New Westminster Record January 26 2023

Man stabbed, robbed in attack

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

A person was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an “unprovoked” stabbing and robbery in downtown NewWestminster on Saturday afternoon

MetroVancouverTransit Police and NewWestminster Police Department officers responded to a report of an assault at the Shops at NewWest on Saturday afternoon, saidTransit Police spokesperson Const Amanda Steed

“Officers arrived on scene and located a victim who was suffering from apparent stab wounds on board a bus,” she said

The NewWestminster station bus loop was closed and behind yellow tape while police investigated the Jan. 21 incident

The NewWestminster Police Department said its officers received a call at about 1:15 p m from someone who had found a man with numerous stab wounds

More construction noise allowed

Downtown NewWest residents may notice a little more noise than normal in the coming weeks

City council has approved an exemption to the city’s construction noise bylaw for Bosa Development

Normally, the city’s noise bylaw allows construction work to begin at 9 a m on Saturdays On Saturday, Feb 25, the company will be allowed to carry out work between 7 and 9 a m

The work involves the de-

livery of crane sections for the PierWest development, one of the tallest waterfront residential properties in the Lower Mainland.

Council also approved a noise exemption for Oscar Renda Contracting of Can-

ada for two weekday nights between Monday andThursday, from Jan 9 to May 19 The noise exemption will allow “sanitary vault entry” to be done as part of sewer rehabilitation on Columbia Street

–Theresa McManus

OUTSIDE/IN: The William Chernoff Jazz Trio (from left: Chernoff, Francis Henson and Carson Tworow) plays at Hyack Square during the first Outside/In event Jan 21 Catch the next event in the series this Saturday, Jan 28 see www tinyurl com/OutsideInNW PHOTO CHUNGCHOW

Police say assault at the Shops at New West was‘unprovoked’

Up Front

‘He helped me change the course of my life’

How one community member says a run-in with an NWPD constable turned their life around

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

A community member is thanking a NewWest police officer whose actions helped change their life for the better and inspired them to help others.

The police board’s January agenda included a Dec. 14 email to the New Westminster Police Department’s professional standards unit in which a writer thanked Const Curtis Heath and the NWPD for helping them months earlier when they were in a very toxic and self-destructive space in their life while dealing with past and current (at that time) traumas of abusive relationships

“My life seemed as

though it was spiralling, and I had an escalated altercation with Const Heath At the time I was very ungrateful for his support, but I realized he actually helped me change the course of my life,” said the email “He put my mental health first in a situation where I had no regard for my life ”

Heath is a member of the NWPD’s traffic unit, where one of his roles is enforcing the BC Motor Vehicle Act

The writer, whose name was withheld, said the outcome of their encounter with Heath was “a lot of tickets and fees.”

“But more importantly, I took the step of entering an outpatient program in regards to coping

with the challenges I have gone through in my life in a healthy way,” said the email “It helped me put my mental and physical health first, and it’s helped me become an advocate for women and the very real situations we encounter on a daily basis in regards to domestic violence and abuse By helping myself work through disconnecting from an abusive cycle, I was able to share my story, become confident in who I am, and help others ”

The writer thanked Heath for helping them and their family

“Your decision that day helped me change a lot of decisions in my life and inspired me to help others,” said the writer

Training cost hike hits police department budget

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

The NewWestminster police board is concerned about the rising costs of training recruits at the Justice Institute of BC

Jennifer Keyes, director of the Police Academy at the JIBC, wrote to NewWestminster Police Department Chief Const. Dave Jansen to alert him of tuition increases set to take effect in the spring of 2023

“The JIBC and the Police Academy have concluded their budget review and arrived at the decision to increase the per-recruit cost-recovery rate charged to the agencies by five per cent from the current amount of $22,110 to $23,215, effective April 1, 2023,” said the letter

“This is in line with the five per cent increase to the recruit tuition charge and will contribute to supporting a balanced Police Academy training

budget ”

At the Jan 17 New Westminster police board meeting, board member Heather Boersma voiced concerns about the increase in tuition and said the board shouldn’t “just accept price increases” without having a deeper conversation

‘UNEXPECTED’ INCREASE NOT IN 2023 BUDGET

Mayor Patrick Johnstone, who is also chair of the police board, questioned whether the police department had factored the increase into its 2023 budget.

Jansen said he received the letter in December, after the police board had approved the department’s 2023 budget (Municipal police boards are mandated to approve their budgets by Nov 30 of the preceding year )

“This was unexpected,” Jansen said Jansen said municipal police chiefs haven’t had an opportunity to meet and discuss the issue since receiving the letter Because of the timing of the announcement, Jansen said it wasn’t factored into the police department’s 2023 budget.

“This will be, again, another unfunded cost to the organization that we haven’t included in our budget with the city,” he said Jansen said he’ll get more information about the increases from other police chiefs and the JIBC and will report back to the board at its next meeting

He also said it’s something the NewWestminster police board’s representative to the B C Association of Police

Boards may want to raise as an issue

COSTS CLIMBING

In November, the police board supported a 2023 budget for the NewWestminster Police Department that includes increased costs for a number of items, including additional funding for sending recruits to the Justice Institute of B.C.The $29 26-million budget was an increase of $3 1 million from the 2022 budget.

(While the budget has been approved by the police board, it has not yet been approved by city council as part of the City of NewWestminster’s 2023 budget )

A November 2022 report to city council said the province and the Justice Institute had advised municipal police departments that, beginning in 2024, all mu-

nicipal police departments would have to start paying $22,000 for each recruit that they send to the JIBC Police Academy Originally set to be implemented in 2024, Police Services wrote to police boards and departments in May 2022 to advise that this timeline had changed and rather than implementing the new fee in 2024, it was effective immediately and retroactive to April 1, 2022.

