It's April again already — and that means one-quarter of the year is behind us. How on earth did that happen so fast?
We've rounded up this list of highlights of the week ahead so you can make the most of this first week of April.
For weather watchers: Spring(ish) weather
It doesn't look like Mother Nature got the memo about warming up the temperatures for spring, but we're still looking at a reasonably good week ahead, according to the Weather Network. There's a chance of a shower Monday, with a high of 7 C, and the rest of the week promises a good deal of sun: mainly sunny Tuesday and Wednesday, with highs of 9 C; mainly cloudy Thursday, with a high of 10 C; and cloudy with sunny breaks Friday, when the temperature creeps back up to 13 C. As always, though, be prepared for anything — as we've seen, the forecast tends to fluctuate quickly at this time of year.
For families: Easter weekend fun
Yes, it's Easter weekend — which means it's a holiday on April 7 for Good Friday (and a day off school on Monday, April 10, though not a statutory holiday). You can mark the weekend with plenty of fun around New West, including an "eggciting" Easter egg hunt on Thursday, April 6 from 3 to 7 p.m. (running in conjunction with the New West Farmers Market, which is back in swing for the season). Some other highlights:
- Easter Chocolates and Peep House building for ages five to 10, April 7 at Queensborough Community Centre and April 8 at Centennial Community Centre;
- Easter Eggs and Trivia for ages 8 to 13, April 7 at Centennial Community Centre and April 8 at Queensborough Community Centre;
- Spring Salmon Eggstravaganza at Fraser River Discovery Centre, April 7 to 9;
- Youth Centre Eggstravaganza for ages 11 to 13 on Saturday, April 8;
- "Hop-In" family gymnastics at the Queen's Park Sportsplex on Sunday, April 9; and
- Easter's Hoppin' In Here at Queensborough Community Centre on Monday, April 10.
There's much more, too — check out the City of New Westminster's Easter page for details. (Note that there's no big Easter celebration in Queen's Park, though.)
For performance lovers: Theatre and music
- Laughter on the 23rd Floor: The Vagabond Players return to the stage starting Thursday with Neil Simon's comedy Laughter on the 23rd Floor. It's on at the Bernie Legge Theatre in Queen's Park until April 29. Get tickets and information online.
- The Cat's Meow: The Uptown Swing Collective presents The Cat's Meow, an evening of music and dancing with Brad Shigeta's Swing-Time Band. It's on Saturday, April 8 starting at 7 p.m. at the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.).Tickets start at $20; buy online.
For art lovers: Queen's Park, New Media galleries
- Gallery at Queen's Park: The Arts Council of New Westminster gallery in Centennial Lodge is hosting Rock Paper Scissors, an exhibition of work by the young artists of Queen's Park Preschool. You can stop in to check out their explorations of art in a variety of styles and mediums. It's on until Sunday, April 9. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free (though you're always encouraged to make donations).
- New Media Gallery: If you haven't yet been down to the New Media Gallery (third floor at Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St.), the fascinating aBIOTIC exhibition continues until the end of the month. Want to know what it's all about? Check out some great photos by Jennifer Gauthier for a sneak preview, or just head down yourself to check it out. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening openings on Thursdays until 8 p.m.
For city hall watchers: Monday meeting
New Westminster city council has a regular meeting Monday night starting at 6 p.m. Among some items of interest on the agenda: an update on the Pattullo Bridge replacement project; "mitigation of business concerns" around the NWSS cycling route; a motion to improve the accessibility of parks and recreation registration; and a motion regarding the restoration and preservation of the Samson V. You can find all the meeting details, agenda and information about attending at the City of New Westminster website.
For school board watchers: No meetings till April
School District 40 schools are back in session after March break, but there's no school board meeting this week. Watch for a big day on April 11, though, when the education committee meeting takes place in person at Fraser River Middle School, and the operations committee meeting follows online. You can find links and agenda packages at the SD40 website.
Got a New Westminster happening you'd like to share? Email Julie MacLellan.
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