Greens have three ready to run
page
5
a real hero for aboriGinal people
page
6
auditor General tossed out
page
8
wednesday
january 9 2013 www.burnabynewsleader.com
how to choose the best home care possible. See page a15
Burnaby home to nine of region’s Top 10 home assessments Wanda Chow
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
MarIO BarTEL/nEWSLEaDEr
Karen becker and ana Mendes feed a snowshoe hare brought into the wildlife rescue association from whistler on new year’s eve. the rabbit was Lougheed injured, possibly Branch by a car, and malnourished because of parasites. 9608 Cameron St.
604-421-3456
Busiest year yet for Wildlife Rescue 21¯ MONTH
TERM DEPOSIT
Creates new challenges as space and facilities stretched to the limit Mario Bartel
photo@burnabynewsleader.com
A brown pelican and snowshoe hare may not be typical dinner guests. But keeping them happy, healthy and fed is all in a day’s work at the Wildlife Rescue Association. The warren of little houses, sheds and aviaries on the south shore of Burnaby Lake has been helping injured and sick animals for 34
years. Last year was its busiest ever, with more than 4,000 patients admitted to the care centre. That’s 22 per cent more than were treated in 2011. “The long winter, the salmonella outbreak in the spring which saw the arrival of dozens of pine siskins, and the closure of Monika’s Wildlife Shelter in Surrey have all contributed to the increase,” said Yolanda Brooks, the WRA’s communications coordinator. But giving so many injured birds and mammals a second chance
Your Future. Our Focus. The Muir invesTMenT TeaM Your Retirement Specialists
604.541.8500 www.muironmoney.com
2
Eszter Nemeth
Chequing, Savings, Mortgages, Loans & Friendly Advice *
% .30 comes with a price.
Brentwood Branch | 1801 Willingdon Ave.
“But we face a problem of space.” 604-298-3344 The care centre is bursting at the And increasing demand for * Terms & conditions apply. Financial Services Since 1940 • www.gvccu.com seams. Cages and enclosures are supplies like food and medicine. In tucked into every corner. When an any given week, the centre’s staff X-ray machine became available, and volunteers will go through the room dedicated to the care of hundreds of towels to carry animals baby animals was converted to from cage to care room, swaddle accommodate it. Last Thursday, the them to keep them warm, or cloak propane heater that supplies warm them to keep them calm. water gave out, necessitating some “There are definitely big hasty improvisation. challenges,” said Ana Mendes as “We’re here to help as many she pitches sardines to the brown animals as we can,” said Anita pelican that arrived last month from Cymet, WRA’s development a care facility in Courtenay. coordinator. please see TIME TO STEp up, a2
Real Chequing Account
5
$
/ MONTH or less *
* Terms & conditions apply.
BRENTWOOD BRANCH 1801 Willingdon Ave.
604-298-3344
LOUGHEED BRANCH
9608 Cameron St.
604-421-3456
Financial Services Since 1940 • www.gvccu.com
Of the almost 170,000 properties in B.C. Assessment’s North Fraser region, Burnaby is home to nine of the top 10 most expensive addresses, according to the 2013 property assessments. The North Fraser assessment roll covers properties with a total value of more than $130 billion and includes those in Burnaby, New Westminster, the TriCities, the villages of Belcarra and Anmore and Lower Mainland rural areas. Of the nine Burnaby properties, all are single-family homes and eight are in the Buckingham Heights neighbourhood, including the most expensive at 7629 Burris St., assessed at $9.76 million. The 14,456-squarefoot mansion on a 1.38-acre lot was built in 1995 and formerly owned by Raymond Loewen of the now-bankrupt Loewen Group funeral services company. Originally listed for $16.9 million, by 2011 it was reduced to $14.8 million. It recently sold in the fall for a reported $9.95 million, significantly less than its $12.99 million asking price. please see MOST, a3