FIANCÉ TRAPPED IN SYRIA
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MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR
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CAR STILL KING IN METRO VANCOUVER
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FRIDAY
JUNE 28 2013 www.burnabynewsleader.com
HAPP
BIRTH
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CANADAY DA JULY 1
• CAN ADA D AY
Burnaby biz tax too high: CFIB Survey apples and oranges: Johnston Wanda Chow
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Fran Ash lays sod at the new Edmonds Community Centre on Wednesday in preparation for its official opening on Monday.
Community centre official opening Monday
NewsLeader
Several years in the making, the new Edmonds Community Centre and pool will see its official opening on Monday, July 1, Canada Day. The $32-million facility opened for business earlier this week. On Monday, the opening ceremony will start at 11 a.m. and admission to the pool will be free until it closes at 10 p.m.
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aquafit and lessons for young old Eastburn Community Centre it’s children. replacing, bigger even than that at And it’s all fully accessible for Bonsor Recreation Complex. people with disabilities, including Other features include a water elevator into the swim soundproofed music rooms, a dance tank, a ramp with handrail into the and fitness room with a sprungwood whirlpool and zero-depth entry into floor and full-length mirrors, and a the leisure pool from deck level. fine arts room. The community centre itself A preschool is on the ground sports a massive double gym that floor, adjacent to an indoor can be divided into four sections, playground and a “playcare” where a youth lounge, games room and a children can be supervised while senior’s snooker room to go along parents take in activities elsewhere with a new space for the Edmonds in the building. Outside, a large new seniors centre. playground will soon be built next The cardio and weight room is 10 door at the newly-named Edmonds 4x1.25_bottle_depot_ad_final.pdf 1 12-03-05 1:20 PM times larger than the facility at the Park (formerly Richmond Park).
BOTTLE DEPOT
POP
Wanda Chow
Edmonds Town Centre never had a public swimming pool before but the Fred Randall Pool will change that, bringing with it all manner of bells and whistles. Along with a six-lane, 25-metrelong pool, the facility includes two waterslides, an extra-large hot tub, sauna and steam room. The leisure pool’s kid-friendly features include a “lazy river,” bubble bench, spray arches, a mini-playground structure and a large dumping bucket. A two-lane, 15-metre long pool will have a warmer water temperature to accommodate people using it for rehabilitation,
POP
Open house, Canada Day party to welcome community; free pool admission all day
When it comes to the gap in property taxes between what businesses and homeowners pay, Burnaby is fourth worst in B.C., according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB). The 2013 CFIB Municipal Property Tax Report compares the difference in property tax rates charged. Last year in Burnaby, small businesses paid 4.52 times more than residential property owners, a 25.02 per cent increase from 2003 when the CFIB started producing its annual report. The provincial average was 2.7 times, less than in 2011 when it was 2.78 times. Worst among the province’s 161 municipalities surveyed was North Saanich (5.6 times), followed by Coquitlam (4.66 times) and Revelstoke (4.59 times). Vancouver came in sixth highest (4.35), Richmond in 17th place (3.77), Surrey in 46th spot (3.0) and Abbotsford in 87th (2.53). Please see CLOSING, A8