time to engage in this conversation He told council that when he sends letters to Indigenous Nations, it’s done on City of New Westminster letterhead bearing a colonial crown

“From my perspective, I think that’s not appropriate for that to be the symbol of our city,” he said

Some community members fully supported council’s view that it’s time for NewWestminster to rebrand and move away from the Royal City nickname and crown logo, and it’s time to select a logo that’s more reflective of to-

day’s NewWestminster not the city named by QueenVictoria in 1859, and thereby dubbed the Royal City

But many community members were devastated and angered by council’s decision Some said it’s an important part of the city’s heritage, while others expressed concern that the change would negatively impact the plethora of businesses using Royal City in their names.

The decision, which came three months before October’s municipal election, led to a petition launched by the NewWest Progressives Hundreds of people signed an online petition calling on the city to save the Royal City moniker

Council’s decision also resulted in hundreds of

up months of debate

comments on various social media platforms and many letters to the editor of the Record

While housing, infrastructure and crime were top issues in the 2022 civic election campaign, residents also raised the Royal City issue at several allcandidates meetings on the campaign trail

During the election campaign, the lone independent councillor candidate, the NewWest Progressives team of council candidates and Puchmayr, running as an independent mayoral candidate, all pledged to review or reverse the decision

THE LATEST

The issue returned to the forefront on Dec 12, when, at council’s final meeting of 2022, the

two NewWest Progressive candidates on council Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas brought forward a motion calling on the city to halt the phasing out of the Royal City moniker in its official branding, and that no changes to the city’s branding be undertaken without due notice and proper consultation with residents, businesses and Indigenous people

Fontaine said the motion would “rectify the problem” that was started in the summer

At that meeting, council asked staff about the use of the Royal City moniker and was told it had not been used by the city since its sesquicentennial celebrations in 2009

Council voted 4-2 in support of a ruling by

Mayor Patrick Johnstone that the motion was out of order because it didn’t give any new direction to staff (The two NewWest Progressive councillors opposed the ruling, while the four Community First NewWest officials supported it )

Fontaine said the “out of order” ruling didn’t make sense because council had no issues considering Cote’s motion in July, even though the moniker wasn’t being used at that time either

“I think what’s important for the community to hear is nothing’s going to change from our current status quo,” said Coun Tasha Henderson “They will not notice a change in anything without community consultation ”

JulieMacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord ca

The year began in New Westminster, as it did across B C and far beyond, with the rise of yet another variant: Omicron Before we’d all even

learned how to pronounce yet another letter of the Greek alphabet, the latest evolution of SARS-CoV-2 was already wreaking havoc COVID testing capabilities collapsed under the weight of the highly transmissible new variant,

and it quickly became impossible to know just how many cases there really were anywhere

The NewWestminster school district saw students return to school in January amidst the uncertainty of the massive

Omicron wave, and SD40 quickly put plans in place to cope

In January, the school district put HEPA filtration units into place in all its portables, plus the two school sites that weren’t capable of run-

ning MERV-13 filters: the old Skwo:wech Elementary School (replaced with a shiny new facility in March) and the leased space at Columbia Square that houses the RCAP and POWER alternate programs.

With students back in class and Omicron rising, the district also laid out its plans for “functional closures” the B C government’s term for school shutdowns if too many staff members were absent at one time and sent home rapid antigen test kits with students as part of a B C -wide push to get RATs into the hands of all K-12 students

Free rapid antigen test kits became available to NewWest residents at pharmacies across the city

After that, the year saw COVID-19 begin to fade somewhat from the headlines, as it was no longer possible to track how many local cases of the virus there were, nor what impact it was having in local schools and workplaces

Heading into the new school year in September the fourth school year to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic NewWest students returned to the most “normal” year since the rise of COVID, with no mask mandates, restrictions on gatherings or other COVID-era precautions in place.

The Protect Our Province B C coalition, including NewWestminster’s Dr Lyne Filiatrault, a former ER physician, called on the province to get serious about COVID-19 in schools to stem the tide of COVID in children, highlighting the impacts of long COVID on children in B C and beyond

The B C government continued to stress vaccination as key to coping with the pandemic.

The COVID-19 vaccine campaign continued

throughout the year, with some bumps along the way including a glitch that caused a delay in rolling out kids’ booster shots before the start of the new school year

Despite the hiccups, NewWestminster remained a vaccination leader in B C , consistently posting vaccination rates that were the highest or near-highest in the Fraser Health region.

