About New Westminster
New Westminster is a beautiful urban city that’s aged well over the years. Although a city, the area feels more like a tight-knit community with its gorgeous riverside boardwalk, parks and festivals. According to the 2021 Census, the population of New Westminster is 78,916.
By the way, the city is the perfect blend of old and new as many historic buildings and heritage homes still stand to this day. The respect for history is truly demonstrated by the city as it incorporated many of these historic buildings into modern developments to give it a more unique appearance.
History of the city
Located on the Burrard Peninsula, the city of New Westminster was originally inhabited by the Qayqayt First Nation tribe and was a land with gold. Concerned about American gold seekers, the crown sent Major-General Richard Moody to reinforce the presence of the crown.
New Westminster was founded as the capital colony of British Columbia in 1858 until 1866 when Vancouver surpassed the city of New Westminster in population.
Major-General Richard Moody wanted to originally name the city Queensborough. However, Queen Victoria decided to name the city Westminster after the British Capital of London that to this day is home to the Parliament buildings.
The city of New Westminster runs along the banks of the Fraser River. The Fraser River is the largest river in the province of British Columbia as it begins on the western side of the Rocky Mountains and ends in the Strait of Georgia.
In addition, the city has adapted well with time and to this day there are many reminders left behind of what life was once like such as many heritage homes, the oldest dates back to 1862.
Many of the original structures from the late 1,800’s and early 1,900’s is still standing and have been incorporated into today’s infrastructure. New Westminster has been redeveloped and modernized to include a gorgeous quay boardwalk along the Fraser River that include playgrounds, basketball courts, beach volleyball courts, residential buildings, markets and restaurants.
Appeal
Young Graduate
The average rent in New Westminster for a 1-bedroom unit starts at $1,275 and can go over $2,057 for a 3-bedroom unit according to CMHC 2021. The average price for a home is $1,497,400 according to Greater Vancouver REALTORS®. The city of New Westminster is a great option for a young graduate as it offers a charming blend of old and new.
From beach volleyball, night clubs to casinos, New Westminster is the perfect city for young graduates to meet new people and engage in all sorts of fun-filled activities.
Families
New Westminster is a great choice for new and existing families to call home. New Westminster is full of fun and adventure for all age groups. The city has 8 recreational centres and offers an abundance of sports and activities for the whole family.
In addition, the city is home to 30 neighbourhood parks and 13 community parks Some of the parks include beautiful gardens, petting zoos and pools.
Top Places to See
Downtown
Downtown New Westminster is a must-see urban community that’s blended with historic and new buildings. The neighbourhood is home to a scenic waterfront and a gorgeous boardwalk. The area is full of culture, fun and entertainment. From playing beach volleyball to meeting new people at pubs, New Westminster has all the amenities of an urban city. There’s a college, shopping centre, high-rise buildings and even a boutique conference centre for the community to share ideas and their stories.
The city of New Westminster is known for holding the Food Truck Festival, from tacos to butter chicken, make sure to bring your appetite as you’ll want to try it all.
Uptown Sixth & 6th
Uptown is located on top of a hill and includes a mix of commercial buildings, low-rise to high-rise buildings and houses.
The neighbourhood historically emerged as the second modern city of New Westminster and offers a well-balanced blend of residential and commercial activities for families. Uptown is also home to Royal City Centre, New Westminster’s first shopping centre. The mall was constructed in 1978 and offers over 50 stores.
Uptown is known for being an active community and for engaging with its residents. Every May, Uptown holds their annual Hyack Festival as a way for the community to socialize and become closer. The festival begins with a parade and ends in a street party. Furthermore, the festival promotes multicultural and intergenerational activation to forge bonds with all walks of life. The purpose of the Hyack Festival is to enhance the spirit of the community—and it definitely does that with the fun events and spirit it brings to the community.
In July, Uptown holds another festival known as Uptown Live!
A festival dedicated to showcasing local artists, food and vendors. The event is full of fun and enjoyment and does not lack creativity in any way. From live wrestling matches to live music from local Canadian musicians, you’re bound to have a great time with your friends and family.
Sapperton
Sapperton is located on the boundaries of Burnaby and Coquitlam and sits on a slope above the Fraser River.
