New Westminster Record August 10 2023

Letter to our readers:

You are reading the final print edition for the NewWest Record as we transition our business into the digital-only age.

While it was a difficult decision to stop printing, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. As flyer customers continue the move to digital, and our local advertisers purchase our digital offerings instead of print, the business model from the past is no longer sustainable

The good news for our readers is that our strength and our focus has always been community news, and it will continue to be well into the future. Over the past few years, our reporters have built up our online audience, with hundreds of thousands of articles read every month by our loyal Record readers

We’re not going anywhere.We’re still here, and we’ll continue to provide the

high-quality community journalism that our readers have come to expect over our decades in NewWestminster To our business community, we will continue to sponsor and support our local charities and events just as we have always done.

We want to say a special thank you

to our loyal carriers who have delivered our paper in the snow, rain and heat and always with a smile

I’m extremely proud of what the NewWest Record has achieved in its online presence leading up to this change, and excited about continuing to build our audience online

Please make sure you sign up for our daily newsletters, where you will find all the usual stories you read in print, organized in a very digestible format, and bookmark our website for daily updates

Thank you NewWest see you online!

Lara Graham Regional publisher, Tri-City

We’ll continue to provide

high-quality community

that our readers have come to expect over our decades in New West.

UpFront

find more online: NewWestRecord.ca

New West police launch public opinion survey

JulieMacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord.ca

The NewWestminster Police Department wants to know what residents think of its work.

The NWPD is launching a public opinion survey that will be led by Ipsos, a global market research company.

Randomly selected residents will get a letter in the mail inviting them to participate in the survey so, if you happen to be one of them, the police department wants you to know that it’s a legitimate survey

“The NewWestminster

Police Department is seeking a clear picture of residents’ opinions about the services it provides,” said a post from the department

“This survey will allow the NewWestminster Police Department to establish a baseline of public perception, which can be used to help us measure public opinion over time ”

The survey is designed to provide a statistically valid, representative sample of public opinion.

Jennifer Miller, the City of NewWestminster’s manager of public engagement, noted at the July 25

police board meeting that the survey is set to start in early August.

The methodology involves a letter being mailed to NewWestminster addresses with a URL and a unique code, following “best practices” so the city gets the most representative, statistically valid results possible Ipsos will have a minimum sample size and won’t stop collecting the data until it hits that number, Miller noted.

Police board member MaryTrentadue questioned whether there will be any communication to

encourage people to participate in the survey.

Miller said the commu-

nication so far has been just to let people know the survey is happening, so they know it’s legitimate.

Discussion about the survey arose during a conversation about the police budget process for 2024 though Miller noted the public survey won’t include questions specific to the budget

She said the survey will use a series of questions developed by the federal government.

“It’s basically asking all kinds of questions about perceptions about the role of policing in your com-

munity, specific to the NWPD,” she told the police board “No money questions, but I think the results from that could help to inform your budget discussions ”

Chief Const Dave Jansen said the department is now mandated to run these surveys every three years He said the core of the survey has mandated questions, but, in future, the department will be able to add on questions if there are other areas it wants to explore

Results of the survey are expected by October

New West council fears court construction could disturb area NewWestminster councillors want to keep tabs on after-hours construction at Provincial Courthouse

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

NewWestminster city council wants assurances that work on the Provincial Courthouse in NewWestminster won’t be too disruptive to neighbours

Signia Construction Ltd. applied for an exemption to the city’s construction noise bylaw, which would allow it to do construction work outside of the city’s regular construction hours

A staff report said the project includes repairs to the deteriorating roof and installation of exterior insulation and cladding that will increase energy efficiency of the courthouse.

A July 10 report to council included a staff

recommendation that the exemption to the construction noise bylaw be approved from Aug. 1 to Nov 1, 2023 The report, however, noted that construction is anticipated to occur within 100 metres of more than 400 residential units for a period of up to 18 months

“I’m concerned this is a long-term period for a lot of people,” said Mayor Patrick Johnstone “So just want to get a better sense of what mitigation approaches we will be able to take if this ends up becoming a challenge, and we start hearing a lot from the public on this.”

Johnstone noted that other institutions, such as

city hall, Royal Columbian Hospital and Douglas College have continued to operate while construction is taking place at their facilities He questioned why construction at the courthouse isn’t scheduled during the day.

The request to city hall was to allow work to be done from 8 to 11 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on alternating Sundays. No work is proposed to be done on Saturday nights or on statutory holidays

Diane Merenick, the city’s manager of integrated services, said staff has been working with Signia Construction Ltd She said the original request

for an exemption to the construction noise bylaw was to from 8 p m to midnight five days a week, plus every Saturday and Sunday

“This (new construction schedule) was a compromise that they made based on what they felt they needed to do to accommodate the noise in the courtrooms, to keep the noise out of the courtrooms and to look at security in terms of not having people walking through areas that might be secure where there is sensitive information and things like that,” she said EnginTur, project manager at Signia Construction Ltd , said the court-

house must remain active and function normally during the entire project

Tur said noise is unavoidable because “it’s construction” but he assured council the contractor would minimize noise in the later part of the evening as much as possible. He said “noise-creating” construction activities aren’t expected to begin until September

In an effort to keep tabs on the project’s impacts on neighbours, council asked that staff report back on the project so they can discuss any construction challenges or impacts

In a unanimous vote, council amended staff’s recommendation to allow

the noise exemption to go until Jan. 31, 2024 (instead of Nov 1, 2023, as recommended by staff), at which time the need for a construction noise exemption would be reviewed.

The Record reached out to staff for clarification on the dates of the noise exemption, as the exemption approved by council is for a longer period of time than had been recommend by staff.

