More than a thousand people were looky-loos during the Heritage Preservation Society's 33rd annual Heritage Homes Tour on May 27.
Catherine Hutson, a member of the society, reports that more than 1,200 people took part in the sold-out event that featured a variety of homes in many of the city's neighbourhoods, including Moody Park, Massey and Victory Heights, Sapperton and Queen's Park. The tour included a trio of Craftsman homes on Hamilton Street that were celebrating their 100th birthday.
GOOD GAMBLE
A local lacrosse team is gambling on a win in an upcoming tournament.
The Salmonbellies Peewee A-1 team under coach Rich Catton is holding a fundraiser to help raise money needed to finance a tournament in Edmonton on the Canada Day long weekend. While the players will take care of the action on the floor, the parents are planning a Texas Holdom fundraiser that will take place on June 8 at the Burnaby Lake Rugby Club.
"Anybody can come if they're 19 or older," said parent Dara Davies. "There is going to be food served, and a reverse draw."
The tournament, which has a $100 buy-in, includes a first prize of $1,000, a second prize of $750 and a third prize of $100.
For tickets or information, call Dara at 6045151136.
BIG SALE
Glenbrooke North residents are gearing up for their annual garage sale.
The 13th annual sale, presented by the Glenbrooke North Residents' Association, is taking place on Saturday, June 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the neighbourhood that is bordered by 10th and Sixth avenues, and McBride Boulevard to Sixth Street. Donations are being accepted for Monarch Place, a local transition house that offers shelter and support to women and children fleeing violence.
Residents can register their garage sale location on the association's website, which is found at www.glenbrookenorth. ca or by contacting Marya McLellan, the association's secretary, at marya@ glenbrookenorth.ca with Garage Sale in the subject line.
MASONIC PAST
A tour by A Sense of History Research Services will examine the Masonic buildings of downtown New Westminster and an early "skyscraper" in the city. The June 3 tour will get underway at 1: 30 p.m. at the corner of Columbia and Fourth streets in downtown New Westminster. In the past year, local Masons have been marking their 150th anniversaries with assorted events. The tour will last one-and-a-half to two hours and runs rain or shine.
There's no need to register ahead of time.
GREAT STRIDES
A lot of people helped take some Great Strides for cystic fibrosis in New Westminster on May 27.
The Great Strides walk is organized by the Cystic Fibrosis chapter of Greater Vancouver in support of cystic fibrosis research.
"I am sure over $100,000 was raised," said Coun.
Chuck Puchmayr. "I can't wait to hear the results."
Across Canada, local chapters of Cystic Fibrosis Canada organize walks as fundraisers and as reminders of the challenges that cystic fibrosis patients and their families face every day. May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.
The Reddy For a Cure team was one of the teams taking part in the local walk. Members of that team walked in honour of Eva Markvoort, a local woman passed away of cystic fibrosis in 2010 at the age of 25 and helped create global awareness about cystic fibrosis and organ donation through her blog and documentary, 65 Red Roses."We need to continue her legacy in New Westminster," Puchmayr said. "She is truly a hero and continues to benefit people."
Coun. Bill Harper was impressed with the turnout at the event that raised funds for the "terrible disease" of cystic fibrosis.
"There were hundreds of people there," he said.
"It was one of the biggest walks I have seen in Queen's Park."
tmcmanus@royalcity record.com