Vaccination rates among children, however, remained low: as of Dec. 4, just 13 per cent of the youngest children (aged 0-4) had received their second dose of vaccine, and just 25 per cent of five-to-11-year-olds had received their boosters

To complicate matters, heading into the late fall and winter, a new healthcare crisis loomed: a “tripledemic” of respiratory illness in children

The province saw the return of RSV, followed by a spike in influenza-A that has driven up ER visits and hospitalizations to record levels and claimed the lives of six British Columbian children (as of mid-December).

In response, the Ministry of Health launched a vaccination blitz in early December encouraging families to get their children vaccinated for flu, too The blitz had some effect, bringing immunization rates up slightly, but around three-quarters of B C children still remained unprotected

Heading into the holiday season, the surge of respiratory illness showed no signs of abating, and hospitals around B.C. were feeling the strain, and provincial health officials were continuing to urge people to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19

With influenza surging and COVID-19 still in play, one thing is clear: The pandemic, in all its many facets, isn’t going anywhere soon

New Westminster schools hit the headlines

When it comes to headlines, school board often takes a back seat to city council But this year, two school-related issues hit our list of the top news stories of 2022

NWSS SAFETY

It’s an issue that has simmered in the background for months, even years

But it wasn’t until this past April that the issue of harassment, rape culture and sexual violence at NWSS exploded into the headlines

It began with a small group of students speaking up at an open school board meeting to share their concerns about ongoing gender-based harassment at the city’s only high school A couple of weeks later, the school’s SEAS (Safety, Education, Advocacy and Support) group organized a walkout and thrust the issue into the media spotlight as more than 200 students rallied at the school district offices and on the high school field

Their message: Enough is enough, and we deserve to feel safe at school

Efforts have continued, largely out of the public eye, to deal with the concerns the students raised But the overriding issue of safety at school hasn’t gone away

A “blunt-force weapon” assault in the high school

parking lot, which was attended by the NewWestminster Police Department’s gang unit, raised fears in April

Then, in the new school year this fall, came a series of incidents that reignited concerns about how safe or unsafe the school is.

Those included a pepper-spraying incident on Oct 12, followed by firecrackers being set off in the Grand Commons Oct 31 and in second-floor bathrooms on Nov 1

NewWestminster Teachers’ Union president Kristie Oxley, in a letter to the school board, said some staff and students thought the noise of the firecrackers was the sound of a weapon being fired

“The resulting panic was traumatizing,” she wrote.

Then, on Nov 16, a student set fire to the second-floor bathroom, sending thick black smoke billowing into the hallways The school was evacuated quickly, and Oxley said staff and administrators handled the incident well to keep everyone safe

But the incident was sufficient to spark both the teachers’ union and CUPE Local 409, which represents school support staff, to approach the school district for action.

School District 40 has met with school, parent and student representa-

tives to talk over their concerns over safety, and it’s coming up with a multi -pronged approach to address the issues.

The school will see more surveillance cameras installed, particularly covering hallways and entranceways, along with more education on health- and safety-related matters for students, plus some practical changes such as installing metal toilet paper dispensers in the washrooms and looking into installing vape detectors.

That work is planned to continue into 2023 What effect it will have on the school climate has yet to be determined, but one thing is clear:This is an issue that won’t be fading from the headlines any

time soon

A CRISIS OF SPACE

There’s been some good news on the school construction front in 2022, as the brand-new Skwo:wech Elementary School opened its doors to students after March break (only slightly later than hoped), and work on the new Queen Elizabeth Elementary School got underway

But School District 40 is still struggling to keep up with fast-growing enrolment as the city’s population growth and rapidly densifying central core put continued pressure on its already at-capacity schools

The school district suffered a blow this spring when it was shut out of

the B.C. Ministry of Education’s major capital funding announcements. It didn’t get any of the $200 million-plus it had asked for, including money it wanted for a much-needed new elementary school and a new middle school in the Fraser River zone.

But the district did get a kernel of good news, as the ministry acknowledged the need for a new elementary school and cleared SD40 to begin working on a concept plan

Though no funding has been announced, the district has pushed forward with plans In September, the district revealed its plans for a new 600-student elementary school on the site adjacent to Simcoe Park that’s currently occupied by Fraser River Middle School and the district offices

But that school won’t be finished until at least 2027, which leaves the district scrambling for space in the meantime.