“Municipal agencies are now required to contribute $22,000 per recruit,” said the report to council “In 2023, we are estimating nine recruits; therefore, we are requesting an additional $198,000 in funding to support this downloaded but mandatory increase ”

EQUITY CONCERNS

Johnstone said costs are

also rising for recruits, who are paying for a lot of their own education expenses

“If we’re trying to achieve equity goals in how we hire in the police force, that might create a barrier as well,” he said The chief will report back to the board at its February meeting on the reasons for the tuition increases, the issue of timing as it relates to the police board’s budget cycle and the impact rising tuitions are having on efforts to diversify the workforce.

At that time, the board can consider whether further conversations or advocacy are required regarding the issue

“Ultimately, this is being pushed by the provincial government funding models, so that’s where our advocacy has to go back,” Johnstone said “But we should be informed (about) why it’s happening and also informed about how it’s actually impacting our operations or how we want to operate ”

CHANGEMAKER: New Westminster Police Department Const Curtis Heath is getting praise for helping a community member turn their life around PHOTO NWPD

Dave Jansen NWPD chief

Patrick Johnstone mayor

Police seek witnesses in ‘unprovoked’ downtown stabbing

Continued from page 1

The NWPD is overseeing the investigation

“Officers rushed to the scene and located a man inside a bus with several stab wounds needing immediate medical aid,” said a NWPD press release “Officers provided aid, including the use of a tourniquet, until BC Ambulance Service arrived to transport the man to [a] nearby hospital ”

According to the NWPD, officers learned

that the victim had been stabbed and robbed near the parkade at the Shops at NewWest The victim fled from the suspect and sought refuge inside a bus.

“This appears to be an unprovoked attack There are no apparent connections between the victim and the assailant,” NWPD spokesperson Sgt Justine Thom said in a news release “Considering the time of day that this occurred, we believe there may be additional wit-

nesses to this assault that have yet to speak to police, and we are encouraging those people to come forward ” NewWest police searched the area but were unable to locate anyone matching the suspect description.

DID YOU SEE A MAN WITH A DARK SUITCASE?

The suspect is described as a Caucasian man, approximately 20 to 39 years of age, stand-

ing no more than 5-7 in height, with short hair and a medium build.The suspect, who was wearing a white jacket with black accents and a black backpack, may be in possession of a large, darkcoloured suitcase According to the NWPD, the victim is a man fromVancouver who was just passing through the area Police have learned he had a large suitcase with him that hasn’t been recovered

“The suspect may have spent some time in and around the Shops at New West before the assault and robbery occurred,” said a NWPD press release “If anyone has information on this assault or those involved, they are asked to call the New Westminster Police Department major crime unit tip line at 604-5292430 or send an email to mcucrimetips@nwpolice org.”

Earlier this month, a

man was rushed to hospital with “significant but non-life-threatening injuries” after a stabbing inside a SkyTrain car in NewWest.

The incident occurred during a fight on board a train at Columbia SkyTrain station on the evening of Jan 4, and a suspect was quickly arrested nearby.

In that case, police said they believe the suspect and the victim were known to each other

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023 AT 6:00 PM

Heritage Designation Bylaw No 8381, 2023 for 109 Third Avenue

An application has been received to voluntarily protect the G.R. Speck House, built in 1911, with a Heritage Designation Bylaw This means that any future changes to the exterior of the house and specifically listed interior features would require a heritage permit and further development would require approval from the City No zoning or development changes to the property are being considered at this time

HOW DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?

From January 19 to 30, 2023, copies of the proposed bylaw and related material are available for inspection at Legislative Services, City Hall 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday, and online at: www.newwestcity ca/publicnotices

HOW CAN I BE HEARD?

• Written submissions by email, post or dropping off at the mailbox on the north side of City Hall are welcome and encouraged. • Speak at the meeting by computer smart device or phone via Zoom:

Starting at 8:30 am on January 19, 2023, register online at speakers.newwestcity.ca, or contact Legislative Services to register to speak: Phone: 604-527-4523 Legislative Services Department, Email: clerks@newwestcityca 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 1H9

Written comments received by 5:00 pm, three business days before the meeting will be included in the agenda package Later comments received until the close of the hearing will be distributed on table at the meeting All comments are published.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 2023 Shine Bright newwestcity.ca/shinebright

Saturday, January 28

2:00 pm

Outside/In: The Prairies

OUTSIDE: Hyack Square

7:30pm

Outside/In: The Prairies

INSIDE: Anvil Theatre

Monday, January 30

6:00 pm

Public Hearing followed by City Council Meeting Council Chamber, City Hall and online

FAMILY DAY WEEKEND

Piece together an adventure with your family Feb 18 - 20! Suggested activities will provide a fun opportunity for families to create, discover, get active, and try something new. There will be activities for families of all shapes and sizes, and everything is free! Registration opens Feb 2 at 8:30 am for New Westminster Residents. newwestcity ca/familyday

Man assaulted with bear spray in robbery attempt

TheresaMcManus

tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

NewWest police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after an attempted robbery and assault near the NewWestminster SkyTrain station. Police were called to the 800 block of Carnarvon Street shortly before 6 p.m. onTuesday, Jan. 17 to assist a man in distress who was pouring milk on his face inside a grocery store Officers learned the man was the victim of an assault, and moments earlier he had been assaulted with bear spray in an attempted robbery

A suspect approached

the man outside a downtown restaurant and asked him for his jacket before spraying him in the face with bear spray, said a NewWestminster Police Department press release

