If you are an avid reader like me, then you might be on the look out for a Book Club to join. I love the two book clubs that I belong to. They challenge me to read books I would have never have read before, ever. If you are interested there are a few book clubs around town.

The second annual Vancouver Freelance Camp ‘unconference’ is coming up Saturday, September 10, from 9am to 5pm, just a few days before The Network Hub’s grand opening at their brand new second location in New Westminster’s River Market.

Local foodie and vegan advocate Melissa Balfour takes veganism seriously. She’s also good at showing off vegan delights, as well as taking some of the mythology away from veganism. She had me impressed at a recent wine and cheese party when she whipped up two amazing “non cheese” cheese dishes – one from Brazil nuts and garlic (SO GOOD) and a spinach dip thing that was awesome. She’s started the New Veganminster Project to show off what New West offers to vegans, and to promote vegan foodie tourism to our …

On September 10th, 1898, New Westminster was very nearly destroyed by what is now referred to as “The Great Fire”. Pictures show a city completely ravaged; the devastation razed most of the city’s buildings. On Saturday, September 10th (the same day and date of the Great Fire), New West Fire Fighters will be flipping the pancakes and cooking ham for Sapperton Old Age Pensioners Association. Sapper Flap Jack Saturday is from 8:30 am to 12 noon.

This weekend marks the 5th Annual Quayside Festival and Sale and I have to admit that this was one of my favourite community events last year. And it wasn’t just because I sold  a tonne of my unwanted cast-offs – it was because it was a nice sunny day and hanging out by the river is always a nice thing to do.
Says event organizer and Quayside Board president, James Crosty, “Over 7,500 people are expected to stroll more than a kilometer along the Boardwalk from the River Market to Quayside Park …

Around this time last year I posted about the 11th Annual Doggy Fun Day so it should be no surprise that I’m posting again! The 12th Annual Doggy Fun Day is Sunday August 28th in Queens Park from noon till 3pm. Check out doggy-centric displays and enter the many raffles. Check out the Royal City Rockets Dog Agility Team as they perform at 12:30pm and 2:30pm. And don’t miss the best part – the doggy games! Egg & spoon races, 7 legged race, doggy look-a-like contest, special doggy tricks, and …

Today’s topic is suggested by my neighbour Sloane, who emailed this suggestion: I had an idea for the next New West Wed: Summer Festivals! Which one is your favourite and why. I know there are ads in the newspaper and stuff but I always feel like I miss the smaller ones. And maybe someone might have a reason that would convince me to try others?

The Vancouver Foundation is hosting a free “Community Conversation” event June 23rd at Centennial Community Centre to explore how a strong sense of belonging and social connections can strengthen neighbourhood ties and help build a more vibrant New Westminster.
Organizers say this is a chance to connect with other New West residents and organizations and talk about:

How does New Westminster welcome newcomers to the community?
What are the opportunities for interaction and sharing amongst neighbours?
Where are the opportunities for volunteerism in New Westminster?
How does your community share its local food and support nutritious …

Change is good. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for tradition, but it’s nice to switch things up once in a while! And that’s exactly what Hyack is doing this year with the 40th Annual Opening Celebration of the Hyack Festival.

For a second month in a row NWEP and Tenth to the Fraser will be teaming up to host a special Election Edition of the popular New Westminster Green Drinks. The event will be held on a special night, Monday May 2nd (election night), from 5:30-late at The Heritage Grill Back Room, New Westminster.

In New West, we certainly know how to celebrate! This year there are two days of Easter fun! There is, of course, the annual Antique Car and Easter Parade on Sunday, but with the re-opening of the River Market this year, there are now festivities on Saturday for everyone to enjoy, especially if family lunches and dinners take you out of the action in Queen’s Park on Sunday.

The all-candidates event co-hosted by New Westminster Environmental Partners, NEXT New West and Tenth to the Fraser went swimmingly tonight, with seven out of the eight candidates representing the Conservatives, NDP, Liberals and Greens showing up to mix and mingle with local voters.

