Farmers Market Expansion + Newspaper Co-op Emerges

Issue #253

Author

Carla McNeil
June 05, 2025

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌤️ Weather - Mainly Sunny

 😜 Rain Joke - Why do rainbows appear in spring? 🌈 

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

 🗓️ New West Events - Lots to choose from

 🗞️ New West Local News - Farmers Market Expansion + Newspaper Co-op Emerges

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

Thank you, Angela - you are so sweet!

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 25.2 2016 - Record low 8.1 2024

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

June 05, 2025

🗣️ English Conversation Circles for All Levels – 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM

📝 Resume Clinic with BCNSP – 1:30 AM to 4:30 AM

🏓 Intro to Pickleball Drop-in – 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

🍅 Farmers Market – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🧵 Woven Futures: Grand Unveiling Celebration – 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

💎 Clay Earring Workshop – 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

🎶 Music Bingo – starts promptly at 5:45 PM

🍽️ Seniors Week - Meal Meet-Up – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🍷 June Social - The Sapperton Business Collective – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎙️ Karaoke Night at Georgie's – 7:00 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

June 06, 2025

👶 Babytime (0-12 months) – 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM

🍃 DIY Air Cleaner Workshop – 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

🍔 Between 2 Buns – 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎪 Lord Tweedsmuir Spring Carnival – 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🎶 Connaught Heights Elementary Summer Jam – 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

👴👵 Seniors Week - Safe City Town Hall – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🎲 Friendsday Night Board Games – Doors open at 6:00 PM

🍸️ Cocktails and Conjuring – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎙️ Weekly Karaoke Every Friday – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

🤥 Disney's My Son Pinocchio Jr. - Toymaker Cast – 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎸 Live Music at The Terminal - Mike Van Eyes – 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM

🎙️ Karaoke Friday Nights at Notorious Grey Fox – 9:00 PM until Close

🎲 Coco Project – Starlight Casino-New Westminster

🎲 Board Night Game – Phantom Alley

June 07, 2025

🧹 Clean Up New West 2025 – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

🌿 Glenbrook Ravine Invasive Weed Pull – 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

📝 Newcomer Resources Expo – 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

🎨 Learn the Art of Batik – 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM

🛍️ Sapperton Multi Family Garage/Yard Sale – 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

🗣️ English Conversation Circles – Saturday Sessions – 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

🛍️ New West Craft Indigenous Market – 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

🎶 Mechanics of Music Festival – 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

🍩 B2B + Donuts – 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🚲️ Youth Cycle Express: $2 Drop-in for Youth – (For youth ages 13 - 18) 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM

🎶 Music Bingo – starts promptly at 5:45 PM

👨‍🍳 Culinary Kitchen – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

🎭️ Poetry Flood Night – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🍽️ African Culinary Supper Club – 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

💃 Petals and Beats Middle School Dance Party – 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

🎥 A Night at the Movies – 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

🕺 Saturday Dance Party at Georgie's – 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM

🎲 Coco Project – Starlight Casino-New Westminster

🕹️ Fighting Game Night – Phantom Alley

Bigger, Better, Fresher!

Big news, New West! The beloved New Westminster Farmers Market is growing — and they’re celebrating in a big way. The market has expanded by an impressive 50%, and this week, they’re rolling out a lineup of fun-filled events that promise to turn your usual market visit into an unforgettable community celebration.

Here’s what’s in store:

🏅 Lawn Game Sports Day — Challenge your friends or team up with family for a friendly competition in the sunshine. Classic lawn games will be set up for all ages to enjoy — it’s all about fun, laughter, and a bit of friendly rivalry.

💎 Earring Workshop — Feeling crafty? Drop by the hands-on earring workshop where you can create your own one-of-a-kind accessories. It’s the perfect chance to unleash your creativity and leave with something sparkly!

💗 Membership Appreciation Day — Loyal market-goers, this one’s for you! Members will be treated to special perks and surprises as a heartfelt thank-you for their ongoing support.

📄 Stamp Card Program Launch — The more you visit, the more you earn! This new program rewards repeat shoppers with exciting prizes. Grab a card, start collecting stamps, and get rewarded for shopping local.

‼️ ...And More! — With even more surprises and pop-up fun on the way, the expanded market space is set to become a lively hub for community connection, creativity, and celebration.

Whether you're a long-time supporter or a first-time visitor, there's never been a better time to swing by the New West Farmers Market

In the wake of widespread digital newspaper closures by Glacier Media this spring, a group of dedicated journalists is taking a bold step to revive local journalism in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. The shutdowns, which affected our New Westminster community, have sparked a grassroots movement to launch a worker-owned news cooperative.

The initiative, called Save Our Local News, is being led by four veteran community reporters, including our Theresa McManus, with the support of Unifor Local 2000 and the Union Cooperative Initiative. Their goal is to establish a trusted, community-first publication to serve New Westminster, Burnaby, and the Tri-Cities region, which includes Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore, and Belcarra.

The closures of the New Westminster Record, Burnaby Now, and Tri-City News have left a significant information gap in these rapidly growing areas, contributing to what experts call “news deserts.” These are communities now lacking consistent local news coverage, particularly at the municipal level, leaving residents in the dark about decisions at city halls and other public institutions.

The new co-op model being proposed centers on community ownership and journalist leadership, offering an alternative to traditional for-profit newsrooms. Backers believe this approach can safeguard democratic engagement by ensuring access to credible, local information.

To help the project get off the ground, Unifor has contributed $5,000 and is urging community members to support the cause by visiting SaveOurLocalNews.ca. The campaign is seeking financial contributions and public backing to help restore independent local journalism to the region.

Despite keeping some non-union publications like the North Shore News and Delta Optimist online, Glacier Media’s recent cuts have severely reduced the availability of local journalism across Metro Vancouver.

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

🌸 Why do rainbows appear in spring? 🌈 

🌦️ Because the rain and sunshine are having a party! 🎉🥂 

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