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Doing laps for babies Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
Burnaby lifeguard Elise Niessen is planning a four-hour stretch of laps in the pool to raise money for babies born premature or with serious health conditions. Inspired by her cousin’s baby, who was born with holes in her heart, Niessen decided to do something to help. “She’s my inspiration,” said Niessen. “What better way to support our community than by helping out the next generation – all the little babies that are born premature.” The 27-year-old is planning to swim, for four hours straight, on Friday Aug.13, from noon to 4 p.m. at Canada Games Pool in New Westminster. Niessen is hoping to raise $2,500 for the neonatal intensive care unit at B.C. Children’s Hospital. She’s already raised $1,275, thanks to family and friends who’ve supported the cause. Niessen’s confident she can handle four hours of laps in the pool. “I’ve never swum for four hours, not since I was 12,” she said. “I’m not nervous to pull it off because I’m just so inspired by my cousin and shocked by how much the community has supported (me).” Not only does Niessen lifeguard and teach water aerobics in Burnaby, she’s a full-time UBC student. B.C. Children’s Hospital helped by setting up a web page for Niessen to outline her fundraising plan and the story on how
Jason Lang/burnaby now
Inspired swim: Elise Niessen is raising money to help babies with serious health conditions. She’ll be doing laps at the Canada Games Pool.
she was inspired to act. “My cousin’s little baby, who I got to meet for the first time at my grandparents’ funeral, was a little piece of sunshine on a dark cloudy day. Holding her lifted my spirit, such a beautiful precious little girl,” Niessen wrote. The family had to wait till the baby weighed enough so sur-
gery could be performed, and now, at six months, she’s OK. “Now she’s a healthy baby. It’s incredible,” Niessen said. “This unit keeps babies alive by tubes.” To donate, visit: www.bcchf.ca, click on Our Communities and select Independent Community Events. Then, click on See a
List of Active Events, and select Elise’s Swim in support of the NICU at B.C. Children’s Hospital. Niessen’s also planning a silent auction on Aug. 8 at River’s Reach Pub (at 320 6th St. in New Westminster) from 6 to 9 p.m. ◆ For more on this story see Dr. Davidicus Wong’s column on page 16.
Burnaby group blasts changes to census Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
A local social services organization is stepping into the fray over the government’s move to replace the mandatory long form census with a voluntary version. Critics charge the decision is an ideologi-
cal move that will leave organizations and policy makers without dependable information. “If the census isn’t a reliable source of information, it may impact on our ability to provide quality social services to those in need,” said Jeanne Fike, executive director of Burnaby Family Life. “Burnaby is one
of the most diverse communities in all of Canada, and it’s our job to meet the needs of our residents.” Burnaby Family Life uses long form census data on languages and literacy rates to figure out what languages they should use to offer programs and publish material. They also use the data to make sure cer-
tain groups of people aren’t underserved. The non-profit social service group runs a variety of programs, helping refugees, immigrants, teen moms, sexual abuse survivors and anyone in need of childcare or help parenting. “It’s harder to reach out to those people Census Page 8
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