Monday, January 14, 2008

SFU chem labs evacuated

SFU chemistry labs evacuated
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 31, 2003

An unknown number of people were evacuated from the chemistry department of the Shrum science building at Simon Fraser University on Friday morning after an strange smell wafted through the air.
While the exact nature of the spill and any injuries were unknown as the Burnaby NOW went to press, it was known that the Burnaby fire department hazardous materials response team was dispatched to the scene.
Kathryn Aberle, a spokesperson for SFU, said the incident was still being investigated. However, as of about 11:30 a.m., there was no evidence of any kind of spill, other than the unusual smell.
Firefighters were ventilating the affected area as a precaution, Aberle said.
"At this point it would appear that there were few people on campus, and that was a good thing," Aberle said. "A couple of people were affected in that they felt slightly faint and headachy from what they were smelling. As far as I know, no one was taken to hospital, but I can't verify that."
The area in question is predominately science laboratories. However, there are some lecture halls and offices in the building, Aberle said.
An investigation into the incident will be conducted by the SFU occupational health and safety team, she said.

Senior Wildcats win rugby title

Senior Wildcats win rugby title
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 31, 2003

The ending was a little anti-climactic, but the Burnaby Central senior rugby squad captured the Lower Mainland Tier 2 championship by earning a 5-5 draw against the Cambie Crusaders on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats came out strong in the first five minutes to earn the only points they needed to claim the New Zealand Shield - the name of the AAA Tier 2 title.
The Wildcats' winning try was scored by Suliasi Vaikava. The convert attempt missed.
Cambie replied with its own unconverted try before the end of the first half, and then the two teams hunkered down to defence.
"Both teams were making mistakes left and right," Wildcats coach Paul Kuhn said. "One good play from either team and the game would swing back and forth. There were a lot of changing field positions and the game was pretty much back and forth."
Things got tense in the first period of sudden death overtime when Cambie very nearly scored to win the championship, but Wildcat defender Mark Dalla Bennetta made a last-chance grasp of a Richmond player's jersey to haul down what would have been a guaranteed scoring play.
"Mark made a huge play that in sudden death would have been the end of it," said his coach.
When overtime ended with the teams still tied, the Wildcats were handed the pennant by virtue of the fact that they scored first - an ending that left the winning coach less than impressed.
"It was a convoluted and arbitrary decision," Kuhn said. "Probably the only thing worse than winning a championship on the old soccer format is losing a game like that.
"It must be heartbreaking for the other team."
But the Wildcats certainly deserved the title. The team went undefeated through the regular season, winning five league games and three playoff matches before Wednesday's title match.

Young soccer players ready for Italy

Young soccer players ready for Italy
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 31, 2003

Remember when Canadian soccer was considered a second-class relative of the faster, more mature version of the game as it is played in Europe?
Well, those days may be behind us, according to the parents and coaches of two young soccer players who just returned from tryouts with two of the more prestigious soccer teams in Italy.
Justin Constantineau and George 'Angel' Mira, two u-16 metro soccer players from Burnaby, just returned from a two-week tryout in Bologna and Cesena, and both were told they have enough skills to play in the old country.
"Cesena is one of the best farms teams in Italy," said Mike Bernardis, with the Canadian Soccer Academy Association. "Both players made both teams."
But the surprising assessment of the two young soccer players came with one great big caveat. To play in Italy, both young men would need to move overseas with their families.
That was music to the ears of Bruce Constantineau, the father of one of the players and a past manager of the Juventus u-15 squad.
"We went over to get an assessment of whether the boys could play at that level, and the message loud and clear from the two coaches was 'yes,'" Constantineau said this week. "If we lived there, there'd be no problems for them playing. But neither club has programs to bring kids over when they're that young."
Constantineau said his son will likely finish playing his youth soccer in Canada - this coming season Justin will play with the Burnaby Spartans u-16 metro club, while Mira will play with the defending national champion u-16 Burnaby Royals.
Both players will play with the satisfaction of knowing that their skills are good enough to play in what is considered the most competitive league in the world.
"From my point of view, the trip was a learning experience," said Constantineau. "I wanted to know if it was achievable for them to go and play in Europe ... now we know it's not just a pipe dream, it's an achievable goal."

Health CEO defends public process

Fraser Health Authority CEO defends its public process
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 28, 2003

The head of the Fraser Health Authority is downplaying the impact of a scathing B.C. Supreme Court judgment that criticizes local health boards for their failure to hold public meetings.
Barry Forbes, CEO of the region, said staff will review the judgment, however, he doubts that much will change because, unlike some of the other five health boards in British Columbia, the FHA does hold public meetings.
"I'm here to acknowledge we probably made some mistakes in the early days, but we've been changing our practices," Forbes told a small group of reporters on a teleconference call late last Friday afternoon. "I think we've made efforts to be more open."
While Forbes confirmed that the FHA will hold a minimum of four public meetings this year - two have already been held - he faced a barrage of questions about which items are discussed behind closed doors.
"There are matters that are brought to our attention that we are asked to keep in confidence," Forbes said. "If it's a broader issue across the province, we may be asked to keep it in confidence. On others, such as commercial transactions, release could be detrimental to the position of the health authority."
When asked if only matters pertaining to legal, land or labour issues are discussed behind closed doors, Forbes said: "I can't make that commitment ... because there are other matters that we are given direction on."
The judgment, which was handed down last Wednesday, was especially critical of the large number of closed door meetings of local health authorities.
"The board either misunderstood or ignored their obligation to hold public meetings except in limited circumstances," B.C. Supreme Court justice M.D. Macaulay said in his reasons for judgment.
The judge also took the unusual step of refuting comments from one Vancouver Coastal health board representative who said the premature release of 'controversial' information can discourage innovative planning.
"That statement shows a cynical favouring of the interest of the bureaucracy over that of the public, as well as a stunning disregard for the legislative intent" of the bill that created the health boards, said the judge.
Forbes refused to distance himself from the statement that the release of 'controversial' information can be detrimental. "I can't speak to what the person intended in their comments," he said. "I can't speak to that at all, but it's not valid for us. We are interacting in many ways with the public and we've increased the number of public meetings."
The former Simon Fraser Health Board, which was amalgamated with the Fraser Valley health region by the B.C. Liberal government, used to hold monthly public meetings that allotted time for statements from the public. Typically, a short closed session was held at the conclusion of each public meeting. The two public health board meetings held this year have been in Abbotsford and Pitt Meadows.
The FHA is the largest health region in the province, serving more than 1.3 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar.

Lakers fortunes are looking up

Lakers fortunes are looking up
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 28, 2003

For the first time in years, the Burnaby Lakers senior lacrosse club may find itself with an overabundance of riches in the Western Lacrosse Association.
The Lakers, who won a solid 11-8 victory over the Coquitlam Adanacs last Friday night, expect to see former star Jeff Ratcliff back in the lineup for the first time in two years, as the club prepares to battle the top two teams in the circuit this week.
When Ratcliff's scoring prowess is added to the steadily improving young lineup already on board for the Lakers this season, things are beginning to look up for the club that was once the perennial also-ran in the WLA.
"Our lineup is pretty strong right now," said third-year coach Russ Heard. "We've got the guns and a lot more depth than we had in previous years.
"But that also means we've got some tough decisions to make," Heard said. "Once we get all of our players back, there are still five cuts that have to be made. We've never had this kind of depth before."
The Lakers, who currently sport a solid 2-2 record and sit in third spot among the six-team circuit, believe Ratcliff just may add the spark to allow the club to challenge for one of the top spots in the league.
Ratcliff, who took last season off to pursue other interests, is scheduled to be back in town this week - not in time for tonight's game on the North Shore, but probably in time to travel to Victoria for a Friday night game against the defending WLA champion Shamrocks.
"In the past, we've had to cut people who were probably not good enough to play in this league," said Heard. "But this year, we're dealing with guys who can play.
"So it's tough from that point of view," he said. "I'm pretty confident all the guys on our roster can play, I just don't have room for all of them."

SFU women win NAIA title

SFU women win NAIA softball championships
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 28, 2003

Burnaby's own Erin Thomas was named the Most Valuable Player as Simon Fraser University won the NAIA national women's softball championships in Decatur, Alabama last weekend.
Thomas, who had previously been named an All-American, gave an outstanding performance on the mound in the final game of the double knockout tournament championship as SFU downed the hometown favourite University of Mobile by a 3-1 score.
"I just wanted to stay focused and take it one pitch at a time and not worry about what this game meant until it was over," said Thomas, who has two Canadian minor softball championships under her belt as a long-time member of Burnaby Oakeys minor softball club.
Thomas gave up only four hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out nine batters over seven innings. She also hit 2-for-3 over the game.
"Our team did really well," Thomas said Monday afternoon. "We're all just really excited and proud of each other. It was a really good experience."
After leading the Clan to a 8-0 mercy rule victory over Brescia University of Kentucky in the first game, Thomas watched as her team downed the three-time defending national champion Oklahoma City University 2-0 in the second game of the tournament.
The Clan then advanced into the championship final thanks to its 31st consecutive victory of the year, a 5-0 win over eight-seeded Olivet Nazarene University of Illinois.
But winning was no cakewalk. After advancing into the final, SFU lost its opening game against Mobile by a 2-1 score. SFU was then forced to play its second game of the day, and Thomas got the call.
Among the many stars on the team are the four graduating seniors, pitcher Auburn Sigurdson, catcher Erin Cumpstone, third base Shannon Rossiter and first base Danica Payette.
While SFU and Mobile traded the NAIA number one ranking back and forth several times during the season, it was Mobile that carried the top rank into the championship tournament.
"Our whole field played really well together and we had experience behind us," Thomas said. "We have a really strong core of players that have been together for a while. For most of us, this was the third time we'd been to the nationals together."
Thomas also had high praise for coach Mike Renney, who she described as one of the top technical coaches in the country with solid contacts, a good work ethic and the ability to recruit the best young Canadian players.
And while Thomas admitted to feeling an extra tinge of Canadian pride after her team accepted the U.S.-based national championship trophy, she said that was not a motivating factor behind her play.
"We are the only Canadian team in the NAIA, so of course there is some division between the Canadian and the Americans. So for sure, you go in there being a Canadian team and there is pride. And knowing we finished on top is always awesome. That's a part that makes it all the more special."
Thomas also said she looks forward to returning to the team next year.

