CANDIDATES FACE OFF ON ISSUES
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CRASH SHUTS 6TH AND MCBRIDE
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HERITAGE HOME TOUR RETURNS
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FRIDAY
MAY 3 2013 www.newwestnewsleader.com
The Royal City has lost a legend in musical theatre, Ed Harrington. See Page A5
City targets big builders Closes loopholes
allowing monster homes
Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Tej Kainth, Kendra Johnston and Jen Arbo, organizers of Quest New West, search for clues in New Westminster’s Pier Park. The event, to be held May 11, is an Amazing Race type competition in which two and four-person teams race around the city and complete various challenges.
Ready to race across amazing city Quest New West aims to show off city at best Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
Tej Kainth thinks New Westminster is an amazing city. So why not race across it? On May 11, that’s exactly what up to 50 two or four-person teams will do in Quest New West, an Amazing Race-style competition that will challenge their navigational abilities, their physical and mental prowess, even their 4x1.25_book_drive_ad_final.pdf sales and theatrical skills, or lack thereof.
Starting from the River Market the teams will propel themselves across, up, down, around, through and maybe even under the city, completing a series of challenges along the way. They won’t be able to use cars or taxis, but it might help to know the transit schedules. The first team across the finish line after completing all the challenges will win $500. A shorter, easier race is also being held for family groups with small children. New West a joint effort 1Quest 12-03-05 1:20isPM by Next New West, Tourism New
West and the Downtown BIA. “We’re excited to bring this amazing race to New Westminster,” says Kainth, the executive director of Tourism New West and the founder of NEXT New West. And while she’s keeping the nature of the challenges close to her chest, she does admit to watching many episodes of the popular reality TV show for inspiration. Teams will have to “be prepared for anything,” she says, smiling. “We’ll be throwing in a few surprises.” They’ll also be showing off everything the city has to offer
from unique local businesses to landmarks to New West’s rich history, says Kendra Johnston, the executive director of the Downtown BIA. “People will be able to discover places they may not have known about. It will teach them about New West.” “There’s so much happening in the city,” says Kainth. “It’s a great way to show it off.” • To learn more about Quest New West, including registering, go to questnewwest2013.eventbrite.ca.
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The City of New Westminster plans to close loopholes they say are allowing developers to manipulate property grades in order to build larger homes. City council gave staff the go-ahead Monday to change the bylaws to stop the practice that has been “troublesome for quite some time,” according to Coun. Bill Harper. In 1994, NR-1 zoning was introduced to limit construction of big homes “that residents felt were out of character with existing smaller, older homes in the neighbourhood,” states a staff report. That zoning, along with other zoning put in place since then, aimed to limit house sizes but some didn’t achieve the intended result. While “abovegrade” floor space was limited to 40 per cent of the square footage of the property, builders were allowed an additional 10 per cent if there was a “basement” no more than three feet above grade.
see CITY-WIDE, A4