Rainfall Warning + New West Film Festival

  Inside this New West Spotlight Newsletter…

 🌧️ New West Weather - 🌧️ Rainfall Warning 🌧️ 

🗓️ New West Events - shaping up to be a great indoor weekend.

🕵️‍♂️ New West Local News - Coffee

October 19, 2024

 🎨 Art & Craft Supplies De-Stashing Sale - 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

 🍺 Oktoberfest 2024 Paddlewheeler Dinner Cruise - 6:00 PM

 🎵 Music of the Night Concert Tour - Massey Theatre - 7:30 PM

 💃 BWCV Pole Dance Class - 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM

 ⛸️Youth Only Skate Night - Moody Park Arena - 9:15 - 9:45

 👯 Dancing at the Redbar Lounge - Starlight Casino - 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM

 📙 DougZine Fest - 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM (zine making at 2:00 PM)

 👻 Ghostly New West Tour - 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

October 20, 2024

 🎨 Art & Craft Supplies De-Stashing Sale - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

 👗 The Stage Musical Theatre Academy Costume Sale - 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

 🎮️ Friendship Gaming Club at the River Market - Every Sunday from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

 🤡 New Drag, Who DIS?! - 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM

October 21, 2024

 🕊️ Peace, Be Still - Every Monday at 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

 🎭️ Schubertiade— tribute to the genius of Franz Schubert - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

 🏈 Monday Night Football - The Terminal Pub

 📽️ New West Film Fest Brings Global and Local Stories to Landmark Cinema

The 2024 New West Film Fest, now in its 14th year, is set to return from Friday, Oct. 25 to Sunday, Oct. 27 at New Westminster's Landmark Cinema. This international independent film festival features a diverse range of stories, including biker gangs, female conservationist warriors, and drag queens, offering something for everyone. With 10 screenings showcasing 41 films, the three-day event includes a mix of short films, narratives, and documentaries from around the world, with contributions from Canada, the USA, Europe, and beyond.

Festival programmer Cathy Sostad highlights the event's unique appeal, featuring filmmaker Q&As, special guest panels, and films spanning genres from horror and comedy to true crime and climate action. In keeping with the festival’s community roots, the New West Film Society, a volunteer-run organization, remains committed to making the event accessible while celebrating the work of independent filmmakers.

Founded by local environmental activists, the New West Film Fest began with a focus on climate documentaries but has grown to include a wide array of films that resonate on both local and international levels. This year’s event, supported by the City of New Westminster and Arts New West, continues to offer new and unexpected stories that emphasize connection, courage, and community.

Check out the full schedule here.

Purchase Tickets Here

 🐟️ New Mural by Indigenous Artist Celebrates Kwantlen Connection to Fraser River

The mural designed by Elinor Atkins expresses the deep connection between the Kwantlen) people and the Fraser River, reflecting their rich cultural heritage and the land now known as the City of New Westminster. Through this artwork, Atkins aims to mark her ancestors' historic villages and fishing sites while bringing visibility to the Kwantlen people’s enduring presence.

The mural depicts a moon face surrounded by three salmon, representing the artist's grandmother, mother, and herself, as well as her two siblings. The new moon symbolizes the union of the lunar cycles and the tides, while the salmon represent the resilience and generational knowledge passed down among the Kwantlen fisher people. Atkins shares the significance of fishing in her family, noting the strong connection to the Fraser River that transcends the physical realm and bridges into the spiritual.

The use of red oxide within the salmon bodies highlights the traditional importance of red cedar in Kwantlen culture, used for medicine and cleansing, while also symbolizing the protective and healing qualities of their ancestors. The water in the mural represents the ever-changing but resilient nature of the Coast Salish people, echoing their connection to the river and its endangered species, such as salmon and sturgeon.

Elinor Atkins, a member of the Kwantlen First Nation and a Nɬeʔkepmx artist, is deeply influenced by her cultural roots, blending traditional Coastal and Interior Salish elements with contemporary techniques. Her mural on Columbia Street’s Scotiabank building is part of New Westminster’s Mural Pilot project, supported by the Vancouver Mural Festival.

Click HERE to visit the official New West City web page.

👻 Have you seen our 🎃 Halloween 🎃 Events Special Edition 👻 ?

Check it out HERE, and if you like what you see, subscribe.

If you know of an event that is not listed, drop us an email, and we’ll add it.

 [email protected]

MÜKASI Coffee Roasters has quickly become a standout spot in New Westminster, offering smooth, high-quality coffee that even self-proclaimed coffee snobs rave about. Founded by Henry and his wife, the shop's story began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when they decided to start roasting their own beans. Their passion for fresh, ethically sourced coffee has made MÜKASI a local gem, with a welcoming atmosphere and exceptional brews.

Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, Henry and his wife have built a business that reflects their love for coffee and the community. Kelvin, a skilled barista at the shop, serves up rich, flavorful coffee with perfect crema, keeping customers buzzing with satisfaction. Conveniently located with plenty of parking, MÜKASI is not just a coffee shop — it's a place to connect, relax, and enjoy expertly roasted coffee.

With locations in New Westminster and Abbotsford, MÜKASI roasts small batches weekly to ensure fresh and premium quality. They partner with local green coffee importers to source beans responsibly from around the world, reflecting their commitment to ethical practices. As the business continues to grow, they’re even offering franchise opportunities, with plans to expand into Downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, and beyond.

 😆 The answer is - 😂 Coming Soon 🫢 

Would you like us to spotlight your local business in front of thousands of New West residents in an upcoming issue of New West Spotlight? Not a business owner, but love a local business? Tell us all about it - send an email to [email protected]