Burnaby Now March 16 2023

Fedspour $123.5Minto affordable rentalhousing

City of Burnaby to pitch in an additional $31M for projects

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com

More affordable rentals are coming to Burnaby

The federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Ahmed Hussen, came to Burnaby on Monday to announce more than $154 5 million in funding for a total of 358 units of affordable rental housing in Burnaby

Two six-storey rental projects by non-profit developer Catalyst Community Developments Society will get a combined $144-million investment from the federal government and City of Burnaby

The feds are providing more than $113 million through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, and Burnaby is pitching in more than

$31 million in funding and equity.

The two Catalyst developments are at 7392 16th Ave , with 203 units, and 6889 Royal Oak Ave , with 134 units

Thirty per cent of the units will be rented at 20 per cent below the median market rent, as calculated by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp The remaining 70 per cent of units will be rented at 1 3 times the median market rent, according to Catalyst president Luke Harrison.

The median market rent in Southeast Burnaby, according to CMHC, is currently $1,344; in Metrotown it’s $1,527

Both Catalyst developments are currently under construction: Royal Oak is expected to finish by spring 2025 and 16th

Continued on page 3

FESTIVE COLOURS

:

This year’s Holi celebrations at the Hindu Temple Burnaby took place on Sunday, March 12 Here, a participant and his friend show off their colours during the annual festivities, which symbolize the arrival of spring after a long winter and celebrate the triumph of good over evil

PHOTO LARAGRAHAM

Citynow

DrivergetsjailtimeforknockingdownMountie

Man handed 9-month term and a driving ban for hit-and-run that injured Burnaby officer

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow com

Closure for a Burnaby

Mountie whose wrist was broken in a hit-and-run by a prohibited driver nearly five years ago has been a long time coming

On the morning of July 4, 2018, Const Diane Marsh was at the corner ofWillingdon Avenue and Parker Street, when she spotted a driver talking on his cell phone behind the wheel of an SUV driving in a Husky gas station, according to agreed facts presented at a sentencing hearing inVancouver provincial court lastWednesday.

Marsh, who was on foot, made eye contact with the driver and yelled at him to stop, but he ignored her and proceeded ontoWillingdon, hitting her with the passenger side of the SUV and knocking her to the ground.

He didn’t stop but took

off onWillingdon at “a high rate of speed,” according to the facts.

Marsh’s right wrist was broken, and she wasn’t able to perform her regular policing duties for twoand-half years after the incident. She has also been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder related to the incident.

Marsh broke down as she read out a victim impact statement in court.

“The accused has shown a complete lack of respect for human life and the authority of the police,” she said

It took three-and-a-half years for charges to be laid against the driver who left her lying on the street:

Fabian Ernesto Argenal Lopez, 33

Argenal Lopez was in court March 8 to plead guilty to hit-and-run, wilfully resisting or obstructing a police officer and one count of driving while prohibited

On the day he hit Marsh, Argenal Lopez was already under a driving ban, and there was a warrant out for his arrest because he hadn’t showed up for court to face a prohibited driving charge from March 2018

B C provincial court Judge John Milne called Argenal Lopez’s driving record “appalling ”

DRIVER PANICKED

In a joint sentencing

submission, Crown prosecutor Margaret Mackie and defence lawyer Justin Myers called for a total jail sentence of nine months less one day and a driving ban of two years and nine months

Calculated into the sentence were immigration implications for Argenal Lopez, who is not a Canadian citizen, even though he moved to Canada from Nicaragua when he was only four years.

A jail sentence even one day longer for the hit-andrun or obstruction charges could have led to his deportation separating him from his partner, oneyear-old daughter and an unborn child

“He has extended family in Nicaragua that he has never met, so he has no connection to that country,” Myers said.

On the day of the hitand-run, Myers said his client panicked when

Marsh yelled at him to pull over and then panicked further after he hit her

“That’s something he is remorseful for,” Myers said

Argenal Lopez addressed the court, apologizing to Marsh and saying he’s taken steps to turn his life around.

“I don’t want to be that same loser that just makes mistakes,” he said.

IMMIGRATION IMPLICATIONS

Milne accepted the joint submission and sentenced Argenal Lopez to nine months less a day and a driving ban of two years and nine months

Among the aggravating factors in the case, Milne noted Argenal Lopez’s driving record and the fact Marsh was an on-duty police officer “who was plainly marked as an onduty police officer ”

As mitigating factors, Milne noted Argenal Lopez’s guilty plea, his steps to turn his life around and the “collateral” immigration consequences of a longer sentence

Risingconstructioncosts,interestratesanobstacletoaffordbility

Continued from page 1

Avenue by summer 2025

The announced funding also includes a $10 5 million federal grant to the City of Burnaby for at least 21 “deeply affordable, rapidly built” new units, as part of the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative, according to Hussen.

