Community First New West

06/19/2026

When Community First voted to host accessible, low-barrier World Cup festivities for all, we knew it would be fun, but we didn't know it would be THIS fun! ⚽

We are so happy to be cheering on Team Canada with everyone. The next viewing event is at Queens Park Arena on Wednesday June 24, 11:00-2:30 to watch Canada play against Switzerland. See you there, and Go Canada! 🇨🇦

06/16/2026

During the 2021 heat dome, 33 New Westminster residents lost their lives.

In response, Community First Councillor Tasha Henderson and Councillor Nadine Nakagawa worked to strengthen protections for renters during extreme heat events.

Today, landlords must ensure at least one room in a rental home can be kept at 26°C or below. The bylaw builds on earlier protections that prevent landlords from restricting air conditioners.

New Westminster was the first municipality in BC to adopt this approach, and now, other communities are beginning to follow.

Everyone deserves a safe home during extreme heat, and Community First is proud to be leading with real solutions.

Follow the link to learn more:
https://www.communityfirstnw.ca/tenant_heat_protection

06/14/2026

We had a blast yesterday at the Queensborough Children's Festival 🥳 Council and School Board candidates were out making superhero masks with some very creative kiddos, helping parents get funny photos of their children, and overseeing a little bit of playful democracy 🏛️🏡

Be sure to swing by at future events for a bit of fun, but also to talk to your mayor and councillors and candidates. We want to hear from you!

Amazing art provided by Councillor Henderson Tasha Henderson

05/24/2026

We had so much fun last night at the All Candidates edition of PechaKucha New West! There were amazing presentations from Community First candidates Paul Romein, Michelle Hak Hepburn, Bereket Kebede, Dalia Al-Hussaini, and Patrick Johnstone. We heard about building connections through shared interests and hobbies, very personal life stories, and ... tomatoes! "the vegetable-iest of fruits" 🍅

Thank you to all the presenters and especially to for putting on another perfect event. New West is very lucky to have so many organizations like PechaKucha NW putting on such joyous events that bring so many people together. We're looking forward to the next edition! 🙏

05/23/2026

We're out here at the amazing Hyack Festival and Parade today. Come say hi to your wonderful Community First team and (unofficially) welcome summer to the city! ☀️

A huge thank you to for another extremely successful festival. So much love is shared in New West because of this annual festival ♥️

05/22/2026

Gather your picnic gear! Pier Park is going to be even better for families this summer, with an expansion that includes a street-style space for skateboarding and a half basketball court.

And with upgrades to the Fourth Street Stairs providing a safer, well-lit pedestrian route between Columbia and Front streets, it’s easier to get there too.

“Other cities are learning from our example of community-based decision making,” said Mayor Patrick Johnstone. “And residents get to see their own ideas in the infrastructure of the city. How cool is that?”

What’s next for parks and rec? Click here to find out.

Gather your picnic gear! Pier Park is going to be even better for families this summer, with an expansion that includes a street-style space for skateboarding and a half basketball court. And with upgrades to the Fourth Street Stairs providing a safer, well-lit pedestrian route between Columbia and....

05/19/2026

How much shade from trees will my neighbourhood have by 2030?

If everyone gets an electric car, where will we charge them all?

With everyone getting air conditioners, we must be producing more carbon, right?

These are the kinds of questions New Westies are asking. And soon you’ll be able to get quick answers through an online dashboard on the City’s website.

You’ll also be able to chart the City’s progress on climate action, and see where we still need more cooperative effort.

New Westminster to launch an online dashboard in April to track progress on its Seven Bold Steps on Climate Action

05/18/2026

Carpooling. Taking care of a neighbour’s pets. Sharing too much zucchini.

More of us are realizing that it’s really the local stuff that makes a difference to daily life.

No wonder the City is ramping up voting infrastructure well ahead of time. New Westies are expected to turn out in far greater numbers for the municipal election this October.

And that requires more places and times to vote.

This year there will be nine advance voting opportunities over five days. Five locations will be open on “Super Saturday”, one week before General Voting Day.

Are you one of the many New Westies planning to have your say this Fall?

https://www.freshetnews.ca/new-westminster-making-plans-for-2026-civic-election-including-a-super-saturday-advance-voting-day/

05/17/2026

Another reason to be proud of New West - we’re the first city to offer renters a real solution to dangerous heat waves.

From the Tyee:
“Five years after a deadly heat dome claimed the lives of 33 New Westminster residents — the most heat-dome-related deaths per capita in B.C. — city council has passed a bylaw requiring landlords to ensure at least one room in every unit in a multi-family rental building stays at or below 26 C.”

Thanks to everyone in the community who supported this initiative and worked to make it happen.

What should we tackle next?

05/16/2026

Patrick was elected Mayor in 2022, after serving two terms on Council. A willingness to forge partnerships is how Patrick’s Council has been able to meet legislated housing requirements, secure funding for hundreds of new affordable housing units, and advance work on urban reforestation and a more community-centred approach to homelessness. In tough economic times, New Westminster has also seen significant Provincial investment in transportation, a doubling of hospital capacity, ground broken on two new schools, and several major affordable housing projects.

To learn more, visit: www.communityfirstnw.ca/patrick_johnstone