Good Guides get their gold medals

Good Guides get their gold medals
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistan5t editor
Published May 24, 2003

Kudos to Joanne Stregger, area commissioner of the Girl Guides of Canada, Burnaby Royal area, after she was presented with the Gold Medal of Merit at a recent ceremony.
Stregger received the honour thanks to her tireless volunteerism and dedication to the furtherance of Guiding.
At the same event, the Guides presented their Silver Medal of Merit to Parin Bhimani, Sue Digney, Christine Harrison, Teresa Hartman and Evelyn Mosher. The Bronze Medal of Merit was awarded to Janice Froese, Maureen Holowaty and Nicole Jung.
A press release from the Guides' B.C. office extended congratulations to all award recipients for their "outstanding achievement" and thanked them for their dedication to working with the young girls and women of Burnaby.
Those interested in Guiding can sign up for Sparks, Brownie or Guide programs, or as an adult volunteer with the program, by calling 1-800-565-8111.

FLICK TAKES AWARD

One of my favourite short flicks from last year's Vancouver International Film Festival has earned SFU graduate Bart Simpson (yes, that's his real name!) one of five Kick Start 2002 awards.
Kick Start awards go to emerging directors who demonstrate the talent, imagination and craft skills necessary for the job. Simpson's effort was the witty and colourful short flick A Vampire's Guide to Sweden, which had a matinee audience absolutely howling in the aisles of the cozy Pacific Cinematheque theatre during last year's VIFF.
The other winning short films are Jason James' Light.Rapid.Transit, Kevin Fair's The Kiss and two flicks that each earned six Leo Award nominations, Byron Lamarque's Once Upon A Time On The Beach and John Penhall's The Bed.
The five winning flicks will be shown in a special screening tomorrow, May 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Varsity Theatre, 4375 West 10th Ave., Vancouver.

BIG SISTER, BIG HEART

A hearty hurrah goes out to Teresa Marshall, a member of Big Sisters of B.C. Lower Mainland, who was recently honoured with the annual Big Heart Award for her outstanding contributions to the organization.
For almost six years, Marshall has been a Big Sister to Little Sister Genoa, and their relationship truly reflects what the organization stands for - acceptance, caring, respect and fun. Teresa also offers support, role modelling and inspiration for her young charge.
In addition to her volunteer work as a Big Sister, Teresa has also donated countless hours as a fundraiser for the organization.
The award was handed out during the annual general meeting of the Burnaby branch of the organization earlier this month.

THEY'RE SOAKING IN IT

The Burnaby Rotarians recently made a $2,000 donation to a Vancouver Resource Society care home in the city that helps make life a little more comfortable for adults with advanced Multiple Sclerosis.
The hefty donation paid for the purchase and installation of a fancy new therapeutic tub complete with jacuzzi jets at Rotary House, a home that provides 24-hour care and allows infirm adults to live in the community as opposed to an extended care facility.
On hand for the occasion were Rotarians Larry Klier and Jim Renshaw, and VRS representatives Denie Hourie and Tanya Ospino.

THE KING OF GIVING

A one-time Burnaby resident who has one the most revered names in the history of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team is helping to raise money for children suffering from life-threatening digestive disorders.
King Richard Brodeur, who backstopped the local hockey team on their whirlwind 1982 run to the Stanley Cup championship series against the New York Islanders, is a cosponsor of Rockin' for CHILD, a July 12 event taking place at the Westin Bayshore hotel.
The fundraiser is also a tribute to local radio star Red Robinson, and will include a 1950's style cocktail party, dinner and dancing to live bands, plus a silent auction.
Tickets to Rockin' for CHILD are available from Linda Annis at Calexis Advertising, call 604-541-1992 or via e-mail to lannis@calexis.com

TOP COLLEGE TEACHER

Kudos to Burnaby resident Peter Hopkinson, who was honoured with a Teaching Excellence Award from the Association of Community Colleges earlier this year.
Hopkinson, who teaches Grade 11 and 12 physics at the Vancouver Community College high school upgrading program, draws on his past experience as a drama student to turn those sometimes scary lists of numbers into truly interesting learning.
"Physics is so easy to teach badly," says the veteran instructor. "We've all had the teacher who writes equations on the board with one hand and erases them with the other - so people come in with this fear of physics."
To make the numbers a little easier to understand, Hopkinson has been known to dress up as Darth Vader, make use of shaving cream and even fire up a leaf-blower to make his point to the students.

Premier doles out cash

Premier doles out cash
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 24, 2003

Premier Gordon Campbell was in Burnaby Thursday morning on a whirlwind visit intended to dole out some money and point to some of the good things happening in B.C.
Campbell, who looked thinner than he was a year ago, received two standing ovations from the audience of almost 300 business people who came out to Thursday's Burnaby Board of Trade luncheon held at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel.
"While it is fair to say 'here are the problems' - and God knows we've got a lot of problems - it is important to remember that we have a lot of opportunity also," Campbell said. "But we cannot make the changes we need if we don't face the facts that the world has changed."
Pointing to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, SARS, the Iraq War and now the mad cow disease panic in Alberta, Campbell said one of his key goals as premier is making sure government develops a 'flexible framework' that encourages innovation, risk-taking and entrepreneurship.
And he said that attitude is already paying off. Pointing to Burnaby-based video game creator Electronic Arts Canada, headed by Burnaby native Don Mattrick, Campbell quipped: "Ask him (Mattrick) how much help he got when he started."
Campbell's wide-ranging, half-hour speech was long on praise and selected statistics that pointed to the good things happening in British Columbia.
Campbell lauded his government's decision to reduce taxes - "so if you work hard you can get ahead" - and rattled off a list of positive economic indicators. He said B.C. now has the fast rate of growth in retail sales in the entire country, and has seen double digit percentage increases in the amount of trade, level of mineral exploration, and pulp production.
And while critics are focusing on the less-than-healthy aspects of B.C.'s economy, Campbell pointed out that the province now has the second highest rate of 'investment intention' in the country. "Our government is committed to making B.C. the No. 1 place for investment in the country," he said to a hearty round of applause.
Campbell lauded the health care industry, and noted the B.C. Centre for Disease Control is at the leading edge of the worldwide response to the SARS outbreak. And he said that B.C. companies are currently trying to develop computer software that may one day find vaccines to battle new and emerging diseases. "That could happen right here in this province if we just grab that opportunity and run with it," Campbell said.
Health care was clearly one of the major topics on the premier's mind. The premier said his government must learn to juggle the competing interests of an aging population that demands more health care against the needs of younger people who need an education to be able to provide those services.
He said one of the biggest problems facing government is the fact that the health care budget is growing by six or seven per cent each year, and the cost of pharmaceuticals is rising 14 to 15 per cent annually. And where the health care system used to receive 33 per cent of the provincial budget, it now receives 41 per cent of the budget. "You don't need an economics degree to know that's not sustainable," he said.
While B.C. has reduced 41 per cent of the administrative costs of health care, it has also increased the overall spending in the health care budget by $1.7 billion over the past 24 months, Campbell said.
The premier also reiterated his government's commitment to education. "Over the past two years we have added $900 million more to education," Campbell said. "We know the best economic development program you can have is a good education system."
And Campbell applauded his government's efforts to make encourage the growth of small business. "I think every government has had a small business strategy. I jut think the last NDP government's strategy was to take big business and make them smaller."
To encourage business, the B.C. Liberals have upped the small business tax threshold from $200,000 to $300,000 - meaning more businesses now qualify for the lower tax rate - while eliminating 6,207 different government regulations "without losing critical health care or safety concerns," he said.
And while he opened his remarks by applauding Burnaby for winning the right to host the 2009 World Police and Fire Games, he closed his half-hour speech with an exhortation in support of his government's 2010 Winter Olympic bid.
"It's an opportunity for Canada to put its best foot forward," Campbell said.
On hand for the speech were all four of the city's Liberal MLAs - Harry Bloy, Richard T. Lee, John Nuraney and Patty Sahota. And while Campbell peppered his speech with partisan shots at the former NDP government, the premier also acknowledged the good work of Derek Corrigan and Doug Drummond, the current and former city mayors, and NDP members.
Campbell gave his speech just one hour after he joined federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal in announcing a total of $126.4 million in new 'green' infrastructure projects around the province, including $9.5 million to upgrade the sewer system in north Burnaby (see separate story).

