Down by the River

Translink host meeting about Pattullo Bridge

2012-02-09T20:46:00.000-08:00

TransLink will conduct meetings this week with stakeholders concerned about the Pattullo Bridge.

The transit authority has scheduled two workshops in New Westminster to outline options for replacing the aging structure.

The first will be held on Feb. 21 at Centennial Community Centre

The second Feb. 23, at the Inn at the Quay.

Both will start at 6:30 p.m. with an open house, followed by a presentation at 7 p.m., and small group discussions at 7:30 p.m.

Workshops will also be held on the other side of the Fraser River at the Surrey City Centre Library on Feb. 22 and 27.

Registration is recommended by calling 604-453-3043.

Santa Shops Sapperton 2011

2011-12-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

Meet & Greet - November 2nd

2011-10-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Doc Fest Day Two_ Saturday Ocotober 22

2011-10-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

Today is the second day of the two day film festival being held in New Westminster DocFest

Today's films will be a mix of shorts and feature length documentaries including
Tapped
65_red_roses
Vanishing of the Bees
H2Oil
Organisations such as Most Liveable City and Shared Harvest and MP's peter Julian and Fin Donnelly will also be on hand to discuss the topics of sustainability, energy and all issues environmental.

There will be slam poetry and exhibitors to inform and inspire action. Take some time out today to stop by Douglas college and participate in this informative and artist collaboration!

The Queensborough Urban Farmers Fall Fair - Tomatoes!

2011-09-26T23:14:00.000-07:00

This years fall fair in Queensborough was great! We always love to check out the displays.

There is nothing like a fresh tomato from the garden. Summer is over to fast!

Doc Fest Fundraiser!!

2011-09-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

New Westminster Environmental Partners, along with The Green Idea's Network and Douglas College will host the first ever Documentary Film Festival this October 21 and 22.

New West DocFest will feature five main films, and some local short films as well.
Some titles are; H2Oil, Vanishing of the Bees, 65_red_roses_, Tapped, and Burning Water. These documentaries have an environmental or local theme and will raise many questions for discussion and hopefully inspire action.

Next Wednesday, September 28th is a fund-raiser being held at The Heritage Grill,447 Columbia St, with food, drinks, live music, a silent auction and more! Come out and support this great cause!

Summer at the Farmers Market is back!

2011-06-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

It's official!

In true New Westminster fashion, Thursday kicked off summer season
of The Royal City Farmers Market!

After a long winter and spring it was great to see some fresh vegetables again!

The famous popcorn was also there and we had to buy some of that. Besides tomatoes I also bought potatoes, eggs, peppers(see how many you can fit in a bag for $4), honey, coffee and two plants for my garden.
At the honey booth I was sold on some chocolate hazelnut butter - so good!

I bought a tie pin for my husband made of fused glass from a local artist with a company called DINGOLAY, check out the website! We also had to buy a few sweet treats from the vegan baker! Delicious chocolate chip cupcakes and Nanaimo bars!

The farmers market is held every Thursday from 3-7 pm, beside city hall on 4th street near Tipperary Park and friendship garden (a true hidden gem in the city).

Sapperton Day 2011

2011-05-31T22:01:00.000-07:00

Sapperton Day 2011 will be held on Sunday June 12th.

The 400 block of Columbia street will be closed to traffic to host this annual festival. There will be a pancake breakfast, street performers, merchants and community groups.

I look forward to seeing New Westminster 30 minute hit, as I just joined this gym and I am really loving it. The New Westminster Environmental Partners will be there with The Royal City Farmers Market, Explore a Green World will have a table with some eco-crafts for the kids, there will be face painting and no doubt a bouncy castle for the little ones. St. Mary's Anglican Church will also be there and will have some information about their community garden, and The New Westminster Community Gardening Society.

Cap's Bicycle Shop will have the penny farthing bikes, and other mainstays of the day will be back to celebrate life in Sapperton. Last year Graze Market even supplied the grass fed sausages for the breakfast, and Starbucks provided the coffee.

I hope the sustainability issues have been taken into consideration, as we now have food waste composting available in New Westminster we can be composting and reducing our impact during this community event.

