New Westminster Record March 30 2023

Debate flares up over 6% tax hike

Council split on city budget plans

Emotions flared at city hall on Monday night when council considered the City of NewWestminster’s 2023-to-2027 financial plan

Teen spearheads Trans Day of Visibility rally

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

A NewWest teen wants to provide a safe space where folks can celebrate InternationalTransgender Day ofVisibility

7ven Perks, who identifies

as gender fluid, is organizing a March 31 rally in support of Trans Day ofVisibility, a day that aims to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness about the discrimination they face on a daily basis.

The rally is being held at 3:30 p.m. at Grandview Park

inVancouver.

“Recently, I’ve gotten a lot more into the queer community, and I just want to have a safe space for trans people and queer people to just go and sort of celebrate our existence,” said 7ven, who uses it/ its pronouns. “But also, just to

show that we’re here.”

According to Statistics Canada, one in 300 people in Canada aged 15 and older are transgender or non-binary. Of the 100,815 individuals who were transgender or non-binary as of May 2021 data,

Continued on page 5

In a 5-2 vote, council instructed staff to convert the draft five-year financial plan into a bylaw that reflects a 6 4 per cent tax hike for 2023 and a $173 2-million capital budget Mayor Patrick Johnstone and Couns Ruby Campbell, Tasha Henderson, Jaimie McEvoy and Nadine Nakagawa supported the staff recommendation, while Couns Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas opposed

Looking ahead, finance director HarjiVarn said staff anticipate that taxpayers will be facing property tax increases in the range of four to five per cent a year in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027

Coun Ruby Campbell said the draft budget includes items that are important to the community such as the new aquatic centre,

Continued on page 3

Up Front Sapperton apartment fire displaces tenants

are being collected to help residents affected by Monday night blaze on Hospital Street

TheresaMcManus

tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

Residents of a Sapperton apartment have been displaced by a fire that caused extensive damage to two suites.

Acting fire Chief ErinWilliams said fire crews responded to a structure fire at 331 Hospital St at about 6:45 p m on Monday, March 27

“On arrival, there was heavy smoke and flames coming from a unit on the second floor, and crews performed an exterior attack to limit spread to other units,” he said “A search team and an interior attack team then entered the building to search for occupants and aggressively attack the fire ”

Williams said firefighters determined all occupants had gotten out of the building

“All 16 of the on-duty crews and three chief officers were on scene, and neighbouring fire departments were requested to be on standby in the event another incident occurred in the city,” he said “The fire was upgraded to a second alarm, and extra offduty crews were called in to provide fire coverage to the city for the duration of the fire ”

Emergency social services staff were called in to help with accommodations and support for

multiple displaced residents,Williams said

“At this time the building cannot be reoccupied until the fire and life safety systems have been restored,” he saidTuesday morning. “A fire investigation is underway and will be continuing

throughout the day”

Images posted on social media showed two units in Parkside Apartments engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke pouring out of one of the units

“The fire was limited to two suites due to the quick response

How to help

Want to help? The city’s Emergency Support Services is coordinating with New West Community Church to support the families displaced by the fire. Donations can be dropped off at the front entrance of the church, 322 Hospital St., today (Thursday, March 30) or Friday, March 31 between 9 a m and 5 p m

WHAT’S NEEDED new or good-condition used men’s and women’s clothing, socks and underwear; new toiletries and hygiene products (e g toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, deodorant); gift cards in $50 denominations for major supermarkets

MORE INFO

Please do not donate children’s clothing, furniture or household items. Call the church at 604-5211243 for information

and aggressive fire attack of NW Fire Rescue crews,”Williams said “Further assessments for smoke and water damage will determine the total number of suites involved and when residents can return to their homes ”

GOFUNDME

A GoFundMe campaign has been created in support of residents Bystrik and Charmaine Brazda. Find it at www. tinyurl com/BrazdaFireFund

‘Tax conundrum’ leads to heated debate at council table

Continued from page 1

sidewalk improvements and whistle cessation at railway crossings

Johnstone said the city’s efforts to replace the aging Canada Games Pool with the new təməsewtxʷ Aquatic and Community Centre is starting to have an impact on the budget He said this year’s budget also reflects investments in items like MasseyTheatre, public safety, downtown livability, and efforts to accelerate times to get city permits

Fontaine, one of two NewWest Progressives on council, said “there is a lot to applaud” in the budget but the “two members in the opposition on coun-

cil” have a role to focus on some of its shortcomings. He said he is “very concerned” about the 6 4 per cent tax increase.

“We have a tax conundrum,” he said “And taxpayers are being stretched to the max this year, as they deal with soaring rents, runaway grocery bills, paycheques that simply aren’t keeping up with those type of expenditures ”

At Monday’s meeting, Fontaine circulated an ontable motion It recommended staff report back to council on the impacts to the proposed tax increase of deleting some items and adding others to the 2023 budget be-

fore council approves first reading of the draft consolidated 2023 to 2027 financial plan bylaw

Fontaine’s list of cuts included: eliminating $15 million for advanced metering infrastructure; eliminating $46 million for the district energy project in Sapperton; eliminating $509,896 for plans to transition the Queen’s Park petting farm to a new use; eliminating the $2 million expenditure for BridgeNet (a dark fibre network); and reducing the Great Streets program on Sixth Street to $2 million

Fontaine’s motion proposed expenditures, including: increasing the

pedestrian crossing improvements budget to $2 million from $1 2 million; increasing the whistle cessation infrastructure budget to $2 5 million; allocating up to $50,000 to remove structures from the former Queen’s Park petting farm and replace them with native tree species; and allocating up to $400,000 to enhance the Queen’s Park play area

The five Community First NewWest council members opposed the motion

Nakagawa said the items in the budget have work plans and public engagement plans attached to them. She said these items could have be brought to

council, finance staff and department heads earlier in the budget process

“I don’t think it makes sense to just pull out ideas,” she said “I think that we need to do this in a coordinated way, rather than in this rather slapdash manner ”

Johnstone said he didn’t want to go through the “laundry list” of items in Fontaine’s motion but noted a couple of areas of concern in terms of electrical metering and funding for BridgeNet

He also said it would be “irresponsible” to slash $46 million from the district energy project

“I support the budget that has been pro-

posed and worked on by this council, and has been collaboratively developed through discussions with staff,” Johnstone said.