Defeating drugs one day at a time

Defeating drugs one day at a time
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 17, 2003

'David' knew that he had a problem with drugs and that his life was out of control long before he ever walked through the doors of his first Narcotics Anonymous meeting.
"I had to hit bottom," he said of that fateful day when he walked into a room full of recovering addicts.
He remembers being nervous before somebody asked him to talk. Taking his cue from the previous speakers, he introduced himself in the usual way: "Hi, my name is David and I am an addict." And the instant he spoke those words, he felt a huge weight lifted off his back.
"I started talking about the things I'd done, and people were nodding their heads in recognition. It felt comfortable. I was where I was supposed to be."
Today, four years after that first meeting, David is still clean and sober, and willing to do what it takes to stay off drugs. For him, that means spreading the word to others that there is a safe, reliable and free method for getting out of the cycle of drug abuse.
"I knew that that bottom had come when I had pretty much alienated my family, my friends and my own child," he said in a recent interview with the Burnaby NOW. "Sure I still had a job, but things were getting shaky, and people were probably starting to suspect. ...
"No, I knew I had a problem, and everyone else knew, too," he admits after just one moment's reflection.
David is a member of the public information committee of Narcotics Anonymous, which is one of the largest self-help associations in the world. First started in California during the late 1960s, the group works on the principle of one addict helping another.
And it teaches some very simple procedures for staying clean and sober. "You don't try to stay clean forever - you just worry about today," David said. "That's because staying clean forever is an awfully big task. But 'just for today' is something we can manage."
Newcomers to the program are encouraged to find themselves a sponsor - someone with a little more experience in the program whom they can turn to for help, guidance or, sometimes, just an ear to listen.
Once a newcomer is a little more comfortable in their sobriety, the program then encourages its members to begin the process of looking at their past and rebuilding their life using the 12 steps.
"The steps give us the opportunity to make amends and repair the things we did in our addiction, so we can move forward and become acceptable, responsible and productive members of society," David said.
Finding NA is not difficult. Meetings are held every night of the week in almost every community in the Lower Mainland. The most recent directory shows 145 meetings per week in the region stretching from Squamish to Hope, many of which are 'open meetings' that anyone - addict or non-addict - is welcome to attend.
Open meetings are often attended by people who think they might have a problem, but aren't quite willing to completely admit that their lives have become unmanageable.
"There are no guarantees, but you can get all your misery back if it doesn't work," Dave says, with only a hint of humour in his voice. "But we are there to help if you are willing to do what you need to do."
To find the Narcotics Anonymous meeting nearest to you, contact NA's Lower Mainland information line at 604-873-1018.

Shoplifters must be charged, says store owner

Shoplifters must be charged, says store owner
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 17, 2003

One of the best known business people in the Heights is shaking his head in disbelief this week after seeing what he believes was a brazen thief get away with stealing $50 worth of European salami from his store.
Rino Cioffi, of Cioffi's Deli, said he watched in amazement as a woman walked into his store, stuffed the expensive sausage into a shopping bag and then went up to the counter to pay for only about $5 worth of merchandise.
Cioffi then watched the woman walk out of his shop and into a nearby restaurant. Cioffi followed the woman into the eatery, and found the female suspect sitting alone at a table. He also found his salami, still bearing the price tags from his store, stashed inside a distinctive shopping bag underneath the seats at the very next table.
When the RCMP responded to the call, the investigating officer told Cioffi did he not have enough evidence to charge the shoplifter with a crime, because he failed to keep the woman within his line of vision at all times.
"The cops tell me I don't have enough evidence to lay charges. I think it's a joke," Cioffi said. "Why aren't they pressing charges? I want them to, and I'm willing to go to court."
Staff Sgt. Cal Fister, commanding officer of the Hastings- Brentwood community police station, said the law is not that simple, because Cioffi admits he let his eyes off the bag for a few moments before following the suspect into the restaurant.
"There are many times when you think ‘My God, we should be able to take this to court,’ but the evidence can present a bit of a problem," said Fister. "There appears to be a problem here with the continuity of exhibits.
"Sure, his evidence sounds pretty convincing, all right, but the suspect could say, ‘oh that's not my bag,’ and then how do we prove it?"
Fister said police have to follow the guidelines for laying charges that are set by local Crown counsel, and this case does not appear to meet that high standard.
"I'm really frustrated," Cioffi said on May 9, two days after the incident and following a meeting with Fister. "I think the system needs to change to be tougher on these people."
In the meantime, Cioffi has been installing thousands of dollars of new security equipment into his shop in an attempt to slow down the growing number of thefts from his popular Italian food store.
As of this week, he has eight cameras inside the large, full- service deli and more are on the way.
He's also concerned that things could get worse if the City of Vancouver closes the Pacific National Exhibition and follows through with plans to turn Hastings Park into green space. With the ongoing crackdown on drug addicts in the downtown eastside of Vancouver, Cioffi believes more and more addicts will be moving closer to the Burnaby/ Vancouver border, becoming more of a problem for himself and his Heights area neighbours.
"I'd like to see the PNE stay where it is and upgrade it. They should make it worth something to go and see. We've got enough parks around here," he said.

All work - mostly fun

All work – mostly fun
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 10, 2003

Matthew Bissett has always loved music and theatre.
As resident director of the Pacific Opera in Victoria, he jumped at the chance to move to Burnaby two years ago when he was offered the director's post with the Burnaby Lyric Opera Company.
This spring, Bissett is taking on yet another challenge as he works behind the scenes as stage manager for the Footlight Theatre Company's spring production of Studs Terkel's popular musical Working, now playing at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.
"I've done a number of operas, but this is my first straight-up musical," said Bissett, who studied fine arts at the University of Victoria.
"Working is a very interesting and different musical," said Bissett, who was talked into taking on the job after Footlight founders Pam and Jim McAdie saw his work with the operatic version of Cinderella last winter.
"It (Working) doesn't have a story per say, it's more of a collage," he said. "In our production, the events are taking place over 16 hours in a single day and the narrative line is passed from person to person as they interact inside their jobs."
Because the mainstay of the show is its catchy music - Working's songs were written by such luminaries as rocker James Taylor and Godspell creator Steven Schwartz - the props are kept to a bare minimum.
"Most theatres don't have the budget to accurately represent 40 different workplaces, so we have to use what you call creative staging - using what props you have," Bissett says.
For instance, when a group of female textile workers are singing about their jobs - the machines they operate are in fact the male actors.
Bissett says Working is a real rarity on the stage because it is a musical written by a journalist.
"He (Terkel) took the root of journalism - a story about people's lives - and expressed it in the most non-journalistic form, which is music," Bissett said. "The show has this balance between entertaining and showing people at work.
"I think it's a really original play. It's a musical that touches on that part of our life that almost nothing else touches on, and that's our work," Bissett said. "Most people try to ignore those eight hours of the day like it was a gap in their lives. But those eight hours are a very important part of defining who we are as people.
"Besides, Working is fun and it has lots of great music. So the style and content is all over the place. There's lots of different things happening."
Working is now playing at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts at 8 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday nights until May 17, with a matinee show at 3 p.m. this Sunday, May 11. Tickets are $10 to $15, and can be purchased at the door, or in advance at the Shadbolt box office, 604- 205-3000.

Sidewalk squabble hits council

Sidewalk squabble hits council
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 10, 2003

A North Burnaby businessman wants city council to leave him and his customers alone.
Rajan Krooner, of Langara Appliances at 4739 Hastings St., sent a letter to council on April 25 that claims he is allowed to keep appliances around the outside of his store because he considers that space a 'sales yard.'
"I believe I am not in contravention of the said bylaws," Krooner said in his letter, which was received at council last Monday night. "The appliances are kept in the open and front of the store to give my customers a better view of them and to allow them to inspect them thoroughly before buying them, as opposed to being inside the store, where it can become congested from time to time."
Krooner, who has been dealing with city staff for several months after neighbours complained about the state of his property, also took exception to city hall's claim that his business might fit under the criteria of the unsightly premises bylaw.
"It is my position that the appliances are not unsightly in the sense that they are not broken down, wrecked or dismantled. In fact, they are perfectly functioning appliances, some of which are in need of only minor incidental repairs."
Coun. Doug Evans noted that there are several other businesses in the Heights district, fruit stands in particular, that sell their merchandise from the sidewalk.
But city manager Bob Moncur said the main difference with the fruit stands is that they bring their product inside when the shops close down for the evening.
"The biggest problem here is that he doesn't just put them out and bring them in again," Moncur said. "Here, it's regular storage. They're there all the time. It's that situation which was complained about."
Council agreed to allow staff to continue working with Krooner in the hopes of getting compliance without using the full force of the city bylaws.

Slowing the school zone speeders

Slowing the school zone speeders
City Council briefs by Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 10, 2003

Burnaby council's plan to extend the 30 km/h speed limit in school zones past its current 5 p.m. cutoff time appears to be gaining momentum.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities advised Burnaby council this week that the provincial government recently changed the Motor Vehicle Act to extend the school zone hours, as long as those later hours are written on the signs, said a letter from UBCM president Patricia Wallace.
Coun. Doug Evans said he now wants the city traffic safety committee to review which schools might need the later speed limit times established.
"This may not be necessary at every school in the city, but certainly we could do this at a fair number of schools that are already on major thoroughfares," Evans said.
The proposal, which was first presented to the UBCM convention in 2000, was previously endorsed by the B.C. Association of Police Chiefs.

Commuters targeted

Brentwood and Lougheed malls are taking steps to stop SkyTrain commuters from filling up their parking lots. Burnaby council gave tentative approval to a plan that will allow the malls to hire additional security and install a series of metal gates at the mall entrances during the early morning hours, between 5:30 and 9:30 a.m.
According to a city staff report, each of the malls has between 80 to 125 commuters parking cars in their parking lots each working day, taking valuable space away from mall customers and employees.
After the gates are installed, security staff will be hired at each mall to to open one gate for people who need access to the mall parking lots during those hours.
The Brentwood Mall access gate will be located on Willingdon Avenue, and the Lougheed Mall gate will be on Austin Avenue.
20 Vic Management, the company that represents the owners of both malls, said the gated parking lot proposal is supported by a majority of its retail tenants.

