The city’s popular Canada Day celebrations take place on Tuesday, July 1 in Queen’s Park from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The annual pick-a-box auction, free treats and entertainment by the likes of Music with Marnie (a favourite of many kids), The Blue Meenies (a returning favourite) and the NWSS Senior Jazz Band (if you haven’t heard these guys, you’re in for a treat).
The festivities take place near the band shell in Queen’s Park. Be sure to drop by – it’s a great way to kick off the summer season.
New Westminster’s waterfront will be a lively affair for the annual Canada Day festivities.
The Hyack Festival Association, in partnership with River Market, is inviting residents to enjoy a day of fun, festivities and fireworks on Tuesday, July 1. This year’s event gets underway at 3 p.m. at the Quay with buskers, children’s activities and entertainment taking place near River Market. Music Box music and theatre academy will be offering children’s crafts from 4 to 8 p.m., and Vancouver Circus School will offer activities from 6 to 9 p.m.
A variety of performers will take to the entertainment stage: Creole Jazz Band (3 to 4 p.m.); Giovanni (4 to 4:30 p.m.); Boot River Boys (5 to 6 p.m.); Royal Westminster Regiment Band (6 to 7 p.m.); and Freedom 95 (8:15 to 9:45 p.m.)
River Market shops will remain open late for the festivities, and Fraser River Discovery Centre is staying open until 6 p.m.
The evening will end with a bang, when fireworks will light up the sky. While Hyack has had some tough times in the past year, Kal Tire, Kruger, Vancity, Fortis and the City of New Westminster are supporting this year’s Canada Day event.
Pancakes for breakfast
Two local organizations are joining forces for a tasty pancake breakfast.
The New Westminster Lions Club, known for its many pancake breakfasts around town, is holding a pancake breakfast on Saturday, June 28 with the Sapperton Pensioners Association. The breakfast, which runs from 8 to 11:30 a.m., is being held at the Sapperton Pensioners’ Hall at 318 Keary St.
The breakfast costs $5 per person and is free for children five and under.
Planning award
The awards keep rolling in for the City of New Westminster.
The city’s planning division was recently awarded a Silver Award of Excellence in the Excellence in Policy Planning category from the Planning Institute of B.C. in recognition of its rental housing policy. These awards honour the best in professional planning work undertaken by members in communities and regions across British Columbia and the Yukon.
“It’s an honour for our department to be recognized by the PIBC for this innovative policy,” said development services director Beverly Grieve, who accepted the award on the city’s behalf. “It’s creating a positive change in the supply of long-term rental housing in New Westminster.”
The Planning Institute of B.C. commented that New Westminster’s rental housing policy is a well thought out, complex initiative and is practical, with more than 500 rental units already committed. The official who presented the city with the award also pointed out that the policy is easily transferable to other communities.
In recent months, the city has won several awards for Westminster Pier Park. It’s also won awards from the B.C. Parks and Recreation Association.
Do you have an item for Around Town? Send ideas to Theresa, [email protected]. You can also find her on Twitter, @TheresaMcManus.
