Help Identify Human Trafficking + New Mystery Collection

Issue #641

Author

Carla McNeil
June 28, 2026

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌧️ Weather - Cloudy with showers

 😜 Rain Joke - What do you call a bear in the rain? 🐻☔️ 

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

 🗞️ New West Local News - Help Identify Human Trafficking + New Mystery Collection

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Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 31.7 1895 - Record low 5.6 1875

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

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

Tuesday June 30, 2026

⚽️ Newcomer Youth Soccer Skills & Leadership Clinic – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

🎤 Ukulele Level 1 at Mechanics of Music Studio – 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

🍺 Steel & Oak Beer and Board Games – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🎲 Howe Sound Hot B*tch Rock & Roll Bingo – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎭️ Notorious Grey Fox Trivia Tuesdays – 7:00 PM

New Westminster Police are working with local businesses to help combat one of Canada's most hidden crimes through a new public awareness campaign focused on recognizing the signs of human trafficking.

The New Westminster Police Department has been meeting with businesses across the city as part of the "I Dare You to See" campaign, an initiative supported by the BC RCMP Counter Human Trafficking Unit.

The campaign is designed to educate both the public and frontline workers about the warning signs of human trafficking and how to safely report suspected cases. Because victims are often hidden in plain sight, police say community awareness plays a vital role in identifying and preventing exploitation.

The initiative places a strong focus on the hospitality and service sectors, including hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, and other businesses whose employees may encounter signs of trafficking during their daily work.

Educational resources and online training are available through the campaign's website, giving businesses and residents practical tools to recognize potential indicators and understand reporting options.

Police encourage everyone to learn more about human trafficking and help create a safer community by staying informed and alert.

New Westminster's own Winona Kent is adding another chapter to her celebrated mystery-writing career with the release of her 13th book this July.

Kent's latest publication, Four Short Sets with Jason Davey, brings together four previously published mystery stories featuring her popular character Jason Davey—a professional musician who repeatedly finds himself solving crimes in unexpected places.

The anthology takes readers from an Alaskan cruise ship to London's Soho music scene, northern Alberta, and the digital world of online romance scams. Each story combines music, suspense, and mystery, following Jason as he uncovers missing people, stolen treasures, and dangerous secrets.

One of the featured stories, Salty Dog Blues, earned national recognition after being shortlisted for the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence for Best Crime Novella in 2021.

Originally born in London, England, Kent grew up in Regina before earning a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. She is a past chair of Crime Writers of Canada, an active member of Sisters in Crime–Canada West, and has called New Westminster home for many years.

Her newest anthology will be available in paperback and e-book formats on Amazon beginning in July 2026.

For local readers and mystery fans alike, the release is another opportunity to support one of New Westminster's accomplished authors while diving into four engaging crime stories featuring one unforgettable amateur sleuth.

Sunday scroll idea

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Each correct answer gives you another entry for this week’s prize.

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

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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 24 hours, us at [email protected]. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

🌧️ What do you call a bear in the rain? 🐻☔️ 

💦 A drizzly bear. 🧸 

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