The New Westminster Historical Society will be taking a look at the city's riverfront at its upcoming presentation.
The topic of the society's next presentation is the New Westminster waterfront - an evolution from discovery to industry and back to public use. The presentation will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 7: 30 p.m. in the auditorium of the New Westminster Public Library at 716 Sixth Ave.
The presentation will combine geography and history to look at the local waterfront from its start in 1859 to its present day reclamation and rejuvenation. Earl Noah, a longtime New Westminster resident and a geography instructor at Douglas College, and Archie Miller, a local historian, are the evening's presenters.
"The story includes trails, roads, shipping, rail roads, ships of sail and steam, and modern cargo systems, and it is often through changes in these forms of transportation that waterfronts are able to change," stated a press release about the event. "The port at New Westminster will mark an anniversary next year to remember - it was in 1913 that a formal harbour commission was established. This was the official set up of a function that had been vital to this community since its founding in 1859."
The program is free and everyone is welcome. Preregistration isn't required.
Sing to win
Moonrakers Pub is inviting residents to sing their hearts out and win a trip to Las Vegas.
The pub is holding the New Westminster karaoke championships, with contestants vying for a spot in the championship finals that will take place on Oct. 21. The contest takes place every Sunday at 8 p.m.
The contest's winner will win a trip to Las Vegas, with the second place contestant receiving a $300 Ticketmaster entertainment gift card and the third prize winner getting a $100 certificate to Moonrakers' liquor store.
There is no fee to enter the karaoke contest, but people must be at least 19 years of age.
Teen winner
New Westminster resident Sadie DeCoste has earned a national award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The local teen has won one of the federation's Canadian women in municipal government scholarships, which are open to secondary school students. Five awards of $500 are available to female students in secondary school who are contributing to their school's leadership team or student council.
"It's a national award. She won for all of B.C.," said city councillor Lorrie Williams. "She wrote a really good essay. She is going to get a $500 award to use as she sees fit."
While Sadie's brother Jesse is heading to England where he will study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Sadie is preparing for an adventure of her own; she'll be taking off for Italy as part of a Rotary exchange program.
Williams, who serves on several committees with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, was set to be one of the judges in the essay contest but withdrew when she realized a local student had applied for one of its scholarships.
Reconnected
Longtime New Westminster resident Dolores Kirkwood recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with one of her protégés.
Kirkwood, who has taught dance to generations of students, recently dined in Vancouver with Reid Anderson. The New Westminster native recently visited Vancouver from Germany, where he is the artistic director of Stuttgart Ballet.
"You never lose those bonds even though you don't see each other for a few years," Kirkwood said about the lasting relationships between dancers and teachers. "It is a very nurturing art."
Kirkwood fondly recalls how Anderson got his start in ballet.
"His sister was three and she wouldn't dance unless he danced with her," she said. "He was five years old and he left when he was 15. He went to London with the Royal Ballet School."
Anderson later performed with a ballet company in Germany. His career has included a five year stint as artistic director of Canada's National Ballet.
Coincidentally, Kirkwood also taught dance to another local brother and sister pair - Jessie and Sadie DeCoste. "He came as a little one to keep his sister company."
Send ideas for Around Town to tmcmanus@royal cityrecord.com.
