POPULAR CREPE CHEF PASSES
page
5
LIVE WELL, THEN PASS IT ON
page
6
EXECUTIVE PAY RAISES AGAIN AT TRANSLINK
page
14
FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 5 2014 www.newwestnewsleader.com
A few thoughts on why so few of us bother to vote. See Page A6
Scramble for kids’ activities not too intense Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Guy Ciprian, president of the Royal City Youth Soccer Club, Jamie Woods, a director with the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce, and David Brett, president of the Queen’s Park Residents’ Association, are joined by Vancouver Whitecaps player Sam Adekugbe to show their approval for a plan by the MSL soccer team to establish a minor professional development team at Queen’s Park Stadium.
Soccer side rallies support for the cause Mario Bartel
photo@newwestnewsleader.com
Putting a professional soccer team into Queen’s Park Stadium is the only financially viable plan David Brett says he’s heard that will save the 65-year-old structure. That’s even as signs sprout up on lawns in his neighbourhood and around New Westminster suggesting a proposal by the Vancouver Whitecaps to put its minor developmental team into the old ball yard would hasten its demise.
“The stadium is for the fans, understanding with the City of New and not a lot of them are using it Westminster to work toward putting at this time,” said the president of a United Soccer League PRO the Queen’s Park Residents’ franchise into Queen’s Park Association. Brett was Stadium. The team would be speaking at a press conference co-owned and operated by Wednesday, at which his local development consultant group was joined by the New Gary Pooni, his partner, Westminster Chamber of developer Ian Gillespie of Commerce and Royal City Westbank Projects, and the LENARDUZZI Youth Soccer in voicing Whitecaps. shared support for the But for that to happen project. would require converting the In July the Major League Soccer stadium into a soccer-specific team signed a memorandum of park by removing the baseball
Don Ellam
Your Concierge Realtor First Class Marketing, Service and Results!
604-518-3538
ReMax Advantage Realty • www.donellam.com
diamond, as well as refurbishing the old grandstand and adding new bleachers to bring seating capacity to at least 3,500. The Whitecaps would also like the city to build another artificial turf training field to replace the old asphalt tennis courts next to the stadium. The plan raised the ire of the city’s baseball players and officials, who said they’ll lose the only fullsized diamond in New West. Each side has launched petitions to rally support for its contention.
Looking for a Notary? We’re here to help.
Your MARKET CROSSING Notary Sadhra & Associates MEMBER
Notaries Public Corporation
604-558-0678 | sadhranotary.com | info@sadhranotary.com #210-7270 Market Crossing, South Burnaby (ABOVE LONDON DRUGS)
Please see WHITECAPS, A3
Parents appear to be hedging their bets that the labour dispute between the province and school teachers will be resolved soon, if interest in special day camps organized to occupy kids is any barometer. Ramona Manzer, a recreation programmer for the City of New Westminster, said two summer day camps that were extended into September because of the strike had about the same number of kids on Tuesday as they did during the holidays. “Attendance is not as high as we thought it would go,” said Manzer. “Right now the kids are happy they’re getting to do some fun stuff.” That includes bowling at Lucky Strike Lanes, indoor rock climbing, golf and even swimming at Moody Park outdoor pool, which is open for daily afternoon swims, from noon to 4 p.m. until at least Sept. 7. The Canada Games indoor pool, however, is closed until Sept. 9 for maintenance. Manzer said how long the special camps will continue to run will be determined by the progress of negotiations between teachers and their employer. see WE’LL HAVE TO, A19