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May 17 2013 www.newwestnewsleader.com
mayor Wayne Wright sprinkles some electrifying goodies in his state-of-the-city address. see Page a3
Victory amidst defeat for NDP Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
Grant GranGer/newsLeader
Dorothy Beach received a lifetime achievement award this week from the fraser river coalition, the same week she turned 100.
A strong voice, 100 years young Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
Dorothy Beach can see Queensborough from the River Drive home where she was born on May 16, 1913. The long-time environmental activist recalls a European immigrant couple moving to Queensborough and tending to a small vegetable garden carved out of their backyard. It was green enough, says Beach, for the couple to raise three big, healthy sons, and they’re still growing food there. So seeing the soil on the other side of
the river paved over for industry and residential complexes bothers Beach. It bothers her a lot. “That’s the best soil there is and they’ve covered it almost completely in houses,” says Beach. “They could feed everybody (in the Lower Mainland) off that if they just grew food, and that’s just unconscionable ... It’s breaking my heart.” Beach’s days on the planet may be numbered—although that is up for debate given her spunky attitude. But that doesn’t stop her from caring about the planet.
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At her 100th birthday party held at Dunwood Place seniors complex Thursday she added a lifetime achievement award for her work with the Fraser River Coalition to a long list of accolades she’s already received. Life growing up alongside the river was almost bucolic. Her father had a boat moored on the river. “I remember walking across a vast expanse of sand at that time [to get to the boat].” Her parents owned five lots around the home so their property was a frequent gathering place for
kids looking to play. “There was always a ball game going on. As long as they batted away from the windows they didn’t mind,” says Beach. “They wiped it all out for the highway (Stewardson Way).” Bread, ice and other goods were delivered to their door, often by horse and carriage. Going to Columbia Street was a big deal. “[New Westminster] was different. You didn’t go Downtown unless you were dressed with gloves and hats, ready to be seen.” please see ‘For God’s sake’, a4
DiverseCity 11th Annual
MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL May 18th • 12 noon to 6pm at the Westminster Quay
DIVERSITY. UNITY. COMMUNITY. | www.downtownnewwest.ca
Judy Darcy had a big grin as she circled the Heritage Grill hugging her New Democratic Party supporters Tuesday night. But those who didn’t have their arms around her were stunned as they watched the provincial election results roll in on the restaurant’s one tiny television. Darcy cruised to victory in a six-way race to replace retiring Dawn Black as MLA for New Westminster. It was a win for the former union leader that most expected. What wasn’t expected was the NDP not forming the government despite polls saying the party held a substantial lead over the BC Liberals. “It’s kind of like going to a birthday party and not knowing whose birthday it is,” said one New West city councillor at Darcy’s victory party. Darcy almost got as many votes as the other five candidates combined. The former head of the Canadian Union of Public Employees garnered 11,464 votes, which was 48.39 per cent of the ballots cast. please see Green, a3