Sapperton/United Blvd. Extension

2011-04-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

Traffic is an issue that affects everyone who lives in New Westminster, and in every major city on the planet. Driving, car culture, transportation and infrastructure are the issues that will shape the city's future. If you want to be involved just show up. This is your chance to have a say, and hear about what Translink is planning.

There is another meeting this weekend for the public to come out and give input about the traffic plans for our city.

Discuss the refined concepts

Saturday, April 30, 2011
9:30 a.m. to noon
Sapperton Pensioners Hall
318 Keary Street, New Westminster

3rd UBE Translink Workshop Tonight!

2011-04-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

Traffic affects everyone who lives in a city. In New Westminster traffic is a major issue. Do we need more highways or can we move towards a better public transit system? Streamline the existing infrastructure and create a sustainable future?

Tonight we have an opportunity to have our voices heard and to tell Translink about what direction we want to move our city towards. Come out and have your say!

http://www.translink.ca/en/Be-Part-of-the-Plan/Public-Consultation/Sapperton-United-Blvd-Extension.aspx

Discuss initial concepts based on Phase 1

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sapperton Pensioners Hall
318 Keary Street, New Westminster

as seen around New Westminster

2011-03-29T23:35:00.000-07:00

River Market @ New Westminster Quay

2011-03-18T15:09:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure to spend some time down at the new River Market in New Westminster at the Quay. After shopping a few times at the Donald's Market I ventured further inside to see what other offerings were there.

The great wall tea was my first stop. Friendly staff and aromatic teas are the draw to this lovely little shop. The wall is a clever way to display and store the over 100 types of tea available.The blog Tenth to the Fraser wrote a great review of the tea company here! My family has been enjoying a fantastic Cream Earl Grey - Delicious!

We then checked out the Tiny store beside the tea shop. Everything sold there is made locally. We tried two of the delicious jams; Huckleberry and Saskatoon berry.

I love the art throughout the market including these beautiful panels that hang over the escalators, it really says west coast to me.

The fun art that is all over the market is playful and unexpected.

Even the super modern wash-rooms have fun touches

We attended a birthday party at the Vancouver Circus School

This was a big hit with my five year old daughter, especially the silks and giant trampoline.

I look forward to seeing what else will move into the new market this spring and summer!

“She slipped softly from a summer stream, as seamless as a summer’s dream.”
Toby Barazzuol.

UBE Open house Phase 1

2011-03-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

New Westminster, a relatively small city, with some big city issues.

This week Translink is hosting the second of a series of five workshops designed to listen to the public and gain support for the UBE (United Boulevard Extension)

Last December Translink held a few open house discussions on the same topic. Hundreds of local residents turned out to give an opinion. Since I live in Sapperton, the proposed neighbourhood to inherit the new highway extension I also attended some of these meetings.

The opinions as to what the future of transportation in New Westminster should look like differ greatly depending on who you ask.

One thing is certain, there are a lot of drivers in this city and many thousands more travel through New West on their way to other destinations.
This city is a transportation hub, with major traffic on many local streets, a busy truck route, railways, public buses and Skytrain, river transport, huge bridges, bike trails and even some walking paths.

What we want for this city and how to move people and products to and through New Westminster is up for debate, so attend one or more of these meetings and add your voice to the conversation.

Phase 1: Community Concerns and Ideas Workshops

Share your transportation concerns

Saturday, March 12, 2011 9:30 a.m. to noon

Sapperton Pensioners Hall

318 Keary Street, New Westminster

Share your ideas on the solutions

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Sapperton Pensioners Hall

Seed Swap! March 6th 2011

2011-03-03T16:45:00.000-08:00

SEEDY SUNDAY
Date: Sunday March 6th, 2-5pm
Location: New Westminster Public Library, Auditorium

Come out to this public event hosted by the New Westminster Community Gardening Society!
Our first seed swap!
Share some seeds and meet other local gardeners.

Community Garden Work Party- Tree Planting

2011-02-16T17:18:00.000-08:00

On a very snow day this November me and Brennan, from The New Westminster Community Gardening Society, went to check out some trees that had been offered to us for transplanting. The home owners were remodelling their back yard and didn't want everything to go to waste. I had posted an ad on the Shared Harvest website in the fall looking for trees and shrubs for the garden that is planted at St. Mary's Church on Columbia.