RULES CALLED UNFAIR

A North Burnaby businessman wants city council to leave him and his customers alone.
Rajan Krooner of Langara Appliances at 4739 Hastings Street sent a letter to council on April 25 that claims he is allowed to keep appliances around the outside of his store, because he considers that space a 'sales yard.'
"I believe I am not in contravention of the said bylaws," Krooner said in his letter, which was received at council last Monday night. "The appliances are kept in the open and front of the store to give my customers a better view of them and to allow them to inspect them thoroughly before buying them as opposed to being inside the store, where it can become congested from time to time."
Krooner, who has been dealing with city staff for several months after neighbours complained about the state of his property, also took exception to city hall's claim that his business might fit under the criteria of the unsightly premises bylaw.
"It is my position that the appliances are not unsightly in the sense that they are not broken down, wrecked or dismantled. In fact, they are perfectly functioning appliances, some of which are in need of only minor incidental repairs."
Coun. Doug Evans noted that there are several other businesses in the Heights district, fruit stands in particular, which sell their merchandise from the sidewalk.
But city manager Bob Moncur said the main difference with the fruit stands is that they bring their product inside when the shops close down for the evening.
"The biggest problem here is that he doesn't just put them out and bring them in again," Moncur told council. "Here, it's regular storage. They're there all the time. It's that situation which was complained about."
Council agreed to allow staff to continue working with Krooner in the hopes of getting compliance without using the full force of the city bylaws.

No free trade zones

Burnaby will not have be buildings its own free trade zone anytime soon, if the discussion in the city council chambers on Monday night is any indication.
Councilors were unanimous in their opposition to a provincial government proposal that will allow municipal governments to repeal property tax requirements as a way to attract new business.
"This has been described as a race to the bottom," Coun. Nick Volkow said on Monday night, when he learned the proposal had already received first reading in the B.c. legislature.
According to city staff report, section 226 of Bill 14, the Community Charter Act, will allow municipal governments to give property tax exemptions to light or heavy industrial business for a maximum of ten years if they meet any of three requirements:
* the industry is new to B.C.;
* the industry needs financial help to expand or construct an improvement; or
* the industry needs assistance to continue operating.
Mayor Derek Corrigan said he could understand that some rural or northern communities might be tempted to use tax exemptions to attract business to their financially struggling regions, however he also said it would be a slippery slope if industrial tax exemptions started to be common in the Lower Mainland.
"If we or any other city venture down the path of enticing businesses with tax exemptions, then we'd be putting ourselves in peril," said Coun. Dan Johnston, chair of the city finance committee. "I'd recommend we leave that one alone."
And Volkow said the proposal could turn some B.C. communities into a Canadian equivalent of "maquiladoras" - free trade zones that are common in the northern part of Mexico.

Terasen supports music

There will be a new name behind the sponsor of the free Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concert in Deer Lake Park this summer.
Trans Mountain Pipeline, the company that has paid for the popular concert in the park since they started 15 years ago, is among the group of companies that recently changed its name to Terasen.
Phillipe Reicher, manager of public and community affairs for the newly renamed firm, was at city council on Monday night to outline the corporate restructuring and make a commitment to continue the concert series.
The concert started with just a few hundred attendees for the first few years, but has since grown into one of the most popular free events in the city, attracting upwards of 8,000 people.
This year, the free concert will be held on Friday, July 25, one day before the fourth annual Burnaby Blues Festival. Mark your calendar, and don't forget to bring a flashlight! (It gets awfully dark after sunset.)

Airport noise?

Officials from the Vancouver International Airport Authority received less than a warm welcome from Burnaby city council this week, when tried to garner support for plans to build a rapid transit line out to richmond.
Mayor Derek Corrigan, who would rather see the region build a new SkyTrain line to Coquitlam, tried to get the airport officials to admit that their Airport Improvement Fee will likely be kept in place to pay some of the costs of the proposed $1.4 billion rapid transit service to Sea Island.
Bob Cowan, senior vice-president of engineering for the airport authority, said the airport is committed to paying $300 million towards the rapid transit line, which he described as necessary despite a drop in airline travel over the past year due to the war in Iraq and the fear of SARS in Canada.
Cowan noted the airport used to cost money to operate, but it generates over $170 million in its own revenues, and even pays $66 million in annual rent to Ottawa.
While the mayor expressed concerns about the costs of rapid transit, Coun. Dan Johnston thanked the authority for installing a new airplane noise monitoring station in Burnaby.
Johnston, who lives on the south slope, said airplane noise has generally decreased over the past five years, however, it is still often very loud around midnight on Saturdays. "You'd swear it was a bomber flying over," he said.

Swing into summer at SBNH

Swing into summer at SBNH
Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 10, 2003

Lots of fun and "no long speeches!" That's the main event at the Swing into Summer fundraiser being held by South Burnaby Neighbourhood House this month.
The May 24 event at the Burnaby Firefighter's Club features dinner, entertainment and great door prizes, all in the name of helping children and families in the city.
While the group has only been in Burnaby for the past four years, they are rapidly growing into one of the most active non-profit societies in the city.
Among the many activities and events sponsored by SBNH are three child-care programs, a Family Place drop-in, youth leadership programs, plus sponsorship of community barbecues, school and park cleanup campaigns, homework support programs, summer day camps at four schools and an income tax clinic for adults.
This summer, the society's founding executive director, Antonia Beck, is taking time off work after the birth of a baby daughter, Sylvia. In the meantime, the top job at SBNH will be capably filled by the society's program director, Kimberley Barwich.
Tickets to the Swing Into Summer fundraiser are $25 at the society offices at 6768 Jubilee Ave., or by calling 604- 431- 0400.

PMSS coincidental?

What do the journalist, the fire inspector and GVRD parks staffer who were all on site at the blazing fire at the 'Aintree' house in Burnaby Lake regional park have in common?
We're all graduates of Port Moody senior secondary school and we're invited to the school’s 30th anniversary reunion on Saturday, May 24.
My old high school has just finished a $10-million renovation and, to celebrate, they're planning a full day's worth of activities and merriment. School mementoes will be for sale and pieces of the old gym floor will sold to raise money for scholarships. A snack bar and no host bar will also be open.
The PMSS 30-year reunion runs from 2 to 10 p.m., May 24, and tickets are only $5. Register online at www.pmssblues.net or call the school at 604-939-6656.
By the by, the three graduates who were all working at the fire site last week were myself, GVRD staffer Ron Wood and Burnaby fire inspector Capt. Perri Talkarri.
(PMSS grad 1980.) Ron and I played in stage band together, while Perri lived four doors away and played street hockey with my brothers.

Liberal fundraisers

Members of the Burnaby-Douglas Liberal riding association had some high-powered help from Ottawa when they held a fundraising dinner at the Hart House restaurant last month.
Maurizio Bevilacqua, Secretary of State for Financial Institutions, was the guest of honour for the Thursday afternoon reception, held at the beautiful Hart House restaurant.
The host of the event was Tony Lee, president of the local riding association, and an estimated 50 party members were on hand for the event.
The next really big event for local Liberals will be May 31 when Paul Martin, John Manley and Shiela Copps arrive in Vancouver to participate in a so-called leadership forum. (And whatever happened to having an old-fashioned, drag-em-out, knuckle-bearing debate, anyhow?)

Campaign underway to save 'Aintree'

Campaign underway to save ‘Aintree’ house
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 7, 2003

A public campaign to save the fire-ravaged 1927 'Aintree' home at Burnaby Lake regional park is gaining momentum.
Ilone Winter, a former tenant of the once stately home, wants supporters of saving the heritage site to gather on the GVRD-owned property this Saturday morning.
"No other place has affected me as much as that house," said Winters, who first lived in the home in the early 1980s when he was a student at SFU, and then again about six years ago when he began his career as an artist.
The home, which is one of the few remaining examples of the English Cottage style of architecture still standing in the city, was devastated by a fire of undetermined origin last Wednesday morning.
Ed Andrusiak, manager of GVRD parks, said a review is underway to determine if the house is salvageable, and at what cost.
But even if the regional government does not have enough money to restore the home, Winters believes the public will step up to the plate and join a community fundraising effort to return the home to its original splendor.
"I want to save this house because of the effect it had on me as an artist," he said. "Some people might say I'm jumping the gun on this, but it will be too late if we want until after all the decisions have been made by people who aren't even connected to the house."
This week, Winter is busy trying to find like-minded people to join the campaign, such former world champion high jumper Debbie Brill, who currently stables her daughter's horse on the property.
"I don't know how badly it's been burned, but if there's a possibility of saving it, I hope that happens," said Brill, who said she has been concerned about the deterioration of the building for several years.
"The house has been badly neglected, and even though it was listed as a heritage house, they were doing nothing to keep it up," Brill said of the home. "The people leasing the stables were really the ones keeping an eye on it, making sure there were no squatters in there or watching if the heat went out of it became flooded.
"But really, it's a question of whether it's intact enough be able to save," she said. "It would cost a lot. Completely rewiring and replumbing the house is an expensive undertaking, but if they did those two things, they could rent it out to students again."
Winters said a public show of support could go a long way towards convincing the GVRD to leaving the shell of the house intact at least until a community fundraising program can be organized.
"It was the most magical place I've lived in in my whole life," said Winters. "I really enjoyed being an artist living so close to the lake, I used to ado a lot of canoeing on the lake, and it was a great place to go unwind. We used to take midnight paddles out to Burnaby Lake because it gave us a feeling of freedom."
This week, Winters is looking for like-minded history buffs interested in joining his campaign to preserve the Aintree manor. At the top of his list of people to contact are the two last known surviving family members of Stanley and Isabel Picken, who built the home at on the banks of the Brunette River as a place to raise their children and operate their Aintree dog kennels.
While his attempts to contact the family have so far been unsuccessful , Winter believes son John Picken is an oyster farmer living somewhere near Powell River, while daughter Mary Picken Healy may be living in the Fraser Valley.
A rally to preserve the home is tentatively set for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10 at the site, on Cariboo Road, immediately south of the Brunette River crossing. Anyone who cannot attend the rally but who still wants to lend their support to the campaign can call Winters at 604-707-0013.

