The New Westminster board of education meetings are about to get even livelier.
The board is now live streaming its meetings through the City of New Westminster's website, which means parents and other interested stakeholders can watch the board meetings - held at city hall - from the comfort of their home.
"You can watch it at home with a glass of red wine, or white wine - whatever your preference is," board chair Michael Ewen said.
Live streaming the meetings is something Ewen said he's wanted to do for two years, but was told it would cost the district money.
"It turns out there isn't a cost to it," he said. "Anyway, we got the chance to live stream it. It turns out it's very straightforward. If we don't have an operator there, it's one-camera wide . the audio is fairly good, the picture is internet-streaming quality."
A city hall staff member asked the school district if it wanted to live stream the meetings, which are usually held in city hall chambers. The City of New Westminster also live streams its city council meetings.
"I'm so thrilled, it's one way that we can reach out to folks who want to actually watch this but don't want to come out to meetings," Ewen said.
To access the archived video stream, visit the city's website at www. newwestcity.ca, click on the Council Video Coverage link, click either Live Player or Archive Player and select the meeting date in the red font, click on Search and then click the School Board meeting.
Ewen said he wants to archive the meetings onto the school district's website.
Fundraising drive
Parents at Ãcole John Robson School and the local chapter of Canadian Parents for French are getting behind the wheel to raise funds for their school.
They hope to raise $6,000 at the Ford test-drive fundraising event in which Key West Ford of New West will donate $20 for every complete test-drive application (limit one per household).
Parents want the community to come out to show their support for public education and help them weather this difficult time of budget deficits and provide gap-funding for cuts to educational programs and services, says a media release.
The event is being held at the upper parking lot of Ãcole John Robson School at 120 Eighth St. on June 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The goal of the fund-raiser is to help pay for playground equipment at QayQayt Elementary Community School as well as field trips, cultural activities and French immersion programs.
Former NHL hockey player Kirk McLean will be at the event between noon and 1: 30 p.m. to sign autographs.
Kids can enjoy food and fun activities while parents test-drive any one of 10 Ford vehicles from Key West's inventory.
No reservations needed, but email 2jrpac@gmail. com for a priority time slot or for additional information.
