POLICE DISBAND SHARED SQUAD
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A REAL HERO FOR ABORIGINAL PEOPLE
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GOOD CHOICES FOR HOME CARE
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WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 9 2013 www.newwestnewsleader.com
A rally and vigil was held on the weekend, in memory of January Lupaz, a transgendered woman. See Page A3
Food bank down to one day a week GVFB says card system makes distribution more efficient Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
The Keg has closed its restaurant that operated in the old train station on Columbia Street for 40 years.
Keg ‘closed for renovations’ Structural issues in historic building forces restaurant to lay off all of its staff Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
The Keg’s Downtown New Westminster landmark location has laid off all of its staff while it is “closed for renovations” and its future fate determined.
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The closure was necessary because some structural issues to the former Canadian Pacific Railway station, built in 1899, have come to the company’s attention, said Keg spokeswoman Karyn Byrne from the corporate head office in Toronto. Located at the foot of Eighth Street at Columbia Street, The Keg at the Station was closed on the weekend so the company can figure
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out how extensive the renovations will need to be before making any repairs. “We just needed to finish up business for the time being,” said Byrne. “It’s still undetermined what evaluation will take place.” While The Keg’s website says the New Westminster “location is now closed,” Byrne said that was to make sure customers were aware it
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wasn’t currently open for business and did not necessarily mean it was closed permanently. New Westminster licensing and enforcement officer Keith Coueffin said the city is aware the brick building has structural issues, but has not received any applications for work permits on the building. The Keg began occupying the space, which it currently leases, in 1973.
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Brent Klemke, Owner
The introduction of an electronic client card system means clients at the New Westminster food bank are served one day a week instead of two. Up until the end of October, clients with last names beginning with A to L went to the food bank at Shiloh-Sixth Avenue Church on Tuesday mornings and those who were M to Z went on Wednesdays. According to Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) spokeswoman Kay Thody, the split was required because demand in New Westminster was so high, compared to its 14 other depots in the Lower Mainland. However, the card system allows for the processing and distribution to be done quicker, said Thody, so the depot is currently serving on Wednesdays only, for now. “Nobody has to line up outside, and it’s not as crowded,” said Thody of the change. Please see PART, A3