City hikes taxes 2.95 per cent

City hikes taxes 2.95 per cent: Budget hits $237.5 million
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 7, 2003

Burnaby property taxes will rise 2.95 per cent this year - the fourth lowest of any Lower Mainland municipality - after the annual financial plan was given three readings by city council on Monday night.
Coun. Dan Johnston, chair of the city financial committee, said the tax hike will amount to a tax increase of about $31.50 on the average city home. However, when other tax and fee hikes for utilities, waterworks and other expenditures are included, the actual taxes on a home worth $291,000 will rise $65.
Last year, an election year, Burnaby property owners paid a tax hike of about 1.95 per cent.
Johnston said this year's budget takes into account "significant downloading" from the province, in particular the loss of revenue from the closure of the Burnaby courthouse, while paying for city employee and RCMP pay raises.
The operating budget, which equals $237.5 million, allows for a new union contract for employees, plus the hiring of six new full- time staff positions.
While residential properties account for about 78 per cent of the taxable land in Burnaby, homeowners will only pay about 46.7 per cent of the taxes. That's because business, which accounts for 18 per cent of the land value in the city, will pay 40.7 per cent of the tax load.
Rookie councillor Pietro Calendino pointed out that a one per cent cut in the budget would have taken $1.3 million out of the financial plan and resulted in some job losses.
Actual spending in the city will increase more than $11 million, about 4.9 per cent, from $226.4 million in 2002. Besides taxes, city hall expects to make up much of the difference by raising a variety of fees in various departments.
On the capital spending side, Burnaby expects to spend $74.7 million on various projects. The largest amount set aside is $9 million for parkland acquisition around Brentwood Town Centre, and $8 million for work on Burnaby Lake rejuvenation, the latter of which is subject to receiving grants from other sources.
Other capital projects include the first half of a total $4.4 million cost of work on the new No. 2 fire hall on Edmonds Street, about $1.8 million towards the cleanup of the gun ranges on Burnaby Mountain and $2.5 million of the total $21.5 million cost that will eventually turn the new Southridge Drive/Tenth Avenue connector into a four-lane arterial standard.
The replacement of aging infrastructure is another major cost. The budget sets aside $5.7 million for sewer replacement and $4.9 million for waterworks maintenance.
According to city staff, the only lower tax increases in the region will be seen in Delta and Surrey, which are proposing tax hikes of two and 2.9 per cent respectively. New West agreed to a 2.1 per cent tax hike, after initially debating a 3.1 per cent hike.
Vancouver is raising its taxes by 4.67 per cent and Richmond taxes are rising 4.35 per cent.

Union still protesting

Union still protesting
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 7, 2003

Just because the Hospital Employees Union is recommending its members accept a limited amount of contracting out of their jobs, that doesn't mean the union is happy about it.
That unhappiness was made obvious last week when the HEU issued a press release decrying the contracting out of 35 care aide jobs at the private Willingdon Park Hospital in Burnaby.
The contracting out of 'direct patient care jobs' was described as both "provocative and unnecessary" in an HEU press release issued April 29.
"The significance of this move is that these are the direct care staff who take care of seniors every day," HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt said Monday afternoon. "It drives home the point that the legislation in Bill 29 allows the privatizing and contracting out of direct care in the province.
"This will have a double effect," he said. "It will drive workers' wages down, and that's significant because it means you won't have long service workers, and the flip side of that is it hurts the quality of care that seniors get."
His comments come just two weeks after the HEU reluctantly recommended its members vote in support of a framework agreement that will limit the amount of contracting out in B.C. care facilities to about 25 per cent of the current workforce.
Allnutt said the recommendation in favour of the agreement and the lack of support for contracting out are not contradictory.
"Not at all," he said. "What is consistent is that privatization and contracting out is bad for patients. What we've agreed to is the limit. But there's still an obligation on our part to stress the damage this will do to the health-care system."
Allnutt said voting on the framework agreement is taking place this week, and the results will be announced on May 15. In addition, the union is still pursuing its lawsuit to have Bill 29 declared unconstitutional.

Fire guts historic 'Aintree' home

Fire guts historic ‘Aintree’ home
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 3, 2003

One of the most revered heritage homes in Burnaby was gutted by a fire of undetermined origin early Wednesday morning.
The 1927 'Aintree' manor that is now part of Burnaby Lake regional park is one of the few examples still standing in the city of the English Cottage-style of home, said John Wray, a member of Burnaby's Community Heritage Commission.
"I think, without question, it deserves to be saved," Wray said of the once-stately home hidden behind a tall hedge of trees and nestled beside the Brunette River on Cariboo Road.
"Right now it doesn't look very good, but I think if there's a possibility to save it, we should be willing to put some money into it," Wray said. "If there's any way to save it, we need to look at it."
According to the City of Burnaby heritage inventory list, the 76- year-old home was built on the picturesque 1.5-acre property by Stanley and Isabel Picken, who came from Montreal to open and operate their Aintree Dog Kennels.
The main part of the distinctive house was completed in 1929, and a north wing was added in 1931. In addition to running the kennels, which was the first in the province to breed Irish setters, Stanley Picken also worked as the original dam keeper on the Brunette River.
The home and property were purchased by the Greater Vancouver Regional District about 10 years ago and, although it has been vacant since last September, it had recently undergone minor repairs in preparation for being rented out again. The GVRD had also budgeted about $30,000 for additional repairs to the interior of the home this year. However, the fire struck before that work was started.
The building was vacant at the time of the fire, but the stables on the property were being used by members of the nearby Burnaby Horseman's Association.
Fred Scarfe, an assistant fire chief in Burnaby, said the fire is believed to have started around 5 a.m. inside a mud room before spreading into the interior of the spacious three-level home. Firefighters estimate the total damage to be in excess of $200,000.
Although fire crews responded immediately after receiving the first report of the blaze, the fire was stubborn, and flames were still sprouting out from the roof of the home almost five hours later, according to witnesses.
Nobody was injured, and the fire did not threaten the horse stables, said firefighters.
While the fire is officially listed as having an 'undetermined origin,' unconfirmed reports indicate there may have been some kind of electrical power surge a short time before the blaze.
Ed Andrusiak, manager of GVRD parks, said the future of the home will definitely have to be reviewed in light of the serious damage caused by the fire.
"There has been a fair of amount of damage because the fire was in the central part of the building. However, we still have the shell around the outside," Andrusiak said. "However, what exactly is left is going to determine a lot of the decision making that needs to occur."
The GVRD recently conducted minor repairs to the roof and heating system in the home to ensure that is kept warm and dry, and plans were in the works to upgrade the property later this year so that it could be rented out to tenants.
Andrusiak said the GVRD will consult with the city of Burnaby on the future of the home, however, he said there are several outstanding questions which need to be answered.
"Some of the questions we'll have to ask include, what is the cost of a full restoration if it's doable, or has it been so badly damaged structurally that it is beyond that? Then we may want to ask what is its value as a structure or its relationship to historical events or historic people? We may also want some kind of analysis of what is there now versus what it had or has an an architectural piece."
The Burnaby Lake nature park management plan written by the GVRD and city of Burnaby in the mid-1990s identified Aintree Manor as a possible future entrance and administrative centre for the the regional park. Andrusiak said that he is relatively new to his position in the GVRD, and he is not familiar with the older regional park plan.
However, Andrusiak also said that the GVRD has a strong reputation for helping to preserve significant heritage homes in the Lower Mainland, and he points to several examples of such properties inside the regional park boundaries.
"We have our share of heritage houses that we are proud to look after," he said, pointing to the Burr Villa, Ag Hall and school house buildings at Deas Island regional park, Cammidge House at Boundary Bay regional park, and the stately Minnekhada Lodge that is main feature of Minnekhada regional park on Burke Mountain in Port Coquitlam.
Meanwhile, Wray believes a proposal to save the Aintree Manor deserve serious consideration.
"It certainly needs to be carefully looked at. We can't decide to demolish it without a real look at its heritage value. Even though the GVRD owns it, it more or less belongs to the residents of Burnaby. This has always been a house of interest in the city.
"A majority of the people who know about the house always comment how beautiful it is and how they wish they could live in it. There's definitely a community feel and a love for the house. It's such a prominent landmark."
According to the city of Burnaby heritage inventory, the architecture of the home is related to the craftsman and Tudor Revival styles, but is commonly referred to as the English Cottage style.

Retired but still very, very busy

Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 3, 2003

The good folks at the Community-Centred College for the Retired held their 30th annual general meeting in their new home at the Alan Emmott Centre last month, and they got right down to business.
Over the sound of distant train whistles, the group elected Ray Mckay as its new president, Sid Cumbers as vice-president, Pat Agabob as secretary and Peggy McClean as treasurer.
The new board members are Agabob, Rosemary Cooke, Rosemary Grant, Mike Raynor, Joyce Slaney and Rhoda Stein. They join a long list of 18 volunteers who help keep this valuable service running.
Hearty thanks were offered to retiring directors Andy Chiang and Jesse Childe, who both cited too many commitments to be able to devote as much time as they'd like to the college.
The CCCR is a unique Burnaby service which offers low-cost (and sometimes free!) programs to senior citizens in Burnaby. The group is sponsoring a new writing class featuring local author Basil Jackson as teacher.
As usual, the group continues to offer low-cost computer courses for the elderly, with additional classes in Windows, advanced word processing and advanced graphics starting up later this spring.
Early this summer, the college will also say goodbye to its one and only employee, Shila Ram, who has answered phones and registered students at the college for the past 24 years.
For more information on volunteering with the college, taking classes, or saying goodbye to Shila, call the Community-Centred College for the Retired at 604-517-8732.

