Royal City Record December 24 2013

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2013

W E S T M I N S T E R

INSIDE: Dishing up goodwill and compassion P3

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A02 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

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The Record • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • A03

◗IN THE NEWS Trustees spend less in 2013 ◗P4 Environmental assessment gets bad review ◗P8

NLINE EXTRAS

Dishing out goodwill in the city

Check out more local content at our website, www. royalcityrecord.com

Union Gospel Mission serves turkey dinner with all the fixings to more than 300 people

NEWS

BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER

Charges laid in beating near SkyTrain

NEWS

Police issue warning about phone scam

NEWS

City to formalize position on Pattullo Bridge in new year

CITY EVENTS

Check out our updated arts and events listings

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Paper Postcards: See where The Record has travelled in 2013

OPINION

Check out the views of our columnists

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Food: Check out all our holiday recipes

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The spirit of Christmas is alive and well at the Union Gospel Mission in New Westminster.

The mission held its Christmas dinner earlier this month, serving up turkey dinner with all the fixings to more than 300 people.

In the spirit of giving, an eightyear-old girl decided to forego Christmas gifts this year, and chose to bring a bunch of socks to the Union Gospel Mission.

“She was adamant,” said mission manager Bill Wong. “We weren’t going to stop her.”

The Union Gospel Mission was also grateful for donations from New Westminster firefighters, who recently delivered a load of food other supplies to the mission.

The Union Gospel Mission, located on Clarkson Street in downtown New Westminster, provides services to those in need throughout the year. It serves a full breakfast in the morning, with soup and other food offered later in the morning.

“We are doing between 187 to just over 200 for breakfast,” Wong said. “We are seeing a lot

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Jason Lang/THE RECORD

Cooking for a crowd: Fred Kryska, a cook at the Union Gospel Mission in New Westminster, prepares breakfast at the mission, which feeds up to 200 people on weekdays. more faces in here.”

The mission attracts folks from New Westminster as well as Surrey, Burnaby and the TriCities. It’s also noticed an increase in the cultural diversity of people coming to the mission compared with the past.

“There is a lot of working poor,” Wong added. “The mental health issue has really increased as well. “ After taking care of folks’ need for nourishment, the mission offers a variety of life skills programs in the afternoon. The

mission tries to refer people to the appropriate services to meet their needs.

“We are the first contact,” Wong said. “We can decide how we can help our guests.”

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REPOR T FROM REGISTRAR OF B.C. SOCIETIES EXPECTED SOON

Hyack future hangs on city staff report

BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

A staff report to be considered by council in January will shed some light on how the city will deal with the drama at the Hyack Festival Association.

In response to the internal brouhaha with the association, city council took actions that included asking the registrar of B.C. Societies to investigate the conduct of the Hyack Festival Association, requesting all financial records and procedures from the organization so it can conduct an independent audit, administering this year’s Santa Claus Parade and suspending any future funding to the association until these governance matters are resolved to the satisfaction of the city.

“There were about four things the city asked for. It’s my understanding what will happen is in the new year we are going to get a response

Which is the story of the year in New Westminster?

1. The downtown fire 2. Hyack feud 3. Budget woes at the school district 4. Proposed coal facility 5. Railway noise, safety, in city 6. Transportation: Pattullo Bridge, etc.

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on all of those things,” said acting mayor Jonathan Cote. “Those are the things that the city will be using to make whatever decision we have to make in the new year.”

Cote said council’s decision would depend on the status of the organization, which has been dealing with internal troubles since the summer.

“Early in the new year we are going to start to get some answers back regarding a lot of the questions council was asking from the organization,” he said. “A lot will be as to what is the status of the organization. I am hopeful and confident that the next AGM will sort out a lot of the issues with Hyack, and we will know who we are dealing with after that point in time officially from the Hyack board.”

The Hyack Festival Association is set to hold its annual general meeting on Jan. 13, 2014.

“At that point the city is going to be in a position where we get all the different infor-

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mation and see to what level are we able to continue to partner with the Hyack organization and what is the impact of everything that happened last year.”

Jan Gibson, the city’s acting director of legislative services, said the city has received a reply from the registrar of societies, but because the matter is still before council so the letter hasn’t been made public.

“At this stage I don’t know what has been completed,” Cote said about the actions sought by council. “In many respects it was a directive to staff to start to initiate these processes. …

I certainly am expecting information back on that in the new year.”

The City of New Westminster typically provides the Hyack Festival Association with more than $150,000 in funding and in-kind services for festivals and events it coordinates for the city, including the annual Hyack festival and parade and the Santa Claus parade.

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A04 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

School trustees spent less over past year School board members claimed $6,000 less in expenses than in prior year

BY CAYLEY DOBIE REPORTER cdobie@royalcityrecord.com

Money is tight and trustees know it.

New Westminster’s school district released its annual Statement of Financial Information and trustee expenses are down nearly $6,000 from last year.

According to the report, the seven New Westminster trustees claimed a total of $4,055 in expenses during the 2013 fiscal year. This is down more than $6,000 from 2012 when the board spent a total of $10,542.51.