Fontaine said he thought Monday’s meeting was his opportunity to make a recommendation on ways the city could limit its costs

“I’m encouraging council to read the motion very carefully,” he said “It doesn’t say anything other than staff to come back with their 6 4 per cent and to quantify what would happen if we were to implement these measures; what impact would that have on our tax bill?”

See more on this discussion at www newwestrecord ca

QUICKRESPONSE: Heavy smoke hung in the air in Sapperton after an apartment caught fire New Westminster Fire Rescue crews responded quickly to contain the fire at 331 Hospital St , which started about 6:45 p m on Monday PHOTO TREVOR BODNAR, CONTRIBUTED

THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS IN OUR CITY

EASTER IN THE CITY: APRIL 6 – 10

Hop around the City and enjoy a variety of activities over 5 days. There are opportunities for everyone to discover, create, hop around, or try something new! Registered activities include Easter Eggs and Trivia (8 - 13 years), Family Sports Registered Hop-in, and Easter Carnival at Moody Park Arena (all ages). Find all drop-in and registered activities at: newwestcity.ca/easter

DISCOVERY PLAYTIME PRESCHOOL PROGRAM (3 - 5 YEARS)

Morning and afternoon times are available in our preschool program at Century House, Centennial Community Centre, and Queensborough Community Centre Children develop social, fine motor control and communication skills and prepare for school! Lead by qualified recreational preschool instructors. Learn more: newwestcity ca/rec

CITY SMALL GRANT OPPORTUNITY

The City’s One-Time Small Grant intake is open! Note there is only ONE intake this year

• Application deadline is Monday, April 24, 2023.

Please see newwestcity.ca/grants for more details. Questions? Please contact grants@newwestcity.ca

FREE AND LOW-COST TAX-FILING CLINIC

Would you like affordable assistance in filing your taxes? The New Westminster Public Library has published a list of low-cost and free income tax clinics in New Westminster for 2023, providing help for people who need assistance with their taxes. There is a mix of virtual (videoconference), phone call, drop-off/pick-up, and in-person options for the tax clinics. The list is available on the Library website at: nwpl.ca/discover-online-tools/additional-resource-links/#toggle-id-5

WALK30 CHALLENGE STARTS APRIL 10

The City has partnered with the WALK30 Challenge so you can win awesome prizes from local businesses for simply walking more April 10 - May 14! WALK30 is a friendly competition that encourages people to walk more to improve their overall health and wellness, strengthen their connections to the community, and rethink how we get around Sign up for free as an individual or team at walk30.ca and follow @walk30 challenge on Instagram and Twitter for fun and motivating weekly posts.

ART EXHIBIT: THE ETERNAL DANCE

Community Art Gallery, Anvil Centre | March 27 – May 24

Artists Clarissa Banos and Dan Santa Cruz Siglos explore the space between the sun, the moon, and the stars in the universe, and its vital role in the creation of life Visit anvilcentre com/community-art-gallery for Gallery information.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Monday, April 3 6:00 pm

Council Meeting

Council Chamber, City Hall and online

Saturday, April 15 10:00 am

Spring Swap Meet Queensborough Community Centre

HANGING BASKET WORKSHOPS

Create and bring home your own magnificent hanging basket! Choose the course based on the basket size you want, 14-inch or 18-inch. Includes plants, soil, fertilizer, moss, frame, wick and hardware Call 604.527 4567 or find times and register online: newwestcity.ca/register

CITY OF NEW WESTMINSTER DRAFT 2023-2027 FINANCIAL PLAN

The City of New Westminster is in the process of completing its draft 2023-2027 Financial Plan As part of the public consultation process, a budget information package including the draft 2023-2027 Financial Plan, a staff report, and a link for providing comments are available starting March 27, 2023 on the City’s Budget 2023 website page: www.newwestcity.ca/budget2023

The draft Financial Plan bylaw will be presented to Council for three readings at a City Council meeting on April 17, 2023 at 6:00pm in the Council Chamber, City Hall The public is invited to speak to this matter at an Opportunity to be Heard, which will begin at 6:00pm The public may attend in person or via zoom To attend via zoom, please see the instructions at www newwestcityca/council To register to speak at the Opportunity to be Heard, starting at 8:30am on April 11, sign up at speakers.newwestcity.ca or call 604-527-4523

Comments regarding this matter can also be forwarded to the CFO/Director of Finance and must be received by the start of the Council meeting at 6:00pm on April 17, 2023 Written communication options are as follows:

Via email: nwfinance@newwestcityca

Via regular mail: Attention: CFO/Director of Finance

City of New Westminster 511 Royal Avenue New Westminster, BC V3L 1H9

Drop off in person: Attention: CFO/Director of Finance

City of New Westminster 511 Royal Avenue New Westminster, BC V3L 1H9

Written submissions will be presented to Council and published

‘There is still a lot of hatred’: Teen organizes rally

Continued from page 1

62 per cent were younger than 35

7ven (pronounced Seven) will turn 16 in a few weeks but has already experienced its share of bullying.

