Thursday, Jan. 9 edition: Gilmore area flooding will remain a problem for the foreseeable future

Good morning, Burnaby!

About three months ago, an atmospheric river hit the Lower Mainland, overwhelming the infrastructure and causing significant damage in the area that would take months to clean up. Among the worst hit areas was Gilmore Place—a brand new condo in Burnaby—that had major flooding in its parking garage, a problem that could’ve become even more severe had the developer’s crews not been on site. We spoke to residents who are furious that this should happen in such a new building, but there’s no easy fix to the problem for the foreseeable future.

In other news this week, Jagmeet Singh has reacted to Justin Trudeau’s resignation in an online press conference and a Burnaby artist is exploring themes of migration and environment through the use of plastic.

👀 In today's edition:

• No easy fix: Gilmore area flooding will remain a problem for the foreseeable future

• Burnaby MP Jagmeet Singh reacts to Trudeau resignation

• Burnaby artist explores themes of migration and environment - with plastic

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NEWS

No easy fix: Gilmore area flooding will remain a problem for the foreseeable future

Matthew Quickenden remembers the strange events of Oct. 19, 2024, very clearly. Quickenden, who had recently moved into the new condo tower Gilmore Place at 2186 Gilmore Ave., realized that the parking garage was flooding fast. The rain had been relentless all day; elsewhere in the Lower Mainland, floods and mudslides swept away cars and even houses. 

“It started at about 10 in the morning, and we just had a power outage. I didn’t think much of it to begin with,” Quickenden told the Beacon. He decided to take the stairs down to the parkade and go to work as usual, but when he reached the underground parking garage, he witnessed an unusual sight. Crews of workers were frantically pumping water out of the flooded parkade where the water had inundated the building’s electrical vault.

Quickenden is among many residents living at Gilmore Place who have had to live with flooding following last October’s atmospheric river event. Some residents have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into their units in the new tower, and are furious that this should happen in such a new building, blaming the developers and demanding compensation for their troubles.

Get the full story here.

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Burnaby Bulletin

Cuts to newcomer language programs. The Immigrant Parents as Literacy Supporters (IPALS) program, running for about 16 years as a collaboration between Decoda Literacy Systems and the Burnaby School District, has provided literacy training to hundreds of newcomer families in BC and Burnaby. As of April 2025, the program will no longer receive federal funding.

Gun spotting. Burnaby RCMP were kept busy during New Year’s Eve after reports came in that a man was walking around with a gun. The man was seen close to a JOEY restaurant on Lougheed Highway near Rosser Avenue, causing the restaurant to temporarily lockdown. Investigations are still underway. [CityNews]

Help find volunteers! The City of Burnaby is inviting everyone to submit their nominations for the Outstanding Citizen of the Year award, a yearly award going to someone who has volunteered a generous amount of time in their community, and a local hero who helps make Burnaby a world-class community through volunteering.

Presidential Medal of Freedom. Former Burnaby resident Michael J. Fox has been recognized for his world-renowned advocacy for Parkinson's disease research and development. Born in Edmonton and moving to Burnaby with his family in 1971, Fox was among 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Joe Biden on Jan. 4. [North Shore News]

A call for better road safety. Road safety advocates are calling for action after a pedestrian was struck by a transit bus at a notorious crossing outside Metrotown Mall last week. In November, the mall’s head of security called on the city to improve the busy crossing, warning the intersection could be the scene of a serious collision. [Global News]

Extensive retail thefts. A 45-year-old man has been banned from Lululemon and London Drugs and sentenced to one day in jail plus 12 months of probation for a shoplifting “spree” in Burnaby, Vancouver and Richmond. He had pleaded guilty to four counts of theft under $5,000 and two counts of breaching release orders. [Burnaby Now]

NEWS

Burnaby MP Jagmeet Singh reacts to Trudeau resignation

Burnaby South MP and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh held an online press conference on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. In his statement, Singh spoke about high housing and grocery costs, healthcare, the NDP’s pharmacare plan, and dental health for seniors. He also blamed the Liberal government for the rising cost of living and was critical of the Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre. 

