How should New Westminster advocate for better housing and infrastructure?
What challenges do local businesses face in the current economy?
How can industry unite for the benefit for New West residents and generations to come?
Those are some of the questions local businesses and community leaders will brainstorm next month during the city's annual Economic Forum.
The event is organized by the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Downtown New West Business Improvement Association (BIA).
Its goal is to help charter a course for a better community "in the next five, 10 and even 15 years."
More specifically, in addition to networking, participants will look to outline New West's Vision 2030 campaign.
"We have a new government in Victoria and a local government that is working on a new five-year economic plan," the forum's description reads on the Chamber of Commerce website.
"This is our chance as a community to collaborate with and inform legislators on what we see for the future."
The 2025 "powerhouse panel," emceed by journalist Charmain de Silva, consists of (in alphabetical order):
- Natalie Miller (wife of Vancouver Canucks' J.T. Miller)
- Gary Pooni (Pooni Group, urban planning and land development)
- Angelene Prakash (Downtown New West BIA)
- Ian Totenson (BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association)
- Todd Yeun (president, Beedie Industrial)
The Chamber explained each panellist is set to share experience and expertise in visioning, tourism and building, philanthropy, and future-proofing communities.
The Economic Forum is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 at Anvil Centre — located at 777 Columbia St. — and the deadline to register is Monday, Feb. 3.
The tentative agenda for the day-long forum includes:
- 11:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. = Registration begins inside the lobby of the Anvil Centre (first floor)
- 12 p.m. = Network and find your seats inside the main ballroom for lunch
- 12:15 p.m. = All guests find their seats
- 12:20 p.m. = First course is served
- 12:30 p.m. = Program Begins: welcome, land acknowledgement and introductions
- 12:45 p.m. = Panel begins and main course served
- 1:15 p.m. = Q&A
- 1:30 p.m. = Networking (lobby) and coffee/tea and dessert is available
- 2:15 p.m. = Breakout sessions #1 and #2 begin (Rooms A&B) and Trade Show opens in the lobby
- 3 p.m. = Breakout sessions #3 and #4 begin (Rooms A&B) while Trade Show remains open
- 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. = Enjoy the Trade Show in the lobby
- 4:30 p.m. = Event ends
For more information, you can visit the New West Chamber's website or send an email to [email protected].
The Record is the media partner of the 2025 Economic Forum.
