Local soapbox racers will be spinning their wheels alongside Deer Lake on June 13 but other drivers will have to find another route.
The 2015 Deer Lake Gravity Grand Prix marks the return of the soapbox derby on Sperling Avenue, which was last held in 2010.
Burnaby city council approved road closures for the derby, to be held along Sperling Avenue and Deer Lake Drive, at Monday night’s council meeting.
The roads will be closed to regular traffic from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the races beginning at 11 a.m.
If the June 13 event is rained out, the races will be held on June 14.
The Rotary Club of Burnaby and Kidsport are cohosting the event, with proceeds going to Rotary’s community projects.
Filling Empty Bowls
The City of Burnaby is helping organizers of the Empty Bowls Gala by providing $1,500 in in-kind printing services for the event. The gala takes place at the Hilton Metrotown Hotel on April 23.
City council also approved six other grants at Monday night’s meeting.
The Richard Major Art Group will receive $300 for a Burnaby-based art program, the Maple Leaf Singers will receive $200 for their annual spring show, and École Alpha Secondary School will receive $200 for its dry grad celebration.
Scouts Canada was granted $5,000 for its 2015 scouting programs.
The Community Centred College for the Retired was granted $2,500 for its courses and programs.
The Afghan Women’s Sewing and Craft Co-operative will receive a one-time lease grant to cover three months rent at the Edmonds Neighbourhood Resource Centre, totalling $1,424.31.
And finally, the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre will receive a $1,000 in-kind grant for its Hokori event, commemorating the 100th anniversary of Japanese Canadian soldiers participation in the First World War.
Gilmore development, take two
A highrise proposed for Gilmore Avenue and Douglas Road is going back to public hearing, albeit with a bit of a trim.
In 2013, the Aviara II developer put forward a plan for a 52-storey highrise east of the Aviara I project at Gilmore and Halifax Street.
After the project went to public hearing, the applicant, LM Aviara Communities Ltd., realized the proposed support structure was inefficient and uneconomical, according to a report from Burnaby’s director of planning and building, Lou Pelletier.
The design has been tweaked and the applicant has submitted a proposal for a 42-storey highrise instead.
Two low-rise apartment buildings, four and six storeys respectively, are still part of the proposed project.
The development proposal will go to public hearing on March 31 at 7 p.m. in the council chamber at city hall.
