No Caller ID issue with enterphone (and possible workaround)

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UPDATE August 13, 2025: I'm not sure what is going on with the system now. It is clearly broken and not working properly. The workaround below is not working any longer for me.
UPDATE: Verified that the workaround worked for me. I am trying to verify if it has worked for anyone else.

The enterphone/intercom is experiencing an issue now where owners and tenants answering a buzzer are getting a “No Caller ID” message on their phones and are unable to buzz people in.

While this is being investigated, a workaround that fixed the issue for me was to add the enterphone phone number as a contact on my phone (I have an iPhone). I haven’t confirmed if the same number is used for every building, but for 244 the following number works: 778-397-0265

I’ll update this post if I confirm it also works for buildings 240 and 248.

Goodbye, Tidy Bin, we hardly knew ye!

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The Tidy Bin arrived on July 18th and was picked up and hauled away today, July 21st.

It looks empty, but…

On Saturday, July 19th, council members Jeff and Ben (along with assists from a few others) spent a large part of the day breaking items down and compacting everything to fit in more tightly. This made it easier for people to add more items and it also meant that we never needed a second bin, which is kind of amazing if you remember bins of the past.

When picking up the bin, the Tidy Bin guy apparently remarked that he had never seen a bin so neatly arranged before. A big thanks to the council members for getting the bin and then making sure it was handled so efficiently.

The following shot was taken on Sunday around 3:30 p.m., still showing plenty of room to spare.

Brunette Avenue clean-up, Part 2

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On June 12 I cleaned up along the fence on Brunette Avenue after the landscaping company cut down the wild grass growing there: The unexpectedly long cigarette butt patrol

Today, just over a month later, I returned and this time everything I picked up fit into a single bucket–definitely less, but still a fair bit of stuff. I hope by cleaning it up, it discourages at least some people from littering there.

I’ve highlighted the area I checked below. This is city property, but it sits right next to the Copperstone easement.

Click for larger image (screenshot from Microsoft Maps)

The haul this time:

Also in the bucket: Multiple cups from Tim’s, the preffered fast food of litterers, apparently.

Package delivery issues

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NOTE: The following are my thoughts on package theft. They DO NOT reflect official strata council policy.

I meant to write about this a few months ago when one of our neighbours down the hall had a package go missing from outside their door. I’ve also seen mention of this on the Facebook group, so now seems a good time to cover it.

The problem: Packages go missing

Packages delivered by couriers and online retailers (UPS, Purolator, Amazon, etc.) can sometimes go missing. The usual suspected reason is theft.

How this happens: Most people are not home when a package is delivered. Couriers and Amazon do not have access to the building–they have no fobs or keys, unlike letter carriers. If no one is home, they often try a different unit so they can leave the package:

  • In the building lobby, typically under the mailboxes.
  • By the door of the unit, if they can get to it (the first floor, plus whatever floor of the unit that buzzed them in).

While the lobbies have cameras, they are otherwise not supervised, so someone can scoop up anything they find there–and this has happened multiple times.

What can you do?

As with any theft, you can report it to the New Westminster Police Department and they will get you a file number. Petty theft is a type of crime that is typically difficult to solve, as the goods may be sold off shortly after the theft, and the perpetrator(s) may never be identified, even with camera footage (bad angle, etc.)

A few steps to help reduce theft:

  • Remember to never let anyone into the building who you don’t recognize.
  • Make sure the lobby door securely shuts behind you. If it doesn’t, report the issue ASAP so the door can be adjusted to close properly.
  • Try to be home when you are expecting a delivery.
  • If you can’t be home for delivery, check for the package as soon as you are able.
  • Alternately, see if a neighbour can receive the package for you.

Some steps to prevent theft:

  • If you are ordering from Amazon, there is a locker and a pickup location, both within a few blocks of Copperstone:
    • Amazon locker: TD Canada, 280 E Columbia St, New Westminster, BC V3L 0E3. This is next to Save On Foods. UPDATE: The TD branch here is relocating and as of August 12, 2025 the Amazon locker has been removed.
    • Amazon pickup: Canada Post outlet, 288 E Columbia St, New Westminster, BC V3L 1C0 (inside Shoppers Drug Mart)
  • If you have a choice of delivery options, choose Canada Post. We have a secure Canada Post locker in the lobby of each building that can handle larger-than-normal packages.
  • If delivery is being made by a courier (DHL, UPS, etc.) they can sometimes arrange to have the package sent to one of their depots or pickup locations. This is obviously less convenient, but more secure.