Congratulations to Candice James, whose latest book has been nominated for the Griffin Awards for Excellence in Poetry Prize 2013.
The Royal City resident's book, Midnight Embers, has been nominated for the prestigious award.
The book of sonnets was published in 2012.
James, who is the City of New Westminster's poet laureate, has written four books of poetry and has published in a variety of publications.
She's also involved in numerous local poetry initiatives.
One more time .
A local man is hard at work on plans to feed more than 2,500 people a hearty meal to start the New Year.
Henning Nielsen is the founder of One More Time, a charitable organization that raises funds to feed the homeless in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The next feeding event is taking place on Jan. 13.
The event follows up on a recent fundraiser that saw more than 100 people gather in Vancouver to sing Christmas carols and raise funds so the group can provide meals to the needy at various times of the year.
For more information about One More Time, visit www.one moretime-help.org. An article about Nielsen and One More Time appeared in the Dec. 21, 2012 issue of The Record and can be found on the newspaper's website at www.royalcityrecord. com.
Royal monicker is here to stay
While some have suggested New Westminster should shed its Royal City moniker, Mayor Wayne Wright doubts that will ever occur.
Real estate marketer Bob Rennie was the keynote speaker at the city's economic development forum in November, where he suggested the city should develop its own brand and get rid of the Royal City nickname.
"That's come up many times," Wright said. "It comes up with people who are not from New West."
Wright said the Royal City name will "never be ditched" - but it may become a less significant reference over time.
"It's an old city, but it's a new revitalized city," he said. "It's the new New West."
Wright said the city's heritage is important, noting that the city looked to its past when naming the new civic centre, Anvil Centre.
"The anvil relates to our heritage," he said. "We have to position ourselves for the new business. The new business is tourism."
Wright said the city has a colourful past that includes the Gold Rush and being named New Westminster by Queen Victoria.
"My response is quite simple - don't be jealous," he said of the Royal City title. "It will always be a part but it's not the only part. It's a piece of all the things going on."