The pressure is particularly acute at École Qayqayt Elementary School, where the district announced it would introduce a lottery for kindergarten registration starting in September 2023

A short-term capacity review also led the district to make some tough decisions this year

In the fall, the school

board announced that NewWestminster Family Place would have to vacate the community space it occupies at Qayqayt, and that infant-toddler daycare centres at Qayqayt and nearby Fraser River Middle School would also be forced out to make way for more classrooms

The move of the daycare centres has stirred up concern among families, who say the planned move of the centres to other neighbourhoods to F.W. Howay Elementary School in MasseyVictory Heights and to Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary School in theWest End will pose enormous challenges for families who rely on proximity to the downtown core

Other changes may be on the horizon in 2023

The school district is also undertaking a review of its programs of choice (French immersion, Montessori and Home Learners) with a focus on the educational needs of each program, but also with a view to figuring out how they will fit in district facilities into the future.

How will these stories end?

That remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: Like safety in schools, the crisis of space in School District 40 will still be in the headlines in 2023

– Julie MacLellan

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

A brouhaha about bike lanes breaks out in many cities when new cycling infrastructure is introduced and NewWestminster is no different

debate proves polarizing

Construction of the NewWestminster Secondary School cycling connector and plans for an All Ages and Abilities Active Transportation Network Plan generated considerable discussion in 2022 among those for and against the plans.

In January, city council endorsed the preferred options for the permanent Rotary Crosstown Greenway upgrade (between Fifth and Eighth streets) that includes construction.

In February, the city embarked on a second round of public engagement, with input being used to help refine the designs as the project moved towards construction in the summer and fall of 2022

In April, the Uptown Business Association appeared before city council to voice concerns about the plan to create a separate bike lane in the 700 block of Sixth Street It expressed concern that the removal of on-street parking would hurt small businesses in the area.

“They are highly, highly dependent on that quick in and out for their customers to reach them,” Bart Slotman, president of the Uptown BIA, told council. “Removing these parking stalls will negatively affect those retailers, and that’s at a time when everybody is struggling to regain their business in a

post-COVID world ”

Concerns really ramped up in August, when construction began on the block-and-a-half NWSS cycling corridor.

Critics took to many social media platforms to criticize the project, and it was also raised as an issue at some of the all-candidates meetings held in the lead-up to the Oct. 15 civic election

The Record was flooded with letters to the editor from folks opposing the project but it also received some heartfelt letter from cyclists saying local bike lanes are well used and expressing gratitude for the city’s plans to create cycling infrastructure

Active transportation advocates, including families wearing cycling helmets and representatives from HUB Cycling New Westminster, appeared before council on several occasions during the year to advocate for safe cycling infrastructure.

On Oct 3, council adopted its All Ages and Abilities ActiveTransportation Network Plan The city has identified 26 corridors for the $36-million network, with the intention to implement them within a five-year period (Budgets for these initiatives still have to be approved )

In late November, the owner of Beach House Tanning told council that

the bike lanes are killing her business Following her plea for assistance, council directed staff to reach out to businesses along the Sixth Street corridor to see if they’ve been impacted by the bike lanes

When staff reported back to council about concerns voiced by businesses, council directed staff to consider potential measures to mitigate business and public concerns

Mayor Patrick Johnstone said the issue of safe routes to school is something the city has been supporting for years through its active transportation planning. He said it’s something that’s been requested by the school district and community members.

“This is not a willy-nilly decision to build a bike lane,” he said. “This one was driven by city policy, and it was driven by people coming to this council chamber, and coming to our youth advisory committee, to our active transportation committee; youth coming from the high school and asking us to provide this safe cycling infrastructure.”

As 2022 came to a close, the city had yet to determine what if any mitigation measures to address concerns about the Sixth Street bike lanes. Stay tuned for more on that issue in 2023

Please send your information for inclusion to editorial@newwestrecord.ca

Find more events online: www.newwestrecord.ca/local-events editorial@newwestrecord.ca

THURSDAY, DEC. 29 TO SATURDAY, DEC. 31

WILL’S JAMS AT WINTER CELEBRATIONS

Here’s a musician who can get kids humming about renewable energy and bike safety Will Stroet, a Juno-nominated musician, educator and a former CBC Kids TV star, will be bringing his high-energy kids’ rock-pop music to the Anvil Centre ballroom (777 Columbia St ) this weekend as part of the ongoingWinter Celebrations Take your tiny tots to the concert where they can bob their heads to singalong choruses that inspire them to be creative, caring and community-minded Tickets are priced at $5 to $10 plus service charges

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 29, 11 to 11:50 a.m.

