Thurs. July 13: A $170M Upgrade

Good morning !

I’ve been taking it easy this week after I hiked to Iceberg Lake over the weekend. It was the highest elevation I’ve hiked since coming to BC, and the view was absolutely stunning. It was well worth the dozens of bug bites I got.

Today’s estimated read time is: 5.3 minutes

👀 In today's edition:

• Construction closure concerns

• The best fried chicken in Burnaby 

• Over $7M in Burnaby scholarships

CITY

Councillors concerned about construction closures

Concerns about the upcoming Imperial Street construction closures hit Burnaby council Monday night, with some councillors raising questions about the possibility of imposing penalties on construction companies or charging for lane closures during projects.

The feasibility of the Central Park pool cover also came to the table, with questions about whether the investment is worth it with the pool’s current projected 5-10 year remaining lifespan.

The full council recap goes into these topics and more.

SPONSORED BY BURNABY ARTISAN FARMERS MARKET

Support Local at the Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market!

The Burnaby Artisan Farmers Market is based in Burnaby City Hall's parking lot, near Deer Lake Park, and is a place where individuals, families, and friends can immerse themselves in a welcoming and lively community. Each Saturday, the Burnaby location welcomes new and returning vendors who offer a wide array of products to fit anyone's grocery, snacking, or gift-giving needs. Visitors can also enjoy a series of musicians over the season, who will be playing covers and/or original songs during their shopping experience. What more could anyone want?

Visit this Saturday from 9am-2pm at 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby.

Burnaby Bulletin

🏟 A $170M upgrade has been proposed for Swangard Stadium in a new report outlining six options to update the building. The report included three modest options and three ambitious options. [Daily Hive]

Charges have been laid after an alleged indecent act in a women’s washroom at a Burnaby park. The 48-year-old man must now abide by several court-ordered conditions.

🔥 Campfires have been banned across the Coastal Fire Centre, which includes all of Metro Vancouver. The ban applies to both public and private properties, with the exception of the Haida Gwaii Forest District.

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A 27-year-old man has been charged for a crash that resulted in the death of two teens on the Burnaby-New Westminster border during the summer of 2022. [Burnaby Now]

⚽️ Burnaby soccer player Christine Sinclair will lead the Women’s World Cup team as she returns to the competition for the sixth time. The tournament kicks off on July 20. [ESPN]

A Burnaby drug case has moved to arraignment for the entering of pleas on July 26. The Vancouver man was charged with three drug trafficking charges in Burnaby. [Burnaby Now]

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READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

The best fried chicken in Burnaby

This week, we’re continuing our Beacon’s Readers’ Choice Awards category winners, and we have the results for the best fried chicken in Burnaby.

What do you think of the results?

SPONSORED BY WHITELEAF INTERIOR PAINTING

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Over $7M in scholarships awarded to Burnaby students

The graduating class of 2023 in the Burnaby School District has earned over $7 million worth of scholarships, ranging from full-ride scholarships to smaller bursaries.

These included scholarships for Joshua Liu, who earned the Uggla Family Scholarship at SFU for $100,000; Katie Huynh, who received an entrance scholarship of $48,000 to Oregon State University; and Ula Williams, who won the RBC Future Launch Indigenous Youth Scholarship.

Several students also secured sports-related scholarships, including Clare Logan, who will play soccer for the University of Notre Dame, and Jeremy Launt, who will play field lacrosse for Cornell University.

Over 100 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 were provided to students across the district by the Michael J Fox Theatre, with the actor even coming back to visit the school from which he is a graduate.

Several students were the recipients of the Beedie Luminaries scholarship.

SPONSORED BY VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FEST

Vancouver Folk Music Festival starts Friday

From a cappella to zydeco, world beats to blues, ballads, and more—the Vancouver Folk Music Festival starts Friday, July 14 at Jericho Beach Park. Experience a scintillating slice of global music and culture. It’s a weekend of your favourite tunes and exciting new discoveries.

Get your tickets today!

ICYMI

The Burnaby 2050: Official Community Plan feedback portal closes on July 17. Submit your feedback through the online portal.

