Community Update | March 2010 SFU OLYMPIC TORCH-BEARER, OBI VATTANAWONG, VISITS THE TOWN SQUARE OUR NEW PRINCIPAL President’s Message Lori Driussi currently has two As the excitement of the 2010 Olympic and started last fall within Richard Bolton Park. jobs; getting ready to assume her Paralympic Games continues, the Trust and Starting as early as April, we will begin new position with the brand new UniverCity are headed into another busy construction of the Slopes Mews – an UniverCity elementary school in the year. extension of the existing Cornerstone fall while continuing in her job as As many of you are aware, we recently Mews running south of University High applied to the City of Burnaby to rezone Street. This work will allow for two new principal of Parkcrest elementary the next phase of the community. This residential projects to move forward. school in North Burnaby. She is so third phase includes the western portion The first of these is expected to begin busy that her partner has dubbed of University Crescent as well as three sites construction in late spring, while the her ‘Double P’, short for Double along the south side of University High second should be under construction by Principal. Street. The plan for these areas maintains late summer or early fall. But carrying a double load the Trust’s commitment to high quality This spring, the Trust will begin hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm. development and respect for the natural construction of the new childcare centre. “What gets me up in the morning heritage of Burnaby Mountain. Featured in some detail in our last is that this is such a wonderful Unanimous endorsement of this plan by Community Update, this 50-space facility opportunity not just for me but for Burnaby City Council at second reading on will offer an innovative model of early the children. While we offer the March 1st, allows us to move forward with childhood education in a facility that will standard curriculum, we also want a number of infrastructure projects to set be one of the most sustainable buildings in to encourage our children to learn the stage for new development later on this North America. in a community of belonging; one spring. It is going to be a busy period over the that inspires and nurtures global Over the next several weeks, the Trust next year, and we at the Trust are pleased citizenship,” she says. will complete the road works along to see these new projects underway. It At an Open House on February 18 University Crescent, connecting it to High is the cycle of a new community - new she spoke to the many parents that Street. We will also complete the upgrades infrastructure brings new development and ...continued on Page 2 ...continued on Page 4 Your Dollar Store How to Shrink with More Principal of New School Veteran of Burnaby School District Your Carbon A new and exciting retailer, ...continued from page 1 Footprint Your Dollar Store with attended about her vision for the new school. herself. She came to SFU in 1984 to do a She is looking forward to an exciting year Live greener and save money More, will be opening in “The overall reaction was very positive,” she Bachelor program and then continued on to that will see the completion of the building in by taking advantage of The Cornerstone building said. obtaining the PDP (Professional Development time for the beginning of the new school year UniverCity’s sustainable early this spring. Located In addition, she is already signing parents Program for teachers) at SFU and also in September. “It’s very exciting to be invited transportation options. at the corner of University up for the Parent Advisory Council and found completed a Masters Degree there. Now 44 to be principal of a brand new school built Residents are eligible for High Street and Cornerstone years old, she has been filling a variety of to a LEED Gold standard, wow, that’s just that parents were eager to get involved. The both the transit pass and Gate, this new store will school expects approximately 100 students in educational roles over many years. Before amazing—the building itself and the grounds community car programs, offer a wide variety of the fall, and staff will be hired starting in April. assuming her role as principal, she was an will be a teacher to the kids,” she says. providing two inexpensive affordable consumer goods While the programs offered will be unique Intermediate teacher, a Learning Support Indeed, this is the only school renovation and convenient alternatives for UniverCity residents, as and visionary in scope, it is also the setting and Teacher, a Head Teacher (similar to Vice in the entire province that will have this to private automobiles. well as SFU students, faculty the proximity to SFU that makes the school an Principal) and has worked as a Literacy and designation. Take advantage of and staff. The UniverCity ideal place for learning. SFU and the Burnaby Educational Consultant. Combined with the enthusiasm and UniverCity’s subsidized location is the newest store school board have always worked together, She is both sad to be leaving her current experience of the new principal and her staff, transit pass through the in a chain of more than a says Lori, but the proximity of this school to a position as well as excited at the opportunities this new school will no doubt become a model 140 Dollar Store locations major university make it a very special place. offered in the new one. “Because I don’t know school. UniverCity Community across Canada which have “Sometimes geography inspires action,” she exactly when I will be leaving, I haven’t told the The only thing still missing is the new name; Transit Pass program. The been in operation since 1998. says. kids yet; there are mixed feelings, but change however, the board has received 70 entries in first of its kind in Canada, the is good and people don’t stay forever, “ she says the Name the School Contest so far, and we will The “with more” concept is Lori Driussi looks forward to continuing pass aims to increase transit philosophically. publish it as soon as they pick the winning name. unique in the Dollar Store a long professional relationship with SFU ridership in the community industry, allowing retailers by providing a cost-effective the opportunity to sell automobile alternative. products that are priced over The pass allows residents a dollar. The over a dollar unlimited travel throughout items are always a great buy. New Pharmacist Looks to Help Community Stay Healthy TransLink’s service area for This pricing mix increases $29.67/month, compared to product selection, adds Fitim Hajrizaj, the new pharmacist at up. For example, recent discussions in will help me to do that,” he says of the medications that the doctor $130 for a regular priced pass. more value and enhances Nesters Market, wants to make sure the medical profession on vaccines and Fitim is a graduate of UBC, and has prescribes. They make sure that the Residents are also the shopping experience. that the residents of UniverCity know vitamin supplements could be issues that spent the last four years preparing for patient understands why taking the eligible for a Community Customers are always he is there to help them lead healthy need explanation and background for his new position as head of the Nesters medication in a certain manner is crucial Car program, operated lives, answer their questions about their worried parents wondering what to do. amazed at the different Pharmacy that opened on February 22. to its success. “We are accessible to give in partnership with the medications and stock the shelves with “There is always a lot of conflicting After first spending some time traveling patients information,” he says. treasures they discover in Cooperative Auto Network, all the things that help us to stay healthy. information even among doctors, and so around British Columbia filling various Fitim is ready to serve his new Your Dollar Store with More. which allows access to So one of his priorities is to make himself our goal is to present issues in an unbiased short term positions, he became the community and can be reached at community automobiles available for questions, either face to face and complete manner that will help manager at a Rexall drugstore in Nanaimo [email protected] located throughout the or via email. people to make up their own minds,” he and then held a similar position in “The whole idea of Nesters is to get says. He is also hoping that as the people Abbotsford. community on an hourly or involved in the community, so I will make of UniverCity get to know him, they will He says that the profession has daily basis. sure that you get the information you suggest topics for a series of clinics that he changed a lot during the last two decades. For more information on need and answer all your questions,” he is planning to offer once the pharmacy is Healthcare in BC is a collaborative these programs, please says. Any question he can’t answer right up and running. effort, and each member of the medical contact the Trust by email away, he will research and in addition, he “My main job is to gather all the health team plays a specific role. Pharmacists at: [email protected], or by is planning to write a regular column in information that you need to understand are not just trained to make and count phone at 604-291-3000 upcoming Community Updates so he can the medication you are taking and to get pills; rather, they are the communication deal more fully with issues as they come the outcomes you want, and the clinics experts who explain the ramifications ...continued from page 1 Community Room it in turn brings new people, and they in turn coming months as our community takes a big support the school, the childcare, and the step forward in its ongoing development.