This garden, called The Mary Mount Garden, is the first of two community gardens started last year. It has 15 plots and plans to double in size this spring. The Shared Harvest site allows you to post if you are looking or have items for sale, barter or to give away. It is one more step in creating a secure local food system.

We decided to take some smaller shrubs, wood we could reuse to build more beds, some jasmine plants, lily's, five cherry trees and one magnolia.
We planned to do the work this winter, and on February 5th we had a work party!

We arrived at the home with a half dozen other members and the home owner. We dug out and moved everything quite efficiently. The owners also generously donated a bench and arbour as well as stones to use for building beds.

Ava and Brady dug for worms and checked out the beds back at the garden.

Mark and Brennan staking out spots.

Brady and Autumn are finishing up with this small cherry tree.
The soil was really beautiful here, there was even a lot of compost in the composter and we added some of that as well.

This was a really big worm, it was fully twice this size when we first pulled it out of the ground!

When the gardening society was still forming member and cofounder David Maidman had the idea to build a public orchard. Well we are one step, and six trees closer to that dream today!

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy
reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.
- Basil

2011-02-06T22:26:00.000-08:00

As promised I am looking for art in New Westminster. Just what constitutes art is entirely up to me, or anyone, that's what's fun about art. No wrong answers.

I love this gate and the majestic staircase that leads to the old penitentiary.

Here is what it looked like during construction in 1877.

Today all that remains is one building.

And another gate at the plaza in Sapperton beside Knox Church.

One thing I love about the west coast are the Monkey Puzzle Trees!

Art in nature.

New Year - more blogging!

2011-01-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

I have been neglecting this blog for quite some time, to say I have been busy is no exaggeration! My family and I love living here in New Westminster and now find our way around the city quite well. We have enjoyed a lot of fun events in the city. We just took our tree to be chipped at the Canada Games Pool, the New Westminster Fire Fighters host the event annually. We bought that tree at the Shop Sapperton event again this year. We were able to use our wagon to collect and dispose of the tree. Living in New Westminster car free is challenging sometimes. We have learned the bus and sky-train schedules, and have found walking in New West is great!

As a New Years resolution I will try and blog more often! I plan on continuing my "exposes" on the parks of New Westminster. I would like to seek out more art in the city this year too. When I lived in Vancouver I noticed a lot of art galleries, both independent ones and the beautiful VAG. Public art, large installations or sculptures are inspiring. I think they need to be in every city and add so much to public space! I would like to see what I find when I look for more art this year. I hear some exciting things are in the works!

This post made me think of the mosaic in Hume Park in front of the playground. This park is a beautiful retreat. I saw a double rainbow here the day after we moved in. I love it!

Shop local

2010-12-02T00:13:00.001-08:00

NWEP _ AGM_

2010-11-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

Moody Park

2010-07-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

This is one old park!

This is one of the largest parks in New Westminster. It has many amazing old trees, paths for walking and bike riding, picnic tables, a spray park, an ice rink arena
and a beautiful outdoor pool that was build just last year! (2009)

The park is located on 6th avenue and 8th street, in the heart of uptown New Westminster. It is steps from the library, grocery stores, restaurants, and shops of all sorts.

There are huge tires to climb on, like in many New West Parks. Swings, playgrounds for younger and older kids, and a public wash-room. (still under construction July 10)

Moody Park will soon be home to a unique facility, a new Youth Centre is being added to an existing seniors centre and thanks to the diligence of many New Westminster residents, it is also the winners of the Kraft Celebration grant of $25000 for the centre!
Kraft is also hosting a party here this summer to celebrate!

Moody Park is also home to Century House a place for seniors to connect and socialise.

This park truly is a treasure in the heart of the city!
Directions to Moody Park

I would also like to mention that this park's playground surface is made of small rocks! This is my personal favourite thing for a park to have. The kids can still bring a bucket and shovel sit and play in it, you won't get splinters like with wood chips, it's not slippery like sand and not used as a cat litter box. Although many modern parks have rubberised surfaces (at least this is a recycled option) I'd say stones are natural and the superior playground surface!

