Heritage Tour + Queensborough Councillor Cafe

Issue #229

Author

Carla McNeil
May 12, 2025

Inside the New West Spotlight

 ☀️ Weather -

 😜 Rain Joke - What did the umbrella said to the rain? ☔️ 

 🗓️ New West Events - Variety

 🗞️ New West Local News - Heritage Tour + Queensborough Councillor Cafe

 📰 Advertise with New West Spotlight - Buy One, Get One Free

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 23.1 2023 - Record low 6.8 2022

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

May 12, 2025

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

👶 Mom + Baby Meet Up at Cove Indoor Play – 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

🧩 Puzzle Mondays at Steel and Oak – Starts at 5:00 PM

🎶 New West Community Choir – 6:45 PM to 7:45 PM

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

🏈 Sunday and Monday Night Football – at the Terminal Pub

May 13, 2025

📝 MOSAIC's 13th Annual Job Fair – Early Entrance at 9:30 AM

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

✏️ Sketch For Fun (50+ years) – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

📖 Storytime (3-5 years) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

📱 Bring Your Own Device Tech Cafe! – 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

📚️ BYO Book Club – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

🧘 Yang Tai Chi 24 form – 5:00 PM

🍺 🎲 Beer and Board Games – 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM

❓️ Trivia Tuesdays at Howe Sound New West – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

May 14, 2025

💰️ Financial Aid (Welfare) Worker at NWPL – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

👶 Mom + Baby Meet Up at Cove Indoor Play – 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 CaRT Peer Navigators – 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

👶 Babytime (0-23 months) – 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM

🎙️ Mayor Johnstone's Annual State of the City Address – 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM

🎒 After-School Drop-In (5-12 years) – 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

📽️ Climate Films: I am the Magpie River – 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM

📖 Pyjama Storytime (All ages) – 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM

❓️ Trivia Night at Georgie's Local  – 7:00 PM

🏃 Run Club  – 7:00 PM

👦👧 Connect Youth (13+) – 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

🎤 Open Mic Jam at Bully’s Studio – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

❓️ Trivia Night at Frankie G’s – 7:30 PM

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 25, as history lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike are invited to experience a unique self-guided journey through New Westminster’s most treasured homes during the 2025 Heritage Homes Tour. Running from 10 AM to 5 PM, this much-anticipated event promises a full day of timeless beauty, fascinating history, and rare access behind the doors of the city’s storied residences.

Organized by Heritage New West, this year’s tour features 12 remarkable heritage venues, including seven private homes—some opening to the public for the very first time, others returning after years off the circuit. Each property showcases a distinctive architectural style, from the horizontal lines and natural tones of Prairie Style homes to the ornate details of Queen Anne Revival designs. It’s a feast for the eyes and the imagination.

At the heart of the tour is Irving House, New Westminster’s oldest fully restored residence and the only location to be featured on all 43 annual tours. A beloved local landmark, Irving House offers a glimpse into Victorian-era life and stands as a testament to the city’s enduring character.

✨ A Wartime Tribute: "On the Homefront" Theme

This year’s tour carries a poignant twist with the theme “On the Homefront,” honoring the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Visitors will not only admire the aesthetics of these preserved homes but will also uncover little-known stories about their roles during the war. From housing soldiers to supporting the local war effort, many of these venues served as more than just homes—they were silent witnesses to a turbulent chapter in world history.

🎟 How to Join the Tour

Tickets are $45 per person and must be purchased in advance via Eventbrite. Once your ticket is secured, your next step is to pick up the official Tour Guidebook—your essential pass to gain entry to each home on the tour.

  • Guidebook Pick-Up:

    • May 10–24: Available at Royal City Colours (700 Twelfth Street, New Westminster).

    • Tour Day, May 25: Available at The Armouries (530 Queens Avenue), which is also one of the featured tour stops.

⚠️ Please note: Royal City Colours is closed on Sundays, so if you're picking up your guidebook on the day of the tour, you must go to The Armouries.

The guidebook includes the full map and background on each property, making it both your tour ticket and a souvenir to take home.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Friendly and Fascinating

While children are welcome, it’s recommended that the tour be enjoyed by older children or teens due to the nature of the homes and guided format. Comfortable footwear and curiosity are encouraged—you’ll be walking through over a century of history.

Children are welcome, but it’s recommended that the tour be enjoyed by older children or teens due to the nature of the homes and guided format. Parents bringing children will need to purchase a ticket for each of them.

Whether you're a heritage buff, design lover, or simply looking for a meaningful way to spend a Sunday, the 2025 Heritage Homes Tour offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to walk through history, room by room.

 ☕️ Queensborough Residents Invited to Councillor Cafe on May 22

Residents of Queensborough are invited to take part in the next Councillor Cafe event on May 22, 2025. The community gathering will take place at the Boston Pizza Lounge, located at 805 Boyd Street, starting at 7:00 p.m. and running until 9:00 p.m.

City Councillors Daniel Fontaine and Paul Minhas will be joined by special guest MLA Steve Kooner for this open house-style event. Community members are encouraged to bring their questions, concerns, and ideas to share directly with their elected officials in a relaxed, informal setting. Coffee will be provided, and no RSVP is required. Attendees can drop in at any time during the two-hour session.

The event offers Queensborough residents a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about local issues and priorities, strengthening the connection between the community and its representatives.

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

🌂 What did the umbrella said to the rain? ☔️ 

🌧️ “I’ve got you covered!” ☂️ 

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