Queens Park and Quayside aren’t the only neighbourhoods in New Westminster with a neighbourhood wide garage sale! Mark May 7th from 9AM to 3PM on your calendar and check out the Massey Victory Heights neighbourhood for great deals.
Where is Massey Victory Heights, you ask? Way over on the eastern tip of New Westminster, you can find the MVH neighbourhood. It is the area south of 10th Avenue and north of 8th Avenue, east of McBride and west of Columbia Street E, plus the two blocks bounded by Craig Avenue and Colby …

In just a few days New Westminster residents will notice local business areas lighting up purple. That’s because April 19-23 is the 2nd Annual Purple Light Nights campaign to raise awareness of violence against women.
The campaign was started last year by the New Westminster Community Action Committee for Women who Experience Violence (CAC), a group made up of representatives from the community organizations who work with women experiencing abuse.
Why purple? According to Lorrie Wasyliw, Executive Director of Monarch Place Transition House and Co-Chair of the New West CAC, purple is …

Rather than set up a typical all-candidates meeting full of speechifying and, well, politicking, Tenth to the Fraser, N.E.X.T. New West (a networking & social club for young professionals in the city) and New Westminster Environmental Partners have teamed up to organize a special non-partisan Green Drinks – Election Edition meet & greet with candidates. The event will be held on Wednesday, April 20 from 6-9pm at La Rustica, 228 6th Street. All residents are welcome to join us.

I must admit that I only vaguely recall hearing about Lit Fest New West before.  When I saw that the 3rd annual event is coming up on Friday, April 15th and Saturday, April 16th I was a little embarrassed that I hadn’t attended previously.  Being an avid reader, sometimes writer, and long time New West resident it seems like the kind of thing that should have been on my radar!
So, reading the blurb on the Arts Council website I immediately added it into my iPhone calendar so as not to miss this …

The Early Childhood Development Committee (for children ages 0-6) and the Middle Childhood Development Committee (6-12) are looking for input for their upcoming Summer Activity Guide. Do you have an event or group you’d like to share?

Permaculture is a fascinating field of gardening expertise. By trying to replicate the natural systems of a wild environment within the garden, permaculture hopes to reduce or eliminate the need to add water, fertilizer and chemicals. If you’re interested in learning more about this holistic approach to gardening, you might want to check out the New Westminster Community Gardening Society’s upcoming presentation “Permaculture Principles and their Applications in an Urban Environment” with Jodi Peters, this Saturday, February 19 at Mary Mount Garden (121 East Columbia St.).

Jarrah Hodge checks out the 65 Red Roses Benefit concert featuring Dan Mangan, Hannah Georgas, David Vertesi, and The Zolas.

The Clean Bin Project started as a blog about a friendly competition between some roommates to produce no garbage. The Project has a great blog that is still ongoing even after the initial year is finished, and has evolved into a must-see comedic documentary about our impact on the fragile rock we call Earth. Here’s the trailer:
The Clean Bin Project – Trailer from Grant Baldwin Videography on Vimeo.
This is an amazing film and it’s coming to it’s first ever screening in New Westminster on Saturday February 5th as part …

The Van Dop Gallery is kicking off a series of open houses to celebrate the season. The first one is this weekend, November 27th and 28th and features new works by Carole Arnston.
“All art is but imitation of nature” (Author Seneca the Younger).
Winter is near and Carole Arnston, the West Vancouver oil painter, is revealing new works that use a seasonal palate at the Van Dop Gallery’s Spirit of the Season Grand Opening Nov 27 & 28 from 11am-5pm.
Best-known for her large- scale floral abstractions and landscape vistas, Arnston’s series: …

The SPCA Thrift Mart, a well known and active business member of our community, is once again putting together a Coat Drive to help gets coats to some of the Lower Mainland’s most needy. I posted about the SPCA coat drive experience I had a few years ago, and wanted to remind you all of this annual event. This is the 16th annual coat drive, and organizer Roni-Lyn Saunders says the need is greater than ever. Roni and her dad have been working hard to put together this year’s coat drive …

Urban Academy will host its fourth annual Christmas Magic at the Manor Craft Sale on Saturday and Sunday, November 20 and 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The popular sale will raise money to support the non-profit school’s activities, including its Art, Drama, French, and Music programs.
What makes the sale extra-special is that it’s held in what used to be Robson Manor—a Victorian-style home that has been converted into a JK-Grade 10 school (with plans to expand to grade 12). Parent volunteers put in countless hours emptying out all …

If kids aren’t on your shopping list and you don’t plan on attending our Exclusive Shopping Night at Pedagogy Toys on November 20th, consider heading over to the Sapperton Pensioner’s Hall at 318 Keary Street for a Brain Teaser Trivia Night, hosted by VEATA. The doors and no-host bar open at 6PM and the trivia starts at 7PM. The cost is $20 per person, and all funds raised go to the Pacific Volunteer Education & Assistance Team for Animals Society. Door Prizes will be given away, first one is at 6:45pm. …

The New Westminster Environmental Partners will be holding an Urban Transportation Forum and Annual General Meeting on November 9 at the Douglas College Student Union lounge. The event, moderated by Tenth to the Fraser Will & Briana Tomkinson, will feature local and regional transportation experts discussing what works in transportation planning, what doesn’t, and what’s coming to New Westminster.