Hussen said the affordability on the RHI projects will be “much, much deeper” than 20 per cent below market median, as the federal contribution is 100 per cent of the project’s capital costs More information will come on the project before May

Hussen said the RHI is geared to “the most vulnerable members of our community: those who are experiencing homelessness, or those who are at risk of experiencing homelessness, with at least 25 per cent dedicated exclusively to women-focused housing.”

Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley said the city’s $31-million contribution to the Catalyst projects shows its commitment to investing in non-market housing

“I think we’re more than showing that we’re a great partner to work with and sending signals to our

other partners that we’re here to be a good partner.”

Catalyst president Har-

rison said it was a “circuitous route to get here ”

He noted it was chal-

lenging to deal with rising construction costs and rising interest rates: “This all had bad effects to how we deliver and create affordable housing,” he said

He added Burnaby’s involvement should prompt other levels of government to invest further

“Alongside this massive contribution that was made by the City of Burnaby, has come a very, very strong voice directly to Ottawa about: It’s time for investment to come to the City of Burnaby, particularly from the federal government, to create more affordable housing ”

Hussen told the NOW

there are several factors that go into the decision of which municipalities get selected for the RHI funding (Burnaby is one of 41 recipients in the city stream)

“We look at the pointin-time counts for those facing homelessness; we look at vacancy rates; we look at the average cost of rent; we look at geographical factors and so on,” Hussen said

“But Burnaby has the third highest cost of rent in the country, so they would make an obvious case for inclusion into the city stream of the Rapid Housing Initiative ”

SENTENCED: Asuspectina2018hit-and-runthatinjuredapoliceofficeriscapturedonsecurity videoataBurnabygasstation PHOTOBURNABYRCMP

Partnership: Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley (at podium), federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen (second from left), and president of Catalyst Community Developments Society Luke Harrison (left) announce $154 5 million in funding to affordable rental developments in Burnaby PHOTO LAUREN VANDERDEEN

Ex-courierreceivescourtdischargeafterstealing$94Kincash Citynow

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow com

A Calgary-based cryptocurrency company briefly lost an envelope stuffed with more than $94,000 in cash two years ago.

The money, which belonged to BitNational, had been shipped with Purolator in Decem-

ber 2020 but it didn’t make it past the shipping centre in Burnaby, according to facts presented inVancouver provincial court Feb 28

The package landed in the lap of George Petrelli, a 25-year veteran Purolator employee, in a moment of weakness, according to defence lawyerTom Doust.

“I don’t know, but I suspect having $100,000 in cash in an envelope, holding it in your hand and seeing that the package is open and you can see 50s and 100s, this is temptation,” Doust told the court “This is an extreme example of temptation ”

Doust noted Petrelli’s wife was also battling can-

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

cer at the time and he was under a lot of pressure

Petrelli stole the cash and replaced it with an envelope

He stowed it in his garden shed, according to Doust.

Meanwhile, the empty Purolator shipment arrived at its destination, and the recipient was soon making inquiries about

the missing cash.

Security video pointed to Petrelli as the culprit.

He denied it at first, but then “very quickly admitted to the offence,” according to Crown prosecutor Louise Gauld.

He returned all of the money that was hidden at his house and “immediately” replaced $2,000 he had spent at a casino, she

said.

Gauld called for a 12-month suspended sentence with 50 hours of community work service

She said Petrelli would be unlikely to reoffend, but the sentence was necessary to deter others from such offences

But Doust called for a

Continued on page 15

CityConnect

Burnaby City Council hereby gives notice that it will hold a Public Hearing to receive representations in connection with proposed amendments to “Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965”

TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2023 AT 5 PM

ZONING BYLAW AMENDMENTS

1) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No. 4, 2023 - Bylaw No. 14552

Rez. #22-03

7730 6th Street

From: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM1 Multiple Family District)

To: Amended CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM3 and RM3r Multiple Family Districts and Sixth Street Community Plan as guidelines, and in accordance with the development plan entitled “Eastburn Square Affordable Housing” by VIA - A Perkins Eastman Studio)

Purpose: to permit the construction of a six-storey multiplefamily non-market rental building with an in-home childcare facility for up to 8 children

Applicant: Metro Vancouver Housing Corporation

2) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No 5, 2023 - Bylaw No 14553

Rez. #21-24

4049 Hastings Street

From: C8 Urban Village Commercial District (Hastings)

To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on C8 Urban Village Commercial District (Hastings) and Hastings Street Plan as guidelines, and in accordance with the development plan entitled “4049 Hastings Burnaby B.C ” prepared by Stuart Howard Architects Inc.)