“The victim was provided aid by NewWestminster Fire and Rescue,” said NWPD spokesperson Sgt JustineThom in a news release

“Tips from the public have helped solve a number of violent assaults in past months here in New Westminster, and we’re again asking the public to assist ”

NewWest police officers searched the area for anyone matching the suspect

description but couldn’t find anyone matching that description If anyone has information about this incident or the suspects involved, they’re asked to file a report with the NWPD by calling 604-525-5411 and referencing file 23882

According to the police department, the suspect is described as a tall Indigenous man who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black jacket He was accompanied by someone described only as an Indigenous female

Neither of the suspects are known to the victim, said the press release

MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY

Money alone won’t solve B.C. forest industry woes

Premier David Eby has set the bar very high when it comes to tackling some tough issues, and he spent last week dealing with a thorny problem that will be challenging to address for years

Eby made three announcements dealing with the struggling forest industry Trying to get that industry back on its feet in a timely manner seems akin to pushing a very large boulder up an incredibly steep hill

The forestry sector has

been in decline for decades

More than 35 mills in B C’s Interior have closed since 2005, and the industry has lost about 40,000 jobs in the last 30 years

The biggest problem right now is the lack of fibre or timber supply that is forecast to further decline for the rest of this decade

The timber supply was ravaged by the mountain pine beetle infestation that began in 2001 Over the course of that decade, the insects would kill half of the province’s viable pine

A spruce beetle invasion began in 2012, and it ate up 3,400 kilometres of trees over the next five years

Then came the bad wildfire years of 2017 and 2018, when Interior forests were ravaged by a record number of fires

To protect the remaining stands of timber, the government has greatly reduced the annual allowable cut, which dictates how many trees can be harvested every year

Eby’s announcements last week partly reflected the new reality facing the indus-

try. His government is giving $50 million to a Vancouver Island mill to help it retool its production line to offer different products than traditional paper, and another $50 million to the industry for projects that use waste wood and timber damaged by fires and insects

There was also another $90 million for forest companies that require new equipment to support new production lines

The initiatives announced by Eby will help parts of the industry but will likely have

little impact on the overall health of the sector

There will be increasing calls for companies to move away from traditional operations such as milling board lumber and to increase more “value added” production

But with a shrinking timber supply it is not clear that such operations are economically viable, at least on a large scale

There are more bad times ahead The deferred logging of 2 6 million hectares of old-growth timber will result in the loss of anywhere from

4,500 jobs (the government’s figure) to more than 18,000 jobs (the industry’s figure)

Add to the mix the volatility of lumber prices and the ever-present threat of U S countervailing duties, and the future continues to seem uncertain for what was once B C’s No 1 industry

Eby has made some interesting moves Perhaps there will be more moves in the years ahead, but unfortunately we can expect job losses to continue

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

Preapproved designs won’t solve housing woes

Editor: At the Jan 9 council meeting, Coun Daniel Fontaine presented a motion that would allow the city planning department to develop a catalog of “preapproved” singlefamily, duplex and laneway houses

Coun Tasha Henderson did a very good job outlining the myriad of logistical complications this would involve. I’d like to add some reasons, related to the housing supply process, why the proposal was lacking an understanding of not only how the city works, but also how the housing industry works and the nature of the housing crisis

1) There are already standardized house designs: Most detached housing is built on spec by contractors To reduce their costs, they reuse the designs over and over again. You can drive down almost any street and see the same house repeatedly This is actually how most neighbourhoods like Queen’s Park were built. A small developer would build kit houses bought from magazines like Sears Repetition is already happening This is nothing new and certainly not the job of city staff

2) The prescriptive nature of the laneway house design guidelines already limit design variability and leave very little area to deviate from the standard. Again, this is

a reason why they all look similar. There is no need or ability to standardize the form

3) The current housing crisis is not related to detached houses, duplexes or laneways. The crisis is related to there not being enough secured rental and more “affordable” condos

A main reason why there are not a lot of laneways is because they cost in the area of $300,000 to $400,000 to build Rental prices for these are out of range for most people, and most laneways are built for extended family At best, laneways cater to affluent families who have children leaving the nest They do not provide a measurable benefit in this housing crisis

4) In most cases, delays for laneway permits is in the requirement for development permits. This arduous task involves many layers of process One of the most arduous aspects of this is the public consultation and public hearing process, especially when the permits involve subdivisions and heritage revitalization agreements (HRAs) So, the issue is more of the overall, province-mandated process, not in the standardization or complexity of the project

5) With average land prices in New West above $1M, and the desire by developers to maximize floor space ratio (FSR), the construction costs of most houses are in the area of $800K. Therefore, new single-family houses are well into the $2 million range This

is not an area of crisis. In addition, if a house built is not on spec, those types of owners will not want a cookie-cutter design If they do, they will go to the contractor who did one they like and they will use their own template.