“Mainly last year, when I went to the main high school; there was definitely a lot of bullying, which, you know, wasn’t easy,” it said “But as I’ve transitioned to the alternate school, it definitely has gotten a lot better I’ve been able to find a sense of community”

7ven attends some support groups in the Lower Mainland, including one led by a psychologist who does gender assessments

Many of the folks 7ven meets through support groups and online groups don’t have the same family support it has had on its journey

“And it’s really unfortunate to hear that There are a lot of people who don’t have the amazing support that I do,” it said “And so I feel like being there at a support group, it’s not just for me, it’s also helping them It just builds a stronger community.”

A study by the Canadian Medical Association Journal found transgender adolescents showed five times the risk of suicidal ideation and 7 6 times the risk of suicide attempt than cisgender, heterosexual adolescents

That comes as no surprise to 7ven

“It’s quite depressing, actually,” it said “Honestly, it would be easier to point out the people who I know, trans people who I know, who haven’t contemplated or attempted suicide ”

That’s part of the reason

the teen is organizing the March 31 rally

“It’s more of a day to empower and honour trans people who are still alive and not wait for them to pass,” 7ven said Given the suicide rate and the violence perpetuated against trans people, 7ven and some of its peers were surprised to meet queer elders, including a trans elder in their 60s or 70s, while attending a summer camp for queer kids.

“I remember how many of the people there were genuinely shocked that trans people could live that long,” it said “And that was like, the moment where it really hit me hard ”

7ven surrounds itself with people who can support it but has had “multiple” negative encounters when out in public

“It depends on how I dress, honestly,” it said “And while it isn’t every time I go out that I’ll be pestered or harassed, it’s more that I’m constantly worried about that happening So I am always looking over my shoulder.”

7ven said its brother, who is trans, is “called slurs every day” at school

“Of course, it in many

places, it is a lot worse,” it said “However, it’s very much not as perfect as you’d think There is still a lot of hatred ”

7ven felt empowered and supported when attending a LGBTQ+ counter-protest to a group protesting a drag queen story time at the Coquitlam Public Library in January. It hopes folks will get

that same sense of belonging at theTrans Day of Visibility rally.

“You’re not alone,” 7ven said “And there’s a group of people out there who can hopefully, or to some degree, relate to what you’re going through and are there to help support you ”

7ven, not its birth name, adopted the name 7ven at the end of 2021, taking the name from a character on theTV show Sort Of; one of the show’s creators is non-binary

“One of my favourite characters, their name is 7ven, so I adopted it then,” it said “It was the fact that they had the confidence to just be themselves, express themselves however they wanted, and that really spoke to me.”

For information about the March 31 rally, email tdov845@gmail com

Visibility: 7ven Perks, with support from mom Naomi, is organizing a March 31 rally in Vancouver PHOTO CHUNG CHOW

MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY

B.C. lacks power to meet climate goals: report

The B C government has set some lofty goals when it comes to fighting climate change, but it is far from clear if at least two of them can be realistically attained

One is the requirement that up to six liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects be “net-zero emissions” through electrification; the other is that by the year 2030, 90 per cent of all new light vehicle purchases in the province must be electronic vehicles

Both ambitious targets

raise an obvious question: where is all this new clean electricity going to come from, especially over a relatively short period of time?

A provocative new paper published this past weekend by former senior civil servant

Richard McCandless examines this very question, and the government likely won’t enjoy his conclusions

McCandless’ research is mostly about those six LNG projects, which he says will require an amount of electricity that far exceeds what BC Hydro is currently

planning to produce over the time frame of construction and operation

He says while BC Hydro is planning to increase its output by 3,800 gigawatt hours (GWh), the LNG projects alone will require 18,500 GWh

The Site C dam, when it comes fully onstream by 2026, will provide an additional 5,100 GWh but the shortfall is still so immense that McCandless estimates it can only be covered by building an additional three or four Site C-like hydro

dams

And a big chunk of Site C’s energy production will be required to fill the needs created by a more mass electrification in general, the most visible and popular of which is expected to be a steady rise in the use of electric vehicles

According to BC Hydro, Site C could provide enough electricity to fuel about 1 7 million vehicles (assuming none of it is used for anything else)

The B C government’s clean-energy plan requires

that 90 per cent of all new light vehicles sold in B C must be zero-emission vehicles by 2030 BC Hydro estimates by that time there will be 350,000 such vehicles on B C roads, consuming about 1050 GWh annually

Of course, there are other enormous challenges facing the mass use of EVs other than just the supply of electricity to power them

Chief among them is that Canada has little control over the supply chain that makes this kind of vehicle China’s state-owned mining

companies own or control most of the minerals (i e , cobalt, nickel and lithium) required to make EV batteries The vehicles are manufactured on their timetable

Make no mistake: climate change is real, and bold action must be taken to deal with it

But as we have seen in many other instances, setting lofty goals when it comes to fighting climate change is one thing Attaining them is quite another

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

Connaught Heights plan gave residents a voice

Editor: I was at once dismayed and concerned about the front-page article (New Westminster Record, March 23, 2023) regarding Connaught Heights community plan It’s great that people (in particular, Connaught Heights residents) want to be involved and show concern for the current situation and eventual development for our community

There were many open house/meetings at our community school and elsewhere in the city to look at proposed ideas, plans, community input, mapping and general conversations about the future development of Connaught Heights

It is a community of roughly 2,000 people

Like others, it has a diverse population and ideas where not everyone completely agrees with any one direction, but where they work together to find solutions

My understanding, as with many in the neighbourhood, including the Connaught Heights Residents Association, is that these plans had been more or less already adopted by the city I disagree with Mayor Patrick Johnstone’s comments regarding the plan lacking a “universal voice.”

