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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014
W E S T M I N S T E R
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Helping to make the season bright
anta came to town a bit early to help local kids have a happy holiday. Community members supported two local organizations that were the recipients of donations at Wednesday’s Christmas for Kids toy drive and pancake breakfast at the Paddlewheeler Pub at River Market. New Westminster Family Place and the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families divvied up the donations and will disperse them to folks involved in their programs. “It really, really helped us,” said Family Place executive director Marjorie Staal. “We couldn’t have had a Christmas party without the toy drive.” Fire Chief Tim Armstrong and Police Chief Dave Jones attended the toy drive, as did several off-duty firefighters who volunteered their time. Firefighters accepted the toy donations and placed them under the tree. “We are very grateful. We really, really appreciate their help,” Staal said. “The Paddlewheeler, as usual, was excellent. The food was really good.” In past years, the chamber of commerce organized the event, but Family Place and the Purpose Society were charged with hosting this year’s event. The Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Association signed up as a partner in the event. “They paid for the food,” Staal said of the BIA. “The pub donated the space and the staff.” Santa (a.k.a. Calvin Donnelly) joined in the festivities and handed out candy canes to the breakfast crowd. – Theresa McManus
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Larry Wright/THE RECORD
Ho ho ho: Helen Bodner and six-year-old Gabie Baillargeon enjoy a visit with Santa during a pancake breakfast and toy drive at the Paddlewheeler on Wednesday. It was held to support New Westminster Family Place and the Purpose Society.
A city ‘rich with talent, energy and ideas’ BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
Mayor Jonathan Cote is inviting community members to help the city build a brighter future for New Westminster. On Dec. 1, Cote was sworn in as New Westminster’s new mayor, after serving three terms as a councillor. Bill Harper, Patrick Johnstone, Jaimie McEvoy, Chuck Puchmayr, Mary Trentadue and Lorrie
Williams were sworn in as councillors. “I’m proud to be here and honoured by the confidence you have placed in me as your mayor,” Cote said. “We live in a great city. During my time as a city councillor, I was reminded of that fact time and again. Whether out in the community, learning about a new program or initiative being developed by a local organization or community volunteers, or here in council chambers, listening during open delega-
tions as citizens expressed their views, it’s always been clear that New Westminster is a community rich with talent, energy and ideas. In the months ahead, I look forward to working with everyone in our city to harness our assets and ensure our community continues to thrive and grow.” Cote said citizens have made it very clear that the city needs to work hard to address some key priorities. “Time and again, transportation was
raised as front and centre on the minds of residents. It’s no secret that New Westminster’s geographic good fortune of being located at the very centre of the bustling Metro Vancouver region can also work against us as we move about our community,” he said. “As your mayor, I pledge to work with council and staff to explore strategies to build a transportation system that works.” ◗Sworn in Page 8
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