Walking and Cycling Boost + Patullo Bridge Update

Inside the New West Spotlight

 🌞 Weather - Mainly Sunny

 😜 Rain Joke - What did the raindrop say to the summer sun? 🌞

 🔦 Business Spotlight - Duane Laird

 🗓️ New West Events - Lots to choose from

 🗞️ New West Local News - Walking and Cycling Boost + Patullo Bridge Update

 😆 Meme of the Day

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When New Westminster resident Duane Laird first put pen to paper during the early days of the pandemic, he wasn’t planning on becoming an author. He just needed a creative outlet to avoid going stir-crazy. Fast forward a few years, and he now has five books available on Amazon—two for adults and three imaginative picture books for children, all written and illustrated by hand.

A former journalist and tech professional, Duane settled into retirement with a sketchpad and a challenge: “I’d always heard that if you write a page a day, you’ll have a book in a year,” he says. “So I sat down, wrote a prologue, and just kept going.” That first adult novel sparked a creative fire, but it was his grandchildren who inspired a turn toward kids’ books.

Now living in a cozy loft on the Quay, Duane spends afternoons illustrating stories that celebrate childhood curiosity, daily adventures, and the little moments that matter most. His favourite writing companion? His granddaughter, who joins him weekly for strolls along the boardwalk, raspberry ice cream stops, and plenty of playground detours—some of which inspire his next book.

🎨 Books That Start Conversations and Spark Imagination

Duane’s children’s titles include an alphabet book, a whimsical tale called Giants about a baby navigating a world of towering grown-ups, and the cleverly titled Don’t Forget to Flush. Each book is rooted in fun, wonder, and just the right amount of silliness. His stories don’t push messages—they invite imagination.

“I try to make them fun for both kids and the adults reading them aloud,” he explains. “A bit of wordplay, a bit of humour for grown-ups, like Pixar does.”

The artwork? All hand-drawn and painted by Duane himself. Though he’s quick to admit that illustrating is the most challenging part, it’s also where he finds the most growth. “I’m learning every time I sit down—how to draw, how to paint, how to tell a story visually. That’s what keeps me going.”

📚 Printed in Canada, Rooted in New West

While Duane’s books are only available on Amazon for now, there’s something delightfully local about them. Not only are the stories inspired by his life on the Quay, but the books themselves are printed right here in Canada, Acheson, AB, to be exact. “It’s kind of cool,” he says. “A locally made book in more ways than one.”

Although he’s just beginning to explore options for local events and book launches, Duane is open to partnering with local businesses like Kinder Books, Wildfires Books or Collective Treasures for readings and signings. “This is my first real outreach beyond just friends and Instagram,” he laughs. “You’re breaking me into the business side of things.”

📖 Perfect for Gifting, Reading, and Laughing Together

Duane’s books make wonderful gifts for grandparents to share with their grandkids, or for parents looking for bedtime stories that keep the giggles going. Whether it’s a toddler learning their ABCs or a six-year-old getting into space adventures, there’s something in his collection for every young reader—and every adult who still remembers the joy of being a kid.

You can find Duane’s books on Amazon by searching his name or visit him on Instagram at @cargobiker for updates and a peek behind the scenes of his creative process. If you’re a bookstore, gift shop, or event planner, keep an eye out; you just might see his books popping up locally soon.

📌 Want to learn more or invite Duane to a local event?
Let’s support our local authors and help more kids fall in love with reading—one quirky, heartwarming story at a time.

Supporting local businesses means supporting the heart of our community!

Email Address: [email protected]

Already know, like, and trust this business? Be sure to support Duane Laird and follow and like his Instagram Profile.