“In this instance, council deemed six months to be a reasonable timeframe to assess the construction impacts on the neighbourhood,” Merenick said in an email to the Record. “Staff will report back to council in January 2024 ”

SEEKING INPUT: The New Westminster Police Department is conducting a public survey to see what New West residents think of its work

PHOTO JULIE MACLELLAN

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

August 10 – 19

Pride Week

Various locations

newwestcity.ca/pride-week

Sunday, August 13 1:00 pm

Circus Sundays Westminster Pier Park

Sunday, August 13 2:00 pm

Queen’s Park Concert Series

Queen’s Park Bandshell

CITYPAGE

THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS IN OUR CITY

Monday, August 7 No Council Meeting

Tuesday, August 15 10:30 am

Mornings by the River Westminster Pier Park

Wednesday, August 16 5:00 pm

Music by the River Westminster Pier Park

VIEW THE ACTIVE LIVING GUIDE NOW!

Start planning for fall with programs and services from the City of New Westminster View the Active Living Guide online now at newwestcity.ca/alg, and prepare for registration next week.

The Fall guide is filled with fitness, sport, art, and recreation opportunities for all ages. Find "School's Out" options to keep children engaged on non-instructional days, drop-in group fitness, our new skating lesson program, swimming lessons, family gymnastics, and so much more Search the new Older Adult section for 50+ programs, and don’t miss the All Ages section for family-friendly activities and special events!

Registration opens in person, by phone, and online at 10:00 am on:

• Thursday, August 17 for New Westminster residents

• Friday, August 18 for everyone

FIRE/SMOKING BAN AND STAGE 2 WATERING RESTRICTIONS

Currently in effect for New Westminster is a fire and smoking ban for all parks, natural lands, and Glenbrook Ravine, as well as Stage 2 watering restrictions for all residential and non-residential areas. Please adhere to the following regulations:

Fire and smoking ban

• No smoking or vaping

• No charcoal or wood burning BBQs

• No open fires or flames

• No chafing fuels, candles, tiki torches

NO MORE PRINT: GET CITYPAGE ONLINE

Today, Aug 10, is the final print edition of Citypage as The Record is moving to digital only. Don’t miss out on important news and information from the City. Subscribe now to get Citypage delivered straight to your inbox: citypage.newwestcity.ca

WATERFRONT FUN ACTIVITIES THIS SUMMER

Enjoy free activites along the waterfront in August and September. Head to Westminster Pier Park, Columbia Street, and the Waterfront Esplanade, to find free opportunities including street festivals, markets, live music, and more Highlights include Yoga in the Park, Circus Sundays, Story Time Fun, an outdoor movie, and the ever-popular Music by the River Find out more, and vote your outdoor movie choice, at newwestcity.ca/waterfrontfun

PRIDE WEEK: AUGUST 10 – 19

Starting today, take part in activities celebrating diversity, inclusion, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community Find activities at newwestcity.ca/pride-week Highlights include:

1 Pride Painters (11 - 18 years) tonight

2 Trans, Gender Diverse, & Two-Spirit Inclusive Swim (TGD2SQ) (All Ages) on Aug 12

3 Music by the River - Pride Edition on Aug 16

Pride Week in New Westminster is presented by New Westminster Pride Society with community partners and local businesses and runs Thursday, Aug 10 to Sunday, Aug 19 Find out more about the variety of events taking place during New West Pride Week at newwestpride.ca.

MOVIE BY THE RIVER

Grab a blanket, snacks, and beverages and get ready to enjoy a movie under the stars

Arrive early to get a spot on the festival lawn and enjoy some New West film trivia and family-friendly activities At dusk, a movie selected by the community will project on a large screen for you to enjoy Vote for your movie selection by Aug 22, and the movie will be announced on Aug. 25. Find the survey and more Waterfront Fun activities at newwestcity.ca/waterfrontfun

FIELD TRIP TO IRVING HOUSE (ALL AGES)

Irving House | Thursday, Aug. 24, 10:00 - 11:30 am

Stage 2 watering restrictions

• No lawn watering

• No filling of aesthetic water features

• No washing of impermeable surfaces

• Garden watering during set hours only

Report any signs of smoke or fire by calling 911 immediately Visit newwestcity.ca/fireban for the most up-to-date fire ban information Find details on watering regulations and exemptions at newwestcity.ca/lawnwatering

Join Artist in Residence, Janet Wang, for a character-design and zine-making activity based on the historic patterns in this heritage house! Participants will join the artist for a tour through the Irving House before working on hands-on collage and drawing techniques Registration is free, email youth@nwpl ca to register

DOG OFF-LEASH AREA SEPARATION GATES FEEDBACK SURVEY

Have you used the shy/small dog separation gates at the Moody or Queen’s park offleash areas? Take our short feedback survey to let us know how your experience with this pilot has been! Survey closes Aug 21: beheardnewwest.ca/dog-gates-feedback

SUBSCRIBE TO CITYPAGE: newwestcity.ca/citypage

City reaches out to public for input on 2024 budget

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

Close to 500 people took the time to share their thoughts with the City of NewWestminster about its 2024 budget

As part of its 2024 budget process, the city recently gave residents and businesses a chance to weigh in with their thoughts on the budget That included asking what projects they’d like to see prioritized, such as bike lanes, sports infrastructure, road repairs, train whistle cessation and climate-action retrofits.

In May, city council endorsed engagement objectives and an engagement timeline associated with the 2024 budget That plan included engagement on Be Heard NewWest, the city’s online engagement space, and targeted workshops with underrepresented groups

“We heard from 470 community members on their priorities for how the city should spend its money,” said an update on Be Heard “Online public engagement has now concluded. Over the next few weeks, staff are continuing with targeted outreach to specific groups in New West, like renters and newcomers.”

