A longtime dream is coming to fruition this weekend for New Westminster firefighter Brad MacPherson.
MacPherson is leading a team that’s been planning this weekend’s Come Dance With Us fundraiser for the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society at the Columbia Theatre. He invites community members to come out and have a good time, while supporting a worthy cause.
“It’s been an idea that’s been in my mind since we did an inspection of the Columbia Theatre before Lafflines crossed over the street. It was just an empty building,” said the veteran New West firefighter. “I thought, ‘This place is beautiful.’ I’ve been itching to have a fundraiser for the charitable society as the recipient held in it.”
Man Down, a band that includes several New West firefighters, will open up the Jan. 24 show, followed by Elton Tom (an Elton John tribute act) and Unleashed.
“It’s classic rock, all of the songs everybody loves,” MacPherson said. “Elton Tom also plays with them, so he is going to do 30 or 40 minutes of Elton John. Unleashed will play classic rock for the duration of the evening.”
The event takes place on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the Columbia Theatre. Doors open at 7 p.m., the music gets underway just before 8 p.m. and the 50/50 draw will be held at 11 p.m.
“My hope for the evening is to provide an evening of fun for a lot of people, while raising money for the charitable society,” said MacPherson, a former president of the charitable society. “The value for me is that we deal directly with people in New Westminster.”
The charitable society has applied for and received a 50/50 licence, so that will be the key focus of fundraising for the night. While it’s up to the society to decide how the money raised will be dispersed, MacPherson would love to see some of it go to school nutrition programs and the Royal City Education Foundation.
“It goes into the community – that is the part that I really, really like,” he said of the society’s work.
MacPherson is a couple weeks shy of retiring but hasn’t ruled out future fundraisers for the charitable society. “If this one works, let’s try it again.”
Genesis Society founder passes away
A man who made his mark on social services in New Westminster recently passed away after a battle with cancer.
Andrew Boyd, executive director of the Genesis Society, died on Jan. 14.
A service of celebration is being held on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
“He was really dynamic. He worked really hard on issues in the community and was quite involved in the homelessness coalition,” said Coun. Chuck Puchmayr. “He was a real builder in terms of social services.”
In 2000, Boyd established the non-profit West Coast Genesis Society, which operates residential facilities and programs for adult male offenders on conditional release, programs for offenders living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and transitional and supported housing for men who live in New Westminster and are homeless or at risk of homelessness because of a physical, social or mental condition or disability. The society operates Genesis House and Maria Keary Cottage in New Westminster.
“His program is a real asset,” Puchmayr said. “The program will continue, and I am sure it is in good hands. He is going to be missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to West Coast Genesis Society. For more information about the society, visit www.westcoastgenesissociety.ca.
Feel the pride
The New West Pride Society is seeking volunteers and members to help it create the biggest Pride Festival the Royal City has ever seen.
The society is holding its annual membership drive and kickoff party at its monthly Pride Night. It’s taking place on Saturday, Jan. 24 starting at 7 p.m. at the Met Pub, 411 Columbia St. and includes chances to win door prizes.
“We want to welcome new volunteers and members to our society and let everyone know that our board is working hard to make the 2015 Pride Festival the biggest and boldest festival this city has ever seen,” said board member Hayley Sinclair in a press release.
The New West Pride Society is expecting to expand its Aug. 8 to 15 event to include ever more events, organizations, businesses and parties for the LGBTQ community and their allies. The Pride Festival aims to showcase the cultural and political organizations that set New Westminster apart as a diverse and progressive city to live, work and play.
“This is not a small festival,” said society president Jeremy Perry. “This is a high-profile and innovative event that draws from all regions of the Lower Mainland, and the positive economic impact of Pride is certainly something the City of New Westminster is starting to recognize.”
Community members are invited to become members of New West Pride.
For more information on becoming a volunteer or member, visit www.newwestpride.ca or attend the Jan. 24 event at the Met Pub.