Purpose: to permit the construction of a mixed-use multiple-family rental apartment development with commercial uses at grade

Applicant: Vittori Developments

All persons who believe they are affected by a proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard:

» PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON

» SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS TO COUNCIL

• email: legislativeservices@burnaby ca

• mail: Mayor & Council, c/o Legislative Services, 4949 Canada Way

• fill out the webform: Burnaby ca/PublicHearings

» PARTICIPATE BY ZOOM OR WATCH LIVE Visit Burnaby.ca/PublicHearings

3) Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 1965, Amendment Bylaw No. 6, 2023 - Bylaw No. 14554

Rez. #19-35

4265 Lougheed Highway

From: C4 Service Commercial District

To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on C3 General Commercial District, RM5s Multiple Family Residential District, RM5r Multiple Family Residential District and the Brentwood Town Centre Development Plan as guidelines, and in accordance with the development plan entitled “Buchanan West Concept Book” prepared by Chris Dikeakos Architects Inc.)

Purpose: to establish a Conceptual Master Plan and Design Guidelines for the Buchanan West Site, in order to guide further site specific rezoning applications for the future construction of high-density strata, rental, commercial retail, office, and hospitality development over time No specific development is being proposed by the subject rezoning application

Applicant: First Capital Asset Management LP

Reports, bylaws, and related information respecting the zoning bylaw amendments are available on the City’s website at Burnaby ca/PublicHearings from March 8, 2023.

Any questions regarding the Public Hearing processes and agenda items may be directed to Legislative Services, 604-294-7290

Please note all submissions must be received by 2:45 pm on the day of the Hearing and contain the writer’s name and address which become a part of the public record.

NO PRESENTATIONS OR SUBMISSIONS WILL BE RECEIVED BY COUNCIL AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING

OF DISPOSITION AND INTENT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE

Opinionnow

MY VIEW KEITH BALDREY

Multiple tax increases aggravate B.C.’s affordability problem

Governments at all levels and politicians everywhere have been grappling with the “affordability” issue for several years now, but there is mounting evidence that the problem is getting worse and not better

For example, numerous city and municipal councils are raising property taxes by amounts not seen in years

In Metro Vancouver, at least 11 councils have approved increases of more than five per cent, and four are in double digits

Surrey is tentatively looking at an increase of 12.5 per cent, while Vancouver is raising taxes by 10.7 per cent. The larger-than-usual hikes are not confined to the Metro region, as the City of Victoria will see a nine per cent increase and Prince George is looking at an eight per cent raise

There is a chance some of these increases may be pared down if a municipality opts to use the one-time windfall coming its way courtesy of the provincial government’s new $1 bil-

lion Growing Communities Fund.

The money is significant. Surrey is getting almost $90 million, while Vancouver is getting $49.1 million. Pretty well all towns are getting at least a half million dollars About 160 municipalities and 27 regional districts are receiving an average onetime grant of several million dollars

But the key term is “onetime” If a municipality rolls this funding into its operating budget to keep tax increases down, it will have to

find that money in the next budget year if it wants to keep funding those services. However, municipalities are not the only level of government passing on larger-than-usual tax hikes these days

While the B C government’s recent budget generated a lot of headlines regarding spending, there was also one tax increase included that will eventually take quite a bit out of wallets

I’m referring to the carbon tax, with a new tax

regime mandated by the federal government.

Page 80 of the provincial budget lays out a “new carbon pricing model” that shows annual increases of $15 per tonne, taking it from the current rate of $50 per tonne to $170 per tonne by 2030 (The next increase is set for April 1 )

This means more than a tripling of the tax in less than 10 years The tax on gasoline at the pump will jump from 11 cents per litre to 37 cents per litre over this time

The tax (which was orig-

inally revenue “neutral,” as it was first tied to an income tax cut) has become a huge part of the provincial government’s budget (carbon tax revenues are projected to increase by more than $1 billion in three years) So it is here to stay

As the cost of living and the cost of fighting climate change keep delivering big numbers, the affordability riddle will continue to be more than challenging to solve

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

Opinionnow

apartments so only have park lands to enjoy nature On weekends this area is very busy with walkers, cyclists and people just enjoying nature It’s a dangerous precedent to set

Secondly, it is so close to the Fraser River that I’m shocked that it’s even a consideration Surely there is going to be some contamination/runoff from the site I can’t believe that it would pass environmental standards Please reconsider; definitely no!