WHERE: Anvil Centre ballroom, 777 Columbia St. INFO AND TICKETS: www.ticketsnw.ca.

Photo contributed Will Stroet brings his Will’s Jams show to the Anvil Centre ballroom as part of the Winter Celebrations You can catch him today (Thursday, Dec 29)

THURSDAY, DEC. 29

LEARN CODING

If your all-time favourite fictional characters include Robby the Robot,Wall-E or Marvin the Paranoid Android, you might be a little curious to know how these robots work Here’s your chance to learn to write code that will guide robots to do what you ask them to do The class, organized by NewWestminster Public Library (716 Sixth

Ave.), is free and open to all ages.To register, call 604-527-4677 or send an email to youth@nwpl ca It runs from 2 to 3 p m

MORE: www.newwestcity.ca/shinebright

THURSDAY, DEC. 29

MOLLY’S COMEDY CABARET

For some, the year might have brought that long-awaited promotion, and for some others, a ton of reasons to whine about

Either way, bid adieu to 2022 with a splash of humour. Singer and actress MollyWilson will be performing a show at the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.) that’s a mix of comedy and music featuring pop, rock, Motown and Broadway songs.The musical variety show, as perWilson, is “engaging, interactive and guaranteed to tickle your funny bone ”Tickets to the show are priced at $10 to $20 plus service charges

The show starts at 7:30 p m as part of the Anvil Centre’sWinter Celebrations MORE: See www.ticketsnw.ca.

FRIDAY, DEC. 30

PAINT NIGHT

As the sun sets on the last weekday of the year, head to Paddlewheeler Pub (810 Quayside Dr ) to mark the occasion on a canvas With a frothy beer in one hand, and a paintbrush in another, create a masterpiece depicting an alpine mountain sunset For a ticket priced at $39, you will get a canvas, paint supplies, step-by-step instructions from an artist, and a beer or wine of your choice. Since the venue is a full-fledged restaurant, you can always pair your drink with snacks, or follow it up with

another.

MORE: Sign up at www.tinyurl.com/ NWPaintNightDec30

FRIDAY, DEC. 30

CHRISTMAS DINNER CRUISE

Christmas is not over at least for Paddlewheeler RiverboatTours The company is offering a three-hour Christmas dinner cruise, running from 6 to 9 p m , where you can enjoy a three-course dinner featuring carved roast turkey and more while sailing in a 100-passenger paddlewheeler that’s decked out with Christmas lights and decor Check in at the company’s booth on the boardwalk located below the Inn AtThe Quay Hotel (900 Quayside Dr ) 30 minutes before departure time

MORE: www.vancouverpaddlewheeler. com.

– compiled by Naveena Vijayan

No,we haven’t forgotten NewYear’s Eve! Check out our special listings on page 14

NaveenaVijayan nvijayan@newwestrecord ca

You probably are all set for the NewYear with a shiny new planner and a crisp list of resolutions; but while you wait for the clock to strike 12 on Dec 31, don’t miss out on all these events around the city.

FAMILY CEILIDH

If you are Scottish, Irish or a die-hard Outlander fan, you probably know what a ceilidh is For

those who don’t, it’s a social gathering where people dance to Scottish or Irish folk music As part of its winter celebrations, the Anvil Centre (777, Columbia St.) is hosting a family ceilidh event featuringVancouver-based folk band Blackthorn.Which means you finally get to strut your stuff to some peppy Celtic numbers Don’t know the steps? Not to worry; there’ll be a dance caller at the event to show you exactly how to move

When: Friday, Dec 30; 7 30 to 9 30 p m

Details: anviltheatre.ca/ event/family-ceilidhblackthorn

BOOGIE-WOOGIE NIGHT

Usher in the NewYear while noshing on a plate of lemon fries and listening to blues music at a local pub with friends Begbie’s Tavern (609 Columbia St.) will be hosting a party featuring the boogie-woogie rock ’n’ roll groupThe MikeVan Eyes Band to bid farewell to 2022

For a $25 ticket, you get to be part of a party that continues to the wee hours of the morning all while listening to artists who have headlinedVancouver’s acclaimed music venues such as the Railway Club andTheYale.