Former board chair Michael Ewen topped the list of expenses claiming

two days off $3,168, while work, unpaid, former viceto go to (the chair Jonina meeting),” Campbell Ewen said. came in secDespite ond, claiming the signifinearly $700 in cant drop expenses in in expenses 2013. for trustees, Ewen’s which will expenses Jonina Campbell Al Balanuik benefit the included sev- Michael Ewen district’s tight eral trips to former chair treasurer trustee budget for Victoria to meet with staff at the ministry of educa- the upcoming year, not all trustees feel the tion, as well as a trip to Kelowna for the decrease is a good thing.

“We don’t have trustees, generally now, B.C. School Trustees Association’s annual going to conferences, learning about how general meeting.

“Normally we’d have four or five trust- other trustees are doing business and I ees go. So the board voted to have just one think that’s unfortunate. In the long term, member go and I got the honour of taking I think that’s a problem because you don’t

Firefighters host tree chipping next weekend

BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

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O Christmas tree: Madelyn Pakulak and her sister Olivia drag a tree to the chipper at last year’s event. onstrations to show people how quickly a dried out Christmas tree goes up in flames.

Tim Horton’s will be on site providing hot chocolate and coffee to community members, and popcorn and face painting will also be available.

“It’s a nice family event people can come to,” Tougas said.

The New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society raises funds for a variety of local programs

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The scent of Christmas will soon fill the air around Canada Games Pool.

The New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society is holding its annual tree-chipping event on Saturday, Jan. 4 and Sunday, Jan. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Canada Games Pool parking lot. Firefighters will chip trees and recycle them for a donation to the society, which donates funds to a wide range of projects in the community.

Residents are invited to bring their Christmas trees in for chipping, and stay awhile and enjoy some of the activities organized by local firefighters.

“We make it an event that people can come and stay at for awhile,” said firefighter Trevor Tougas, vice president of the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society. “We have a barbecue, we have live music from the youth performers.”

At each day’s event, firefighters will offer a couple of fire extinguisher dem-

get the breadth of understanding about how other districts work,” Ewen said.

Without trustees taking an active interest in the workings of school districts outside their own, Ewen worries New Westminster will suffer in the long run.

“We expect trustees to be making judgments about education plans but without talking to people, talking to experts,” he said. “I think it’s useful for trustees to get out and talk with experts and see conferences to understand education programs, not just around the province, but around the world.”

For now, however, the trend is expected to continue as secretary-treasurer Al Balanuik reminded trustees the district still has a long way to go before it pays back the provincial government the nearly $5 million it owes. twitter.com/cayleydobie

including the pediatric ward at Royal Columbian Hospital, the Union Gospel Mission and food programs at local schools. The tree chipping is free, but donations will be accepted for the charitable society.

New Westminster Scouts are once again having a bottle drive at the same time. Residents are invited to bring recyclable bottles and cans, which helps raise funds for Scouts Canada activities in New Westminster.

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The Record • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • A05

More traffic coming our way?

City braces for more traffic when tolls rise on Port Mann Bridge

BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

New Westminster wants to find a way to put the brakes on accelerating traffic gridlock on city streets.

Acting mayor Jonathan Cote recently learned that traffic on the new Port Mann Bridge has decreased 10 to 13 per cent since last year, something likely attributable to the tolls. At the same time, traffic counts have shown increased volume on the Pattullo Bridge.

“The city is aware that something dramatic has happened in the last year,” he said. “It’s no surprise to us it’s what’s happened with the Port Mann Bridge.”

Cote noted TransLink statistics showed a decline in traffic on the Pattullo Bridge in recent years, but that all changed last year.

While traffic on the Pattullo Bridge had decreased by 15 per cent between 1994 and 2011, he said there was a 16 per cent increase in traffic last year.

“What the city needs to do is continue to press on the issue,” he said.

“It’s not something that we back down from.”

A recent online poll by Insights West found that 72 per cent of residents who use the Port Mann Bridge once a week or more are opposed to

the tolls on the bridge, as do 57 per increase the city said was partially cent of the people who use the bridge due to the introduction of tolls on the one to three times a month. Tolls are Port Mann Bridge.

“We already had a challenging set to increase from $1.50 to $3 in the new year, something Insights West situation with traffic congestion in says is leading residents to seek alter- the city. That has only exacerbated the situation,” Cote said. “From the natives to avoid the bridge.

“People are continuing to look city’s perspective it’s frustrating. at different ways to avoid the toll,” Billions of dollars were spent on the said Mario Canseco, vice-president Gateway project to help improve of public affairs for Insights West, in transportation in the region, and this project has actually become a news release. “For 2014, a bit of a curse in the city.”

31 per cent will actively Cote said the city should seek new routes, up five be at a stage to release a points since last year when draft of the master transthe toll was $1.50. In addiportation plan early in 2014, tion, one in four residents and continue with the pub(23 per cent) say they will lic process in the first few drive over the bridge less months of the year. In addioften, down 10 points since tion, the Pattullo Bridge last year.” planning process will kick According to Canseco, into high gear again in late some casual drivers have Jonathan Cote January or early February. already chosen other routes councillor “At some point we have such as the Pattullo Bridge in order to save some cash, while half to recognize our transportation infraof heavy Port Mann Bridge users are structure from a road point of view is just going to carry on when the toll what it is,” Cote said. “There is not room to build new highways in the goes up.

