New Westminster is repealing racist legislation from the past.
A staff report states the provincial government contacted the city’s legislative services department in October to discuss discriminatory language found in bylaws 1165 (Westminster Paper Company Limited Aid Bylaw 1929) and 1171 (Westminster Paper Company Limited Aid Bylaw 1929 amendment bylaw 1930). Sections of those bylaws state that “only white labour” shall be employed on lands in the city owned or acquired by the company.
Staff informed the province that, in keeping with the city’s policy of non-discrimination, it would repeal the discriminatory sections of the bylaws.
Council approved three readings of the 2016 racial discrimination enactment repeal bylaw on Monday night.
In 2011, city council supported a motion to repeal all of the bylaws identified in the research that were found to be discriminatory toward Chinese-Canadians. The move came after city staff spent eight months researching council minutes from 1860 to 1926 and found the city discriminated against the Chinese community regarding land and buildings, city regulations, employment opportunities and other areas.
In September 2010, the City of New Westminster formally apologized for those actions.
Duplexes proposed in Brow of the Hill
A heritage revitalization agreement for an 1892 house in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood would pave the way for two new duplexes.
City council will consider a heritage revitalization agreement bylaw for 1023 Third Ave. at a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. The application would involve the retention, restoration and long-term protection of the Figg-Hoblyn House, in exchange for allowing additional density on the site that would see two duplexes at the front of the property.
A staff report states that all four units in the duplexes are three-bedroom, ground-and family-oriented units, which is in low supply among the city’s existing housing stock.
Lighting up public art
Brighter lighting is needed to showcase a public art project on the Front Street parkade.
Council has approved $50,000, plus a 10 per cent contingency, from the city’s public art reserve fund for lighting for the Birds on a Branch installation to be erected on the parkade.
“The large scale mural will transform the façade of the utilitarian parkade into an iconic image visible from Westminster Pier Park, the Fraser River and the SkyTrain,” said a staff report.
Birds on a Branch, created by the public art studio Muse Atelier, features songbirds resting on branches.
A preliminary estimate said the cost of designing and installing the mural would be $178,500.