While the results of all

the city’s engagement activities will be shared later this summer, staff provided a few highlights of the online survey, which concluded on July 10.This included the response to a question about people’s thoughts on the programs and services provided by the city and the value received for their tax dollars

“Key factors for the 2024 city budget in particular include aligning the city’s work plans with council’s new strategic priorities, the ongoing rise in inflation, increased population, and new staff and other resources that will be needed to operate the new təməsewtxʷ Aquatic and Community Centre (which is set to open in 2024),” said the update “Another key budget driver includes third-party funding like the provincial support from the Growing Communities Fund and opportunities for other grants ”

NewWestminster is looking to increase public engagement in the development of next year’s budget, after having minimal engagement around the 2023 budget That was due to the time needed to do a “comprehensive” onboarding of the new council, following the October

2022 civic election

The city’s goal in recent years has been to approve its draft financial plan by the end of the year, but this year’s budget wasn’t approved until late April

“The shifting of the annual budget timelines did

have an impact on community engagement,” said a May 8 report to council. At that time, council supported the idea of having public engagement before city departments begin drafting their budgets, rather than in the fall,

which is when it has typically occurred By fall, staff have already begun working on their departments’ budgets

Imagine your home, totally organized! Custom Closets, Garage Cabinets, Home Offices and more!

Proudly serving new west for over 25 years!

2023 © A ll R igh ts R eser v ed Closets b y D esig n, nc

oset garage or

Terms and Conditions: 40% off any order of $1000 or more or 30% off any order o f $700-$1000 on any complete custom closet, garage, or home office unit. Take an additional 15% off on any complete system order Not valid with any other offer Free installation with any complete unit order of $850 or more With incoming order, at time of purchase only Offer not valid in all regions Expires 8/19/23 SPECIAL FINANCING FOR 12 MONTHS! With approved credit. Call or ask your Designer for details. Not available in all areas

40% Off Plus Free Installation 15% Off PLUSTAKE AN EXTRA Call for a free in home design consultation and estimate 604-265-6145 www.closetsbydesign.com NWR Locally Owned and Operated Licensed and Insured

incorporate community input into their draft budgets,” said the report. “This timeline means engagement results must be tabulated and shared with staff across the organization by August at the latest.” ts engmangunther.ca Email: info@engmangunther.ca

Have you been the victim of crime in New Westminster? LAST WEEK

MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY

Cost of living triggers wave of labour disruption

Adeal was finally agreed to late last week to end the labour dispute atthe Port ofVancouver, but do not think that’s the last we have seen of job action and full-on strikes in various sectors across this province and the entire country.

In fact, we seem to be entering a time of uncertainty and dissatisfaction in workplaces the likes of which we have not experienced in decades

A combination of a steady increase in the cost of living and all that comes with it (rising food and energy prices, to cite just two daily concerns) plus an ongoing rental housing crisis have built up pressure over the past few years on employees who may feel their employers have not allowed their salaries or wages to keep pace

As a result, there have been more labour

disruptions across the country and more may well lie ahead.

In B C , we have experienced that 13day port strike, which caused economic havoc, plus recent lengthy strikes at two transit companies in the FraserValley and the Sunshine Coast, plus a twomonth strike by support workers at Capilano College

About 200 unionized employees at Richmond hotels have been on strike for more than six weeks, and unionized employees at three majorVancouver hotels have voted in favor of strike action

Earlier this year, more than 150,000 federal public sector employees went on strike and now a major Ontario grocery chain finds itself behind picket lines. Last year, more than 50,000 Ontario education workers went on strike as well

A little more than halfway through the year and Canada is on track for the most work stoppages and the most person-days lost because of those stoppages in years

Aside from so many unionized workers wanting to “catch up” quickly after years of relatively small annual raises, a couple of other factors seem to be in play.

First, the make-up of the labour force is changing. Members of the baby boomer generation, who are retiring in droves, were traditionally “married’ to their jobs and saw little movement from workplace to workplace

Broadly speaking, younger generations such as Gen Z and the millennials seem less tied to their workplace and seek greater mobility.Therefore, their willingness to engage in such things as strikes if they feel they are being treated unfairly seems to be

higher

Hovering over all this is the economic uncertainty that lies ahead. Most recently we have seen massive layoffs in the telecom sector plus ongoing job losses in some resource industries (notably forestry in B C )

Then there is the whole work-fromhome shift for many companies and their workers, which gained lasting momentum when the pandemic changed so many things in so many places

The workplace is indeed changing and so are the people in it Frustration and high expectations are now on the table, and many workplaces may prove to be more disruptive in the months and years ahead.

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

Water meters aren’t the solution for shortages

Editor: There is often talk of water meters, or meters in general, every time there is a shortage. This does not work to reduce usage, but does add to the cities’ costs, in multiple ways, which is ultimately borne by the taxpayer Stories abound about folks who pay for water so they are going to use water, as if somehow having more than your neighbours gives you extra rights Perhaps, in our system, it does. Those with plenty of money are not concerned about the fines

I think that what really bothers folks is that the system we have actually requires us to participate in managing our shared resource. We all have to cut back when times are tough, and not just those who can’t afford it We all have to pay attention to what our neighbours are doing and not just count on an official to do it for us. We all have to listen to this conversation every year and can expect to do it more often and sooner as this world gets hotter and the water dries up I think it is a good thing that we need to talk about this It is a good thing that we discuss this with our neighbours It is good to ask your neighbours to follow the regulations It is good to remind each other that we have a limited resource and we all need to work together

We can practise now, during these times of limited restrictions, to prepare for times of increased ones.

James Christopherson

Rip up your lawn and grow food instead

Editor: Re: Complaining about people watering their lawns.

Yes, I agree with that, but not their gardens

that’s food, and with the price of food in the store, we should all be ripping our lawns up and growing food

Susanne Vincent

What will NewWest do about sprinkler scofflaws?

Editor: Re: Letters in the July 27 Record from Andrew Murray and Gavin McLeod

One of the things I am deeply concerned about with regards to the state of the world these days is the environment. Unfortunately, it seems that many of my neighbours do not share this concern, at least when it comes to water usage in their own homes. Just last night while walking our dog before bed, there were four houses with their sprinklers running to water their lawns and gardens. Even under the current Stage 1 restrictions, this is not allowed, so what will happen when we move to Stage 2 in two days’ time?

Is it up to me to contact the city every time I see a home breaking these rules? And then what will happen?

