Thurs. Aug. 31: The return of an historic bakery

Greetings all—Ria here.

Thanks so much for your awesome messages regarding The Beacon. I’m looking forward to seeing where the journey takes us.

I had a lot of fun last week spending time at The Valley Bakery waiting to speak to the new owners and listening to people as they walked into the reopened shop. Hopefully I’ve acknowledged some of your curiosities in my story regarding the space, and what’s next for it.

👀 In today's edition:

• Valley Bakery 2.0

• SFU launches an eBike program

• Saying farewell to a big name at Burnaby Schools

• Come chat about local news with us!

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LOCAL FOOD

Meet the new owner of The Valley Bakery

The Beacon had the chance to speak to the decades-old bakery’s newest owner, who has experience running other cafes in Metro Vancouver. They were on hand last Friday when the North Burnaby staple opened its doors again—after previously announcing that it was planning to shut down.

SPONSORED BY IDS VANCOUVER 2023

The design event of the year

Tickets are on sale NOW for the design event of the year!

The Interior Design Show presented by Miele opens its doors in just over a month from Sep 21-24! They have a stellar lineup of designers and design experiences waiting for you. Act now and start planning your full show experience:

See design icons on the Caesarstone stage, including beloved Lynda Reeves and award-winning interior designer Aly Velji.

Shop the show at the District – their curated retail experience where you can buy directly from the makers.

Join the IDS Party, with exciting installations and great music!

Burnaby Bulletin

Study time. The City of Burnaby is launching a study related to outdoor aquatics. This comes as the city’s four outdoor pools are reaching 60 years of use.

Jena Dae. Investigators in Burnaby are looking for Dae, who is accused of killing a 75-year-old pedestrian. The 25-year-old was charged with driving without due care, and didn’t show up to a court appearance.

Lawsuit. A woman from Burnaby is suing TransLink—among others—claiming she was taken down to the ground for not paying her fare. The allegations haven’t been proven in court. (Business in Vancouver)

Return it. A woman in China is asking her husband’s former mistress to return more than $4M. The latter apparently used the money to buy a home in Burnaby. (The Vancouver Sun)

New hair salon. There’s a new place in Burnaby to get your hair done: Christiana’s Hair Salon recently opened at 3720 Hastings St.

Many Voices Project. Heritage Burnaby is still looking for participants in this project. Check out the requirements to see if you qualify. 

Farewell. The Amphitheatre at the PNE is going to be demolished after 60 years to make way for an improved space. (Georgia Straight)

New chapter. Kennedy Stewart recently released Decrim: How We Decriminalized Drugs in British Columbia. Previously the Mayor of Vancouver and a Burnaby MP, Stewart is now the director of the Centre for Public Policy Research at SFU. (CityNews Vancouver)

Talking local news. Burnaby Beacon and New West Anchor managing editor Ria Renouf will be hosting an Instagram live today at 3:30pm to take any questions you might have about local news in Burnaby and/or New Westminster. Find her @riarenouf.

LOCAL NEWS

eBike program rolls out at SFU’s Burnaby campus

A major Burnaby spot is welcoming an eBike sharing program.

If you find yourself at SFU’s Burnaby Campus often, then you’ll be able to take advantage of the 30 eBikes available for use. The university is working in partnership with Evolve; Evolve was created by BCAA. If you already have the Evo app, then you should be able to track down a bike.

Users can take advantage of a helmet if they don’t have one handy, and rates are as follows:

• 35 cents per minute used

• $12.99 per hour used

• There is a frequent riders option available at $9.99 per month

• There is an additional $1.25 unlocking fee for use of the bikes

You won’t be able to ride the bikes through some parts of campus, including the Academic Quadrangle courtyard and Convocation Mall.

SPONSORED BY VANCOUVER FRINGE FESTIVAL

Embrace the unfamiliar, Vancouver Fringe returns!

Vancouver Fringe Festival returns, pushing the boundaries of performing arts. With an exhilarating lineup of 85+ shows from September 7 to 17, this year’s Festival welcomes emerging talent from across the globe, promising an eclectic fusion of theatre, comedy, dance, drag, spoken word, music and more.

From only $15, audiences can immerse themselves in this captivating adventure, diving into the unknown for an unforgettable experience.

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Best cake in Burnaby

As we continue breaking down the top three restaurant winners in each of the 32 categories included in this year’s awards—as voted by you—today we’re looking at which spots in Burnaby have the best cakes.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby school district’s superintendent to retire

Supt. Gina Niccoli-Moen will be retiring from her position at the Burnaby School Board in January after recently submitting her notice.

Niccoli-Moen has spent 33 years in Burnaby, starting off as a teacher at Burnaby South Secondary in 1990. She taught English and eventually became a department head at Burnaby North. She has also served as a vice-principal, principal, director of instruction, and vice-superintendant.

