Masons are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Masonic Union-Solomon Lodge No. 9.
The officers of the lodge have invited dignitaries to join together for a formal Sesquicentennial banquet. The event, which is being held on Saturday, Dec. 3, will include messages from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Christy Clark, the City of New Westminster and Chief Rhonda Larrabee of the Qayqayt First Nation.
The anniversary celebration includes a tour of Holy Trinity Cathedral, a service, and refreshments and dinner.
Instituted in 1861, the Union-Solomon Lodge No. 9 is closely tied to the beginnings of the City of New Westminster. Many of its founding members are persons of local and historical significance.
"The 150th celebration presents a wonderful opportunity to honour our past, to celebrate our continued good works, and reaffirm our strong community ties," said a press release.
OPEN DOORS
New Westminster MLA Dawn Black is collecting donations for the local food bank at her upcoming open house.
Black is holding an open house at her constituency office at 737 Sixth St. on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and everyone is welcome to attend. If possible, people are asked to bring a non-perishable food item and/or financial donation for the New Westminster Food Bank.
TOYS FOR KIDS
The fifth annual Christmas for Kids toy drive will once again be held at the Paddlewheeler Pub.
The pancake breakfast is taking place on Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 7 to 10 a.m. at the pub that's located in River Market at Westminster Quay. The police, fire chiefs and other local personalities will join Mayor Wayne Wright at the breakfast, which features pancakes, sausages, eggs, fresh fruit juice and coffee.
People are asked to bring an unwrapped gift valued at $10 or more and receive a free breakfast. Donations of toys, games, books and puzzles are welcomed. Guests are also welcome to bring cash donations, and receipts will be given out for donations of more than $25.
All donations will go to New Westminster Family Place and the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families.
GREEN IDEAS
New Westminster Environmental Partners is inviting the public to attend a forum on energy resiliency and energy transition planning.
The forum will be preceded by the group's annual general meeting and election of directors for 2012. The annual general meeting will start at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5 at River Market and the public forum presentations will begin after 6: 30 p.m.
The public forum will include two speakers with experience in energy and energy policy.
Stuart Ramsey is a transportation engineer with more than 25 years of experience working in private and public sectors. He has focused on urban transportation issues in Metro Vancouver for several years.
Steven Bishop, a curriculum developer and instructor with the building energy and resource management program at Douglas College, is a consultant for sustainable building practices. He has 35 years experience in the building industry in roles ranging from residential builder to commercial and institutional construction project management.
A question-and-answer session and open discussion will follow the formal presentations. For more, visit www.nwep.ca.
Send Around Town ideas to tmcmanus@royalcityrecord. com.
