Dr. Elaine Golds receives the 2016
Honorary Fellows Award

> Award latest distinction in a career of conservation

Mercedes Deutscher
News Editor

 

Fo Dr. Elaine Golds,
environmental conservation
has always been a top priority.
Since she moved to Port Moody
in 1989, Golds has worked full-
time and unpaid, and become
a respected and critical voice
for conservation throughout
the Tri-Cities and BC. For this
and many other reasons, Dr.
Golds was recently awarded
Douglas College’s highest award
of distinction, the Honorary
Fellows Award on February u.

Golds has been a
conservationist for most of her
life. She received her Bachelor’s
of Science from the University of
Saskatchewan before completing
her biochemistry doctorate
at McGill University in 1978.
She researched arthritis and
multiple sclerosis and worked
as an assistant professor at
the university before moving
to Port Moody in 1989.

Dr. Kathy Denton, the
President of Douglas College,

said on the college website:

“Dr. Golds’ commitment to the
metro-Vancouver community and
environment is something to be
admired. This type of dedication
and passion is what we aspire

to instill in our students.”

Dr. Golds accepted the award
with graciousness, as reported
through Douglas College’s news
and media feed. “As a volunteer,

lam deeply honoured to be
receiving this award. I hope
it helps to shine a light on
the significant contributions
that many volunteers make
to their communities.”

Golds has campaigned for
countless local environmental
causes throughout the course
of her life. Some of the
reasons highlighted in her

  

Dr. Elaine Golds via @Douglascollege on Twitter

reception of the Honorary
Fellows Award include her
work to stop the logging
of forests near watersheds,
as well as work to preserve
local and provincial parks.
To highlight a few more,
she successfully advocated
for equipment that reduced
air pollution at BC Hydro
generating stations during the

‘gos. She has also advocated
for clean energy plants instead
of coal-based plants, as well as
for better locations for Kinder
Morgan to construct pipelines,
aside from Burke Mountain.
Lastly, she donated her
time and money to local
causes time and time again.
Of course, this is not the
first time that Dr. Golds has
been recognized for her work
in the community. Golds was
awarded the Pacific Salmon
Foundation Hungerford Award
for Conservation in 2014 due
to her work as stream steward.
She donated the $10,000 grant
awarded with the prize to
Mossom Creek Hatchery.
Golds’ lifetime of
environmental work also resulted
in her being the recipient of
the Port Moody Freedom of
the City Award in 2007, the
BC Community Achievement
Award, both the Queen’s
Golden and Diamond Jubilee
Medals, and the University
of Saskatchewan Alumni
Association Achievement Award.

New Westminster attempts to connect Quay to Queensborough

> Q2Q bridge comes with complaints, concerns, and deadlines

Aaron Guillen
Staff Reporter

 

he New Westminster
waterfront has always been
a popular place for a stroll ona
nice day with friends, and the
area is about to get an addition.
The Quay to Queensborough
(Q2Q) Bridge, a pedestrian
and cyclist bridge, has been
in the works for many years.
Last month, city officials
decided that a drawbridge was
necessary should it be placed
along the Fraser River near
the railway bridge. However,
after consulting with tugboat
operators and Port Metro
Vancouver, the previous details
have been changed, pertaining
specifically to the location and
height of the Q2Q crossing.
Instead of being placed near
the railway crossing, the project
has been moved downstream.
Due to safety concerns,
it is necessary for the bridge
to be 14.5 metres above water.
Currently, plans are to include
elevators on both sides, bringing
pedestrians and cyclists up
to the crossing, with a wide
staircase encircling the lift.
According to a Q2Q

 

 

   

a L
oer = rho

aii Pail ae Nie

-0 pen

ae Le

brochure found on the city’s
website, “the planned Quayside
to Queensborough Bridge ... will
connect residents, employees
and tourists traveling between
the Queensborough community,
downtown New Westminster
and points beyond.”

“From a regional
transportation perspective,
the bridge will link greenways
on the north and south side of
the Fraser River and the New
Westminster SkyTrain Station
to Queensborough. It will
also provide enhanced access

% Lt

pero

pret grt

along the scenic Fraser River
and complete a key missing
link in the Experience the
Fraser trail system running
from Hope to the Salish Sea.”
The overpass is confirmed
to be built in the near future, as
$6.3 million, received from casino
funding, has been allocated
to the project. Recently, the
province has hinted that the
deadline, previously planned
back in 2015, then for 2017, will
most likely be pushed back
to 2020. Although the bridge
is beginning to lock down
blueprints, the foundation isn’t

being built without a struggle.

Throughout the past
few months, residents of the
condos alongside the Quay
have expressed concern about
their view of the Fraser River,
should the bridge be built. One
of the residents, Brian Gibson,
vented his frustration to the
New Westminster Record,
saying: “It’s just wrong.”

“The view that will be
impeded by about four of the
units closest to this proposed
bridge would be significant,” said
Gibson. He added his concern
about the devaluation of his,

Image via pbs.twimg.com

and a handful of the Quay’s
properties. “We are on the
fourth floor. My neighbour on
the ground floor, any westward
view down the river, which is
quite pleasant, will be totally
obstructed. Thus the concern
of the property value impact.”
Gibson told the New
Westminster Record that he
isn’t against the bridge, but
hopes that residents will be
corresponded with more
often and that a beneficial
solution will be found soon.