She’s an alum of the district, having graduated from Burnaby North Secondary.

Congratulations Supt. Niccoli-Moen!

SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF BURNABY

Prepare for Burnaby’s Fall activity registration

Registration for the City of Burnaby’s recreation and arts Fall activities starts September 7 at 10am for Burnaby residents and September 11 for everyone else. Remember to re-activate your account, watch our instructional videos and add activities to your Wish List in our new online registration system, WebReg.

Where to eat & drink

Tendon Kohaku. Warning: you’ll want to come hungry. These rice bowls are overflowing with tempura options like scallops, shrimp, chicken, eel, and pumpkin—to name a few. Find them at Brentwood Mall in the food court.

ARISU. This Korean BBQ stop boasts an assortment of meats, seafood, and veggies to choose from. Plus, it’s typically open until midnight. There’s one in the Edmonds neighbourhood, and one along North Road.

Sfinaki Greek Taverna. This award-winning spot serves up all sorts of Greek classics, from saganaki and grilled calamari to souvlaki and kleftiko (shoulder-of-lamb). Save some room for the bougatsa, a vanilla custard with filo that’s baked to order.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• All positions/shifts at the Burger King—Metrotown food court (Inquire with management at the restaurant for more details)

• Coffee packer at 49th Parallel

• Casual clubhouse coordinator at the Canadian Mental Health Association

• Landscaper at Aerotek

• Entry-level optometry assistant at West Coast Doctors of Optometry

• Sales rep at She’s Fit Metrotown

• Barista at the FDL Cafe

• Shop foreperson at Lynch Bus Lines

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday, Aug. 31

• Ghostly Makers and Tending Otherworlds. On until Sept. 24. Burnaby Art Gallery.

• Summer season. On until Sept. 4. Burnaby Village Museum.

• Teapot in the Tuba. Part of the ongoing Sounds Like Summer event. Noon. Richard Bolton Park.

• Wilson & Gibbons duo. Part of the ongoing Sounds Like Summer event. 1:15pm. Richard Bolton Park.

• English conversation circles. 3pm. Online via Burnaby Public Library. (Please note: this event is full.)

• Karaoke night. 8pm. The Admiral Grill.

Friday, Sept. 1

• Alison Jenkins. Part of the ongoing Sounds Like Summer event. Noon. Upper Pond, Central Park.

• Harmeet Kaur Virdee. Part of the ongoing Sounds Like Summer event. 1:15pm. Upper Pond, Central Park.

• Zenyasai beer garden. 5pm. Nikkei Museum.

• Common Ground. 8pm. The Admiral Grill.

• Music with DJ Johnny Omega. 8pm. Grand Villa Casino.

• Summer cinema. This week’s showing will be West Side Story. 8:15pm. Civic Square.

Saturday, Sept. 2

• Farmers Market. 9am. Burnaby City Hall parking lot.

• WE IMAGINE storytime and crafts. 10am. The Space community room, Lougheed Town Centre.

• Summer reading club wrap party. 10:30am. Burnaby Public Library, Metrotown location.

• Nikkei Matsuri Japanese Festival. 11am. Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre.

• North Road Festival. 11am. Grand promenade and cross creek at the City of Lougheed.

• Chinese opera charity night. 6:45pm. Michael J Fox Theatre.

• Summer movie night with MLA Anne Kang. Featuring the film Turning Red. 7pm. Tian Jin Temple.

• Oliver and the Elements. 8pm. The Admiral Grill.

• Famous Players. 8pm. Grand Villa Casino.

Sunday, Sept. 3

• Hada Ragi Gee. 6:45pm. Michael J Fox Theatre.

• Bingo. 7pm. Lougheed Village Bar and Grill.

• Jazz Jam. With Gabriel Mark Hasselbach. 8pm. The Admiral Grill.

• Karaoke Sundays. 8pm. The Great Bear Pub.

Monday, Sept. 4 (Labour Day)

• Labour Day at the Burnaby Village Museum. 11am. Burnaby Village Museum.

• Metro Vancouver Labour Day celebration. 11:30am. Edmonds Park.

• Trivia night. 7:30pm. The Admiral Grill.

Tuesday, Sept. 5

• Tech cafe. 1pm. Burnaby Public Library, McGill location.

• Game night for English learners. 6pm. Burnaby Public Library, McGill location.

• Taco Tuesdays. With DJ Eddie Rolando. 7pm. The Admiral Grill.

Wednesday, Sept. 6

• Preschool ballet open house. 5pm. World Dance Co.

• Smarty Pints trivia night. 7pm. Grand Villa Casino.

• Beginner Bachata. This class is free. 8pm. World Dance Co.