Geography whiz kid

Burnaby North Grade 8 student Daniel Saricusa is turning heads after he finished in fourth place among 20,000 students who took part in the B.C. playoffs for the Great Canadian Geography Challenge.
Saricusa, who was the youngest finalist to emerge from B.C., will now participate in the national championships, which will be done over the Internet on May 24.
The Great Canadian Geography Challenge pits students in Grades 4 to 9 against each other, asking multiple choice questions such as where the largest ports in the world are and what currencies are used in which countries.
Other Burnaby students who qualified for the B.C. finals were Mitchell Bowman of Burnaby Mountain secondary and L.J. Brassington, a city resident who attends Notre Dame.
Across Canada, more than 150,000 students from 967 schools participated in the first phase of the challenge, which is organized by the Canadian Council for Geographic Education with help from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
Check out the contest web site at www.geochallenge.ca and answer the sample questions sheet for a chance to win a year's subscription to the beautiful Canadian Geographic magazine.

THE TOP DEBATERS

Kudos to Ryan Androsoff, a Grade 12 student at Burnaby Mountain secondary, who will help represent our province at the National Debate Seminar in St, John's, Nfld., later this month.
Androsoff, placed sixth out of a field of 60 debaters during the Law Foundation Cup, the B.C. debating tournament, held in early March.
Accolades also go to Boris Khramtsov, a Grade 12 student at Moscrop, who just barely missed making it to the national seminar when he finished in seventh place at the provincial tournament.

A BUSY SPRING BREAK

Kimberly Vis, a Burnaby resident currently attending Dordt College in Sioux Centre, Utah, recently spent her spring break serving on a mission team with the college's Putting Love In Action team in Cary, Miss.
About a dozen students spent their week helping to put siding up on a trailer home, painting the inside of a house, helping out at a thrift store at the Cary Christian Centre and playing with kids.

LIBERAL FUNDRAISERS

Members of the Burnaby-Douglas Liberal riding association had some high-powered help from Ottawa when they held a fundraising dinner at the Hart House restaurant last week.
Maurizio Bevilacqua, Secretary of State for Financial Institutions, was the guest of honour for the Thursday afternoon reception, held at the beautiful Hart House restaurant.
The host of the event was Tony Lee, president of the local riding association, and an estimated 50 party members were on hand for the event.
The next really big event for local Liberals will be May 31 when Paul Martin, John Manley and Shiela Copps arrive in Vancouver to particpate in something billed as a leadership forum.

Sedgwick on All-Rookie team

Sedgwick on All-Rookie team
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 3, 2003


Burnaby Lakers lacrosse star Cam Sedgwick, who recently agreed to play another season with the local amateur lacrosse club, was named to the All-Rookie Team of the professional National Lacrosse League last week.
Sedgwick, 25, enjoyed a sterling season for the Vancouver Ravens pro club last winter, scoring 16 goals and 32 assists in just 15 games, while picking up a total of 69 loose balls.
"It's an honour to be part of this elite group of guys," said the Burnaby native. "We made the playoffs, which was great, but our focus is to bring an NLL championship to Vancouver.
"I'll continue to work hard and improve so I can contribute to that goal," he said.
Sedgwick was a key component of the Raven's success in their second season of professional lacrosse. Despite a slow start, the club won six of its last seven games and edged out the defending league champion Philadelphia Wings for the final playoff berth this season.
Lakers general manager Paul Rowbotham said he is hoping to sign his former draft pick Jeff Ratcliffe, who has played the past three winter seasons with the Wings. Ratcliffe is a Coquitlam native with 110 goals over 49 games in the pro league.

Towel power fuels Canucks

Towel power fuels the NHL Canucks
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published May 3, 2003

When the Vancouver Canucks return to GM Place for Game 5 of the NHL Western Conference semifinals on Monday, almost every one of the 18,514 fans in attendance will be carrying a little piece of Burnaby with them.
Those little white towels that are waved in the air to encourage our local hockey heroes on to victory were produced at Griffin House, a screen-printing firm located on Cariboo Road that is owned and operated by Burnaby resident Chris Morrey-Jones.
"I think the towels are a big part of the atmosphere," said the former engineer turned screen printer. "At the two playoff games I've been to, the atmosphere has been just amazing.
"When I saw those towels swinging through the air, and then heard the national anthem, it just made my goose bumps stand on end," Morrey-Jones said. "The silver lining, of course, is that my employees are all pumped up to be working with such a high visibility program. They're all hockey fans and they're all really excited about this, so it really increases our team spirit."
So far this year, the company has produced about 115,000 of the bright eight-colour towels, including a special rush order of 2,000 towels that were delivered to Gordon Campbell's fundraising dinner last week.
"This Canucks thing is keeping us hopping," Morrey-Jones said.
The company, which now has 15 employees and a 10,000-square-foot production facility and warehouse in Burnaby, actually had its start printing 'beer shirts' for local restaurants and sports bars.
But working in specialty textiles is quite a career change for a former student of Royal Roads Military College who actually started his working life as a chemical engineer for Lockheed Petroleum Services in New Westminster.
"I decided my heart wasn't in engineering, so I started importing and distributing long john shirts from California," he said.
When the company first started, Morrey-Jones actually kept his warehouse in the basement of his east Burnaby home, but he eventually moved the entire facility into a 6,000-square-foot property on the west side of Vancouver.
Over the past seven years, the firm has grown into one of the largest fast order textile printing firms in the Lower Mainland.
This spring, the company moved to Burnaby and then landed the Canucks towel contract at the same time it was working on the 50,000 T-shirts and sponsors' shorts for the Vancouver Sun Run, a double task that would not have been possible at their smaller Vancouver site.
"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to print a T-shirt, but to produce the volume with the expertise and quality that we have takes a little more management capability and having the right equipment," Morrey-Jones said.
The mainstay of the company is its large textile printing machine capable of imprinting up to 10 colours at a time on shirts, towels, shorts or any other piece of clothing. At full capacity, the machine can churn out up to 700 towels per hour.
For the Canucks towels, which also include the logos of five sponsoring companies - CKNW, The Province, Sports Action, Save On Foods and Coca-Cola - the machine is using only eight colours.
The company printed its first run of Vancouver Canucks towels in 1994 back in the heady days when young captain Trevor Linden led the team on its fabled run into Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals against the New York Rangers.
And while he's not necessarily superstitious, Morrey-Jones notes that the Canucks have won both of the playoff games that he has attended so far this year. But finding those tickets is still difficult, even for the man who makes the Canuck towels.

Call-ups score for Junior lakers

Intermediate call-ups score for Junior Lakers
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published April 30, 2003

With most of their star players still away at college for another month, the defending national champion Burnaby Lakers junior A lacrosse club is looking for leadership from its youngest players at the start of the 2003 season.
Coach Dave (Doc) Lough said the young guys did not disappoint when the team split its first two games of the year.
"A dozen of our regulars are still at school, so we've had to use six or seven intermediate players per game. They're playing fantastic, but it's tough on the coaches," Lough admitted after the Lakers lost their season opener by a 7-6 score to the Surrey Stickmen, and then rallied for a 8-3 victory against the Victoria Shamrocks.
The Lakers carried the play throughout the opening game of the year, but were stymied by Matt Morehouse, the Stickmen goaltender who turned aside 53 shots in the otherwise one-sided affair.
Burnaby was led by Jeff Olsen, who scored both a powerplay and shorthanded goal, while Brandon McKinnon threw 11 shots at net to earn one goal and two assists.
Other Lakers goal scorers were Zejid Vunic, intermediate call-up Brad Richardson and David Dairon, who each scored one goal and one assist in the first game of the season. Nick Patterson turned aside 35 shots.
Offensively, the Stickmen were led by Ryan Tasker, who scored a hat trick, and Al Lockwood who added two goals to the Thursday night effort.
The Lakers rebounded for a one-sided Sunday victory over the Shamrocks in Victoria.
Brandon McKinnon again led the way, this time picking up a hat trick and an assist, but it was the fine play of the intermediates which truly sealed the deal for the Burnaby boys.
Call-ups who figured on the score sheet included Rob Brommer who had two goals, plus scorers Dale Eitel and Aneil Dhaliwal. Don Manzi rounded out the scoring for the Lakers, while Patterson turned aside 54 Victoria shots.
Assistant coach and team president Jack Crosby said he's pretty happy with the performance of the club's younger players so far this year.
"We may struggle for the first month due to the fact that our main offensive threats are still at school, but we still have solid goaltending and I think there's a desire," Crosby said. "The intermediates want to impress us, so they're as hard as they can."
The Lakers now have a week-long respite until their next regular season game, May 8 in Surrey. The team plays its hope opener at the Copeland Arena on Sunday, May 11 against the New Westminster Jr. A Salmonbellies.