“We have already seen the $1.50 city. And that’s not the direction the toll have a significant impact,” Cote city wants to go. How we connect said. “I can only imagine the impact into the regional transportation sysis going to get worse when the tolls tem has to take that into account.”

In October, council asked the go up to $3 per crossing.”

Earlier this year, the city report- province to immediately lower tolls ed the average daily traffic volume for heavy trucks on the Port Mann on Royal Avenue has increased by Bridge to discourage the use of the 1,300 vehicles per day (a five per Pattullo Bridge as a free alternative. cent increase), and the heavy truck Council also asked TransLink to ban volume has increased by 360 trucks heavy trucks on the Pattullo Bridge per day (a 63 per cent increase), an and establish regional tolling.

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A06 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

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Finding hope and light in times of darkness

as each year always does. And each of From the hills down to the waters us has been defined by how we’ve dealt of the Fraser River, the Royal City is with them, from private tragedies and adorned with decorations. The streets are joys to those we’ve shared. busy today with last-minute shoppers The story that really defined our and come dusk, New Westminster will city this year was the terrible glow with twinkling lights as downtown fire on Columbia parents calm excited children Street, and the community’s and prepare for the morning to THE RECORD response. come.

The loss of that half-block It’s a pretty scene, a beloved of city heritage was heartrending, partradition in our traditional city – but it ticularly in a city where the past is so isn’t really what the season is about. entwined with our present. But then New This past year has come with many challenges, both communal and personal, Westminster stepped up. In the face of

OUR VIEW

devastation, residents and businesses rallied to help those affected.

It is always phenomenal when people care enough to do something in these situations – and not just one or two people, but a whole community.

Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising in a city that has dealt with major devastation from a fire before – it may well be hardwired in Royal City residents to rise to this particular challenge. But the banding together of those determined to make a terrible situation better is always an inspiring sight.

So today, as you rush around preparing for Christmas, keep in mind what is really important about this season – the ways we battle through the darkest moments of the year or the darkest moments of our, or our neighbours’, lives.

What truly matters is each act of kindness, thoughtfulness and hopefulness, each attempt we make to keep the darkness at bay for our community, as we wait for the warmth and light of spring.

From our newsroom to you: all the best this Christmas and in the coming year.

What the tea leaves said in 2013 IN THE HOUSE

A

KEITH BALDREY

s the year draws to a close, it’s time to take stock of things I’ve put in this column for the last 52 weeks. Things like predictions and forecasts – you know, activities that can make me look like a genius or an utter fool!

It can be challenging to go out on a limb fairly regularly in such a public way, and open myself to humiliation and contempt, or deep-seated admiration (this, trust me, rarely occurs). But it makes my email more interesting.

In any event, let’s look back at some of my track record: ◗ Wrong: the NDP would win the spring provincial election.

Might as well get this major gaffe out of the way right at the start. Like pretty well every other columnist, reporter, pundit etc. (with the notable exception of fellow North Shore News columnist Trevor Lautens) I predicted an NDP cakewalk to victory. I should have stuck to my original take on the election result, made shortly after both parties’ leadership contests. At a business conference, I held up a newspaper photo of a beaming Christy Clark and one of an uncomfortable looking Adrian Dix, and

boldly predicted the smiling, confident Clark would wipe the floor with Dix. Then those darn polls started to appear … ◗ Right: The Green party would elect an MLA during the election. Well, at least I got something right about that contest.

Andrew Weaver won, as I expected, in Oak Bay-Gordon Head. Driving around that riding a week before election day, I noted how I had never seen more campaign signs for a single candidate on people’s lawns.

Boulevards are public spaces, but private lawns? Those are earned, dedicated votes. ◗ Wrong: The so-called “ethnic memo” scandal would hurt the B.C. Liberals in the election. The scheme that saw tax dollars mixed up with doing blatant partisan work for the B.C. Liberal Party mattered not a whit with voters. That suggests voters may hold the cynical view that all political parties are guilty of such things and end up not giving any party an advantage on the issue (this may mean the Senate expense scandal seemingly dogging the Harper government may not be a major factor that determines the outcome of the next federal election).

In any event, the B.C. Liberals ended up doing much better than the NDP when it came to winning support of the ethnic community vote in the election. ◗ Right: B.C. Hydro rates would increase significantly. Anyone with basic knowledge of the

◗2013 Page 7

Dear Editor:

It is with warm hearts and a festive mood that Seniors Services Society would like to thank the community of New Westminster for their overwhelming generosity and support during our annual Be a Santa to a Senior program.

Thank you Sixth Street London Drugs, Market Crossing London Drugs, Thrifty Foods Sapperton and Your Dollar Store With More (Carnarvon Street) for giving up valuable space at this, your busiest time of year, to put up a tree.