Will the city send someone out every night for hours at a time, patrolling neighbourhoods to find the rule breakers? Will they even actually be fined, or just given a warning? And how will all of these expenses be paid for, raising my property taxes even more?

As Andrew’s letter talked about, water meters would help, but it would have to be on a reward-the-low-use-users basis if it is a voluntary implementation process, because you know those who are already breaking the laws would not bother to sign up. Believe me, I would love to have my flat rate utility bill reduced, and if there is any way to do that, sign me up!

Let’s do better, City of New Westminster the time is now Emma Scott

HOT ISSUE: Water restrictions are generating intense debate in New Westminster this summer.

PHOTO NENOV/MOMENT/GETTY IMAGES

Community House prices keep climbing, sales holding steady

JulieMacLellan jmaclellan@newwestrecord ca

Will there ever be an end to the upward trajectory of real estate prices in New Westminster?

The latest data from the Real Estate Board of GreaterVancouver shows the benchmark price for a single-detached home in NewWestminster climbed to $1,599,400 up 1.8 per cent from the month before

The increase continues a steady climb over the past few years

July’s benchmark price is a whopping 42.5 per cent higher than three years ago and 7 1 per cent higher than a year ago. It’s also nearly 10 per cent (9 9 per

cent, to be precise) higher than the benchmark just three months ago

The increases for single-detached homes have been steeper than those for apartments and townhomes but those prices, too, have risen.

The benchmark price for an apartment in New West sat at $654,600 in July, up just 0.2 per cent from the previous month Again, however, the price marks a steep increase over three years ago, at 26 4 per cent It’s also 1 8 per cent up over the benchmark of three months ago.

Townhomes showed a benchmark price of $957,300, up 1.3 per cent from a month ago and

2 1 per cent from three months ago. As with the other forms of housing, that benchmark represents a huge increase over three years ago, at 40.2 per cent. While prices rose in NewWest in July, sales numbers did not but they held steady compared to June Both months saw 119 MLS sales reported in NewWest, according to the REBGV’s July report This year, more singledetached homes were sold in July (25) versus June (19), but fewer apartments: 78 in July compared to 82 in June.

Real estate sales in July 2023 were well ahead of July 2022, when just 82 sales were reported.

Year over year, though, 2023 sales numbers in NewWestminster remain behind 2022, with 693 MLS sales reported yearto-date in 2023, compared to 896 at the same time in

2022

The most affordable detached home sold in July was a three-bedroom, 1,743-square-foot rancher in Queensborough.

The 28-year-old home at 182 Suzuki St sold for $1,288,000 on July 2 after 34 days on the market.

The most expensive detached home sold in July was a 60-year-old, 4,214-square-foot character home in Sapperton

The home at 441 Alberta St. features a huge corner lot, five bedrooms, a detached garage with games room, and numerous updates including a gourmet kitchen, hot tub and air conditioning. It sold for $2,080,000 after seven

days on the market

The most affordable apartment sold in July was a 619-squarefoot one-bedroom apartment uptown.The upper unit in a 1968 building at 610Third Ave sold for $240,000 after one day on the market.

The most expensive apartment sold in July was a two-storey penthouse apartment on Francis Way inVictoria Hill The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment offered 1,383 square feet of living space and a private roof deck. It sold for $1,350,000 after 27 days on the market all listing information from Zealty.ca

THEHIGHLIFE:Thistwo-level penthouseonFrancisWaywas themostexpensiveapartment soldinNewWestminsterin July,accordingtoZealtyca

PHOTOZEALTY.CA

Event to help women turn small ideas into big wins Community

NaveenaVijayan nvijayan@newwestrecord ca

Women leaders from around the world will gather in the city next month to help other women turn their “mustard-sized” ideas into something big

The Bigger Ideas conference, a one-day jampacked event, promises to give attendees practical tools to succeed in life, career and business all relayed in mini-sessions by panels of more than 20 accomplished women.

Efe Fruci, confidence and career coach consultant and founder of Odihi, an organization that supports BIPOC women and girls, conceptualized the conference as a way to give women the support they need to go after their goals

The event will offer lessons on leadership, entrepreneurship, career transition, wellness and finance. But more importantly, said Fruci, it’ll give them a chance to connect with a host of mentors.

‘MENTORSHIP IS EVERYTHING’

“The support of men-

tors is huge That is everything, I would say,” said Fruci, who had few people to guide her growing up

“I didn’t really have that many mentors, outside of my mom A lot of people were not really supportive. This is what my student advisor said to me when I asked her for a recommendation letter to Oxford (University): ‘They’re not looking for someone like you in Oxford. I don’t know why you would ever want to move there, maybe you should look for a lesser school that you can also afford,’” recalled Fruci.

Despite the others’ lack of belief in her, Fruci made it to the prestigious college

Once in university, she had to work hard for her grades while also co-parenting her younger sister with her mom, she said.

Fruci did graduate with a degree in biomedical science and health sciences all thanks to one of her teachers who saw her hardship and took her “under her wings ”

The support went a long way eventually pushing Fruci to write

about her personal journey of dealing with challenges and coming out stronger

Fruci wrote Faith Over Fear with the sole intention to help women deal with their struggles, but little did she know then that it would lead her

to organize a full-blown women’s conference seven years later.

HELPING WOMEN RISE OVER FEAR

As part of the book’s promotion, Fruci held panel discussions for crowds of women “We

just had great conversations around career, business and how each of us turned our pain to use as a purpose and passion that supports others in the community”

She saw the book tours as a way to empower women; soon, she was

planning on how to organize such sessions on a larger scale.

The idea brewed in her head all these years even as she moved from Belgium to Canada five years ago and established a non-profit for women and girls in NewWest at the start of the pandemic

It was in 2022 that she finally decided to reach out to the network of successful women that she had had the chance to meet in the last few years and curated a list of speakers from diverse fields who were willing to share their knowledge.

After several months of planning, Fruci has come up with a tight one-day schedule where women can “lean in, learn and feel supported.”

