Sadly, I only got to write about Burnaby resident Jeremy Chen after he passed away in March 2011 from lung cancer. He was a nonsmoker, and he left behind a wife, an infant son and a group of friends, co-workers and family members who obviously cared a lot for him because they've formed a team and continue to fundraise in his memory. Last November, "Team JC" won a contest at Metropolis at Metrotown by cramming as many people as possible into a VW Beetle. That feat earned them $5,000 for the B.C. Lung Association.
As part of the same fundraising efforts, Burnaby's Marina Madden, a friend of Jeremy's, will climb 48 flights of stairs at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre on Feb. 26. Marina is part of Team JC, which was the top fundraising group for the B.C. Lung Association in 2011. They raised more than $63,000 with the help of CP Rail and CN Rail, and about half of that was from Jeremy's former employer, TSI Terminal Systems. This year, they are hoping to raise $25,000.
Ten to 15 per cent of people with lung cancer are like Jeremy - never smoked or had family members who smoked - but the disease took hold anyway. Last February, Jeremy was still well enough to participate in the stair-climbing event.
This year, I'm told, he will be missed. To donate, see www.stairclimb.com.
FREE WORKSHOP
DIVERSE city Community Resources is hosting a free workshop at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown to help employers of new immigrants. The session is on Thursday, Feb. 2, from 9 to 10: 30 a.m. The topic is how employers, managers, and HR specialists can facilitate recruitment, hiring, orientation and career development for new immigrant staff. Register online at www.surveymonkey.com/ s/M8XGDPM.
The Hilton Vancouver Metrotown is at 6083 MacKay Ave. in Burnaby.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
We've received a couple of notes about Lunar New Year events in the city.
Dave MacLean, principal at Westridge Elementary, informed us that students celebrated the Lunar New Year on Friday, Jan. 20 by making dumplings and painting good luck banners. They also got to see special performances, including a dragon dance.
Forest Grove Elementary, which runs the district's first Mandarin language arts program for kindergarten kids, hosted a Chinese New Year assembly on Monday, Jan. 23, complete with songs, a ribbon dance and a dragon dance.
Don Doyle sent us a note about celebrations at Bonsor Recreation Complex, where there was a Chinese New Year dinner and dance on Jan. 20.
Burnaby's Tian-Jin Taoist Temple is hosting a Chinese New Year celebration on Sunday, Feb. 5. Admission is by donation, and there will be lanternmaking, riddles, prizes, food and family activities.
The temple is at 3426 Smith Ave., and the festival is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more info, go to www.tian jintemple.org.
SUNCREST DROP-IN
Suncrest Elementary School is holding its annual drop-in program for parents with three-to four-year-olds. Ready Set Learn is on Friday, Jan. 27, from 11 a.m. to noon. The event offers children a playful introduction to school, while parents can meet the principal and kindergarten teacher. RSVP at 604-664-8862.
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