When: Saturday, Dec 31; 9 p m to 1 a m

Details: Begbie’sTavern Facebook page (find it at

@judgebegbies)

VINYL SPINNING AND BEERS

Steel and Oak Brewing Company (1319Third Ave ), which recently organized an analog vinyl fair and an evening dedicated to holiday-themed vinyl music, is bringing the magic of vinyl spinning again for its NewYear’s Eve party

At the “low-key” event, you can order your favourite cocktail, beer, wine or cider (or even non-alcoholic drinks such as ginger beer and kombucha), and get funky-chicken dancing to the bangers that the brewery decides to play

When: Dec 31; 8 p m to 1 a.m.

Details: steelandoak ca/ events/so-nye/

MEATLOAF DINNER AND LIVE MUSIC

If getting down on the dance floor is only a second priority to a grand dinner of meatloaf with mashed potatoes and some roasted veggies for you, head to the local watering hole, Paddlewheeler Pub (810 Quayside Dr )

At their NewYear’s Eve party, settle down with your plate of food, and indulge in some prosecco and sangria with a side of pretzels as you gently tap your feet to the live music by the blues/roots duo Harris & DeBray Entry is priced at $11 62 per head

When: Dec. 31; 7 p.m. to

1 a m

Details: Check out paddlewheelerpub.net

CHAMPAGNE TOAST AND DANCING

Always imagined a picture-perfect NewYear’s Party to include champagne corks popping, people dancing, a DJ mixing beats?Well, here’s your chance to be in one Georgie’s Local Kitchen and Bar (250 Columbia St ) will be hosting a DJ and Dance Party where you can burn up the dance floor until the clock strikes 12, and then pause to welcome the new year with the bar’s complimentary champagne toast

When: Dec 31; 9 p m to midnight

Details: Check out www. georgieslocal ca

QUIETALTERNATIVE

Not into the idea of partying?Try an escape into nature instead If communing with the great outdoors is more your style, check out our list of suggestions online at www tinyurl com/ HugATreeNW2022

Christmas Day is behind us, but the season of giving continues and so does the need for help.

To recognize some of the many organizations in NewWest that provide services to older adults (and beyond), we’re offering up some highlights from our annual Guide to Giving Check it out if you’d like to help these groups continue making a difference in 2023

CENTURY HOUSE ASSOCIATION

What does it do?

Century House, a recreation centre for adults aged 50 and older, was built in 1958 by the City of NewWestminster Its purpose is to provide yearround leisure, educational and social activities for senior adults and to provide

an environment where members feel positive selfworth through acceptance by others, belonging, community, recognition, contribution and achievements.

The Century House Association, which works collaboratively with city’s parks and recreation department, currently has 45 activity groups and a growing membership of 2,100 It offers a wide range of activities, including registered programs, volunteer opportunities, special events, bus trips and Connections Café, as well as some activities with the youth centre that’s located in the same building in Moody Park.

Other services include the peer support program, support groups, committees, leadership training,

and safe spaces (including Senior Gay Straight Alliance) and performance-based activity committees, including theatre and music

How can you help?

Century House Association, a registered charity, greatly appreciates financial donations, which support its activity groups, services and events.You can choose to donate to general, peer support, the bursary fund or wherever it is needed

To make a tax-deductible donation or to leave a legacy through your will, contact the front office at 604-519-1066, or donate online at www.century houseassociation com

Century House is at 620 Eighth St , in Moody Park.

CENTURY HOUSE ASSOCIATION PEER SUPPORT CHAPS

What does it do?

The Century House Association Peer Support program supports trained senior volunteers to provide emotional support to seniors in a one-on-one format. Peer support volunteers are trained to support people through life’s transitions, such as bereavement, loneliness/isolation, downsizing, moving, and/or the loss of a friend or partner, as well as listening to caregivers who need to talk

The Peer Support Program (formerly the Senior Peer Counselling Program) provides confidential, no-cost, one-toone support Peer support can be in person, over the phone or via Zoom Dur-

local seniors

ing its 35-year history, the program has supported individuals suffering from effects of dementia, physical injury, mental health and addictions, social isolation and depression.

How can you help?

Donations are an essential part of CHAPS’ yearly fundraising and are taxdeductible

To donate online go to www canadahelps ca Enter Century House Senior Citizens Activity Association in the search box and then choose the Senior Peer Counsellors option

You can also donate by cheque or cash at the Century House front desk (620 Eighth St.). Cheques should be made payable to Century House Association Senior Peer Counsellors. For further infor-

mation call Pat McDonald at the peer counselling office at 604-519-1064

QUEEN’S PARK HEALTHCARE VOLUNTEER SOCIETY

What does it do?