The Cascade Heights Urban Village Community Plan feedback portal closes on July 31. Submit your feedback online to help shape the future direction of the area.

Where to eat & drink

🍣 Sushi On Burnaby is a Japanese restaurant that offers 48 different rolls on its menu, including vegetarian options. Customers recommend the Lion King roll or the Angry Bird roll.

🍜 White Lotus Cafe is a fusion of cafe classics and Vietnamese cuisine. The baguettes are made in-house daily, and customers recommend the beef stew, vermicelli bowl, or bun bo hue.

🍧 La Fontana Caffe is a low-key Italian cafe that offers a variety of dishes, including gelato, coffee, and handcrafted pizzas. Customers recommend the pasta, perogies, and customizable paninis.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Level 3 Underwriter at Pacific Blue Cross

• Project Manager 2 at SFU

• Dispatcher at FortisBC

• Broadcast and Media Communications Associate Dean at BCIT

• Associate Operator I at Evonik

• Receptionist at HUB International Canada

• Project Manager at Procom

• Actuarial Analyst I at BCAA

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Cosmo’s Clown Circus: Cosmo breaks out her arsenal of fun-filled antics to thrill the audience from 2 to 3pm as a part of the Summer Stages program at Confederation Park.

• Joline Baylis: The indie folk-rock singer-songwriter comes to the Sounds Like Summer program at Robert Burnaby Park between noon and 1pm.

• Land and Water Rights: An Indigenous Matriarch’s Perspective: Indigenous matriarch and civil activist Miranda Dick will discuss some of the challenges communities are facing as a result of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion.

• Pride Smash Tournament: Celebrate Pride with some Super Mario Smash Bros. friendly competition brackets and snacks from 1 to 5pm.

Friday

• Boris Favre and Allan Dionne: Pastiche and traditional folk songs from Quebec and France are brought to life by this musical trio from noon to 1pm.

• Sam Chimes: This producer and DJ joins the Sounds Like Summer program from 1:15 to 2:15pm. He has completed two world tours and creates instrumentals, raps, and sings.

• SHAPE UP: Latin cardio with Angi takes over The Space Community Room from 11am to noon. This class is free but does require advance registration.

Saturday

• Symphony in the Park: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra returns to Deer Lake Park to transport listeners to a different world with theatrical favourites. Bring a blanket and settle in from 7:30 to 9:30pm.

• Belong Here-An Immigrant Women Initiative: Immigrant women come together to discuss navigating professional goals, tackling barriers, and elevating their journeys in this free workshop. Register in advance.

• Hummingbird Planter Workshop: Create a beautiful hummingbird haven during this workshop by filling a versatile Emma planter with hummingbird-specific plants and flowers. Get your tickets here.

• Fiji Festival 2023: Enjoy delicious food vendors, singers and other performers, a fashion show, and more at the annual celebration. All ages are welcome, and admission is free.

Sunday

• Opera in the Park: The Vancouver Opera returns to Deer Lake for its second annual concert, which will include classics from Mozart, Bizet, and Donizetti from 7:30 to 9:30pm.

• Girolino for Kids: Stop by and walk the pedal and dash events at the Girolino for kids, which will include three different course lengths. The event runs from 7:30am to 1pm.

• Colours of Community: Celebrate cultural diversity and help create a large art installation that will hang in the Edmonds Community Centre lobby.

• Baby, That’s Drag: Hosted by the Established Shanda Leer, four drag queens hit the stage to thrill you with an afternoon of high-energy performances. Get your tickets here.

Next Week

• Family Storytime: Enjoy fun songs and stories, meet other families, get to know the library and stay later for extra social time on Monday starting at 11am.

• Fandom Trivia: Test your knowledge at The Rec Room Burnaby, and compete against others in themed rounds to win prizes, and more starting at 7:30pm on Tuesday.

• Library in the Park: The library comes to Cariboo Park at 4pm on Tuesday, and you can stop by to check out books, use the Wi-Fi, and learn more about the library.

• Shawn Bullshields: This singer, guitarist, and harmonica player hits the stage at Burnaby Mountain Park from noon to 1pm on Wednesday.