On Thursday, June 11, Tourism New West‘s Tej Kainth, the Anvil Centre team, Wild Rice owner, Andrew Wong, and photographer Brian Smith took BCATW travel writers and Meetup members on an intense, eclectic adventure through the oldest city in western Canada.
A few footsteps from the New Westminster Sky Train Station, the Anvil Centre – named for its inverted anvil shape, a symbol of ‘craftsmanship and strength’ – is a recently completed four-story structure at the corner of Columbia and 8th. The third floor was our Meetup location.
Anvil Centre was a fine starting place to begin our discovery of what New Westminster has to offer. Convening in the glassy lobby, we renewed friendships and met new folks while sipping beverages and munching on appies from the meat and cheese platters.
Clear, sunny weather enhanced the floor to ceiling view towards the Fraser River across New West’s Columbia Street.
After Mari Kane greeted the group, Tej Kainth of Tourism New West welcomed us. Then, Anvil’s Heidi Hughes introduced us to the Centre’s facilities followed by a host of staffers who spoke briefly about what their part of the facility offered.
Invited to take a tour, we followed Gordon Duggan, Curator of the New Media Gallery. Currently, “POPart”, an interactive exhibition, presents international artists’ use of balloons.
Some more daring members entered Martin Creed’s Work No. 202, ‘Half the air in a given space’, a room filled with about 20,000 black balloons. Not for the claustrophobic.
Another display, ADA, a giant, free floating helium filled balloon with charcoal spikes, inspires the viewer to create art by pushing it towards the white-papered walls, ceiling and floor. Unique!
Next, we joined Michelle Taylor, Heritage Programmer, who walked us through the museum. Michelle offered a knowledgeable museum snapshot.
Highlights for me were the ‘Wait for Me, Daddy’ wall-sized poster, and artifacts from Salmonbelly’s New West’s lacrosse team, in the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
After the Anvil experience, Tej corralled us for the start of our walking tour of New West. BCATW’s own Brian Smith offered shooting tips as we left Anvil Centre and moved onto Columbia Street.
Wait for Me, Daddy sculpture
At our first stop, bronze war memorial sculpture ‘Wait for me, Daddy’, Brian encouraged us to get closer to the subject and to look for a unique angle. Using his cell phone and Snapseed, a photo editing tool, Brian achieves wow factor images.
We viewed the Anvil Building from across the street, enjoying reflections in its triangular glass shapes. Snap, snap, snap, our cameras were on fire.
Assorted sights popped up along the way: street people, hanging flower baskets, sidewalk mosaics, tattoo parlour patrons, old and new buildings and the enthusiastic ukulele strumming members of the Uke Club, who meet at Columbia Street’s Heritage Pub. Songs sheets are offered, anyone can join in.
Keeping us focused, Tej guided us quickly towards the riverfront. We strolled across the pedestrian walkway, taking more pics, this time of the three bridges crossing the mighty Fraser.
Running late, we heeled and toed along the river walk viewing passing vessels and a bridal wear photo shoot at Pier Point Park.
Some of us stopped to take more photos of the bridges, following Brian’s tip to use leading lines towards the main subject.
We arrived at our final destination, Wild Rice Market Bistro, nicely set on the waterfront. Charismatic owner, Andrew Wong, offered us some delish appies-fresh, local and organic.
Salmon sashimi paired well with my Red Racer Pilsner. Perfect timing to sit, mingle, munch and hydrate. Our friendly host, Andrew, chatted with group members.
We thanked Tej, as she departed, and continued to indulge in yet another appie at Wild Rice.
Spent, the gang slowly dissipated; most walking the short distance back to Skytrain.
Participants gave the FAM evening in New West two thumbs, way up–a thoroughly enjoyable and absorbing cultural, architectural, artistic, photographic and culinary experience!
Thanks to everyone in New West who made it happen!
July Meetup
The next BCATW Meetup will be Road Blog: Becoming a Travel Blogger for Fun or Profit, presented Mari Kane on July 8 at 7pm.
We’ll inaugurate a new location: The Big Rock Urban Brewery at the corner of 4th Ave and Alberta.
Those who get there at 6:30 will enjoy a brewery tour.
This Meetup is currently full, but there is a wait list and people always change their RSVPs at the second to last minute.
So check it out at BCATW Meetups.
A FAM Opportunity in Washington State
RICHMOND PUBLIC RELATIONS is offering BCATW members a two-day FAM trip to Semiahmoo Resort. They are specifically looking to invite newspaper and magazine writers, with priority given to those on assignment. Tentative dates are: Tuesday, July 21- Thursday, July 23.
Semiahmoo Resort has just completed their multi-million dollar renovation and they are excited to show it off. This is a beautiful resort just across the border in Blaine, WA (opposite White Rock). It’s a spa as well as golf courses and sea-side activities.
Kimberley French, the representative specifically states that the writers who will be accepted must have an assignment for a print publication. (Bloggers will not be accepted on this trip, but will be in future)
Those members who are interested and qualify to go can email Ruth Kozak at ruthaki1@nullshaw.ca and will she forward to Ms French.
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