“I have created a community for people like me, who at one point felt so isolated and alone,” she said

“I’m just helping them connect to more people in an intimate, honest and trustworthy setting.”

Bigger Ideas Conference is on Saturday, Sept 16, at MasseyTheatre. Register on www.odihi.com/conference

EMPOWERING WOMEN: Efe Fruci, career coach consultant and founder of New West-based Odihi, is bringing a one-day conference featuring more than 20 women leaders from across the globe to New West

Don’t miss these weekend events & activities!

FRIDAY, AUG. 11 FRIDAYS ON FRONT

A street party for all those who prefer the classics over contemporary Fridays on Front is back with a new gala themed “Throwing it Back.”The fun series that has been juicing up most Friday evenings since the start of July, promises entertainment, kids’ activities, an artisan market and a host of food trucks and food vendors this weekend as well.

WHERE: Front Street Mews between Sixth and McKenzie streets

WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m.

DETAILS: www.instagram.com/downtownnewwest/

DETAILS: anvilcentre.com/ community-art-gallery/ SATURDAY, AUG. 12

AND SUNDAY, AUG. 13

JUMBLE MARKET

Browse through a large collection of art supplies, handmade crafts, pre-loved treasures, antiques, clothing and more at this community market. Conceptualized as an event to help people declutter their apartments, the flea market and swap meat will feature more than 30 vendors from the community set up tables with items that need a new home.

WHERE: Eighth and Eight Creative Spaces, 735 Eighth Ave.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG 11

TO SUNDAY, AUG. 13

AVIFAUNA

Two artists NancyWhiteside and Molly Gray have come up with paintings inspired by Pacific Northwest birds. Their exhibition titled Avifauna: Sight and Perception, besides giving viewers a selection of beautiful multimedia works to look at, is also a nudge to consider how

best to protect and appreciate the creatures, as per the artists’ statement The exhibition is on till Sept. 20.

WHERE: Anvil Centre Community Art Gallery, 777 Columbia St.

WHEN: 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. On Sunday, artist Molly Gray will give a live lino-cut carving demonstration between 1 and 3 p.m.

DETAILS: www.eighthandeight.com/

SUNDAY, AUG. 13

FUZZY FAMILY TREE

Jazz up your walls with a painting created by you and your family Paint Star Party is organizing a family paint afternoon where you can bring in your tiny tots and get painting on multiple canvases that in

the end will make up a statement piece for your home. At the event, all attendees will be given instructions on how to paint cute fuzzy birds sitting on branches that run across multiple canvas boards.

WHEN: 12 to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Frankie G’s Boilerhouse Pub 305 Ewen Avenue

DETAILS: tinyurl.com/PaintNewWest

CIRCUS SUNDAY

If you have always looked at jugglers and stilt walkers with awe, it’s time to learn the tricks yourself Vancouver Circus School will be bringing a range of its circus props to theWestminster Pier Park every Sunday through August to give curious minds a glimpse into the world of circus. As a participant, you get to pick your prop and mini lesson based on your skill level.Want to balance on a rola-bola?You got it

WHERE: Westminster Pier Park

WHEN: 1 and 3 p.m.

DETAILS: www.newwestcity.ca/ calendar-of-events

compiled by Naveena Vijayan

STREET FEST: Fridays on Front returns to the Front Street Mews this weekend with a “Throwing it Back” party

Community

Salsa nights heat up: From New West pier to Vancouver

NaveenaVijayan nvijayan@newwestrecord ca

Attention park-goers and dance enthusiasts: NewWest’sWestminster Pier Park has been doubling up as a hot dance floor every Friday night this summer

The award-winning park with a generous view of the Fraser River has also become the go-to venue for Latin dancing in the city.

The event is reflective of a dance trend that goes beyond NewWest to neighbourhoods ofVancouver Kitsilano, Hastings Street and Granville Street But if we were to trace the roots of this salsa

movement, we would discover that it all began at the NewWest pub Georgie’s Local Kitchen + Bar last year.

What led to the small dance party’s big growth, ironically, was a certain hitch soon after it was launched, said DJ Nick Guerna, organizer of the salsa nights at the pier.

The pub, where it was initially organized, decided to use its space for other summer activities and Guerna was forced to move his salsa meetups elsewhere

Instead of looking for another indoor option, he decided to take the party outside

SALSA DANCING UNDER THE STARS

“People love the outdoors in the summertime, they love to be by the water. And there’s always a cool breeze coming in,” he said

TheWestminster Pier Park, he thought, would make an ideal dance floor

The positive turnout only confirmed it

The free event sees about 25 to 60 people per session spinning, turning and dipping with their partners on Friday nights.

“It’s for anybody really Whether they know or don’t know how to dance is irrelevant, as long as they have fun and they

enjoy themselves That’s basically the idea,” said Guerna.

And if someone is eager to do the cha cha but doesn’t know how, Guerna, who has been dancing since 2003, will be at the pier to give them a demo.

“I will definitely take my time and teach them how to dance at least the basics so that they can have some fun and know what steps to take and what turns to do It’s a very basic initial class; nothing complicated.They can learn to dance in a matter of a couple of minutes,” he said

Besides NewWest, Guerna organizes the casual dancing sessions at

the Kitsilano Showboat onTuesday nights and at theTiki Bar at EastVancouver’sWaldorf Hotel on Saturday nights In September, he will be bringing the event to the Let’s Dance Studio on Granville Street.

Guerna plans to expand the event to more outdoor spaces during summer and to more indoor spots when the temperatures dip.

But in the meantime, he hopes to see more people gather to groove to his Latin beats at the pier Free salsa nights start at 7:30 p.m. at theWestminster Pier Park every Friday through summer

STEP UP: Get salsa dancing at the Westminster Pier Park every Friday evening this summer

PHOTO NICK GUERNA

Community

NewWestminsterPublic Library celebrates Pride

The NewWestminster Public Library is inviting everyone to learn and celebrate during NewWest Pride

The library is hosting three events for NewWestminster Pride 2023, in the auditorium of the main branch (716 Sixth Ave , uptown).

