Advisory Groups
Volunteer for Council-Appointed Advisory Groups
The City of New Westminster is committed to meaningful public participation and values the insights of its residents. One of the key ways the City engages the community is through its committees, commissions, boards, and other advisory groups—including task forces and working groups. Advisory groups offer a structured and sustained way for residents to contribute to civic decision-making, and play an essential role in informing Council and staff on strategic priorities and key issues by bringing forward a range of lived experiences and external expertise.
Applications for the 2026 advisory group term are now closed.
For further details about advisory groups, please refer to:
Current Vacancies
Applications are open year round for current vacancies.How to Apply
Guidance to help you complete and submit your application.
Active Advisory Groups
Committees, commissions, and boards active in 2025.Membership: 13 members, including 10 citizen appointees
Length of Term: 2-year term
Meetings: Bi-monthly, the fourth WednesdayMandate: The Committee's role is to advise the City's Reconciliation, Social Inclusion, and Engagement Task Force on:
- Identifying accessibility and inclusion barriers that City staff and community members experience or may experience in the course of interacting with the City in the following areas: Employment; Delivery of Service; the Built Environment; Information and Communications; Transportation; and Procurement;
- Development of an organizational accessibility plan by September 1, 2023; and
- Development of a mechanism for public feedback on accessibility.
For further details about the Accessibility Advisory Committee, please refer to:
Visit Accessible New West for information on accessibility in the city.
Membership: 9 citizen appointees
Length of Term: 3-year term
Meetings: Monthly, the third Tuesday. In December, the first Tuesday of the monthMandate: The APC reviews and advises Council on rezoning applications, amendments to the Official Community Plan, proposed community and neighbourhood plans, and in respect to proposed or revised City policies and procedures relating to planning and development.
For further details about the Advisory Planning Commission, please refer to:
Membership: 19 members, including 9 citizen appointees
Length of Term: 2-year term
Meetings: Bi-monthly, the second ThursdayMandate: The Committee will:
• Provide advice, input and support regarding the implementation of Council-endorsed arts, cultural and economic development Strategic Plans, priorities, and other related civic policy and initiatives;
• Provide advice and input on strategies for ongoing and meaningful inclusion to ensure representation of diverse voices and equity in all plans, policies and opportunities brought forward;
• Provide advice and support to staff in regards to programming, engagement and audience development initiatives;
• Provide input on economic sector-based discussion and policy development related to building a strong and resilient local economy;
• Be a voice for the broad needs of the arts community to inform the City’s strategic policies and land use initiatives as required;
• Act as community ambassadors to promote and build awareness for the City's economic development, arts, and culture programs, initiatives and opportunities;
• Provide advice on any emerging challenges and opportunities and act as a link for collaboration between business, and arts and culture community partners.For further details about the Arts, Culture and Economic Development Advisory Committee, please refer to:
Membership: 5 citizen appointees
Length of Term: 3-year term
Meetings: Monthly, the fourth ThursdayMandate: The Board of Variance is a quasi-judicial board which consists of five members appointed by Council. The Board of Variance is established pursuant to the Local Government Act which allows the board to consider variances which are, in the opinion of the board, both minor and cause the applicant hardship if required to conform to zoning requirements.
Variances can be granted respecting bylaw requirements for the siting, dimensions, or size of buildings. The board can also issue variances where regulations prohibiting structural changes in a non-conforming building or requiring services upon subdivision may result in an undue hardship. A person may make an application for a variance to the Board only if the application of these general regulations to their particular site would impose a hardship and would be considered minor. The Board of Variance cannot vary the use or density on any site. The Board of Variance functions independently from City Council.For further details about the Board of Variance, please refer to:
The Community Advisory Assembly is a diverse group of New Westminster community members appointed to talk about City policies and projects that impact residents, and provide advice and recommendations back to staff and Council. The Assembly ran as a pilot project from January 2024 to January 2025. Click here to read more about how it came to be.
Following the pilot year the Assembly was approved as an ongoing committee, with a new term set to start in September 2025.
The application period for the 2025-2026 Community Advisory Assembly has now closed. We received over 250 applications from the community. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in applying. Applicants selected to join the Assembly will be notified by email in the coming weeks. The next term of the Community Advisory Assembly will begin in September 2025.