Bonnie Mclellan

Say no to proposed organic waste plant

Editor:

A definite NO to an organic waste site. We live fairly close by and walk in the area about five days a week First of all, I can’t believe that you would take land out of a designated park area for this purpose. It’s a beautiful area full of birds and small animals Park land should always stay as park land as many people have no choice but to live in

Editor:

I am completely opposed to the locating of a waste facility here

Firstly, it’s a wetland adjacent to the North Arm of the Fraser River There is always going to be an accidental discharge sometime

Secondly, it’s a designated park area And thirdly, it’s going to be situated near the homes of tens of thousands of residents with the accompanying odour

With regards to the assurances given by the engineering firm in regards to my concerns, I do not trust that they will be able live up to their promises History bears me out I suggest finding a less sensitive area The extra costs associated with a more distant site are bearable

George Ogilvie

We do, however, edit for taste, legality and length Please include a phone number where you can be reached Send letters to: The Editor, #201A–3430 Brighton Ave , Burnaby, B C , V5A 3H4, email to: editorial@burnabynow com (no attachments please) or fax to: 604-444-3460

THE BURNABY NOW WELCOMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters to the editor and opinion columns may be reproduced on the Burnaby NOW website, www burnabynow com

Controversy: A plan to repurpose part of Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park for an organic waste plant has drawn fire from residents PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER

Looking to launch your career in Canada? This program offers free support to get you there.

Immigrant Services Society of B.C.’s Career Paths program connects you to work that makes use of your experience and training from your home country, fully-funded, at no cost to you

Together, they identified what Ceolato Maria’s options were, one of which was taking a course at the University of British Columbia to upgrade his existing knowledge on cybersecurity risk management

“I have always worked in IT and cybersecurity, but I wanted to go deeper into the cybersecurity path, and my career strategist told me about UBC’s extended learning course, but at that time, I wasn’t financially able to pay for that course,”he explains

At no cost to him, the ISSofBC ended up paying for his course in full, though, which meant he was able to get the certification he needed for his current senior cybersecurity role at a financial institution.

the correct words to catch the eyes of recruiters,”he says.

“When you are an immigrant, you have to spend money to move from your country, so you may not have the financial resources to get Canadian certifications, but this resource is free and the people working there are 100 per cent willing to help you achieve your professional goals,”says Ceolato Maria.“I’m so very grateful.”

For more information about ISSofBC’s Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants program, visit their website at issbc org/ask

When Rodrigo Ceolato Maria immigrated to Canada with his family in 2018, he came with a dream of reaching new professional heights in the career he’d built for himself back in Brazil Achieving this, however, turned out to be much more challenging than he’d hoped for.

“When you leave your home country for another, you face a lot of changes, like different weather, a different language, a different culture – but you’re also away from your family and friends As immigrants, we as individuals, and our families, are exposed to enormous challenges,”he says.

Despite having two degrees – an MBA in project management and BA in technology and computer systems networking communications – and experience

as a project leader in IT operations, one of the major challenges that stood in his way was not having access to the resources he needed to land and carry out a job at the level that he would have had back home

“I was devastated,”he recalls

Knowing that there had to be better opportunities out there for him, he began researching, and that’s when he found the Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC), an agency that works to support immigrants settling in Canada through language, employment and career support

After reaching out to them, he connected with a career strategist from their Career Paths program which connects immigrants to work using the experience and credentials they received in their home country

“Another way the ISSofBC helped me was enhancing my resume and job applications, because I had the knowledge and information needed for those roles, but I hadn’t used

Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) has been working to welcome and empower newcomers to B C since 1968 Through language, employment and career support, they help immigrants build a future in Canada For more information about ISSofBC’s Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants program, visit their website.

Rodrigo Ceolato Maria Photo submitted ISSofBC staff members are

Photo: Kaitlyn Carino-Pablo

Communitynow

BurnabystudentssetforVEX roboticsworldchampionships

Program has qualified a team at competition

twice in a row

CorneliaNaylor cnaylor@burnabynow com

In just its second year after a lengthy hiatus, a Burnaby school district robotics club is sending its second team to the world championships this spring

Based out of Alpha Secondary School, the district’s mechatronics and robotics program began participating inVEX Robotics competitions again last year after a two-year pause

After a rocky start, one of its robots “came out of nowhere” and qualified for theVEX Robotics world championships inTexas last spring, according to coach and technology teacher James Zhuang.

Based on this year’s results, however, that was no fluke

The club, dubbedThe Swarm, has once again qualified a robot for the worlds after a successful tournament season

The Swarm started the season with two senior teams, who started working on their robots in Sep-

tember, and six rookie teams, who got to work in October

Every spring, after the VEX world championships, organizers announce a new skill-testing game, and students around the world spend the whole year designing, building and perfecting machines to play the game better than their opponents.

Teams continue to modify and improve their robots all season

The Swarm’s robots competed in a total of eight tournaments and two skills-only com-

petitions, according to Zhuang

Three of them qualified for the provincial championships at the Langley Events Centre on March

5

One of the robots, 502W (designed by Grade 10 students StevenYuan, Adam Chan, Ethan Louie, Wellington Chan, Aaron Lew and AidenTam), made it to the semifinals, earned an Amaze award, placed second in skills and qualified for the worlds in Dallas,Texas at the end of April

“Their skill score is

ranked 26th in the world out of over 5,000 teams and 50 countries,” Zhuang said “It is an outstanding achievement in such a short time.”

