Taking to the ice
NWSS Grade 12 students will go head to head with teachers and cops at Moody Park Arena in an effort to help those in need.
Anyone and everyone is invited to watch the game that takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The puck drops at 11:20 a.m. and the game is expected to wrap up by 12:15 p.m.
The charity hockey game is part of a Dec. 3 to 18 food drive organized by students and school liaison officer Const. Nick Ferguson. People can drop off non-perishable food items at Moody Park Arena, and all items collected will be donated to the Salvation Army in New Westminster.
Eagles invite kids to see Santa
Eagles – not reindeer – will be helping Santa deliver gifts to local kids this year.
The Fraternal Order of Eagles is hosting a Christmas With Santa event for kids aged one to 12 on Friday, Dec. 13 from 3 to 6 p.m. Assisted by Mrs. Claus, Santa will be handing out gifts to 100 kids.
The event includes oranges, juice boxes and popcorn by Ralph the Elf. Proceeds of photos with Santa will be donated to a local charity.
Anyone wishing to visit with Santa can call John Ashdown at 604-657-5600 or email [email protected] with the name, gender and age of the child attending.
The event takes place at the CAW hall at 707 12th St.
Cadets collect food
Sea cadets donned some warm apparel to help those in need.
About 60 youth from Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Fraser bundled up against the frigid temperatures on Saturday and set out in the city to gather food donations for the New Westminster food bank. After spreading some Christmas cheer in the morning’s Santa Claus Parade, the sea cadets took to the streets for their annual food drive.
They began the food drive last Wednesday night by distributing collection bags with requests for donations.
“The note indicated that we would be back to pick them up on Saturday, and we had a fantastic participation rate,” said a press release from Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corp Fraser. “We even had one resident running after us down the street with her donation as she didn’t hear us knock on the door, but saw us outside.”
This year marks the third annual food drive done by sea cadets from Fraser, with the event bringing in about 2,000 pounds of donations for the food bank each year. The cadets are hoping to expand their effort next year.
“It brings a great sense of pride to know that youth are not only developing valuable life skills while participating in the program, but that they are able to give back to the community while doing it,” said Naval Cadet Alex Gaio. Alex, 19, is the newest adult
instructor with Fraser Sea Cadets, having previously been an air cadet in Tsawwassen.
Sea Cadets is a national program offered to youth ages 12 to18, and there is no cost to join or participate. More information about the Fraser Sea Cadets can be found at joinseacadets.ca
Lac-Megantic fundraiser continues at Greens and Beans
A city councillor on the other side of Canada is the winner of a limited edition print by a man known as “the Robert Bateman of trains.”
Greens and Beans deli in Sapperton has been raising funds for Lac-Megantic, Quebec, which was devastated by a tragic train derailment in the summer. Since that time, the Sapperton diner has been selling raffle tickets, with the lucky winner receiving a print by New Westminster artist Max Jacquiard.
“The winner was a city councillor from Halifax named Bill Karsten. Coun. Lorrie Williams had sold tickets this past summer when she was at a Federation of Canadian Municipalities meeting in Ontario,” Leona Green said in an email to The Record. “When we called him he was quite excited. He said, ‘We just came home from lighting the town Christmas tree and this just tops off my day.’"
Williams will be attending another Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ meeting in March, and will present the print to Karsten at that time.
While the raffle has wrapped up, Greens and Beans continues to raise funds for the community of Lac-Megantic.
“We will be selling five card sets of Max Jacquiard art work until Christmas,” Green noted. “It is called The New Westminster Signature Collection, as all the pictures are of trains in New Westminster.”
The sets of cards are $20, and are available at Greens and Beans at 143 East Columbia St.
