03 About New Westminster
The Royal City on the Fraser
New Westminster was founded in 1859 as the capital of the new Colony of British Columbia, and the name was chosen by Queen Victoria, which is why it is still called the Royal City. Colonel Richard Moody and the Royal Engineers laid out the townsite on the steep slope above the Fraser River. The capital later moved to Victoria, but New Westminster kept its role as a river port, rail hub and regional centre.
The city is compact, covering a small area compared with its neighbours, and much of it sits on a hillside. That gives many streets river views, but it also means walking uphill. A mostly grid-based street plan makes it easy to find your way: Columbia Street runs along the river, while Sixth Street and Twelfth Street climb away from it.
Neighbourhoods at a glance
Downtown and the riverfront hold most of the city’s history and attractions. Columbia Street is lined with heritage commercial buildings rebuilt after a fire swept through downtown in 1898, and the Quay offers a riverside boardwalk, the River Market and Westminster Pier Park.
Uptown and Sapperton sit higher on the hill. Uptown, centred on Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue, is the everyday shopping district beside Moody Park. Sapperton, in the northeast, grew around the Royal Engineers’ camp and is now home to Royal Columbian Hospital and the Brewery District.
Queensborough lies across the North Arm of the Fraser on the eastern tip of Lulu Island. It is the city’s flattest and most suburban neighbourhood, with newer homes, parks and its own shopping centre.
Between them are some of the region’s best-preserved heritage residential areas, such as Queen’s Park, where tree-lined streets of early 1900s houses surround a large park with sports facilities and play areas.
Who it suits
New Westminster suits people who want a walkable small city with character, a strong community calendar including the annual Hyack Festival, and quick SkyTrain access to Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. Visitors can easily fill a day with the Quay, a heritage walk and a meal on Columbia Street.
