Thursday, Dec. 19 edition: Council approves additional $7.3M for Brentwood Community Centre

Good morning, Burnaby!

We’ve got lots of updates in this week’s edition before we set out to enjoy the holidays. For starters, council has approved an additional $7.3M in funding for the controversial Brentwood Community Centre project. Their heated debate on the funding finished on a warm and positive note though, every council member showing off their linguistic skills by wishing Burnaby residents a happy holiday season in all the languages they speak. In other news, the City of Burnaby has released a draft accessibility plan, and Burnaby North students spread cheer at a local retirement home.

Are you still looking for a gift idea for a family member, friend or neighbour that loves Burnaby? Well, we just released the option to buy a Burnaby Beacon Insider membership as a gift for any special person in your life who values journalism. All you do is go onto this page and click the little “gift” button above the membership options. Thanks for considering us!

Also, this is our last newsletter of 2024! We are taking a holiday break and will be back in your inboxes Thursday, Jan. 9. Thank you for another incredible year here at the Beacon!

👀 In today's edition:

• Council approves additional $7.3M for Brentwood Community Centre

• Burnaby releases draft accessibility plan

• Burnaby North students spread cheer at retirement home

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NEWS

Council approves additional $7.3M for Brentwood Community Centre

Burnaby City Council started and ended its last meeting of the year with some holiday-related agenda items. The nearly three-hour meeting began with the distribution of Christmas cards and the recognition of the Burnaby schoolchildren who created the cards. 

In between the holiday-related agenda items however, council had a heated discussion about the city’s various construction projects—namely, whether to approve additional funding for the controversial Brentwood Community Centre project. Although the council had approved the project, to the tune of $139 million back in 2022, and the city released renderings of the planned eight-storey community centre, some councillors believe the money is better spent elsewhere. 

Coun. Sav Dhaliwal was the first member of council to speak about the project, opposing the idea of adding an extra podium park for $7.3 million and also questioned the project’s purpose in general. Most other council members, on the other hand, expressed support, ultimately leading to an approval for the additional funding.

Get the full summary of this week’s council meeting here.

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Burnaby Bulletin

What’s In Your Fridge? Get to know Jagmeet Singh up close and personal in the newest edition of What’s In Your Fridge, a Georgia Straight series that asks the Burnaby South MP and NDP leader a series of interesting questions, and, most importantly, what’s sitting in his fridge. [The Georgia Straight]

Hit and run. Two people fled the scene of a fiery crash in Burnaby early Sunday morning, according to authorities. A red Mercedes was seen speeding in southeast Vancouver around 3:30am, adding that the driver was also seen running a red light. No arrests have yet been made. [CTV News]

Canada Post taking its toll. The Burnaby Hospital Foundation is the latest to speak up on how the Canada Post workers strike is taking its toll, emphasizing that the strike threatens to cost it up to $800,000 in donations and matching gifts — which are urgently needed to buy new medical equipment. [CityNews]

A new disc golf course. Disc golfers rejoice! The City of Burnaby will be holding a grand opening for its newest disc golf course at Central Park Pitch and Putt on Saturday, Jan. 4. Enjoy music, prizes, food, drinks and more at this exciting celebration of Burnaby’s newest recreational activity area. [Burnaby Now]

NEWS

Burnaby releases draft accessibility plan

The City of Burnaby unveiled its draft accessibility plan almost one year after initiating the process. In December 2023, the city announced that it was initiating the process of creating the plan in cooperation with a consulting firm, Urban Matters. 

The city and its consultants hosted several engagement events with city staff, members of the community, and service providers in late 2023 and early 2024. The city’s Access Advisory Committee discussed the results of these public engagement events during its meeting on May 30, 2024. 

According to Coun. Daniel Tetrault, chair of the committee during 2024, the accessibility plan aims to address gaps and outline ways the city can improve infrastructure and eliminate obstacles for people with disabilities. 

Read more about the accessibility plan here.

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Happy Holidays: Greeting from your Burnaby MLAs!

Hello Burnaby!

Wishing you a joyful holiday season! We sincerely thank you for your continued support throughout the year. Your trust and engagement make all the difference. May the holidays bring you peace and happiness, and may the new year be filled with prosperity.

Happy holidays from your Burnaby MLAs!

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby North students spread holiday cheer at retirement home

When a group of Burnaby North students heard that this year, Operation Elf, organized by Intentional Acts of Kindness Foundation (IAK), was not going to take place, they decided to step up and do what they could to fill the gap. For years, the City of Burnaby partnered with the IAK to collect thousands of handmade holiday cards from schoolchildren all over Burnaby and distribute them to seniors in retirement homes. 

The cancellation of IAK’s Operation Elf for 2024 spurred the Burnaby North students to do their part in spreading holiday cheer among Burnaby seniors, even if they did not have the same resources as the City of Burnaby. The students, who are members of the Leadership Program at Burnaby North Secondary, came together with one mission: design, create, and distribute their own handmade Christmas cards at the Swedish Canadian Assisted Living Residence.

The plan came to fruition on Friday, Dec. 13, when the students and their teacher, Dayna Christofides, dressed in festive outfits and accessories and delivered dozens of handmade cards to the residents. 

Get the full story here.

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Where to eat & drink

Cioffi’s Cucina. This do-it-all deli, meat market, grocery store and all-day cafe is a Burnaby staple serving the city for over 20 years. Find everything you need, from smoked meats and antipasti to aged cheeses and ready-made meals to take home at the end of a long work day.

Small Victory Bakery. With three locations in the Lower Mainland and a fourth one opening soon in Yaletown, Small Victory is a charming cafe serving quality fresh breads, pastries and brunch. Some of their most popular items include croissant doughnuts with pistachio cream, almond croissants and the country loaf.

#CHIBOP. This casual Korean dine-in and takeaway serves beloved Korean staples like kimbap, fried chicken and tteok-bokki in a spicy, luscious red sauce. Dropping by for their homemade kimchi alone—packaged in small, one litre and two litre bottles—is worth the visit.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Unit Manager at Purolator

• Contaminated Sites Specialist at Keystone Environmental

• Bakery Supervisor at Fortuna Bakery

• Portfolio Coordinator at BCIT

• Co-op Education Coordinator at SFU

• Underwriter at Rise Health Inc.

• Head of Partner Development at Specsavers

• Assistant Store Manager at Michael Hill

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• English Conversation Circle. 6pm. Burnaby Public Library. 

• Rising Jazz Artist Series: Rick Son Trio. 8pm. Brentwood Presbyterian Church.

• Karaoke. 8pm. The Admiral Pub & Grill.

Friday

• B3 Kings. 7:30pm. Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

• Christmas Mingler. 6pm. Gilmore Place Tower 3.

Saturday

• BC Swing Dance Club: Holiday Dance Party. 6:30pm. Bonsor Recreation Complex.

• Ugly Christmas Sweater Toonie Skate. 11:30am-3pm. Bill Copeland Sports Centre.

• Holly Jolly Swim. 1-4pm. Edmonds Community Centre.

• Workshop of Wonders. 10:30am. Lougheed Shopping Centre.

Sunday

• Standup Special: Anubhav Singh Bassi. 11pm. Massey Theatre.

• Winter Solstice: A Celebration Through Art. 10am. The Gallery at Queen’s Park.

Monday

• Shine Bright: Winter Break Celebration. 4pm-7pm. təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre

Tuesday

• Jingle Bell Rock. 7pm. Cayenne Bistro & Grill.

Wednesday

CHRISTMAS DAY