N E W
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2010
W E S T M I N S T E R
A CLOSER LOOK: A family’s vigil continues ◗P3
YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS , NEWS , WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT !
:
WWW . ROYALCITYRECORD . COM
◗ EDUCATION
Programs to switch schools
Throwing out the first pitch Cameron Cooledge on the pitcher’s mound.
BY NIKI HOPE REPORTER
nhope@royalcityrecord.com
The New Westminster board of education unanimously endorsed a staff report that recommended moving Montessori and early French immersion from two schools that currently house the popular programs. The district will move Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary’s Montessori program to Connaught Heights Elementary. The early French immersion program at John Robson would go to Lord Kelvin Elementary. The programs would be moved in approximately 2012, the report says. The district began reviewing whether to move French immersion and Montessori from the elementary schools that currently house the popular programs last fall. “I think it was a really thorough process, (which) gave people lots of chances to say what they think,” said board of education chair James Janzen. “Tweedsmuir is a triple-track school, and it’s a really big school and we wanted to take care of that.” A handful of Montessori parents from Tweedsmuir pleaded with trustees last month to keep the program at Tweedsmuir. They felt a move could “kill” the program. Instead, trustees have opted to support the report, which called for the district to keep early French immersion and the “regular” school program at Tweedsmuir but move Montessori. Tweedsmuir Montessori parents said Connaught is too small and hard to reach. They were concerned that kids would have to cross 20th Street to get to the school and said the move would hurt their ability to raise money. While the Montessori parents didn’t want their program moved, most Connaught parents welcome Montessori at their school, according to a district report.
New Westminster Baseball kicked off its 2010 season with opening ceremonies at Justin Morneau Field.
Jason Lang/ THE RECORD
Saving old tower shocks groups Proponents of demolition say they aren’t giving up BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
Some groups that participated in the public process to determine the fate of the Centre Block tower at the former Woodlands site are still reeling from council’s decision to retain the tower. On Monday, council voted 4-3 in favour of retaining the tower as a commemorative ruin. Council also directed staff to consider reuse of the tower for a purpose that benefits former residents and/or the community. Faith Bodnar, executive director of the B.C. Association for Community Living, was shocked by council’s decision but appreciative of council members who voted in keeping with the majority of people who offered input in the consultation process.
“We entered in that consultation process and supported it in good faith,” she said. “We were willing to accept what came out of it.” The B.C. Association for Community Living strongly wanted the Centre Block tower demolished, so it debated on whether to participate in the city’s process. It ultimately decided to participate and accept the wishes of the majority of people consulted. Bodnar said the results were “unequivocal” in their support for demolishing the remaining portion of the building. “We can’t let it go,” she said about council’s decision. Bodnar said council’s decision is a “serious betrayal” of the community consultation process, and for some, another example of being devalued. Council’s decision went against a staff recommendation that the tower be deconstructed and a garden be built in its place. Ninety-five per cent of people who par-
CINDY GERING
BUSINESS INSURANCE
Your Business Insurance Expert Please contact Esther for a competitive quote
604-527-1377
COLUMBIA INSURANCE Columbia Square (Between I.G.A. & Rogers Video)
ticipated in the city’s consultation process supported demolition. Bodnar said that passing the Centre Block building on SkyTrain can trigger a post-traumatic stress reaction for some former residents. Although not all the people who worked at Woodlands were bad, she said some terrible things occurred at the school. “They have a physical reaction to it,” she said. “It isn’t about blocking it from their memory.” Bodnar said she can’t understand the city’s desire to retain the tower. She said the social and architectural history of the building can’t be separated. “They are intertwined,” she said. “It is very evident they are, from Dulcie McCallum’s report, right to the testimony survivors have given from their life there.” (In 2001, former provincial ombudsman Dulcie McCallum wrote a report, The Need
ANY SERVICE Call to book an appointment
604.779.1292
New Westminster Specialist
No. 1 in Condo Sales New Westminster 2009 based on stats from the Real Estate Board
Coronation West Realty 604-521-1453 crystalnails.ca Columbia Square #101-78 Tenth Street New Westminster
◗Woodlands Page 8