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B.C. Ferries + A Whole New World
Issue #234
Carla McNeil
May 17, 2025
Inside the New West Spotlight
😜 Rain Joke - What did the rain say to the wind?
🗓️ New West Events - Variety
🎟️ Enter The Draw Today - Free Heritage Homes Tour Tickets
🗞️ New West Local News - B.C. Ferries + A Whole New World
📰 Advertise with New West Spotlight - Buy One, Get One Free
Local New Westminster Weather
Historical Records for Today - Record high 21.8 2023 - Record low 6.4 2022
Check out all of our local New Westminster Events
May 17, 2025
🧵 Fraser Valley Quilters Guild @ Royal City Curling Club - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
👨🎨 Stress Relieving: Mirror & Clay Mandala Art Workshop – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
🍩 B2B + Donuts – 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
🏃♀️ HIIT & Mat Pilates – Just for the Girls – 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM
🚲️ Youth Cycle Express: $2 Drop-in for Youth – (For youth ages 13 - 18) 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM
🧑🤝🧑 Friendship Circle for Tots – 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
🎨 Screen Printing – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
🎶 East Meets West – 7:30 PM at Massey Theatre
🕺 Saturday Dance Party at Georgie's – 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM
🕹️ Fighting Game Night – Phantom Alley
May 18, 2025
👨👩👧👦 Spectrum Strong Parents – 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
🧘 Yoga for Tots – 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
🎭️ Slaysian Drag Brunch – 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
🎨 Art Explorers with Clarissa Banos ( for 6yrs+) – 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
🖌️ Live Painting Demo with Rod Pedralba – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
🎉 Vyshyvanka Mini-Fest – 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
🍩 B2B + Donuts – 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
⛸️ Public Skate – 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM
🧘 Yang Tai Chi 24 form – 5:00 PM
🏈 Sunday and Monday Night Football – at the Terminal Pub
May 19, 2025
🧘 Peace, Be Still Monday Meditation – 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM
👶 Mom + Baby Meet Up at Cove Indoor Play – 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
🧩 Puzzle Mondays at Steel and Oak – Starts at 5:00 PM
🎶 New West Community Choir – 6:45 PM to 7:45 PM
🎙️ Begbie's Open Mic – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
🏈 Sunday and Monday Night Football – at the Terminal Pub
Win FREE Tickets to the
Heritage Homes Tour Event!
We are giving away two tickets to the New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour event happening on May 25, 2025. Entering the draw is super quick and easy!
It’s our way of saying THANK YOU for being part of our community and spreading the joy of local stories, events, and connections here in New West.
🕓 Entries close Thursday, May 22 @ 2:00 PM
🎫 Don’t miss out—enter now!
Image via BC Ferries Website
Planning a Summer Getaway from New Westminster? Here's What You Need to Know About B.C. Ferries This Season
As summer approaches, New Westminster residents considering ferry travel to Vancouver Island or other coastal destinations should plan ahead—B.C. Ferries is expecting its busiest season yet, and delays are possible.
With a record-setting 9 million passengers last summer and even higher numbers forecast for this year, all 37 vessels in the B.C. Ferries fleet will be in service. However, the system is operating at full capacity, with no backup ships available.
“All our players are on the pitch and the bench is empty,” said a senior B.C. Ferries official.
This means any unexpected breakdowns or delays could significantly impact sailing schedules, especially during long weekends or peak travel times. The company is managing an aging fleet and limited terminal infrastructure, with no major fleet upgrades expected until 2026.
What This Means for You:
If you're travelling from New Westminster and connecting via Tsawwassen terminal (the closest major ferry terminal), here are key tips to avoid travel headaches:
Book early. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially on busy sailings between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Arrive 45 minutes before departure if you have a booking. Without one, be prepared for long waits.
Travel during off-peak hours, such as early morning or late evening, to avoid the heaviest congestion.
Consider alternate routes with lower demand if your schedule allows.
Starting June 19, an additional 4:30 p.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Departure Bay (Nanaimo) will be available, adding some flexibility for evening travellers.
Improvements That Might Help:
B.C. Ferries is trying to ease the pressure with several measures:
1,000 extra sailings this summer compared to winter schedules
600 seasonal workers hired to help manage the rush
Increased capacity on popular routes, such as the Queen of Capilano, which now carries up to 600 passengers between Horseshoe Bay and Bowen Island
A better real-time conditions website, helping you see how full sailings are before you go
Customer service call wait times have dropped from 7 minutes to 75 seconds
Relief is coming—but not immediately. Four smaller Island-class vessels are scheduled to arrive in 2026, with larger replacements for major routes arriving between 2029 and 2031.
Bottom line for New Westminster travelers: Expect high demand, book early, travel smart, and keep an eye on service alerts. Planning ahead could save you hours at the terminal—and help you start your vacation stress-free.
Image via Facebook
One night only—May 29, the Massey Theatre will transform into a dazzling celebration of cinematic soundtracks with A Whole New World: A Concert of Movie Musicals’ Greatest Songs. Get ready to relive your favorite moments from the silver screen as timeless tunes from Disney classics and Hollywood legends take center stage in a spectacular evening of live music.
Presented by Sound the Alarm: Music/Theatre, this unforgettable concert invites audiences of all ages on a nostalgic journey through the songs that have defined generations. With powerful vocal performances and a sweeping musical selection, it’s a heartfelt tribute to the melodies that continue to inspire and uplift.
But this event is more than just entertainment—it’s rooted in community and connection. As part of their commitment to social responsibility, Sound the Alarm offers discounted tickets for Indigenous Community Members, in support of the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. This thoughtful initiative reflects the organization’s dedication to inclusivity and reconciliation.
And for the creative souls who make the arts possible, a special Arts Worker price ensures that educators, artists, and arts administrators can join the celebration. It’s a concert for dreamers, creators, and lovers of song.
Don’t miss your chance to experience movie musical magic—live on stage.
⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️
🌧️ What did the rain say to the wind?
🎐 “You really blow me away!” 🌬️
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Meme of the Day
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