Summer Fest 2010!

2010-07-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

E.T. in the park! Summer time is here!
This weekend at Grimston Park in New Westminster.

Richard McBride School Park

2010-06-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

Richard McBride Elementary 331 RICHMOND ST, New Westminster

We have reviewed some of the public parks in New Westminster, although this park is actually a school park it is local, and great!

Located at the top of a hill, this school has two large playgrounds and three separate fenced in play areas for ball hockey, lacrosse, or soccer. There are no public wash rooms, but Columbia street is not far and a public wash room is in Sapperton Park just down the hill.

This school is quite old, built in 1929, the brick and architecture is beautiful. Along with the super modern playground behind the school, there is also a baseball diamond, grass fields and a large hill that is perfect for sledding down in the winter. There is a basket ball hoop, a lot of pavement areas, some of it covered, for playing hop scotch, kings corners, tether ball and even a perfect brick wall, without windows, for practising tennis or soccer kicks.

There are a few large old trees, some picnic tables, and if you are dexterous a view from the very highest point, beside the stump of an old apple tree has to be seen to be appreciated.

This park is great for older kids, the new modern playground has lots of hang out spaces, and many devices that the kids can twirl around on until very dizzy. Swings and slides, a climbing wall, everything to keep the kids busy and happy.

Directions to Richard McBride School

Farmers Market Spring Fling!

2010-03-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended the final winter Farmers Market, I say final "winter" market because it is finally Spring! The theme of the market was Spring Fling! Spring has certainly arrived here on the west coast. We have had flowers on all our fruit trees for weeks, most of them have fallen in a snow like frenzy a week or so ago and have been replaced with shiny new leaves for the growing season!

I was also volunteering this weekend at the New West Environmental Partners table, to promote the cause as well as raise awareness about the plans for the community gardens in New Westminster.

(here is another volunteer Rebecca hiding behind the information sign:)

I also found some time to do a little shopping. I was happy to find a few types of kale as I have a recent obsession with making Kale chips- Yummy!
I bought some local honey, walnuts, garlic, kettle popped popcorn, eggs and potatoes! I also got a few samples of teas form a local fair trade company called Black and Green they sell tea out of their yoga studio called Bamboo Yoga

I was also pleased to see Louie Sella with Quality Oak Accents
cutting boards- (604)941-3406

I bought one of these last year at the west end farmers market when I lived down town. These boards are not only practical but also beautiful works of art. I went over to say hello and talk to Louie about how my board is holding up after a year of heavy use (wonderfully) I also told him how I religiously follow his instructions, which he includes with each purchase and highly emphasises! "Do not submerge in water, put in dishwasher, or wipe with bleach! Wipe with soapy hot water and dry board immediately! " With proper care the board will never split and last decades! You can see my board in the picture with my market treasures above!

As it is almost planting season I couldn't resist a few things for my garden as well! Herbs including two types of sage, dill, chives, rosemary and mint! I also bought some succulents called hen and chicks! These little plants are so lovely and will perfect in my rock garden!

Hume Park

2010-03-16T15:43:00.001-07:00

Hume Park is one of the best parks for the whole family! Located on East Columbia just north of Braid this park features so many great things I have to be careful not to miss any of them.

This park is located below the busy street where no traffic runs at all! During the warm weather it boasts an outdoor swimming pool, that also has ping pong tables and many lawn chairs for stretching out and relaxing.

It also has a water spray park if the pool is too crowded or you just want to splash.

There is a little snack shop for sweet treats

Hume park features a soccer field and two baseball diamonds, and a paved roller hockey court. Four tennis courts, an off leash dog park, and no less then 14 picnic tables spread out among beautiful trees. A playground for little ones as well as some great adventure playgrounds for older kids.

There is also an entrance to walking trails and a ravine to explore. There are some historical placards and a totem pole. There are wash room facilities and a small school also shares this beautiful park.

This park is a true treasure in Sapperton. The first week we moved here we saw a double rainbow at this park!

Sapperton is home of many double rainbows!

