Category Archives: General

Extreme Heat Weather Advisory and Resources

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With an Extreme Heat Weather Advisory being posted for the Lower Mainland by Environment Canada, temperatures are projected to be between 35 and 40 degrees celsius in some places. The New Westminster Emergency Management Office is reminding it residence to protect themselves against heat-related illnesses. 

For tips to assist in being comfortable and staying safe, please visit: https://newwestcity.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/minimalist/index.html?appid=cbe31e4d9852475aa9557da4a32c68cf

Location of City Water Fountains and Accessible Washrooms

SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZATIONS TO PURCHASE WATER To enable faith-based and non-profit organizations to assist their clients, guests and patrons, the City, through the COVID-19 At-Risk and Vulnerable Populations Task Force, is making up to $150 available for each faith-based and non-profit organization for the purchase and distribution of bottled water. If you are serving a large number of clients, guests and patrons, and you require more than $150 to meet their needs, then please e-mail John Stark at jstark@newwestcity.ca  In making your purchases, please ensure that you receive and submit receipts, and the City will ensure prompt payment. Receipts can be e-mailed to amehdic@newwestcity.ca

COOLING CENTRES: Century House and Queensborough Community Centre are being opened up as Cooling Centers from 11am-6pm starting Friday June 25 and will continue over the weekend and until the heatwave has concluded.  

Stay safe everyone!

Community steps up to support access to food as we deal with COVID-19

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Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Rev. Laurie McKay (Deacon) of St. Aidan’s Presbyterian Church, Betina Wheeler NWHCS Projects and Coalition Coordinator, New Westminster – Burnaby MP Peter Julian at the Drive Thru Food Drive on Saturday, August 8, 2020.

THANK YOU to New Westminster- Burnaby MP Peter Julian (and Doris Mah), Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, the NW Firefighters Charitable Society, the NW Soccer Club, all the volunteers, and the New Westminster (and Burnaby) community for making the Drive Thru Food Drive on Saturday such a resounding success!

An incredible amount of food was collected that will now be distributed to those in need through Purposes Hamper Program and the Health Van, and through the St. Aidan’s HUB in the West End and at its pop-ups in Sapperton and Queensborough. Included in this was a donation of 500 pounds of frozen chicken! We also received close to $800 in cash and grocery store cards, and promises of more to come – including 25 pounds of zucchini! I will be working with local hamper and meal programs to make sure these funds get used in the best way.

This community just rocks!

Betina, NWHCS Projects and Coalition Coordinator

Supporting local service providers during the pandemic

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At times like these, it is understandable that people want to support those in our community who are in need. As someone who has been a food advocate in this community for years now, I am extremely worried about the ability of our local organizations to meet community needs as this crisis unfolds. While it is an easy and quick reaction to provide support to large organizations like the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, we would like to encourage you to please consider supporting local community organizations that continue to operate and provide food programming and other supports in New Westminster during this pandemic.  Organizations like:

Aunt Leah’s Place

Dan’s Legacy (food recovery efforts that are supporting local organizations)

Elizabeth Fry Society

Lookout Housing and Health

Lower Mainland Purpose Society (in need of volunteers and funding support and supplies for their Health Van)

Salvation Army  604.521.0363

Seniors Services Society   (in need of volunteers and gas cards)

Union Gospel Mission 604.525.8989

And, please don’t forget those organizations that have temporarily suspended their food services and will need our support once they are able to operate again. We hope this will happen soon! Organizations like:

Holy Trinity Cathedral for their weekly Breakfast program.

St Barnabas’s for their weekly community lunch and food cupboard.

St. Aidan’s for their proposed new weekend food bank for community members who can’t access weekday supports.

Stay safe everyone,

Betina

NWHCS Coalition and Projects Coordinator