The Quayside Community Board is scaling back its annual festival until construction settles down in the neighbourhood.
Vickie Turvey, president of the Quayside Community Board, said the board feels the festival would not be well attended because of construction in the neighbourhood and along the boardwalk, as well as a lack of parking for a large number of visitors. It's decided to scale back the event and encourage each strata in the neighbourhood to take charge and coordinate a garage sale on their own property on Aug. 19.
“Once the construction dies down to a dull roar, we will bring back the festival better than ever,” she said in an email to the Record.
The board cancelled last year’s Quayside Boardwalk Festival and Sale because of logistical issues in organization the event, which would have celebrated its 10th anniversary. In past years the festival has featured a massive yard sale along the boardwalk, food trucks live music and entertainment on four stages, children’s activities and more.
“With 18 member buildings stretching along the Fraser River boardwalk and the tree-lined Quayside Drive, the new Quayside Boardwalk sale is set to become a summer destination for those who love going to outdoor sales,” said a press release from the board. “Besides fun and significant contributions such a sale makes to recuing waste from landfills, the QCB believes this new approach is a great way to further build community spirit, encourage volunteerism and get neighbours to know each other better.”
The Quayside Boardwalk sale will take place on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For info, visit www.quaysideboardwalk.com.
Input wanted
Massey Theatre is looking for input on how to make the theatre more accessible in the future.
The theatre is inviting groups and individuals who work with or have a disabilities and are interested in accessibility issues to take a tour of the Massey and chat over a cup of coffee or tea about the theatre’s accessibility as it plans for the future. Groups are invited to attend on Tuesday, July 25 at 2 p.m. an individuals will meet on Wednesday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Aaron Pietras at 604-517-5900 or [email protected].
Save the date: July 27
There’s a real buzz around town about today’s grand opening of the community garden at city hall.
The free, family-friendly celebration takes place on Thursday, July 27 from 4 to 8 p.m. on the front lawn of city hall at 511 Royal Ave. The Honeybee Centre will make a presentation from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. about the different types of bess, lifecycle of a honeybee and products at the hive, followed by snacks and socializing from 5:15 to 6 p.m. Indigenous plant diva Cease Wyss will speak about local plants and their traditional uses from 6 to 8 p.m.
Pop-up action downtown
Local groups are banding together to put an empty space in downtown New West to good use this summer.
Brick & Mortar Living moved out of a space at 50/52 Sixth St. last fall as the space is needed to serve as a display suite for the new development that will be built on the property. Jenn Pistone, one of the owners of Brick & Mortar Living, approached the property owner about using the space that’s still vacant.
“They have given it to us to use until the end of September as a popup,” she said. “I actually partnered up with the Arts Council of New Westminster. They are filling the space with popups and art. I will be having the New Westminster Art Crawl that is sponsored by Brick & Mortar Living up there in August. The developers have been fantastic.”
Here’s a sampling of some of the events taking place in the space in the coming weeks:
* Etsy Popup - art and design-themed market: Aug. 25 (11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) and Aug. 6 (10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Joining forces
Two societies already hard at work on improving the lives of citizens have announced they are amalgamating.
The Lookout Emergency Aid Society and the Mood Disorders Association of B.C. have finalized approvals to merge the two societies. The Mood Disorders Association will retain its name and brand as a collection of mental health programs of the Lookout Society.
“The need for non-profit organizations like the MDABC is expanding, with one in seven Canadians experience a mood disorder at some point in their life,” said Shayne Williams, executive director of Lookout, which offers a number of programs in New West. “Merging the MDABC and Lookout Society establishes a large, yet nimble organization that is better able to respond to the growing need and access resources across the province.”
Lookout provides housing, shelter and health programs across the Lower Mainland, while the Mood Disorders Association provides treatment and support of people living with mental illness.
“This merger represents a significant step forward in MDABC’s strategy to sustain and grow its mental health programs and help more people across the province,” said Tom Dutta, acting executive director of the Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia. “Our combined organizations have over 70 years of rich history with significant community impact on individuals’ lives. Going forward we are stronger together.”
Save the date: Aug. 3
Chef Rob Mackay will be talking cast iron cookware and teaching people how to season cast iron at an upcoming workshop at River Market. Supplies to cook, clean and season cast iron will be availbe for purchase before and after the worship for adults. It’s taking place on Thursday, Aug. 3 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 810 Quayside Dr. Info and registration at www.rivermarket.ca/events.
A peaceful place at Honour House
A new garden at Honour House will give women and men in uniforms some peace during their stay.
Honour House provides a free, temporary home for members of the military, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections officers, sheriffs, Coast Guard, and search and rescue, as well as retired members of these groups and their immediate families, when they are in the Lower Mainland to receive medical care and treatment. It recently had the official opening of its new Peace Garden, which was built with the help of the City of New Westminster, local unions and businesses, the New Westminster Police Department, New Westminster Fire and Rescue Services and a huge number of volunteers from the city.
“The garden itself has been designed to give our women and men in uniform a place of reflection and calm as they go through some of the most difficult times in their lives as they stay here with us,” said general manager Craig Longstaff in an email to the Record.