There were many well-attended community meetings put on by the city with many

people openly sharing thoughts and ideas and redrawing maps that seemed to aim towards a level of consensus which was finally adopted by the city as part of the “official plan”

Without consensus, this plan would likely never have been adopted.

As noted in the article, there is no one developer involved in developing the area, and my understanding is that land assembly is essential for any developer to look at building in the community

This means that people are ready and willing to sell their homes to developers ripe for the potential of profit This is a lengthy, expensive (community) process, and my take is that there is other “low-hanging fruit” currently more advantageous for developers to pursue

There is no “bold vision” from the city; it was/is a plan that was developed over many hours, many community meetings and input from residents that drove the plan To suggest otherwise is an insult to the people and countless hours of discussions that drove this plan in the first place

My question is: Where is the official community plan that so many people in the community and city staffers worked on? Does the plan need to be revisited? Updated post-pandemic? Likely, but please let’s not waste everyone’s past best efforts that went into the makeup of the official plan Mike Walmsley, past vice-president,

Connaught Heights Residents Association Thanks to the city for reading my mind

Editor: I often wondered, as I passed by New West’s city hall, how could all of that land covered by green grass be put to better use?

Then, in 2017, the city hall community garden sprung up That seemed like a productive use of the lands

Still, there was so much space left as bare lawn Maybe more gardens would come?

I would continue on my journey past city hall and lose track of these ideas I admit I never really spoke up about it

Well, I want to say thank you to our city council and their staff for reading my mind! At their March 13 meeting, it was decided that 60 trees would be planted on a portion of these city hall lawns

This is really just a small part of the thousands of trees city staff are planting to increase the tree canopy from 18 per cent to 27 per cent by 2035 to help the city meet its climate goals What a great repurposing of this under-utilized space

As these trees grow, I can’t wait to walk by in the summer, breathing in the cleaner air, and seeing nearby residents and farmers market patrons cooling off under these trees

And the funding came from provincial and federal sources good news all around.

Now, maybe a little more community garden space will be added too

Karen Crosby

If smoking is the problem, then restrict tobacco sales

Editor: Re: Belmont parklet I’ve been reading the letters people been writing

I am someone who enjoys the parklet. I don’t enjoy the people who drive the wrong way, so I look forward to seeing the parklet expanded into a plaza (removing vehicular throughput) that was shown during the public outreach

I do agree the smoking is an issue, but seating was only provided for non-smoking and not the smokers

How about, instead of destroying the parklet or discriminating on who enjoys the parklet, we as a progressive city finally do what’s right and restrict the sale of tobacco Make it just as hard to buy as weed is.

Society as a whole has had solid evidence for 20+ years on how bad smoking is, yet we’ve done nothing to restrict its use

Shane Griffin

Got thoughts to share? Email editorial@ newwestrecord ca

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Our team of health professionals are here to help if you’re suffering from chronic pain. Following a comprehensive assessment, we will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. from there, a combination of supervised exercise, massage, and manual therapy will be used to help you recover faster and get back to living you life!

Arts & Entertainment

New West set to celebrate 153rd May Day

TheresaMcManus

tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

Let the revels (and lessons) begin

The NewWestminster May Day Community Association has announced that NewWestminster’s 153rd May Day will take place at Queen’s Park Stadium on Saturday, May 27 at 3:30 p.m., with doors opening at 3 p m

“We are thrilled to be hosting NewWestminster’s world-famous May Day children’s festival again this year,” May Day Association president Nikki Binns said in a news release “Spectators are encouraged to arrive early for this free event as last year, in 2022, the event was at near capacity”

place on Sunday, May 7

Any children living in New West who are in Grade 5 or 6 are invited to enter the draw.

Folk dances and maypole ribbon dances are a longtime tradition with NewWestminster’s May Day celebrations

They’re returning as part of the “fun and pageantry” of this year’s festivities, said the association

Pub night

The May Day Association is raising funds for May Day at a pub night fundraiser and silent auction tonight.

When: Thursday, March 30 from 6 to 10 p.m.

Where: Begbies Tavern, 609 Columbia St

Tickets: $25 plus service fees Ticket includes a burger (choice of beef, chicken, or veggie) with fries or a house salad and a beer (choice of a 1516 lager or a pale ale). Tickets are available at Eventbrite ca (search for May Day pub night fundraiser)

DANCE LESSONS

The May Day Association will be offering free traditional folk-dance lessons for children in grades 2 and 3, and maypole dance lessons for kids in grades 4 to 6 Classes begin the week of April 10 and will be held after school or in the evenings.

TRADITION: New West children take part in the maypole dance at last year’s May Day celebrations. The May Day Association is inviting students to sign up for dance lessons for this year’s celebration, coming May 27.

