Donation Drive Paused + Train Whistle Proposal

Issue #657

Author

Carla McNeil
July 14, 2026

Inside the New West Spotlight

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 🗞️ New West Local News - Donation Drive Paused + Train Whistle Proposal

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The Silent Gardener Award from the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

Thank you, Susan - you’re awesome!

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 33.9 1941 - Record low 7.2 1910

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

Tuesday July 14, 2026

📖 Storybook Academy at In Movement – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

🎭️ The Era's Camp at In Movement – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

🌊 FRDC Summer Camps: River Engineers – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

🎨 Storytime and Craft (3-5 years) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

🎨 Art in Moody Park: Art Workshop – 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

📚️ BYO Book Club – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

📱 Bring Your Own Device Tech Café! – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

🧶 Youth Knitting and Crochet Club (6-18 years) – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

🎤 Ukulele Level 1 at Mechanics of Music Studio – 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

📽️ Climate Films: Emergence – 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

🍺 Steel & Oak Beer and Board Games – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎲 Howe Sound Hot B*tch Rock & Roll Bingo – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎭️ Notorious Grey Fox Trivia Tuesdays – 7:00 PM

Wednesday July 15, 2026

📖 Storybook Academy at In Movement – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

🎭️ The Era's Camp at In Movement – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

🌊 FRDC Summer Camps: River Engineers – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

💰️ Financial Aid (Welfare) Worker at NWPL – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

👶 Babytime (0-23 months) – 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM

📝 WorkBC Employment Services Drop-In – 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

🎨 Queensborough Crafternoon (5-12 years) – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

🎤 Find Your Voice at Mechanics of Music Studio – 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

🎲 Family Building Free Play (All Ages) – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

🎨 Stitch & Pitch at Anvil Centre– 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

🎉 Welcome Home Celebration MKP Vancouver – 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

❓️ Georgie's Local Trivia Night – 7:00 PM

🎲 Howe Sound Drag Bingo & Trivia – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🏃 Steel & Oak Run Club – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Connect Youth (13+) – 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

Thursday July 16, 2026

📖 Storybook Academy at In Movement – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

🎭️ The Era's Camp at In Movement – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

🌊 FRDC Summer Camps: River Engineers – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

👶 Babytime (0-12 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

🍼 Baby Social (0-23 months) – 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

📱 Smartphone Filmmaking + Photography Workshop – 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

🦎 Urban Safari Rescue Society (All Ages) – 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

🎥 Midday Movie: The Bookshop – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

🍅 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

🐾 Paw Parade at Tiperrary Park – 5:30 PM

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

🎸 Ukulele Jam (8-adult) – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

🎙️ Georgie's Local Karaoke Night – 7:00 PM

❓️ Steel & Oak Thursday Trivia Night – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

💃 Salsa In The Park – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎭️ Bees Knees Burlesque at the Flapper Lounge – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎙️ The Terminal Pub Colossal Thursdays Karaoke – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎤 Notorious Grey Fox Open Mic Jam – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

New Westminster has once again shown the strength of its community—but for now, the donation centre is asking residents to press pause.

Following an overwhelming outpouring of support for families displaced by the recent fire, New Westminster Neighbourhood House has announced that its donation centre has reached capacity and is no longer accepting clothing or shoe donations until further notice.

The organization says the immediate focus is now on sorting the thousands of donated items and connecting affected families with the support they need. If additional items are required later, a request will be made for specific needs.

While clothing donations are on hold, residents can still help by making cash or gift card donations, which allow families to purchase essential items as needed. Volunteers are also being sought to help sort donations on Monday, July 13, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The City of New Westminster is also reminding residents not to bring donations to City facilities, including Century House, as staff are unable to accept or store them.

The response from the community has been extraordinary, highlighting the compassion and generosity that New Westminster is known for.

Photo courtesy of Jake Sawatzky’s Facebook Page

A long-standing concern for many Sapperton residents could be one step closer to resolution.

Member of Parliament Jake Sawatzky says efforts to reduce train whistle noise in Sapperton have progressed following discussions with federal officials, railway companies, and City of New Westminster representatives.

According to Sawatzky, he has met with Transport Canada, local councillors, and representatives from Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY), CPKC, and CN Rail to discuss train whistle cessation and its impact on nearby neighbourhoods.

The next step is a City of New Westminster council vote on a resolution to pursue whistle cessation at the Braid rail crossing. If approved, the proposal would begin the process of reducing train whistle use at that location, subject to meeting applicable safety and regulatory requirements.

Sawatzky noted that while the Braid crossing is the current focus, additional work would still be required before whistle cessation could be considered at other crossings in Sapperton and Queensborough.

Train whistle noise has been a long-standing issue for residents living near rail corridors, with community members and the City advocating for solutions while balancing railway safety requirements.

🔍️ Spot the details

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⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

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🌞 Sunshine followed by chaos. 🌪️

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