Showing up for New West
Patrick Johnstone (he/him) has been showing up for New West for 20 years, as a volunteer, a community leader, curling team member, and joyful cyclist — especially along the Fraser River. An environmental geoscientist by trade, Patrick decided to get involved with local government after advocating for stronger environmental protections and better transportation options and witnessing first-hand how citizens could shape policy in their own city.
A record of partnership
Patrick was elected Mayor in 2022, after serving two terms on Council. A willingness to forge partnerships is how Patrick’s Council has been able to meet legislated housing requirements, secure funding for hundreds of new affordable housing units, and advance work on urban reforestation and a more community-centred approach to homelessness.
In tough economic times, New Westminster has also seen significant Provincial investment in transportation, a doubling of hospital capacity, ground broken on two new schools, and several major affordable housing projects.
We didn’t get here by complaining and pointing fingers at other governments, but by working in partnership with them to deliver.
What neighbours are telling him
In conversations with residents, Patrick hears anxiety from people who are working hard, but not getting ahead. It’s why he’s focused on creating more affordable housing options and strengthening protections for renters. He’s proud to work in a community that supports helping the City’s most vulnerable, and where residents show up to participate in public engagement, including the Community Advisory Assembly, which encourages citizens to take ownership of how their City operates.
Why public service matters
The City is complicated, and the work is at times really challenging, but to see families loving təməseẘtxʰ, to sit in a booth at Pride and hear people celebrate the most community-focused Pride event in the region, to talk to a small business owner about how the community has embraced them and how they want to pay that back to the community, those moments elevate the work, and remind us that public service matters.