Meetings: Monthly, alternating days
Mandate: The Assembly's role is to advise City Council and City staff across all departments on plans and actions related to Council's Strategic Priorities, and other current City projects, plans, and policies.
Topics that come to the Assembly for input should:
- Be expected to include changes that are likely to have a direct impact on residents;
- Include elements, details or options that have not yet been decided / there is opportunity to shape or change;
- Be early enough in the process where there is a genuine and meaningful opportunity for the Assembly to help shape outcomes;
- Provide sufficient background information and context for the Assembly to be able to provide informed, meaningful input; and
- Include a plan for project staff to report back to the Assembly and the community how the Assembly's input was incorporated / influenced the outcomes.
Assembly members will bring their lived experience, values, stories, and expertise as residents of New Westminster to discussions.
The Assembly will also have an opportunity to suggest topics for discussion and bring recommendations to the City for consideration.
For further details about the Community Advisory Assembly, please refer to:
Membership: 10 members, including 7 citizen appointees
Length of Term: 2-year term
Meetings: Monthly, the first Wednesday. No meeting in AugustMandate: The purpose of the Community Heritage Commission will be to identify and advise the Council of the City of New Westminster on heritage issues within the City, particularly with respect to Part 15 of the Local Government Act. The role of Community Heritage Commission is to advise Council and staff on matters related to the City’s heritage program, including continuing public education and awareness of heritage, maintaining the City’s heritage register and heritage inventory, supporting the conservation of heritage resources, implementing policies to protect heritage resources, monitoring of identified heritage resources and the heritage program, promoting and enhancing City owned heritage resources, and requesting expenditures for heritage purposes, with Council approval.
For further details about the Community Heritage Commission, please refer to:
The City has three Grant Advisory Committees which review applications for the three grant portfolios. For further details about the Grant Advisory Committees, please refer to:
- Grants page
- Community Livability and Social Equity
- Social and Cultural Vibrancy
- Community Economic Activators
For more information about the New Westminster Community Grants program, visit newwestcity.ca/grants
Membership: 4 members
Meetings: As neededMandate: The Massey Theatre Working Group is mandated maintain an active and transparent relationship between the City and Society, collaboratively ensure successful operations and stewardship of the Massey Theatre and Complex, plan for the long-term sustainability of this major civic cultural asset, its operations and programming.
For further details about the Massey Theatre Working Group, please refer to:
Membership: 7 members
Length of Term: 2-year term
Meetings: Monthly, the fourth TuesdayMandate: The role of the New Westminster Design Panel (NWDP) is to review the design of all development projects (except single detached and duplex homes).
For further details about the New Westminster Design Panel, please refer to:
Membership: 7 members, including 4 citizen appointees
Length of Term: two 3-year terms
Meetings: As neededMandate: The purpose of the Commission is to provide accountable, effective stewardship and strategic direction tailored to the unique needs of an electric utility operating in a municipal environment consistent with the enterprise’s mandate and objectives. Its purpose is to ensure that the enterprise is managed in a manner that is sensitive to both the revenue generating, service provision needs and other policies of the City on one hand and the operational and regulatory requirements of the industry on the other. In particular, it is to provide oversight and direction that is industry-knowledgeable to ensure the Utility is appropriately strategically positioned, both in the current industry and in regard to expected developments.
For further details about the Utility Commission, please refer to:
Membership: The Task Force is comprised of eleven voting members.
Length of Term: Appointments will be for a two-year term.
Meetings: A minimum of twice per year and at the call of the Chair.
Mandate: The purpose of the Vision Zero Task Force is to liaise with partner agencies and organizations to collaboratively identify existing conditions that contribute to traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries in New Westminster, and to provide advice to City Council regarding developing policies and actions to achieve zero traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.
For further details about the Task Force, please refer to:
Inactive Advisory Groups
Access records from the City’s past advisory groups.Archives
Archive of meeting agendas, minutes, and related documents for inactive advisory groups.
Meetings: Meets annually with Council. Each Residents' Association has its own schedule of meetings.
Mandate: The City of New Westminster recognizes the importance of enhancing communications, fostering co-operation, and establishing two-way dialogue between the City and the community groups that represent each neighbourhood and offer insight into the needs and concerns of a particular neighbourhood, enhancing the delivery of information from the City to its citizens and the citizens to the City.
For further details about the Residents' Association Forum, please refer:
- Residents' Association Guidelines
- Residents' Association Contact Information