The association is inviting local kids to get involved in this year’s event as members of the Royal Suite and as dancers

A draw for positions in the Royal Suite including the May Queen and Royal Knights will take

Folk dance lessons will be held at Queensborough Community Centre onWednesdays from April 12 to May 24 from 3:30 to 4:30 p m They’ll also be offered at Centennial Community Centre on Tuesdays andThursdays from April 11 to May 25

from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Maypole dance instruction will take place at: Queen Elizabeth Elementary School onWednesdays from April 12 to May 17 (3:30 to 4:30 p m ); Connaught Heights Elementary onWednesdays from April 12 to May 24 no class May 17 (5 to 6 p m ); and F W Howay Elementary onTuesdays from April 11 to May 16 (6 to 7 p m ) All lessons will be held the schools’ gyms

Entry forms for the Royal Suite and registration forms for dance lessons (to be completed by parents or guardians) are available at www nwmay day.com.

After a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19, more than 300 spectators attended the 2022 May Day event in Queen’s Park, which featured the crowning of the May Queen, maypole and folk dances performed by local children, entertainment

from a variety of dance groups, a land acknowledgment, and speeches by a number of dignitaries, including Qayqayt First Nation Chief Rhonda Larrabee.

SUPPORT NEEDED

The May Day Association reports that sponsor and donor support is greatly needed for this year’s event.

Rocky Suffron, the association’s vice-president, thanked the City of New

Westminster and flagship sponsors including Beachcomber HotTubs, Key West Ford and G&F Financial

“More sponsor and donor support is desperately needed,” he said “Individual donors can donate to May Day online via the May Day webpage (www nwmayday com) ”

There’s also a pub night tonight (Thursday, March 30) you can find the details in the information box at left.

PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER

WEEKEND

THURSDAY, MARCH 30 TO SUNDAY, APRIL 2

ROCK PAPER SCISSORS

Talent comes in all shapes and sizes This weekend, get inspired by a group of talented little preschoolers The Gallery at Queen’s Park (Centennial Lodge, Queen’s Park) will be hosting Rock Paper Scissors an art exhibit that features curated works of tiny tots from the Queen’s Park Preschool The show runs until Sunday, April 9 and is free for all

WHEN: Gallery open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 a m to 2 p m

WHERE: Gallery at Queen’s Park, Centennial Lodge (near the bandshell)

MORE: Admission is free, but donations to support the gallery are accepted. See www acnw ca/galleryexhibit

House or Queensborough Community Centre.

MORE: www.newwestcity.ca/easter

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

STUDIO DROP-IN

THURSDAY, MARCH 30

FARMERS MARKET OPENER

NewWest Farmers Market is back for a brand-new season Which means, you can now block yourThursday evenings to browse fresh produce, baked goods, local beer and more at the weekly market at Tipperary Park (315 Queens Ave ) But first, join in their season opener block party between 3 and 7 p m that will feature craft activities for kids, live music, food trucks, lawn games, face painting and more The first 100 people to show up take home free cookies

MORE: See www newwestfarmers ca

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

GET COLOURING

For kids who love art and are pumped about Easter, here’s an event that combines the two A new contest invites participants to colour an Easter-themed drawing sheet yep, with bunnies and a basket of eggs and stand a chance to win a family prize pack Organized by the City of New Westminster along with the Arts Council of NewWestminster, the contest will begin on April 1 and go on till the end of the month Those interested can download a colouring sheet from the NewWest City website and drop their completed work at either Centennial Community Centre, Century

Creative work doesn’t always have to be done solo. Arrieta Art Studio (707 Front St ) is opening its doors to anyone who wants to create art while hanging out with other like-minded people You can take your work in progress, or simply hang out with a bunch of creatives at the studio between 1 and 4 p m if you forget to bring paint, gesso or canvas, you can always buy them from the art space

MORE: www instagram com/arrieta art

ONGOING

FREE LITTLE ART GALLERY

Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG) is hosting a solo show for the first time New

West’s tiniest gallery will display works by printmaker and finalist for 2022 NewWestminster Artist of theYear, Sherida Charles.The works will include a linocut art “showing homes ‘growing’ and ‘blooming’ with the spring” and models of tiny homes all of which, as per the event description, throw light on the lack of affordable housing in the city. All the art pieces are free for anyone to pick up from the gallery. FLAG is located at 815 Edinburgh St..

MORE: instagram.com/newwestflag

INDUSTRIAL REMNANTS

Check out the work of artist Sherry Cooper in this continuing exhibition at the Amelia Douglas Gallery, on the fourth floor at Douglas College’s NewWest campus (700 Royal Ave ) Cooper’s work is inspired by the weathered, rusty textures of the heritageWilkinson Steel building inVancouver The exhibition is underway until April 26 Gallery open Monday to Friday 10 a m to 7:30 p m ; Saturday 11 a m to 4 p m

MORE: douglascollege ca/artsevents compiled by Naveena Vijayan

Photo: Chris At/iStock/Getty Images Plus

It’s an arty weekend in New West, with the opening of a preschool art show at the Gallery at Queen’s Park, a new solo show at the Free Little Art Gallery and a creative studio session at Arrieta Art Studio on Front Street Check the listings for full details

Showcasing fresh ideas from the creative young minds of New Westminster students

Jaela, Grade 3, Lord Tweedsmuir

Alyssa, Grade 4, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School

Design esignAnAd 2023

Design an Ad supplement showcases New West students’ creativity

For years our annual Design an Ad special supplement has given New Westminster students a chance to show their creativity

The results in past years, in which the New West Record has teamed up with local businesses and organizations and School District No 40 to ask city students to design newspaper ads for the special section, have been eye-catching, compelling and memorable, and this year is no exception

The students’ advertisements, always creative and insightful – and often humorous – draw attention to their subjects’ strengths while also at times underlining important messages

The student-created ads are collected by our team at The Record and presented to the participating business who then can choose which student’s advertisements get to run in this years Design ad Ad section.

