Thurs. July 20: A duplex fire

Good morning !

It’s another warm week in Burnaby. However, I’m looking forward to escaping into an air-conditioned movie theatre this weekend as I jump on the Barbenheimer (a Barbie/Oppenheimer double feature) bandwagon and enjoy a ridiculous amount of popcorn.

Today’s estimated read time is: 4.3 minutes

👀 In today's edition:

• A memoir 30 years in the making 

• Burnaby Pride hits the streets 

• The best hidden gem in Burnaby

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

A Burnaby writer’s memoir, 30 years in the making

Although children’s author Ellen Schwartz has lived and played in Burnaby for over 30 years, it hasn’t always been that way.

In her recently released memoir, Schwartz looks back at the 10 years she spent homesteading in the Kootenays and how it affected her relationship with nature, her environmentalism, and, later, how it affected her move back into the city.

The Beacon sat down with Schwartz to talk about the memoir, Burnaby’s green spaces, and more.

SPONSORED BY CARIBBEAN DAYS FESTIVAL

CARIBBEAN DAYS FESTIVAL IS BACK!

BC’s original Caribbean festival returns for the hottest weekend of the year. Enjoy two full days of tropical rhythms, carnival, cuisine, and culture. All ages, free of charge.

Location: Town Centre Park, Coquitlam (near Skytrain)

• July 29: 10am-8pm (Carnival Parade 1:30pm)

• July 30: 11am-7pm

Full Details: www.caribbeandays.ca

Burnaby Bulletin

🔥 Four people have been displaced after a fire at a Burnaby duplex last weekend. No residents were harmed, but they will not be able to return to the building due to damages. [CBC News]

Cocaine, fentanyl, and two knives were seized during a Burnaby traffic stop last week. These items were seized alongside pills, cash, multiple phones, and a stun gun.

🏫 SFU to hire at least 15 tenure-track Black faculty and 15 Black staff members after the BC Human Rights Commissioner approved two Special Program applications which allow limited and preferential hiring.

🐴 The Cup, “Vancouver’s Answer to The Kentucky Derby," returns bigger and better than ever this Saturday playing host to over 10,000 derby revellers. Limited tickets are still available.*

A new sex assault charge has been laid against a Burnaby skin care clinic owner. Farshad Khojsteh-Kashani has now been charged with seven counts of sexual assault and will go straight to trial. [Burnaby Now]

💻 The City of Burnaby has launched the new and improved WebReg, which is a user-friendly system for the online parks, recreation, and culture activity registration system.

One person died after a crash on Hastings Street on Wednesday morning. The two-vehicle collision occurred around 5am at the intersection of Hastings Street and Willingdon Avenue. [CTV News]

Rivian is set to open its first Canadian showroom in Burnaby. The American electric car manufacturer will be opening at The Amazing Brentwood on July 28. [Burnaby Now]

*Sponsored Listing

CITY

Burnaby Pride celebrations return to the city

Burnaby Pride returns for its sixth annual celebration with a day full of events for the whole family.

The activities range from a quiet morning of birdwatching to an afternoon packed full of live music, drag, and comedy performances, along with activities and educational booths for all ages.

The three events running this Saturday are bird-watching, outdoor Zumba, and the festival. All events are free, and the full details break down the timing.

SPONSORED BY WHITELEAF INTERIOR PAINTING

Give your home the refresh it deserves

With the dedicated team of professionals at Whiteleaf Interior Painting. We offer residential and commercial interiors, colour consultation, custom murals, and award winning customer service. Get in touch to book your free estimate today!

READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

The best hidden gem in Burnaby

This week, we’re continuing our Beacon Readers’ Choice Awards category winners, and we’ve got the results for the best hidden gem in Burnaby.

What do you think of the results?

Where to eat & drink

🍝 La Forchetta is an Italian restaurant serving classic, signature dishes. Customers recommend the homemade plates of pasta or oven-fired pizzas. Check out its hours as it closes between lunch and dinner.

🌮 El Inka Latin Deli is described as a hidden gem by its customers. It serves South American cuisine, and the fried cassava and beef and chicken quesadillas are recommended.

🍛 Singapore Hawker serves authentic Singaporean cuisine and dishes in a food-court-style restaurant. Its customers recommend the laksa noodles and Malaysian curry.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Public Affairs Officer at Canadian Armed Forces

• Dispatcher at FortisBC

• Small Business Relationship Manager at Gulf & Fraser

• Project Administrator at Bird Construction

• Junior Security Technician at Convergint

• Project Manager 2 at SFU

• Contracts Manager at BCIT

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• California Closets Grand Opening: Stop by and celebrate the grand opening of the remodelled showroom and enjoy refreshments, wine, and door prizes.

• Luncheon Networking: Emprendedoras House Society invites entrepreneurs to connect and network at La Trattoria Burnaby starting at 11:30am, with entrepreneur coach Meeka Caissie speaking.

Friday

• BC-IBC & GELP Education and Skills Summit: BC government leaders, senior professionals, university and college presidents, and entrepreneurs gather for panels and networking. Get your tickets here.

• J.D. Miner: The Highbrow Hillbilly hits the Sounds Like Summer stage at Fraser Foreshore Park from noon to 1pm to bring you songs about cowboys, boats, trains, and coffee.

Saturday

• Ho’oakini with Friends: This group will be performing at the Lotus Iron Championships at Barnet Marine Park from 11:40am to 12:25pm, and 2:10 to 2:55pm.

• Moss Pole Workshop: Help your vining plants reach their full potential with the help of a moss pole through this workshop hosted by tropical department lead Louis. Get your tickets here.

• Burnaby Blood Donation Event: Same-day appointments are available at this blood drive clinic hosted at Aubrey Elementary from 9:30am to 4:15pm.

Sunday

• Nikkei Garden Farmers Market: Enjoy delectable, locally-made food, unique artisanal goods from local vendors, and buy some freshly harvested locally-grown food from 10am to 2pm.

• Creating Fun + Safe Spaces Workshop: This free workshop is focused on bringing together mindfulness and design and invites girls aged 11-14 to come together and learn how to create safe spaces.

Monday

• Hike Burnaby Mountain: Join the Lower Mainland Hikes and Adventures group and walk the Pandora and Trans Canada Loop Trail, which will take about two hours, from noon to 2pm.

• Tech Cafe: If you need help learning how to use a phone, tablet, or e-reader, or want to learn more about using social media, stop by the tech cafe from 5 to 8pm at Cameron Library.

Tuesday

• Learn Chinese dance with Jessica Yue: Jessica Yue guides the group through traditional Chinese dance from 2 to 2:45pm at Confederation Park.

• Fandom Trivia: Test your knowledge against your friends, or team up to compete against others in themed quiz rounds to win prizes at The Rec Room, starting at 7:30pm.

• Watercolour Painting: Birds of BC: Janice Liu will be teaching teens aged 13-19 how to paint some of BC’s birds with watercolour paints in a step-by-step process in this free workshop at Tommy Douglas.

Wednesday

• Community Market: This market features 2SLGBTQIA+ vendors and artisans selling artisanal goods and crafts from 11am to 3pm at Convocation Mall on SFU’s campus.

• Live Comedy Show: Pro headliners and some of Canada’s best comedians return to The Rec Room for a night full of laughs. Buy your tickets here for the 8pm show.