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Movers & Shakers: Milani brings Christmas to those often forgotten

Milani Plumbing Drainage and Heating recently played Santa to people who are often forgotten over the holidays.

Milani Plumbing Drainage and Heating recently played Santa to people who are often forgotten over the holidays.
The company brought Christmas to patients of the psychiatric inpatient unit at Burnaby Hospital on Thursday, according to a press release from the company.
“When we asked Cathie (Heritage) at Burnaby Hospital where the biggest need was, she replied without hesitation, ‘our psychiatric patients,’” Vern Milani, president of the company, said in the release. “During the holidays, women and children usually get all the attention, but this population of the hospital is typically forgotten. That is why we want to bring them some joy, smiles and a great meal.”
Volunteers from the company began roasting three turkeys at 5 a.m. for the lunch, the release added.
The inpatient unit has 25 beds for adults who are “experiencing an acute phase of psychiatric illness,” the release stated.

Two Burnaby businesses make top 10
They may be small, but two Burnaby businesses have made the province’s top-10 list.
Burnaby Physiotherapy and Wellness is a top 10 semifinalists for the Best Employer Award in the Small Business B.C. Awards, according to a press release from Small Business B.C.
Williams and White Equipment is a top 10 semifinalist for the Best International Trade Award and the Best Employer award, as well.
Two years ago, Williams and White won the Best Company Award, according to the release.
The top five finalists will be announced on Jan. 30, and the winners will be honoured at an awards ceremony at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver on Feb. 27, the release stated.

Solo developer looks to public for feedback
The people behind one of Burnaby’s newest developments aren’t planning to go “solo” when planning it.
Jim Bosa, president and founder of Appia Developments, which is developing the Solo District in the Brentwood area, recently surveyed nearly 400 future residents about what they want to see there, according to a release from Solo.
“It’s important that residents of Solo District feel a sense of community,” Bosa said in the release. “We want to know what makes people feel at home’. It helps us develop Solo District for the ones that matter the most: the families who will live there.”
The survey results showed the future residents want a one-of-a-kind community with fine dining, retail stores and family friendly businesses, the release stated, as well as comfort and convenience.
When completed, Solo will consist of four towers. The first of the four towers is slated to open for business in 16 months, according to the release.

Pledge gets new website
The Burnaby Board of Trade spruced up its sustainability pledge website.
The new website was developed by a Vancouver-based digital agency called Kumu, according to a press release from the board.
“We launched the pledge for a sustainable community about a year ago, and we were surprised and thrilled with the amount of immediate uptake we received from our business community,” board president and CEO Paul Holden said in the release. “We believe it is important for us to lead the business community in helping them become more sustainable because it’s good for business and it’s also good for the environment. The new and improved website will also provide business with a springboard for all of the BBOT’s environmental sustainability-related programming.”
The new website can be found at bbotpledge.ca.
Have a business story idea or an item for Movers & Shakers? Email Janaya at jfuller-evans@burnabynow.com.