Burnaby's Willingdon Park was voted most excellent in the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver's Commercial Building Awards.
The business park won an Excellence Award in the office category at the awards, held at the end of September in Vancouver.
The park won for the final two buildings in the development, Phase 8 and Phase 9.
"These phases possess many sustainable elements and amenities for an active community creating a campus-like feel," according to the board's statement on the winners. "The building itself is a strong architectural statement framed by massive arches and attractive light spires."
For more information on the winners, go to www.rebgv.org/2011commercial-buildingawards.
ON TELUS LANDS
It may have been located in Burnaby for decades, but Telus just recently purchased the land along Canada Way that houses its customer contact centre.
The company paid $30 million for the property at 4519 and 4535 Canada Way, which covers nearly 250,000 square feet, according to a press release from the company. The company had a mortgage on the land for more than 20 years prior to buying it, the release stated.
"This purchase extends our already deep roots in Burnaby," Andrea Goertz, Telus senior vice-president of strategic initiatives, said in a press release. "Telus has called Burnaby home for more than 100 years, and the city continues to play a key role in Telus' national operations. We have more team members in Burnaby than any other city in Canada, and are pleased to be one of the city's largest employers, taxpayers, and commercial property holders."
HELPING OUT
Grand Villa Casino, a Burnaby Board of Trade member, is taking the board's focus on addressing homelessness in the city seriously.
The casino recently donated $4,261 to the Progressive Housing Society to fund its mobile homelessness outreach unit, and donated prizes to the society's 30th anniversary silent auction fundraiser, according to an email from the casino's executive manager of marketing, Brenda Smith.
The casino's employees also held a clothing drive for the society, to provide clothing for the homeless.
The casino also donated $3,409 to Burnaby Meals on Wheels in support of the organization's two new initiatives; supporting Progressive Housing's homelessness outreach programs with fresh milk, eggs and fruit; and a co-operative local fruits and vegetables purchasing program called the Burnaby Harvest Box.
Earlier this year, the casino sponsored Burnaby Family Life Institute's 40th anniversary celebration.
Have an item for Movers and Shakers? Send it to reporter Janaya Fuller-Evans by email at jfuller-evans@ burnabynow.com.
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