Multiculturalism and Inter-Cultural Relations
Hello, New Westminster
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.
As evidence of this increasing diversity, in 2016:
- 34.9% of the population were immigrants,
- 34.8% of the population reported having visible minority status,
- 14.4% of immigrants had fewer than five years of Canadian residency,
- 3.3% of the population reported having aboriginal identity, and
- 25.3% of residents spoke a non-official language (i.e., a language other than English or French) often at home.
Are you new to New Westminster? Please consider reading our Newcomers' Guide, which can help you get settled.
City Responses
The City has been very active in the area of multiculturalism and inter-cultural relations. Over the past decade, it has:
- established a Multiculturalism Advisory Committee
- revised and operationalized the City’s Multicultural Policy
- coordinated and implemented a Chinese Reconciliation Process
- chaired the Welcoming and Inclusive New Westminster (WINS) Local Immigration Partnership Council
- assisted in the development of Five-Year Strategic Plan and Local Settlement Strategy
- developed a Century House Inclusion Project
- hosted a Newcomers Connect Day
- joined the Safe Harbour: Respect for All program
- prepared a Community and Social Services Asset Map
These initiatives and others are enabling newcomers to settle and integrate into the community and to make a more immediate contribution to society.