How trees Help people grow roots
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will trutH die on deficit Hill?
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catt Helps connect tHe world
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wednesday
December 5 2012 www.burnabynewsleader.com
Burnaby schools have a new superintendent. See Page A4
Few surprises in Burnaby Hospital report: MLA Claims of underfunding misleading, Fraser Health says Wanda chow
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
mArIO bArTeL/NeWSLeADer
peter chung is preparing to open a new coffee shop in honour of his late son Joseph, who was autistic and suffered from epilepsy. chung is hoping to give job opportunities to other adults with developmental disabilities at the shop. Lougheed Branch 9608 Cameron St.
Couple to honour son with café 21¯ MONTH
604-421-3456
TERM DEPOSIT
To hire staff with developmental disabilities Wanda chow
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
Peter Chung is asked how old his son Joseph was when he died Sept. 27 and his answer carries the heavy weight of a grieving parent: “32 years, three months and four days.” Joseph, better known as Joe, died after a swimming accident in White Rock, when he was found in the deep end of a pool while training with a Special Olympics team. He was autistic and had epilepsy
and the family believe he may have suffered a seizure while in the pool. “Unfortunately, I guess he went home early,” said Peter of his son. In their grief, Peter and his wife Stephanie continue to take inspiration from their first-born child and plan to honour him with a new coffee shop in Burnaby named Joe’s Table. The café will be in the same building at 5021 Kingsway, on the corner of Kingsway and Marlborough, as CDI College, PCU College of Holistic Medicine and Vancouver Career College, all schools run by the Eminata Group,
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of which Peter Chung is founder things ... But it was contrary to Chequing, Savings, Mortgages, & Friendly Advice EszterLoans Nemeth %* and executive chairman. his personality. He wanted to meet Brentwood Branch | 1801 Willingdon Ave. In addition to serving staff people, greet people. We know there 604-298-3344 and students in the building and are other people like Joseph. If they * Terms & conditions apply. Financial Services Since • www.gvccu.com beyond, the café will serve another try1940 to get a job that’s the sort of purpose—to provide meaningful thing they’re going to end up with.” employment for people with Before he died, Joseph was developmental disabilities. working at the Eminata-owned The Chungs saw the need through Amenida Care Home in Surrey Joseph’s own experience. He was where he was a letter carrier to somewhat independent but couldn’t the residents, delivering hugs and work alone. conversation along with the mail. “He couldn’t find a job. The only That job was a good fit, Peter job he could really apply for was said, and Joseph knew that the janitor’s assistant, working in a coffee shop idea was already in the stockroom somewhere,” said Peter. works before he died. “He was very good at organizing please see A SOrT Of ‘cOmINg OuT’, A4
Real Chequing Account
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/ MONTH or less *
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BRENTWOOD BRANCH 1801 Willingdon Ave.
604-298-3344
LOUGHEED BRANCH
9608 Cameron St.
604-421-3456
Financial Services Since 1940 • www.gvccu.com
Burnaby Hospital’s infrastructure is so old that WorkSafeBC won’t allow hospital staff to light up its annual Christmas tree due to concerns about the safety of its electrical system, according to the report of the Burnaby Hospital Community Consultation Committee. That’s just one of a myriad of concerns over both the facility’s structure and resources allocated to it that are outlined in the report. The oldest buildings are 60 years old and “to repair any of the plumbing or electrical services in the old buildings means that the entire service to the building has to be shut down,” the report said. There are not enough sinks for staff or visitors to wash their hands, and all the toilets are hand flush models, both which contribute to the spread of C. difficile, an infectious illness that claimed the lives of 84 people at the hospital between 2008 and mid-2011. please see fHA, A10