Thursday, Nov. 28 edition: TransLink proposal threatens small businesses

Good morning, Burnaby!

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👀 In today's edition:

• TransLink proposal threatens small businesses

• Burnaby plans for a future of electric vehicles

• Burnaby artist to compose music for Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

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NEWS

TransLink proposal threatens small businesses: Burnaby Heights Merchants

On Nov. 18, Burnaby City Council spent most of its biweekly meeting in a heated discussion about transit buses.

The debate began after TransLink representatives gave a presentation about a proposed project. TransLink’s proposal would eliminate parking along a 3.6-kilometre stretch of Hastings Street between Willingdon Avenue and Duthie Avenue between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. The parking would become a new, fast bus lane that would save approximately $220,000 and four minutes per trip, said TransLink delegates, insisting that there is sufficient parking on side streets and elsewhere to accommodate the needs of patrons.

However, the Heights Merchants Association members, which include 360 businesses and 180 commercial property owners, painted a very different picture of the project and its potential effects on small businesses in the area.

Get the full story here.

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Burnaby Bulletin

Disturbing notes. A young man has been arrested after multiple women reported receiving “disturbing” sexual notes—or in some cases underwear—in the same Burnaby neighbourhood over recent months, the RCMP announced Thursday. Eight of the alarming discoveries were reported between Sept. 15 and Nov. 3, all near Telford Avenue and Beresford Street near Metropolis at Metrotown mall. [CTV News]

Searching for a Tesla driver. Some residents of a Burnaby apartment building are still displaced after a fire destroyed their home early Tuesday morning. The RCMP says it is investigating the fire as a possible arson and is asking the driver of a Tesla — seen driving by the building shortly after the fire started — to come forward. [CityNews]

City of Burnaby purchases a property. The City of Burnaby placed a bid in an insolvency process and closed on the purchase of sale of 4330 Kingsway. The 350,000-square-foot complex, which includes two towers (19-storeys and 10-storeys), had gone into receivership and was purchased well below-market value by the City for $65 million. The 2024 assessed value of the property is $87.7 million.

Fundraiser to help victim in crash. A fundraiser has been launched to help one of the victims seriously injured in a five-car crash along Highway 1 last week. Manshur Mariwa, a foreign-trained medical professional, saw the initial crash and left his car to attend to the crash victims. It was then he was hit by another vehicle. [CityNews]

Robbery at Metrotown mall. Burnaby RCMP received a call last week about a person carrying a weapon at Metrotown mall. When officers arrived, they located a 37-year-old man being held by security guards near the upstairs Lids location near the food court. Police took the man into custody after he was linked to an alleged robbery at a jewelry store in the mall, according to police. [Burnaby Now]

NEWS

Burnaby plans for a future of electric vehicles

During its meeting on Nov. 21, Burnaby’s Transportation Committee discussed a new strategy for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to accommodate a future in which all the cars on the roads are EVs. According to a report titled “Public Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy Final Report” prepared by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, Burnaby is projected to have 92% of its vehicles as electric vehicles by 2050. 

The new strategy has several objectives, including incentivizing private investors to install EV charging stations, cooperating with BC Hydro and other entities to help increase the number of charging stations throughout the city, incorporating EV charging stations into new residential developments, and retrofitting old residential developments with EV-ready infrastructure.

Get more information on the new EV strategy here.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby artist to compose music for Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Mohamed Assani , a classically trained pianist and musician often seen playing the sitar, is FLEET Studio’s current artist-in-residence using his time in the mobile studio to compose music for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Though now based in Burnaby, Assani was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and started performing at 12. When he was 18, he travelled to the UK to study Western classical music and play the piano. 

“The college that I went to had a very eclectic environment. We had music specialists from Bali, specialists who did African music, Japanese music, South Asian music,” Assani told the Beacon. “Because I’ve lived in so many different places, my taste is very broad, and I studied Western classical music. I’ve studied jazz as well, and I’ve studied South Asian classical music.”

Get the Beacon’s full interview with Assani here.

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Share your voice

The City of Burnaby invites residents to provide feedback on the Phase 3 draft community plans for Edmonds, Royal Oak and Cascade Heights. Your input will help shape the future of these communities before the plans are finalized and presented to City Council.

Where to eat & drink

OO LA LA. If you are a lover of squishy rice cakes, this Korean barbecue restaurant in Burnaby’s Korea Town Centre is sure to hit the spot. Choose from a variety of enticing sauces, barbecued meats and spice levels—the hot BBQ with grilled chicken, signature hot sauce rice cakes and white rice is a definite crowd pleaser—as well as a selection of crispy fried chicken.

Saku Brentwood. Opening their Burnaby location just last year, Saku is an iconic chain that specializes in katsu—a popular Japanese comfort food consisting of fried cutlets. A deep-fried paradise, they’ve got everything from the classic pork katsu to deep fried tofu, as well as a selection of curries, noodles, croquettes and seafood specials.

Fior Di Latte Cafe, Bakery & Gelato. Starting off in 2019 as a gelato shop, Fior Di Latte has since transformed to a cafe and bakery that prides itself on its “bake fresh” policy—all products are baked overnight to be served at their best the following day. Find everything from danishes and croissants to Japanese hot dog rolls here, as well as delicious cafe sandwiches for a hearty lunch.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• Youth and Family Counsellor at City of Burnaby

• Head of Partner Development at Specsavers

• New Business Associate at Raymond James

• Director, Global Engagement at SFU

• Personal Trainer at Club16 Trevor Linden Fitness

• Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at BCIT

• Invoice Administrator at Watson Gloves

• Insurance Advisor at HUB International

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

• Babytime. 11:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

• Business Networking. 5pm. 7310 Kingsway #101.

• In the Belly of the Carp. 7:30pm. Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

Friday

• Retro 50s-60s Salsa Party. 9pm. World Dance Co.

• Soul Journey. 7:30pm. Savasana Meditation.

• Jake Ventura’s Drop-In Dance Class. 5pm. Douglas College.

Saturday

• Soft & Fresh Makeup Workshop. 10:30am. 6378 Silver Ave.

• Seasons. 8pm. Michael J. Fox Theatre.

• Knights Christmas Market. 11am-5pm. 7450 12th Ave.

• The Long Day Closes with Tides. 7:30pm. New Westminster Christian Reformed Church.

Sunday

• Winter Hellebore Planter Workshop. 10am. Gardenworks at Lougheed Hwy.

• Greek Christmas Bake Sale. 10am. 4541 Boundary Rd.

• Magical Winter Market. 12pm-5pm. Lochdale Community Hall Association.

Monday

• MA Thesis Defence: Tsandlia Van Ry. 9:30am-1:30pm. Indigenous Gathering Space at SFU.

Tuesday

• Cocktail Christmas Networking. 6pm-9pm. Lochdale Community Hall Association.

• Low Impact Charleston: Basics to Tandem. 7pm. 820 6th St.

• Douglas College Fall Concert Series: Fusion Bands. 7:30pm. Laura C Muir Performing Arts.

Wednesday

• English Cover Songs Bachata Party. 10pm. World Dance Co.

• LJ Mounteney Blues Band. 7pm. Admiral Pub & Grill.

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