Skip to content

Royal moments for New West resident

A Royal City resident embarked on a trip to the nation's capital to meet royalty - and succeeded.

A Royal City resident embarked on a trip to the nation's capital to meet royalty - and succeeded.

New Westminster native Linda Cooper recently returned home after a Canada Day visit to Ottawa, where she hoped to see Prince William and wife, Kate Middleton.

"I did so specifically for Canada Day and specifically to see the prince and Catherine," she said. "I missed (Princess) Diana here."

Hearing of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's plan to be in Ottawa for Canada Day, Cooper booked an airline ticket. It never crossed her mind that she wouldn't be successful in her goal of meeting the royal couple.

Before heading to Ottawa for Canada Day, Cooper dropped by the mayor's office at city hall to get a couple of City of New Westminster pins to include in a card she planned to give the couple.

"She said, Do you really think you are going to meet them?" Linda recalled of her conversation with a staff member in the mayor's office. "I said, 'Don't underestimate the power of me.' I am pretty stubborn that way."

Cooper befriended some fellow Canadians and made her way to the front row, where she managed to shake hands with the Duchess of Cambridge and give her a card (with the Royal City's pins inside) and flowers. A surge of the crowd prevented her from shaking Prince William's hand.

Cooper included her return address in the card and is keeping her fingers crossed that she gets a response.

"It was an amazing time," she said. "I have got some great pictures. It was overwhelming at first, but so exciting. I cannot stop smiling."

MAYOR IN THE RACE

Mayor Wayne Wright will be seeking a fourth term in office in November's municipal election, but it will likely be his last political outing.

Wright, who was first elected as mayor in the 2002 municipal election, hopes to win a fourth consecutive term. To date, no one has officially declared his or her intention to go up against him in the Nov. 19 civic election.

"I want to finish what I have started. I also know there is time for an end," said Wright, hinting the 2011 election would be his last. "I think so. You never say never. You have to be sure you are right for the time."

Wright suspects there will be a lot of change coming to city council in the next few years, as several incumbent councillors are getting older and may be looking to retire.

GOOD SAMARITAN

A recent Around Town item sounded fairly familiar to the owner of a local business.

Royal City resident Betty Hancock recently contacted The Record to express her gratitude to two strangers who helped her after she took a spill on Sixth Street. The women stayed with Hancock and her sister-in-law (who was visiting from England) for nearly an hour, until para-medics arrived and took Hancock to the hospital where she was treated for a dislocated shoulder.

Marjorie Lynn, owner of Able Nannies on Sixth Street, read the item and thought it sounded familiar. Michele Pellizzari, an executive assistant at the business, was one of the women who'd tended to Hancock in her time of need - something that comes as no surprise to her boss.

"Absolutely not," she said. "She would help out anybody at anytime. She is a real sweetheart."

Pellizzari is no stranger to helping out people in need, having previously helped a man who had also taken a fall. While visiting from England, the man decided to try skateboarding, only to fall and injure himself.

Lynn said it's nice to know that there are people around who would stop and help a stranger in need. Pellizzari had been out running an errand for the business when she came upon Hancock, who had fallen when walking to the shoe repair shop.