Tourism Challenge 2026 + Stairs Now Open

Issue #566

Author

Carla McNeil
April 14, 2026

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌧️ Weather - Rain

 😜 Rain Joke - What’s a puddle’s biggest lie? 🤥

 🗓️ New West Events - Your City. Your Week. Your Picks.

 💝 You’re So Sweet - Thank you, Lezlie F.!

 🗞️ New West Local News - Tourism Challenge 2026 + Stairs Now Open

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

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

Thank you, Lezlie - you’re awesome!

Local New Westminster Weather

Historical Records for Today - Record high 26.7 1926 - Record low -1.1 1911

Check out all of our local New Westminster Events

Tuesday April 14, 2026

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

📚️ BYO Book Club – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

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

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

🤝 Small Business Focus Group – 6:00 PM to 8:00 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

💃 Intro to Social Swing Dancing (6 Weeks) – 7:00 PM to 8:15 PM

🕺 Repertoire and Sequences (6 Weeks) – 8:30 PM to 9:45 PM

Wednesday April 15, 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

📝 WorkBC 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

🎤 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

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

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

📽️ Canada Film Day Screening: Outrageous! – 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM

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

❓️Frankie G’s Trivia Night – 7:30 PM

🧘 TWILIGHT & TEA Sound Bath Meditation – 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Thursday April 16, 2026

👶 Babytime (0-12 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

🤝 New Westminster - Women In Business Networking – 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

🍼 Baby Social – 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

🚶‍♂️ WALK30: Walk with the Mayor – 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

📖 Tigrinya Storytime (all ages) – 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

🚴 Cap's Bike Club Open House – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

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

🎨 Paint Nite Brand Creative Events – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

❓️ Steel & Oak Thursday Trivia Night – 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

There’s a new reason to explore New Westminster — and it’s all about discovery.

As part of Tourism Challenge 2026, industry participants are invited to experience the city in a fresh way, uncovering local stories, scenic spots, and hidden gems along the riverfront and beyond.

Just a short SkyTrain ride from Vancouver, New Westminster becomes more than a stop — it becomes a destination filled with history, culture, and vibrant neighbourhoods.

Participants can collect up to 8 stamps across the city, turning their visit into an interactive journey that highlights some of New West’s most unique attractions.

📍 Start at Anvil Centre

Begin your experience at the Tourism New Westminster Visitor Centre (777 Columbia Street), open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While there, explore:

  • New Westminster Museum & Archives

  • Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame

  • Community Art Gallery

  • New Media Gallery

  • Public art displays

🧭 Explore Beyond Downtown

From there, the experience expands across the city:

  • Downtown New West with a scavenger hunt adventure

  • Uptown with local businesses and special offers

  • Irving House for a glimpse into the past

  • Fraser River Discovery Centre for hands-on learning

  • Queens Hotel for a sweet stop along the way

While the Tourism Challenge is designed for industry passport holders, it shines a spotlight on what makes New Westminster special — and serves as a reminder of just how much there is to explore right here at home.

A familiar connection in New Westminster has been refreshed and reopened — making it easier to move between the city’s core and its waterfront.

The newly upgraded Fourth Street Stairs are now open, linking Columbia Street to Front Street Mews with improved access to local shops, cafés, the River Market, and the Riverfront Esplanade.

The upgrades include a new concrete staircase and added lighting, helping create a safer, more welcoming route between Downtown and the riverfront — whether you're commuting, exploring, or just out for a walk.

There’s more to come. A vibrant ground design will soon add colour to the space, while additional features — including new basketball courts and a skateboard spot under the parkade — are still on the way.

For now, the space is ready to be enjoyed, offering a renewed pathway that brings the community a little closer to the river.

🔍️ Spot the details

Today’s Tin Man mystery has some great clues.

🎁 This week’s prize (Apr 09 - Apr 15):
Win a $25 Gift Card from Green’s and Beans Deli.

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

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

🌧️ What’s a puddle’s biggest lie? 🤥

🤯 “I’m shallow.” (—said with depth) 🌊

Groan O' Meter

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