Thank you to our volunteers who helped monitor the Christmas trees and wrapped and delivered the gifts.

The people of New Westminster know the true meaning of giving. This year we were able to put a smile on 180 seniors’ faces when we hand delivered your gifts.

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Renters deserve better treatment Dear Editor:

Can my landlord turn off my heat?

Watching Global news on Dec. 9, there were residents from a New Westminster apartment who have not had heat during these cold months. The tenants were interviewed, however, the owner’s identification and face was blurred and protected. What an unfair practice.

Under the Residential Tenancy Act, it is against the law for a landlord to turn off (terminate) or restrict a service or facility that is essential to the

Lara Graham

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◗Renters Page 7

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The Record • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • A07

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Renters should seek help

◗ continued from page 6

tenant’s use of the rental unit. This includes heat, hot water, electricity and any other important service related to your tenancy.

The landlord cannot terminate or restrict your heat; it is illegal, even in the spring and summer time. The landlord “must maintain the rental unit in a good state of repair and it must comply with health, housing and safety standards required by

law. This means maintaining appliances such as a stove and refrigerator, and providing heat and essential services such as water and electricity.” This is B.C. law for landlords.

This owner went on to say he did not know there was no heat. Really? One tenant said it has been years like this. Renters, know your rights and take some action.

Renters get help: Go to the www. tenants.bc.ca.

Kimberly Hayek, by email

2013: How Baldrey called the year ◗ continued from page 6

energy issue could see the inevitability of this. But with an election hovering over the politicians for a lengthy time, none of them (from either major party) wanted to admit that or even talk about such a thing. But the day of reckoning has come, and rates are indeed going up. ◗ Wrong: It was going to be impossible for the provincial government to balance its budget, as tabled back in February. I may be a tad premature here, as the final numbers won’t be known for a few months yet. But it appears that halfway through the year, Finance Minister Mike de Jong may indeed balance the books, albeit on the

proverbial razor’s edge.

He’s been able to hold the line on spending, and there may be enough of a built-in cushion (called the “forecast allowance”) to offset any significant decline in revenue. ◗ Right: The smart-meter protest was a lot of noise about nothing. It turns out that 99 per cent of B.C. Hydro customers have taken the smart meters, while the rest – a mixture, it seems, of the tinfoil-hat crowd and chem-trail chasers – have opted to pay more than $400 to keep the old analog meters.

Bill Vander Zalm is one of their champions, but he failed to find anywhere near the success he had fighting the HST.

And now a new year is about to begin and more issues will emerge that I’ll try to navigate, likely with mixed success. For example, what will be the result of the TransLink referendum? Who will win the NDP leadership race (assuming someone actually runs for the job)?

Will Premier Christy Clark make any mistakes that seriously erode her popularity? As always, it will be a busy year in B.C. politics.

And I look forward to trying to read the tea leaves, hopefully with much success. At least there is no provincial election on the horizon!

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global B.C.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL Wishing you and your family a safe and

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ONLINE COMMENTS Find us on facebook at: Facebook/RoyalCityRecord and on Twitter at: @TheRecord

THE RECORD STORY: “New Westminster reaffirms its stance against coal proposal” - Dec. 10

Facebook I Dave Lundy: Yet they totally deny standing in opposition to improving goods movement and transportation issues in the region. Cry endlessly about the increasing commercial traffic from the northeast sector of the region, all the while welcoming Damco Distribution to open in Queensborough to do the distribution for both Target and Canadian Tire. The train loads are then taken to CP Rail in PItt Meadows, and empties are brought from Pitt Meadows back to the facility. Never mind the Port Mann tolls. The moving of Canadian Tire’s distribution from Poco to New Westminster adds approximately 85 to 100 daily round trips through the city.

Yet there’s Wayne, Jaimie and others cutting ribbons on the distribution centre in Queensborough while out of the other sides of their mouths decrying the increase of commercial truck traffic through the city.

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THE RECORD STORY: “New Westminster to formalize position on Pattullo Bridge in the new year” - Dec. 19

Twitter I @EdjoSadowski: #Surrey know they will be deciding next #BC & #CDN elxns & are already throwing weight around going 2 Feds etc Twitter I @jonathanxcote: I agree that we have an uphill battle Twitter I @EdjoSadowski: notwithstanding, I am bracing myself for a Stormont-Connected 6-lane toll-less bridge announced in time for elxn

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A08 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

◗ COAL TRANSFER FACILITY

Environmental review gets thumbs down Scientists, environmental advocates say assessment wasn’t comprehensive

BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

Port Metro Vancouver and Fraser Surrey Docks are getting a lump of coal this Christmas from environmentalists for the environmental impact assessment done regarding a proposed coal facility in Surrey.

Communities and Coal, Dogwood Initiative, No More Coal Exports, Save the Salish Sea and Voters Taking Action on Climate Change recently joined forces to host an online conference where scientists and environmentalists commented on the assessment.

Laura Benson of the Dogwood Initiative said Port Metro Vancouver needs to scrap the environmental assessment that’s been done and start over and order a full health assessment. She noted that two of the region’s health officers have stated the recently completed assessment doesn’t meet the most basic requirements of a health impact assessment.