On Saturday, Aug 12, children aged nine to 12 are invited to a session with Robin Stevenson, author of Pride:The Celebration and the Struggle Stevenson will look at the history of Pride, LGBTQ+ rights, the challenges faced by the com-

munity today and the work being done to take Pride into the future. Parents are encouraged to attend the session as well

It runs from 1 to 1:45 p m Register at 604-5274677 or email youth@ nwpl.ca.

That same day, youth and teens are invited to join Stevenson for a creative writing workshop that will give participants aged 12 to 18 a chance to explore how to find story ideas, create believable characters and use their own experiences and curiosity to create compelling writing

New West-based studio organizes kitten yoga session

It runs from 2 to 3:30 p m Sign up at 604-5274677 or email youth@ nwpl.ca.

On the day before the big NewWest Pride street festival, everyone’s invited to the library for a Drag Storytime. It’s on Friday, Aug 18 from 11 a m to noon.

Join performers from the Storytelling with Drag Queens Foundation for an interactive, all-ages storytime with songs and books. Dressing up is encouraged Sign up at 604-5274677 or youth@nwpl.ca.

Julie MacLellan

NaveenaVijayan nvijayan@newwestrecord ca

A bunch of yoga enthusiasts had the opportunity to work on their breath while listening to kittens purr in NewWest on Saturday, Aug 5

NewWest-based Move Studio’s kitten yoga class was for those who didn’t mind sharing their yoga mats with adorable kitties

The “ultimate selfcare” was designed to allow yoga enthusiasts to indulge in a guided yoga session while in the company of fluffy kittens from Straight Outta Rescue, a volunteer-run animal rescue and charity, according

to the yoga studio’s website.

The class was a fundraiser for theVancouver-based animal rescue group that helps organize spay/neuter programs for animals in remote areas of B C The initiative helps improve animal welfare and reduce the burden on the animal rescue system.

So far, the program has helped over 150 dogs and cats in the Chilcotin region of B C get spayed or neutered making sure they don’t deliver litters in winter when temperatures dip to -30 C, the website description stated.

The class was on a do-

nation basis and raised about $400, said Move Studio founder Jenny Hart. All proceeds will be directed towards setting up a spay/neuter clinic in Bella Coola in October.

As per the yoga studio’s Instagram post, the spots to the in-person session filled up in just a few hours; the studio also opened up virtual spots for a $12 registration fee

At the event, attendees were also offered a selection of snacks including cat-shaped cookies, courtesy of Greens and Beans restaurant, and a chance to indulge in a post-yoga “kitten therapy”

Teens train with firefighters in ‘amazing’ program

TheresaMcManus tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

Cutting open cars with the Jaws of Life and extinguishing fires made for an unforgettable summer experience for local youths

Twenty-two teens participated in NewWestminster Fire and Rescue Service’s 2023 youth firefighter program, designed to provide an immersive fire academy-like experience

Abigail LeBerg, a 16-year-old student at NewWestminster Secondary School, said she applied for the program because she wanted to find out more about what firefighting would be like as a career

“I was always curious about it and thought it would be cool, but I didn’t know much about it other than that they drive cool trucks and spray water on fires,” she said. “The program turned out to be

amazing!”

Abigail said she learned so much about firefighting during the one-week program, such as the wide variety of skills firefighters must have and the camaraderie found in the tightknit community in the fire hall

“The way I connected with the firefighters and other youth participating in the program is unlike anything I experienced before,” she said “The community, support, and encouragement from that group is something I will never forget.”

During the program, which ran from July 10 to 14, the youths learned about some of the skills used by firefighters, including handling different hoses, trying out rope rescue skills, putting out a fire and doing an auto extrication exercise

Along with an opportunity to get hands-on experience with some of the skills involved in being a firefighter, the program aims to provide youth with an opportunity to practise skills related for other jobs including submitting an application and resumé and going through a panel interview.

“I hope they all had a really good time and learned a lot,” said acting assistant deputy chief Glen Bailey I think they all left with a new understanding of what firefighters do”

Mitch Nash, a 15-yearold NewWest resident, said he applied for this program at school.

“I did it because I would like to be a firefighter when I am older, and this program has made me want to be a firefighter more and more,” he said. “It was a

great experience ”

Mitch’s favourite activity was cutting open cars and using the Jaws of Life

For Abigail, the week’s highlight was putting out a car fire at the Justice Institute of B C ’s Maple Ridge campus on the final day of

the program

The program, held for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, included four days of activities at the Queensborough fire hall and a day at the JIBC in Maple Ridge for live fire exercises. It’s open

to local Grade 10 to 12 students (from any school), with preference going to applicants who live in New West and priority going to Grade 12 students.

“We would love to start hiring some of our youth firefighters down the road,”

Bailey said.

The program is hosted by NewWestminster Fire and Rescue Services and NewWestminster Parks and Recreation, and is supported by the Justice Institute of BC and the City of NewWestminster.

UP YOU GO: 22 youths - including 21 from New West got a taste of what’s required to be a firefighter, when attending this year’s youth firefighter program

PHOTO PAOLO ZENONE

New West resident takes the helm of Union Gospel Mission Community

TheresaMcManus

tmcmanus@newwestrecord

ca

A local resident has taken the helm of the Union Gospel Mission in New Westminster.

On July 3, EdithTazumi became the manager of the downtown facility, taking on a role vacated by BillWong, who had held that post for 25 years

“I pretty much oversee the centre in terms of just like making sure we are able to do what we can for the community,” she said of her new job “Brendyn (McKillop), the supervisor here, he oversees the everyday operational outreach stuff So Brendyn and I work really closely together to just make sure that we do what we can every day.”