The community is home to 2 SkyTrain stations, Sapperton Station and Braid Station which run on the Millennium line and connect to the new Evergreen line. The Royal Columbian Hospital is the only hospital in the city of New Westminster and is also located in Sapperton. The neighbourhood of Sapperton offers a blend of low-rise buildings, high-rise buildings and houses.
This lovely neighbourhood is known for holding the Sapperton Day Street Festival. An annual festival great for family fun and entertainment. The festival has live street performers, musical groups, games, marketplace vendors and even a rock-climbing wall.
Things to do in New Westminster + Local tips
The Quay & Pier Park
The Westminster Quay was built in 1986 and the area has blossomed into a key location for hot sunny days. The area includes a newly redeveloped 2-mile quay boardwalk that leads to Pier Park, a park that was built in 2012 and one that features an urban beach, a basketball court and a concert venue.
Along the New Westminster quay boardwalk, you’ll find The River Market which is home to 12 restaurants and 12 shops.
The boardwalk also offers a great number of spots to take amazing selfies.
Queen’s Park
Queen’s Park is 75 acres and is historic as it was the first established public park in the province of British Columbia. The name Queen’s Park also applies to the residential neighbourhood it’s located in.
By the way, the Queen’s Park Arena is also located here. The arena is home to the New Westminster Salmonbellies, a men’s senior “A” lacrosse team.
The park is great for family gatherings and activities as it has a seasonal animal petting farm, sports fields, tennis courts and a band shell.
Moody Park
Moody Park was established in 1863 and 23.78 acres. The park offers a 2,439 square meter off-leash dog area. The park is perfect for family picnics and activities.
This amazing park recently redeveloped a children’s play park and includes a basketball court, tennis courts, and a pool for everyone to cool off. Located at Moody Park is the New Westminster Lawn Bowling Club.
Shops at New West
Shops at New West was built in 2012 and is a shopping centre with 41 stores with 3 being anchor stores. The shopping centre is built into the New Westminster Skytrain station and has all the amenities one could ask for.
Education
The city of New Westminster has 8 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 1 newly built secondary school,1 adult learning centre and 1 college. All schools are accessible by transit via bus.
Douglas College
Douglas College was founded in 1970 and named after Sir James Douglas, a former governor of British Columbia and is located in Downtown New Westminster by New Westminster Station.
The college has 3 campuses in Metro Vancouver, 2 in New Westminster and the third campus is located in the city of Coquitlam. Douglas College offers 13 bachelor’s degrees that range from Business Administration to Nursing.
Leisure and Hobbies
Have fun in the sand
Located at Pier Park is an urban beach with 2 sandy volleyball courts. When the sun’s out you can expect to participate and watch friendly games between the community. It’s a great way to stay in shape and make new friends with common interests. After a few games head on over to the recliners and enjoy the sun while you rest up.
Explore New Westminster & hop on the Q to Q
With 5 SkyTrain stations in New Westminster there’s never a dull moment. Get out there, explore the lovely city of New Westminster.
Head on over to Shops at New West for some shopping, food and walks along the Fraser River. Afterwards, make a trip over to Sapperton and explore the lovely cafes and restaurants in the community.
If you manage to explore these areas and you’re feeling up to it, then hop on the Quayside to Queensborough ferry and enjoy a 5-minute ferry ride to the neighbourhood of Queensborough for more exploring.
Go lawn bowling
Lawn bowling is a fun low impact game that can be enjoyed by all ages and regardless of any skill level. This is a great way for intergenerational activities.
Get competitive with your Grandkids or Grandparents is all worth the good laughs and memories. The New Westminster Lawn Bowling Club is located at Moody Park right off of Eighth Street.
Future of the area
Currently, the city of New Westminster has a list of ongoing projects that will improve the cities infrastructure. In 2022, there will be a water main replacement program which is currently ongoing to ensure the needs of the community are met and can facilitate the future growth.
In addition, the city is also focusing on a housing project on 2 city-owned sites (350 to 362 Fenton Street, located in Queensborough, and 2035 London Street and 2038 Ninth Avenue, located in Connaught Heights) that will be used to develop affordable housing. Furthermore, the city has also announced the future of a New West Aquatics & Community Centre, though currently on hold, once the pandemic is over the you can expect to see the project come to light.
Currently, there are 9 new home developments in the city of New Westminster that include a mix of low-rise to high-rise buildings, with 7 of those being condos and 2 being single family homes.
