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Fire captain to run for Burnaby council
Fire captain Rudy Pospisil says he'd aim to cap building heights at 30 storeys if he is elected. Photograph By CONTRIBUTEDAfter working for the Burnaby fire department for nearly 30 years, former Burnaby fire captain Rudy Pospisil is hoping he can serve the public a new way, by running for city council as an independent candidate. Pospisil has lived in Burnaby his whole life. He remembers swimming, playing, and catching fish in Burrard Inlet as a child, now the place of Trans Mountain’s Westridge marine terminal. He’s raised three kids here too, and they all went to BCIT. RELATED On the whole, Burnaby is a well-run city, he says, although there are some changes he would like to make. First, he says he’s not pleased with the rate of development. He would cap new highrises at 30 storeys because the new towers are “an eyesore” and make fighting fires difficult. “I think the densification and square-footage in these towers and highrises are there for a reason. The height cap is there for a reason,” he said. “Burnaby is prostituting itself to the developers. “You look from Metrotown to the mountains and you see the giant black nails going in between your view … I mean, it’s ugly. If you keep it below the sight-lines, and you keep it within a certain amount of the hill ranges for views, then it’s more acceptable.” The city should be demanding more amenities from developers too, he says, such as in the new developments in Metrotown. “They’re pushing people out of the three-storey walk-ups to build towers,” he said. “This non-market housing should have all been part of the negotiations in the beginning.” He also doesn’t like the way the city has dealt with Kinder Morgan and said the mayor’s refusal to pay policing costs was “embarrassing.” Though he wouldn’t say whether or not he supports the pipeline, he said negotiations could have been better. “They’ve drawn battle lines in the ground, and nobody’s talking to each other,” he said. “I think the federal government is going to legislate, that it’s going to go in, and we’re going to have lost our opportunity to really deal with Kinder Morgan and do it the way we wanted it to be done.” Another thing he’d like to see is more bike trails. As a cyclist, he says he spends most of his time cycling in Vancouver because he doesn’t like the trails in the city. Pospisil also noted that he is “truly independent” because, as a retired firefighter, he doesn’t have an income from a business or union. “I have a vested interest in my city. I grew up here. I have family that’s going to grow up here and continue on, and I want my city to continue in the right direction.”
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I visited the plaque at City Hall that they just mounted. I was excited to see it written in stone! But then felt like I was looking at my own headstone.... surrounded by headstones of the non-living. I think they figure Everest will finish me . I'm not dead yet! But it was nice knowing you guys! Many desert animals wait out the heat of the day in shade or underground. The most interesting animals I found are active at dawn or dusk Coyotes, bats , owls etc. (crepus-cular), and others strictly at night (nocturnal), to take advantage of cooler temperatures and moister air. They must be able to find food and keep away from predators in the dark. Some animals have these things to help them get around in the dark:  The two most important days in your life are---the day you were born---and the day you find out why. The day I took my training wheels off I was free. I ended up climbing Baldwin Street, beating the longest strainght road record.I did it only to prove to myself that I could after cancer and too inspire others as to what one could do, if you really set your mind to it. BUT the day I finished 10 years on the road in Melbourne in December hugging that sign---I found out why I was born! Please take your training wheels off and try to find out why. I will wait over here for you...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq_mhuPasNI The park bench I bought in memory of my Mom and Dad on the seawall in Stanley Park. I miss you guys so much. They brought me here swimming and cycling as a little boy. I rode my bike a long ways from here, they would be happy to hear. Ashes in the grass behind, where mine will join them one day hopefully with a cedar tree!!!! Hope to watch many sunsets thinking of them. Money goes to protect the trees in our wonderful park. Bench will be there in perpetuity (forever), and with the price of property down there I might just sleep on this bench! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXdNnw99-Ic  My third cancer fight is on deck. Likely from 10 years on the road,in all the deserts and sun on my "anti-cancer" rides.He is cutting it out and sending the lymph nodes in for testing. Luckily its not as dangerous as melanoma but regardless... its the shits. One day the Cherry Blossoms are so beatiful the next day it rains and they fade and all fall. Enjoy every day because the next day......Im still swimming Alcatraz, doing an Ironman in July and climbing Everest in 2019..... no matter what! This class of children in New Zealand followed me a cross their Country.. I had to visit their class in Meadowbank School Auckland. It was an amazing visit they named my bike Sparkle in a contest. I told them many stories answered many many questions and we all shed a tear when I left. Below are a couple of the many letters I got includining one trying to set me up weith the teacher. Pic attached! 2/7/16 21:39 room@meadowbank.school.nz Hey Rudy, I know i have already sent you a letter but i was busting to do another one.I don't get much time because my brother hogs the computer and he is probably going to come down and get really furious at me. Now let's get on with the video. I love who you are,that's what make you an incredible,kind and caring person.You have always put in a lot of effort in saving the world. How do you feel about leaving your family and when are you going to achieve your goal that you have been aming for a long time. My teacher Miss Powers said when you arrive at Auckland you will be bike riding with her.I think you will really like her.Her real name is Niki. I hope you really like each other a lot and go on a bike ride together. From Ayzha: Siena Baker room20@meadowbank.school.nz Hi Rudy You are so brave you fight through freezing cold weather and I would get scared if I had to camp out alone. It must be scary I bet you miss your parents. I can't believe you missed Christmas but your doing the right thing for children wha have cancer you must have a sweet heart. Realy hope when you come to Auckland you really feel like you belong here. You must be tied. I bet It is amazing adventure around 30 countries it's amazing that you can do that. The best way to train for open water swimming is to train in open water. Getting line of sight , speed adjustment bi lateral breathing working the currents are all key. When you live in Vancouver the water tempuaraure is now 46C. Killer whales just visited the harbour . First jump in its so cold you hyper ventilate ....but after a while... you never warm up. With all my Triathlon training I figure I would challenge myself. I am registered for the Alcatraz Shark Fest swim. I want to prove Clint Eastwood escaped from Alcatraz in the movie. Its only 1.50 miles but there are extreme currents and the water is 60 F. You only have 75 minutes. Only a few people have died and there are sharks but no attacks yet. I am so excited I will do my best. I will bring my Go Pro and Canadian Flag that I have carried around the world to wrap up in after or drape over my coffin after.......Giddy up. www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4-1ASpdT1Y I have been fortunate enough to have a thirty year career as a professional firefighter as well as a ten year journey around the world so amazing it will fill a book soon. I have heard terminally Ill that were soon to die make speeches with such courage they brought rooms full of people to tears. I have escaped from the bleak basement of the Cancer Agency twice. I have held peoples hands as they died, hugged their families after they lost loved ones, brought people back to life that were dead, crawled out of fires that I never thought I would escape from. I have helped others that I completely trusted, that made me broken false promises that turned around and then betrayed me. But I completely forgive you now. The Jaws of Life. Remember this song I sent you. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDEiLImUUM8  |
My Name is RudyI am a fire captain and cancer survivor. Current Article LocationIn memory of the
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