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Canada Day + Development and Parking Changes
Issue #638
Carla McNeil
June 25, 2026
Inside the New West Spotlight
🌤️ Weather - A mix for sun and clouds
😜 Rain Joke - Why does rain love theme parks? 🏞️
🔦 Business Spotlight - North Fraser Metis Association
🗓️ New West Events - A Mix of What’s Happening
💝 You’re So Sweet - Thank you, Sally M.!
🗞️ New West Local News - Canada Day + Development and Parking Changes
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On Sunday nights in New Westminster, the Royal City Curling Club has become more than a place for curling. It is now home to Sunday Funday Bingo, a lively weekly fundraiser hosted by North Fraser Métis Association. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., neighbours gather for games, prizes, and a little friendly suspense. The evening supports two local nonprofits at once: the registered charity behind North Fraser Métis Association and the Royal City Curling Club, which provides the space.
North Fraser Métis Association has been part of the wider New Westminster and Burnaby area for decades. The organization is a nonprofit chartered community and registered charity connected with Métis Nation British Columbia.
Executive director Maryann Morrison says the association serves about 1,600 members in the area. Its work helps Métis citizens connect with culture, community, food security, and local programs.
The bingo fundraiser began after the association invested in its own bingo equipment. At first, the games were held at the organization’s office space on Queens Avenue. But when that location was no longer available for bingo, the group began searching for a new home.
That search led to the Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster. The timing worked well. Sunday nights were quiet at the club, even during curling season. The space was welcoming, practical, and local with ample parking!
“We’re really grateful to the Royal City Curling Club,” Maryann says. “It’s a really nice space.”
Sunday Funday Bingo is designed to be simple, social, and fun. Games run for two hours, with doors usually opening about an hour before play begins.
Players can expect a mix of bingo games, a 50/50 draw, and a progressive jackpot. The jackpot has already grown to more than $900, adding extra excitement for regulars and newcomers alike.
The most popular package is the $25 bingo package. It gives players access to every game offered that night. Lower-cost options are also available, making it an affordable night out compared with many other forms of entertainment.
An Early Bird game is also being added, giving guests another reason to arrive early and settle in.
This is a 19+ event, and everyone is encouraged to bring a friend, neighbour, or family member who enjoys a classic community night out.
One of the most thoughtful parts of Sunday Funday Bingo is its accessible room. Since the Royal City Curling Club does not have an elevator, North Fraser Métis Association created a downstairs space for guests who cannot manage the stairs.
The accessible room has a screen, number callbacks, and a system to verify winning cards upstairs. It started with just two people. Recently, it welcomed eight.
That growth says a lot about the heart behind the event.
Bingo is also helping people meet each other. Some players have started offering rides home to others they met at the games. It is the kind of small, neighbourly support New Westminster is known for.
Maryann hopes that, as attendance grows, the fundraiser can do even more. More players mean more funds for cultural programming, food security, and community support.
For Maryann, bingo is not only about raising money. It is about bringing people together in a relaxed and welcoming way.
“You’re having a good night of fun,” she says. “You have a chance to win some money, meet some people in your community, and support two nonprofits.”
That spirit guides the whole event. It is low-pressure, friendly, and rooted in connection. Whether someone comes every week or drops in once a month, they are part of something local and meaningful.
From Sunday night fun to cultural connection, North Fraser Métis Association continues to build community in New Westminster. Come for the bingo, stay for the neighbours, and know that every game helps support local programs.
Supporting local businesses means supporting the heart of our community!
Address: 📍 North Fraser Métis Association, 529 Queens Ave, New West, BC V3L 2K2
Phone: 📞 (236) 880-5486
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Thank you, Sally - you’re awesome!