As always, we’re grateful to all the students, teachers and advertisers that continue to make this annual project a success

Lara Graham Regional Publisher, The Record

Creativity at play. Inspiring futures.

Creativity and education go hand in hand – it teaches young learners about how their perspectives can influence and support the hard skills they are developing That is why our district is excited to continue to participate in this annual community collaboration: Design an Ad

Each year, this partnership enables our students to use their individuality, creativity and, sometimes even their sense of humour, to help connect people and local businesses in our community. It’s always a great experience for students, for the proud parents, and for all of us who enjoy seeing the approach taken in each of the ads

So, to the readers across New Westminster, including all the parents, I hope you feel as inspired by the hard work of our talented students as we so often are And, to our students I will add: whether you’re an aspiring advertising professional, an artist in the making, or simply find joy in supporting local businesses and the people they help, I applaud all the work you’ve done to create this year’s ads I hope you continue to keep those passions alive and let them guide you toward your future

Karim Hachlaf Superintendent of Schools / CEO

Participating Schools: Connaught Heights Elementary School | Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary School | Queen Elizabeth Elementary School

Spiritualist Alliance

Please join Spiritualist Alliance for Sunday Services at 1:00PM, In-person, and on Zoom. After 64 years in New Westminster, Spiritualist Alliance has found our new home at the Lynn Valley United Church, 3201 Mountain Hwy, North Vancouver

For more information please visit: https://spiritualistalliance.ca/ or email Askus@spiritualistalliance.ca

Volunteer butterfly seekers wanted in New West

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

Butterfly “seekers” are needed to help document and photograph butterflies across British Columbia

The David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflies in My Backyard project is once again recruiting volunteers to help find butterflies in B C

More than 300 volunteers became “BIMBY Seekers” in last year’s initiative, which ran from May to October During that time, they made 8,400 observations, helping to provide data that conservation scientists use to formulate policies to protect vulnerable butterfly species in the province

“We all have a role to play in stewarding the

beautiful butterflies that share our landscapes with us,” saidTara Moreau, associate director at the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden

“Observing and recording these species is essential to protecting them for future generations.”

Butterflies in My Backyard is a “citizen science campaign” hosted by the David Suzuki Foundation on the iNaturalist platform

The Great B C Butterfly Search Report, published in December 2022, said B C has the highest butterfly biodiversity in Canada, but the size of the province makes it difficult for any one person or small team to attempt to catalogue the state of this diversity The 8,400 but-

terfly entries to iNaturalist by BIMBY volunteers in 2023 included the common cabbage white to the highly endangered Johnson’s hairstreak and 116 other species.

In addition to an initial training session, volunteers will participate in monthly check-in Zoom

meetings where they’ll share strategies for finding and photographing butterflies

As well as tracking the abundance and diversity of butterflies, BIMBY Seekers selected for 2023 will get a new task to do while walking their transects (set paths): docu-

menting native plants on which butterflies feed and lay eggs.This will help the project gain better insight into these interspecies relationships

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, B C butterflies are threatened by pesticides, climate change and habitat loss

The BIMBY project team hopes the data collected in 2023 will help present a clearer picture of butterfly health and help inform conservation efforts

For details on BIMBY or to apply to be a BIMBY Seeker, go to www.tinyurl.com/ BIMBY2023

In our backyards: An anise swallowtail was one of the butterflies identified in 2022 PHOTO JACK DONG/CONTRIBUTED

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

Volunteering is a win-win for seniors, community

MargaretCoates

AsWe Age contributor

Lately I have been hearing about the need for volunteers from several organizations

During COVID-19, the rate of volunteering plummeted because of the various protocols in place to keep us safe, such as social distancing and isolating However, now that the pandemic is no longer so threatening, volunteers are needed more than ever as programs and services have reopened in organizations that work with seniors

ThoughVolunteer AwarenessWeek is April 16 to 22, I thought I would put in an early pitch, since there is an immediate need to recruit volunteers

As we know, volunteering is good for the community and good for us

On theVolunteer Canada website, it says, “Volunteering is a fundamental act of good citizenship

It’s also essential in our society”

According to their theme for volunteer week, “Volunteering weaves us together, strengthening the fabric of our community by sharing our time, talent and energy to support one another ”

The Conference Board of Canada, in a presentation in 2018, said: “Though volunteers are unpaid, their contribution adds to economic activity through the value of services provided.”

It estimated that volunteers “added over two billion hours to Canada’s

work effort in 2017 and that this volunteer contribution is valued at $55 9 billion in 2017 equivalent to 2 6 per cent of GDP”

For an individual, the benefits of volunteering include physical and mental rewards

Interaction with others increases (always important to keep from us from becoming isolated)

We are afforded opportunities to learn and gain knowledge and to share talents and wisdom gained through a lifetime of experience

We will feel an increase in our self-esteem and a sense of satisfaction

We will feel more empowered and valued.

Volunteering provides wonderful opportunities

Continued on page 20

Helping hands: Volunteering provides benefits for the community at large and also for the person volunteering Donating your time helps reduce social isolation and creates an opportunity to learn new skills PHOTO FATCAMERA/E+/GETTY IMAGES

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

Movies, music on the calendar at Century House

Want to get out and about this spring?

Century House, the city’s 50+ community centre, has a host of programs and events year-round in Moody Park (620 Eighth St )

To sign up or find out more, check out www centuryhouseassociation com or call 604-519-1066

Here are a few highlights from the centre’s April calendar:

SATURDAY MOVIE

Turn out Saturday, April 8 at 1 p m for a screening of True Spirit. The film is based on the true story of JessicaWatson, an Australian teenager who decides to become the youngest sailor to travel the world alone

It’s $3 for members, $4 for non-members

DIAMONDS AND DENIM

Join in the fun for an evening of rock and country-western music, with some basic line dancing instruction for those who’d like to try line dancing The wearing of denim and bling accessories is encouraged.