6) Designs by architects and designers are covered under copyright protection. Even though a client commissions the building, the design authorship and copyright belongs to the designer/architect. For this reason, you will not get professionals submitting designs for free Reusing designs would require a complicated legal and financial relationship with the city. This is an added cost and layer to an already complex and stretched system

7) For all the same reasons that single-family houses aren’t affordable, duplexes and short-run townhouses are the same.There aren’t many small townhouse and duplex projects because the available FSR and unit limits make them an almost impossible form to finance. There is just no return on investment

8) Some will argue that every new singlefamily house has a secondary suite and laneway so they are providing rental housing Again, this is a relatively small number of the amount of rental needed Also, more importantly, these are not secured rentals This means that tenants have little protection

In addition, basement suites present a problem in that most owners don’t register

THE NEW WESTMINSTER RECORD WELCOMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We edit for taste, legality and length Please include

them, pay the licence fees, and have fire department inspections Currently there are not enough city staff to monitor and enforce this

9) New Westminster has been a leader in sustainability objectives. As detached housing is the least sustainable form of housing, New West should not be promoting building them Without discussing all the other ways they are not good for the environment, the majority of landfill construction waste comes from single-family houses

10) Building single-family housing is a zero sum game. It doesn’t provide housing True, it might make an illegal suite into a legal one; no new housing has been created In that case, remember that there were tenants evicted to build that new unit Again, as New West leads in housing protection and production; detached houses are counter to that

11) Detached housing permits, apart from the financially disastrous laneways, are already relatively fast, while multi-family permits languish for years in the quagmire of the planning department One of the reasons for that is because staff are spending time on detached permits One way to speed up the development of affordable housing would be a moratorium on laneways, single-family and duplex permits Take these costly wastes of time off the board so staff can focus on the important work.

Robert G Billard

Now is the perfect time for older adults to consider renting in Greater Vancouver

Six reasons why renting in a senior’s residence community might be the best move in 2023

Home ownership is top of mind for B C. seniors. With instability in the real estate market, many feel stuck, wondering if this is the right time to sell – even if they know renting makes the most sense for their lifestyle.

Home prices and sales have cooled off from 2020 highs, partly due to rising interest rates. The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in November 2022 decreased compared to the same period in 2021. Fortunately, heading into 2023, the REBGV predicts the market is likely to trend toward typical averages and seasonal norms, depending on forthcoming economic factors and housing policies.

On the flip side, as interest rates increase, some homeowners may no longer be able to afford their mortgage payments and will put their houses up for sale. This will ultimately increase market inventory, pushing housing prices down. Also, if you live in a condo or townhouse, new government legislation has removed the restriction on rentals within the strata triggering potential increases in strata fees and insurance premiums.

What does all of this mean for seniors, especially those who are mortgage-free? Now may be a good time to get ahead of the curve and sell your home.

Those who decide not to sell may face a conundrum when it comes to managing the increasing burden of home ownership as the cost of living soars. Even if a mortgage is long paid off, ownership comes with a host of costs, responsibilities, and challenges: property taxes, repairs, seasonal maintenance, yard upkeep, safety concerns, isolation, and a lack of cash resources.

For these reasons, more and more seniors are turning to renting

especially in purpose-built seniors’ communities PARC Retirement Living, an active living community for older adults, provides six reasons why renting in a senior’s residence community might be the best move in 2023:

Home maintenance is tougher than it used to be. Renting in a seniors’ community means all the repairs, chores, and responsibilities are taken care of, with the building owner and operator footing the bill. And, while someone else is busy maintaining and repairing your place, your time is free to pursue an active lifestyle.

You wish you had more time to spend with family and friends. Living in an independent seniors’ community gives you all that time back, so you’re freed up to travel with family or friends, relax, work out, read, or simply enjoy life with people you love.

It’s harder to get around than it used to be. As we grow older, our needs shift Renting gives you the flexibility to choose a neighbourhood or a location with easy access

You don’t feel as safe on your own: As we age, we may worry about a timely response to an unexpected health event, or how to protect ourselves from petty crime or fraud. Most seniors’ residences offer 24/7 emergency response systems that can be activated either in your suite or via a portable device, 24/7 staffing, safety fob entrances, and security cameras.

Now may be a good time to get ahead of the curve and sell your home.

to amenities like grocery stores, medical and professional offices, and recreational opportunities – plus proximity to green spaces.

You’re spending more and more time alone. Older adults are at increased risk of loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face living alone due to the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss. However, renting in a purposebuilt seniors’ community gives you access to like-minded people day in and day out

You wish you had more cash on hand. Selling a home releases all the equity you have had tied up in that investment for years Now, you can allocate resources to what matters most at this time of your life: fulfilling personal goals, travelling, or even helping children or grandchildren pay down their mortgages or purchase their first home. Look for senior-living residences that offer secure yearly rental rates, so you can lock in an affordable payment.

Learn more about renting at PARC, the Lower Mainland’s best active-living community for aging adults.

Photo via Mulberry PARC

Photo via Mulberry PARC

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Brewery wall mural is a ‘love letter to New West’

NaveenaVijayan nvijayan@newwestrecord ca

Steel & Oak Brewing Co is in love with the city that it has called home for close to a decade now

NewWest

The brewery has made its feelings clear with a mural art that includes words, icons and imagery specific to the city The artwork spans across three walls measuring 10 by four feet, 16 by four feet and 16 by three feet at its newly expanded tasting room

Artist Enry Smith, an employee at the brewery, worked on the mural through the entire month of November, taking about 16 hours to finish each wall

She called it “a love letter to NewWest.”

It all started mid last year, when the brewery’s founders Jorden Foss and Jamie Garbutt approached Smith about juicing up a dark corner of the tasting room that, they noticed, attracted little crowd

“The black cave, we affectionately called it,” said Smith

The three brainstormed and came up with the idea of turning the walls in the area into big canvases for art that would shout out their love for the city.

In October 2022, the brewery asked its social media followers to tell

them what imagery or icons they best associated with the city of NewWest

A flood of responses followed like “Tugboats on the river,” “Queen’s Park” and “Tin Soldier,” to mention a few

“We got a bunch of great suggestions from the community members,” said Smith “I also spent a couple of nights, after I finished my shift behind the bar, just asking some of our regulars and making giant mind maps about all the things that we could be throwing out there ”

Along with community input, Smith added her own ideas

“I mostly just thought about all the things in NewWest that made me fall in love with the city so much.”