Singh also mentioned US President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to Canada, including his threats to impose tariffs on Canadian products, saying that it puts thousands of Canadian jobs into question. 

“They have let you down when it comes to the cost of homes. He’s let you down when it comes to the cost of living. And frankly, it’s not just Justin Trudeau; it’s every Liberal minister, every Liberal MP who looked down their nose at you when people were saying we can’t make ends meet. We are struggling with the cost of living,” Singh said.

Get the full story here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby artist explores themes of migration and environment - with plastic

Red, white, and blue bags woven from plastic fibres have been an important part of Hong Kong culture since at least the 1960s. The bags, also known as “moving bags,” were commonly used by people moving or migrating from one place to another. 

The bags have captured the imagination of Burnaby artist Cheryl Wong, who decided to create a woven tapestry from the red, white, and blue bags for her capstone project at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Wong graduated from Emily Carr in 2023 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in architecture. She is nowadays preoccupied with themes of migration, workers’ invisibility, and plastic’s impact on the environment.

“I decided to use the pattern to communicate the density of the city, the vibrance of the city, and taking advantage of the bag having a symbolic idea relating to migration and carrying goods, to weave a story,” she said.  

Read more about Wong and her artistic process here.

Where to eat & drink

Pamola Bakery & Deli. This cozy takeaway counter and dine-in bakery in New West is full of surprises. Along with a selection of fresh breads and confectionary, it’s a hidden gem for Mexican specialties like tacos, burritos, quesadillas and tamales, making it a perfect spot to grab lunch mid-grocery shop.

Indian Bombay Bistro. Turning out some of the best curries and naan in the Lower Mainland, Indian Bombay Bistro is a well known spot for quality Indian food in the area. All of their tandoori specialty items burst with warm flavours that perfectly suit a cold day—chicken and lamb tikka, chaap and tandoori prawns are just some delightful dishes that come to mind.

House of Tofu Soup. Coined the “best tofu soup in the Lower Mainland”, House of Tofu is a great spot to visit this winter for a comforting bowl of broth. And not just any broth! Fiery red stock gets topped with seafood, beef, pork and silky tofu to create a heavenly soup that’ll accompany you right through the season.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Coordinator - Recreation Programs at City of Burnaby

• Payroll Specialist at Vtechys

• Healthcare Courier Driver at MTS Logistics

• Sales Associate at Foot Locker

• Registered Pharmacy Technician at Save-On-Foods

• Facility Planner at Fraser Health

• Overnight Associate at Walmart

• Sous-chef at Browns Social House Brentwood

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Using the Internet. 1pm. Burnaby Public Library.

• SFU Women’s Basketball vs. Central Washington University. 7pm. West Gym.

Friday

• Secret Balboa Social. 7:30pm. 65 E 6th Ave.

• First Sip + Shop of 2025. 5pm. 430 East Columbia St.

• Yoga Wheel Session. 7:40pm. 5363 Lane St.

Saturday

• The RetroActives. 3pm-6pm. Admiral Pub & Grill.

• Ladies Coffee. 10:30am. WAVES Coffee House on 6th St., New West.

• Annual Spirit Orb Day. 5pm-9pm. 5584 Kincaid St.

Sunday

• Learn to Square Dance. 3pm. Wesburn Community Centre.

• Beginner Merengue Class. 4pm. World Dance Co.

Monday

• Full Moon Ceremony. 7:30pm. 5584 Kincaid St.

• Board Game Club. 3:30pm. Burnaby Public Library.

Tuesday

• Breaking the Generational Cycles of Anger. 11am. Details here.

• Intro to Social Swing Dancing. 7pm. 820 6th St.

• Fandom Trivia Tuesdays. 7pm. The Rec Room.

• Naloxone and Overdose Prevention Training. 6:30pm. New Westminster Secondary School.

Wednesday

• Drag Trivia, Holiday Edition. 7pm. Flapper Lounge.

• English Reading Circle. 11am. Burnaby Public Library.