The 759 Falcon Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets made an impressive appearance in Vancouver’s Chinese New Year parade recently. Thanks to K.H. Tang, who chairs the squadron’s sponsoring committee, 2014 was the first year ever the local cadets were invited to appear in the parade.
According to Tang, the cadets were one of the largest groups in the parade. The 759 Falcon Squadron is a group of 185 cadets, aged 12 to 18, based in North Burnaby. No fewer than 120 representatives marched in the parade, including the cadets, their band, officers and volunteers from the squadron.
Pipeline meeting
The Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion been a hot topic of late, so I am sure many of you will be interested in this upcoming town hall meeting on Tuesday March 4.
ForestEthics and BROKE (Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion) have joined forces to host the meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. at Cameron Elementary.
The meeting will focus on the latest developments in the project.
Dipak Dattani from the City of Burnaby’s engineering department will bring a PowerPoint presentation on the project and the city’s position. The Burnaby Teachers’ Association is scheduled to be there, and the Mayor Derek Corrigan has been invited but hasn’t confirmed yet.
Ben West, from ForestEthics, is scheduled to speak – he’s one of the leading organizers in the activist movement against the pipeline. A representative from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation will also speak, as the pipeline crosses the nation’s traditional territory.
Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart will be in Ottawa, but a representative from his office may be attending. I will also be there, so feel free to approach me with concerns about the pipeline, or just come and say hi. (Hint: Look for the reporter with red hair and 1960s glasses, clutching a notebook.)
Cameron Elementary is at 9540 Erickson Dr.
Also, Forest Ethics is sending out canvassers to publicize the meeting, so don’t be surprised if someone comes knocking on your door.
Jeanne Fike’s retirement party
Say it ain’t so! One of our favourite longtime local sources is retiring. Jeanne Fike, executive director of Burnaby Family Life Institute, is leaving her post.
There will be a retirement celebration on March 12, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Burnaby Firefighters Hall, at 6515 Bonsor Ave.
And in true Jeanne fashion, the event is a fundraiser for Kids’ Challenge, a Burnaby Family Life effort to raise money for vulnerable children.
Tickets are $25, and there will be hot and cold appies, entertainment and a silent auction.
Tickets are available by dropping by Burnaby Family Life’s Holdom or Metrotown locations or by calling 604-669-2200. Tickets will also be available at the door.
Goodbye Jeanne, we will miss you dearly, and thank you for all the contributions you’ve made to our city over the years.
