The upcoming week for New Westminster is packed with outdoor concerts, educational events and a fun reminder that school season is approaching.
For weather watchers: Get ready for a wet week
Today's sizzling temperatures might have had you sipping iced brews and turning the fan speed up a notch.
But in contrast to the scorching 35°C of Sunday (Aug. 27), the first half of the upcoming week will see a high chance of showers with temperatures taking a dip from 28°C on Monday (Aug. 28) to a high of 18°C on Tuesday (Aug. 29).
As per the Weatherhood forecast, Wednesday (Aug. 30) will have New Westies layering up, with a 96 per cent chance of rain and temperatures hovering below 16°C. The second half of the week will be less dramatic with clear sunny skies and temperatures in low 20s.
As always, remember forecasts tend to change quickly.
Which is why, the best way to make sure you dress right for the day is by bookmarking the New West Weatherhood forecast for the latest hyperlocal weather.
For everyone: Community events
- Mornings by the river
Add a dash of music, storytelling and magic to your kids' Tuesday morning (Aug. 29) at this free performance by artist Penny Pom Pom. Head to the Westminster Pier Park at 10:30 a.m. to watch her catchy guitar-driven music about creativity, nature, animals and seasons. The waterfront show is a chance to dance and sing along on a weekday morning.
- Back to School Bash
Besides a chance to grab a variety of prepared foods and enjoy fresh local produce, the upcoming New West Farmers Market on Thursday (Aug. 31) will also feature a Back to School Bash. The event invites kids to make some flair for their backpacks at Sprout Club, enjoy lawn games and learn about community organizations such as the Fraser River Discovery Centre and Music Box New West.
- Sketching by the river
Capture the beauty and movement of the Fraser River through a free outdoor drawing class led by a local artist and art teacher. It's on Thursday (Aug. 31) at the waterfront esplanade, with a drop-in session from 2 to 4 p.m. for youth and teens, and an adult session from 6 to 8 p.m.
- Naloxone training
Join the Lower Mainland Purpose Society for Youth and Families' Naloxone training session on Thursday (Aug. 31) — International Overdose Awareness Day. At the free event, which starts at 8:30 a.m. at Moody Park, attendees will be provided with training and materials on how to best use the medicine that helps reverse opioid overdose. It's also an attempt by the Society to set a world record for the largest Naloxone training session.
- Wellness in the Garden series
While most of us might be familiar with the phrase "Stop and smell the roses," how often do we apply it in our daily lives? One Green Square, a nature-based wellness service, is offering a three-part event on wellness inspired by community gardens.
The first, on Sept. 1 at the Queen's Park Rose Garden, will have attendees smell the roses in the garden and explore simple sensory awareness techniques for brain and heart health. The second, on Sept. 2 at the Ryall Park Garden, will throw light on the therapeutic elements at this community garden. And the third, on Sept. 9, will be a pollinator protection party at Ryall Park Garden.
For performance lovers: Outdoor music and classic rock
- Music by the river
Listen to a live concert by Vancouver-based melodic power pop quartet China Syndrome — as part of Music by the River series at the Westminster Pier Park, on Wednesday (Aug. 30). While the music performances start at 5 p.m., head to the park earlier to check out a variety of food trucks, play lawn games and attend a free yoga session. Find more details on the City of New Westminster website.
- Poetry in the Park
You don’t always have to wait till the weekend to unwind. Head to the Queen's Park Bandshell this Wednesday (Aug. 30) for the grand finale of Poetry in the Park series and listen to poets Joseph Dandurand and Chantal Gibson perform live on stage under the open sky. And if listening to others' verses has you penning one, the event also offers a platform to share.
- Queen’s Park concert series
Enjoy the warm summer evenings in the park with interactive storytelling by Stumpy the Puppet and Angela Brown The Ta Daa Lady at Queen’s Park bandshell from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday (Sept. 3). Check out the City of New Westminster website for more details.
For arts lovers: Shows around town
- Outlaw art show
Attend an art show that features works by musicians who belong to New Westminster's underground rockabilly and punk music scene. Surprised? Let's not forget that the rock and roll legend Frank Zappa was a really good illustrator and Charlie Watts, the drummer for The Rolling Stones, did striking artwork too. Check out the third edition of the show at the Gallery at Queen's Park between Aug. 30 and Sept. 3
- Anvil Centre Community Art Gallery
The Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St.) presents the new exhibition Avifauna: Sight and Perception, featuring the work of artists Molly Gray and Nancy Whiteside. The show runs through the summer (until Sept. 20).
- New West Artists
Check out the show Transformations: Creativity Reimagined, featuring works by members of the New West Artists group, at Clubhouse Co-working (upstairs at the River Market, 810 Quayside Dr.) until Sept. 27. The art space is open Wednesdays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m.
- Art at the Library
If you are heading to borrow books at the New Westminster Public Library, head to the building’s Upstairs Art Space on the second floor to check out a collection of multimedia artwork. Artist Robert Bell has used pastels, acrylic paint and epoxy resin to bring out colourful and layered canvases that are part of his ongoing show, My Blended World — on till the end of August.
For city hall watchers: Back after a break
New Westminster city council returns to action on Monday (Aug. 28) after a six-week meeting break — and it's looking like it's going to be a long day of meetings.
Council will start its day at 12:30 p.m. with a closed session, followed by a workshop at 2:45. Three items are on the workshop’s agenda: about the city's flood resilience plan; the sewer and drainage asset management plan; and Anvil Centre.
The evening's massive agenda includes a reports on a wide range of issues, including school zone enforcement hours, train whistle cessation, a Good Neighbour agreement and advisory committee terms of references (related to a supportive housing project that’s been approved at 422 Sixth St.) and the parks and recreation registration process, the 2024 budget and boulevard trees in a Quayside neighbourhood.
Other reports on the agenda, which may or may not be discussed, include the city's heat plan, efforts to accelerate the city’s climate action work plan, terms of reference for the city’s new community advisory assembly (which will replace some of the city’s advisory committees) and temporary relocation of the downtown dog off-leash area from Agnes Street to 68 Sixth St.
The meeting also includes bylaws, open delegations, the proclamation of September as Literacy Month in New Westminster, and consideration of motions regarding cooling equipment in rental units and hydro rates.
For school board watchers: Summer break
There are no school board meetings until Sept. 26. Watch for more news later this season.
- with files from Theresa McManus, New West Record