Smith, who lived previously in Ontario andWinnipeg before moving to NewWest a decade ago, said, “NewWest is the first place I have considered home in a very, very long time ”

“NewWest is such a tight community.There are so many people and businesses who help each other out; I really think that it has a great sense of community that’s not there everywhere in the Lower Mainland or in the other places I’ve lived in Canada It’s really unique in that sense for me,” she said.

Smith joined Steel &

Oak brewery which was also the first craft brewery she visited in the city as a 20-year-old about six years ago

“It’s been a while, and they’re definitely like a little family to me,” she said When Smith, who recently finished a graphic design course fromVisual College of Art and Design inVancouver, got the opportunity to finally pay an ode to NewWest through her art, she made sure that land acknowledgment was at the forefront of her work

“I feel that we are very honoured for the unceded

territories (of the Halkomelem speaking peoples) that we get to live on, work on and thrive on.We have such a rich history here, and I wanted to make sure it was both celebrated and acknowledged

“Aside from that, I definitely wanted to make sure I got the seals on there I’m not from the West Coast, so when I walked the Quay and saw the seals, it was so wonderful!”

The mural, besides including popular New West areas such as uptown, downtown, Sapperton andTipperary Park,

also shows landmarks such as Pattullo Bridge and the Fraser River and historic moments such as the Great Fire

“I wanted to create an ‘I spy’ board for people,” Smith explained

Once the design was ready, she projected it on the black walls of the tasting room, before drawing over it using white Posca paint pens

Smith’s mural work, while being a flattering testimonial to the city, has made what used to be a dead space in the brewery, a lively one

“The number 1 thing

I’ve noticed is that before, no one really wanted to sit in the area because it was a little bit dark.”

That’s not the case any more, as per Smith

“And that, to me, just speaks for itself ”

Often, during her shift, she takes time to watch people scanning the vast mural

“It’s great to just see people finding the Easter eggs … little secrets in there” all penned with love, from Steel & Oak to NewWest.

Check out Steel & Oak Brewery’s mural room at 1319Third Ave

Toarrangeascreeningappointment: 604-827-4991(12years&older)

604-827-0706(7to10yearsold)

oremailgradorthoclinic@dentistryubcca

MURALMESSAGE: Enry Smith, an employee at Steel & Oak Brewing Co , created this mural dedicated to all things New Westminster on three walls in an underused dark corner of the tasting room PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Don’t miss these weekend events & activities!

Please

SATURDAY, JAN. 28 AND SUNDAY, JAN. 29

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT

What does a combo of jazz, flamenco and Middle Eastern music sound like? Guitarist and composer Itamar Erez, whose music is influenced by the three genres, will play live at the 23rd edition of the International Guitar Night this weekend. Erez will be accompanied by three other world-famous guitarists including Canadian jazz guitarist and vocalist Jocelyn Gould, Spanish flamenco master Jesús Guerrero and Germany-based soloist and chamber musician Stephanie Jones at the MasseyTheatre (735 Eighth Ave.) for the 7:30 p.m. show.Tickets are priced between $35 and $45.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan 28, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave.

INFO: See www.masseytheatre.com or buy tickets at www.ticketsnw.ca

German guitarist Stephanie Jones is one of four international stars featured at International Guitar Night, coming Saturday to Massey Theatre Limited tickets are still available for the night of guitar music, which features jazz, flamenco, classical and more

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

OUTSIDE/IN FESTIVAL

Santur, an ancient Persian instrument with metal strings stretched across a trapezoidal wooden frame, dates back to around 600 BC. Farhad Khosravi will play the ageold instrument in contemporary style along with percussion artist Daniel Stadnicki at the Outside/In Festival night at the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.). Besides the santur-percussion concert, the festival will include two dance performances by New Dance Horizons The event starts at 7:30

p m and is free for all

MORE: See www.anvilcentre.com/ anvil-centre-events

SATURDAY, JAN. 28

WINERY TOUR

You don’t have to go in search of grape-bearing vineyards for a glass of cab There’s a winery within a 15-minute walk of the NewWestminster SkyTrain station. Pacific BreezeWinery (320 Stewardson Way) produces small-lot, handcrafted wines with grapes that are sourced

Jazz at theAnvil

from wine-growing regions in B C and Washington The winery, besides offering a variety of cabernet sauvignons and merlots, is also inviting people to their facility to see how they make these beverages Registration for the 45-minute tour is priced at $20 Participants can select from five available time slots between 1 and 5 p.m.

MORE: See www.pacificbreezewinery. com for more on the winery, or book your tour online at www.tinyurl.com/ PacificBreezeTourJan28

SUNDAY, JAN. 29

SOUND BATH

Let go of that wound-up tension and anxiety in your body at this sound bath session at Dancing CatYoga Studio uptown (704 Sixth St ) Sound-healing practitioner and musician Mike Reed will play a range of instruments including gongs, crystal singing bowls and steel tongue drums over a course of 90 minutes to ease your mind into a meditative state Tickets to the event which runs from 7 to 8:30 p m are

$60; reserve online MORE: See www.tinyurl.com/ SoundBathNW

SUNDAY, JAN. 29

ARCHYTAS ENSEMBLE

Enjoy the rich tradition of classical music at theVancouver Chamber Music Society’s concert this weekend The ensemble includes four acclaimed musicians: David Harding, professor of viola and chamber music at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh; Ariel Barnes, the principal cellist at Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra; Japanese pianist Chiharu Iinuma, piano faculty at theVancouver Academy of Music; and violinist David Gillham, who received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in honour of his contributions to the arts in Canada in 2002 The concert is at 3 p m at the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St ) Tickets are priced between $25 and $35, plus service charges.

