The City is working towards being one of the most welcoming and inclusive communities in British Columbia.
Over the past few decades, the face of New Westminster is changing, with more people reporting visible minority status and more people speaking a multitude of languages.
Population Diversity Statistics, 2021
37.5%
of the population were immigrants
46.8%
of the population reported having visible minority status
17.3%
of immigrants had fewer than five years of Canadian residency
3.1%
of the population reported having indigenous identity
26.3%
of residents spoke a non-official language (i.e., a language other than English or French), often at home
City Responses
The City has been very active in the area of multiculturalism and inter-cultural relations. Over the past decade, the City has:
Collaborated with the School District to develop the Welcome Centre
Coordinated the yearly New to New West Intercultural Festival and Information Fair
Coordinated the Community Action Network, which engages people with lived and living experience, including related to settlement and integration, in planning and policy development processes
Coordinated and implemented a Chinese Reconciliation Process
These initiatives and others are enabling newcomers to settle and integrate into the community and to make a more immediate contribution to society.
Community Resources
The New Westminster Public Library
The New Westminster Public Library provides many programs and services to the community, and is also a great place to learn about other resources available in New Westminster.
Visitors can access a wide selection of free materials in person at the library, as well as online on the Community Resources section of their website.
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Community Resource Guide for Burnaby & New Westminster
The Community Resource Guide provides an extensive listing of programs and services in Burnaby and New Westminster. The guide is available for pickup at public libraries, recreation and community centres, government offices, non-profit agencies and educational institutions. It can also be downloaded on the Burnaby Community Services website.
Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) bring together various sectors within the community to address the needs of immigrants and refugees. In New Westminster, the Local Immigration Partnership Council is called Welcoming and Inclusive New West (WINS) Local Immigration Partnership.
WINS is a collaboration of community members, local agencies, and organizations working together since 2007 to address issues faced by newcomers. Partners come from the municipal government, sectors such as education, health, settlement, employment, and social services, as well as interested community members.
The New to New West Intercultural Festival and Information Fair is a yearly event that usually takes place in May/June of each year. This is a great opportunity for newcomers and other residents to learn about and connect with a variety of service providers (government and non-profit), and learn about community resources. This event also offers a welcoming space to have fun and make connections, including arts and crafts, games, food and drink, and cultural performances.
Interested in attending a New to New West Event? Dates and details for future events will be shared here and on the City Event Calendar.
New to New West Intercultural and Information Festival 2026
New Westminster Secondary School (820 Sixth St, New Westminster)
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 11 am - 2 pm
WINS LIP (Welcoming and Inclusive New Westminster Local Immigration Partnership) welcomes you to join us for a free, family-friendly event designed to help newcomers feel informed, connected and at home. Drop in any time. Everyone is welcome! This event will include information on various services such as jobs and schools, culture, mental health and community supports. It will also include Indigenous learnings, various activities (performances, arts and crafts and games, snacks), and a resume clinic.
The Welcome and Wellness Centre is located at New Westminster Secondary School's southside entrance, and serves New Westminster residents, especially those who are new to the city and/or to Canada.
It provides various services (including health and settlement services), as well as organizing community-centred events and workshops throughout the year.
The Strong Cities Network is a global network of cities dedicated to addressing all forms of hate, extremism and polarization. The City of New Westminster City Council approved for New Westminster to join the Strong Cities Network on May 5, 2025.
In a sanctuary city, all community members can access City services without being asked about their immigration status.
Some people in New Westminster may be afraid of being stopped and deported by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and may not use City services in case someone asks about their immigration status. The Sanctuary City policy tells everyone they are welcome to join in everything offered by the City of New Westminster without being questioned about immigration status by City staff.
The City was the first municipality in Canada to formally acknowledge and apologize to the Chinese community for past practices which resulted in discrimination and exclusion.
This acknowledgement and apology was part of ten steps and action in support reconciliation, which were based on a comprehensive research and consultation process.