Their Coastal Cups runneth over

Their Coastal Cups runneth over
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published April 30, 2003

Experience was the key when the Burnaby Girls Soccer Club u-17 Attitude Queens defeated their long-time rival North Shore Metro by a 2-1 score to claim their first ever Coastal Cup.
The Queens were led by scoring ace Ashley Yeamans who netted both goals, before they dug in to win the Lower Mainland championship at Coquitlam's Town Centre Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
"It was a hard fought battle," said assistant coach Angelo Pulice. "We've had quite a rivalry with North Shore for the past few years. They've always been the reigning league champs, but the past few years, we've been catching up on them."
"We didn't dominate North Shore in the final, but we deserved the win for sure," he said.
The game was a typical back and forth affair until five minutes before the half, when Yeamans broke through the defensive line to open the scoring. "The first goal was complete hustle on her part," said Pulice. "She made a great effort to get the first shot on net which the goalie made a good save on, but she got her own rebound and popped it in."
About 15 minutes into the second half, Yeamans capitalized on a North Shore defensive mistake when a simple pass back to the goaltender turned into a indirect free kick for Burnaby. Tara Chan placed the ball perfectly on Yeamans foot, and the sniper wasted no time slotting the ball into the back of the net.
As the game wound down, North Shore then pressed to the attack, but the Burnaby defense was up to the task and allowed only a single score with about 10 minutes remaining.
"We held up well. They didn't have many scoring chances and our defense played superbly," Pulice said. "We bent a little, but we didn't break."
Yeamans, who came back from a serious ACL injury suffered at the end of last season, was named the MVP of the game.
The Queens made it into the playoffs after finished the regular season with a respectable third place record of 10 victories, two losses and four ties.
In the quarter finals, the Burnaby girls downed Vancouver Metro by a 1-0 score, thanks to a goal from Allie Radil. The team then traveled to Victoria where they downed the Lower Vancouver Island champions by a convincing 3-0 score. Chantelle Sanderson scored twice in the semifinal, while Guilia Fabbro earned the insurance marker.
The team first came together four years ago under the name of the Burnaby Rage, but changed their name to the Attitude Queens because that's what they were called by former team volunteer Settimio Briglio, who suffered a heart attack and died while helping out at one of their games in that first season. The team's head coach is Fil Briglio.
The team is led by the stingiest defensive line in the league, consisting of Christina Briglio, Guilia Fabbro, Angela Melville, Kate McKey and Katherine Costalas in front of goaltender Maria Demare.
Their scoring comes from all over, including midfielders Yeamans and Chan, plus Tiffany Pulice, Candace Cormier, Janelle Lumtong, and Katie Lawrence. Forwards are Radil, Sanderson, Sara Wright, Nina Grubisic and Josie Maio.
The team now has a two-month layoff before they prepare for the B.C. championships taking place in early July in Surrey.

Titans go big against Eagles

Titans go big against Eagles
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published April 30, 2003

It's three down and only one more to go for the mighty Titans.
The Burnaby Girls Soccer Club u-13 gold team won the Coastal Cup championship on Sunday when they downed the Abbotsford Eagles by a lopsided 4-0 score at Coquitlam Town Centre Stadium.
The victory gives the club its third major championship of the year after winning their regular season league title, the Inter District Cup and now the Coastal Cup as well, said an elated assistant coach Harv Dhaliwal. "The only thing left is the Provincial A Cup."
"It was a real team effort," said Dhaliwal. "Our defense was outstanding and allowed only one shot on goal, and that was blocked by one of our defenders. They are all team players and move the ball around well, and that prevents the other teams from getting any scoring chances."
Burnaby goal scorers at the Coastal Cup were Natalie Fabbro, who also earned MVP honours, Becky Lawrence, Emma Clark and Kelly Cook. Assists were recorded by Kyrin Dhaliwal, Paige Yaretz, Kelsey Dejarlais and Midori Hanford. Also playing well were Rachel Harker and Alyssa Morello.
The defensive corps of Mackenzie Drescher, Samantha MacPherson, Brittany Gorman and Danielle Mitchell helped hold down the fort and preserve the shutout for goaltender Jennifer (Ferf) Steer.
The Titans will enjoy a month's respite from the game before they begin preparing for the B.C. A Cup finals being held during the first week of July in Surrey. The u-13 Titans sport a record of 17- 1-1 this season.

Activist urges caution on cleaners

Activist urges caution when using cleaners
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published April 23, 2003

Danger lurks underneath your kitchen sink and in the laundry room, the storage closets and the garage, too.
While most people are aware that toxic chemicals can be found in many household cleaners and laundry soaps, Burnaby resident Mae Burrows wants the public to know that many of these common cleaners can also cause cancer.
But there are alternatives that can keep your house clean and still reduce your risk, says Burrows, executive director of the Labour Environmental Alliance Society and winner of the 2002 Eugene Rogers Award for her work protecting the environment.
"Canada is facing a cancer epidemic," she says. "But, just like with tobacco, the best strategy for avoiding these cancers is to simply not allow yourself to be exposed to them. Unfortunately, a lot of people just don't know what to watch out for."
Burrows and Sean Griffin, a staff member with LEAS, have spent several years researching exactly which chemicals are used in which cleaners, and they've compiled lists of the most dangerous ones.
And because of the growing cancer rates, Burrows believes the need for this type of information is vital. For instance, one in every 2.4 Canadian men will contract some form of cancer during his lifetime, while one in 2.7 Canadian women will develop cancer.
Even more alarming, says Burrows, is the increase in cancer rates among children, according to recent statistics released by the Canadian Cancer Society.
"Cancer is now the second leading cause of death among children, after accidents," Burrows said. "There has been a 28 per cent increase in the incidence of all childhood cancers since the 1970s."
While Workers' Compensation Board rules allow employees to refuse to handle toxic chemicals unless they are given the appropriate equipment, people often use the identical chemicals without any protection because they just don't know any better, Burrows said.
A large part of the problem lies in the fact that the manufacturers of cleaning products are not compelled to list the real name of the chemical on their packaging.
Some of the most alarming stories revolve around chemicals known as ethoxylated nonyl phenols, which have recently been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Also known as endocrine disrupters, these chemicals are called "gender benders" by environmentalists because they are believed to cause reproductive problems for some animals. For instance, a group of Columbia River otters, with large doses of ethoxylated nonylphenols in their bodies, can no longer reproduce because their penises are too small.
More than 56 per cent of all nonylphenols used in Canada are found in cleaning products, notably in toilet cleaners and certain liquid laundry soaps, Burrows says.
Another highly toxic product is 2-butoxyethanol, used in many of the most popular spray cleaners, which has been linked to low sperm counts in men, and learning disorders in children.
Burrows wants the public to know that it is possible to reduce exposure to cancer-causing agents, but it does take some work.
The first step towards a safer cleaning regimen is to read the labels on your cleaning products - even on those old standby products that have been around for generations.
"We encourage people to ask at the store," said Burrows.
Often, manufacturers will publish a toll-free 1-800 phone number on their packages so customers can call to find out exactly what is in their products. Concerned consumers should ask for the product's material safety data sheet, a formal document that spells out all of the known risks for anything sold in Canada.
While those documents are the best source of information on chemical products sold in Canada, they are often difficult to decipher and may contain contradictory statements, Burrows said.
"Often, companies will come up with their own names for a chemical, so then you will also need the formal chemical abstract service number," Burrows says.
Thankfully, there are non-profit groups such as LEAS that do all the hard work for you.
Over the past two years, LEAS has worked with the Burnaby school district to help remove from local schools five different types of cleaners that contain cancer-causing compounds. One of the most significant finds was a carpet cleaning compound that contained a substance previously banned in many U.S. jurisdictions.
With the help of CUPE local 379, Burnaby school district employees, LEAS and the school board found alternative cleaners that did not contain known carcinogens, and the end result was a net removal of 7,440 litres of the different toxic products.
"Groups like us are actually forcing the manufacturers to use other products," says Burrows. "This is something that is totally doable, and we're documenting all the products we're eliminating."

Lawson home after heart attack

Lawson returns home after heart attack
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published April 16, 21003

Former Burnaby city councillor Doreen Lawson is resting and recuperating at home after spending three weeks in hospital.
"I've very tired and very weak, but aside from that, I'm feeling well," Lawson said last Thursday, just one day after returning home from Burnaby Hospital, where she had suffered a heart attack that was apparently triggered by a change in medication for a blood condition. Lawson, who served on Burnaby city council in several stints over nearly 30 years, first knew something was up during a vacation in Australia last year when she developed a sore on her ankle.
When the sore did not heal, even after her return home, she went to her doctor and discovered it was probably a long-term side effect from a medication she had been taking to combat the condition she had been diagnosed with 24 years previously.
She was told that changing medication would eliminate the sore, but there was also a calculated risk that it might also trigger a heart attack. Lawson decided to take the chance.
Luckily, she knew something was up when, some time after the switch, she began to experience shortness of breath. Lawson admitted herself to Burnaby Hospital before the heart attack struck with full force.
Always active, Lawson is now taking life at a decidedly slower pace. She is taking a break from the many art courses she's been attending at both the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and in local community centres.
Last November, she was presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal at a ceremony with Senator Gerry St. Germaine.
Nationally, Lawson is best known as the first woman to be elected president of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities, and she is a former federal Liberal party candidate and national executive member. Closer to home she is known as the lady of Burnaby Lake - the local politician who fought hardest to preserve the lake for wildlife and nature.

Carousel marks 10th anniversary

Terrific party marks 10th anniversary of carousel
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published April 16, 2003

Oh, what a party!
The 10th anniversary of the saving of the C.W. Parker Carousel was celebrated in a special ceremony last weekend that saw the unveiling of a plaque from the U.S.-based National Carousel Association.
Jo Downey, executive secretary of the NCA, was joined by Mayor Derek Corrigan and parks commission chair Leslie Roosa in unveiling a plaque that pays tribute to the effort that went into preserving the 91-year-old piece of local history.
More than 1,000 people came out for the event, which featured free rides on the carousel, plus free cake provided by the Liberty Bakery. Other dignitaries on hand included Friends of the Carousel cofounder Don Wrigley and Global TV personality Sarah Daniels.
Maurice Guibord, a programmer at Burnaby Village Museum, said the turnout was tremendous, and Downey, who hails from Portland, Ore., impressed everyone with her knowledge of the local merry-go-round.
"She came up here for the opening ceremonies 10 years ago," Guibord said. "She was able to walk around the carousel and give a history of each and every horse. That's quite remarkable."
The presentation is significant because of the possible fate of the venerated old carousel, which was originally slated to be auctioned off, horse-by-horse, to the highest bidders at a New York auction. That's when a group of Vancouver-area heritage lovers, headed by former PNE staffer Venus Solano, decided to save this unique piece of local history and restore it for use at Burnaby Village Museum.
After the Friends of the Carousel Society was formed, enough money was raised through private donations to buy each horse, and then volunteers were found for the painstaking task of restoring and refurbishing the entire structure.
The NCA plaque commemorates both the work of the volunteers, plus city hall's contribution of the carousel pavilion and decision to include the merry-go-round in the school education program that is offered to virtually every child in the Lower Mainland.
Only one thing was missing from the afternoon - and that was Solano, the woman who helped drive the original effort to save the carousel.
Museum officials are still hoping to hear from anyone who knows the whereabouts of the former PNE staffer. She is believed to be living somewhere in Alberta, but nobody really knows for sure.
Anyone with information can contact Guibord at 604-293-6500.

