“New West” is western Canada’s oldest city and was BC’s first capital.
Named by Queen Victoria, the "Royal City" combines a modern urban waterfront with a core of historic brick and stone buildings and homes. SkyTrain provides a direct link to downtown Vancouver.
New Westminster offers a wide variety of activities in arts, entertainment, sports, and outdoor recreation. From museums and heritage sites to festivals and paddlewheeler cruises, from art galleries and waterfront shopping to sports events and the casino nightlife scene, the historic city has activities for visitors of all backgrounds.
New Westminster stages festivals year-round that celebrate this hospitable community's culture and history.
Museums and Heritage Sites
Visit Irving House, the restored 1865 home of steamboat captain William Irving, "the king of the river", with Gothic Revival architecture and authentic furnishings. Next door at the New Westminster Museum and Archives, view vintage coins, photos, and other artifacts, and learn about the British Army's Royal Engineers, who built New Westminster.
For military aficionados, there's the Museum of the Royal Westminster Regiment, a local army unit that fought in both World Wars. The recently expanded Fraser River Discovery Centre brings to life the environmental and economic impact of BC's longest river.
At the New Westminster Police Museum, visitors can check out a 1958 Harley Davidson motorcycle or be photographed in a replica jail cell.
Walking Tours and Parks
For self-guided walking tours of New Westminster, pick up a pamphlet at the New Westminster Museum and Archives, or see Tourism New Westminster's web site. It's a great way to check out the city's nearly 60 designated heritage sites.
An annual Heritage Homes Tour (May) enables visitors to venture inside these vintage residences, and the New Westminster Cultural Crawl (August) is a one-day showcase of local arts, museums, and parks.
Queen's Park (First St. and Third Ave.) is the largest of New Westminster's 48 city parks. Especially for families with children, it's worth exploring with its petting zoo, adventure playgrounds, water spray park, and sports fields. The Friendship Gardens in Queen's Park commemorates New Westminster's sister city relationship with Moriguchi, Japan, and it's a popular spot for wedding photos.
Also, don't miss the stunning views of the Fraser River along the boardwalk at Westminster Quay.
Festivals and Events
The Hyack Festival (May) features carnival rides, traditional rose planting and 21-gun salute ceremonies, and an antique fair, among other activities. FraserFest (July) offers a mascot parade, food stalls, and live theatrical and musical performances about the history of the Fraser River. Some other signature events include the Show and Shine vintage car festival (July), the Urban Farmers Fall Fair (September) in Queensborough, and the Hyack Santa Claus Parade of Lights (December).
Paddlewheeler Cruises
To learn first-hand about the Fraser River, take a cruise with Paddlewheeler River Tours aboard their replica 19th-century riverboat, the MV Native. Daytime, dinner, and themed cruises depart from Westminster Quay, visiting destinations like Fort Langley, Steveston, and Pitt Lake. Sightings of wildlife and aboriginal pictographs spice up voyages. Then visit the Samson V Paddlewheeler/Maritime Museum. The Samson V was the last steam-powered paddlewheeler on the Fraser, operating until 1980.
Art Galleries
The Van Dop Gallery (421 Richmond St.), founded in 1996, uniquely showcases the works of some 100 Canadian and international artists in an airy, well-lit private home. Works for sale include oils, ceramics, acrylics, glassware, and more. The Gallery has won several local and regional tourism awards, and delightful owner Trudy Van Dop may also make you a cup of tea while you browse the beautiful contemporary art in her home.
Local artists are featured at such public art galleries as the Arts Council Gallery (Centennial Lodge, Queens Park) and the Amelia Douglas Gallery at Douglas College (700 Royal Ave.).
Shopping
Specialty shoppers seek antiques and bridal wear on downtown's Columbia Street. Used books and musical instruments can be found on 12th Street, and Queensborough lures bargain-hunters with outlet shopping and big-box retailers. The River Market at Westminster Quay is currently being renovated for a 2010 grand re-opening.
Sports and Entertainment
The New Westminster Salmonbellies regularly contend for the Mann Cup championship in lacrosse, Canada's national summer sport. Sports fans can watch them play at Queen's Park Arena each summer.
Theatre lovers enjoy performances at the Massey Theatre (735 Eighth Ave.), which was British Columbia's largest theatre when it opened in 1949. The 1,260-capacity venue hosts musical theatre and symphony performances. The Bernie Legge Theatre in Queen's Park, run by the Vagabond Players, stages four plays a year, including comedies and dramas.
The glitzy Starlight Casino opened in New West's Queensborough area in 2007. It offers 850 slot machines, private gaming rooms, five restaurants and lounges, and more than 120 TV screens inside Schanks, BC's largest sports bar.
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