diehard Canucks fan is recruiting fellow fans to march with him in the upcoming Hyack International Parade.
When the parade takes to city streets on May 26, Andrew Nicholson will be marching to show his support for the Canucks.
"I am Andrew, the Crazy Canuck," Nicholson said. "The fans still believe in the Vancouver Canucks."
Nicholson participated in last year's Hyack International Parade, when the Canucks were battling their way to the Stanley Cup finals.
"I want to have as many kids as I can to march in the parade," he said. "Last year I was by myself."
Nicholson's vision is for an army of young Canuck fans decked out in their jerseys or Canucks attire marching together in the parade. Colonel Canuck (local Realtor Glen Renney) will also be part of the contingent.
Anyone interested in donning their Canucks jersey and marching in the parade can email Nicholson at andrewthecrazycanuck30@ yahoo.ca.
GOGOS HELP OUT
The Royal City Gogos recent event raised some much-needed funds for their efforts in Africa.
Janine Reid, founder and co-coordinator of the Royal City Gogos, reports that the April 28 Grandma's Attic event raised about $7,500.
"People were lined up to come in when the doors opened at 11 a.m.," she wrote in an email to The Record. "That is enough money to send 12 students to high school for a year in Kenya. Similarly it would buy enough beans to feed children at five schools for a year in Zimbabwe."
Royal City Gogos raise funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, which raises funds to assist African grandmothers who are caring for some of the 14.8 million children who have been orphaned in subSaharan Africa by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
GOING BUGGY?
Douglas College is inviting gardeners to a free forum about biological control of insects.
The forum is being presented by the Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology on Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m. What's Wriggling in Your Rhubarb? UNIBUG and the biological control of insects is meant for anyone who loves gardening but hates the thought of spraying chemicals on their plants to stave off pests.
Attendees will learn about UNIBUG - the User Network for Insect Biology in the Urban Garden - and how to become involved with fighting insects the natural way: through planting flora that attract beneficial biological insects - or good bugs that eat bad bugs - to your garden.
Guest speakers Renee Prasad from the University of the Fraser Valley and Rick Kool from Royal Roads University will discuss biological control insects and "citizen science.
The event also includes recognition of volunteers with the UNIBUG project and light refreshments.
The forum takes place in the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre, which is located on the fourth floor, Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave.
MP BACK AS CHAIR
Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian has been re-elected caucus chair of the federal New Democrats.
In addition to re-electing Julian to the position, New Democrats chose Rathika Sitsabaiesan as their new vice chair.
"Peter and Rathika have served our caucus -and Canadians - very well," said NDP leader Tom Mulcair in a press release. "They will chair a re-energized and substantive caucus that is going to get results for Canadians.
We will hold Mr. Harper to account and propose solutions on things that matter."
Mulcair recently named Julian as the NDP's critic for Energy and Natural Resources.
LIONS MEET
Royal City residents are invited to attend the New Westminster Lions Club meeting to hear about Camp Zajac.
Val McKinnon, camp director for Zajac Ranch for Children, is the guest speaker at the Lion's next meeting, which takes place on Monday, May 28 at 7 p.m. at Boston Pizza, 1045 Columbia St. Zajac Ranch for Children is a camp for young people who require special help in dealing with their variety of difficulties.
Louisa Lundy, president of the New Westminster Lions Club, said about 20 per cent of Camp Zajac's 460 campers were from this area, including 10 from New Westminster, 12 from Burnaby, 15 from Coquitlam and 41 from Surrey.
The presentation at the Lions Club meeting will illustrate how monetary donations are dealt with at Zajac Ranch for Children, which provides numerous camp weeks in July and august for kids aged seven to 17 with illnesses and disability including spina bifida, Turner syndrome, visual impairments, Down syndrome, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, craniofacial differences, organ transplant and kidney disorders, as well as a camp specifically for young adults aged 18 to 30.
Do you have an item for Around Town? Send ideas to Theresa, tmcmanus@royal cityrecord.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, @TheresaMcManus.
