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Family Day Free Fun + Chocolate Date Night
Issue #504
Carla McNeil
February 11, 2026
Inside the New West Spotlight
🌞 Weather - Mainly sunny
😜 Rain Joke - What’s a rain’s favorite type of movie? 🎥
🔦 Business Spotlight - Arundel Mansion Hotel
🗓️ New West Events - Make room for what’s next.
🗞️ New West Local News - Family Day Free Fun + Chocolate Date Night
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On a quiet stretch of Begbie Street, just steps from Columbia, stands a building that feels different the moment the door opens. The Arundel Mansion Hotel is not trying to be sleek or modern. It is proudly heritage. And that is exactly the point. In New Westminster, BC, where history lives close to the surface, this long-standing hotel offers guests something increasingly rare. Space. Stories. And a chance to slow down.
The Story Behind the Business
The Arundel Mansion Hotel has been part of New Westminster life for more than a century. Built after the Great Fire, it began as furnished accommodations for professionals passing through the city. Judges, barristers, and their families once stayed for months at a time while working at nearby courthouses.
When the current owner and her husband purchased the building in 1991, it was badly neglected. Still, they saw possibility. Instead of painting over history, they chose to uncover it. Room by room. Sometimes layer by layer. In one spot, more than twenty coats of paint were removed to reveal original details beneath.
Along the way, the building shared its secrets. Old letters tucked into furniture. Photographs from decades past. Even electricity bills from the 1930s. What started as a renovation became a long-term act of care. More than thirty years later, the restoration continues, guided by patience and respect for the past.
This is not a typical hotel stay. Each of the 19 guest suites is a full apartment-style space. Guests have a living room, dining area, full kitchen, private bathroom, and a separate bedroom with doors that close.
Families appreciate the room to spread out. Longer stays feel easy here. Antique and period-style furniture fill each suite, chosen to reflect the building’s era rather than chase trends.
The hotel also offers a flexible event space downstairs. It hosts family reunions, anniversaries, and small celebrations. Photo shoots and film crews regularly book the property, drawn to its original details and timeless character.
Community Connection
The Arundel Mansion Hotel has quietly played a role in New Westminster’s creative life for decades. Its heritage features and generous rooms have made it a natural fit for filmmakers, photographers, and artists looking for something authentic.
Over the years, music videos, commercials, and feature films have passed through its doors. One of the most talked-about moments came in the 1990s, when a major Hollywood production filmed on site. Actor Sylvester Stallone stayed at the hotel during that time, leaving behind a story guests still love to hear. Today, visitors can request the same suite — a quiet thrill for film fans who enjoy sleeping where movie history once unfolded.
Another film company is currently filming on Begbie Street, the Arundel Mansion Hotel is all dressed up as something else. Stroll by and watch, you might even see a San Francisco trolley car slide down the street. Filming ends on Friday February 13th.
The hotel also takes part in local heritage tours, welcoming hundreds of visitors who come to explore and reminisce. Many leave with stories of their own.
Mindset or Philosophy
The heart of the Arundel Mansion Hotel is simple. People remember how a place makes them feel.
The owner believes comfort matters more than perfection. Old does not mean neglected. It means lived-in, loved, and honest. Guests who appreciate character often describe their stay as stepping into a different time. For many, that feeling brings calm and familiarity.
The goal has never been luxury for luxury’s sake. It has always been about creating good memories.
For travelers who value space, history, and personality, the Arundel Mansion Hotel offers something special. It invites guests to slow down, stay present, and experience New Westminster in a deeper way.
From thoughtful restoration to unforgettable stays, the Arundel Mansion Hotel continues to create meaningful moments in the heart of the city.
Supporting local businesses means supporting the heart of our community!
