New Westminster—The New Westminster Museum and Archives is proud to present Solidarity Forever, a new exhibition exploring the lives, struggles, and organizing efforts of New Westminster workers, along with their connections to labour movements across the country. Visitors to the museum will learn about the lasting changes made to working conditions to this day.  

 

“This exhibition demonstrates how New Westminster was not only shaped by labour history, but helped lead it,” says Mayor Patrick Johnstone. “By connecting local stories to provincial and national movements, Solidarity Forever shows how our community played a defining role in advancing workers’ rights across British Columbia.” 

 

The exhibition situates New Westminster within a broader history of collective action and working-class solidarity while diving into the impact of communities shut out of societal power. Museum guests will experience how union members fought for better working conditions, while tracing the way groups like Chinese shingle makers, female telephone operators, and South Asian farm workers made their voices heard. 

 

During the exhibition’s run, the museum will host a series of related guided tours, scavenger hunts, and school programs. Confirmed events will be shared on the museum’s website at newwestcity.ca/arts-and-heritage. Details will also be shared on the Museum and Archives social media channels, which can be found at newwestcity.ca/connect. Solidarity Forever runs until 2027. 

 

To celebrate the opening of Solidarity Forever on Saturday February 14, there will be a public reception outside the museum galleries from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend, but registration is appreciated. Please RSVP by February 13 at anvilcentre.ca/solidarity-forever

   

The New Westminster Museum is located at 777 Columbia Street on the third floor of the Anvil Centre located in downtown New Westminster. The museum is open to the public daily, from 10 AM to 8 PM Monday to Thursday, and 10 AM to 5 PM Friday to Sunday. For more information, call 604-527-4640 or email museum@newwestcity.ca 

 

 

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Contact:

Heather Feeney

Curator, New Westminster Museum and Archives

City of New Westminster

or 604-515-3842