Thursday, May 1 edition: A local mass for Lapu Lapu festival victims

Good morning, Burnaby!

The election race is finally done, and now that the polls are closed, and the ballots have been counted, the Beacon Team has compiled the results for you. It was an intense month, with the Beacon team working tirelessly to bring you real-time election updates in Burnaby, coverage you can’t get anywhere else!

Election night was emotional for many people, including former federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, who stepped down as party leader on Monday. There were few dry eyes as Singh gave his concession speech to his supporters at Hilton Metrotown on Monday.

“We’re only defeated when we start believing those who tell us we can never dream of a better Canada, a fairer Canada, a more compassionate Canada,” Singh said.

The weekend was also marred with tragedy as a 30-year-old man drove an SUV into a crowd celebrating the Lapu Lapu Filipino festival in Vancouver, killing 11 people, including a five-year-old girl, the youngest victim of the attack. A special mass will be held for the victims at St. Francis de Sales church in Burnaby.

In other news, Burnaby students will be showcasing their artwork at two exhibitions this month at the Burnaby Art Gallery, and Burnaby Blooms starts next Sunday. Now let’s get to it!

👀 In today's edition:

• Tears, Cheers, and Change on Election Night in Burnaby

• 2025 Election: Burnaby results

• Burnaby students exhibit their artwork at the Burnaby Art Gallery

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NEWS

Tears, cheers, and change on election night in Burnaby

It was an emotional night on Monday, April 28, as Jagmeet Singh, longtime NDP leader and Burnaby South MP, announced that he would be stepping down as party leader. His announcement was met with an audible “no” from the crowd and many attendees were tearful at the announcement. Singh thanked his wife saying, “She has literally been my rock. I couldn't have done this without her."

Singh suffered a devastating loss in the election, receiving only 9,104 votes (18.1%) of votes in Burnaby Central. Liberal candidate Wade Chang captured Burnaby Central with 21,136 votes (42.1%). Conservative James Yan came second with 19,436 votes (38.7%).

Read the full story here.

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Burnaby Bulletin

✍️ One member of the Burnaby Beacon team was out on the streets election night in the Burnaby Central riding. He documented his night, the candidate parties he was at, the farewell speech from Jagmeet Singh and more. Check it out.

🕯️11 people killed in SUV attack, aged 5-65: Vancouver man charged with 8 counts of murder in Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy.

🏫 Burnaby students participate in student votes: Nationwide results of the CIVIX-run mock elections show most students voted Conservative.

💒 Special mass for Lapu Lapu tragedy victims: The service will take place at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Burnaby.

🚔 Burnaby man jailed six years on multiple child sex offences: Adam Woolacott, 41, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to sexual interference, arranging a sexual offence against a child, and making sexually explicit material available to someone under 16.

🚨 Burnaby Emergency Preparedness week starts May 4: The city is encouraging residents to download Alertable app to receive city alerts.

🏢 City releases 2024 Annual Municipal Report for public input and approves 2025-2029 Financial Plan: Burnaby residents can provide feedback online.

🥦 Burnaby Farmers’ market returns May 10: The market will take place every Saturday until October 18.

👮🏼 Burnaby RCMP arrests 44-year-old man: The suspect threatened security staff in Metrotown with bear spray and a knife.

⚽ Vancouver Rise is back on the pitch at Swangard Stadium May 5! Be there to make history and watch women’s professional soccer rise.*

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NEWS

Federal election results for all four of the Burnaby ridings

It was a tense month as the election race drew near, finally ending on Monday, April 28. The ballots have been counted and while some results were expected, others were surprising and we were there every step of the way keeping our readers updated in real time as the results came in.

This concludes the Beacon’s coverage of the 2025 federal election in Burnaby, and with all its joys, tears and nail-biting suspense, we made sure you had everything you needed at your fingertips.

Read on for more about the results of the election in Burnaby’s four ridings.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby student art exhibition on at Burnaby Art Gallery

Students from all over Burnaby are showing off their artistic talents with two exhibitions currently on at the Burnaby Art Gallery (BAG). A free opening reception will be held on May 1 , 7-9 pm. The exhibitions will run from May 2 to June 1 and entry will be by donation.

The first of the two exhibitions, Arts Alive: Awesomeology: Gratitude in the Little Things, features the work of children in Kindergarten through Grade 7 on the gallery’s main floor. Now in its 43rd year, Arts Alive is an annual event that showcases student art in the BAG.

The second exhibition, Form Identity, Cast Reflections, is part of the Art Apprenticeship Program and features the work of twelve high school students from Alpha Secondary, Byrne Creek Community School, Burnaby Central Secondary, Burnaby North Secondary, Burnaby Mountain Secondary, Moscrop Secondary, and the Youth Hub.

Read more here.

Where to eat & drink

🍜 Kokoro Tokyo Mazesoba - Metrotown: “Not ramen, not udon, it’s a whole new taste,” the restaurant’s tagline says.

🥗 Pokerrito, Station Square: Colourful rice bowls for on-the-go snacks or a quick lunch.

🍤 Portobello Restaurant: Located at 4120 Hastings St., the seafood options are fan favourites, especially the risottos and pastas.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Lifeguard/Instructor Aquatics, City of Burnaby 

• Accounting Clerk, City of Burnaby

• Library Assistant, SFU

• Store Associate, UNIQLO, Metrotown

• Early Childhood Educator, Burnaby Family Life

• Kitchen Assistant, Butcher’s Block BBQ

• Project Manager, Capital, Burnaby School District

• Manager, Clinical Operations & Program Services - Burnaby Hospital

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Burnaby Youth Week Kickoff BBQ, 6-8 pm, Creekside Youth Centre, 13-18 years.

• SPEND A DAY with BCIT Women in Engineering Club. 9am-3pm, BCIT SE2 Burnaby.

• Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors. 10am-2pm. Burnaby Neighbourhood House Community Hall, 5024 Rumble St.

• Community Chinese Dance Program. 1-2:30 pm, Burnaby Neighbourhood South House, 4460 Beresford St.

Friday

• Latin Beat, 10-11am, Burnaby Neighbourhood South House, 4460 Beresford St.

• Learn Arabic and Farsi: 11am-12pm, Burnaby Neighbourhood North House, 4908 Hastings St.

• Youth Citizenship Awards, 5pm. Mayor Hurley will present the awards at Edmonds Community Centre. 13-18 years.

Saturday

• TJ Fest 2025: Taiwanese street festival, Starts Saturday at 11am until Sunday at 5pm. 3426 Smith Ave.

• From Afghanistan to Canada, with Hope: Exhibition, May 3 to Sept. 1, Multi-Purpose Room, Burnaby Village Museum, 11am-4:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday plus statutory holidays.

Sunday

• Burnaby Blooms: 11am-4pm, Deer Lake Park Festival Lawn, 6450 Deer Lake Ave.

• Mizuhiki workshop, 1-3pm, Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre 6688 Southoaks Cres.

Monday

• Special mass for the Lapu Lapu tragedy victims: 6pm at St. Francis de Sales Church at 6610 Balmoral St.

Tuesday

• Ask the Gardener, 12:30-1:30pm, Orchard, Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave.

• Storytelling, 12:30pm, Indigenous Learning House, Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave.

• Fraud Prevention and Scams, 10:30am-12pm, McGill Library, 4595 Albert St.

Wednesday

• Toastmasters. 12-1pm, Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way.