Domestic Dispute spills into street
page
2
it’s time to stop anD stare
page
5
Do high gas prices mean quiet roaDs?
page
6
it’s time for a little warm, Delta blues. see Page A15
friDay
August 2 2013 www.newwestnewsleader.com
Hyack dumps executive director Smith grant granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
grAnt grAnger/newsLeAder
maureen arvanitidis, president of the new Westminster heritage preservation society, says the old cpr station, which housed the Keg restaurant for 40 years before it closed in January, is at the top of the organization’s top 10 most endangered list.
CPR station tops endangered list Concern grows for vacant Keg at entranceway to Downtown grant granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
The former Canadian Pacific Railway station sits regally next to Hyack Square in Downtown New Westminster, but its cracks are beginning to show and that’s causing concern amongst those who hold its historical value to the city near and dear.
For the last 40 years, The Keg at due to structural issues in January. the Station restaurant has occupied In the seven months since, no the iconic brick structure at the west substantial renovation work has entrance to Downtown. been carried out. It was built in 1899 to “We are very concerned. replace the wood station that We’re in the process of writing burned to the ground during a top 10 most endangered the Great Fire of 1898. building list and it’s right As stately as it might be, there at No. 1,” said Maureen PAttison these days it’s getting a little Arvanitidis, president of the forlorn without anyone New Westminster Historical coming around, or receiving any Preservation Society (NWHPS). TLC for that matter. “It’s a huge concern because it The restaurant chain closed it seems kind of strange for them to
The Frame Shop
CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING
Simply the finest service, selection and quality! Master craftsman 35+ years.
let it sit there and not use it.” The society wanted to get inside to take photos in conjunction with the Top 10 it’s putting together but weren’t successful in gaining access. From the outside, Arvanitidis points out cracks in the structure, crumbling bricks, water damage and moss on the roof. “That’s expensive business,” said Arvanitidis as she looked at a large horizontal crack in the front brick work. please see historicALLy, A3
Douglas Smith has been fired as executive director of the Hyack Festival Association, but the move is being disputed as unconstitutional by at least one member of the board of directors. In a press release late Wednesday afternoon, Hyack president Gavin Palmer said Smith was no longer affiliated with Hyack and would be replaced on an interim basis, starting Thursday, by Cathie Gibson. “It was a decision made by the executive committee and was exercised this morning,” Palmer told the NewsLeader. On legal advice, he would not reveal the reasons for the dismissal. Ron Unger, a member of the board of directors, said Palmer and the executive committee don’t have the authority to dismiss Smith. That only belongs to the board, which met Tuesday evening but did not discuss or vote on Smith’s dismissal, according to Unger.
ESTIMATES ALWAYS ARE FREE | www.theframeshop.ca
By appointment. Call or email Peter Berger | info@theframeshop.ca
121 Third Avenue, New Westminster | Est. 1946
604-521-0930
please see troubLing, A2