MORE: Buy through www.ticketsnw.ca. – compiled by Naveena Vijayan

Schedule

September 27

A Night of Dave Brubeck

A

November 29 A Night of Oscar Peterson

December 6

A Jazz Christmas

A Night in Rio

P e r f o r m e d b y s o m e o f t h e t o p j a z z m u s i c i a n s i n C a n a d a

Photo: Jakob Schmidt

Bevies & Bites fundraiser coming

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

If you like beer or you’d like to have a Facetime chat with the Soup Nazi you won’t want to miss the Rotary Club of NewWestminster’s upcoming fundraiser

One of the items up

for grabs in the Bevies and Bites fundraiser’s silent auction is a picture and chef’s coat that actor LarryThomas (aka the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld) autographed when he was last in town for a fundraising event at Greens & Beans Deli in Sapperton.

Leona Green, co-owner

of the deli, is donating the items and is arranging for a Facetime call with Thomas for the winning bidder

“I’ll be at the event, and then when the highest bidder gets picked, I’ll phone him and they can have a Facetime; right there and then,” she said “That will be fun ”

The Rotary Club of NewWestminster is hosting Bevies & Bites 2023, an evening of local craft beer and beverage tastings, accompanied by a variety of appetizers

It’s on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 7 to 9:30 p m at Royal City Centre, 610 Sixth St

“It’s very social you can chat with the brewers; everybody is sampling the beers and the food, socializing and chatting,” said DaveVallee, one of the event’s organizers “It’s a nice community vibe ”

Vallee said the ticket includes a chance to sample products from one juicery, two distilleries and 17 craft breweries

“It’s a fun event,” he said “Some of these breweries have just incredible beers The whiskey samples are quite small, but the beer samples, you get two to three ounce

samples You can try 17 breweries, and each one will have two or three different beers ”

A number of restaurants will also be providing “bites” for the event, including chicken wings, spring rolls, fries and sushi.

In addition to beverages and snacks, the third annual event includes a silent auction, a 50-50 draw and a chance to network with other community members.

Aside from the Soup Nazi package, other items up for grabs in the silent auction include gift certificates, gift cards and gift baskets

Tickets for Bevies and Bites are $43 45, which includes a souvenir tasting glass, beverages and snacks Buy at tinyurl com/BeviesBitesNW2023

Net proceeds from the fundraiser will support community programs

“The two main recipients are Don’t Go Hungry (a local food support program) and Domestic Abuse Services,”Vallee said, “and then some will go to other Rotary projects that we do throughout the year not-for-profit; all of it goes back into the community”

Need help finding ways to stay healthy?

If you’re 50 or older, then Century House has plenty of options for you

The NewWestminster seniors’ centre (at 620 Eighth St , in Moody Park) has a variety of offerings for older adults.

Here are some highlights of upcoming programming, courtesy of the city’s Active Living Guide

You can sign up for any of them by calling Century House at 604-5191066 or using the city’s online portal find it at www.newwestcity.ca/ activeliving

EXERCISE ROOM CIRCUIT (50+)

Train as a group with instructed and supervised workouts that include cardio, weight equipment,

free weights, stability balls and more, moving at your own pace. It runsWednesdays from 11 a m to noon The next sets (four sessions each) start on Jan 25 (course code 165497) and Feb 22 (165498)

YOGA FOR 50+

The next session starts Feb 28, with five classes for $40 It’s onTuesdays from 9:15 to 10:45 a m

Course code: 164106

THE DANCE CLASS (50+)

Move to music with creative play, dance and learning for women only

No experience necessary It’s onTuesdays from Feb 28 to April 4, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Course code: 164109

GET UPAND GO (50+)

This introductory

class is designed to build strength, balance, coordination and functional mobility It runs Mondays andThursdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p m , and the next session of 10 classes starts on Feb 27 Course code: 164121

WOMEN’S WELLNESS

CIRCLE (50+)

Discuss healthy aging, prevention and wellness in a group of mature women, with a registration fee of $8 per session. It’s on Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p m at Century House, with upcoming sessions on Feb 16, March 9 and March 30

AGING

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

How can we improve long-term care in B.C.?

MargaretCoates

AsWe Age contributor

Over the last few years residential long-term care has been a focus of many articles in the news, mostly because of the devastating effects of the pandemic on residents in LTC facilities

The reality of the negative aspects of the pandemic for residents brought attention to many of the problems often associated with long-term care Many community groups and individuals have been working on improving the state of residential care in the province for years

Finally, the reporting of these issues is amplifying what these groups have been saying

On the British Colum-

bia government website (gov bc ca), there is a section called Long-Term Care Services Province of British Columbia, which describes LTC in the province, stating that long-term care services provide 24-hour professional supervision and care in a protective and supportive environment for people who have complex care needs and can no longer be cared for in their own homes or in an assisted living residence.

Unfortunately, longterm care provided in a residential facility has not always lived up to people’s expectations about how an older person should live out their end-of-life years.

An organization called Action for Reform of Residential Care Association, which is dedicated to

promoting quality of life in long-term care facilities in British Columbia through education and advocacy, has been critical of many features of LTC

The association is made of up clinicians, researchers, family members and other citizens concerned with the care provided in long-term care facilities

This organization has noted several areas of concern which are mainly attributed to inadequate structures and resources.