Another Swarm robot, 502X (designed by Grade 12 students Scott Favaro and Luke McQuillen and Grade 11 student David Dorland), earned a judge’s award but didn’t advance.

Making their first appearance at a provincial championship were Grade 9 students Lucas Lu, AdamVocadlo, Daniel Dorland and Arek Hong, who designed robot 502V.

An “antiquated” software system run by the city is causing major headaches for parents trying to register their kids for rec programs in Burnaby

More than 600 parents lined up in person at Burnaby rec centres last Wednesday morning to sign up their kids for swim classes, the city’s parks and recreation general manager told the NOW

The new GM of parks and rec, Mary Morrison-Clark, said part of the problem is the city’s “antiquated software system” and called the issue “unacceptable ”

The city has used the current software program for almost 30 years, according to a recent staff report

Morrison-Clark said the city is planning to bring in a new online registration system as soon as possible

“What I saw this week as GM is a completely unacceptable level of customer service, and I can do nothing but apologize

to the residents of Burnaby because this shouldn’t happen again,” she said.

DO EARLY BIRDS GETTHE WORM?

Burnaby parents lined up at 6 a.m. at Bonsor Recreation Complex on Wednesday, with some taking the day off work, to get the chance to sign their kids up for a coveted spot in swimming lessons

By 8 a.m., almost 100 Burnaby parents were lined up

Multiple parents expressed frustration with the registration system.

Sandeep Nair came to BonsorWednesday morning at 6 a m to sign up his two sons Registration was set to start at 10 a m

Nair said he has been registering in-person for the last two years, as it’s a better option than using Burnaby’s online registration system

“By 9 (a.m.) the website crashes,” Nair said “You can’t get through online, and by phone you can’t call because they’re all busy You can’t get through by phone at all ”

He said he’s lost out on signing up for classes in the past.

“It is across every centre in Burnaby,” Nair said, and added, “Everyone is busy You won’t be able to get in touch with them

Continued on page 12

BOT INTO IT: Team 502W makes some adjustments during the VEX Robotics provincial championships in Abbotsford Sunday PHOTO JAMESZHUANG

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com

WEEKEND

ONGOING

SPRING BREAK AT BURNABY VILLAGE MUSEUM

Burnaby’s favourite historical village museum opens its doors again this week for students and families to enjoy their March spring break. Visit the museum to check out some special activities planned for each day make a Coast Salish seed bomb, take part in loom weaving and churn butter. You can also try your hand at steam engine operation, coffee grinding and blacksmithing demonstrations However, the carousel and ice cream parlour are closed for repairs during this season.

WHEN: To Friday, March 24; daily 11 a m to 4:30 p m (last admission is at 4 p m )

WHERE: Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave.)

COST: Free; visit www burnabyvillage

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

ST PATRICK’S DAY AT THE REC ROOM

St Patrick’s Day is here Head out to the Rec Room at the Amazing Brentwood for snacks, sips and shenanigans to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 17 Wear green and enjoy green beer, games, prizes, live music and more. There is no cover charge for the party. Live entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m., and the dance floor opens with a DJ at 9 p m

WHEN: Friday, March 17; doors open at 6:30 p m

WHERE: The Rec Room, 1920 Willingdon Ave , Unit 21-06

COST: Free

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 AND

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

ICHIGO-ICHIEH’S ‘BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR MYSELF’

Watch dancer-choreographer-actor Hiromoto Ida

Find more events online: burnabynow.com/local-events

Please send your information for inclusion to editorial@burnabynow.com

merge dance, theatre, classical music and voice to tell the story of an old man raising a glass of sake to himself in celebration on what will be his last birthday, as presented at the Vancouver International Dance Festival. The two-night dance celebration will also feature musicians Nicola Everton on the clarinet, Sue Gould on piano, Jeff Faragher on cello, and Martine denBok on violin and viola, performing an evocative original score by Russian composer Pavel Karmanov

WHEN: Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18; 8 to 10 p m

WHERE: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts (6450 Deer Lake Ave )

COST: $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and students; buy through tickets shadboltcentre com

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

DOWN SYNDROME FILM FESTIVAL

March 21 marks World Down Syndrome Day, and a first-of-its-kind movie fest, the Down Syndrome Film Festival. Watch the Burnaby première of the heartwarming new award-winning National Film Board of Canada documentary LayDownYourHeart, directed by Marie Clements It’s preceded by short films includ-

ing RaisingAvaRose, directed by Richmond-based filmmaker Jordan Macken, and a 14-minute documentary called MindingYourOwnBusiness:Entrepreneurs withDownSyndrome, a DSRF production An exclusive sneak peek at new short film, Chicken, starring Burnaby actor Aaron Waddingham also awaits.

