New West Experience + Thrift Store Funds Hospital

Issue #361

Author

Carla McNeil
September 21, 2025

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌦️ Weather - Chance of a shower

 😜 Rain Joke - Why did the cloud break up with the rain? 💔

 🗓️ New West Events - Plenty of options to enjoy!

 🗞️ New West Local News - New West Experience + Thrift Store Funds Hospital

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Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 24.6 2014 - Record low 6.4 2022

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

September 21, 2025

☕️ Ladies Coffee at Waves Coffee House – 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

💰️ Autism Family Friends (AFF) Fundraiser – 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

🛝 Leader in the Park at Westminster Pier Park – 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM

🥤 The Soda Fest at Sapperton Park – 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

⛸️ Public Skate – 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM

📿 World of Art Beading Workshop – 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM

🎭️ Vagabond Players Presents Making A Killing – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

🎨 A Poetry + Art Salon at Anvil Centre – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

🥯 Baking (Ages 6-12) at Queensborough Centre – 2:15 PM to 3:45 PM

🧘 Yang Tai Chi 24 form – 5:00 PM

🎙️ Georgie's Local Sunday Night Open Mic! – 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

💰️ For Punjab: A Drag Dinner Fundraiser – 8:00 PM to 10:30 PM

🏈 Sunday and Monday Night Football – at the Terminal Pub

September 22, 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

🎨 Downtown's Living Room at Anvil Centre – 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM

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

September 23, 2025

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

📱 Bring Your Own Device Tech Cafe! – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

📝 Work BC Employment Services Drop-In – 1:30 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

🍺 🎲 Beer and Board Games – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

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

🪡 Sewing Beginner(16+ years) at təməsew̓txʷ – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

🚀 Big Ideas Wanted in New West!

Tourism New Westminster is on the hunt for bold thinkers, dreamers, and doers to help shape the city’s future as a must-visit destination. Whether you’re launching a brand-new experience, giving a fresh twist to an existing business, or sparking a creative idea to make our community more welcoming, this is your chance to shine!

✨ Two Ways to Enter:
1️⃣ Launch a new experience-based business
2️⃣ Share a tourism improvement idea that makes New West more vibrant

🙌 Who Can Jump In:

  • Students (high school or post-secondary)

  • Entrepreneurs, creatives, and local visionaries

  • Community members with game-changing ideas

Have more than one lightbulb moment? Go ahead—submit multiple projects! 💡

📅 Key Dates:

  • Deadline to Apply: October 31, 2025 (by 11:59 p.m.)

  • Final Pitch Event: Late November, right here in New West

This is your chance to bring fresh energy to our city, connect with community leaders, and maybe even see your idea come to life.

Photo courtesy of the RCH Auxiliary

The Royal Columbian Hospital Auxiliary’s thrift store, New to You, has once again turned bargain shopping into meaningful impact, raising over $200,000 this year to support hospital needs. Operated entirely by volunteers, the store channels its proceeds into medical supplies and equipment that directly benefit patients.

Each year, hospital departments compile a list of priority items not covered by their budgets. Representatives present these requests to the Auxiliary and the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, which then determines what can be funded through thrift store proceeds.

In 2025, 51 requests from 14 departments received support, ranging from practical tools to patient comfort items. Purchases included infant sleep sacks, surgical instruments, a biopsy device, lead aprons for critical care doctors, a power-adjustable chair for lab staff, and specialized equipment to assist stroke patients in regaining language skills. An infinity game table for rehabilitation and baby car seats for low-income families were also among the funded items.

While not all 25 departments’ requests could be covered, the Foundation works to secure other resources where possible. Volunteer coordinator Deni Loubert shared that the annual presentation meeting is one of the most rewarding parts of the Auxiliary’s work, offering a chance to see firsthand how the thrift store’s efforts translate into patient care improvements.

The Auxiliary emphasizes that every donation and purchase at New to You makes a difference, turning secondhand treasures into vital resources for the hospital community.

✨ Be Part of the Difference! ✨
🛍️ Shop. 💝 Donate. 🙌 Volunteer

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

🌧️ Why did the cloud break up with the rain? 💔 

It needed space to float around! ☁️ 

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