The Burnaby NOW wasn't the only newspaper to focus on the school district's antihomophobia policy as the story of 2011.
Xtra!, a publication for Canada's gay and lesbian community, declared the Burnaby school board as newsmaker of the year for passing an anti-homophobia policy for schools.
"Despite a very vocal but small opposition - when it came right down to it - we were doing the right thing that was not only going to benefit those students in the LGBT community, but would make a healthier school district overall, and a healthier community," school board chair Larry Hayes told Xtra! In summer, trustees passed policy 5.45 to protect staff and students from homophobic harassment. Parents' Voice, the group that formed in opposition to the policy, was named Xtra!'s second newsmaker of the year.
Alert neighbour saves the day
Here's a lovely tale sent in by NOW reader Gerda Wever, who saved her neighbours' home from destruction over the holidays.
Wever, who lives near the base of Burnaby Mountain, was out for her daily run with her two dogs recently, when she heard the faint sound of an alarm. The noise seemed to be coming from the home of her neighbours, Jim and Angela.
"I went up, rang the bell, no reply. I put my ear to the door, and sure enough, the sound came from inside," Gerda wrote in a note to the NOW.
Jim and Angela have a lawn sign with their alarm company's name and number, so Wever gave the dispatcher a call.
"The lady on the phone was dismissive, saying there were no signals coming in from that residence. I asked if she would call Jim anyway, just in case. She suggested that I was making a mountain out of a molehill," Gerda said.
But Gerda figured the dispatcher must have called after all, because a few minutes later, Jim's mom (who also lives with the couple) arrived. Shortly after, three fire trucks came roaring down the street, and when Gerda went out to see what had happened, the firefighter in charge slapped her on the back so hard he almost sent her flying.
"Good job! You are a great neighbour," he exclaimed.
Apparently, the mother had left a pot of soup on the stove and went out.
"The firefighters told me that had I not called, the house would have burned to the ground. I phoned the alarm company back, just to say, 'Hey lady, next time, try to be a little nicer when people are trying to do the right thing,'" Gerda said. "There was significant smoke damage, and Jim and Angela are still dealing with that, but they were so happy that a fire was prevented."
Jim's mom repaid Gerda with a pot of fried rice, wine and cookies.
Thanks to Gerda, you're reading this as an anecdote in my column and not a disaster story on the front page.