WHEN: Saturday, March 18; 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: James Cowan Theatre at Shadbolt Centre (6450 Deer Lake Ave )

COST: Free for people with disabilities; $7-15 for those without disabilities; tickets.shadboltcentre.com

FLEA MARKET

Who doesn’t love a great bargain? A flea market hosted by the City of Burnaby is coming to Confederation Seniors’ Centre on March 18 for you to get thrifty. There will be more than 50 tables of pre-loved items are on display to comb through If you want to clean out your cupboard and are interested in being a vendor, call 604-294-1936 or register in person at Confederation Centre.

WHEN: Saturday, March 18, 9:30 a m to 1:30 p m

WHERE: Confederation Seniors’ Centre (4585 Albert St )

COST: Free Compiled by Abhinaya Natesh

Don’t miss these weekend events & activities!

Family fun: Burnaby Village Museum is offering special activities for visitors during spring break PHOTO BURNABY NOW FILES

VerveCruiseWeek

Open House

Citytopushfornewsoftware

Continued from page 9

until at least 11:30.”

“You won’t get a spot ”

Navdeep Gill also came early in the morning to Bonsor to sign up her daughter

At 10 minutes to 10 a.m., she held out her phone displaying a white screen with black text: Burnaby’s online registration page error message “Having trouble registering?” read the screen

Gill tried registering online for recreation classes on Monday and couldn’t get a spot. So, onWednesday, she took the day off work to come in person

But she wasn’t able to get her daughter registered “There was no slot left,” she said

The target date for the new software had been set for this fall, but now Morrison-Clark said she wants to speed up the timeline.

“The only thing left to do is to go aggressively to bring that date of the software implementation forward so we don’t have to go through this again ”

She said her department is going to “aggressively push” to have the new software system in place by July, with an “allhands-on deck” approach to get the software ready by the next registration pe-

riod She said the software registration is her No. 1 priority in the next four months

The capital cost for the new software, called ActiveNet, is $3 15 million, according to the staff report.

Gill said next time registration comes, she plans to go earlier: “My daughter loves to swim, and I would keep trying ”

Waiting: Joy Hsu prepares to register her kids for swimming lessons in person at Bonsor Recreation Complex in Burnaby.

PHOTO LAUREN VANDERDEEN

Cityhotelsretoolforpost-COVIDconferencelandscape

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com

Hotels have seen big changes since the COVID-19 pandemic radically disrupted the hospitality industry

Now staff are adapting to new consumer desires, including rapid turnarounds and an emphasis on diversity and sustainability

Historically, according to the general manager of Burnaby’s HiltonVancouver Metrotown, Scott de Savoye, hotel staff planned for conferences about four to six months out, but now they work on conventions and meetings with a month’s notice or less

“There’s no question that’s a trend, and I’m guessing it’s going to con-

tinue for a while,” said de Savoye

“People, by and large, want to meet again in-person We all missed that human connection, that personal touch and the ability to network and build new relationships and resurrect old relationships

“But I think that people are still maybe wary whether it’s the uncertainty of the future, whether it is not wanting to commit too much too far out, we’re certainly feeling that.”

De Savoye said the final number of bookings in January was double what had been planned at the month’s start

“That makes our job a little trickier to forecast and predict and to plan for there’s a lot more last-

minute stuff ” Conference coordinators are also asking for a commitment to equity and diversity, said Elaine Samson, assistant director of sales at HiltonVancouver Metrotown

Samson said a women’s conference recently asked for a woman audio-visual technician

“So, we have to make sure that our enhanced audio-visual company is able to provide a female techni-

cian,” she said Expectations for AV capabilities have also increased.

“The expectation there has been enhanced, incredibly. Moving from just sort of a vanilla meeting with a PowerPoint presentation, we’re seeing a lot more demand for live interface with associates that aren’t at the conference,” de Savoye said.

The hotel is also pivoting from an emphasis on recycling to avoiding single-use items altogether.

De Savoye said “linenless meetings” are becom-

ing a trend for hotels

“If you have a banquet table set up, rather than just drape the white tablecloths and then you’ve got a big white skirt wrapped around it, which eventually has to be laundered, pressed or dry cleaned, a lot more attendees are asking for a linen-less experience because they know the amount of waste, water, time and energy to clean that linen is not acceptable ”

“We’re always looking at how we can better be more sustainable in our meetings,” de Savoye added

Rethink: Hotels are changing to adapt to new consumer behaviour as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes PHOTO HILTON VANCOUVER METROTOWN

Premier touts housing, health care and higher ed Citynow

LaurenVanderdeen lvanderdeen@burnabynow com

Premier David Eby took to the stage last week to speak to Burnaby business owners and executives after the local board of trade recently expressed disappointment in the 2023

provincial budget

Eby addressed the Burnaby business community at a luncheon hosted by the Burnaby Board of Trade (BBoT) on March

7

BBoT president and CEO Paul Holden said last week the board of

trade had hoped to see a “clearer focus on solutions that will reduce the cost of doing business” from the province.