In their report, Improving Quality of Life in LTC AWay Forward, they write, “systems with lean resources cannot adapt to stressors such as pandemics, and Band-Aids can no longer cover the wounds to the system illuminated by COVID-19 ”

Continued on page 17

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

Among many of the issues raised by ARRCBC is the fact that family members or councils are often the first to identify inadequate care but perhaps do not know how to complain effectively or are intimidated by the system

The British Columbia government website says that a “family and/or resident council is a group of persons who either live in a long-term care home or are the contact persons, representatives, or relatives of long-term care home residents, and who meet regularly to identify opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for the care home clients, and to engage with staff to contribute a voice in decisions which affect the clients ”

Though individuals and groups have fought for years for the establishment of resident and family councils, not much was done about proactively supporting this strategy, which many maintain works towards changing the negative aspects of the long-term care system.

An announcement was made recently that the province has revised regulations to strengthen the support and oversight of resident and family councils.

One of the initiatives is that government will strengthen support of individual councils through several measures, including requiring care-home operators or licensees to meet with a council twice a year, or more frequently as required, to promote

the collective interests of persons in care

Isobel Mackenzie, the B.C. Seniors Advocate who has been critical of many aspects of residential long-term care, has said that “these changes will give residents of long-term

Care Providers Association had released a new guide called Supporting an Active Partnership:A Service Provider’s Guide to Family & Resident Councils

The guide is intended to “share learnings and best practices for supporting long-term care operators in the development and continuation of resident and family councils Councils can ensure that input and feedback occur in a meaningful, respectful, and timely way.”

care, and the people who love them, a much stronger voice in shaping the quality of life for most frail seniors. It is an extremely positive step forward ”

On Jan 4 it was announced that the B.C.

You may not need longterm care in the future, but you may have a family member or friend that will need this type of care for their end-of-life years

A well resourced and highly functional longterm care system is in the interests of all of us It pro-

vides older people and the best quality of life in the remaining years of their lives

In a just and caring society, we should all work towards providing the best system possible

Margaret Coates is the coordinator of Lionsview Seniors’ Planning Society and a regular AsWe Age contributor. Ideas for future columns are welcome – email her at lions view@telus net

NEW WESTMINSTER 604.210.5846 101–625 Fifth Ave

nexgenhearing.com

Continued E YOURSELF WorkSafe BC and other Provincial WCB Networks, VAC MSDPR, and FNHA/N HB accepted Registered under the College of Speech and Hearing Health Professionals of BC Jillian Soh RAUD, RHIP

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MARKETPLACE

REMEMBRANCES

HEDGES, Dr Donald ‘Doc’

Dr Dona d ‘Doc’ Hedges passed away peaceful y on December 30th, 2022

Born Ju y 15, 1950 in Danvi le l ino s, he was raised by his Grandmother for much of h s ch ldhood Despite some ear y l fe obstac es he graduated va edictor an of his high schoo He went on to study Psycho ogy a the Un versity of Il ino s, on academic scholarsh p His educat on met an abrupt end however when he part cipated n a peaceful ant -war protest, got arrested, and lost his scho arship Recogn z ng h s path needed to change he accepted an offer for a ift to Californ a, where he took up work in a stee mi l for 2 years It was here that he met J m and V anna; they were the first people to show him uncond tiona love Th s ‘fam ly’, and their steadfast message of acceptance and grace, formed the foundat on upon wh ch Don wou d touch many more l ves

At the age of 23 he moved to Vancouver to work at a printing press and later, took up work as the manager of a small independent theatre It was here that he began to explore his love of movies It was only when this theatre c osed that he reconsidered returning to un versity Don completed his BSc of Kinesiology at SFU 1979 Thanks to an influent al mentor, he appl ed for and was accepted into the UBC Facu ty of Medic ne - something he never would have thought possible n his early ife

Upon Med School graduation n 1983, Don completed his internship in Ottawa and then returned to the West Coast In addition to work ng as an MD - he taught Kinesio ogy classes at SFU During these 26 years, he gave back to the professor that first nudged him into medicine, and mentored many young students through undergrad, medica school and beyond H s impact cont nued to grow through h s work as an Addictions and Sports Medicine MD He tru y bel eved in change, and he inspired many of h s pat ents to become the most authentic and ntentiona versions of themse ves Lives were changed through encouragement n recovery, educat on and se f discovery

Doc also served as the team Doctor for several h gh evel sports teams: the Coqu tlam Adanacs, the Burnaby Rugby Club and Vancouver Wh tecaps, among severa others He fe t t a privi ege to get to know each of these players and not on y treated the r njuries, but, over the years ntroduced them to of many of h s pass ons

In fact t was through these pass ons of iterature movies mus c and travel that he brought peop e together Many ooked forward to an eclectic gather ngs of guests at Sunday dinner It wou d not be unusua to have a med student or 2, a Lacrosse player, a pre-med, a physio, a good fr end from NA, and maybe a musician sitting around his dinner table enjoying his roasts

As a recover ng addict h mself, Don got the opportun ty to share his life and love through his t me as a sponsor and participant in AA and NA He wove himse f nto the fabr c of many peop e’s ives - a low ng space for forgiveness, grace, oss and love n ways many had not felt before

To say he w ll be dearly m ssed would be an understatement The sorrow for many is unth nkable and yet, let us s t in the grief and remember As Don h mse f taught us, “people you love are worth grieving for” As one of his favourite authors, Car os Ruiz Zafon, wrote in a eulogy n one of Doc’s dear y oved books ‘ know that he w l l ve forever in the hearts of those who are here ’ Borrowed from the same author,

May you rest in peace, (Don), dear friend, and may God g ve us al the opportunity to honour your memory and feel grateful for the privi ege of hav ng known you ’

A Celebration of ife will take place at Coquitlam A l ance Church, 2601 Spuraway Avenue, Coqu tlam, BC on January 25th at 2:00pm, recept on to fo low