BIG BIKE RIDERS SOUGHT

Want to help out a good cause, while having a whole lot of fun and getting a little bit of exercise at the same time?
The Big Bike Ride is coming to Burnaby on May 1, and teams of 29 riders apiece are being sought to help make this event one of the largest fundraisers yet for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and the Yukon.
If you don't already know, the big bike is a 30-seat contraption that will be wheeled around the parking lot of the Home Depot by teams who collect pledges for the foundation.
To register, contact Laura Henderson-Wong at the foundation offices, 604-983-8492.

CATCHING 90-KG SALMON

Mark Angelo, the world-renowned champion of rivers and head of BCIT's fish, wildlife and recreation technology program, took the unusual step of issuing a press release to congratulate a multinational corporation this week.
Angelo, who recently received the Order of Canada, offered his thanks to International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank, for donating $1 million towards the protection of the isolated Eg River in Mongolia.
The river, which was visited by Angelo last year, is home to the 90-kilogram (200-lb) taimen. In total, the area will see $1.9 million spent - the rest came from local tour operators and other nonprofit foundations - on what is being described as a "ground- breaking initiative" to protect the 3.5 million-hectare ecosystem.
"This is great news for the Eg River and its major tributary, the Uur River. This river system is one of the wildest and most beautiful in Asia," said Angelo.
Angelo is also in negotiations to have BCIT participate in several research studies on the river and its giant salmon.

THE SHADBOLT FOUNDATION

The memory of Burnaby's favourite artist lives on in the presentation of the 2003 Viva Awards to B.C. artists Geoffrey Farmer and Kelly Wood during a Thursday ceremony at the Emily Carr School of Art and Design.
The two $10,000 awards have been given annually since 1987 by the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation to mid-career artists who have demonstrated strong creative potential and a long-term commitment to their work.
Both Farmer and Wood create art that is described as urban, often documentary and politically oriented to social issues.

Woron goes Beta Theta Pi

Scott Woron, an accomplished young rower from Burnaby and football player when he was at Vancouver College, was recently initiated into the Beta Theta Pi fraternity by the Gamma Omicron chapter at the University of British Columbia.
The fraternity, founded in 1893 at Miami (Ohio) University, is dedicated to scholarship, brotherhood and community service and has more than 118,000 members, including over 6,500 collegians on 127 campuses in Canada and the U.S.
The announcement was made via press release from the fraternity's head office in Oxford, Ohio last month.

Centre beds to be cut in half

Care centre beds to be cut in half
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published April 9, 2003

The number of residents living at the Canada Way Care Centre in Burnaby will be cut in half after a revised funding agreement was reached between the new owners of facility and the Fraser Health Authority last week.
Under the plan, which was announced April 11, the centre will only receive funding for 55 beds, down from the current 106 beds. However, a press release from the FHA states that only 15 of the current residents of the facility will have to be relocated because of the changes.
In addition, the new owners will receive substantially more money per bed under a plan that will upgrade the level of care at the centre to the new 'complex care' designation spelled out in the 'Guiding principles for residential care' document approved by the health region in December.
When the closure of the 51 CWCC beds is combined with the impending closure of 97 beds at Central Park Manor as announced in February, the region is nearing its target of shutting down a minimum of 210 continuing care beds in the Fraser North subregion this year.
Colleen Hart, director of business partnerships for residential and home support with the FHA, said the reduction of beds is part of the region's new emphasis on home care and home support services, that will encourage more elderly people to stay at home for longer periods of time before entering a care centre.
Money saved from the closure of the 51 beds will be rechannelled towards new initiatives in the assisted living and home support fields, Hart said. She also noted that Burnaby is currently the only community in the FHA with assisted living beds, which are located at Dania Home and Nikkei Place.
Meanwhile, Burnaby will still have 1,500 publicly funded residential care beds - the most of any single community in the health region - and Canada Way Care Centre residents who have to move should be able to find accommodation within the city.
"Residents should not have to move outside of Burnaby unless that is their choice," said a question and answer sheet provided to care centre residents and families.
Hart also noted that the FHA no longer keeps waiting lists for people wanting into long term care facilities, and instead has implemented a new prioritization protocol that assesses seniors on their individual needs for care. That means that some seniors who might have moved into a continuing care facility in the past are now being encouraged to stay at home or move into a less expensive assisted living unit.
When asked if the bed closures will result in longer waits for seniors wanting into care facilities, Hart said: "I can't say it takes longer because I don't have a list that says it does. I'm not even sure if there is a list."
According to an FHA press release, the new owners of the centre are Dr. Kabir Jivraj and Dr. Hasmukh Patel of AgeCorp Ltd. Jivraj retired last October from the post of senior vice-president and chief medical health officer for the Calgary Regional Health Authority in Alberta.
A press release on the Calgary regional health authority Web site states that Jivraj, president of the Aga Khan Council for the Prairies, has a long resume of community service which includes membership on the Council of Champions for the Calgary Children's Initiative and as a member of a subsidiary board of the Canadian Medical Association responsible for physician's professional and support services.

Improv team heads to Ottawa

Burnaby South improve team heads to Ottawa
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published April 5, 2003

Clowning around in school has paid off for the members of the Burnaby South theatre improvisation team.
The troupe, which won second place at the B.C. high school improv championships last month, is now scrambling to raise enough money to go to the Canadian Improv Games being held in Ottawa this week.
The seven-member group, most of whom have been acting together for almost three years, are ecstatic at the chance to both represent their province and have a whole lot of fun in the process.
Improvisation is that style of acting best characterized by the American TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway, featuring well-known Canadian actor Colin Mochrie, also of This Hour has 22 Minutes fame.
Basically, the actors have to learn to play a role without any preset lines or plot. When done in competition, improv is almost like a sport and, done properly, all heck can break loose on stage or even during practice.
"I think it's really good for your mind," says troupe member Aaron Stevens. "It teaches you to think for yourself and it's applicable to real-life situations."
The four elements of improv are:
- Story - where actors are given a very simple plot outline, and they have to act out a four-minute scene without any rehearsals;
- Style - where the actors have to perform in a certain mode of acting, such as film noir, mime or maybe even animation;
- Theme - where the actors are given a single word or sentence they have to explore. For instance, the word 'space' could become a piece on outer space exploration or a group of actors moving around a stage without much space; and
- Life - where actors have to recreate a moment in real life in as natural a setting as possible.
In Ottawa, from April 9 to 13, the team will perform and compete inside the National Arts Centre, where they will meet some of the top acting coaches in the country, take part in professional workshops and then take their acting skills onto the street.
One optional workshop is called Street Foolery, where students join a professional actor on the streets of Ottawa to entertain the public as they go shopping or visit the Parliament buildings.
And it's the clowning around that most of the troupe members love the most.
Kelsey Corrigan, the daughter of Burnaby's mayor, joined the team on the advice of her older brother Darcy, who is currently taking drama at the University of British Columbia.
"I like it for the adrenaline rush," Corrigan said. "When you're up there on stage, everything goes so fast. Your mind is racing."
Doug Ferguson said he wants to become an actor, and he already has an agent and has done a few extra roles for the local film industry.
Josh Heatherington is interested in the behind-the-scenes production work such as the lighting and electrical aspects of theatre, plus setting up props and costumes.
The club is also hoping to do a bit of fundraising before they depart on Tuesday.
Anyone who can help them with travel expenses is asked to call the school drama department at 604-664-8560.

Strike brings SFU to a halt

Strike brings SFU to a halt
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published April 5, 2003

The labour dispute at Simon Fraser University has escalated into a full-scale strike.
Pickets were up at all entrances of SFU's three campuses on Friday morning after a Wednesday bargaining session ended with little movement from either side.
"We've got traffic backed up as far as I can see," CUPE local 3338 business manager John Bannister said while standing on a picket line at the Burnaby Mountain campus.
While students are able to get onto campus, many faculty members are refusing to cross the picket lines for the last day of classes. Final exams are scheduled to begin on Monday (April 7) and, while faculty do not have to be in attendance, the strike could prevent many students from being able to write their exams.
"The university is making every attempt to ensure that students do not lose the semester," said Kathryn Aberle, director of media and public relations for SFU. "But obviously it is a huge concern that this kind of action is being taken at this point in the semester."
The university's board of governors rejected a union offer to go to binding arbitration before tabling their own "enhanced offer" on Wednesday, Aberle said. The union responded with a counteroffer which was, in turn, rejected by the university.
"Their counterproposal indicated that the union was still not willing to bargain within the constraints that both of us have to operate in," Aberle said. "At that point it was felt that they were not serious about bargaining."
Bannister said the university's last contract proposal contained nothing new.
"They just shuffled the shell game," Bannister said. "She should tell you that they walked away from the bargaining table."
While neither side was willing to disclose details of the latest offer, the university previously tabled a proposal that contained no wage increases for three years for the estimated 750 non-teaching staff at the university. The union said that offer was unfair because SFU administrators and faculty members both received wage hikes in their most recent contracts.
A press release issued by the university on Tuesday also said that a full-scale strike will likely disrupt summer classes, fall registration and the graduation of up to 3,500 students at spring convocation.
In other developments, a group of about 85 unionized tradespeople who work at SFU have also rejected the most recent contract offer from the university.