NWPD Brand-New Website + RCH Gives Back

Issue #511

Author

Carla McNeil
February 18, 2026

Inside the New West Spotlight

 ⛅️ Weather - A mix of sun and clouds

 😜 Rain Joke - What says romance better than anything else? 💖🌧️

 🔦 Business Spotlight - Steel and Oak

 🗓️ New West Events - Plenty of options to enjoy

 🗞️ New West Local News - NWPD Brand-New Website + RCH Gives Back

 📧 Did someone forward you our New West Spotlight? You can Subscribe Here!

A Brewery That Shows Up

In New Westminster, BC, some businesses do more than open their doors. They step out into the community.

Steel & Oak Brewing Co. is one of them.

This year, the local brewery is once again supporting the Rotary Club of New Westminster’s Bevies & Bites fundraiser. The event helps fund programs like Don’t Go Hungry and other Rotary initiatives that support families and youth in the Royal City.

For Steel & Oak, being part of the event is simple. It is about showing up and giving back to the city that supports them.

Built for the Royal City

From the beginning, the brewery was created to serve more than beer. The owners, both born and raised in New Westminster, wanted to build a gathering place. Not just a business.

Over time, their tasting room has become exactly that. A welcoming space where neighbours run into each other. Where families feel comfortable. Where regulars are greeted by name.

“It doesn’t feel like a bar,” Jordan shared during a recent chat. “It feels more like a place where people can come and connect.”

That connection extends beyond their Third Avenue doors.

Brewing and Backing Local

When Steel & Oak heads to Bevies & Bites, they usually bring three different styles. Variety matters.

Guests can expect Royal City Ale, a light and approachable classic named after New Westminster itself. It is a crowd-pleaser and a natural fit for the event. An IPA is almost always on tap too, because as Jordan put it, “people love an IPA.”

They may also bring something a little different, like a Red Pilsner, to give guests a chance to try something new.

Rotary is just one of many community partnerships. Steel & Oak also supports events like Fridays on Front, Pride Festival, the New West Film Fest, and Arts Council initiatives. If something meaningful is happening in New West, they try to be part of it.

Why Community Comes First

For the team at Steel & Oak, supporting local events is not a marketing strategy. It is part of their identity.

New Westminster is a small city in the best way. When the brewery team is out at events, they see familiar faces and meet new neighbours. The conversations feel personal.

The goal has always been to serve the community first. The beer is just one part of the experience.

Join Them at Bevies & Bites

As Bevies & Bites approaches, Steel & Oak invites the community to take part. Enjoy a few local pours. Connect with friends. Support programs that make a real difference in New Westminster, BC.

From the tasting room to Rotary events, Steel & Oak Brewing Co. continues to strengthen the spirit of the Royal City.

📍 1319 Third Avenue, New Westminster, BC
📞 (604) 540-6495
🌐 https://steelandoak.ca

Already know, like, and trust this business? Be sure to support Insert Steel & Oak and leave them a Google Review

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Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 12.6 2015 - Record low -2.9 2018

⏰ Last call for this Tin Man mystery!

Head to Facebook and Instagram and comment you guess today!

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

February 18, 2026

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

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

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

👪️ Nobody's Perfect Parenting – 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM

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

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

📚️ Reading Buddies (6-9 years) – 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM

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

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

❓️ Georgie's Local Trivia Night – 7:00 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

February 19, 2026

🀄️ Mahjong Funday at Starlight Casino – 5:00 PM & 7:00 PM

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

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

📝 Word Play with Alan Hill – 7:00 PM to 9:00 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

February 20, 2026

🧒 Toddler Time (12-36 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

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

🍼 Baby Social (0-23 months) – 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

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

🖼️ Open Studio at Arrieta Art Studio – 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

📚️ French Reading Buddies (6-9 years) – 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM

🎲 Friendsday Night Board Games – 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM

👪️ Thrive Parents Peer Support for Parents – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

🎲 Howe Sound Hitmix Bingo – 7:00 PM

🍸️ Cocktails and Conjuring at the Flapper Lounge – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

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

🎙️ Notorious Grey Fox Karaoke Friday Nights – 9:00 PM until Close

The New Westminster Police Department has officially unveiled a redesigned website aimed at improving transparency, accessibility, and ease of use for residents.

The new platform was developed with a strong focus on user experience, making it easier for community members to access public safety updates, explore available services, and find information about joining the department as an officer. Built to meet WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards, the site ensures improved access for users of all abilities.

Among the key upgrades is a simplified layout that allows visitors to quickly locate news releases, services, and support resources. The website is now fully mobile-responsive, offering seamless access across smartphones, tablets, and desktops.

Those interested in a career with the department will find a revamped employment section that clearly outlines the application process and requirements. In addition, the Police Board section has been reorganized to present meeting agendas, minutes, and supporting documents in a more structured and user-friendly format, making it easier for residents to stay informed about board activities.

Accessibility enhancements are a central feature of the redesign. Notably, the site includes a Quick Escape safety tool — commonly used on websites addressing sensitive topics such as intimate partner violence — which allows users to instantly exit the page and redirect to a neutral site to protect their privacy.

Department representatives say the new website reflects a commitment to transparency, clarity, and timely communication. The goal is to provide residents with accurate, up-to-date information directly from their local police department in a format that is easy to navigate and accessible to all.

Residents are encouraged to explore the updated site and take advantage of its improved features and streamlined design.

Visit the new website at: https://www.nwpolice.org/

Be part of the celebration

The Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is inviting the community to come together for The Great Give Back, presented by Pan American Silver, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Queen’s Park Sportsplex in New Westminster. Admission is free.

The celebration comes as Royal Columbian Hospital prepares to open the new Jim Pattison Acute Care Tower — a milestone made possible through the generosity of donors, partners, and community members across the region.

The day will feature live entertainment from local artists, a family carnival with bouncy castles, face painting, balloon artists, circus school workshops, and games, as well as food trucks and local retailers. A healthcare career and education fair will connect attendees with Fraser Health and education providers, while health screening information and resources will also be available.

Guests will also have the opportunity to have their photo included in a permanent art installation inside the new tower — a lasting tribute to the community’s role in shaping the future of care at RCH.

As B.C.’s most comprehensive critical care hospital — and the only one in the province offering trauma, cardiac, neurosciences, high-risk obstetrics, and neonatal intensive care services on one site — Royal Columbian Hospital serves one in three British Columbians. Since 1978, foundation donors have helped fund priority equipment, facility enhancements, research, education, and innovation.

The Great Give Back is a heartfelt thank-you to the community and a celebration of the care that connects us all.

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

What says romance better than anything else? 💖🌧️

💋Fogged-up windows and bad decisions.🪟

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