The New Westminster Hyack ambassadors are wearing “sapphire” tiaras this year in honour of the Hyack Festival Association’s 45th sapphire anniversary year of creating, organizing and implementing community festivals, parades and events.
Young women taking part in this year’s program recently attended the President’s Tea. This year’s ambassadors are: Emma Ciprian (sponsored by Key West Ford), Grace Suazo (Royal City Rotary), Ravneet Rattan (Royal Treatment Therapeutics), Shane Ward (Westland Insurance), Gabriella Sali (Save-On-Foods New West) and Nicole Periera (Queen Bee Spa).
In addition to city councillors Patrick Johnstone and Lorrie Williams, other guests at the President’s Tea included the 2015 May Queen Suite, B.C. Ambassador from Lake Cowichan Mary Batyi, Miss New Westminster 2015 Taylor Atherley and the current Hyack ambassador leadership team, past presidents, business and community sponsors. Lunch refreshments were provided by Save-On-Foods Sapperton manager Michael Huhn.
Don Swindells, Hyack’s past president, presented Susan Cartwright-Coates with the Hyack Sponsor of the Year Award in recognition of Cartwright Jewellers being the premiere sponsor and year-round supporter of the New Westminster Hyack ambassador leadership program.
At Hyack’s recent annual general meeting, Alan Wardle became the association’s 2016 president. Joining Wardle on the executive are: David Brett, 2017 president-elect; Ryan Ferrer, secretary; Sean Della Vedova, vice-president; and Don Swindells, past-president. A treasurer has yet to be appointed.
Members of the board of directors are David MacGrotty, Gerda Suess, Ken Rosadiuk, Lili De Captie, Deb Sutherland, Bryn Wardand Brenda Adams.
“As the Hyack Festival Association’s 45th president, first lady Deb and I are honoured to follow in the footsteps of so many city statesmen and women who have contributed so much,” Wardle said in a press release. “We look forward to continuing Hyack’s partnership with the City of New Westminster, our community and business stakeholders and our citizens of all ages – to showcase and promote our beautiful Royal City to all who stop by our doors on the banks of the Mighty Fraser River.”
Seeking sponsors
The Sport Leadership Cohort at New Westminster Secondary School is trying to rustle up support for its 2016 Hyacks in Motion event.
The class is putting on the Hyacks in Motion fundraiser and health promotion walk/run around Queen’s Park on May 7.
“This year we have joined with the New Westminster city’s Healthier Community Partnership to create a higher profile and sustainable Hyacks in Motion,” said Grade 10 student Patrick McManus in an email to the Record. “Our goal is to bring community, school district, families and students together with our run/walk and health fair to promote health education and support a healthy New Westminster community.”
Proceeds from Hyacks in Motion will go towards field trip opportunities in alternate health education environments, access to nutritious food and learning opportunities to develop healthy lifestyles for students in the local school district. The Sport Leadership Cohort is seeks sponsors and support for the event to help make it a great success.
For more information, email sponsor teacher Chad Oatway at [email protected].
(In the interest of full disclosure, I must point out that Patrick is my nephew. I wrote about last year’s event in the Record, so he was given my name as a media contact – not that he’d have a hard time finding me.)
Seeing purple
Anvil Centre will be seeing purple in recognition of the Provincial Eating Disorders Week in B.C.
Provincial Eating Disorders Week, held Feb. 1 to 7, aims to increase awareness about eating disorders. On Friday, Feb. 5, community members are invited to wear purple, take photos of themselves and landmarks and post them on social media.
Anyone interested in taking part in the campaign can post photos on Facebook (Purple4PEDAW2016) or Twitter (@loveourbodies).
Save the date
Saturday, Feb. 6: New Westminster MLA Judy Darcy and New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian are holding a Lunar New Year event from 2 to 4 p.m. at Royal City Centre’s food court, 610 Sixth St. Everyone is invited to celebrate the year of the Monkey.
Monday, Feb. 8: the New Westminster Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie and Auxiliary #20 are having a charity fundraiser at 6 p.m. at Chan’s Garden, 441 East Columbia St. to raise funds for the cardiology ward at Royal Columbian Hospital. Tickets are $30, which includes tax, gratuity and donation to the charity. The event also includes door prizes, 50/50 and silent auction. For tickets call Gerry Liu at 778-238-9260 or John Ashdown at 604-657-5600 or email [email protected].
Got an item for Around Town? Email Theresa, [email protected].
