Starbucks in SFU's Future?

North Road puts on 'feel good' event for moms

By Stefania Seccia,
Burnaby Now 
May 3, 2013

With Mother's Day just around the corner, one neighbourhood business association is planning something special for all moms out there.

This Saturday, May 4, from 12 to 5 p.m., the North Road Business Improvement Association with Shoppers Drug Mart is hosting a free gala event, Look Good, Feel Better.

"It's fun, something to do on a hopefully sunny weekend day, make a free card for your mom (and) get a free flower for your mom," said Carolyn Orazietti, executive director of the North Road association. "I expect it'll be pretty upbeat."

The event is located outside of Shoppers on North Road and Cameron Street to support women who have been affected by cancer.

"It benefits women who have suffered from cancer - the appearance of the woman and her overall health," Orazietti said.

"It'll work the self-esteem angle of it."

Highlights include free Mother's Day crafts for kids, face painting, balloon twisting, games with prizes, free flowers for mom and free Tim Horton's coffee.

Orazietti said she also booked Cinemazoo for about an hour, which will feature famous and rescued animals of all kinds, for kids to get up close and personal with.

To enter the gala event inside it's a $10 donation, which will go towards charity, according to Orazietti. It'll feature free snacks, beauty makeovers, grab bags filled with cosmetics and a "spine-tingling" tarot card reading.

There will also be a police cruiser for kids to crawl around in.

"We'll have cotton candy and popcorn by donation and some free food," she added. "It's a feel-good event."

The event will feature local business merchants, police officers and staff from Cameron's Burnaby Public Library. It's part of a national campaign put on by Shoppers Drug Mart.

For more information, visit www.burnaby northroadbia.ca.

CSI: Burnaby biz websites

The Burnaby Board of Trade is hosting an event to inform local businesses on how to effectively track website visitors.

The May 7 seminar CSI: Google Analytics is being presented by Snap Tech Marketing.

By the end of the seminar, participants will know how to use Google Analytics, which can help keep track of who is looking at the site, what they were searching for, how long they spent on the site and if the online advertising is helpful, among other key components.

The event is at Best Western Plus Coquitlam, from 8 to 9: 30 a.m. It's free for members, or $20 for non-members.

For more information visit bbot.ca or call 604412-0100.

Snaptech is a web design and Internet marketing company. Visit www.snaptech.com for more info.

Starbucks in SFU's future?

SFU students received a recent update on whether or not the famous Starbucks Coffee sign will become part of the landscape on top of the mountain. The university is currently working with Starbucks to get a location set up at the Burnaby campus, but negotiations are hinging on the Seattle-based company to provide more fair trade coffee options.

Last November, a survey showed that 77 per cent of students, staff and faculty were in favour of fair trade products being offered by food vendors.

"Did you know that the majority of Starbucks coffee in the U.K., France and Germany is fair trade certified, but Starbucks offers very little in Canada?" said Mark McLaughlin, executive director of Ancillary Services, in a notice to students. "We are talking with Starbucks to impress upon them the need for more fair trade coffee not only at SFU but also throughout Vancouver and across Canada."

SFU was designated as a fair trade campus last May and is part of an international program that allows coffee farmers in developing countries to earn a decent living.

"We are encouraging Starbucks to join us in engaging the world to bring about positive change," McLaughlin said.

All the food vendors, except Tim Horton's, at the Burnaby campus, serve 100 per cent certified fair trade coffee. Comic Book Day!

The annual and international Free Comic Book Day is back on May 4.

There are two locations in Burnaby who are participating: T&N Games at #102-2849 North Rd. and Metropolis Comics & Toys at 4735 Kingsway.

The stores will give away free comics, but check with the local comic book shops for rules.

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