Dr. Chris Carlsten, an associate professor and chair in occupational and environmental lung disease at the University of British Columbia, agreed. He said the environmental impact assessment conducted

by SNC Lavalin for Fraser Surrey Docks

didn’t use best practices for health effects analysis and “trivializes” the potential impacts of fugitive coal dust on workers.

“It’s a rather superficial document. It’s disappointing,” he said. “I am hopeful, as a physician, a scientist and a citizen, that a better assessment will be put forth.”

Tyee Bridge, campaigns director at Fraser Riverkeeper Society, said the environmental impact assessment doesn’t address how much coal dust is produced by the facility or during the transport of the coal, almost suggesting the coal would create no coal dust.

“That is a position we would say is optimistic, to say the least,” he said.

Noting that coal dust is a carcinogen in both human and marine environments, Bridge said it could be a “real problem” if train cars carrying coal are parked near the Fraser River. He also expressed concern about coal dust that would be generated as coal is dumped from train cars onto barges at Fraser Surrey Docks.

“That’s a very messy process,” he said.

Given the Fraser River is home to declining numbers of the endangered white sturgeon, Bridge said a “far more rigorous” assessment needs to be done about the risks on human and marine health. He’s concerned about the impacts toxic coal dust would have on orca, salmon and herring species when it gets into the waterways.

“This report doesn’t tell us how much coal is going to escape,” he said.

Bridge also expressed concern that

impacts the coal facility would have on Simon Fraser University, said coal miners wastewater systems hasn’t been addressed. may suffer the highest exposure to coal He noted that equipment will be washed and can get very sick at levels that are down, and it’s unclear whether the water deemed to be legal, but that doesn’t mean will go into the Metro Vancouver sewer there isn’t any risk for people exposed to lower doses of coal dust. system or directly into the Fraser River.

In August, Fraser Surrey Docks hired “That is a lot of particulate matter going SNC-Lavalin to conduct an into our water supply,” he said. environmental impact assessFraser Surrey Docks ment of its proposed coal has applied to Port Metro Vancouver for a permit to oper- “It’s disappoint- transfer project at the site located on the banks of the ate a coal transfer facility, where coal arriving on trains from the ing. I am hopeful, Fraser River, specifically asking the consultant to assess United States would be load- as a physician, the potential for the proposed ed on to barges and shipped facility to adversely impact to Texada Island and then to a scientist and the environment and human China. It’s proposed that the a citizen, that health. The assessment confacility would handle between cluded the project will not four million and eight million a better assesssignificant adverse envimetric tonnes of coal annually. ment will be put cause ronmental, socio-economic or Andre Sobolewski of Clear health effects.

Coast Consulting Ltd. is con- forth.”

Paul Williams, co-founder cerned about the potential effects of coal dust as the barg- DR. CHRIS CARLSTEN of Communities and Coal, said the environmental impact es travel through the Strait of associate prof, UBC assessment is “fatally flawed” Georgia to Texada Island. He and questions why Port Metro said the environmental impact Vancouver is reluctant to ask for a comassessment “totally ignores” the coast.

“We are in the dark, and we are con- prehensive health impact assessment.

Given the municipal opposition to the cerned,” he said.

Given the currents, Sobolewski said project and community concerns, she said it’s likely coal dust could end up on the an independent third-party assessment is Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island needed, and suggested it would be “irreshorelines, and in the marine environment, sponsible” for Port Metro Vancouver to where it could be ingested by marine life. allow Fraser Surrey Docks to proceed with Dr. Tim Takaro, a physician scientist at this project.

Residents want to preserve heritage homes

BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

Queen’s Park residents are keen on working with the city to address heritage issues.

City council has directed staff to begin creating a Queen’s Park neighbourhood heritage working group.

The group is being formed in response to residents’ concerns about the loss of historic houses in the neighbourhood.

Deane Gurney, a director with the Queen’s Park Residents’ Association,

told council residents are “very interested” in this working group and want to see it move forward.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said David Brett, president of the Queen’s Park Residents’ Association.

“There is a great buy-in.”

Maureen Arvanitidis, president of the New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society, said the move has been a while coming but the group is “very excited” about the opportunity.

A staff report stated the mandate of the working group could include: com-

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In addition to rep-

resentatives from the Queen’s Park Residents’ Association and the New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society, the city has proposed the neighbourhood working group would include representatives from the city’s community heritage commission, other suitable city committees, a builder with experience building in Queen’s Park, a real estate agent with experience in Queen’s Park, a landscaper or person with an interest in the natural environment of Queen’s Park and area residents.

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Brett’ suggested the working group should consist mainly of residents,

Wishing you and your family the true spirit of Christmas!

as Realtors and builders could find themselves in a conflict of interest.

The Record • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • A09

◗ IN THE COMMUNITY

Qayqayt playground makes the finals ◗P12 Sports: Meet our athlete of the half decade ◗P13

AROUND TOWN

THERESA MCMANUS

Santa’s helpers

N

ew Westminster firefighters recently played Santa to two local groups helping those in need.

