Kudos to Burnaby resident Devon Downie, who won second place in a major Toastmasters competition.
Downie won the public speaking contest with her tale of a stubborn pigeon that flew into her apartment and wouldn’t leave. The contestants tells stories that may or may not be true, and in Downie’s case, the anecdote was true but greatly exaggerated.
“It’s more about your body and delivery than the actual speech itself; it’s quite a performance you’re giving,” she said.
Downie said she had a speaking coach help her edit her presentation down to the most dramatic elements.
Toastmasters is an international public speaking organization, and the contest was for a district96, which represents roughly half of B.C. For more information, go to www.district96.ca.
Christmas bureau update
Need a little help this Christmas? Burnaby Community Services, the organization that facilitates the local Christmas Bureau, is extending the deadline for families to register, because some have been having trouble gathering all the necessary documents. The new deadline to register is Dec. 22.
The bureau makes sure local low-income families have food and presents and isolated seniors have holiday hampers.
To register, go to the toy room at 7252 Kingsway with a C-print from Revenue Canada for each adult in your family.
Registration is open Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To get a C-print, call 1-800-959-8281 and press * to speak to an operator. If you’re on income assistance, bring a print-out from your ministry office instead of a C-print. Info: 604-292-3902 or burnabycommunityconnections.com.
Labour awards
Jim Sinclair, Darrell Causey and Debra Elless were honoured at the labour appreciation awards in Burnaby on Dec. 3.
Sinclair, a well-known labour activist and former head of the B.C. Federation of Labour, received the Syd Thompson award for community service from the Vancouver and District Labour Council.
Causey is a business agent with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518. He received the labour community service award from the New Westminster and District Labour Council.
Elless, vice-president of Unifor Local 4275, won the Joe Morris labour community service award from the United Way.
The awards ceremony drew roughly 300 people, including Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan, city councillors Sav Dhaliwal and Paul McDonnel, and Trevor Morgan, a city employee on loan to the United Way to help with fundraising.
The annual awards are hosted by the United Way, the Vancouver and District Labour Council and the New Westminster and District Labour Council, with Pacific Blue Cross as the presenter.
Help for homeless
Seton Villa donated $1,000 to the West Burnaby United Church to help feed the homeless.
“It’s just really a good showing of good will from the community to recognize a need that exists,” said Reverend Graham Brownmiller.
Seton Villa is a seniors’ housing complex, and the residents have a “villager’s committee” that raised $500 for the cause. The Seton Villa board then matched that for a total donation of $1,000. The money will help buy food for the Tuesday lunches, which rely on donations from the church-goers. About 60 to 70 people, many of them homeless, come to the Metrotown-area church on Tuesdays for a warm meal and sometimes clothing. To get involved or make a donation, email Brownmiller at [email protected].
