The City of New Westminster is teaming up with students from the University of British Columbia to be a “living lab” as part of the Intelligent City initiative.
Students in UBC’s masters of engineering leadership program will be researching and recommending best practices in three areas: transport, clean energy and big data.
“New West is thrilled to be collaborating with the MEL program,” Mayor Jonathan Cote said in a press release. “With New Westminster recently being recognized as one of the world’s Smart21 Communities of 2017, it’s the perfect time to gain insight into propelling our Intelligent City strategy forward.”
A press release states that this collaboration will engage the students in research that is both leading edge in terms of urban systems and technology applications, while also focusing on providing research that can help solve real and tangible urban problems and identify opportunities for the city.
“Cities are the spaces where we can make the greatest positive gains if we can improve efficiencies or change behaviour,” said Martino Tran, co-director of the program at UBC. “New Westminster’s central location, small size and big-city challenges make it the ideal living lab for us to study smart city best practices.”
Taking on cancer
A New West native is encouraging community members to get off their butts and get tested for cancer.
Cancer survivor Don McLean continues his Club Chemo campaign of encouraging people to get tested for colon cancer.
“It’s a very loose thing. When I came up with the idea, I was sitting in a chair at the Royal Columbian getting chemo. I looked around at the people and thought, there’s got to be something we can do,” said McLean who dealt with colon and prostate cancer in 2005 and 2006. “I started the idea and came up with this thought about Club Chemo.”
The Langley resident gathers information about cancer and uses that data to encourage people to get pre-screened for colon cancer by having a free fecal immunochemical (FIT) test.
“Everybody between 50 and 74 should be tested because cancer rates are going to go up,” he said. “They have been coming down, but now they are saying they are going to shoot up. Everyone says by 2030.”
McLean is also concerned about the major increase of colon cancer that is projected to occur among people aged 20 and 34. He said obesity is deemed to be a major risk factor for colon and rectal cancer.
“I feel very strongly about it,” he said about early detection and prevention. “Colon cancer is one of the easiest cancers to detect because of the blood and colonoscopy. If you get checked in time, there is about a 90 per cent survival rate. Of course you have to get off your butt and get your butt into the doctor.”
Save the Date: May 13
What’s happening?
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp Fraser is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a reception and banquet dinner on Saturday, May 13 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. at the Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Ave. Tickets are $75. To reserve a ticket, visit the event’s RCSCC Fraser 75th anniversary page on Facebook.
Who’s invited?
Anyone who has been involved with RCSCC Fraser, the Navy League or sea cadets is welcome to attend and help celebrate the anniversary. More than 100 people have already signed up to attend the anniversary celebration.
Is there anything else happening?
Former members of RCSCC Fraser are also getting together with a meet-and-greet (including a no-host bar) on Friday, May 12 and an open house, including displays and a meet-and-greet, on Saturday, May 13 at the group’s Annacis Island training quarters, 553 Derwent Way.
Tell me about the group:
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Fraser was formed in 1942. Since that time, many young men and women have joined the corps – and they now number in the thousands.
“Some of our cadets have gone into high places like lieutenant commanders and RCMP and police,” said Baj Puri, chair of the 75th anniversary committee. “It’s a great training place.”
Delivered in partnership by the Navy League of Canada and the Department of National Defence, the sea cadet program strives to foster the development of leadership skills, good citizenship and physical fitness. While the program introduces cadets to what the Navy is all about, cadets are not members of the Canadian Forces and are free to leave the program at any time.
More information, please:
Check out the group’s website at www.joinseacadets.ca/about_us.html or visit the event’s RCSCC Fraser 75th anniversary page on Facebook.
Recycling options expand in ’Boro
The Queensborough Landing Return-It Depot is now accepting a wide variety of products.
The depot, located in Unit A 409 Boyne St., now accepts all items accepted by the Multi-Material B.C. program. This includes packing and printed paper, non-deposit glass bottles and jars, plastic bags and plastic foam packaging, as well as curbside materials such as newsprint, cardboard, metal containers, plastic containers and paper packaging that held liquid when sold, such as coffee cups and soup cartons.
“One of our goals with the MMBC recycling program is to help residents recycle more,” said MMBC managing director Allen Langdon in a press release. “It is important to us that all communities that are part of the MMBC program have access to both depot and curbside recycling services. We want to ensure all materials that can be responsibly recycled are, including materials not accepted in curbside recycling like plastic bags, foam packaging and glass.”
The Queensborough Landing Return-It Depot is open Monday to Saturday form 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information about recycling, visit www.RecyclinginBC.ca.
