The autumn chill has arrived, making it the perfect time to celebrate.
The Queensborough Community Centre, the Queensborough special programs committee and Aragon Development are teaming up on the second annual lantern festival.
"It's in celebration for the mid-autumn festival, a traditional Chinese festival," said Nikki Lajeunesse, a recreation programmer at the community centre.
At the festival, people will be able to enjoy live entertainment, and create beautiful LED-powered lanterns under the full moon. Kids can personalize their lanterns with paint, decorations and stickers.
"We are going to do a parade around the park," Lajeunesse said. "We will also be eating traditional Chinese moon cakes."
The event takes place on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Port Royal Park.
"It's free family fun," Lajeunesse said. "We are trying to get as many community members out as possible."
Builders' awards
The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce and the City of New Westminster have announced the nominees in the 42nd annual Royal City Builders Awards.
The awards recognize outstanding achievement in modern development, heritage preservation, accessibility improvements and sustainability.
The awards will be represented at a gala dinner being held on Wednesdays, Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Robert Fung, founder and president of the Salient Group that's developing Trapp + Holbrook in New Westminster, is the guest speaker.
The modern awards categories acknowledge architects, designers and builders of high-quality residential, commercial and institutional development in the city. The nominees in the modern categories are:. Modern residential: Duo at Port Royal, 215 and 245 Brookes St.; The Shift, 709 12th St.; Moody Park Homes, 523 Eighth St.
Commercial renovation: Old Spaghetti Factory patio, 50 Eighth St.; Chronic Tacos, 110-66 10th St; Taverna Greka, 326 Columbia St.; Head to Toe Spa, 337 Sixth St.; and Landmark Cinemas, 390-800 Columbia St.
Modern Commercial: Shops at New West, 811 Columbia St; and Noort Homes building façade renovations, 403 Sixth St.. Modern Institutional: Sprott Shaw Community College, 88 Sixth St; FW Howay school renovations, 91 Courtney Cres.; Fraser North kidney care clinic and community dialysis unit, 217-610 Sixth St.; CG Masters School, 320-800 Carnarvon St.; Royal Columbian Hospital GI Clinic, 330 East Columbia St.; Royal Columbian Hospital medical imaging multipurpose room, 330 East Columbia St.
The Royal City Builders Awards also recognize efforts to preserve New Westminster's heritage through restoration and renovation of existing homes, as well as new construction.
Nominees in the heritage categories are:. Exterior Heritage Restoration (The Heritage Shield): 217 Queens Ave., 213 Fifth Ave; and 227 Regina St.
Exterior Heritage Renovation: 101 Agnes St.; 119 Seventh Ave.; 123 Seventh Ave.; and 333 Arbutus St. . New Home that Respects New Westminster Heritage:
239 Osborne Ave; and 833 14th St. Since 2002, the City of New Westminster and the chamber of commerce have also acknowledged business and institutions that have contributed uniquely and significantly to improve access for all New Westminster residents and visitors, through the Universal Access Awards.. Universal Access - Business: Head to Toe Spa; Landmark Cinemas; Shops at New West; and Taverna Greka.
Universal Access - Facility: Fraser North kidney care clinic and community dialysis unit; Seniors Services Society (750 Carnarvon St.); and Sprott Shaw Community College.
The Sustainability Award acknowledges cleaner and healthier communities by recognizing developments that incorporate various sustainability features and initiatives into their projects.
The nominees in the Sustainability category are: Duo at Port Royal; Moody Park Homes; Fraser North kidney care clinic and community dialysis unit; Seniors Services Society; Sprott Shaw Community College; Landmark Cinemas; and Noort Homes building façade renovation.
For more information about the awards or to buy tickets to the gala dinner, call the chamber of commerce at 604-521-7781 or the planning department at city hall at 604-515-3767.
Helping hands
Key West Ford barbecued up a storm at St. Barnabas Church.
Roxee Forrest, an associate warden at the church, said about 300 people feasted at the Sept. 15 barbecue. Key West Ford sponsored the barbecue, with some of its staff taking turns behind the grill.
St. Barnabas Church, a fixture in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood, provides a variety of outreach programs including a hot lunch and an emergency food cupboard.
Recently, the church has provided a place for members of a cycling group to pitch tents.
"They are a young group. They are an environmental-ecology group," Forrest said. "They are biking around B.C."
On Monday, the cyclists showed their gratitude to St. Barnabas Church by putting on a show at the church hall.
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