But Eby said many of the province’s investments will support local businesses and residents across the province, particularly

emphasizing his government’s focus on housing, health care and higher education

Eby said business leaders have highlighted the province’s lack of affordable housing as a concern.

“It makes it difficult to recruit and retain employ-

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ees when housing is still expensive,” Eby said

He said the province plans to launch a housing action plan, with details coming next month, with $4 2 billion in the budget to “build more homes for middle-income people across the province,” Eby said, calling housing “essential infrastructure.”

“It’s like electrical wires or roads, or sewer systems We need housing … or our province cannot function ”

He said the province is preparing to hire 160 new staff to deal with backlogs in permitting processes regarding housing

Eby also touted his government’s investments in the redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital and the Trades andTechnology complex at BCIT

“(It’s) not just money,” he added. “You need the physical people to help deliver the care the ac-

tual nurses, the healthcare professionals and the doctors,” he said, noting the province is working to speed up the process of recognizing internationally trained health-care workers.

Eby plugged the B C Growing Communities Fund, which includes a $28.7 million grant to the City of Burnaby

“Burnaby is one of B C ’s fastest growing communities, and that growth needs to be supported,” Eby said

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Down to business: B C Premier David Eby spoke to the Burnaby Board of Trade on March 7

PHOTO B.C. GOVERNMENT

12-month conditional discharge, saying Petrelli had suffered enough for his moment of weakness

Petrelli, a husband and father of two, who has worked all his life, was fired from the job he’d held for 25 years and is now battling depression, Doust said

He has no criminal record and has been a “law-abiding, contributing member of society,” according to Doust.

Doust argued Petrelli’s theft had not been a case of an employee trying to “connive and plot” to defraud his employer, but a “brief, ill-advised decision.”

“This is a one-off situation, where he’s presented with this unrealistic opportunity that he would never have imagined, and he reacted and he made a

decision he regrets.”

If the public was aware of all the circumstances of the case including the unique situation of a Purolator employee encountering a package stuffed with $94,060

Doust said most wouldn’t oppose a conditional charge, which would leave Petrelli without a criminal record if he successfully completes his year of probation.

“I really, truly believe that if the public knew all the facts and all the circumstances of this case, that nary a one of them would say he should get a criminal record and he should suffer more,”

Doust said B.C. provincial court Judge Reginald Harris agreed a conditional discharge was appropriate in the case.

He granted Petrelli a

12-month conditional discharge with 30 hours of community work service

For the first two months of his one year of probation, Petrelli will be under a curfew from 7 p m to 6 a.m. Monday to Friday and from 10 p m to 6 a m on Saturday and Sunday

He is also banned from the Burnaby Purolator facility on Douglas Road and from gambling or attending any B C casino

A Purolator spokesperson told the NOW the company could not comment on BitNational’s specific account details for privacy and security reasons but said it is not “common” for Purolator to give pre-approvals for cash shipments

BitNational did not respond to a request for comment on its $94,060 shipment

UniversityexpandsIndigenousstudentspace

AbhinayaNatesh anatesh@burnabynow com

Earlier this year, Simon Fraser University opened its expanded Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) to provide a safe space for Indigenous students it’s a project that was six years in the making

For Jessica La Rochelle, director of Indigenous Student Services at SFU, this newly opened Indigenous student space is a way of reclaiming space on campus and being more visible

The space, which opened Jan 27, is for Indigenous students to feel welcome and seen at SFU, she said.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” La Rochelle said “When I first started at

SFU in 2020, it was something that I was told about, and now being able to witness and actually work out of the space now has been really exciting

“I feel like it’s a space that we can really make our own,” she added “The students have some great ideas of things they’d like to see activities, workshops and programming that they’d like to see, and to be able to offer that has fuelled my passion for education and being able to provide those relevant cultural student services ”

The space is open from 8:30 a m to 4:30 p m

It offers work and study spaces for students to access, including computer stations and a meeting room with web conferenc-

ing equipment

It also features a kitchen, a drumming room and opportunities for cultural connections through a variety of programs.

La Rochelle hopes that

once construction is completed, Indigenous students will be able to have a safe space on campus to access after hours when it’s quieter.

The facility provides ac-

cess to sewing machines and materials for students to learn how to make ribbon shirts and ribbon skirts, and the drumming room has drawn different folks including an El-

der and a recent alum who does sessions on the larger powwow drum

“I just want [students] to feel welcome to come and access the space and recognize that it is a space designed by them and for them,” La Rochelle said. “We’re here to provide the services that they need to be successful.”