🍁 Shop Local 🍁 

July 23, 2025

🔍️ Unique Survival Scavenger Hunt - New West – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

💰️ 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

🖍️ Queensborough Crafternoon (5-12 years) – 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM

🏀 Play in the Parks: Grimston Park – 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Building Free Play (All ages) – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

📜 Poetry in the Park – 6:30 PM to 8:30 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

🥍 Salmonbellies vs Thunder – 7:30 PM at Langley Events Centre

July 24, 2025

🔍️ Unique Survival Scavenger Hunt - New West – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

👶 Babytime (0-23 months) – 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

🍼 Baby Social (0-23 months) – 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM

🛍️ Kids Market – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🌱 Sprout Club – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🍅 Farmers Market – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

🎨 Oil Pastels – 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

📚️ Drop-in Wildfires Bookshop – 5:45 PM

🎸 Ukulele Jam – 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

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

🎭️ New West Bingpot! Thursday Trivia - Howe Sound – 7:00 PM

🎶 Queen's Park 2025 Summer Concert Series – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

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

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

🥍 Thunder vs Salmonbellies – 7:30 PM at Queen's Park Arena

📽️ Through A Film Darkly – 7:30 PM at Anvil Centre

🎭️ The Ladies Foursome – 8:00 PM at Bernie Legge Theatre

July 25, 2025

🔍️ Unique Survival Scavenger Hunt - New West – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

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

💑 City LOVE Scavenger Hunt Date Night For Couples - New West Area – 1:00 PM

🍡 Christmas in July BBQ (fundraiser) – 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

🎉 Car Free Retro Rewind – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

🎲 Friendsday Night Board Games – Doors open at 6:00 PM

🎲 Hitmix Bingo - Howe Sound – 7:00 PM

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

📽️ Through A Film Darkly – 7:30 PM at Anvil Centre

🎸 Live Music at The Terminal - Mike Van Eyes – 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM

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

🎲 Board Night Game – Phantom Alley

🎉 Car Free Days of Summer – Downtown New West

🚴 New Westminster Secures $3.96M to Boost Walking and Cycling Infrastructure

Big news for New Westminster’s streets! The City has received nearly $4 million from TransLink—$3.96 million to be exact—as part of the Local Government Funding Program. The majority of this funding, over $3 million, will go toward expanding the City’s pedestrian and cycling network under its bold Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP).

This investment marks the launch of a five-year, $30 million plan to make active travel safer and more accessible. New protected bike lanes, safer crosswalks, curb extensions, and improved intersections are coming to corridors like Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Streets, as well as spots such as Ewen Avenue and Stewardson Way.

By 2030, every New Westminster resident will live within 400 metres of a safe walking or biking route. The plan is designed to reduce emissions, promote healthier lifestyles, and make commuting easier for people of all ages.

With recent pedestrian injuries highlighting the need for safety, a new Vision Zero Task Force will also launch in 2025 to push toward eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.

This major funding step brings New West closer to a greener, safer, and more connected future.

Check here for more information

👷 Pattullo Bridge Nears Completion as Summer Construction Progresses 🌉 

Major progress continues on the $1.4 billion Pattullo Bridge replacement project, with key summer construction milestones now achieved on both the New Westminster and Surrey sides.

Installation of precast concrete deck panels on the north approach—spanning Columbia and Front Streets in New Westminster—has been completed. Crews are now preparing to reinforce these sections before pouring concrete that will bind the panels together.

Meanwhile, work on the south side of the bridge deck has also advanced, with rebar installation completed in preparation for a similar concrete pour.

A recent project update highlights that the continuous bridge deck now stretches from the central tower into Surrey, thanks to the recent connection of the main span and the southern approach. Steel girders, concrete panels, and stay cables are all being added in sequence as construction pushes outward from the bridge tower.

On the Surrey end, girder and deck panel installation has been finalized from the end span to King George Boulevard. Work is now focused on bridge finishing elements, such as barriers, fencing, utilities, and expansion joints. Asphalt paving is scheduled to follow later this summer.

The newly built Highway 17 overpass—open since spring—continues to carry traffic uninterrupted above Old Yale Road. This overpass will also serve as a direct westbound off-ramp from the new bridge once it opens.

In New Westminster, all girders have been erected above Columbia Street, and crews are wrapping up deck panel installation and preparing for the concrete overlay. Following that, barriers, fencing, and utilities will be added to complete the bridge deck.

The toll-free, four-lane bridge is expected to open this fall, providing a modern connection between Surrey and New Westminster. Once operational, the old Pattullo Bridge will be decommissioned and removed.

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

💧 What did the raindrop say to the summer sun? 🌞 

🌈 “Let’s make a rainbow together!” 🌈 

Meme of the Day

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