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FRIDAY, JULY 18, 2014
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◗ FRASER RIVER
Facing future floods
New strategy works to help protect local communities BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
The catastrophic floods in Alberta in 2013 have provided a wakeup call to ensure British Columbia takes action to address flooding. The Fraser Basin Council unveiled its multi-year flood management strategy in New Westminster on July 15. The two-phased strategy aims to create a better way of protecting communities from flooding. “Lower Mainland communities face a significant and growing risk of a major flood,” Colin Hansen, chair of the Fraser Basin Council, said in a press release. “This flood management strategy reflects a serious, unprecedented commitment by the federal government, the province of B.C., 25 Lower Mainland local governments and other public and private sector organizations to work together on flood protection measures that will safeguard the region as a whole.” Phase 1 (2014 and 2015) of the strategy aims to build a better understanding of flood hazards in the Lower Mainland, identify flood vulnerabilities across the region and assess flood management practices and policies from a regional perspective. Phase 2 (2016 and beyond) will ◗Floods Page 4
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Healthy help: Claude Ledoux, left, who coordinates the Plant A Row/Grow A Row program, brings an appreciative Mona Forsyth a delivery of fresh veggies for the New Westminster Food Bank. In front is program volunteer Joan Miller with some of the offerings.
Sharing nature’s bounty
Gardeners can share extra produce with those in need through Plant a Row program BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
A local program is sowing the seeds of healthy eating among families in need. The Plant A Row/Grow a Row program, now in its 14th season in New Westminster, encourages gardeners to plant extra produce that can be donated to the New Westminster Food Bank. The program allows local families in need to put healthy, fresh food on their tables.
After being collected at St. Thomas More Collegiate, the food is taken to the New Westminster Food Bank and soon dispersed to appreciative local families. Claude LeDoux, program coordinator, said residents have donated items including lettuce, kale, red and white potatoes, blueberries and raspberries. Two children’s gardens at schools affiliated with St. Thomas More have been donating produce to the cause. “It’s coming on now that the weather has warmed and people are starting to harvest,” he said. “The quality is amazing.” The Sunday morning collections will take place until October. All fresh fruits and vegetables – fresh from the yard or the grocery store – are welcome.
“Any amount of produce is great,” LeDoux said. “When you put it all together, it is a lot.” LeDoux, who is also the City of New Westminster’s horticulture manager, recently donated 30 pounds of lettuce from his own garden. LeDoux and program volunteer Joan Miller recently delivered some produce to food bank coordinator Mona Forsyth after a recent collection day. “She sorts it out with her staff and passes it out,” LeDoux said. “It’s not going to waste.” Volunteers gladly accept donations of fruits and veggies on Sunday mornings from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Collegiate, 7450 12th Ave. – just across the border in Burnaby. twitter.com/TheresaMcManus
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