Ewan (Sudsy) Clark will be honoured by friends and family at an evening to remember on Sept. 7.
Clark, an actor, musician and educator, passed away June 23. The evening to remember is taking place at Shebeen WhiskY House (210 Carrall St. in Gastown) on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 8 p.m. until closing.
The Royal City resident was a member of the City of New Westminster's arts commission and the public art advisory committee.
"He was a lovely person," said Coun. Bill Harper, who chairs the arts commission. "He always enjoyed what he did."
Clark lived in the city's West End with partner Susan Macphee. In addition to volunteering for the city's committees, Clark had also performed at some city functions.
"He was great with a fiddle," Harper said. "He loved to teach. He was an actor, a musician."
In addition to be an actor on stage, TV and film, Clark was also an accomplished musician and taught music at Place des Arts and Douglas College.
ELECTION OFFICER
Brenda Sims has been appointed as the City of New Westminster's chief elections officer for the Nov. 19 municipal election.
Jennifer Janzen, an administrative assistant in the city's legislative services department, will serve as the deputy chief election officer. She will resume her regular duties following November's municipal election.
"We're very pleased that Brenda Sims will be performing in the function of chief elections officer for the City of New Westminster," said corporate officer Rick Page in a press release from the city. "Her experience and knowledge will be an asset as we hold municipal elections in November."
Sims is a former Elections Canada returning officer for the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country electoral area. She was the city clerk for the Resort Municipality of Whistler from 1991 to 2005, has served on the provincial elections committee and played a role in drafting an elections manual for the Local Government Management Association of B.C. that helps municipal elections officials perform their duties.
Page told The Record earlier this year that Sims was a colleague of his in Whistler and is now retired. He said the city required someone who was completely devoted to overseeing the election and hired Sims.
The 2008 election cost the city about $140,000.
The city has budgeted to spend about $200,000 for this year's election, which includes the cost of hiring the chief election officer.
SENIORS' FESTIVAL
An upcoming festival is expected to be double the fun as in past years.
The Seniors and Family Festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Royal City Centre. The event is combining the Celebrating Seniors Festival and Family Day into one festival.
Local arts promoter Tony Antonias said the event will be twice the fun and twice the enjoyment for local residents.
"This is the first time that the popular seniors festival and Family Day are going to combine," he said. "Their combining means it will be in a larger venue."
The Seniors and Family Festival includes entertainment, a kid's zone, treats and other family-friendly activities.
DAYCARE OPENS
A new daycare that's aiming to fill some of the city's childcare needs recently held its official grand opening celebration.
Fraser Montessori Daycare, located at 1408 Fifth Ave., is a purposebuilt facility that has two side-by-side classrooms of 25 students each on one floor. It also has a 1,000square-foot gymnasium that can be used in the colder, wetter months and is located next to Riverside Park where student can also go to explore nature and get exercise.
"Building the daycare from the ground up and incorporating elements from my other successful preschool operation will ensure a quality learning environment and provide children with a significant advantage upon entering the next phase of their learning," said owner and operator Edith Ziolkiewicz in a press release. "All aspects of the child's development have been taken into consideration, including providing a hot and nutritious lunch on a daily basis."
According to the press release, the daycare will provide an early childhood education in a Montessori environment. Geography and science, language and mathematics, and art, music and French are among the centre's offerings.
"The location of the daycare was a strategic decision, as it is convenient by foot for families living in the West End and easily accessible by car, especially by those traveling Stewardson Way," said the press release. "It will also help meet the needs of families living in Queensborough, which was identified as the neighbourhood with the most unmet demand for child care in the City of New Westminster child care needs assessment."
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