Each year, the New Westminster Firefighters Charitable Society donates goods to an organization around town that helps the needy. This year, they went a step further.

“We had 35 of our members donated $50 each,” said firefighter Kathy Ius. “Eight of us donated some of our time and did a Christmas shop.”

The firefighters split into two groups and headed to Thrifty Foods in Sapperton and WalMart in Queensborough.

“We picked up a whole whack of groceries, warm blankets and toques,” Ius said. “We divvied up what we bought between the Union Gospel Mission and the Salvation Army.”

In addition to the $1,750 in contributions from individual firefighters, the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society donated $1,000.

“We ended up spending about $2,900 in total,” Ius said.

“Some of the stores also kicked in some extras. They added more products.”

So long, farewell

Larry Wright/THE RECORD

Helping: Douglas College nursing student Ian MacKay, seen here on a previous trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, is spending his Christmas vacation providing medical care to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. He’ll be working with Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian organization that provides disaster relief overseas.

Reaching out for Christmas Douglas College nursing student will spend his vacation in the Philippines helping with typhoon relief

BY CAYLEY DOBIE REPORTER

The Hyack Festival Association followed up its appearance in the recent Santa Claus parade with a song in council chambers.

Gavin Palmer, president of the Hyack Festival Association, appeared before council Dec. 9 to introduce 2013 Miss New Westminster Amanda Zacharuk 2013 and ambassadors Cynthia Tan and Carli Henssler, whose reign will soon end. The association is set to begin considering applications for the 2014 Miss New Westminster Ambassadors.

Zacharuk said it’s been an ◗Around Town Page 12

cdobie@royalcityrecord.com

Ian MacKay says it’s his natural calling to help people.

So when Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in November, he knew he had to help, but being a full-time nursing student at Douglas College, he couldn’t just drop everything and catch the next flight out.

Flash forward one month and with final assignments and exams all done, MacKay is ready for his trip to the devastated country where he’ll spend his Christmas vacation working with Samaritan’s Purse.

“I knew they might be short guys over Christmas break, so I decided to (go),” he told The Record. “So I got in touch and

asked if they were looking for volunteers or help, and then they got back to me and said they weren’t looking for volunteers but were willing to offer me a contract, … so of course I jumped at it.”

MacKay is finalizing his plans with Samaritan’s Purse, a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization that provides disaster relief overseas.

For three weeks MacKay will be part of Samaritan’s Purse disaster assistance response team, providing medical care, food, water and shelter to people affected by the typhoon.

This isn’t the first time MacKay has offered his services to help those in need.

After a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, he travelled with Samaritan’s Purse to provide relief for those most affected.

MacKay also started his own humanitarian foundation called the Peace Life Project, which aims to “educate and empower children in the Democratic Republic of Congo who have been disadvantaged and victimized by ongoing conflict in the region.”

Despite his experience, the 23-year-old still doesn’t know what he’ll encounter

when he arrives in the Philippines.

“I don’t really know what to expect, and that’s just the reality of working in a disaster response scenario like this one,” he said.

When asked why he continues to help in disasters overseas, MacKay said it’s hard to explain, it’s just something he feels he needs to do.

“It’s tough to say why I’m going over. I guess you could say it’s just in my blood; it’s something I feel, like I need to help them,” he said.

MacKay returns to Canada on the morning of Jan. 6 and will be back in class for his hospital rotation that evening. It’s a bit hectic, but he said he’s happy to do it.

“It’s all pretty last minute, but Christmas is a time of giving so what better way to give than to go overseas and help others,” he said.

For more information on the Peace Life Project Foundation visit www.facebook. com/PeaceLifeProjectFoundation, and for more information on Samaritan’s Purse visit www.samaritanspurse.ca. twitter.com/cayleydobie

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A10 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

Westcoast Seniors

Spreading Christmas cheer to local seniors T

he annual Be a Santa to a Senior program helped brighten Christmas for more than 100 seniors.

The annual initiative, run by the Seniors Services Society, urges the public to buy a gift for a vulnerable senior in the community.

The society puts Christmas trees up in various businesses around the city, with ornaments for people to pull from the tree, that list a senior’s gift preferences.The person

can then buy a present and leave it with the business, and society volunteers handle delivery and wrapping.

On Dec. 19, the society had 161 deliveries, somewhat short of the 200 gifts they were aiming for, but independent living coordinator Kelly Friesen said everyone was covered.

“We did get a gift for everyone on our list. We just hoped to push it a little further,” she said.

Most of the seniors receiving gifts are from New Westminster, and all are connected to the society, a non-profit that offers numerous programs to help vulnerable seniors.

From left, Seniors Services Society volunteers Autumn Johnson, Sara Johnson and volunteer coordinator Mhairi Campbell delivering gifts to isolated seniors at Christmas.

Friesen wanted to thank all that helped this year’s campaign: the volunteers, the participating merchants and the community at large.

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A12 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

Qayqayt playground makes the finals CLASS ACT

T

NIKI HOPE

he bid for a grant to build a new playground at the school on the former St. Mary’s Hospital site has moved to the finals.

