New West Spotlight
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Flood Repair Bill + Plea for Action

Flood Repair Bill + Plea for Action

Issue #295

Carla McNeil
July 17, 2025

Inside the New West Spotlight

🌞 Weather - Sunny

😜 Rain Joke - Why did the rain bring a map? 🗺️

💝 You’re So Sweet - Thank you, Barbara B.!

🗓️ New West Events - Busy

🗞️ New West Local News - Flood Repair Bill + Plea for Action

😆 Meme of the Day

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Iolanda Esposito - Personal Real Estate Corporation

Thank you, Barbara - you are so sweet!

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 28.6 2018 - Record low 10.4 2017

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Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

July 17, 2025

⚽️ 2025 NWPD Kids Summer Soccer School – 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM

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

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

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

🍽️ New West Fun Loving Retiree's Lunch at Kelly O'Brein's – 11:45 AM to 1:45 PM

🦎 Urban Safari Rescue Society (All ages) – 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

🌱 Sprout Club – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🍅 Farmers Market – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🎹 Dueling Pianos Vancouver – 5:30 PM at Kelly O'Bryan's Patio

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

🚶‍♂️ Explore Queen's Park: Guided Nature Walk (16+ years) – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

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

🎭️ New West Bingpot! Thursday Trivia - Howe Sound – 7:00 PM

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

🎭️ Bee's Knees Burlesque – 7:00 PM to 9:30 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

🥍 Burrards vs Salmonbellies – 7:30 PM at Queen's Park Arena

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

🥋 Karate Summer Camp – at Hawkes Martial Arts

July 18, 2025

⚽️ 2025 NWPD Kids Summer Soccer School – 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM

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

🧸 Afternoon Playtime – New West Family Place – 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM

💑 City LOVE Scavenger Hunt Date Night For Couples - New West Area – 1:00 PM

🗣️ English Conversation Circles – Friday Sessions – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

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

🎉 Fridays on Front: Bollywood Night – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🥍 Salmonbellies vs Shamrocks – 6:45 PM at The Q Centre

🎲 Hitmix Bingo - Howe Sound – 7:00 PM

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

🥋 Karate Summer Camp – at Hawkes Martial Arts

🎲 Board Night Game – Phantom Alley

Swing into action—bid, win, and make a difference for local youth!

July 19, 2025

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

🗣️ Spanish Conversation Drop-in – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

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

🎨 Drawings that come to Life! With Red and Blue Stories – 11:00 AM

🛍️ New West Craft – 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

🎶 Uptown Live Summer Series – 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

👕 Vintage & Streetwear POP-UP Shop – 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

💑 City LOVE Scavenger Hunt Date Night For Couples - New West Area – 1:00 PM

🦴 Bark and Brew Party – 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

📜 Origami with Yuki Anthony (3-6 years) – 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM

🍎 PIPSC CP Subgroup Hume Park Picnic – 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM

📜 Origami with Yuki Anthony (Ages 7-12) – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

🎶 Outdoor Bhangra Dance Workshop – 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

🎸 New West Summer Patio Sessions – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🚲️ Youth Cycle Express: $2 Drop-in for Youth Ages 13 - 18 – 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM

🙏 Monthly Gathering – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🚴‍♂️ Honda Celebration of Light Bike Ride – Meet at Century House at 6:30 PM

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

🖌️ Egg Tempera Painting Workshop – The Gallery at Queen's Park

🕹️ Fighting Game Night – Phantom Alley

🚿 Residents Foot the Bill as Flood Cleanup Costs Soar in New Westminster

Months after a catastrophic water main break flooded parts of New Westminster, residents of a high-rise building at 71 Jamieson Court are facing steep out-of-pocket costs. At a special meeting on Thursday evening, condo owners voted to approve a one-time special levy of approximately $3,600 per unit to help cover damage repairs, pushing the collective cost near $800,000 for the 220-unit building.

The flood, which occurred in mid-February, left widespread damage throughout the building, exhausting the contingency fund and triggering the need for urgent financial contributions from residents. While the vote passed decisively, many worry that additional levies may follow as repair bills continue to mount.

Concerns are growing about the burden this will place on residents, particularly seniors and others on fixed incomes. Some fear they may be forced to sell their homes if they cannot keep up with the mounting costs. In the meantime, others continue to live in partially restored units or temporary accommodations while dealing with lingering noise and odor issues caused by ongoing repairs.

Frustration is rising among residents, who say they’ve been left to deal with the aftermath alone. They claim that no government body has stepped up to take responsibility for the disaster or offer financial assistance. The city has stated that repairs within the building are not its responsibility, despite the fact that the burst 36-inch pipe was under the purview of Metro Vancouver. The regional authority has not disclosed how much water was released during the break and says the incident is still under investigation.

Residents are now weighing legal options, including a potential class-action lawsuit against the City of New Westminster and Metro Vancouver for what they believe was an inadequate response to the crisis. Both parties have declined to comment on the possible legal action.

🔗 See full post here

🏪 Homelessness and Vandalism Push New West Businesses to Breaking Point

Screenshot from Global Video

Business owners in New Westminster are raising alarms over escalating crime and open drug use in the heart of their city. The area around Hyack Square has increasingly become a hotspot for illicit activity, prompting comparisons to Vancouver’s troubled Downtown Eastside. Drug transactions occur openly, and theft has become a constant concern for local businesses.

One such business, Kelly O’Bryan’s bar, has suffered repeated losses due to break-ins and vandalism. In one instance, a thief damaged rooftop equipment to retrieve a small amount of copper—causing thousands of dollars in repairs.

Some local business owners believe that the concentration of shelters and an injection site nearby are contributing to the problems. Meanwhile, city councillors say the lack of timely housing solutions is worsening the situation. A promised 55-unit supportive housing development, announced in 2021, only recently began construction and is still about a year from completion.

Recent figures highlight the scope of the issue: Metro Vancouver’s 2023 homeless count identified 203 sheltered and unsheltered individuals in New Westminster, but the provincial government estimates the actual number is significantly higher, closer to 341 people living on the streets.

Local businesses are calling for immediate and decisive action, warning that without swift intervention, many may not survive the mounting challenges.

Read Original Story Here