Vandals strike Shadbolt Centre

Vandals strike Shadbolt Centre: Cleanup expected to cost about $35,000
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby NOW assistant editor
Published, Aug. 18, 2002

Vandals struck at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts last weekend, and staff are thankful their prank caused nothing more serious than a costly clean-up.
Unknown suspects entered the arts centre building some time during the late hours of a Saturday night wedding reception and discharged several dry powder fire extinguishers into the air intake system.
During the night, the white powder worked its way through the building's cooling system and ended up coating much of the interior of the building in the mysterious white powder.
When a janitor discovered the mess the next morning, an environmental clean-up crew was called to the scene. A risk assessment determined that the dust was mostly baking soda.
"Thankfully, nobody was injured and there was no health risk," said Ben Van Dyk, manager of operations for cultural services at the city art centre.
"It was serious, but only because it cost a lot of money to clean up."
Groups with scheduled events in the centre that morning were contacted immediately and relocated to other city arts buildings, including the adjacent James Cowan Theatre and Mather House studios.
Several prominent pieces of art - included paintings by Joe Average and the centre's namesake, Jack Shadbolt - had to be scrubbed clean.
The total cost of the clean-up is expected to be about $35,000.
"It was a very expensive nuisance," Van Dyk said.
The centre re-opened as usual on Monday morning.
The suspects are believed to entered the building some time between 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 a.m. Sunday.
An RCMP investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call 604-294-7922.

ONE NASTY TRUCKER

Be on the lookout for a red Ford F250 pick-up truck with silver running boards and an open box. Burnaby RCMP say the driver is responsible for a three-vehicle accident on Deer Lake Avenue during the Monday evening rush hour.
The suspect apparently rear-ended a small vehicle and forced it into oncoming traffic, where it struck a third vehicle. One driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
While none of the witnesses was able to obtain the licence number of the pick-up, Burnaby RCMP Const. Andrea Hills said the investigating officers believe 'road rage' was the cause of the incident.
The driver is believed to be a male with shoulder length grey hair.
He had a 'German shepherd-like dog' in the truck cab. The truck will likely have damage at its front left corner.
Anyone with information is asked to call Burnaby RCMP at 604-294-7922.