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Derek Corrigan: A strong hand at the helm PAGE 3
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Protests on the mountain
PAGE 8
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ABORIGINAL AGREEMENT
Building bridges
Cornelia Naylor staff reporter
“There was a time when our people weren’t welcome in places like this,” said First Nations drummer Rupert Richardson inside the Burnaby Central Secondary’s library last week. It was a bittersweet reminder during a joyous celebration. Richardson and others had gathered Thursday to sign the school district’s second aboriginal education enhancement agreement and to celebrate that that dark time was gone. In an emotional ceremony that featured drumming, a cedar cleansing ceremony and traditional dancing by former and current Burnaby students, district officials, ministry of education officials and members of the aboriginal community committed to a second fiveyear agreement to support aboriginal learners in local public schools. The work of two years of consultation and collaborative dialogue, the agreement focuses on cultural development, social-emotional development and academics for the district’s
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Cornelia Naylor/burnaby now
Student signatory: Burnaby Central Grade 10 student Diana Charlie-Iraheta signs the Burnaby school district’s second aboriginal education enhancement agreement in a ceremony at her school’s library Thursday. The five-year agreement is designed to support aboriginal students in the district culturally, socially and academically. For more photos, go to www. Agreements Page 10 burnabynow.com.
BFC says it has a good plan for new hospital But Derek Corrigan says the new plan is just a regurgitation of former proposals Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
The Burnaby First Coalition says it has a plan to renew Burnaby Hospital and tackle homelessness without costing the taxpayers a dime.
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Daren Hancott, mayoral candidate for Burnaby First, announced the plan at a media event in front of city hall Thursday morning. “The first issue is we have a homeless problem. The current mayor says we don’t,” Hancott told the NOW. “I’m saying these are our brothers and sisters, and they need to be treated, they need to be helped. We’re willing to step up to the plate and make this an election issue.” Hancott’s vision involves tearing down the current Burnaby Hospital, rebuilding
it on the Willingdon Lands, which were just sold to two First Nations. By redeveloping the old Burnaby Hospital site, the city can raise money to cover the costs of a specialized building for homeless people on the Willingdon site. The new hospital would include triage and transition beds for homeless people. “It would be a complex shelter, I don’t know exactly what it would be like,” Hancott said. Burnaby First is planning to approach the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh nations, the two parties that recently bought the plot
of land from the provincial government, after the City of Burnaby was squeezed out of the deal. In all, Burnaby First is proposing a $100 million contribution from the city to help make the plan reality, but the party says that money would come from saving dollars in other areas. “Our vision is to try to do things with zero per cent tax increase,” Hancott said. Hancott was under the impression the City of Burnaby owned the hospital land, Hospital Page 4
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and Burnaby’s BCA Councillors and School Trustees Authorized by Timo Sokkanen, financial agent, 604 764 8701.
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