Thurs, Apr. 11, 2024 edition: Burnaby Blooms will be free this year

Good morning, Burnaby!

Spring is in the air, and with that, we’re happy to announce that Burnaby Blooms—one of the city’s most popular springtime celebrations—is free of charge this year. Visitors can enjoy an array of fun activities, workshops and live entertainment taking place throughout the day. In other news, the RCMP’s race-based data collection project is welcome news for a Burnaby anti-racism organization, and MOSAIC’s new location in Metrotown is now serving more than 300 newcomers since opening last March.

👀 In today's edition:

• Burnaby Blooms will be free this year

• Provide feedback on the BC Parkway

• MOSAIC’s new language centre is seeing a lot of traffic in Burnaby

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EVENTS

Burnaby Blooms will be free this year

The agenda of this year’s Burnaby Blooms is packed with a diverse range of activities, tours, talks, and family-friendly fun. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear from ornithologists, beekeepers, and experts in the scientific and medicinal properties of herbs. A mycologist will guide visitors on a fascinating mushroom walk. Attendees can learn about the Indigenous natural history of Deer Lake, “Hummingbird Alley,” and even a secret garden at Deer Lake Park.

The best part about all of this? While in previous years Burnaby Blooms activities required prior registration and payment of fees, this year, all events will be free of charge for Burnaby residents. 

Read more about what to expect at this annual spring event here.

Burnaby Bulletin

Enhancing the BC Parkway. The City of Burnaby is calling residents to provide feedback on a long-term plan to improve the BC Parkway corridor from Boundary Road to the Royal Oak Skytrain station.

An incident in Central Park. Mounties are asking any witnesses to come forward following an incident in Burnaby’s Central Park where a man allegedly exposed himself to a woman last Tuesday afternoon. [CTV News]

An interprovincial drug bust. A 27-year-old Burnaby man has been sentenced to nine years in prison in relation to a drug-trafficking ring spanning across Western Canada. [Burnaby Now]

A virtual storytelling event. Burnaby Public Library will feature an award-winning, internationally renowned storyteller at a virtual event this month. [Burnaby Now]

A new location in Burnaby. Tap & Barrel, a popular pub specializing in daily lunch and happy hour deals, has opened a new location in Burnaby’s Brentwood Plaza. [The Georgia Straight]

Another fatality in Uber crash. Following a catastrophic car crash last month that involved an Uber vehicle in Burnaby, another woman has died. Two GoFundMe campaigns have been created for the victims’ families to help with funeral arrangements. [CTV News]

NEWS

Burnaby anti-racism organization welcomes RCMP race-based data collection

Since the beginning of April, Burnaby RCMP has been collecting information about the interactions RCMP members have with racialized people. The pilot project comes after two years of research and discussions with communities throughout Canada.

Some anti-racism organizations in Burnaby are welcoming the new project. The Beacon spoke with members of the Burnaby Together Coalition, which the non-profit Burnaby Family Life runs.

“We see this as a great step, and we’re so proud to be in Burnaby and working with the RCMP here in Burnaby as they’re looking at a systemic shift,” said Navreen Gill, executive director of Burnaby Family Life. “We learned that for all of the work that’s being done out there, we need to really be shifting those systems and this is a good first step from another organization.”

Get the full story on how Burnaby Together has been part of this project here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

MOSAIC’s new location in Metrotown now serving more than 300 newcomers

A month after its official opening, BC non-profit MOSAIC’s new language centre inside Metropolis at Metrotown Mall has become a busy hub serving more than 300 clients and even their small children. The official opening ceremony was on Mar. 1, 2024, and Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and several city councillors attended the event. 

“This language centre in the heart of Burnaby is a vital new resource, continuing MOSAIC’s amazing work. They help to ease the transition for newcomers so they can connect, contribute, and thrive as a part of our shared community,” Hurley said. 

Read more about MOSAIC’s impact in Burnaby here.

Where to eat & drink

🍜 Singapore Hawker. With locations in both Burnaby and Coquitlam, Singapore Hawker is an essential foodie visit for Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine. The Gado Gado salad will be a wonder for your tastebuds (a sumptuous blend of bean sprouts, tofu, egg and green beans in a peanut sauce) as well as any of their fried rice and curry dishes.

🍲 Cayenne Bistro and Grill. Honoured with the Best Overall Restaurant Award in the 2023 Beacon’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Cayenne Bistro’s East African and Indian fusion cuisine is worth raving about. A few essential items to try include the Chicken Serena, Choma Platter and Kashmiri Prawns.

🍞 Small Victory Bakery. Doubling as a cozy cafe and brunch spot, Small Victory has three locations in Vancouver and Burnaby (and counting!) with a solid reputation for artisanal breads, cakes and sweet and savoury pastries. Be sure to try their croissant doughnut stuffed with pistachio cream—it’s to die for.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Agritech Partnerships Manager at Simon Fraser University

• Occupational Hygiene Officer at WorkSafeBC

• Archaeologist at Stantec

• First Aid Instructor at Alert First-Aid Inc

• Online Journalist at Corus Entertainment

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• English conversation circle. 11:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

• #KnowYourSFU Burnaby. 5pm. Simon Fraser University.

• Dance Power Burnaby. All day. Michael J Fox Theatre.

Friday

• Lunch and Learn: Understanding Canadian Saving Plans. 12pm. 4555 Kingsway.

• Scandinavian Seniors Lunch. 12pm. Scandinavian Community Centre.

• Cantonese Storytime. 10:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

• Gaman - Perseverance Book Launch. 7pm. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Saturday

• Weedbusters. 10am. Burnaby Lake Nature House.

• La Bohème. 7:30pm. Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

• Cherry Blossom-Themed Pop-Up. 6pm. Concord Brentwood Lounge.

• Sakura Temari Workshop. 10am. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Sunday

• Latte Art Workshop. 2pm. JKLatte Studio.

• Self Care Sound Bath. 9:30am. Metropolis at Metrotown.

• Magical Girl Brunch. 11am. The Rec Room.

Monday

• Abundance + Gratitude Sound Bath Meditation. 7pm. The Mindful Lab: Meditation + Creative Studio.

• Bachata Sensual Weekend. 4pm. Hilton Vancouver Metrotown.

Tuesday

• Symphony Sound Journey. 7pm. The Mindful Lab: Meditation + Creative Studio.

• Reignite Your Inner Fire. 11am. Online via Zoom.

• Game Night for English Learners. 6pm. Burnaby Public Library.

Wednesday

• Family Storytime. 10:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

• Job Search Strategies Workshop. 2:30pm. Fishbowl at BCIT.

• Third Eye Microdose Meditation Soundbath. 7pm. Savasana Meditation.