The Queen’s Park HealthcareVolunteer Society raises money for resident-oriented programs and capital expenditures for the Queen’s Park Healthcare Centre and adjacentWilliam Rudd House, a long-term care facility for young adults It provides funding for projects and programs not funded by Fraser Health Authority

In addition to donations, the society generates revenue through the operation of Quintessential, the gift shop in the lobby

of Queen’s Park Care Centre, and the annual Homes for Holidays homes tour

How can you help?

The society’s biggest need is for volunteers, as its goal is to keep its gift shop open daily from 10 a m to 4 p m , so residents, staff and visitors have access to the shop

“The extended COVID lockdown decimated our volunteer base, and rebuilding it is proving to be a challenge,” said Colleen McDonald, who coordinates the homes tour “If you want to make a difference, we’ve got a spot for you For a commitment of as little as three hours a week, you can make a world of difference to the quality of life for the resi-

dents of both facilities.”

Email Janice Cook at cookjan@gmail com or Colleen McDonald at clsmcdonald@telus net

ROYAL COLUMBIAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

What does it do?

The Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is an independent charitable organization that raises funds for major projects, priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at Royal Columbian Hospital one of B.C.’s busiest hospitals. A regional referral hospital for cardiac, trauma, neurosciences, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care, RCH is the only hospital in British Columbia that provides all of

these services, at this level of care, on one site

RCH is currently undergoing a multi-year, multi-phase $1 49-billion redevelopment, which includes a new acute care tower that will have an interventional super floor with operating rooms and interventional radiology and cardiology suites, a new emergency department with its own imaging unit, new and larger maternity, pediatric, and neonatal intensive care units, and multiple floors for acute and critical care patients This second phase of redevelopment follows the completion in 2020 of a new mental health and substance-use wellness centre.

“Donors to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation are helping to

support the hospital’s redevelopment every step of the way,” said a statement from the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation

How can you help?

One-time or monthly donations are appreciated Donors can also make donations in memory or in tribute of loved ones A new option is to shop in an e-commerce store, where you can purchase items for patients and staff

For more information or to make a donation, go to www rchfoundation com.

SENIORS SERVICES SOCIETY

What does it do?

Seniors Services Society of BC is a NewWestbased non-profit organi-

zation that connects B.C. adults aged 60 and older to housing navigation services and supports that help them age well and thrive A core element of the society is the focus on providing equitable support to the most vulnerable seniors across the province, including those who are homeless or atrisk

How can you help?

The Seniors Services Society has just wound up its annual Santa for Seniors program, where folks pick the name of a senior from a tree at participating businesses and buy items for those folks

If you missed out, don’t worry: People can make donations to the Seniors Services Society of BC year-round. Details about

the organization are available at its website, www seniorsservicessociety ca “We are grateful to the community for coming together to support vulnerable seniors during the winter months,” said Nipa Bhalla, who oversees resource development with the Seniors Services Society of BC “Your generosity helps countless seniors transition from street to home, live independently and feel less isolated in the NewWestminster community.”

To volunteer with the society, go to www seniorsservicessociety.ca/ volunteer

For more information, contact Nipa Bhalla at nipa@sssbc.ca.

– compiled byTheresa McManus

Be prepared for emergencies in every season

Older adults are more at risk during emergencies

MargaretCoates

AsWe Age contributor

The winter months can be magical We might cozy down with a blanket and a good book or movie, go for a walk on a crisp winter day, or enjoy the holiday atmosphere generated by the many celebrations held at this time of year.

It is hard to think that this cold weather, as well as the summer sun, can cause negative impacts for seniors However, according to the report Closing the Gaps:Advancing Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery for Older Adults, “compared to other age groups, older adults consistently experience the greatest proportion of casualties during and after emergencies both in Canada and internationally”

As we have seen reported in the media, natural disasters are increasing in frequency and severity across Canada due to climate change It seems we can expect more heat waves, forest fires (and their attendant smoke issues), drought and heavy rainfall.

