Thursday, Feb. 20 edition: Affordable housing project may get an extra 230 units

Good morning, Burnaby!

This week, a delegation from BC Housing proposed adding more height and units to an affordable housing development—Stratford Gardens at 6005 Pandora St.— replacing 126 units and adding approximately 230 additional affordable purpose-built rental units for seniors, couples, individuals, and families. Also this week, city staff introduced several recommendations for changing the Community Benefit Bonus Affordable Housing Reserve (CBBAHR) grant program, and a formal apology is underway for Burnaby’s Chinese-Canadian community.

👀 In today's edition:

• Affordable housing project may get an extra 230 units

• Burnaby to change housing grants program

• Burnaby plans formal apology to Chinese-Canadians

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NEWS

Affordable housing project may get an extra 230 units

At the City of Burnaby’s Planning and Development Committee (PDC) meeting on Feb. 12, a delegation from BC Housing proposed adding more height and units to an affordable housing development approved in 2021.

The property in question was Stratford Gardens at 6005 Pandora St., a building dating back to 1972 which houses seniors and people with disabilities. According to a staff report about the rezoning proposal, “The development is near the end of its life cycle, with one building having already been demolished after being damaged by fire.”

BC Housing proposes to replace the original 126 units and add approximately 230 additional affordable purpose-built rental units for seniors, couples, individuals, and families. An amendment to the city’s official community plan (OCP) will be required to allow for the extra density, and BC Housing has applied for rezoning for a multi-family development of up to six storeys. 

Get the full story here.

SPONSORED BY SOCIÉTÉ FRANCOPHONE DE MAILLARDVILLE

Festival du Bois, March 7-9, Mackin Park

Say bonjour to good times and great tunes at Festival du Bois!

From traditional Québécois toe-tappers to boundary-crossing hip-hop to family singalongs – come dive into an amazing weekend of live music, food and culture.

Throw on something plaid, grab your pals, and join us under the big heated tents in Maillardville/Coquitlam’s Mackin Park.

This year the festival features Yves Lambert et le Grand Orchestre for one show only on March 8. This founding member of La Bottine Souriante comes to celebrate 50 years of brilliant music-making with his 7-piece ensemble. Also performing: New Brunswick's La Patente, La Déferlance from Québec, Franco-Ontarian LeFLOFRANCO, BC's Jocelyn Pettit - and more! See shows for kids, workshops, sample delicious cuisine traditionnelle – there’s lots to see and do!

Burnaby Bulletin

Coldest Night of the Year. The national annual walk to tackle homelessness, Coldest Night of the Year, has a bigger goal of raising $120,000 this year compared to $111,000 that was raised last year. The walk supports local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness. [Burnaby Now]

A big upgrade. With a $48 million investment from the Province of British Columbia, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is beginning a major revitalization project on the south side of its Burnaby Campus, ultimately enriching the applied educational experience for students and further cultivate a thriving work environment for employees.

Don’t miss out on the Just For Laughs VANCOUVER fun! Catch Brian Simpson, Preacher Lawson, John Goblikon, Sam Jay and more. Tickets still available!*

Measles exposure. Health officials are warning the public about a new case of the measles in the Lower Mainland. A person living in the Fraser Health area travelled abroad to Southeast Asia and acquired the infection, according to Fraser Health. The individual was on Air Canada flight 66 arriving in Vancouver on Feb. 11. [New West Record]

Top employer. The City of Burnaby has been named as one of BC’s Top Employers by the editors of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the second year in a row. “Earning this recognition is a testament to the innovative and inclusive culture we strive to achieve at the City of Burnaby,” noted Mayor Mike Hurley. 

Trial for sexual assault begins. A Burnaby skin care clinic owner has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting seven different clients who came to him for a vaginal tightening procedure. Farshad Khojsteh-Kashani, 50, was in BC Supreme Court in Vancouver Tuesday for the first day of what is expected to be a 24-day trial. [Burnaby Now]

Just For Laughs VANCOUVER 2025 wraps up with a massive weekend featuring Nurse John, Kumail Nanjiani, Ivan Decker, Jerry Seinfeld and more! Don’t miss out!*

*Sponsored Listing

NEWS

Burnaby to change housing grants program

City of Burnaby staff introduced several recommendations for changing the Community Benefit Bonus Affordable Housing Reserve (CBBAHR) grant program, which provides grants to housing development projects aimed at the affordable rental market.

