New West divided in B.C. riding shift

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca

And then there were three?

Last fall, the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission published its preliminary report with recommendations for changing British Columbia’s provincial electoral districts for the next two provincial general elections. It proposed New West voters be divvied up into five provincial ridings. The commission has now published its final report with recommendations to the Legislative Assembly. Instead of five, it’s now proposing that New West be included in three provincial ridings: Rich- mond-Queensborough, Burnaby-NewWestminster and NewWestminster-Coquitlam

“We believe that this allows for expected growth, keeps the urban core of NewWestminster intact, and avoids splitting the community into too many electoral districts, which would reduce effective representation,” said the report

Currently, residents are in two provincial ridings: Richmond-Queensborough, which includes all of Queensborough, and New Westminster-Burnaby, which includes all of the city’s mainland Queensborough residents will continue to be part of the Rich-

mond-Queensborough provincial riding

“People expressed different opinions about whether the NewWestminster neighbourhood of Queensborough, which was moved into Richmond-Delta in the 2015 electoral boundary adjustment, should remain in a Richmond riding or return to NewWestminster,” said the commission’s report. “We propose keeping it where it is because moving it would neither improve effective representation nor better balance electoral district populations.”

The commission’s preliminary proposal, released in October 2022, would have seen NewWest residents voting in five provin- cial ridings: Burnaby East, Burnaby-NewWestminster, Burnaby South, New Westminster-Maillardville, and Richmond-Queensborough. riding photo B.C. ElECtoral BounDariEs Commission starting thursDaY, april 6

In November, five people made presentations to the commission when it held a hearing in New Westminster, including then-mayor-elect Patrick Johnstone, school trustee Maya Russell, the City of NewWestminster intergovernmental and community relations manager and a local resident. All four expressed concerns about the plan to divide NewWest among five ridings, with parts of the Connaught Heights and Massey Heights neighbourhoods added to Burnaby ridings.

Vagabond Players

Not all die-hard Saturday Night Live fans might know that prior to the long-running show, there was another comedy show back in the 1950s called Your Show of Shows. Now, here is a play that gives you a sneak peek into what it was like to be part of it Neil Simon’s comedy Laughter on the 23rd Floor is inspired by his experience as a writer for that show.Watch the comedy at the Bernie LeggeTheatre in Queen’s Park until April 29.

WHEN: April 6 to 29

WHERE: Bernie Legge Theatre, Queen’s Park

COST: $17 regular, $15 seniors/youth, $12 previews; buy at www.vagabondplayers.ca/tickets.

FriDaY, april 7 to sunDaY, april 9

SPRING SALMON EGGS-TRAVAGANZA

While you are busy hunting for colourful Easter eggs, know that just a short distance away, in the Fraser River, a large number of salmon eggs are hatching To mark this occasion, the Fraser River Discovery Centre (788 Quayside Dr ) is hosting Spring Salmon Eggstravaganza! with salmon-themed games and crafts. Attend the event between 10 a m and 4 p m Tickets are priced at $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, $3 for kids, and free for tots two years and younger

WHEN: Friday, April 7 to Sunday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Fraser River Discovery Centre, 788 Quayside Dr

COST: $6 regular, $5 seniors, $3 kids, free for those two and younger saturDaY, april 8

Sakura Workshop

If you love cherry blossoms, why limit yourself to just

Don’t miss these weekend events & activities!

Please send your information for inclusion on to calendar@newwestrecord.ca

thursDaY, april 6

Easter At The Farmers Market

This week, there are more reasons than one to head to the NewWest Farmers Market atTipperary Park (315 Queens Ave.).The market is all geared up to celebrate Easter in its full spirit.Yep, we are talking about a visit from the Easter Bunny and a full-blown Easter egg hunt. At the venue, kids will find a colouring booth, balloons and a chance to get initiated into gardening through Gardens4Kids.The Easter celebrations are between 3 and 7 p m , during the market’s operating hours

WHEN: Thursday, April 6, 3 to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Tipperary Park (next to New Westminster City Hall) looking at them from afar when you can make the tiny flowers yourself? As part of Kinder Books’ brand new event series CanvasTales:When Art Meets Children’s Literature, artist and children’s book author Sleepless Kao will be teaching children how to craft the flowers using felt Any child four years and older can sign up for the free workshop on Saturday at 1 and 2 p m Kao’s art pieces will also be on display at the bookstore (810 Quayside Dr ) for the entire month of April

INFO: See www.newwestfarmers.ca for full details (including a market vendors’ list).

WHEN: Saturday, April 8, 1 and 2 p.m.

WHERE: Kinder Books, 101-810 Quayside Dr INFO: Free, see www.kinderbooks.ca

Artist Talk

Artist Suze Shore’s multilayered textile artworks currently adorn the walls of Arrieta Art Studio (707 Front St.).The gallery is openThursdays to Sundays. If you are particularly curious to know the thought process behind the works, listen to Shore’s talk on Saturday between 4 and 6 p m Light refreshments will be provided.

WHEN: Saturday, April 8, 4 p.m.

WHERE: Arrieta Art Studio, 707 Front St. INFO: instagram.com/arrieta_art

Hyack Ambassador gala weekend coming up

Mark your calendars for the Hyack Ambassador gala weekend

The two-part event, set for April 14 and 15, features talent and speech presentations on Friday from 6:30 to 9:30 p m at Bernie LeggeTheatre in Queen’s Park

On Saturday night, you can enjoy the Evening of Stars, including presentations of scholarships and installation of the Hyack Ambassador leadership team That takes place at the Laura MuirTheatre at Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave

Tickets are $25 per event, or $40 for both events or $30 for students under 12 and seniors 60 and older For info and tickets, see www tinyurl com/HyackAmbassador GalaWeekend2023