Street named after sweep

The city has come clean with a name for a new street in the McLennan area.

Armstrong Street is named after Harry Armstrong, perhaps the most famous chimney sweep in the Lower Mainland for much of the 20th century.

Armstrong was born and educated in Illinois. He moved to Cumberland on Vancouver Island in 1914 and four years later moved to Vancouver and then to Richmond.

He lived at 934 Ferndale Rd. with his wife Helen and daughters G. Tate and R. Taylor. A chimney sweep for 36 years, according to the city he was probably the oldest follower of his trade in B.C. until his death—probably sometime in the 1950s.

The proposed road will connect Sills Avenue with an extension of Keefer Avenue in a new residential area..com.

Water park nixed for city centre

Man-made ponds will be the only water splashing at Garden City Community Park this summer as city council has dumped the planned water park.

Instead, city staff will use the $694,000 already earmarked for a playground and water park for an “enhanced” playground.

Plans for the 20-acre passive park, formerly known as McLennan North Community Park, are “evolving,” said parks manager Mike Redpath.

A staff report concluded a playground can be used year-round, whereas use of a water park is restricted to two months of the summer. It also suggested a water park could require a pricey water treatment system.

The report says a small water feature could still be incorporated into the playground.

Tung Chan named head of SUCCESS

Former Richmond Public Library board chair Tung Chan has been named the new head of the Vancouver-based immigrant services society SUCCESS.

Chan was named the new chief executive officer of the United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society on Tuesday, replacing the late Lillian To. His appointment takes effect Nov. 1.

He will be stepping down as district vice-president of 17 TD Canada Trust branches. He first joined TD Bank Financial Group in 1978.

He served as a Vancouver councillor for one term, from 1990 to 1993.

He has previously been vice chair of SUCCESS, and helped found the Richmond Bogside Boy Scout Group.

He first immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in 1974.

SUCCESS has offices throughout the Vancouver area, including at Richmond Caring Place.

SUCCESS is a non-profit charitable organization that promotes the well being of Canadians and new immigrants and encourages their involvement in the community through the provision of social, educational and health services.

The organization has an annual operating budget of $17 million and in 2003-2004 provided more than 886,000 client services. It has 20 board members, more than 350 professional staff and 9,000 volunteers working in 11 officers in the Lower Mainland.

More than half of SUCCESS’s annual operating funding comes from the government, with the remaining 40 per cent being raised through donations, membership dues, corporate sponsorships and fundraising.

Vaudeville, Godspell on stage this year

The Gateway Academy is readying itself for another summer of acting.

Four intensive summer programs are being offered this year—two drama programs and two musical theatre programs.

July’s drama program runs from July 10 to 21 and is for youth between the ages of 12 and 17.

It gives youth a chance to hone their acting skills through theatre games, scene development, character study and physical and vocal techniques.

Drama classes run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

July’s musical theatre program runs from July 4 to 28 and is for kids ages eight to 12. The students will be performing Vaudeville.

Classes run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The next drama session runs Aug. 7 to 18, and is for kids ages eight to 12.

The next musical theatre program runs July 31 to Aug. 25. It’s for performers ages 13 to 19. Students, who will perform Godspell, must audition to enter this program.

For more information, call 604-247-4975 or visit www.gatewaytheatre