Poppies + Veterans Crosswalk

  Inside this New West Spotlight Newsletter…

 🌧️ New West Weather - Rain

 Rain joke of the day - What’s a frog’s favorite kind of weather?

(answer at the bottom of the newsletter)

🗓️ New West Events - What are you doing today?

🕵️‍♂️ New West Local News - Poppies + Veterans Crosswalk

 😀 Viral Meme

November 08, 2024

 👪️ Family Playtime Drop-in (Quayside) – 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM

 👪️ Uptown Playtime Drop-in (Eighth & Eight Creative Spaces) – 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM

 👶 Baby Fun and Fit (Nov 08 to Dec 13) – 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM (2-24 Months)

 🥁 Tabla and Tea with Hari Pal – 3:00 PM

 🕺 DSU Dance Club: Polina Aleksieieva's Drop-In Class – 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

 🎲 Friendsday Night Board Games – Doors open at 6:00 PM

 🎨 Brush Hour Paint Night - Mountain Glow – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

 🎶 "We'll Meet Again" in New Westminster: A Musical Tribute – 7:00 PM

 🎸 Live Music at The Terminal - Mike Van Eyes – 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM

November 09, 2024

 🍾 Community Bottle Drop – 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

 🎨 Poppy Painting – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

 📖 RCLAS presents Tellers of Short Tales and Poetic Justice: In Honour of Remembrance Day – 2:00 PM to 4:15 PM

 🚲️ Youth Cycle Express: $2 Drop-in for Youth – (For youth ages 13 - 18) 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM

 🥿 Faetful Events Present Starfall Ball – The Metro Hall at 6:00 PM

 🕺 Saturday Dance Party at Georgie's – 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM

 🎸 A Celebration of Classic Rock with The Michael Dunn Project – Anvil Theater

November 10, 2024

 🖋️ Write for Rights – 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

 🎨 Comics Journaling Art Workshop with PJ Patten – 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

 🐎 Lest We Forget the Animals Too – 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

 🎭️ Kisi Ko Batana Mat – 7:30 PM

 🏈 Sunday and Monday Night Football – at the Terminal Pub

 🪖 New West’s Remembrance Weekend: From Tribute Concerts to Community Drives

This Remembrance Day weekend, New Westminster offers a blend of commemorative and community events that invite residents to gather, reflect, and connect. From musical tributes to interactive art, this selection of events offers something for everyone to enjoy.

Friday, Nov. 8: We’ll Meet Again Concert Kick off the weekend with a concert at St. Aidan’s Presbyterian Church, featuring classic wartime songs that lifted spirits during the World Wars. Expect favorites like We’ll Meet Again and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Tickets are $25.

Saturday, Nov. 9: Community Activities

• Poppy Painting: From 10:30 a.m. to noon, join artist Merril Hall at Century House to paint poppies and contribute to a collaborative artwork honoring Remembrance Day. Free admission.

• Tellers of Short Tales and Poetic Justice: Literary enthusiasts can gather at the New Westminster Public Library to hear authors and poets share works inspired by themes of remembrance, from 2 to 4:15 p.m.

• Community Bottle Drive: Support local causes by bringing refundable containers to the Royal City Rotary Club’s bottle drive at 166 Sixth St., from 9 a.m. to noon.

• Classic Rock Celebration: The Michael Dunn Project performs classic hits at the Anvil Theatre, featuring rock music from the 70s and 80s. Show begins at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are available online.

Sunday, Nov. 10: Write for Rights Campaign Participate in Amnesty International’s Write for Rights at the New Westminster Public Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon. This campaign allows participants to write letters advocating for people facing human rights abuses worldwide.

Monday, Nov. 11: Remembrance Day Ceremony Honor veterans at the Remembrance Day ceremony held at New Westminster City Hall’s cenotaph. The event starts at 10:25 a.m. and will also be livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.Check out the events listed above for all of the details.

 ❌ New West Council Cites Process in Postponing Decision on Veterans’ Recognition Crosswalk

At New Westminster’s Nov. 4 council meeting, a proposal to install veterans' recognition crosswalks near the Royal Westminster Regiment Armory and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 2 was put forward by Coun. Paul Minhas. He hoped to fast-track the motion, directing city staff to assess the feasibility of installing commemorative crosswalks before Remembrance Day 2024 and considering permanent installations.

However, the proposal did not follow standard council procedures, which typically require a notice of motion for future meetings. Instead, Minhas has requested immediate discussion. Mayor Patrick Johnstone clarified that items could be added to the agenda as “new business” only if they were truly time-sensitive. In a 5-2 vote, the council opted not to amend the agenda, noting there was insufficient time to fulfill Minhas's request and that it should go through the regular notice process. Coun. Daniel Fontaine supported the motion, arguing that the council should have the flexibility to address the agenda as needed.

Councillors who opposed the request, including Ruby Campbell and Nadine Nakagawa, expressed concerns about rushing the process. Campbell emphasized the need for a structured approach, while Nakagawa viewed the request as a misstep in the process, especially so close to Remembrance Day. They argued that with thoughtful planning, a tribute crosswalk could be implemented in a more sustainable manner.

This decision reflects challenges with introducing unique crosswalk designs, which, according to the city’s engineering department, involve complex installation processes, high costs, and potential road safety concerns. Director of Engineering Lisa Leblanc noted that such crosswalks require specialized thermoplastic materials, are expensive to maintain and deteriorate quickly in high-traffic areas, raising additional questions about long-term feasibility.

Some Canadian communities, like Ladysmith in British Columbia and Sarnia in Ontario, have introduced veterans' crosswalks featuring poppy designs and commemorative phrases. However, New Westminster’s council has opted to take a more procedural approach, leaving the possibility open for future consideration through the established motion process.

Read The Full Story Here.

⛈️ Rain Joke of the Day 🌧️ 

What’s a frog’s favorite kind of weather?

Answer: Rain, because it’s ribbit-ing! 🐸🌧️

Meme of the Day

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