It’s onWednesday, April 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p m

Tickets are $18 for members, $20 for non-members

ROCK AROUND THE WORLD

Turn out to enjoy an afternoon musical performance featuring rock and pop music byTeresa & Friends that’s guaranteed to get the dancers in the crowd up on their feet

It’s set for Monday, April 17, with music from 3:30 to 4:30 p m and tea and

treats from 4:30 to 5 p m

Tickets are $5 for members, $7 for non-members

KARAOKE DANCE PARTY

Do you like to sing or dance? Do you like to listen to other people sing or watch them dance? Either way, this is the event for you Cal Donnelly is the karaoke host on the last Saturday of the month. This month’s edition is April 29 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

It’s $6 for members, $7 for non-members if you pre-register by noon on the Friday before. If you pay at the door, it’s $8 for members, $9 for nonmembers.

BIRTHDAY PARTY

Is April your birth month?Whether it is or not, you can enjoy the fun

of the April birthday party onWednesday, April 26 from 6:30 to 8 p m , with

games, music and dancing.Tickets are free if you’re celebrating a birth-

day, $4 for everyone else Sign-up deadline is April 24 or when it’s sold out

Western fun: Line dancing is on the calendar at Century House, with a special Diamonds and Denim evening on Wednesday, April 12

PHOTO QUEENTUT/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS

AS WE AGE Celebrating Seniors

Volunteering can be fun

Continued from page 18

to give back to the community.

When you retire, you might find yourself at loose ends with little to keep you busy Volunteering can make the transition from paid employment easier by offering opportunities to stay connected to community in a meaningful way

Volunteering can be an important part of a healthy, active retired life

Volunteers must be treated well and be incentivized to keep working through recognition programs and the provision of opportunities to grow

If a volunteer gets bored or does not feel appreciated, they probably will not stay in the position

Organizations that have a volunteer program often say without volunteers as-

sisting in providing programs and services, the valuable work of the organization is unlikely to get done at the level that is needed

It is said that for every staff person in a non profit there are 10 volunteers helping them It is true that most organizations could not afford the staffing levels required to do the work

Because people are not taking up the available volunteer opportunities in the community in the way they did pre-COVID-19, various positions are going unfilled

I have heard that organizations badly need bus drivers and individual drivers, office and food service workers, crafters, wood workers, gardeners, docents, committee and

Where to help in New West

board members, computer techs and greeters.

There are many more positions, and there is probably a position to fit anyone’s fancy

Some people may still be reluctant about getting back out into the community in face-to-face situations Check with organizations to see if they have a friendly phoning (from your home) program, or any other program which does not require close, inperson contact

Volunteering is fun did I mention that? I volunteer and as well as feeling rewarded for my efforts, I have a great time.

Try it; you might like it

Margaret Coates is the co-ordinator of Lionsview Seniors’Planning Society and a regular contributor to As We Age

So you want to be a volunteer but you aren’t sure where to start? Here are a few places you can begin the search in New Westminster:

CITY OF NEWWESTMINSTER

The city’s website is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to volunteer on committees or in various jobs with the police department, animal shelter, parks and recreation or the museum and archives. See www.tinyurl.com/ VolunteerCityNW.

SENIORS SERVICES SOCIETY

The New West-based Seniors Services Society of B.C. has multiple open volunteer positions, including event coordinator, board members, grocery order taker, medical transportation driver, translator/interpreter and more See www seniorsservicessociety ca/ volunteer.

CENTURY HOUSE

The Century House Association is always looking for folks to serve the com-

munity in a wide range of ways at the city’s 50+ community centre in Moody Park. See the website at www.century houseassociation com, or drop in to the centre at 620 Eighth St.

QUEEN’S

PARK CARE CENTRE

The care centre relies on the help of volunteers in a host of positions. Among the current needs: gift shop, painting program, music therapy, and a range of offerings in the therapeutic recreation programs. See www.tinyurl. com/QPCCVolunteering

ROYAL

COLUMBIAN HOSPITAL

Volunteers can serve as wayfinders, members of the auxiliary and more Check out all the details about volunteering at RCH at www.tinyurl.com/ RCHVolunteers2023

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Many organizations list their open opportunities online at wwwvolunteer connector.org. You can search by location, cause and activity.

Volunteersneededfor seniorscarehomesurvey

What’s life like for seniors living in care homes?

B C ’s Office of the Seniors Advocate has embarked on a project to survey more than 29,000 residents in publicly funded long-term care homes to find out

The goal is to help find ways to make improvements for seniors, both lo-

cally and provincially.

“In the wake of the COVID pandemic, it is especially important to reassess what life is like for seniors in long-term care facilities and how we can make it better,” said a notice about the survey

The survey was first done in 2016/2017

To find out more about

the project, visit its website at surveybcseniors org

WANTTO HELP OUT?

Volunteers are needed from March to June

To apply as a volunteer, call 1-877-952-3181 or apply online at www surveybcseniors org/ volunteer.