Hume Park

Sapperton Park

2010-01-26T17:07:00.001-08:00

We love to go to local parks so will be reviewing parks in New Westminster. Our family has two children, ages 5 and 12. When we go to the park we look for a number of things that will make it a good park. So it is fitting that the first park we review is our local park:

Sapperton Park

This park has it all. It is easily accessible by transit. It has a large playing field for soccer or any running that needs to be done. It has a baseball diamond with dugouts, bleachers and a wash-room open all year ! There are large trees for admiring and providing shade on hot and sunny days, picnic tables, two playgrounds to suit all ages and swings for babies and older kids. Kids can enjoy teeter-todders, slides, lots of thing to climb on, tires, structures and even a spray park that is open in good weather.

As it is summer now (June 2010 ) the wild flowers are all in bloom on the Columbia side of the park. It is a pink paradise today.

Location
Columbia Street & Sherbrooke Street
Google Maps - Directions to Sapperton Park

The Log Driver's Waltz

2009-09-27T22:27:00.000-07:00

A little bit of Canadian culture from The National Film Board of Canada!

B.C. Rivers Day 2009 - World Rivers Day -

2009-09-24T23:14:00.000-07:00

What began 29 years ago here in British Columbia, has grown to a world wide event! This year September 27th is World Rivers Day. This year marks the fifth annual event, and plans are underway in many communities around B.C. and in dozens of other countries. People will celebrate the diversity of life in and by the river. Everything from art shows, shoreline clean up and fish enhancement projects will take place around the globe.

The 2009 Rivers Day featured river is the Fraser River, New Westminster's and B.C.'s history is deeply connected to it. From travel to fishing, industry and life grew around the shores of "The Mighty Fraser"

Living in a nation where fresh water is abundant causes us to take for grated the majesty and importance of rivers. The health of the river directly affects the environment, and is a reflection of our actions.
Educational workshops and stream restoration initiatives are taking place to inform people and help them to become stewards.

It is never too early or too late to take action.

The 2009 Rivers Day featured river is the Fraser River. One local event will beheld at The Fraser River Discovery Centre the sixth annual Artist on the River on Saturday September 26 and 27th.

Millions of people will gather at hundreds of events around the globe to raise awareness and celebrate life down by the river.

New Westminster 12th Street Festival

2009-08-18T20:04:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month we set out to discover more about New Westminster. We read in the local paper New Westminster NEWSLeader, about the 12th street festival.

On what proved to be one of the hottest days of the year we walked through New Westminster, a little out of the way because of a little map reading mix up, but after about 45 minutes we arrived on 12th street.

12th Street has recently been going through some much needed updates. The sidewalks have been widened and new trees planted. A collaboration between artists and New Westminster Parks and Recreation has developed a project to display two mosaics in the sidewalk to celebrate the neighbourhood and the cities 150th birthday.

While at the festival we listened to some local musicians, ate a snow cone and looked at some classic cars, very New Westminster! We also entered a draw for some great prizes!

It was a fine introduction to this area of town.

In a great twist of fate we won two of the top prizes!

A huge gift basket (donated by a local real estate agent) and an acoustic guitar and stand!
We feel very fortunate, who would have thought it?

Welcome Home!

2009-08-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

Above, a photo of East Columbia street, main street of Sapperton, B.C. (1932 and 2008)

My family, my husband, son, daughter and myself, have just moved to Sapperton, B.C.

I was born here 34 years ago. However my family moved away before I was a year old, now for the first time I live just blocks away from where I was born, literally the hospital is two blocks away. We recently moved from downtown Vancouver. It is quite different here, quieter, and with quite a different view!

Sapperton is the oldest city in B.C. it is part of New Westminster, "The Royal City", which was named by Queen Victoria. New Westminster is regarded as a historically significant city in the history of British Columbia. It was the first capital of B.C. because of it's proximity to the Fraser river , the rich history of the Royal Engineers (commonly called Sappers) and it was a major outfitter for prospectors in the Fraser gold rush in the mid 1800's.

I am very excited to be back home so to speak, and to discover the history of this city and of this beautiful province I was born in and call home! I will be writing about life by the river as we visit local landmarks and events in town.