The John Robson parent advisory council applied for a grant from the Aviva Community Fund contest, which is giving away $1 million for ideas to create positive change in Canada.

The parents want to use the funds to build a playground at École Qayqayt

Community School.

“We would love to win,” said parent organizer Ronda Field. “There’s a lot of really great ideas, so there is no guarantee. We feel like in many ways we’ve already won because we’ve gotten so much support from the community.”

The school is now among 10 finalists in its category. Winners will be announced on Jan. 28.

There is at least one winner in each category, however, all of the finalists receive a minimum of $5,000 and if there is extra funding left over then they will allocate those funds as well, Field explained.

“We’re very happy,” she added, saying that even if the school doesn’t

win the big prize, they are pleased with the community support.

It was Field who submitted the application to the Aviva Community Fund on behalf of the Qayqayt community playground committee. The playground is expected to cost $50,000 to $100,000.

Support for special education

The Foundations for Success Program at New Westminster Secondary School recently received a $20,000 donation from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 247.

The purpose of the program is to help students develop a comprehensive range of life skills that will

enable them to function independently and to transition from school to the community.

“This is funding that is so appreciated and will provide enhanced opportunities for learning for our students,” said department head Colleen Ray. “To date, we have purchased a Smartboard, two projectors and two laptop computers for our program. We also have plans to purchase a washer, dryer and dishwasher to facilitate the domestic life skills component of our Independent Living class.

“In addition, the donations have allowed us to explore more relevant, hands-on activities in the community where our students will live and hopefully work. The donations

from Local 247 are not only making a difference for their learning today, but also for their success in the future.”

This is the second donation the union has made to the high school program.

Last year, Local 247’s donation also created a small library for students, creating an enjoyable and relaxing learning environment.

“We are very pleased to be able to make this donation again this year,” Suzanne Hodge, union president, said in the release. “Our past [and late] president, Gib Whitlock, was very supportive of education programs in the community, and he would be very proud to see how we are investing in students who

need this kind of support.”

The union is a community benefactor, operating its training centre on Columbia Street in New Westminster, which provides services and training to its members as well as the broader community.

The union is also part of the national union that is the single largest donor in the country to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Canada.

“We are very proud of our tradition of fundraising and donations in the community,” said Dan Goodman, Local 247 secretary-treasurer.

Do you have an item for Class Act? Send ideas about New Westminster schools to Niki, nhope@royalcityrecord. com, or find her on Twitter, @ nikimhope.

Around Town: Arts, culture groups invited to take part in city mapping project ◗ continued from page 9

honour and a pleasure to represent the association and the city at events throughout the Pacific Northwest this year.

“It’s been a program that been going for so many years,” said Coun.

Betty McIntosh. “You can see the value of the program.”

With the ambassador’s reign coming to an end, they performed a dance for council, lip-synching to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You.

A couple of days after the presentation to city council, the association announced it is changing its name to Festivals New West.

Cultural mapping Time is running out to

take part in a project that will help map the city’s cultural offerings.

The City of New Westminster, the Arts Council of New Westminster and Douglas College are working together to map the cul-

tural assets in the city and put them on an interactive map that will appear on the city’s website. The map aims to promote culture, networking opportunities and cultural tourism.

As part of the process, community members are

invited to help build the map of the city’s cultural assets by taking part in a survey. The survey, which is open until Dec. 31, can be found at www.hjlinnen. com/survey.

Send tips to Theresa, tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com.

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The Record • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • A13

◗ STAY IN THE GAME

May you all experience a Merry Christmas from the sports department at The Record

SECTION COORDINATOR Tom Berridge, 604-444-3022 • tberridge@royalcityrecord.com

The Record’s athlete of the half-decade

BY TOM BERRIDGE SPORTS EDITOR tberridge@royalcityrecord.com

Douglas College accounting student RuiLin Huang was the undoubted queen of the court at the Canadian Colleges’ Athletic Association badminton championships.

The fifth-year senior won an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s singles title – the first-ever five-time women’s champion since the CCAA began keeping records in 1982.

At her final national collegiate championship, Huang swept her entire competition, including a 21-12, 21-13 victory over Vancouver Island University wild card opponent Melissa Liew in the gold-medal final.

Huang, who has won five straight PacWest provincial titles, has a career college record of 207 wins and just one defeat in a team match.

That one loss came in her third year in Canada to a Chinese player from

Edmonton in three games.

She reversed that loss in straight sets in the individual singles final.

“It was my first year for regular classes (after two years of English language training). All my attention was on school, and when I was at the tournament, I was still doing my marketing homework,” Huang said.

The China-born Huang is a four-time CCAA female badminton player of the year and was named the national association’s female athlete of the year across all sports in 2012. She is also a five-time PacWest player of the year.

When the 18-year-old Huang first came to Canada in 2008 to attend Douglas, she defeated five-time Canadian women’s national champion Anna Rice in straight sets at a national ranking event prior to the Olympics.

She also scored a big win over Lydia Jang to win the U.S. Open women’s singles title in 2009.

