Energy Savings Program + Open Auditions

Issue #286

Author

Carla McNeil
July 08, 2025

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌞 Weather - Mainly Sunny

 😜 Rain Joke - Why did the raindrop fail its test? 📝

 💝 You’re So Sweet - Thank you, Rosemary S.!

 🗓️ New West Events - Lots to choose from

 🗞️ New West Local News - Energy Savings Program + Open Auditions

 📧 Did someone forward you our New West Spotlight? You can Subscribe Here!

Thank you, Rosemary- you are so sweet!

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 23.8 2015 - Record low 11.1 2019

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

July 08, 2025

🔍️ Unique Survival Scavenger Hunt - New West – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

📖 Storytime and Craft (2-6 years) – 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

📚️ BYO Book Club – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

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

🧶 Youth Knitting and Crochet Club (6-18 years) – 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM

🧘 Yang Tai Chi 24 form – 5:00 PM

🍺 🎲 Beer and Board Games – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

💃 Highland Dance School – 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🌵 The Curious World of Carnivorous Plants – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

❓️ Trivia Tuesdays at Howe Sound New West – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🤰 Labour and Childbirth Education Series – 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

July 09, 2025

🔍️ Unique Survival Scavenger Hunt - New West – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

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

👶 Mom + Baby Meet Up at Cove Indoor Play – 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

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

🎨 Queensborough Crafternoon (5-12 years) – 2:30 AM to 3:30 PM

🎭️ Poetry in the Park – 6:30 PM

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Building Free Play (All ages) – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

🏃 Run Club  – 7:00 PM

👦👧 Connect Youth (13+) – 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

🎤 Open Mic Jam at Bully’s Studio – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

❓️ Trivia Night at Frankie G’s – 7:30 PM

July 10, 2025

🔍️ Unique Survival Scavenger Hunt - New West – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

🍼 Babytime (0-23 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

🧑‍💼 Women In Business Networking – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

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

🍅 Farmers Market – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🌱 Sprout Club – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🐾 Paw Parade: Pet Fashion Show – Starts at 5:30 PM

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

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

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

🎸 Queen's Park 2025 Summer Concert Series – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

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

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

🥍 Salmonbellies vs Adanacs – 7:30 PM at Poirier Sports Complex

🎭️ The Ladies Foursome – 8:00 PM at Bernie Legge Theatre

🎭️ Comedy Exposed – 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM

🎥 Moonlight Movies Series: Guardians of the Galaxy – 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM

🏆️ New West Youth Awards (Invitation Only Event) – at Century House

British Columbians looking to improve their home’s comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality now have access to a significantly enhanced rebate program that could cover up to 100% of upgrade costs. The CleanBC Better Homes Energy Savings Program—formerly known as the Income Qualified Program—aims to make home energy improvements more accessible for lower- and moderate-income households.

The program offers rebates of up to $44,900, depending on income and upgrade type. Eligible participants can make energy-saving upgrades like heat pumps, improved insulation, upgraded ventilation, and more, with the support of free energy coaching and virtual assessments.

Households can receive:

  • Up to $19,000 for heat pump installations

  • Up to $3,500 for heat pump water heaters

  • Up to $5,000 for electrical service upgrades

  • Up to $9,500 for windows and doors

  • Additional rebates for insulation, ventilation, and health/safety enhancements

To qualify, applicants must meet income thresholds based on the number of people in the home. The rebates are categorized into three income levels, with Income Levels 1 and 2 offering the broadest access to all rebate types. Level 3 households are eligible for heat pump rebates only, and only when switching from natural gas, propane, or oil heating.

Applicants must own or rent a year-round residence in B.C. and hold a residential utility account with BC Hydro, FortisBC, or a participating municipal utility. The property must also meet the program’s assessed value criteria—homes valued over $1.23 million are automatically placed into Income Level 3.

All upgrades must be completed by a contractor registered with the Energy Savings Program, and pre-registration is required before any work begins. Contractors are responsible for submitting the rebate application within six months of the invoice date and will deduct the rebate from the upgrade's final cost.

Funding is provided by the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and BC Hydro.

To apply or learn more, residents can visit the Energy Savings Program participant portal or speak to an energy coach at 1-833-856-0333 or [email protected].

Vagabond Players is thrilled to announce auditions for Making a Killing, a sharp-witted comedy by John Nassivera, directed by Ryan Johnson. This fast-paced farce follows a Broadway playwright, his conniving producer, and his actress wife as they fake the playwright’s death to guarantee success on opening night. But when the scheme begins to unravel in a Vermont hideaway, and a suspicious agent starts digging, things spiral into hilarious chaos.

Performances will run from September 18 to October 5, 2025, with evening shows Thursday to Saturday at 8 PM, and Sunday matinees at 2 PM, all taking place at the Bernie Legge Theatre in Queen’s Park, New Westminster.

Auditions will be held at the same venue on Monday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 16 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, with callbacks scheduled for Monday, July 21, also from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. No appointment is needed; auditions are first come, first served. Monologues will be provided at the audition. Actors are asked to bring a headshot and résumé.

The production is seeking four principal roles (two men, two women, generally aged 35–45, though casting is flexible) and one supporting role. Estelle is a glamorous actress always performing; Marge is a bold, no-nonsense New York agent; Marty is a driven, ulcer-prone producer; and Ted is a self-deprecating playwright teetering on emotional collapse. The fifth character, Richie, is a silent but comedic presence—an ideal role for new or first-time performers.

Rehearsals begin shortly after casting and will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 10 PM, and Sundays from 1 to 4 PM, also at the Bernie Legge Theatre. A full rehearsal schedule will be shared with the cast.

This is a non-equity, volunteer production. All cast members will be required to join Vagabond Players with a $20 membership fee due at the first table read.

If you have questions, feel free to reach out to director Ryan Johnson at [email protected].

Join us and be part of a wild, witty ride where nothing—and no one—is quite what they seem. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the stage!

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

🌧️ Why did the raindrop fail its test? 📝 

It couldn’t find the right “answer”! ⁉️ 

Groan O' Meter

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