Burnaby Lake in the B.C. spotlight

Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn
Published Dec. 15, 2002

Naysayers who are opposed to city council's plans to dredge Burnaby Lake may want to take a peek at the most recent edition of the internationally-acclaimed British Columbia Magazine.

The winter 2002 issue, now on newsstands, features a four-page article on our local wildlife treasure, chock full of the magazine's trademark beautiful photos of our local nature park.

The magazine, which has worldwide distribution and recently won 10 separate awards from the International Regional Magazine Association, described the Burnaby Lake regional park as "the best little duck pond in British Columbia."

Of course, the lake is rapidly filling in with silt, and environmentalists are worried that this rare wildlife habitat in the midst of an urban community may soon disappear unless the dredging program begins soon.

The article, written by Bruce Obee, tells of coyotes searching for food and how the large lake carp can actually gobble down the tiny Canada goose goslings that begin their lives on the marshes and reeds that surround the lake waters.

MARCHING TO THEIR OWN BEAT

The 50-member Burnaby North secondary marching band has again earned the Best School Band trophy at the annual Santa Claus Parade held in downtown New Westminster last weekend.

This is the third year in a row that the band has won the award, and apparently, the weather was a whole lot more enjoyable this time when compared to last year.

Peter Wenzek, teacher sponsor of the band, says Burnaby North has one of very few school marching bands in the Lower Mainland, and finding the right equipment is not easy during these days of tighter budgets.

"We have virtually no marching equipment," Wenzek told a reporter who once spent his winter school days marching around a snow- covered track with a sousaphone wrapped around his shoulders. "We're pulling small miracles around here. We have no formal uniforms, and no budget."

The Burnaby North marching band is now checking into plans to march in the Hats Off Day parade on Hastings Street next summer, and some of its members performed at the premier screening of the new movie 'Drumline' at Silver City Metropolis on Friday.

Anyone with a spare sousaphone or percussion instruments around can call Wenzek at the school, 664-8550 ext 272.

HONOURS FOR BLOCK PARENTS

A Burnaby resident who's been a mainstay for the Block Parent program across the entire province for almost two decades was awarded the Queens' Golden Jubilee medal at a ceremony in New Westminster this week.

Gail Yip, who first joined Block Parents in 1983, was among six people who were presented the commemorative medals by MP Paul Forseth and BC Block Parent Society president Shelley Sweeney.

Gail first joined the program when her own children were small, and she just stayed on over the years because of the incredible good work done by the program.

Over the years, she's served as a volunteer, school coordinator, area coordinator, publicity coordinator and director for the association, and this year she is the first vice-president of BC BPS.

And that's not all. Gail is also active in the BC Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Salvation Army.

HARRY SENDS CASH

Instead of sending out Christmas cards this holiday season, local MLA Harry Bloy donated $2,000 to a group of six local charities.

Bloy, who represents the Burquitlam riding, gave his hard-earned cash to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, the Burnaby Optimist Club, Coquitlam Kinettes, Cottonwood Connections, Jimmy Christmas Hamper Fund and the Northeast Burnaby Community Association.

The cheques were handed out during a special ceremony at Harry's Clarke Road constituency office earlier this month.


COATS FOR KIDS FROM CURTIS

Kudos are due to the good folks at Curtis Lumber, who were probably the greatest single contributors to the seventh annual Coats for Kids campaign organized by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association.

Collection boxes were set up at both Curtis Lumber locations in the city late last month, and after just two weeks, the staff, customers and friends had donated a whopping total of more than 100 warm coats for needy kids and teenagers.

"Every year they collect more and more coats," said GVHBA executive director Peter Simpson. "They really get involved in this and, let's face it, they don't have to do this."

Curtis Lumbers' donation is one of the main reasons the campaign collected more than 1,900 warm coats this year, more than double the number collected last year.

Other collection boxes were set up by local renovation company TQ Construction, and at the Elgin Street sales office of Intracorp Developments.

All coats will be taken to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau for distribution to families across the region.

MARKING THE DAYS

Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland are holding one of their largest fundraisers at Brentwood Town Centre this holiday season.

The group is selling their inspirational 2003 Contest Calendar for Big Sisters at a special kiosk inside the shopping centre.

The 15-month calendar includes inspirational sayings and pictures, plus 52 chances, one for each week of the year plus a grand prize, for the chance to win prizes valued at over $15,000.

The calendars will be on sale until Christmas Eve. All proceeds go back into the organization which currently has 33 matched Big and Little Sisters in Burnaby, plus more on the waiting lists.

A SCARY TALE

Looking for the perfect stocking stuffer for the rebel in your family?

The Haven: A True Story of Life in the Hole is the autobiography of Richard Dube, a convicted murderer, who robbed a motel in Burnaby en route to a long stint of inside Canada's most notorious prisons.
Dube's story, $10.99 from Harper Collins, gives a frightful look into Canada's prison system and what terrors await those who cross to the other side of the law.

The book would be a real eye-opener for anyone who believes that Canada's prisons have turned into country clubs.