Community First New West

Last night I went to the B.C. Housing led meeting on the “Tiny Home Village” proposed on 20th Street in New West. The meeting was filled with coordinated attendees who came to spread misinformation drilled into them by the bigoted chaos agents known as NWP in #newwest. Some of the misinfo incl: 1/

Patrick and Youth Hub staff stand in front of a bright wall mural

Yesterday I attended the Capacity Café at the #NewWest Youth Hub. This was a chance to hear from youth in the City – who were pretty frank with us about their lived experience – and hear what community support looks like from their experience...🧵

A card outlining that Community First will be creating a social media policy in order to moderate its spaces.

A card outlining what things Community First won't tolerate on its social media: Discrimination, vulgarity/aggressivenes, threats, spam or solicitation, defamation, persistent trolling, malicious gossip, personal attacks, misinformation, disinformation.

Community First has standards for how we engage with the community, and for what is said in the spaces we moderate and are responsible for. We strive to be welcoming and open to everyone, and want our social media spaces to reflect that. With that, we have created a policy that will be followed.

Two rows of tiny homes form a small village for people experiencing homelessness.

Community First knows that providing housing is crucial to helping solve homelessness. That's why we're taking action by approving the Heart & Hearth housing investment that the Province is making in New West.

This is how we work together with senior government to find solutions, not point fingers.

Community First and all of New West are thinking of the people of Tumbler Ridge tonight. Tight knit communities are a special thing and it's heartbreaking and scary when something like this happens. We hope everyone near and far is thinking of them as this will leave scars for a long, long time.

A great Canadian once said: “I ain’t no movie star, but I can get behind anything” #NewWest

Expanded Access at the Purpose Society’s Army & Navy Shelter Is Good News for Dignity and Safety

Community First was excited to hear the announcement made by BC Housing to make Purpose Society's shelter operate 24/7.
This is the kind of investment that's is made possible when you lead with compassion, bring others to the table, and meaningfully work with them.

Here is the last (but not least!) of my Top 10 List for #NewWest for 2025: boosting support for non-profits & community partners who make the city thrive. Arts, culture, festivals, sports & everything that brings New West together. Happy New Year everyone, let’s make 2026 the best year it can be!

A new protected bike lane on 7th St New West

This New West project checks all the boxes:

✅ Fully protected bike lane
✅ Vehicle access maintained
✅ No lost parking (I don't care about this but it's often the main concern)
✅ One-way orientation reduces rat running on this residential street

Should be the standard for all local bikeways!

#4 on my 2025 list is our progress on one of the region’s biggest issues: affordable housing. We need more investment here from all levels of government, but here in #Newwest we are saying yes to affordable housing, and it is getting built.

Looking back at 2025, here is the first in my Top 10 (in no particular order) #NewWest accomplishments for 2025.

Candidate Search Launched Community First New Westminster has a hopeful, positive vision for our city, where we care for our community and our neighbours. With the rise of right-wing populism in New West, we need leaders who a...

Interested in running for council or school board in New West? Wanting to help make a difference in a caring, progressive city? 🏩

Get in touch! Our search is on.

www.communityfirstnw.ca/candidate_se...

Another budget discussion at #NewWest Council last night. Our Capital budget has 492 line items. After 3 years of complaining our infrastructure is lacking, NWP members voted *against* the capital budget with zero ideas of what they would change? (except vaguely "get someone else to pay for it").

New West leading where Vancouver is failing

Community First stands with Councillor Nakagawa. Hateful, violent rhetoric has no place in New West, particularly on party social media pages directed at elected officials.

New Westminster is a welcoming place and our politics need to reflect that.

We were happy to be at the New West Firefighters' Charitable Gala last night. It may be the Inaugural one, or it may be reincarnated from decades past, but either way, a very worth cause. It was amazing to see the amazing New West community show up and look pretty snazzy while doing so.

Guests from Musqueam Nation, the Uptown BIA, and Community First Mayor Patrick Johnstone and Councillor Ruby Campbell cut a ribbon with big scissors to officially open a new pedestrian plaza.

Two people are addressing a crowd to unveil a new pedestrian plaza. Large light up letters saying UPTOWN are behind them.

A crowd of people in discussion.

People playing a large version of Connect 4 and Jenga to celebrate the opening of a new pedestrian plaza.

CF Mayor Patrick Johnstone and Councillor Ruby Campbell were there last night for the ribbon cutting at the new and improved Uptown Plaza! The improvements include wider sidewalks, more tables and seating, new landscaping and trees, bollards, and the ability to program the plaza for events.

Mayor Johnstone rode the 155 bus alllll the way across New West today with @movementyvr.bsky.social for Go By Transit Week 🚍

Hundreds of community members gather in Queens Park in New Westminster in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Many people are wearing orange shirts.

Mayor Patrick Johnstone talks with members of the Indigenous community at an event held in Queens Park in New Westminster in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Hundreds of community members gather in Queens Park in New Westminster in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Many people are wearing orange shirts. There is a tepee set up in the foreground and some tents in the background.

On this National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, Community First members gathered with the community to show respect, listen, learn and remember. New West has done a lot to surface the truth and to practise reconciliation and we are proud to be part of a community where this is important to so many.

A women is making bracelets with letters and coloured beads at a table.

Three people are talking at a street festival celebrating New West Pride.

Two people are talking, one of them is standing and the other is sitting at a red booth that says "Ask the Mayor".

Mayor Patrick Johnstone is speaking on stage with a microphone at New West Pride festival.

We had a blast at #NewWest Pride this weekend! Our electeds and volunteers loved connecting with the community ❤️ Thank you to everyone who came by to make a bracelet with us, and thanks to the organizers of New West Pride for such an amazing event 🏳️‍🌈

Mayor Patrick Johnstone and Councillor Jaimie McEvoy enjoy a drink at a table at a pub. There is a Pride-themed table cloth.

A colourful document listing all of the events that will be taking place in New Westminster for Pride Week.

It's officially Pride Week in #NewWest ! 🏳️‍🌈 Community First Mayor Patrick Johnstone and Councillor Jaimie McEvoy went on down to celebrate with New West Pride who was hosting a kickoff event on Sunday.

With so many more events planned before the main festival next weekend, we'll be busy celebrating!

Community First Mayor Patrick Johnstone and School Board Chair Maya Russell sit being a red booth labelled "Ask The Mayor"

A map of the city of New Westminster with stickers on it.

Two people talking to eachother at a street festival.

Someone is sitting in a chair at a booth, and someone else is standing at the booth asking a question.

We had a awesome time at Fridays on Front last night!! ❤️ Thank you to everyone who came by to ask a question to @pjnewwest.bsky.social or share your favourite places in the city with us! #NewWest

We'll be out again at New West Pride next week 🎉

A pedestrianized street full of people, trees, and festival booths.

It's Friday! 🎉 You know what that means? Fridays on Front!

Come say hey to your Community First team down at Front Street Mews, tonight from 6-10 PM

Oh ya, it's Fiesta Latina night 💃

Homelessness Count: New Westminster’s Results and Progress The recently-released report of the 2025 PiT Count conducted in March showed region-wide homelessness increasing by 9%, while the increase in New Westminster was held to 7%.

Recently, Community First council members took part in the 2025 Point-in-Time Homeless Count. While results in New West were marginally below regional trends, CF members reaffirmed their commitment to working with all partners to find long-term solutions.

Hey #NewWest ! We're on Bluesky now 👋

We'll be at Fridays on Front on August 8 and New West Pride on August 16!!

Come say Hi to your Community First Mayor @pjnewwest.bsky.social , councillors, and school board trustees! 🏳️‍🌈