New Westminster

New Westminster was considered to be the official capital of the new Colony of British Columbia by the Lieutenant-Governor, Richard Moody. The name was provided by Queen Victoria, who named it after Westminster, the part of the British parliamentary capital of London. The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the year 1885 sped the growth and development of the city. The new rail line helped supplies to be delivered through New Westminster's port and throughout Canada and the rest of the globe. Lots of buildings and businesses were made along Columbia Street, which quickly became an important place for business transactions and operations in the city.

The city has a thriving and active arts and culture community. Among its many art groups comprise: Douglas College, Arts Council of New Westminster, New Westminster Symphony, Massey Theatre, Vagabond Players and Royal City Musical Theatre. The Arts Council of New Westminster promotes and supports the culture and arts within the community. Douglas College is the home of Douglas College Community Choir, Community Music School and Amelia Douglas Gallery for the visual arts. Literature Alive readings, the "Arts at One" concert, gallery exhibitions and theatre productions, and Community Music School presentations are events for the people offered by the Creative and Performing Arts department all year round. Massey Theatre is a facility which seats 1,260 people which hosts a diverse array of performances and productions by the recognized Royal City Musical Theatre and other local organizations and international touring companies. The theatre likewise features the Joseph Plaskett Art Gallery. The New Westminster Symphony performs at the Massey Theatre and provides free classic and new symphony compositions to the public. The highly praised Vagabond Players are among the oldest community theatre groups in BC. Its main place is at the Bernie Legge Theatre within Queen's Park.

The New Westminster Parks and Recreation has twelve community parks which provide different amenities for its visitors and residents. These parks are: Friendship Gardens, Glenbrook Ravine, Grimston Park, Hume Park, Landing Park, Mercer Stadium, Moody Park, Queen's Park, Sapperton Park, Ryall Park, Waterfront Esplanade and Terry Hughes Park. Friendship Gardens offers tourists a pond and waterfall, walking paths, a totem pole and benches to enjoy and relax the numerous trees and flowers. Glenbrook Ravine is a great site for New Westminster residents to stroll and view the gorgeousness of wildflowers, ferns, ponds, waterfalls, and natural vegetation.

The city of Westminster has a flourishing community. It has a well-integrated regional economy, together with several investors choosing the area for its regional workforce and educational institutions. It even is one of the highest ranked metropolitan areas for quality living. In the Mercer survey's current studies, Metro Vancouver ranked 4th within the globe and first within the Americas for Quality of Living.