Carlos Bilan Staff Writer he Douglas College Business Association (DCBA) has prepared two events this coming February. On February 16 the DCBA will hold a “Member Appreciation Night” at The Bourbon in Gastown, Vancouver. “All Douglas College students and friends are welcome to the DCBA Celebration. Really, it’s a celebration about the work DCBA has done and continues to do,” said Milan Sagar, president of the DCBA, who is also leading this event. “The DCBA Executive Team looks forward to enjoying a great night with all attendees.” According to the event website, doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10, purchasable at the DCBA booth on the New Westminster Campus concourse, or through the PayPal link on the website. Physical tickets must be brought to guarantee admission. Another event the DCBA has prepared is the Burnaby Board of Trade Access Student Career Development Program Information Session, which will be held on February 28. “This will create unique experiences and opportunities that are invaluable in making you attractive to potential employers,” said DCBA member Andrew Nelson. Alexandra Nicoara, the Vice President of Marketing in the DCBA and alumnus of the Access program, spoke about her experience doing the program. “I took part in a workshop organizing comunittee that offers students learning experiences such as financial literacy or how to manage your student financials, building your professional brand, and another one that is in the making and will be a surprise. The networking side of the program also helped me learn more about the business world and how things are done once you graduate. A lot of business comes from networking, and attending the Burnaby Board of Trade events provides a platform for different businesses in the community to come together.” “You not only learn business and professional skills,” Nicoara added, “but you also learn personal skills. Business skills are networking, being able to see opportunities, and being able to meet businesses that could offer you a job (¥ Douglas students move #ForwardTogether Q & Neo-Nazi supporters meet their match Indigenous groups concerned about LNG pipeline project And more! DCBA holds Member Appreciation Night and Access Information session > February events prepared by the Douglas College Business Association opportunity. The soft skills are teamwork, interpersonal skills, communication skills, and overall life skills.” According to Nicoara, being part of a committee helped her “understand others points of view, and how to work with different opinions and encompass them in the written content,” among many other skills. “Just because I may not need a , service, there could be someone in my professional network that needs that service. Burnaby Board of Trade facilitates businesses to connect that way and become a better provider for the community,” Nicoara added. “What an amazing experience as a business student. I hope to inspire other students to take initiative and prosper in their professional careers.” Will Coronation Park developments get the go-ahead? > Some residents frustrated with proposed land use concept Aaron Guillen Staff Reporter Curent the Coronation Park neighbourhood, located directly across from Port Moody’s Inlet Centre Station, holds an estimated 500 people with one access road, but no parks on its 22.7 acres—and the City of Port Moody wanits to change that. A recently-proposed land-use concept was presented to Coronation Park residents back in September 2016 for feedback. The concept plan separates the land into four specific sections, which intermingle among each other. Firstly, high-rise residential buildings are proposed, with a wider three-story base and at a maximum of 26 storeys. Secondly, similar high-rise towers are expected for mixed use, with retail and commercial spaces. Both high-rise building types will line the border of the neighbourhood. Thirdly, a low-rise residential area will find itself in the centre of the neighbourhood, with a mix of apartments and townhouses at a maximum of four storeys. Finally, a one-acre park is planned, effectively putting the “park” back into Coronation Park. The Coronation Park neighbourhood has found itself in the crosshairs of a strenuous process of convincing its residents that redevelopments should be made. According to the Tri-City News, Port Moody’s population is expected to grow from around 33,600 to 50,000 by 2041. With an increase of Vancouverites fleeing their housing market and settling along the newly implemented Evergreen Line, Port Moody neighbourhoods are expected to take expansive redevelopments in stride. Unfortunately, it seems like the current situation is quite the opposite. “This is the real challenge because there are 180 different units in there,” explained James Stiver, the city’s general manager of development services, to the Tri-City News. “It’s easy when there’s one developer and we come up with a phasing plan that everybody agrees on and we move forward. But when we have people who are ready for change and people who don’t want to leave, it’s really challenging.” Many residents believe that Coronation Park should move on up, along with similar neighbourhoods, such as Klahanie, Newport Village, and Suter Brook Village. Notably, Coronation Park’s current concept plan envisions almost 4,500 residents in the future. Among those listed, Klahanie ranks highest in population among previously developed neighbourhoods with just under 2,700. “This is a 30-year plan being presented by the city, it’s not something that’s going to happen overnight,” explained Coquitlam resident David Attridge to the Tri-City News. “If the SkyTrain line wasn’t less than 400 metres from my door and I didn’t see the potential for a development like this, I would love to stay in this area. But it’s for the greater good of the community that change has to happen here rather than in loco or other parts of Port Moody.” On the contrary, many residents are concerned with the dramatic amount of change that will take place in such a small community filled with townhouses and single family homes. In light of transit- oriented development (TOD) around Inlet Centre Station, some believe that eet PE LMC Cyl > G 9 5 = v o 5 oa 2 =°0 > 2 ae & > vu = oY o = TransLink shouldn't be deciding what is best for Coronation Park’s residents. In addition, residents claim that developments such as these are forcefully making change without consideration for those who want their neighbourhood to remain the same as it was when they settled many years ago.