$8,328 in 'seed' money

Here and Now column by Dan Hilborn
Published Oct. 8, 2003


Students at Chaffey-Burke school went all out for the Terry Fox Run last month, and they raised a whopping $3,828.44 to aid the cause of cancer research in Canada.

The students came up with lots of terrific fundraising ideas, including a very messy watermelon-eating contest between Grade 1 teacher Mrs. Goncalves and Grade 7 teacher Miss Borgenstrom.

According to parent Peggy Ho, the students raised $1,000 more than last year - an accomplishment that was made even more remarkable by the fact that the small Metrotown area school actually has fewer students than last year.

When the school smashed its former fundraising effort, music teacher Miss Carrie Lee had to live up to her promise of having her head shaved in front of the entire school population.

THAT'S JUST DUCKY

How would you like to own a limited edition Bobby Orr hockey jersey and help out a good cause at the same time?

The Burnaby-Coquitlam chapter of Ducks Unlimited Canada is holding a fundraiser at the Confederation seniors' centre later this month, and an autographed Boston Bruins jersey is the keynote item on the list.

Ducks Unlimited Canada is the only charity in Canada to receive these limited edition replica Boston Bruin No. 4 jerseys, thanks in part to the fact that Orr is honorary spokesperson for the group.

"This sweater is the last one I wore as a player with the Bruins in the NHL," Orr said in a press release. "I wanted to do something different for DUC, and DUC is the only organization that is going to have it."

The Ducks Unlimited fundraiser will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25. For information or tickets, contact James Brooks at 604-340- 6534.

BOOKING A WINNER?

They may call it the Vancouver Book Award, but there's a good chance that a Burnaby author could win it this year.

Earth Sciences professor John Clague was among several SFU scholars nominated this week for the prestigious city of Vancouver prize for books that reflect the unique culture or history of that larger city to the east.

Clague and Bob Turner, a researcher with the Geological Survey of Canada, are the authors of Vancouver: City on the Edge, a book that takes a unique look at that city's dynamic geographical landscape.

According to a press release from the SFU media department, City on the Edge is the first book published in Canada that teaches geology by tackling local issues.

"For example, we talk about the importance of making wise land use decisions in an earthquake prone area," said Clague, a Canada Research Chair in natural hazard research. "We also raise questions about heavily populating flood prone areas, such as the Fraser- Delta."

The other SFU scholars nominated for the prize are Jeff Sommers, a 2001 geography grad, geography prof Nick Blomley and assistant professor of English, Jeff Derksen, who contributed essays to the book Stan Douglas: Every Building on 100 West Hastings.

"Taking off from Stan Douglas' extraordinary photo mural, these essays crystallize the ongoing debate on such important issues as urban development and planning," said a press release from the city of Vancouver.

Also nominated for the award are Heroines, a series of photographs of the women who live in or frequent the Downtown Eastside, and Intimate Distances, a book of lyric poems reflecting the life of a middle-class Chinese Canadian family.

The City of Vancouver Book Award will be handed out Oct. 21 at the Vancouver city council meeting.