Hyack 50/50 Raffle + Tea and Tunes

Issue #538

Author

Carla McNeil
March 17, 2026

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌧️ Weather - Rain

 😜 Rain Joke - Why did I check the radar twice? 📡 

 🔦 Business Spotlight - New West Hospice Society

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

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

 🗞️ New West Local News - Hyack 50/50 Raffle + Tea and Tunes

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

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A Quiet Gap in a Caring City

New Westminster, BC is known as a Compassionate City. It was the first in British Columbia to carry that title. Yet there is one thing missing here: a hospice.

When someone in New West reaches the final stage of life, they often must leave their community. Families cross bridges to Port Moody or Delta. They search for beds in unfamiliar places. And many residents are surprised to learn this only when it is too late.

That surprise is exactly what the New West Hospice Society hopes to change.

The Story Behind the Mission

The New West Hospice Society has been serving the community for nearly 10 years. Its volunteers step in when families need support most. They sit with people who are dying. They help with small chores. They offer companionship during long days.

This group is called the Compassionate City Crew.

Referrals often come through the palliative care team at Royal Columbian Hospital. Volunteers go into homes across New Westminster to provide comfort. Sometimes that means listening. Sometimes it means holding a hand.

But the larger dream remains clear: to build a hospice right here in New West.

There have been conversations with Fraser Health. Local MLAs and MPs are aware. Proposals have been drafted. Developers have been approached. There is even a unit at Legion Manor being prepared for end-of-life care.

Progress is happening. Slowly.

Fundraising, however, has been difficult since COVID. Plans for a thrift store were paused. Donations slowed. Like many charities, the Society felt the strain.

Still, the need has not gone away.

What Hospice Care Really Means

Hospice care is not just medical support. It is a peaceful space. A place where families gather. Where pain is managed. Where final conversations happen without the rush of hospital halls.

Right now, New Westminster families must leave their city for that kind of setting. And there may be waitlists.

The Society’s leaders often hear the same reaction: “I didn’t know we didn’t have one.”

Most people don’t know—until someone they love needs it. And at that moment, there is no time to build what is missing.

Changing the Conversation in New West

Part of the Society’s mission is bigger than bricks and mortar. It is about normalizing conversations around death and dying.

Each November, they host a Dialogue on Death and Dying at Century House. It is a safe place to talk. To ask questions. To reduce stigma.

As one volunteer shared, the goal is simple: “Let’s not let people suffer in silence.”

New Westminster has embraced the idea of being a Compassionate City. That means talking openly. It means supporting grieving families. It means planning ahead.

Because every family will face this chapter someday.

A Philosophy of Preparation

There is a quiet truth behind this work.

When hospice care is needed, it is urgent. There is no time for advocacy. No time to raise funds. No time to start conversations.

That is why the Society gently encourages residents to think ahead.

If you have aging parents. If a partner is ill. If someone in your circle may one day need hospice care—this is the moment to learn, to volunteer, or to support the cause.

As one board member explained, when the time comes, “you’re out of time.”

Preparation is an act of love.

How You Can Help

Awareness is the first step. Talk about hospice with friends. Share the fact that New Westminster still does not have one.

Volunteer with the Compassionate City Crew. Attend the Dialogue on Death and Dying. Reach out to local representatives and ask about progress.

And save the date: May 3 at 11:00 a.m., the River Walk returns at the Quay. Residents carry decorated rocks in memory of loved ones and place them in a rock garden. It is a simple, powerful act of remembrance.

From heartfelt companionship to a bold vision for a local hospice, the New West Hospice Society continues to stand beside families in New Westminster, BC.

The question now is simple.

When the time comes for someone you love, will our city be ready?

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Thank you, Candice - you’re awesome!

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 19.4 1947 - Record low -2.8 1906, 1930

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

March 17, 2026

👮 Police Board Meeting – 9:30 AM

🌊 Spring Discovery Days: Roots of the Fraser – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

📚️ EVENT Magazine's Annual Used Book Sale – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

🌶️ SPICE Club! – 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM

🖊️ Write Your Own Story (Ages 8-12) – 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

📚️ Young Readers Book Club (9-12 years) – 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM

🧘 Yang Tai Chi 24 form – 5:00 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

March 18, 2026

🌊 Spring Discovery Days: Roots of the Fraser – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

📚️ EVENT Magazine's Annual Used Book Sale – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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

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

📝 WorkBC Employment Services Drop-In – 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

🎨 Crafternoon: Wrist Parakeets (Ages 6+) – 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

🎤 Find Your Voice at Mechanics of Music Studio – 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM

👪️ Family Building Free Play (All Ages) – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

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

🎲 Howe Sound Drag Bingo & Trivia – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🏃 Steel & Oak Run Club – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Connect Youth (13+) – 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

❓️Frankie G’s Trivia Night – 7:30 PM

March 19, 2026

🌊 Spring Discovery Days: Roots of the Fraser – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

📚️ EVENT Magazine's Annual Used Book Sale – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

👮 Law Enforcement Career Fair – 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

👪️ Family Place Storytime & Play Lab – 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM

🎥 Midday Movie: My Old Lady – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

🏘️ 20th Avenue New West - Community Open House – 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

🎸 Ukulele 101 (Ages 8-12) – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

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

🎭️ Bee's Knees Burlesque at The Flapper Lounge – 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

🎙️ The Terminal Pub Colossal Thursdays Karaoke – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎤 Notorious Grey Fox Open Mic Jam – 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

🎭️ Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell - Preview Night – 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

There’s a new way to celebrate community spirit in New Westminster — and you could win big while doing it.

The Hyack Festival 50/50 Raffle is officially open, giving residents a chance to take home a growing jackpot while helping keep some of the city’s most beloved traditions alive.

Every ticket purchased supports the Hyack Festival Association, the organization behind many of New Westminster’s favourite events — from lively parades to vibrant community celebrations that bring neighbours together year after year. Your ticket doesn’t just enter you into the draw — it helps ensure these events remain free and accessible for everyone in the community.

The excitement builds as more tickets are sold, with the prize pot growing along the way.

Whether you're hoping for a lucky win or simply want to support the spirit of the Royal City, this raffle is a fun and meaningful way to take part.

⏰ Tickets are available until midnight on May 23, 2026.

Tea, Music and Community in the Park

Spring is arriving in New Westminster with a cozy community gathering in the park. Residents are invited to celebrate the season at Tea and Tunes on Saturday, March 21 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at The Habitat in Queen’s Park.

This relaxed, drop-in event offers the perfect way to welcome the first day of spring. Guests can enjoy a comforting cup of tea — hot or iced — while relaxing by outdoor fire pits and listening to laid-back beats from DJ Kookum. The afternoon is designed especially for adults and older teens looking to unwind, connect with others, and soak up the fresh outdoor atmosphere.

For those feeling creative, there’s also an optional Candle Making Workshop hosted by Artsy Candle. Participants will learn the basics of fragrance blending while pouring their own custom-scented candle to take home. All materials are provided, and the workshop costs $10, though registration is required as space is limited.

Whether you’re coming for the music, the tea, or the creative experience, Tea and Tunes offers a warm and welcoming way to greet the new season.

🔍️ Spot the details

Today’s Tin Man mystery has some great clues.

🎁 This week’s prize (Mar 12 - Mar 18):
A $150 Gift Certificate – Initial Chiropractic Consultation, Examination & Treatment with Dr. Wayne Jakeman.

Think you know the spot?
Head to Facebook and Instagram and drop your guess.

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

Why did I check the radar twice? 📡 

Emotional preparation. 📆 

Groan O' Meter

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