Thurs. Sept. 26, 2024 edition: The future of art and the Harry Jerome Sports Centre

Good morning, Burnaby!

This week, as Burnaby City Council approved contract increases for four large projects, including the RCMP new detachment and Cameron Community Centre and Library, debate ensued regarding the meaning of a contract increase. If you find this confusing, you’re not the only one. We get into the details in this week’s council round-up. In other news, hundreds of people joined the Vancouver Climate Strike last Friday, and the Burnaby Arts Council gathered to talk about the future of arts in Burnaby.

👀 In today's edition:

• Council discusses the meaning of contract increases

• Burnaby environment groups join climate strike

• A discussion on the future of arts in Burnaby

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NEWS

Council discusses the meaning of contract increases

On Monday, Sept. 23, Burnaby City Council approved contract increases for four large projects, including the RCMP new detachment and Cameron Community Centre and Library.

Still, debate ensued regarding the meaning of a contract increase. If you find this confusing, you are not the only one. In this week’s council round up, find out what a contract increase means on city reports, and whether all projects are over budget.  

Other highlights from Monday’s council meeting include the future of Harry Jerome Sports Centre and two new childcare facilities in Burnaby.

Get all the details from the latest council meeting here.

Burnaby Bulletin

Attack in Burnaby park. A suspect has been arrested and is facing charges after reportedly attacking someone with a glass bottle in a Burnaby park last Saturday, according to the Burnaby RCMP. [CityNews]

Car share relief. Newcomers to Burnaby and New Westminster will have less stress when it comes to transportation thanks to a new partnership between Evo and the Immigrant Services Society of BC—immigrants, refugees and students accessing services through ISSofBC will be able to access a free Evo Car Share membership and 100 free driving minutes. [New West Record]

A call for higher corporate engagement. BC corporations are being urged to move beyond symbolism on Truth and Reconciliation Day this month, ultimately leading to efforts that create measurable, lasting change—an impact that would last far beyond Orange Shirt Day. [Burnaby Now]

Pickleball assault. A 28-year-old man is facing charges of assault with a weapon after he allegedly attacked another man at the Confederation Park outdoor covered sports box last Saturday afternoon. The victim sustained minor injuries, according to police. [Burnaby Now]

Break and enter(s). A Burnaby man has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after a court found him guilty of multiple break and enters starting almost two years ago—the Burnaby RCMP says the break-ins happened at “high-end homes” that were being built between September 2022 and February 2023. [CityNews]

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NEWS

Burnaby environment groups join climate strike

Hundreds of people joined the Vancouver Climate Strike on Friday, Sept. 20 including two Burnaby grassroots organizations, For Our Kids Burnaby and Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion (BROKE).

The strike started at Vancouver City Hall and marched to Robson Square in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery, where participants gave speeches and set up booths. Rueben George—a Tsleil-Waututh elder and environmental activist who has defended and supported environmental issues for decades—started the event with a welcome speech.

“The colonial system that created the residential schools is still the colonial system that we’re dealing with today. But it’s not just First Nations people now. It’s each and every one of us because if you go against the industry in Canada and you’re right, they’ll still say you’re wrong,” George said. “The time is now. It is scary what we’re looking at and what the future looks like when, just a short six weeks ago, there were 435 fires in British Columbia, over 50,000 fires globally.” 

Get the full story here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby Arts Council discusses the future of arts in Burnaby

Burnaby Arts Council (BAC) held its annual general meeting for 2024 at Deer Lake Gallery on Sept. 24. Around 30 people attended the meeting, most of them members of the arts council, with some members of the public and City of Burnaby staff members. 

The meeting started at 7pm and continued until past 8pm. Co-chairs of the Burnaby Arts Council (BAC), Maria Anna Parolin and Wendy Cormack, chaired the meeting. 

In August, the BAC announced the closure of Deer Lake Gallery (DLG) until further notice. The Beacon spoke with Parolin, who said the main reason for the gallery’s closure was a loss of funding, a symptom of a wider problem with the arts in general and non-profits losing their funding sources in Canada in recent years.

During the meeting, Parolin and Cormack provided more details about the BAC’s finances and its loss of funding and then invited attendees to contribute ideas for the BAC’s future.

Read more here.

Where to eat & drink

Masita Korean Restaurant. A family-owned and operated restaurant on the Kingsway that serves a dazzling selection of classic Korean dishes. Think luscious black bean noodles, kimchi and seafood pancakes and soft tofu hotpot simmering in a spicy, flavour-packed broth.

Argo Greek Cuisine Pizza & Pasta. Souvlaki, spanakopita, Greek salad and dreamy dips like hummus and tzatziki can all be found at this quaint eatery near Bounday Road specializing in all things Greek. Additionally, they have a separate pizza and pasta menu with a variety of delicious pies to try—the Greek style pizza with beef, feta and olives is an undeniable hit.

Birdies. A bright and inviting space with ample weekly specials and happy hour offerings. You really can’t go wrong here—classic bar and grill menu items like sticky ribs, burgers, pizzas and tacos will all hit the spot—unless you skip dessert. Tiramisu, creme brulee cheesecake and pumpkin pie are all stellar finishers to your meal.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Recreation Office Supervisor at City of Burnaby

• MFC Program Coordinator at SFU

• Sales Representative at Sunbelt Rentals

• Property Coordinator at JLL

• Manager, Sales and Operations at RXO

• Field Service Representative at Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Client Advisor, Commercial Insurance at Acera Insurance

• Project Information Specialist at AECOM

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• A Studio Quivering in Readiness. 10am-4:30pm. Burnaby Art Gallery.

• Qwalena: The Wild Woman Who Steals Children. 11am. Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

• Feel Good Morning Yoga. 8am. Damsha Creative Studios.

Friday

• Indigenous Speaker Series: Hannes Edinger. 1:30pm. Big Data Presentation Studio at SFU.

• Oktoberfest Salsa Party. 9pm. World Dance Co.

• Returning Elegance: Romantic Europe Voyage. 7pm. 501 4th Ave, New Westminster.

Saturday

• Burnaby Foraging Workshop. 11am. Deer Lake Park.

• Crystal Light Psychic and Wellness Fair. 12pm-5pm. First United Spiritualist Church.

• 2024 Vancity Showdown Open and Natural. 9am-8pm. Delta Hotel & Conference Centre.

• 13th Annual Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance. 7pm. Massey Theatre.

Sunday

• Paint Nite. 6pm. The Rec Room.

• Retro Step/Zumba. 9am. Fitness World, 5500 Kingsway.

• BC Rivers Day Celebration. 9:30am-12pm. Fraser River Discovery Centre.

Monday

• Honouring Ceremony for the Children of Residential Schools. 7:30pm. 5584 Kincaid St.

• National Truth & Reconciliation Day Toonie Skate. 11:30am-3pm. Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

• Active Aging Week. Multiple dates. Click here for location details.

Tuesday

• Amazing Halloween Race. 5:30pm. Multiple locations.

• Charleston Refresher Workshop. 7pm. 820 6th St, New Westminster.

• Brush Hour Paint Night: Ghostly Meadow. 7pm. Georgie’s Local Kitchen + Bar.

Wednesday

• Healthcare Virtual Job Fair. 11am-3pm. Online via Zoom.

• Decade: Art & A Capella Show. 7:30pm. Centennial Lodge.