Local News

It was a year many Royal City residents won’t soon forget. As we look forward to a new year, we also look back on 2013 – a year filled with more drama in New West than a reality show.

A controversial advertisement promoting atheism has one man in New Westminster calling for its removal, claiming the ad attacks Christians.

One person is recovering in hospital after losing control of his car while traveling southbound on McBride Boulevard. At about 11:40 a.m. on Dec.

The ball is about to drop, streamers will be everywhere, and TransLink will be running later schedules for New Year’s Eve festivities in New Westminster. TransLink also won’t be parting from tradition, as all transit services are free after 5 p.m.

NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR: HOW A FUN FESTIVAL GROUP BECAME A FIGHTING FESTIVAL GROUP

NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR: THE DOWNTOWN FIRE

The downtown fire blazed its way to the top of our online reader’s poll for Story of the Year. Out of 145 people who weighed in (at press time), 65 votes (45 per cent of the total vote) found it to be the single most important issue of the year.

Karim Meskine turned 19 years old on Dec. 20 - the same day his family gathered at Royal Columbian Hospital to take the young man off life support. The day that should have been a happy occasion for Meskine and his family was marked by tragedy.

The New Westminster board of education has brought in a recruiting company to help it find a replacement for outgoing superintendent John Woudzia.

Murder charges have been laid against a 16-year-old suspect in the violent death of a Surrey resident on Dec. 17.