02 The story
The historic heart of the Royal City
Columbia Street was New Westminster’s first main street, laid out in the colonial era when the city was the capital of British Columbia. A large fire in 1898 destroyed much of downtown, and many of the brick and stone buildings you see today were built in the years right after. Their tall windows, cornices and storefronts give Columbia Street a character that stands out in Metro Vancouver.
Downtown went through some quieter decades after shopping moved to suburban malls, but it has steadily revived. New condo towers have brought more residents, and the storefronts now hold a mix of restaurants, cafés, pubs, specialty shops and services. Columbia Street was long known regionally for its bridal shops, and some still remain.
Landmarks and things to do
The Anvil Centre on Columbia Street is the city’s civic and cultural centre, with a theatre, conference space and the New Westminster Museum and Archives. Next to New Westminster station, the Shops at New West include a movie theatre. A pedestrian overpass leads from downtown across the rail tracks to Westminster Pier Park and the Quay boardwalk along the Fraser River.
Just uphill, Irving House on Royal Avenue is one of the oldest surviving homes in the province, built in the 1860s, and New Westminster City Hall is a few blocks away. A self-guided heritage walk through these streets is an easy way to spend an afternoon.
Tip: downtown is steep once you leave Columbia Street. Start at the top and walk down toward the river, then ride SkyTrain home from New Westminster or Columbia station.