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given to any of the fo lowing charit es: Doctors without Borders, Canadian Wor d Parrot Trust, Amnesty Internationa or ATEC (Ta amancan Associat on of Ecotour sm and Conservation) Costa Rica

Obituaries Obituaries

FLEURY, Doreen E

January 17, 1941 - January 11, 2023

Doreen Fleury l ved each season of her l fe ful y, never langu shing, a ways venturing forward eager y She devoted equa energy to fami y, friends, her nurs ng career, her church commun ty, creat ve pursuits and l felong learn ng She loved to trave , be it for fami y reunions to Sweden, medical vo unteer work in Guatema a, or general interest alongside companion Wa ly Wiggins (deceased) She was a strong, hardworking, independent woman whose warmth, hospitality and easy charm were felt by many

Born n Nora Sask to Scandinav an parents Halvor and V ctor a Johnson (deceased), Doreen and her sibl ngs Sylv a (deceased), Lynn and Lonny thrived on the fam ly farm Ye d ng to the call of nurs ng, she earned her RN at Saskatoon C ty Hospita and enjoyed maintain ng re ationships with alumni She later furthered her education at UBC Doreen was passionate about providing effect ve and compassionate care at the hospitals she worked in, doing HIV outreach in the commun ty, and at the Simon Fraser Health Unit taking on sen or nursing positions Always lead ng by examp e to her peers k ndness and compassion were her compass

She en oyed gardening, qui ting, gu ding children n Sunday schoo , bak ng traditional Swed sh rec pes, keep ng active, and nurturing fam ly t es She knew that only n ooking back can we understand the path forward We are gratefu for the map she has left of a life wel ived

Left to ce ebrate her richly real zed life includes son Eric Fleury (Laura), daughter Lita Co e (Jeff Shantz), brother Lonny Johnson, s ster Lynn Frandsen (Lyn), nephew Er k Frandsen (Megan, Jack and Max), brother- n-law Ken Robertson, and grandch ldren; Calista Marina Ha ey and Eamon

Memoria Service on February 9th at 2:00pm Mount Z on Lutheran Church, 930 Cumberland St New Westminster BC

In ieu of flowers, p ease donate to Mount Zion Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice as per Doreen’s w shes

FLODEN, Margaret (Peggy)

August 11, 1932

Ann

November 30, 2022

Peggy passed peacefully at Buchanan Lodge, New Westminster, on November 30th, 2022. Predeceased by her daughter Sandra Faust (Greg) and survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Rolf; sister Dolly; daughter Kari (Ray) Larson; sons Norman (Laurie) Floden and David (Elizabeth) Floden; nine grandkids Jennifer, Ryan, Trevor, Todd, Matthew, Krista Andrea, Nik and Erik; and six great grandkids Autumn, Helo, Ava, Evyn, Harvey and Ryker.

Peggy always enjoyed sharing family stories with friends and family and having neighbours over for coffee from the never ending pot of coffee at their home or their trailer.

Many thanks to Buchanan Lodge. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2023.

COMMUNITY

InformatIon Wanted

WITNESS WANTED

Witness wanted for motor vehic e accident on November 28, 2022 at 9:35 - 9:50AM, between 2011 Wh te Toyota Venza icense p ate DC682S, which was h t from beh nd by a White BMW 3301 l cense p ate PS500G near the intersection, south s de of K ngsway on Nelson St beside Concorde Pac fic construction s te Call: 778-861-6963 or Email: jiangjohnson3@gmail com

EDUCATION

tutorIng servIces

TUTORING for MATH POWER ENGINEERING

Courses for RPO

5 Class, 4th & 3rd C ass Students Surinder, 604-354-3422

smorsara@hotmail com

First C ass Power Engineer

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Wanted

CASH for your CLUTTER

I will pay CASH for your UNWANTED ITEMS!

LEGAL

LegaL/PubLIc notIces

DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED CREMATED REMAINS

Pursuant to Sect on 8 of the Br tish Columbia Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act Regu ations, and upon the cutoff of 12 pm on March 15, 2023, the follow ng unc aimed cremated remains wil be nterred on or about March 16, 2023 at Forest Lawn Memor al Park (A divis on of Serv ce Corporat on Internat onal (Canada) ULC), 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, BC, V5G 3M1

The unc aimed Cremated Rema ns of: Wi l am Arthur Henderson Date of Cremat on: May 02 2019 are currently n the care of Forest Lawn Funera Home (A d v s on of Service Corporat on Internationa (Canada) ULC), 3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby, BC, V5G 3M1

If you are the Executor or person with a right to contro the disposit on of the cremated remains of the above-named deceased per Section 5 of the Cremation, Interment and Funera Services Act, please ca l Forest Lawn Funeral Home at 604-299-7720 to arrange final dispos tion or to cla m the cremated remains

I special ze n RECORDS, Engl sh Bone China & F gurines, Co ect bles, Tools Antiques ETC Rob • 604-307-6715

WANTED SASQUATCH Sku l

- A so purchas ng S LVER & GOLD coins, bars, jewe ry, scrap, nuggets, sterling, 999+ BULLION, map e eafs, bulk s lver pre-1969 coins

Coin co ector BUYING ENTIRE CO N COLLECTIONS

old $ & Roya Canad an M nt co ns TODD 250-864-3521

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IndustrIaL/ commercIaL

INTEGRITY POST Frame

Bu d ngs s nce 2008 Bu t with concrete posts

How

Writing

your ad with the item for

• Use a keyword. Start sale, service offered or the job title

• Be descriptive. Give customers a reason to respond. Advertisers have found that the more information you provide, the better the response

• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.

• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.

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To advertise, contact Dawn DTJames@glaciermedia ca 604-362-0586