Fandom Bazaar + Massey Theatre Renovation

Issue #640

Author

Carla McNeil
June 27, 2026

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌧️ Weather - Light rain

 😜 Rain Joke - What did thunder say to rain? ⛈️💬

 🗓️ New West Events - A Mix of What’s Happening

 🗞️ New West Local News - Fandom Bazaar + Massey Theatre Renovation

 🔗 Use the links above to skip to your favorite section.

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

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 32.8 1895 - Record low 6.1 1910

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

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

🎸 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

🎙️ 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

Sunday June 28, 2026

🌊 Colours of the Fraser – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

🦖 Kids Pokémon League - New West – 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

🎉 Dia de Campo - Celebrando Canadá a la Mexicana – 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM

🪡 Needle Felting Workshop at Arrieta Art Studio – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

🎸 Uptown Live Summer Series – 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

🚢 Samson V Museum – 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

🎙️ Cindy’s Creative Café & Karaoke – 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

🍽️ Community Lunch at You N Me' Cafe – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

📜 New Westminster Poet Laureate, Janet Kvammen – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

🎨 Paint Nite Brand Creative Events – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🎲 Sunday Funday Bingo – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

🎙️ Georgie's Local Sunday Night Open Mic! – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Monday June 29, 2026

🧘 Peace, Be Still Monday Meditation – 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM

🧩 Steel & Oak Puzzle Mondays – 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🎨 Downtown’s Living Room at Anvil Centre – 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

💪 The Empowerment Collective – 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

🎙️ Begbie's Open Mic – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Calling all collectors, cosplayers, gamers, comic book fans, and pop culture enthusiasts! The Fandom Bazaar is making its return to New Westminster on Saturday, July 11, offering a treasure trove of unique finds for fans of all ages.

Hosted by the West Coast Science Fiction Association (WCSFA), the family-friendly event transforms the Sapperton Pensioners Hall into a marketplace filled with new and pre-loved collectibles, handcrafted creations, memorabilia, and fandom-inspired merchandise.

Visitors can browse everything from comics, books, games, anime collectibles, and movie memorabilia to cosplay accessories, fantasy-themed jewelry, artwork, gothic fashion, and other one-of-a-kind treasures. Whether you're hunting for a rare collectible, searching for a unique gift, or simply looking to connect with fellow fans, there's something for every type of fandom.

The event also provides opportunities for local creators, collectors, and small businesses to showcase and sell their products, helping build connections within Metro Vancouver's vibrant fandom community.

Originally scheduled for an earlier date, organizers have confirmed that the event has been rescheduled to July 11, 2026.

A major facility improvement project will temporarily close the Massey Theatre arts complex for five months, resulting in event cancellations, staff layoffs, and operational changes for one of New Westminster’s key arts organizations.

The City of New Westminster has mandated the closure of the arts complex from July 1 to November 30, 2026, as part of a revised construction timeline for ongoing upgrades to the facility.

As a result, performances, rentals, and community events scheduled during that period have either been cancelled, rescheduled, or moved to venues in other communities.

The closure is also creating significant financial challenges for the Massey Theatre Society, the non-profit organization responsible for programming and operating Massey Theatre, Anvil Theatre, and Eighth & Eight Creative Spaces. The loss of ticket revenue, venue rentals, programming income, and studio space revenues has led to staffing reductions and a scaling back of operations.

The Society announced that Eighth & Eight Creative Spaces programs and opportunities will be suspended during this period, while the remaining team focuses on supporting theatre operations and preparing for the facility's reopening.

Despite the challenges, organizers say they remain committed to bringing arts and cultural programming back to the community when the improved facility reopens in December 2026. Tickets for performances scheduled after the reopening are already on sale.

For New Westminster's arts community, the closure marks a significant but temporary pause as upgrades are completed on a facility that has long served as a cultural hub for the city.

🔔 Weekend challenge time

The Tin Man is hiding somewhere new, and the prize is still up for grabs. 👀

🎁 This week’s prize (June 25 - July 01):
A Bouquet of Fresh Flowers value $50 from Chris's Flower Shop.

Visit Facebook and Instagram and drop your guess.

You play on Facebook and Instagram. You win in the newsletter.

Congratulations to last week’s How Well Do You Know New West? winner. 🎉

Paula Sidhu

You’ve won a Canadian Flag from Jake Sawatzky MP. 

To claim your prize, please email, within 48 hours, us at [email protected]. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

🌧️ What did thunder say to rain? ⛈️💬 

⚡️ “You crack me up.” 😆 

Groan O' Meter

What do you say?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Meme of the Day

Brought to you by New West Spotlight Daily Digital Newsletter

What’s faster than word of mouth? New West Spotlight! It keeps you updated on what is happening locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

Who else do you know in New West who might also enjoy reading the New West Spotlight?

Click to Share the newsletter

Shall we continue with a daily meme? Vote Today.

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Want to see your local business in the spotlight?
We’d love to feature you in an upcoming issue of New West Spotlight, where thousands of New West residents discover what’s new and local.

Not a business owner but have a favorite local spot?

Tell us all about it - email us at [email protected]

What did you think of today’s issue? (anonymous)

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.