A new report from Metro Vancouver highlights that New Westminster is the most affordable municipality in the region when considering the combined costs of housing and transportation. Continue reading

New Westminster ranks 4th out of 58 communities across the province in the newly released child care access rankings shared by the $10aDay Child Care Campaign, an initiative of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC. The rankings are based on the number of child care spaces for children aged 0 - Grade 7.“We have worked hard to gain 1200 additional child care spaces over the last decade for New Westminster’s young families. There is more to do to achieve the accessible and affordable child care spaces needed in every neighbourhood,” said Community First City Councillor Tasha Henderson. “We will continue to use the tools we have available at the city to support the development of additional spaces while advocating for more provincial dollars to reach the goal of universal childcare access.” Continue reading

New Westminster’s groundbreaking Crises Response Pilot Project (“CRPP”) is being extended after receiving $1.46 Million in support from Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund (“ETF”). New Westminster was the only successful BC applicant in the 2024 ETF program, and received the second-largest grant of any Municipality in Canada. With the approval of City Council on Monday, this funding support will allow the Pilot to operate at least to the end of 2026. Continue reading

In a compassionate and evidence-based response to the ongoing toxic drug crisis, New Westminster Council has approved an 18-month Temporary Use Permit (TUP) for an existing overdose prevention site in the downtown. This decision provides the necessary time and regulatory support for the service provider and Fraser Health to continue delivering critical, life-saving health services while transitioning to a revised service model. Continue reading

Community First New Westminster is pleased that the City’s Ethics Commissioner, in response to a complaint filed by New Westminster Progressive Councillors Fontaine and Minhas, has concluded that Mayor Patrick Johnstone acted in good faith when he attended an international summit on climate change in Dubai last November. While the report found a formal breach of section 105 of the Community Charter, it concluded that the “breach… was occasioned out of inadvertence” and that the Mayor was “motivated … to further the City’s goals with respect to climate change.” The report found that the costs of Mayor Johnstone’s attendance at the COP 28 Climate Action Conference were part of a normal social obligation of his office, but that the hotel, airfare and meal costs paid by the sponsor organization were not. The Ethics Commissioner concluded that the Mayor acted in good faith and proactively disclosed details of the trip to the City’s Corporate Officer, and that there was no reason for the Mayor to “doubt the soundness of the advice that he received.” Read the summary report here, and the full version here.  The Ethics Commissioner recommended that Mayor Johnstone receive further training regarding section 105 of the Community Charter and he has already accepted the Commissioner’s recommendation. In fact, well before the report was issued, Community First councillors voted in favour of providing training regarding section 105 of the Community Charter to all members of Council in a motion passed unanimously on January 22, 2024. “The transparency with which this complaint was investigated is exactly why Community First supported the creation of an independent Ethics Commissioner,” said Community First New Westminster Vice-Chair James Richardson. “The City was invited on this trip in recognition of our leadership fighting climate change, and councillors Fontaine and Minhas have a problem with that,” said Richardson. "We are proud of the work that our Mayor and Council are doing to promote local and global solutions to climate change, and we will continue that work despite the so-called New West Progressives ongoing efforts to derail that agenda.” Read Johnstone's official response here.   For comment, email [email protected]  

Hello Community First friends and supporters! We are inviting you to participate in these upcoming events:  Support kids and get active KidSport is hosting its annual MOVE430 fundraiser, where participants sign up for a virtual all-ages challenge to move for 30 minutes every day throughout April. Activities can include running, walking, hiking, yoga, cycling’s swimming or working out. Registration opens March 1, and the challenge runs from April 1 to 30. Registration costs $30, and funds go to the BC chapter of your choice.  KidSport is a non-profit that provides grants to families to remove financial barriers to sport. In 2023, KidSport provided $41,000 in grants to 120 kids in New Westminster alone.  Register here :)   Join our team: Steel & Oak Beer Run Community First will also have a team in Steel & Oak’s sold-out annual Beer Run, and we’re inviting more people to join. The event takes place Saturday, May 11, and involves a 2.5 km loop starting at Queen’s Park. Participants can walk or run. There will be post-event socializing with a beer garden and food truck. Registration is $45, and while the event is sold out, you can still join Mayor Patrick Johnstone, Councillors Tasha Henderson and Ruby Campbell, and School Trustee Cheryl Sluis on our fast-growing team. Register here  Save the date: July 14 for Guru Nanak Free Kitchen Bike/Walk  On Sunday, July 14, Guru Nanak is hosting their free kitchen fundraiser to help feed people in need. Stay tuned for more details. Community First will have a team for this event as well. Click here for more details.