We may also expect to see more serious side effects of the pandemic such as long COVID, additional virus variants and a spike in other respiratory

diseases It is with some dismay that I witness the rise in respiratory infections in very young people, and of course seniors with respiratory conditions are also susceptible

Though information and action around emergency preparedness has improved, there is still a lot to be done to increase resiliency around negative climate impacts, especially for seniors In the report mentioned earlier, the author recommends the country prepare for disasters at the individual, organizational, community and governmental levels

See sidebar for details of one NewWestminster effort to do just that Elsewhere in the region, organizations on the North Shore looked for

and received funding for partnership projects to assist seniors in becoming more aware of emergencies and how to prepare

One partnership project is looking at providing a program in seniors buildings A volunteer group within a building would provide information and strategies to prepare residents to deal with a disaster Another age-friendly project is looking at building seniors’ resiliency around emergencies by providing information in groups, through friendly phone calls and delivering resource kits directly to seniors of diverse backgrounds

At the community level, agencies have also increased their efforts to

including those caused by winter weather

provide supports for older people, such as cooling and water stations, as well as hot meals and shelter in the colder months Many of the groups have stockpiled fans to give out in the hotter months, too

In terms of the province’s role, it was great to hear recently that the new Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness has been established

But as the report I referred to above says, there is much that you as a senior can do to prepare for emergencies

For example, you can prepare disaster kits and make evacuation plans The kit should contain supplies such as food, water, clothing, medication, batteries and chargers It should also have a list of emergency phone contacts including family and friends If this seems overwhelming, some organizations such as Canadian Red Cross have readymade disaster kits.

The province’s website on emergency preparedness suggests a “grab and go” kit, which is a bit smaller than a stay-athome emergency kit but easy to take if you have to leave your home quickly One of my favourite pieces of advice is to stick an old pair of sneakers un-

How one New West program will help vulnerable seniors

A New Westminster project aimed at helping vulnerable seniors in emergency situations got a provincial boost earlier this year.

The City of New Westminster received a $15,000 Age-Friendly Communities grant to help it implement a Connect and Prepare pilot project at a local seniors’ housing complex.

The project is being launched at Ross Tower, a building that includes 96 units of subsidized housing and that serves what the city calls a “highly vulnerable” population including a high proportion of frail and live-alone seniors who have low levels of social connectedness and interaction.

“Connect and Prepare presents an innovative approach to building community emergency preparedness and resilience by strengthening social connections between neighbours,” a city report said. “Tenants would be guided to develop their skills to build stronger social networks as a foundation of community resilience and take collaborative action to prepare for acute emergencies and chronic stresses, especially related to climate change”

The city noted that recent emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, last summer’s heat dome and wildfires, and last fall’s B.C. floods, have been a wake-up call for many communities about the need to help residents be prepared for such events.

John Stark, the city’s supervisor of community planning, told council earlier this year that the project will include a coordinator to help bring people together He’s hoping that the project in Ross Tower can also be built out to other seniors’ independent living residences and then to market rental complexes in the community.

der your bed with a flashlight tucked into it In the event of a disaster, shoes are important protection from debris such as broken glass

I think we should hope

for the best, but be prepared in the event of an emergency Margaret Coates is the co-ordinator of Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society and AsWe Age contributor

Dr. Ajand Nobahari

Dr. Douglas Lovely Dr. Chantal Thériault Dr Stephen Yoon

It is w th great sadness that we announce the passing of our fr end Helen He en was predeceased by her parents; the love of her ife Rod; and her faithful “l tt e g rl” Murphy

She s survived by her brother Doug as (Susan); extended fam ly and a large community of friends Helen was a wonderful educator, she worked and ded cated 42 years at Sunny Hil Daycare Centre She enjoyed teaching the young ch ldren, they were the source of her biggest joy in ife Upon ret rement, she d vided her time between many arts pro ects, and crafts She spent hours knitting, pa nting, and plann ng her next projects Many of her creat ons were g fted to various loca char ties

Helen was never one to sit idled She always stepped-up and gave a hand when and where t was needed Later in ife, Helen took on a new cha lenge - teaching adults and becoming a board member at Burnaby s Community Centre Col ege for the Retired

In her free time, she walked Murphy and friends, supported her fr ends and ne ghbours in her strata and made her fr ends fee specia with all her l ttle attentions and great gift of t me He en’s ph losophy of l fe was to treat people with respect and k ndness She truly apprec ated what others brought nto her ife

Celebration of Life - Wi l take place n early 2023 Detai s to be confirmed

In ieu of flowers, donations in Helen’s memory to a char ty of cho ce or to one c ose

VEGH, Helen