Thurs. Aug 3: A beloved bakery closes

Good morning!

As we approach another beautiful sunny week in Burnaby, I can’t help but spend most of my hours outside exploring the city’s beautiful parks. Confederation Park and Burnaby Mountain are some of my personal favourites, especially when they get topped off with a wholesome picnic at the end. What are some of your favourite trails?

– Eva

👀 In today's edition:

• A 65-year-old local bakery is closing

• A wildlife rescue association is saving thousands of animals each year

• The best ice cream in Burnaby

CITY

A beloved Burnaby bakery set to close this month

After operating in Burnaby Heights for over six decades, The Valley Bakery has officially announced it will be shutting its doors at the end of August.

Struggling to survive amidst inflation, high rents, property taxes, and increased labour shortages, owner Jack Kuyer has decided to close shop while keeping its legacy alive and finally enter into retirement.

The award-winning local bakery is best known for its European baked goods—buttercream cakes, cookies, pastries, and freshly baked breads—and is a longstanding staple in Metro Vancouver for decadent desserts made from scratch.

EVENTS

BC Day at Burnaby Village Museum

Burnaby Village Museum will be celebrating BC Day this Monday, Aug. 7 with live entertainment, colourful displays, and demonstrations that recognize the province’s continuous social, cultural, and political growth through time.

Some notable activities include Indigenous weaving and crafts alongside traditional storytelling, an interactive exhibit featuring Burnaby’s South Asian Canadian community, and carousel rides.

Events are scheduled to run from 11am to 4:30pm with free admission for all. Find more information about the museum’s BC Day events.

Burnaby Bulletin

Burnaby RCMP has renewed the call for tips on Jiexiong ‘Jackson’ Xu as the one-year anniversary of his disappearance passes. He was last seen on Aug. 3, 2022.

💧 Metro Vancouver will move to Stage 2 watering restrictions as of Aug. 4, which means that residential and non-residential lawn watering will be prohibited. Trees, shrubs, and flowers can be watered by hand or soaker hose.

💸 Government of Canada is giving over $20.8M to Burnaby businesses and organizations through PacifiCan funding to help provide them with access to 3D printing technology, to scale-up operations, and create new jobs.

🛍️ The first ever mall-based Hudson’s Bay is set to close in Burnaby’s Lougheed Town Centre, marking the end of a 50-year era. The department store will officially shut its doors this December.

💲 A Burnaby strata has been ordered to pay $5,000 after renting out a storage room to Telus, ignoring the owner’s exclusive use of the space.

🚗 A driver has been sentenced to one year of probation, a driving ban, and over $1,000 in fines after being charged with extreme intoxication while driving on Highway 1 in Burnaby.

💡 Nearly 4,000 BC Hydro customers experienced power outages in Burnaby last Monday around the Brentwood Town Centre SkyTrain station. BC Hydro is still investigating the cause of the outage.

🌭 Join MP Peter Julian & MLA Raj Chouhan at their Annual Summer BBQ on Saturday, August 5th at Edmonds Park. RSVP now, spots remain limited.*

*Sponsored Listing

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

The best ice cream in Burnaby

We’re continuing with our Beacon’s Readers’ Choice Awards category winners this week. Here are the results for the best ice cream in Burnaby.

What do you think about the results?

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby wildlife rescue saves thousands of animals each year

The Wildlife Rescue Association of BC is increasingly busy rehabbing animals in Metro Vancouver, saving thousands of injured and orphaned birds, bats, amphibians, and reptiles impacted by human activity each year.

“As the city has grown and developed, we have seen a spike in the number of animals [we receive],” said wildlife rescue manager Kimberly Stephens. “A lot of it correlates with other weather events too like oil spills and heat domes.”

You can find more information about the wildlife association, wildlife updates, and an emergency animal hotline on the association’s website.

Where to eat & drink

🧁 The Valley Bakery is a quaint bakery that is perfect to satisfy your sweet tooth. Customers recommend you try a variety of treats, including pastries, cookies, and cakes, for a special occasion. Sadly, this is your last month to give them a visit.

🍗 Butchers Block BBQ will satisfy your cravings for backyard-style classic BBQ dishes and meats that are smoked daily. Try a platter of brisket and pulled pork, fresh onion rings, or a BBQ ribs platter.

🥟 Garlic & Chili Restaurant is a Chinese restaurant with limited indoor seating and a focus on fresh ingredients. Their customers recommend the beef chow mein, spring rolls, and spicy chicken Szechuan.

🤝 Now Hiring

Looking to make a move? Here are local jobs open right now:

• Resource Strategy & Management Advisor at BC Hydro

• Seasonal Sales Associate at Trek Bicycle

• Document Controller at Horizon Recruitment

• Intelligence Operator at Canadian Armed Forces

• Library Technician at Alexander College

• Data Coordinator at Simon Fraser University

• Staff Writer at Construct Connect

• Assistant Manager at Mark’s Warehouse

Hiring and want to let people know? Reply back and let us know!

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Veteran Virtual Job Fair: This virtual job fair aims to bring together veterans and employers to connect for job opportunities from 11am to 2pm.

• Shruti Ramani: The lead singer of Raagaverse takes the stage at George McLean Park between noon and 1pm to thrill you with dynamic jazz harmonies mixed with rich Hindustani melodies.

Friday

• Summer Cinema: Enjoy a free screening of The Wizard of Oz at Civic Square starting at 8:15pm. Bring a blanket or chair, and you’ll get free popcorn if you dress up in a costume.

• Watercolour Painting: Fungi of BC: Teens aged 13 to 19 are invited to join instructor Janice Liu to learn step-by-step how to paint the fungi and mushrooms of BC.

Saturday

• Generative Dance: Increase your self-awareness and develop connections while dancing, plus an optional potluck breakfast at Central Park from 10 to 11:30am. Buy your tickets here.

• Stepan Giga: The popular Ukrainian singer-composer hits the stage at Michael J Fox Theatre to bring their biggest hits and fan-favourites to listeners. Get your tickets here.

Sunday

• Yoga + Guided Meditation: Get your Sunday sweat on and increase your mobility, followed up by a peaceful guided meditation afterwards to cool down.

• Morning Walk & GupShup: Join the group for an easy walk around Burnaby Mountain starting at 8am, followed by chai at 10am.

Monday

• Baby Signing with Nicole of Little Words: This signing class is open to children aged newborn to three, and parents are welcome to accompany them. The event is free, but pre-registration is required.

• Colours of Community: Celebrate community and diversity by helping to create a large art installation that will hang in the Edmonds Community Centre lobby with the instruction of a visual arts teacher.

Tuesday

• Murphy and the Cats: This talented young duo of jazz performers will hit the stage at Confederation Park between noon and 1pm to bring jaunty music created with percussion, violin, ukelele, and more.

• Game Night for English Learners: Practise your English with friends through conversational and interactive games with the help of a librarian from 6 to 7:30pm.

Wednesday

• Diversity Virtual Job Fair: This virtual job fair aims to bring together minority groups and employers to connect for job opportunities, from 11am to 2pm.