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How can the city say sorry? City council to vote on Chinese reconciliation on Monday BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
The City of New Westminster is set to consider how to acknowledge its racist actions toward Chinese-Canadians. On Monday, council will consider a staff report about the Chinese reconciliation process that’s been underway for nearly a year. “I think it will be significant. The work we have done is very good,” said Coun. Bill Harper. “We are the only city in Canada to attempt it. I think it will resolve the issue.” City staff spent eight months researching council minutes from 1860 to 1926 and found that the city discriminated against the Chinese community regarding land and buildings, city regulations, employment opportunities and other areas. Staff then consulted with the public about appropriate steps toward reconciliation. “As we have gone through the process, interest has gone up,” Harper said. John Stark, the city’s senior social planner, said the city consulted with about 150 people during the consultation process. That included about 80 people ◗Reconciliation Page 8
Jason Lang/THE RECORD
Pride in the city: Paul Minhas, owner of the Heritage Grill in downtown New Westminster, is creating a welcoming environment for the city’s gay community and their friends. The restaurant hosts a weekly series of G.I.N. – Gay in New West – gatherings, as well as a monthly drag show.
Stepping into the spotlight Drag shows, comedy club among gay-friendly offerings BY NIKI HOPE REPORTER
nhope@royalcityrecord.com
A
manda Luv saunters across the stage in size-11 heels and a metallicgold dress. Her Rubenesque curves bounce back and forth; she tosses her chandelier earrings and brunette shag wig. Her dress catches the light as she swishes along the small, floor-level stage at the Heritage Grill, lip-synching a campy number called Down at the Piggly Wiggly. After her song, Luv banters with the audience.
and receiving supervisor. “In August, we have Pride New West But for the nights she hosts at the kickoff,” she tells the crowd. Heritage Grill, it’s pure glamour as Luv One of the Pride events might be held at goes through up to six costumes changes the Legion, she tells them. and as many different wigs. Every “That’s not like the Elks Club month she invites “friends” to join my father went to,” she says her for the show, where they show cheekily. up in equally fabulous getups to The crowd at the Heritage Grill IN THE lip-synch to their favourite torch is a mixture of gays and straights, songs or saucy number. and it’s hard to tell which is which The drag show at the Heritage (except, maybe, for the lineup of A SPECIAL SERIES Grill might be one of the most fun attractive men sitting at the bar). ways to spend a Saturday in the Groups of friends sit together, takRoyal City – gay or straight. ing in the colourful show. “Most of audience is straight,” she says. Later, when the wig comes off and “We don’t take ourselves seriously. We are the makeup has been wiped away, Miss still guys in dresses.” Amanda Luv becomes André Hall, a ◗On stage Page 3 Burnaby resident who works as a shipping
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