Address: 📍 48 Begbie Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 3C9
Phone: 📞 604-524-9498
Already know, like, and trust this business? Be sure to support Arundel Mansion Hotel and leave them a Google Review
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Local New Westminster Weather
Historical Records for Today - Record high 12.1 2015 - Record low -8.6 2025
Set you alarms! ⏰
A tougher Tin Man clue is coming at 6:15 AM 👀
Check out all of our local New Westminster Events
February 11, 2026
💰️ Financial Aid (Welfare) Worker at NWPL – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
🧑🤝🧑 CaRT Peer Navigators – 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
👶 Babytime (0-23 months) – 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM
🎒 After-School Drop-In (5-12 years) – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
📚️ Reading Buddies (6-9 years) – 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM
🎸 Kids Rock Band Jr. at Mechanics of Music Studio – 4:15 PM to 5:15 PM
🎤 Find Your Voice at Mechanics of Music Studio – 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
📖 Pyjama Storytime (all ages) – 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM
❓️ Georgie's Local Trivia Night – 7:00 PM
🎭️ Drag Bingo at the Flapper Lounge – 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
❓️Frankie G’s Trivia Night – 7:30 PM
February 12, 2026
🗣️ English Conversation Circles at the Welcome Centre – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
👶 Babytime (0-12 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
💗 Chronic Conditions Self-Management Program – 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
🍼 Baby Social (0-23 months) – 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
📖 Tigrinya Storytime (all ages) – 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
📝 SFU Writing Consults – 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM
🎙️ Georgie's Local Karaoke Night – 7:00 PM
🎭️ Howe Sound New West Bingpot! Thursday Trivia – 7:00 PM
🎭️ Black Poetry Night – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
🎙️ The Terminal Pub Colossal Thursdays Karaoke – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
🎭️ Comedy Exposed at the Flapper Lounge – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
🎤 Notorious Grey Fox Open Mic Jam – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
February 13, 2026
🧒 Toddler Time (12-36 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
📖 Punjabi Storytime (All Ages) – 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM
🍕 Real Talk Valentine's Pizza Party – 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
👶 Babytime (0-12 months) – 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM
🍼 Baby Social (0-23 months) – 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
📚️ French Reading Buddies (6-9 years) – 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM
💃 Preem Sueasuwan's Drop-In Class – 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
❣️ Galentines Day Experience with Jenika – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
🎲 Friendsday Night Board Games – 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM
💘 Galentine's Day Party at Kelly O'Bryan's – 6:00 PM ‘til late
🎭️ Annie Lederman @ House of Comedy – 7:00 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
🎉 Galentine’s Groove Night: Dance, Sip & Celebrate – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
🎙️ Weekly Karaoke Every Friday – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
🎙️ Notorious Grey Fox Karaoke Friday Nights – 9:00 PM until Close
Looking for the perfect way to spend Family Day Monday, February 16? The Fraser River Discovery Centre is opening its doors for a FREE admission day, generously sponsored by Loren Nancke — and everyone’s invited!
This special day also marks the grand finale of the Caring in Nature program, making it an extra-meaningful time to visit. Families can enjoy hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and engaging experiences that bring the Fraser River’s incredible stories, ecosystems, and wildlife to life.
From curious kids to lifelong learners, there’s something for everyone to explore, discover, and enjoy together. Whether you’re building, experimenting, or simply wandering through the exhibits, it’s a day designed to spark curiosity and connection.
⚠️ Free days fill up fast, so advance ticket reservations are required.
A Sweet Valentine in Downtown New West
A special Valentine’s-themed chocolate event is coming to Downtown New Westminster, offering locals a cozy and indulgent way to celebrate the season.
Chocolate Lovers Valentine is a one-night experience created by Origins, Cocoaro Craft Chocolate, and Cascadia Bakery. The event invites guests to slow down and enjoy thoughtfully crafted chocolate treats in a relaxed, intimate setting.
Attendees will be served a specialty drinking chocolate, with options for dairy or oat milk and optional alcoholic add-ins. The evening also features a one-day-only dessert created specifically for the event: a chocolate tart with a raspberry vanilla base, bright bergamot curd, cocoa nibs, and a delicate kanten jelly topping.
Organizers say the event is designed to be welcoming for all kinds of Valentine’s plans — whether visitors attend with a partner, a friend, or on their own. Music, comfortable seating, and a warm atmosphere round out the experience.
The Chocolate Lovers Valentine will take place at the Origins tasting room in Downtown New Westminster.
Reservations are recommended — this one’s made to be savoured. 🍫💕
⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️
🌧️ What’s a rain’s favorite type of movie? 🎥
Anything with a lot of “drama!” 😭
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Meme of the Day
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