She encourages the Indigenous community at SFU students, faculty and alumni to visit the space and learn more

ISC’s expanded presence is not limited to the Burnaby campus The Surrey campus also has a new location, and theVancouver campus is being allocated additional space for future expansion

Visit www.sfu.ca for more information

Cultural connections: The newly opened space will give Indigenous students a safe space to embrace tradition and culture, and to and feel visible PHOTO SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

BurnabyFChires2newcoaches

Kim Bull and KatTomic bring extensive experience to the team

AbhinayaNatesh anatesh@burnabynow com

Burnaby Football Club is welcoming two new female senior staff coaches.

Kim Bull has been hired as female football and character development coach, and KatTomic is girls’ and women’s U21 head coach

Bull andTomic will continue their roles at Mountain United FC and Cliff Avenue Football Club until the football club is fully integrated in June and begins play in the 2023-24 season, Burnaby FC said in a release

Burnaby FC’s executive director, Morgan Quarry, said the hirings come as a way for the club to show its commitment to player wellness, charac-

ter development and the importance of encouraging girls and women to get involved and stay in the sport.

“Kim and Kat share our belief in the necessity of having a clear understanding of our players’ needs and motivations to ensure they not only enjoy their soccer experiences but develop and improve as well,” Quarry said Bull, who holds a Canadian Soccer Association children’s licence, a provincial B licence and a goalkeeper diploma, is a trained learning facilitator for the BC Soccer Association and coaching mentor with the National Coaching Certification Program

Her playing career began with a successful run as a goalkeeper at the

University of FraserValley, where she completed a kinesiology degree before pursuing coaching and leadership opportunities She held various roles for organizations including the B.C. provincial program,Vancouver Whitecaps Elite/ REX and post-secondary institutions such as UBC-Okanagan and Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she helped lead the team to consecutive national championship tournaments

Tomic began playing soccer under her father’s coaching when she was just three years old. Her strong game was rooted in her family with her parents’ and older brother’s involvement in the game Tomic belonged to the

toall-GNACfirstteam

JessBalzer jfedigan@burnabynow com

Cliff Avenue United Football Club (between ages seven and 16) before joining the first female HPL Mountain United FC team, where she played from ages 17 to 18

Following a significant injury in 2014,Tomic pivoted from player to coach She was one of the first 10 women chosen to be part of the B C Soccer Female Mentorship Program in 2022. In the same year, she was appointed as the first female president of Croatia SC, and she has been accepted into the CSA National B Diploma program with the aim of completing certification in 2024 She has completed her C licence and provincial B licence and holds all grassroots coaching certificates

JessicaWisotzki’s impressive season has earned her conference recognition

The junior guard from Langley was a unanimous choice for the 2023 AllGNAC FirstTeam, averaging 21 points per game, which was good enough for 10th overall in NCAA DII women’s basketball Wisotzki averaged 20 9 points per game in Great Northwest Athletic Conference matchups, ranking her second among GNAC competition behind Samantha Bowman of CentralWashington (22.1 points per game).

SFU forward Gemma Cutler earned an honourable mention All-GNAC.

The women’s basketball team snuck its way

into the post-season, clinching the last of six available playoff berths for the 2023 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championships, before seeing their season end with a 88-62 loss to CentralWashington SFU finished with an 8-10 ( 444 winning percentage) record in conference play during the 2022-23 regular season and 10-12 overall ( 455)

Chosen: SFU guard/forward Jessica Wisotzki PHOTO PAUL YATES/SFU ATHLETICS

REMEMBRANCES

OBITUARIES

EXECUTOR

HOME SERVICES

GIELEN, Johanna C.

December 27, 1925

February 17, 2023

Passed away quietly at New Vista Care home in Burnaby, BC, at the age of 97. Predeceased by her husband, Joseph, in 2006. She is survived by her loving daughter Johanna (Heidi), son Gerard (Kathy), granddaughter Carolyn (Matt), great granddaughter Trinity, and grandson Scott (Shelby)

Johanna was born in the Netherlands and immigrated to Canada in 1960, living most of her years in New Westminster, where she worked many years as a seamstress at St Mary’s Hospital. Her smile, outgoing personality, and love of life will be missed by all her family, friends, and every four legged friend she found on her many walks around town.

Special thanks to the caring staff at New Vista Care Home In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the SPCA.

OLSON, Bertha Elizabeth

May 31, 1930 - February 18, 2023

It’s w th great sadness to announce the recent passing of our mother, Bertha She last res ded and passed away at K wanis Care Centre, New Westminster, BC Survived by daughters; Carren, Maxine Nancy and (Keith) 9 grandchi dren; 8 great grandchildren, 3 sisters and devoted compan on Ivan Morr s as we l other relatives and fr ends She was predeceased by parents Adam and Theresa Steitzer ex- husband Karl son Roy, 3 sisters, 2 brothers, 1 granddaughter

Memorial Serv ce to be held at Olivet Baptist Church

613 Queens Ave, New Westminster on March 24, 2023 at 2:00pm

In ieu of flowers, please consider donat ng to e ther the Alzheimer Soc ety or the K dney Foundation

PERSONAL

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