Longtime New Westminster resident Dorothy Beach has received an award in honour of her 100th birthday.
Beach, a lifetime environmental and agricultural advocate, has received the Harold Steves Award for lifetime dedication to the preservation of farmland.
The award was presented by its namesake, Harold Steves and Farmland Defence League campaign director Donna Passmore.
"Like Harold Steves, Dorothy began advocating the preservation of farmland long before the agricultural land reserve was created in 1973," Passmore said in a press release. "As a board member of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, the Citizens Health Action Network and the Fraser River Coalition, and as board member and volunteer for a vast number of environmental causes and campaigns, Dorothy has been an inspiration to several generations of British Columbians."
Passmore noted Beach spoke at the Agricultural Land Commission's public hearing in Langley in 2010 at the age of 97 and appealed to commissioners to save Langley's historic Hudson's Bay Farm so it wouldn't become "another agricultural casualty" of the Gateway project.
Time to relax
Dawn Black had time to ponder the NDP's showing in the election while on the high seas.
Black joined some friends on an Alaskan cruise on May 18, having retired before the May 14 election.
"They have all kinds of groups on the ship. Maybe they will have a group for recovering politicians," she laughed.
After serving as New Westminster's MLA for the past four years (and as a member of Parliament before that), media outlets kept the retiree busy this past month. In the leadup to the provincial election, the retired MLA was doing live blogging on the Globe and Mail's website and commentary on CBC on election night.
Book recognized
The Royal Westminster Regiment's book has received another accolade.
For King and Country: 150 Years of The Royal Westminster Regiment placed third in the annual historical writing contest sponsored by the B.C.
Historical Federation.
"We are delighted that the quality of this book and the significance of its subject matter have been recognized," said Honorary Col. Karen Baker-MacGrotty. "It is a tribute to all of the people who worked tirelessly to make this project a reality and to all the men and women who have been part of the regimental family throughout its history."
The book, which was written and published in New Westminster by Vivalogue, previously placed third in the 2013 Lieutenant Governor's medal for Historical Writing competition.
A press release noted that it was produced in recognition of the 150 years of services that The Royal Westminster Regiment provided in the County of New Westminster, which extends from Burnaby to Boston Bar.
The book can be purchased at www.vivalogue. ca or 604-666-4375.
Good eats at fest
The Sapperton Business Association is focusing on foods from around the world at the Sapperton Day Street Festival.
The festival will take place on Sunday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 pm. in the 400-block of East Columbia Street (between Braid and Sherbrooke streets). The event includes street performances, musical groups, bouncy castles, games, a pancake breakfast, a rock climbing wall, vendors and more.
Presented by the Sapperton Business Association, the event raises funds for the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, supporting equipment, research and innovation. Organizers noted that last year's festival raised $13,000.
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