Ed Kozak, the general manager of planning and development, presented the changes at the city’s Planning and Development Committee (PDC) meeting on Feb. 12. The new recommendations will come to council for approval in the coming weeks. 

According to a staff report, the proposed changes to the CBBAHR grant program are due to the recent provincial legislation changes regarding housing development. They aim to address current challenges with implementation of the grant program, the introduction of Development Cost Charge (DCC) waivers and Amenity Cost Charge (ACC) exemptions for non-market housing and respond to new opportunities for acquisition of existing purpose-built market rental housing by non-profit organizations.

Read more about it here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby plans formal apology to Chinese-Canadians

Despite being one of Canada’s most diverse cities, the City of Burnaby has yet to formally apologize for historical discrimination against Chinese-Canadians, who represent one of the largest ethnic groups in the city.

However, this may soon change as the city advances its reconciliation process with the Chinese-Canadian community. 

The city started its reconciliation process with the Chinese-Canadian community in 2023, a hundred years after the implementation of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1923, which severely restricted Chinese immigration, separated families, and affected generations of Chinese-Canadians and their relatives. The reconciliation process aims to address this historical discrimination. 

Read more about it here.

Where to eat & drink

🍹 The River’s Reach Pub. This cozy neighbourhood hangout in New West has a great selection of local beers, wines and happy hour specials. If you’re craving filling and wholesome bar food, their menu offers all the favourites—ours include the baked mac and cheese, warm pastrami sandwich and smash burger.

🥞 Kim’s Korean Waffles & Pancakes. A common winter street scene in Korea is that of food carts selling bungeoppang on street corners. Bungeoppang, a fish-shaped pancake made by pouring flour dough into a cast iron mold and filling it with red bean and/or cream paste, is a beloved Korean pastry—find that and more delectable fried pancakes at this small stand near Lougheed Hwy.

🥐 WeBake Dessert Cafe. Located inside Lougheed Plaza, this cozy Burnaby coffee shop is a gem for quality pastries, loaded sandwiches and good cups of coffee. Their most popular orders are undoubtedly sandwiches—cranberry chicken, salmon avocado, beef and avocado mushroom are all stacked to perfection.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Money Advisor at Beem Credit Union

• STEM Liaison & Copyright Librarian at BCIT

• Program Specialist Supportive Housing & Homelessness at BC Housing

• Divisional Children & Youth Program Coordinator at The Salvation Army

• Supervisor, HRIS and Benefits at City of Burnaby

• Sales Associate at Mountain Warehouse

• Credit Adjudicator at Fairstone

• Pharmacy Program Team Lead at Cencora

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Getting Started with Digitizing. 2pm. Burnaby Public Library.

• Trauma and Resuscitation Symposium. 8am-4pm. Royal Columbian Hospital.

Friday

• The Office Trivia Night. 7pm. The Rec Room.

• Indigo Dyeing Workshop. 6pm. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

• Estilo Caleno Salsa Party. 9pm. World Dance Co.

Saturday

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

• Euro Fest Mardi Gras Masquerade Fundraiser. 6pm. Slovenian Society.

• Le Nozze di Figaro. 7:30pm. Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

• The Vancouver Coins, Stamps & Collectibles Show. 9am. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Sunday

• Paint Nite. 6pm. The Rec Room.

• West Coast Wedding Show. 10am. Hilton Vancouver Metrotown.

• Kintsugi: Jewelry Workshop. 10am. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Monday

• Athlete Connect & Networking Event. 6pm. Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre.

• Investing in Real Estate. 6pm. Student Union Building.

Tuesday

• Parish Tour: St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church. 10am. 3860 Triumph St.

• Yoga: Mindful Movement. 2pm. BCIT (TBD)

Wednesday

• Celebrating 2025 Black History Month. 8pm. Brentwood Presbyterian Church.

• Women’s Centre Book Club. 4:30pm. Student Union Building at SFU.

• Free Kenko Talk. 1pm. Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

• Info Session: Law Enforcement Studies Diploma. 6pm. Justice Institute of British Columbia.