Queen of the court: Douglas College student RuiLin Huang won five consecutive national and provincial collegiate women’s badminton singles titles, including a career record of 207 wins and just one defeat. She was also the college’s female athlete of the year in all five of those years.

File photo/THE RECORD

Beating the U.S. was a good way to start 2013 Jordan Chin helped B.C.’s football team defeat the United States 38-18 in the International Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Sea Cadet Louisa Tsang became the first cadet to score a perfect round at Olympic Park at the Pacific region Lower Mainland Zone 4 biathlon championships in Whistler.

February: St. Thomas More Collegiate won both the boys’ and girls’ aggregate titles at the Lower Fraser Valley wrestling championships.

The New Westminster Salmonbellies selected consensus No. 1 Logan Schuss and defender Jeff Cornwall with its first two picks in the Western Lacrosse Association junior draft.

Nathan Choi won two doubles events at a ranking badminton competition in Alberta. Choi, 18, teamed with Charmagne Yeung for the mixed doubles and with Alvin Lau in the men’s doubles.

The senior A Salmonbellies made changes behind the bench replacing Ken Thomas and assistants Chris Gill and Sheldon Palidwor with new head coach Steve Goodwin and his staff of Russ Heard, Jamie Stewart and Darrin London.

NewWestminsterSalmonbellie Cliff Smith was named a second consecutive National Lacrosse League player of the week for the Washington Stealth.

Royal City club’s Ryan Leslie was presented with the Rob Mountford builder award at the Vancouver Mainland Football League annual awards.

SFU lost to Division III Arizona State in first Great Northwest Hockey Showcase.

Former provincial junior champion Andrew Bilesky won his first B.C. men’s curling championships in Parksville, beating Royal City Curling Clubmate Brent Pierce 7-4 in the final.

Simon Fraser University won the Women’s Collegiate Wrestling

The New Westminster under12 girls won the B.C. Lacrosse provincial field final over Burnaby/Ridge in Langley.

The u-15 girls and u-19 Tier I and 2 boys’ teams all picked up bronze medals at the B.C. field lacrosse tournament.

The NWSS senior boys’ basketball team lost its Lower Mainland qualifying game to Burnaby South 89-76.

EA

its first Vancouver and District high school title since 1992. The Hyacks went on to finish fourth at the provincials.

March:

RI

3 1 0 2

N

Northwest Giants won a second AAA midget hockey title at the 35th annual Mac’s Cup tournament in Calgary following a 3-2 double-overtime win over the Carolina Junior Hurricanes.

Association title for the first time, winning all six of its gold-medal bouts in Bristol, Tennessee.

AY

January:

Douglas College won its first women’s basketball medal in 20 years, placing third overall at the PacWest provincial championships.

Douglas College placed first in PacWest men’s volleyball with a 19-5 regular season record.

The Royals were later upset by Capilano in the semifinals at the provincials.

The Douglas College Royals basketball teams both made the playoffs, finishing third in the women’s division and fourth in the men’s.

The New Westminster juvenile girls’ baskeball team won

SFU lost in overtime to Selkirk College in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League championship final.

The SFU Clan women’s basketball team made it the first-ever NCAA Division II West Region final in the program’s history.

The Northwest Giants won a fifth consecutive B.C. major midget hockey title with a 1-0 win over the Okanagan Rockets.

SFU guard Kia Van Laare was named to the Great Northwest conference all-academic team in women’s basketball.

Kamila Wojciechowski was named an honourable mention at the B.C. AA high school girls’ basketball championships, where St. Thomas More placed 11th.

Alberni Valley defenceman Bo Pellah was named to the B.C. Hockey League Coastal conference second all-star team.

STM’s junior varsity girls’ basketball team scored a programfirst second-place finish at the B.C. high school championships.

Ottawa Senators Kyle Turris was named the NHL’s second star for the week ending March 17.

Tyler Digby was named coplayer of the week for Robert Morris University in Northeast Conference field lacrosse on March 18.

REVIEW

The under-16 New Westminster boys’ lacrosse team won its sixth provincial lacrosse title as a group following an 11-4 win over league champion Port Coquitlam in the field final in Victoria.

Cadet national biathlon championships.

Chelsea Nerpio won a gold and a silver medal in the national women’s open division at the B.C. Louisa Tsang won the Myriam Bedard award as most outstanding youth female athlete at the

Burnaby Mountain Wrestling Club won both the senior and junior men’s titles at the Canadian championships.

Continued in Friday’s Record

A14 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

The Record • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • A15

A16 • Tuesday, December 24, 2013 • The Record

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OFF

ON EVERYTHING IN THE STORE

DOORCRASHERS 10AM - 12PM FREE GIFT BASKETS TO 1st 10 CUSTOMERS *MIN PURCHASE REQUIRED

boxing day blowout

UP TO

50

%

OFF

CLEARANCE

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

WE WILL BEAT ANY ADVERTISED PRICE BY 5% FREE SAMPLES, TASTINGS, GIVEAWAYS AND MORE FROM 10AM-6PM NEW LOCA TION!