NEWS
New West mayor plans to say goodbye to local politics
O
CONTENTS 8
By Charlie Smith
ne of Metro Vancouver’s more environmentally minded mayors is going to say goodbye to electoral politics. In a New Year’s Day Instagram post, Jonathan Cote said that he won’t seek reelection after serving as New Westminster’s mayor for two terms. He was first elected to council in 2005 at the age of 26, serving three terms before defeating incumbent mayor Wayne Wright in 2014. “It has been an honour to serve this community for the past 16 years and I am incredibly proud of the work we have been able to accomplish,” Cote said in his post. “From our work on housing policy to our bold steps on climate action, our small city has been a leader in so many ways,” he continued. “This work would not have been possible without the hard work from City staff, community members and my colleagues on council over the years who have been so dedicated to building a compassionate and forward thinking community.”
We are tough, diverse, quirky and most importantly…a community with a big heart. – New West mayor Jonathan Cote
Cote’s tenure coincided with a revival of the downtown core, which was initiated when he was on council and Wright was mayor. A waterfront park, the Anvil Centre, the River Market, and developments around the Columbia and New Westminster SkyTrain stations, including a multiplex, helped attract many new residents, including a fair number of young families who felt that they had been priced out of East Vancouver. It helped that New West, which covers just 15.6 square kilometres, has five SkyTrain stations. “Younger people and baby boomers are starting to appreciate the urban environment—and that urban feel is missing from most suburban communities in Metro Vancouver,” Cote told the Straight back in 2012 during an interview in the Heritage Grill restaurant. “This is actually becoming a value: being able to walk everywhere, being able to take public transit, being able to jump on a SkyTrain to go downtown.” In more recent years, New West has carved out a reputation as a centre for progressive thinking around housing, climate action, and transportation. THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT
COVER
An explosion of COVID-19 cases over the holiday period has some parents worried about their kids returning to school.
by Charlie Smith
2
January 6-13 / 2022
Cover photo by Halfpoint/Getty Images Plus
6
HEALTH
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t going anywhere soon, so if we’re locked down at home, we might as well think about revving up our sex lives. By Rachel Moore
14
MUSIC
Grimes takes a long look in the mirror and then concludes she’s finally had enough of a music industry that’s been broken forever. By Mike Usinger
e Start Here
Jonathan Cote has been a municipal politician since 2005—now he’s planning his next life.
The city has a vibrant LGBT community and lively Pride festival, and it has hosted the annual Recovery Day festivities for those trying to free themselves from addiction to drugs and alcohol. There’s also a new high school, which came after many years of wrangling between the school board, the city, and the province. During Cote’s two terms, the Uptown area has become more vibrant than ever; a ferry service was launched between Queensborough and New Westminster Quay; and the Brewery District has been redeveloped, enlivening the area near Royal Columbian Hospital. But the city has also faced its share of difficulties in recent years, including fires at the New Westminster pier and in the building housing the Heritage Grill, which was a centre for arts and culture. “The past two years have been challenging for our city but we have been resilient and caring in the face of our struggles,” Cote said in the Instagram post. “It feels like we have lost some momentum but I am confident that our city has a bright future ahead. “We are tough, diverse, quirky and most importantly we are a community with a big heart. These are traits that have served us well in the past and will give us strength in the future.” Cote has also been an influential politician at the regional level, chairing the TransLink Mayors’ Council since he was reelected as mayor in 2018. With his master’s degree in urban studies, he’s been a keen supporter of rapid-transit projects to reduce automobile traffic. Cote is the only mayor in the region during the past 30 years who has twice been photographed for the cover of the Georgia Straight. g
JANUARY 6 – 13 / 2022
10 18 11 9 16 2 12 4 16 9
ARTS CLASSIFIED ADS COMEDY FOOD MOVIES NEWS PUSH FESTIVAL REAL ESTATE SAVAGE LOVE WINE
Vancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly Volume 56 | Number 2812 #300 - 1375 West 6th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 0B1 T: 604.730.7000 E: gs.info@straight.com straight.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING: T: 604.730.7020 E: sales@straight.com
CLASSIFIEDS: T: 604.730.7000 E: classads@straight.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: 604.730.7000 DISTRIBUTION: 604.730.7032
EDITOR Charlie Smith GENERAL MANAGER Sandra Oswald SECTION EDITORS Mike Usinger (ESports/Liquor/Music) Steve Newton SENIOR EDITOR Martin Dunphy STAFF WRITERS Carlito Pablo (Real Estate) SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Jeff Li ART DEPARTMENT MANAGER Janet McDonald
e Online TOP 5
Here’s what people are reading this week on Straight.com.
1 2 3 4 5
Ex-CBC staffer Tara Henley quits due to broadcaster’s shifting politics. Man charged in connection with death of Grandview Park visitor Gilles Hebert. Dr. Bonnie Henry receives scathing criticism from airchemistry experts. East Van half duplex sells at asking price of $1,885,000 in one of 2021’s final deals. Rush joins some select rock ’n’ roll company with its own pinball table. @GeorgiaStraight
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Miguel Hernandez PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Mike Correia ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Glenn Cohen, Luci Richards, Catherine Tickle, Robyn Marsh, David Pearlman (On-Leave) MANAGER, BRANDED CONTENT AND MARKETING LEAD Rachel Moore CONTENT AND MARKETING SPECIALIST Alina Blackett CREDIT MANAGER Shannon Li ACCOUNTING SUPERVISOR Tamara Robinson
