Show finds home for furry orphans

Here and Now column
By Dan Hilborn, Burnaby Now assistant editor
Published Aug. 9, 2003


There were tears in the eyes of the SPCA volunteers when they joined in the Family Pet Show and Adopt-a-thon at Brentwood Town Centre last weekend.

While adopt-a-thons typically only find homes for 10 cats, the good folks of Burnaby almost helped to triple that number during the four-day event at Brentwood, says Charlene Hess, marketing director of the shopping centre under the sails.

"Last weekend, we saw 27 cats adopted and one 12-year-old dog," said Hess, who adopted her own pet cat from the SPCA just a few years previously. "The volunteers had tears in their eyes, they were so ecstatic."

In addition to the Adopt-a-thon, Brentwood Town Centre also opened its doors to a variety of working animals such as Barkley, the Vancouver Fire Department's search and rescue dog, plus emergency first-aid dogs and freestyle dancing dogs.

The event went over so well, Brentwood Town Centre is planning to do it again next year, said Hess, who was recently featured as one of Susie Wall's Glam Girls in the Province.

STARS OF THE PNE

If you think the weather the past few weeks has been hot, try standing under the bright lights at the PNE Shaw Star Discovery Talent Search, which takes place during the annual fair that begins next weekend.

A total of seven Burnaby residents have qualified for the semifinals of British Columbia's largest talent search. They are Braden Fong, Vanessa Fong, Ashley Chow, Alissa Keogh, Caitlan Read, Belinda Cheremkora and Laura Grossi.

The lucky contestants will compete for a total of $20,000 in cash prizes, including a top prize of $3,000 in each of the four age divisions. In addition, the winner of the Youth Talent division will win a trip to represent our province at the Canadian Youth Talent Competition.

A panel of industry professionals judged the semifinalists and rated the contestants on the following criteria: 50 per cent quality of performance, 25 per cent natural ability and 25 per cent stage presence and showmanship.

A total of 116 semifinalists will perform on the Telus Mobility Stage from 5 to 6 p.m. each day during the Pacific National Exhibition, which runs from Aug. 16 to Sept. 1.

For more information, visit www.pne.bc.ca or call 604-253-2311.

ONE VERY WILD BOARD

A little birdie told us that the folks at the Wildlife Rescue Association have elected a new executive.

The board will now be headed by president Cynthia Picker, vice- president Mick Yada, treasurer Jackie Hesketh and recording secretary Susan Stevens. The directors-at-large will be David Cook, Linda Heep, Dirk Haack and Deborah Tucker.

Picker is a 14-year volunteer with the organization and was primarily responsible for the construction of the beautiful and functional NatureScape habitat garden at the Glencarin Drive headquarters.

The WRA is that region-wide organization that provides care and relief to injured or distraught wild animals that are found throughout the Lower Mainland.

The association always seeks donations to help ensure it has the equipment, food and other supplies needed to keep the operation running.

And, oh yeah, the little birdie says 'thank you,' too.

TAX PROTEST MADE PUBLIC

Some rather pertinent information was left out of an item in my previous column about Ron Knight, the Burnaby author of the self- help book Healing Money Issues.

Knight has confirmed this week that he is indeed the same person who in December 2001 was convicted and fined $6,000 for failing to file his income tax forms for the years 1994 to 1998.

"Yes, it's true, but I have since filed all my taxes," Knight said Thursday, after this newspaper was tipped off to the oversight by an astute reader.

Apparently, Knight's refusal to pay the taxes was intended as a protest against the practices of the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

"I deliberately didn't file in order to get them into court," says the north Burnaby resident. "But that was so many years ago. I have paid it and I'm current and that's all finished and handled."

Knight's describes the national taxation agency as an "organization that preys on fear" and said he made the challenge simply to get the experience.

"They actually panic anyone they deal with. So, instead of going through that, I decided I was going to challenge them."

He also says his book is not so much about financial advice as it is about the emotional issues surrounding money.

"I don't advise people what to do with their money. That's definitely not what I do. I advise people how to handle their emotions and their feelings and all the emotional charge and issues that stem from dealing with money issues."

And as for his court experience, Knight says, "It's actually the best thing I ever did, and I'd do it again."

HUFFING AND PUFFING

You could say he blew away the competition.

Magician Rick Mearns of Burnaby won the award as the fastest balloon twister in the west at the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians convention, held last weekend at the Executive Inn on North Road in Coquitlam.

Using a combination of prestidigitation and perspiration, Mearns twisted eight doggie-shaped balloons in two minutes: the best time among the 260 magicians who registered for the convention.

A full-time professional comedy magician, Mearns has been wowing audiences for more than 30 years and was recently named the 'Rolls Royce' of Vancouver magicians.

A LITTLE CLARIFICATION

In the Wed. July 2 edition of the Burnaby NOW, in the story 'Parents protest federal process,' we mistakenly referred to Senator Landon Pearson as "he." She is currently looking over submissions for the National Plan of Action for Children, which will be released later this year.