MARKETPLACE

REMEMBRANCES

In Loving Memory of Addeline Gilfillan

March 10, 1938 - March 29, 2022

It’s been a year and not a day has passed when you have not been in our hearts

Love You, Frank, He ene, Bert and Grandch ldren

FRASER, Carole

November 4, 1950 February 27, 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our wonderful mother, wife, sister, and friend. Carole Joanne Fraser passed away peacefully on February 27th at Sechelt hospital with her family by her side. She is survived by her husband of almost 52 years, Don; children Ian and Allison (Michael); grandsons Kaleb, Griffin and Silas; siblings Gordon (Darlene), Diane (Dan), Rodney (Candace) and Kenneth (Sharleen); and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as countless friends who were more like her family. She is predeceased by her parents, Henry and Christina Halvorsen.

Carole was born in Vancouver, BC, and grew up in North Burnaby. She met the love of her life, Don, and they were married in 1971. Together, they started two of their greatest projects, their family and their company Northwest Landscape and Stone Supply. As the years went by, both projects grew their business expanded, and so did their family. Carole was a devoted and attentive mother and was immensely proud of her two children and grandchildren.

CORCIONE,

Rafael

July 29, 1937 - March 15, 2023

Rafael Corcione of New Westminster, BC, passed away Wednesday March 15 2023 He s survived and ov ngly remembered by his 3 children, 6 grandchi dren, 2 brothers, fami y and many friends

He was born in Naples Italy to loving parents and had 6 wonderfu s b ings At the age of 21 he mmigrated to Ha ifax but disl ked the c imate ntensely, so kept moving west until he reached Vancouver He settled in the community of Kerr sda e where he owned and operated a successful hair salon and ra sed his fam ly It wasn’t unti he retired that he moved to New Westm nster where he began a new chapter and met many wonderfu friends

Rafael had many hobb es but his true joy was spend ng time at his property on Sa t Spr ng Island tending his garden

He was a force w th an easy charm, and a true maver ck who lived ife on his terms; he wi l be greatly missed by al who knew him

Funera services to be he d at St Peter’s Cathol c Church, 330 Royal Ave , New Westm nster, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at 12:00 pm

In ieu of flowers, cons der donating to the charity of your choice

Condolences may be offered to the fam ly at www kearneyfs com

Kearney Columbia-Bowel Chape l 604-521-4881

Eventually, Carole and Don left Burnaby to become full time residents of Pender Harbour this was a dream realized for Carole. She was an avid golfer and member of the Pender Harbour Golf Club and could be found on the course almost daily when she was able. She loved the wildlife on the shores, often spending time watching otters play and eagles swoop through the skies.

Carole was a social creature and cherished her friendships as though they were her family. In the late 60s and early 70s, she played the tenor drum in the Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band. She carried many fond memories of her time and travels with her band friends. Carole loved her community in Pender Harbour, spending warm summer evenings at barbecues with friends and neighbours. She and Don frequently travelled, trekking across numerous countries and meeting various people. While she enjoyed exploring new places New Zealand and France being favourites Carole was always happy to return to her family and her home.

Carole was a strong and positive woman, which was most evident during the last few years of her ife as she faced numerous health challenges. She took life on with courage and determination and never failed to greet her grandchildren with enthusiasm and warmth. Carole was a compassionate and loving woman and will be dearly missed.

Our family would like to extend our gratitude to the wonderful caregivers who supported Carole, as well as the incredible staff at the Pender Harbour Health Center In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please consider a donation to the Pender Harbour Health Centre.

GARRITY, Noreen (aka Norah

Mary O’Hara)

August 26, 1940 - March 2, 2023

It s w th great sadness we share the news of the sudden passing of our Mum at her home n New Westm nster

She w l be deeply missed by her chi dren, Deborah (Steve), Helen (M ke), Steven (Sandra); sister Linda, brother Fred; 11 grandchi dren, 12 great grandchi dren, nieces, nephews, along with a mu titude of family members and fr ends throughout the wor d

Our beautifu Mum was an accomplished post secondary nstructor, movie guru, furious card p ayer fabu ous dancer lover of mus c and al anima s, cru se enthus ast and se f-procla med flirt She wi l always be remembered for her nfect ous augh and being the life of the party

Her legacy of love and kindness, will live on through her family and friends

In memory, a donat on to one of her favorite places, North Island Wi d ife Recovery (250-248-8534), www niwra org would be greatly appreciated Mum de ighted in visiting the bears and wou d often donate to the centre

To share thoughts, stor es or to rece ve details of her Celebrat on of Life, p ease message: rememberingscottishnoreen@gma l com

REMEMBRANCES

OBITUARIES

RELICK, Captain John

TOTH, Vince Paul Gyula

March 1, 1964 - March 15, 2023

It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Vince (Vinnie) on March 15, 2023, in New Westminster at the age of 59 He was predeceased by his parents, Helen and Julius Toth He w l be loving y remembered by Joan h s wife and partner of th rty years, his daughters who gave h m his greatest oy and who he adored: Ju ia Grace and Madel ne; h s brother Bernie and sister Cece (Joe) as we l as h s niece, nephews and many cousins

Grow ng up n New Westm nster, Vince was involved n sports and the community After h gh school, he attended BCIT before pursu ng a career in the trades working until 1996, when he started his own company, Coastal Mountain Crane, wh ch recent y ce ebrated 25 years of business

V nn e lived life to the ful est He was a wonderfu friend with a generous sp rit and a great sense of humour who touched many ives H s fami y and the numerous friends who knew and loved him w ll miss him dear y

A memor al mass and reception wi l be held at St Peter’s Roman Catholc Church in New Westmnster on Saturday, Apr l 1, 2023 at 11:00am

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Gutters Handyperson landscapinG As you share the stories and the memories of how they lived their lives and how very much they meant, may you find comfort...

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