Thursday, Feb. 27 edition: New sidewalks for schools and seniors

Good morning, Burnaby!

Over the weekend, we learned that three local community news outlets were closing down. The closure of Burnaby Now is a deeply sad day for local journalism. For decades, it was a trusted source of news and an amazing reflection of Burnaby itself. Losing it leaves a gap that won’t easily be filled.

I’ve personally known many of the journalists who have worked there and have great admiration for their commitment to the craft and the community. Their work mattered—telling the stories that shaped Burnaby.

As someone who has worked in community newspapers across the province, I know firsthand how vital they are. But the reality is that platforms like Meta have gutted the local advertising industry, taking revenue away from newsrooms while giving nothing back to the communities they serve.

Now, more than ever, local journalism needs support. The Burnaby Beacon is committed to filling the void, but we can’t do it alone. If you value independent reporting and want to see it thrive, consider becoming a Beacon member. And please share this newsletter with your friends and family and tell them to subscribe.

Join us today and help keep local news alive.

— Dean Broughton

👀 In today's edition:

• New sidewalks for Burnaby schools and seniors’ homes

• LifeLabs workers on strike in Burnaby

• City celebrates return of Eagle Ford neon sign

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NEWS

New sidewalks for Burnaby schools and seniors’ homes

Burnaby city council had a ton of items to discuss on their agenda this week, with topics ranging from climate change, sidewalks, new housing developments, and recent developments in Canada’s relations with the US.

In brief, council approved a plan to build new sidewalks, particularly in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic and where vulnerable pedestrians reside or use the road often. With the proposal initially coming to council last November, the New Sidewalks Program came back to council this week and was met with enthusiastic approval from council members. 

Climate and youth issues also made an appearance at this week’s meeting, starting with a delegation from the Youth Climate Corps BC (YCCBC). The delegates were looking to partner with the city to develop programming and identify additional funding sources for their activities in Burnaby. An important decision was made as well to stop any non-essential work travel to the U.S., as well as a boycott of all U.S. goods and services.

Get all the details on this week’s council meeting here.

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Burnaby Bulletin

Three news outlets close. Glacier Media has announced the upcoming closure of three Metro Vancouver community news websites—Burnaby Now, The New Westminster Record and Tri-City News—due to financial challenges, according to a statement released by the media company. [CBC]

2025 environmental awards. The City of Burnaby is celebrating its environmental champions—nominations have opened for the 2025 Environmental Awards to recognize people and groups making outstanding contributions to the sustainability of Burnaby’s environment.

Pedestrians hit by pickup truck. Two women were taken to hospital Tuesday evening after being struck by a pickup truck at North Road and Lougheed Highway. The cause of the collision is still under investigation. [CBC]

Cuts to settlement services. On Tuesday, Immigrant Services Society of BC announced cuts to services at its Burnaby location and the total closure of its Langley office after March 31, leaving newcomers in Burnaby confused and not knowing what to do, according to a local non-profit. [Burnaby Now]

Sophisticated scams. The BC Lottery Corporation is warning the public about "predatory" and "sophisticated" scams involving the likeness of B.C. casinos. In a news release, the organization says the scam involves the imitation of casinos in the province, tricking people into providing financial details on fake websites. [Burnaby Now]

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NEWS

LifeLabs workers on strike in Burnaby

On Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, LifeLabs unionized workers announced the start of a strike throughout BC. In a press release, the British Columbia General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) announced that LifeLabs employees had started the job action after a 72-hour warning. 

According to BCGEU president Paul Finch, one of the catalysts for the strike was the recent sale of LifeLabs to a US for-profit company, Quest Diagnostics, which has been attempting to extract as much profit as possible from the labs, often at the expense of the workers and patients. 

“Life Labs was bought out by an American for-profit Fortune-500 company, Quest Diagnostics, at the end of 2024, and we saw a shift at the table. At that point, our members took a strike vote, so they voted over 98% in favour of job action, with an almost 80% turnout. So it was a very strong strike mandate,” Finch said, adding that patients needing urgent care can access it at care centres at a lower capacity.

Get the full story here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

City celebrates return of Eagle Ford neon sign

More than a decade after the City of Burnaby bought the Eagle Ford neon sign, one of the landmarks of Hastings Street, the sign has finally returned to its perch. Today the city is celebrating the sign’s return to its original location at 4191 Hastings St. 

The sign was removed from its location 40 years ago when the Eagle Ford dealership closed in 1985. According to the city, it then became part of a private collection for 25 years, after which the City of Burnaby acquired it in 2012. 

All Burnaby residents are invited to celebrate the eagle’s return to its perch from 6-7pm at the intersection of Hastings Street and Carleton Avenue. 

Read more about it here.

Where to eat & drink

🍔 Fraser Park Restaurant. An iconic breakfast and brunch restaurant located on the edge of Fraser Foreshore Park, this cozy diner is perfect for gorging on comfort food. From omelettes stuffed with cheese to filling German-influenced lunch options like poached ham and sauerkraut and schnitzel on a bun, there’s no better place to visit after a long walk in the park.

🍜 Han Lin Noodle House. This roomy eatery in New West specializes in Cantonese comfort food, with a particular emphasis on Hong Kong-style BBQ and noodle soups. This is a great spot for hot and sour soup, sauteed beef with broccoli and barbecued duck (you can even pre-order the duck to take home for dinner).

☕️ Cafe 106. There’s no better way to start your day than with a quality cup of coffee, and you’re guaranteed to find it here. Taking great pride in the quality of their beans, Cafe 106 offers a wide selection of hot drinks—from simple drip coffees to brown sugar lattes and cold brews—as well as a variety of paninis and croissant waffles.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Inside Account Manager at Grand & Toy

• Client Advisor at Acera Insurance

• Youth Program Coordinator at The Salvation Army

• Tech Staff, Medical Laboratory Science at BCIT

• Pharmacy Assistant at Save-On-Foods

• Finance Assistant, Research & Budget at SFU

• Project Coordinator at PHSA

• Club Receptionist at Club16 Trevor Linden Fitness

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Digitization Next Steps. 2pm. Burnaby Public Library. 

• Arts in New West. 6:30pm. Century House.

• East West Players: A Nice Indian Boy. 8pm. Queen’s Park.

Friday

• YSL Make Me Blush Pop-Up. 10am-9pm. Metropolis at Metrotown.

• Friday Night Yoga Wheel. 6:30pm. 5363 Lane St.

• Mardi Gras Masquerade Party. 9pm. Word Dance Co.

Saturday

• Absolut Crew 20th Anniversary: Breaking Battle 2v2. 2pm. The Rec Room.

• A Night of Dance & Salsa. 9pm. World Dance Co.

• Artisan Thrift & Flea Market. 11am-5pm. Bully’s Studios Inc.

Sunday

• Laskiainen 2025: Finnish Mid-Winter Celebration. 3pm. Scandinavian Community Centre.

• Paint Nite. 6pm. The Rec Room.

Monday

• Brendan Meadows: Alcoves. 10am-8pm. Bob Prittie Metrotown.

Tuesday

• Shim Sham: Then to Now. 7:15pm. 820 6th St.

• Baby Social. 10:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

Wednesday

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

• Argentine Tango Class. 6:30pm. Lochdale Hall. 

• English Conversation Circles. 12:30pm. Global Student Centre at SFU.