The first ever Salmonbellies Day is taking place on Saturday, June 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Queen’s Park East field.
Organizers are expecting about 600 ‘Bellies and their families to attend the event that features a parade of young Bellies, various activities including a bouncy castle, a barbecue and a Seniors vs. Alumni softball game at 1 p.m.
“It’s a day celebrating being a Salmonbellie, bringing together all levels – minor, junior, senior and alumni,” said Lindsey Flintoff, one of the event’s organizers. “We are hoping this will be an annual event.”
On June 12, Mayor Jonathan Cote proclaimed June 17 Salmonbellies Day in New Westminster. The proclamation stated that the Salmonbellies are celebrating their 128th year in New West and have represented the city proudly at national events, minor, junior and senior levels, have been great ambassadors to the city, on and off the field of play, and give back to the community on an ongoing basis and provide training and educate young boys and girls on how to play lacrosse – one of Canada’s two national sports.
“I like to think every day is Salmonbellies Day in the City of New Westminster. Now we have a specific day,” Cote said.
Former city clerk returns to the entertainment stage
Rick Page has returned to the entertainment stage.
Page worked in the City of New Westminster’s legislative services department from 2005 to 2013, when he was injured in a car accident. The city’s former director of legislative series has returned to his love of music and is now performing regularly with partner Don Reda at the Heritage Grill.
Rick and Don’s next gig at the local venue is on Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m. The duo will be performing hits from the 1950s to the 1980s.
“Our shows are a voyage back in musical history with a lot of harmony and a wide variety of artists from the Everly Brothers to Beatles to Three Doors Down (90's),” Page says. “Our show is lively, humorous and hand-clapping fun. We are like ‘comfort food’- everyone who sees us, not only know the words, but enjoy a familiarity of a time in their youth.”
Prior to his time at city hall, Page and Reda were part of a musical act, Flashback – Solid Gold Rock ‘n’ Roll, which performed cover tune on cruise ships and at casinos. While he eased out of performing when he started working at city hall, he enjoys being back on stage.
“It's now been about 25 years since we performed professionally, and we are having the time of our lives,” Page said. “Of course, adapting this music from a five-piece rock band to a two-piece acoustic band has been the biggest challenge, but people seem to like it and we are getting offers from both the U.S. and Canada already. Come join us and relive moments of your life the music will bring alive.”
The Heritage Grill is at 447 Columbia St.
Skaters sought
The City of New Westminster is seeking skaters to provide feedback on potential locations for a new skate park.
Due to the construction of a new New Westminster Secondary School, the existing Mercer Stadium skate park needs to be relocated. The city has been working with community members to identify a possible location for a new skate park and will be presenting a list of potential sites at a public open house on Thursday, June 22 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Century House, 620 Eighth St.
Save the date: June 17
If you’ve ever wanted to run away and join the circus, you won’t have far to go to find inspiration.
The Vancouver Circus School’s professional development program, the Ring Masters, are performing several shows in Metro Vancouver this weekend, including two shows right here in the Royal City. So Perfectly Hectic! will take to the stage at the Anvil Centre Theatre on Saturday June 17 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
“Observe as they are taken to the brinks of absurdity by a ridiculous enabler, who compels them to express their heightened consciousness through physical acts of circus and the like. Delight in a show experience that is unbound by convention, one which is none other than, “so perfectly hectic!” said a notice about the Ring Masters shows. “Led by a diverse group of seasoned circus performers and athletes, the Ring Master program’s coaches are wholly dedicated to sharing their craft with Ring Master students.”
Tickets are $25 for adults and $18.50 for youth 13 and under, and available at www.vancouvercircusschool.ca/tickets.
Fresh produced sought
The Plant a Row-Grow a Row will soon be accepting donations of fresh fruits and veggies for the New Westminster Food Bank.
The program, now in its 18th year in New West, encourages gardeners to plant an extra row or two of produce and donate it to the food bank, so it can provide needy residents with fresh vegetables and fruit. Volunteers will be collecting donations (including store-bought fruits and vegetables) on Sundays from starting June 25 from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. at the entrance to St. Thomas More Collegiate, 7450 12th Ave. Burnaby, just across the New West border.
Save the date:
Some of the best cyclists in the world will be heading to the Royal City for the New West Grand Prix on Tuesday, July 11. Part of Canada’s largest professional road cycling series, the New Westminster Grand Prix is expected to attract thousands of spectators and cycling enthusiasts to New West for a day of sport, entertainment and family activities.
“The criterium-style race will be one of the more challenging races during the B.C. Superweek series, with cyclists completing 45 to 55 laps and facing downhill speeds upwards of 60 to 70 kilometres per hour,” said a press release from the city. “This free event will start with the kids race at 4:45 p.m., followed by the youth race at 5:30 p.m., pro women at 6:15 p.m. and pro men at 7:30 p.m. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony at 9 p.m.”