Local New Westminster Weather
Historical Records for Today - Record high 33.3 1925 - Record low 4.4 1904
Check out all of our local New Westminster Events
Thursday June 25, 2026
🍅 New West Farmers Market – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
🎙️ Rock Room Karaoke Nights at The Legion – 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM
🧘 Sound Bowl Therapy with Restorative Yoga – 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
🎙️ Georgie's Local Karaoke Night – 7:00 PM
🎭️ Howe Sound New West Bingpot! Thursday Trivia – 7:00 PM
❓️ Steel & Oak Thursday Trivia Night – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
🎙️ The Terminal Pub Colossal Thursdays Karaoke – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
🎭️ Game On with Melody Mangler at the Flapper Lounge – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
🎤 Notorious Grey Fox Open Mic Jam – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Friday June 26, 2026
🎲 Friendsday Night Board Games – 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM
🎲 Sunday Funday Bingo – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
🎸 Sip n’ Strum Fridays at Mechanics of Music – 7:00 PM
🎲 Georgie’s Local Hot Bitch Rock & Roll Bingo – 7:00 PM
🎲 Howe Sound Hitmix Bingo – 7:00 PM
🎙️ Howe Sound New West Karaoke Night – 7:00 PM
🎙️ Weekly Karaoke Every Friday – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
🕺 Live Band Swing Dance featuring Westside Swing – 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
💃 New West’s Only Womyn’s Dance Party – 8:00 PM until 1:00 AM
🎙️ Notorious Grey Fox Karaoke Friday Nights – 9:00 PM until Close
Saturday June 27, 2026
🗣️ Spanish Conversation Drop-in – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
♻️ Recycling Pop-Up – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
🥞 Century House Association Craft & Bake Sale – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
🌊 Colours of the Fraser – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
📖 Author Pop Up Bethany Zadeiks – 11:00 AM
🧶 Knitting & Crocheting Circle – 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
🎸 Uptown Live Summer Series – 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
🚢 Samson V Museum – 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
🎶 Mechanics of Music Fest – 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM
🙋 Upper Room: Tarry II – 2:00 PM
💃 Latin Dance Fest in the Plaza – 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
📚️ Ukrainian Storytime (All Ages) – 3:00 PM to 4:00
🚲️ Youth Cycle Express: $2 Drop-in for Youth Ages 13 - 18 – 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM
🎸 Live Music Saturday at the Legion Branch 2 – 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
🎲 Sunday Funday Bingo – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
🧘 Breathwork Journey & Sound Bath – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
🎶 Saturday Night Live Music at The Terminal Pub – 9:00 PM
🎙️ Karaoke Saturdays at Kelly & Carlos O’Bryan’s – 9:00 PM to 12:30 AM
🕺 Saturday Dance Party at Georgie's – 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM
🕹️ Fighting Game Night – Phantom Alley
Celebrate Canada Day in New Westminster
New Westminster is gearing up for one of its biggest celebrations of the year as Canada Day returns to Queen’s Park on July 1 with live entertainment, family activities, food trucks, and a spectacular drone show finale.
Running from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., the free community celebration will transform Queen’s Park into a festival filled with music, games, food, and activities for all ages. The South Field Stage will feature a full lineup of performers throughout the day, including Phoenix Laurén, China Syndrome, Cassius Khan & Amika, Francis Baptiste, and headliners Joyride, alongside performances from local groups and DJ Mixxx.
Families can explore the Kids Zone inside Queen’s Park Stadium, complete with bouncy castles, face painting, mini golf, crafts, drumming activities, and more. Visitors looking for something active can head to the Sportsplex for Bubble Soccer, while those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere can enjoy live music in the Rose Garden.
Food vendors will be serving everything from tacos and chicken to doughnuts and kettle corn, while adults can visit the Steel & Oak-hosted Beer Garden.
The celebration wraps up at 10 p.m. with a drone show above Queen’s Park Stadium, offering a modern and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fireworks.
Bring a lawn chair, pack a blanket, and settle in for an unforgettable day of community celebration in the heart of New Westminster.
Image via AI
Several development-related initiatives moved forward at New Westminster City Hall this month, affecting everything from housing projects in Sapperton to parking plans in the Brewery District.
One of the proposals would allow a temporary sales centre for a future 55-unit townhouse development in Sapperton. The project, approved last year for properties along East Eighth Avenue and Cumberland Street, will replace 10 existing houses with eight townhouse buildings. Council has given notice that it will consider a temporary use permit allowing one of the existing homes to operate as a sales centre until 2029.
Meanwhile, the Brewery District could see changes to its parking allocation strategy. Wesgroup Properties is seeking permission to reassign some residential and visitor parking spaces in Building 8 to support demand from office tenants, retail businesses, and Fraser Health operations. The proposal would reduce residential and visitor parking while increasing commercial parking within the existing parkade.
Council also endorsed a new excavation and shoring policy designed to strengthen oversight of construction projects across the city. The policy establishes clearer requirements for developers working near public property and aims to improve accountability, safety, and restoration standards during major construction projects.
Together, the proposals reflect ongoing growth and redevelopment activity in several parts of New Westminster.
🔄 New round, new hiding spot!
🤖 The Tin Man is back with a fresh mystery today.
🎁 This week’s prize (June 25 - July 01 ):
A Bouquet of Fresh Flowers Value $50 from Chris's Flower Shop.
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⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️
🌧️ Why does rain love theme parks? 🏞️
Extra splash zone. 💦
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