UGM JOURNEY

Tazumi, who has an education degree, worked as a teacher prior to joining the Union Gospel Mission

“It was actually kind of serendipitous,” she said “I was laid off in one of the schools, and then there was an opening for a GED position at the UGM in Vancouver ”

With her experience in teaching English and English as a second language and having worked a summer stint with inner-city kids in Philadelphia,Tazumi landed the job in the UGM’s learning centre inVancouver, where she taught for three years After leaving to travel and start a family and moving to NewWest she contacted the local centre about volunteering instead.

Tazumi was hired as an outreach worker 11 years ago, moving up to a resource centre supervisor and assistant manager of the facility before taking on her new role She saidWong took the facility from a “hole in the wall” to the service it is today

“He’s worked really, really hard to establish really good relationships with people in the community,” she said “And so, for me stepping into that, I’m so thankful Because of all the foundational work that’s he’s done, I get the easy part Because he’s done so much hard foundational work, it’s really just about nurturing what he’s done, you know? So how do I

feel about it?Thankful for everything that he’s done ”

DIVERSE CLIENTELE

Located at 658 Clarkson St., the NewWest UGM serves breakfast and lunch, offers outreach services, and provides a

space for programming needed by vulnerable residents.That includes visits from Fraser Health’s IHART team, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and dental hygiene students from UBC.

“We have a bunch of different groups and service providers that come in on a regular basis we’re basically a hub,”Tazumi said “We like to be able to offer that space, to be able to find ways to bridge these gaps that we have in meeting the needs of our community members So, we’re really just trying to nurture that, being a hub ”

The folks who visit the local centre includes regulars who appreciate the services provided and the sense of community, as well as a transient population that’s dropping by,Tazumi said

“With COVID, it changed some of the dynamics.We see more seniors.We’ve had a few families,” she said “We have a really interesting mix of people, and it’s been really neat to be able to find ways to connect with everybody”

One serviceTazumi would like the UGM to provide on a more regular basis is its mobile outreach

“We go to the different areas where there might be camps, or individuals that may not feel comfortable

coming in to get services or may not be able to because of mobility issues or whatever,” she said. “So, we’re basically wanting to bridge that gap of being able to reach out to those people that may not be able to come here on site.”

UGM IS HERE TO HELP

Asked if she has a message she’d like to get out to the community,Tazumi said it’s to encourage people not to be shy about sharing what they need and to not be ashamed or embarrassed if they need help.

“Especially during COVID, when things got really hard, a lot of people that had never experienced need, suddenly, they were dealing with challenges,” she said. “I know there are people that, even to this day, suffer silently, out of shame or whatever. And I just want to say: don’t feel that shame; share what your needs are, so we can help, so people can help you.We’re really here to find ways to help people, in whatever ways that we can It’s really about seeing where the needs are so that we can help.”

Bill Wong’s mission: ‘We have to stop the labelling. We’re all in the same boat’

TheresaMcManus

tmcmanus@newwestrecord ca

BillWong is planning to use the knowledge gained during 25 years at the helm of the Union Gospel Mission in NewWestminster to help folks in need across the Lower Mainland.

At a recent community barbecue at the mission in downtown NewWest, the UGM celebrated the con-

tributions ofWong, who had served as manager of the local mission since November 1998. He’s left to take on a new role as senior advisor in church relations.

“I’m going to be in the field, going to the various communities in the FraserValley,Vancouver or wherever I’m needed,” he said I’m just going to go

and try to make sure that these organizations, whatever they are, whether they be churches or recreation groups or businesses, that they understand we need them on board to care for their communities ”

Wong said he’ll speak to people at different places, give workshops and work to help build community connections He said

he’s been doing this type of work off the side of his desk, but he’ll now be able to do it full time.

“It’s always been a passion of mine,” he said Born inThunder Bay, Ontario,Wong moved to Vancouver with his family when he was seven Saying he wasn’t great in school, Wong said he always loved dealing with people and

knew that’s what he wanted to do.

“I was always drawn to people,” he said. “And sometimes they would come by and they said, you know, ‘Can I just talk with you?’ I didn’t even know who these people were, but there just seemed to be a connection; that I could talk to people.”

Wong held a “trail’s

mix” of jobs, including work as a family counsellor and a chaplain to senior citizens, before becoming the manager at the NewWest UGM in 1998

He said the UGM originally opened a facility in NewWest in response to requests from churches, as they’d seen a need for services in the community.

Continued on page 17

BUILDING CONNECTIONS: Edith Tazumi, left, visits with Liz Hunter at the UGM’s recent barbecue Hunter and her team from the New Westminster Public Library visit the UGM New West once a week as part of their community outreach efforts PHOTO SOLOMON HSU/UGM

UGM a ‘great education’

Continued from page 16

“It was basically just a drop-in centre,” he said “People could come in for a cup of coffee.The mandate was to keep the doors open and help the homeless just have a place to be And just make sure that we were also working alongside the city.”

Through the years, the NewWest UGM has expanded its services to include breakfast and lunch, assorted programs and outreach.

“We’ve got a lot more going on that addresses needs specifically,”Wong told the Record “Instead of just saying, ‘Come on in and get out of the rain,’ now we want to help you i h h i

your job search, and we just want to help you to get up tomorrow morning.”

During his time with the UGM in NewWestminster,Wong said he’s tried to develop a good working relationships with city hall and with other agencies Along with Dave Brown of the Lookout society,Wong said he helped start the NewWestminster Homelessness Coalition an inter-agency group that brings together agencies providing services to vulnerable folks, as well as the city, so they can work collectively to try and best meet the needs of the many people they deal with.

“That gave a message h ’ ki i

not just one group doing something and someone else doing something. It was easier for the homeless person, too, to get the help, because it saves them having to tell their story 15, 14, 13 times to get the help.”

Wong is confident the experiences he’s had in NewWestminster will serve him well in his new role

“Every community has a homeless problem,” he said “It’s just educating people and letting them know that these folks, they are no different than we are. Many of them were very successful in their lives earlier, but a decision or just something happened to them, and they f d h l i d ”

ing at the NewWest UGM 25 years ago,Wong said he had little knowledge about homelessness

“This has been a great education for me,” he said “I’m feeling really blessed be able to go and sup-

port these other community groups.”

