Thursday, Nov. 7 edition: Sewage services bill to increase by 20% in 2025

Good morning, Burnaby!

A big topic featured in this week’s council meeting is an uptick in sewage services bills—Burnaby residents can expect an increase in their sewage services bills of 20% in 2025 as Metro Vancouver has increased the charges imposed on municipalities. Also this week, we’re looking at Burnaby’s new earthquake strategy, as well as protests in Vancouver against Israel’s killing of journalists.

👀 In today's edition:

• Sewage services bill to increase by 20% in 2025

• Burnaby is developing a new earthquake strategy

• Protests in Vancouver against Israel’s killing of journalists

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NEWS

Sewage services bill to increase by 20% in 2025

A big topic covered in this week’s council meeting was sewage bills—Burnaby residents can expect a 20% increase in their sewage services bills in 2025. Metro Vancouver has significantly increased the charges imposed on municipalities, but Burnaby will be using its reserves to reduce the impact of these costs that have been passed along.

According to the reports discussed during City Council’s Nov. 4 meeting, Burnaby residents who live in houses can expect an increase of about $123.50, while apartment dwellers can expect to pay an extra $66 or so next year. 

Also this week, council approved proposed measures to improve pedestrian safety in 17 Burnaby intersections, and a new joint application with SFU to test emergent technologies will provide proof of concept for emergent technologies related to the green energy transition, reducing grid-dependence and showcasing more established technologies in public settings.

Get the full scoop on this week’s council meeting here.

Burnaby Bulletin

A Trump presidency. From culture to immigration, to trade, the outcome of a Trump presidency will be felt in BC in ways we can’t yet fully anticipate. Read how Trump’s “America First” plans could cause inflation and possibly a recession, which could have ripple effects in Canada. [Capital Daily]

Honouring Christine Sinclair.  Christine Sinclair, the 41-year-old soccer player who helped the Thorns win the inaugural NWSL championship and titles in 2017 and 2022, is retiring from professional soccer at the end of the season. She’ll be honoured Friday night when the Thorns host Angel City in the final game of the regular season. [Vancouver Sun]

Staggered school schedules. Families in five high schools in Burnaby have received a letter to say their child’s schedule could change next school year as the Burnaby School District is looking at staggering start and end times to create more capacity in classrooms. The school division is looking at adding a fifth block to the traditional four blocks that make up a school day. [CTV News]

Sentenced to prison. A 56-year-old Burnaby man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison after he picked up a teenage girl waiting for a bus and sexually assaulted her back in August 2020. The offender, Prakash Lekhraj, was also found guilty of making or publishing child pornography after a trial last November. [Burnaby Now]

Support the development of the new BC Cancer – Burnaby McCarthy Centre, with thanks to the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society. Until October 31st, donations will be doubled.*

*Sponsored Listing

NEWS

Burnaby is developing a new earthquake strategy

The City of Burnaby has started developing a new strategy and framework to prepare the city for earthquakes in the future. The city has begun the first phase of the project, which it aims to complete by the end of 2024. 

The project, known as the Burnaby Strategies and Actions for Earthquake Resilience (B-SAFER), will take place over five phases. 

According to a report submitted to council on Nov. 4, B-SAFER “will be a citywide framework that takes a comprehensive approach to addressing shocks, such as earthquake, and stressors, including vulnerabilities, like aging infrastructure, and capacity challenges such as systems, response and recovery capabilities, and risk reduction investment to build a roadmap toward holistic organizational and community disaster risk reduction to seismic events.”  

Get more information about the project here.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Protests in Vancouver against Israel’s killing of journalists

A group of protesters gathered in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday, Nov. 2, to protest the killing of journalists by the Israeli military over the past year. The protesters arrived around 2pm, most riding bicycles and carrying banners and flags. Some of the protesters wore blue vests with “press” emblazoned on them in white and had makeup to mimic fatal injuries such as headshot wounds or blood on their faces. 

Speakers at the event included Adel Iskandar, associate professor of global communication at SFU, which is located in Burnaby. Iskandar spoke about the bias in the media coverage, the issues with framing the conflict in mainstream media, and how this affects public perception.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) a non-profit that documents attacks against journalists and is headquartered in New York with offices around the world, at least 137 journalists have been confirmed to have been killed in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. 

Get the full story on the protests here.

Where to eat & drink

Han Lin Noodle House. This spacious eatery in New West specializes in Cantonese dishes, offering a variety of Hong Kong-style BBQ and noodle soups. The menus might be different each time you go, reflecting seasonal ingredients and monthly specials that change constantly throughout the year.

Liberte Cafe & Restaurant. Serving all-day breakfast and a bustling selection of Filipino mains, Liberte is a casual cafe and restaurant turning out delicious meals for any time of day—whether that’s a cheesy omelette and ube waffles or a bowl of silog, they’ve got something for every craving.

Nam Vegan Express. This family-owned Vietnamese restaurant has been turning out delicious vegan meals in Burnaby since 2003. You can try vegan versions of all your favourite Vietnamese dishes here, like pho, bun bo hue and grilled “pork” on rice, 100% free of animal products and MSG.

🤝 Now Hiring

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

• General Clerk at Save-On-Foods

• Customer Service Assistant at City of Burnaby

• Office Assistant at Simon Fraser University

• Fitter / Fabricator / Shop Lead at Williams and White

• Data Entry at Milani Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd.

• CAD Drafter/Detailer at East & West Alum Craft Ltd

• Office Assistant (Clerk Typist 2) at City of Burnaby

• Customer Experience Representative at White House Design Company Inc.

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

🗓 Things to do

Thursday

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

• New Gallery Opening & Fundraiser. 5pm. New Westminster (details here)

• The Mom Flow. 6pm-9pm. Gilmore Place by Onni Developments.

Friday

• The Eras Tour (Drag Version). 9:30pm. The Rec Room.

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

• Jane Austen, Action Figure by Elaine Avila. 7:30pm. Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre.

• The Last Mood Swing Drag Bash. 7pm-11pm. Old Crow Coffee & Moodswing Bar.

Saturday

• Readers Exchange. 8:30pm. First United Spiritualist Church.

• Soft & Fresh Makeup Workshop. 10:30am. 6378 Silver Ave #505.

• IceBreaker Ringette Tournament. 9am. Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre.

• November Blues Thing. 7:30pm-11:30pm. 202-4199 Lougheed Hwy.

Sunday

• Fall Sunday Funday: Guided Nature Walk. 12pm. Burnaby Lake Park.

• Paint Nite. 6pm. The Rec Room.

Monday

• Remembrance Day Ceremony. 8:30pm. 511 Royal Ave.

Tuesday

• Fandom Trivia. 7:30pm. The Rec Room.

• Family Storytime. 10:30am. Burnaby Public Library.

• Meet with a Peer Navigator. 1:30pm. Burnaby Public Library.

Wednesday

• Dumpling Fest. 5:30pm. Location details here.

• Full Moon Cord Cutting. 7pm. Savasana Meditation.