Maureen Arvanitidis is stepping down after more than a decade at the helm of the New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society.
Arvanitidis was the group’s president for 18 years, but credited the directors and society members for its successes.
“The most recent accomplishment is, of course, the creation of the Heritage Conservation Area for Queen’s Park, with our society members and directors working in conjunction with the residents of Queen’s Park and, of course, the staff and council in New Westminster,” she wrote in an email to the Record. “It is our hope that other resident groups will pursue a conservation area in their respective neighbourhoods – and the heritage preservation society is willing to provide assistance.”
Arvanitidis said New Westminster is home to the oldest operating homes tour in Western Canada, a tour that’s raised awareness about the city and beyond.
Arvanitidis will be continuing as past president and will still be involved in heritage in New West, but is thrilled that Queen’s Park resident Steve North taken on the role as the society’s new president.
“I am not going to change the heritage world, but I am hoping we can increase our presence in New Westminster,” he recently told city council. “As you know, we are primarily known for the Heritage Homes tour in May, which will be 39 years old in 2018.”
North said the society is looking forward to Heritage B.C.’ annual conference in May, as its being held in New Westminster, and to supporting the city in its implementation of a heritage conservation area in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood.
Mayor Jonathan Cote said the society has done a lot of great work through the years.
“The heritage preservation society has done a lot of great work over the years. The homes tour, it really does put the City of New Westminster on the map. It always gets a lot of regional coverage. I always see the thousands of people walking around the neighbourhoods. It’s a really interesting project. I am looking forward to what you are going to bring to the organization and what future partnerships can be forged in the City of New Westminster,” he said at a council meeting.
Grads wanted
The Class of ‘77 at New Westminster Secondary School is getting together for its 40-year reunion this weekend.
Grads are invited to attend the reunion that’s taking place on Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Royal City Curling Club from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“We are finding it really hard to contact everybody. We have about 90 people – it was a class of 400,” said grad Dawn Millott, one of the event’s organizers. “It will be great to see you at the 40th.”
The Class of ‘77 last got together for a 30-year reunion at the gym at New Westminster Secondary School, but has opted for a cozier venue for this year’s celebration. The ticket includes appetizers and a cash bar will be open.
Tickets are $40 and are available at classreport.org.
Save the Date
New Westminster Environmental Partners is taking on the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion project at this month’s meetup.
Green Drink is taking place on Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street. Folks are invited to meet up at 6 p.m. and listen to guest speakers starting at 7 p.m.
Eugene Kung, staff lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law, will talk about the proposed pipeline expansion, and Heather Bears of Zoetica Environmental Consulting Services will talk about the Brunette River and Kinder Morgan.
Kinder Morgan is planning to twin its pipeline that runs between Edmonton and the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, which would expand its capacity to transport diluted bitumen. New Westminster city council has voiced concerns that the pipeline’s proposed route poses risks to the Brunette River.
Collect connects to city
Douglas College is the first post-secondary institution to connect the City of New Westminster’s high-speed fibre network.
In collaboration with B.C.-Net, Douglas College is now powered by the city’s BridgeNet fibre optic network.
“Transitioning to BridgeNet supports Douglas College’s pursuit of fast, reliable, secure and seamless technology infrastructure that allows our students to focus on learning,” Tracey Szirth, vice president administrative services and CFO at Douglas College, said in a news release.
The new 1G fibre connection provides a direct link between Douglas College’s campus in New Westminster and the BCNET internet exchange at Harbour Centre in Vancouver.
“BridgeNet is a foundational component to the city’s intelligent city initiative,” said Coun. Bill Harper, co-chair of the intelligent city advisory committee. As a Smart21 community, our goal is to connect our community. Providing access and increasing opportunities for businesses, residents and institutions.”