People are people, regardless of their life’s circumstances,Wong said.

“These are human beings They’re people And they’re labelled.We wres-

tle with labels all over our community.We have to stop the labelling,” he said “We’re all in the same boat.We just need to just respect each other and just try to get on board to help each other.”

A NEW CHAPTER: Bill Wong, second from left, receives a certificate from New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian for his years of service to the New Westminster UGM Edith Tazumi, right, is the facility’s new manager

PHOTO SOLOMON HSU/UGM

REMEMBRANCES

Obituaries

LEGAL

LegaL/PubLic NOtices

By Virtue of the Warehouseman’s Lien Act

B gSteelBox Corp at 20142 Logan Ave, Langley, BC claims a PPSA Warehouse Lien Against Hol ywood Rentals Inc of Burnaby, BC, as of June 28, 2023, for arrears of container rent amounting to $18,291 37 p us any additional costs of storage that accrue If not paid in fu l, the contents of the storage conta ner fil ed w th: staging/ performance props, shelving, furn ture, boxes and totes, doors, and other m scellaneous items, wi l be sold onl ne auction v a Ibid4Storage com on August 14, 2023

By virtue of the Warehouseman’s Lien Act Mundies Towing, Storage & Service (1976) Ltd will dispose of:

HEAL, Loraine Gladys

October 13, 1948 - August 3, 2023

To know Lora ne Gadys Heal is to love her

It is wth deep sadness that we announce the passing of our be oved Wife, Mom, and Gigi Pease join us for her Funeral Serv ce on Friday, August 11, 2023 at 10:00 am at Al Saints Angl can Church, 7405 Royal Oak Ave, Burnaby, BC V5J

4J8 Fo lowed by a Graves de Service at 11:30 am at Pacific Her tage Cemetery, 4305 Ha ifax Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 3X4 Reception to folow at All Sa nts Ang ican Church at 1:00 pm

To send a personal condo ence v s t: www mbfunera sbc com

Martin Brothers Funeral Serv ces 778-330-7799

ExEcutor

1) 2006 FORD ESCAPE VIN# 1FMYU93116KD45160

RO: BRETT KRUPNIK

2) 2020 FORD ESCAPE VIN# 1FMCU9G62LUA13485

RO: H LTI CANADA CORP

3) 2000 MERCEDES S430V V N# WDBNG70J8YA036168

RO: ALI JALAL

4) 2005 VW PASSAT VIN# WVWAE63B75E100127

RO: ALI MOHAMED SHEIKH

5) 2002 ACURA 3 2 TL VIN# 19UUA56882A804750

RO: DAVID KYNOCH

Unts may be vewed and bds to be submtted on TUESDAY, AUG 22/23 at 5917 Thorne Avenue Burnaby, BC between 10:00am to 3:00 pm Al wr tten b ds to Mund es Tow ng 5917 Thorne Ave, Burnaby, BC V3N 2T8

GARAGE SALES

EMPLOYMENT

geNeraL emPLOymeNt

Let

ADVERTISING POLICIES

All advertising published in this newspaper is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to buyers at the advertised pr ces Advert se s are aware o these conditions. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading, is never knowingly accepted. If any reader encounters non-compliance with these standards we ask that you inform the Publisher of th s newspaper and The Adver s ng Standards Counci of B.C. OMISSION AND ERROR: The publishers do not guarantee the insertion of a particular advertisement on a specified date, or at all, although every effort will be made to meet the wishes of the advertisers. Further the publishers do not accept liability for any loss of damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of an advertisement beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred. Any corrections of changes will be made in the next available issue. The Richmond News will be responsible for only one incorrect insertion with liability limited to that portion of the advertisement affected by the error Request for adjustments or co ec ons on charges must be made w h n 30 days of he ad s exp rat on For best results please check your ad for accuracy the first day it appears. Refunds made only after 7 business days notice!

FALL FAIR VENDORS WANTED

Saturday September 9th Event from 10am-3pm West Point Grey United 4595 West 8th Ave, Vancouver TABLE RENTALS $40 Call or Email to RESERVE SPACE 604-224-4388 office@wpguc com

IMMEDIATE

COMMERCIAL CLEANING OPPORTUNITIES

in Burnaby and more.

Contact Sandra Lever 604 230 7826

MARKETPLACE

WaNted

CASH for your CLUTTER I will pay CASH for your UNWANTED ITEMS!

HOME

HanDypErson

laWn & garDEn

HANDYMAN • RENOVATIONS

•Kitchen •Bath • Plumbing

•Countertop •Foors •Pant & more Ca MIC for quote: 604-725-3127

lanDscaping

SHAW LANDSCAPING LTD

guttErs

GARDENING & CLEAN-UP New Lawn & Seed Power Rake Wood Tie

Complete Landscaping Clean-up Lawn Cuts. Shrubs & Tree Prunng 778-688-1012

laWn &

604-230-0627

A-1 Steve’s Gutter & Window Clean ng & Repair from $98 ! Gutters vacuumed and hand cleaned 604-524-0667

HanDypErson

BONDED & INSURED EXPERIENCED EMPLOYEES PROFESSIONAL, SAFE AND RELIABLE 604-900-6010 MrHandyman.ca

SummerLivingjustgoteasier.

For a limited time, junior one-bedroom suites at Mulberry PARC are now $3995!

Nestled in a close-knit, friendly community, Mulberry PARC offers all the conveniences of living well, plus services you won’t believe you ever lived without—fresh chef-prepared meals, wellness programs, social events, 24-hour safety and regular ‘out and about’ trips to local shopping and cultural attractions.

Live in a beautiful suite featuring modern finishings like luxury plank flooring, compact modern kitchens and gorgeous views for only $3,995*. Enjoy access to Mulberry’s well-known fireside library and lounge, large garden patio, well-equipped gym and fitness classes, art and culture programs and more

Why wait? Call Terrie & Erin now for your personalized tour at 604.526.2248.

*Limited time offer