Economic Development Plan Update
Project Update - March 6, 2026:
Thank you, everyone, for sharing your thoughts on how to support and grow New West's local economy! Staff are wrapping up final engagement sessions with a few more community groups in New Westminster and will soon begin preparing the Engagement Summary Report. The report will be shared on this page. Please stay tuned!
In the meantime, take a look at the top 5 answers to one of the online survey questions ➡️
When you reflect on New Westminster’s strengths and challenges, what would you prioritize as the top 3 areas that the City’s economic development efforts should focus on strengthen our local economy? Choose up to 3 options.
Let's build New Westminster's economic future together!
New Westminster is a growing community, and over 100,000 people are expected to call the city home within the next few years. For Council and the Official Community Plan building the prosperity of existing and future residents, workers, and businesses is a key priority. By leveraging our strengths, we can ensure businesses and institutions thrive, workers can find good jobs close to home, and new investment flows into New West.
This is why the City is updating our Economic Development Plan. This updated Plan will provide a blueprint for a resilient and growing economy – one that strives to benefit all residents and improve community well-being.
What is the purpose of updating the Economic Development Plan?
The City is updating its Economic Development Plan to provide an overarching framework for the City’s economic development activities over the next five years. The Plan will set New Westminster’s economic vision and priorities and outline focused strategies and actions to build a resilient, growing economy that benefits all residents and improves community well-being.
To see what we’ve done in the past, take a look at Future Forward: An Economic Development Plan for New Westminster, 2018-2023.
What does local economic development mean in New Westminster?
“Local economic development” is all of the ways that the City government and community members work to develop good jobs, help businesses thrive, support non-profit organizations and institutions (like hospitals and schools), and attract new community investment in New Westminster. At its core, this work aims to raise the standard of living for residents, and make New Westminster’s economy sustainable by building the resilience needed to handle the ups and downs of bigger provincial, national, and global economies.
Documents and Links
We want to hear from you!
The updated Economic Development Plan will be created through close collaboration with the community, and everyone has a role to play. We’re looking for these groups to tell us about:
- Residents – What you see as our major strengths and challenges, and your ideas for making New West an even better place to live, work, and play
- Businesses and local entrepreneurs – What’s working well and what could be improved in New West to help your business grow and thrive
- Workers – Your priorities and big ideas for how the City can support good jobs
- Institutions (like schools and hospitals) – How the City can better work with you to strengthen our partnerships and support your plans for growth
- Students – How you think we should strengthen career pathways and support opportunities for learning and career advancement
- Everyone – Your vision for a strong economy and where you think the City should focus our economic development activities
How can I engage?
You can share your ideas through these opportunities:
💬 Pop-ups
Meet the project team in person to learn more about the Economic Development Plan and share your ideas. Join us on:
- Saturday, February 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Anvil Centre (Love New West)
- Thursday, February 12, 4:00 – 7:00 pm at təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre (inside the main entrance)
- Wednesday, February 18, 2:30 – 4:30 pm at Queensborough Community Centre (inside the lobby)
- Saturday, February 28, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm at Royal City Centre (by the Sixth and Sixth entrance)
📝 Online survey
Take one of our online surveys:
- Community Survey: This survey is open to those who live, work, and go to school in New Westminster(but not owners or managers of businesses or community organizations). Click here or Scroll down and use the "take the survey" button below to access the survey.
- Business and Community Organization Survey on Simple Survey: This survey is open to owners and managers of businesses and community organizations. Click here to access the survey.
These surveys should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Your responses are anonymous and voluntary and you can skip any questions.
By responding to the survey, you can enter a draw to win one of five $25 gift cards to a New West business of your choice!
These surveys close end of day Sunday, March 1, 2026.
💡 Ideas board
Have you seen a great initiative in another city? What ideas could New West try to boost our local economy?
Share your ideas and see what other community members are saying on the ideas board.
Following the Community Engagement phase, the project team will also be conducting other engagement activities in March and April, 2026 to help draft the updated Economic Development Plan, including:
- Pop-ups at local career fairs
- Interest holder workshops with members of the business community
- Knowledge sharing with urban Indigenous community members
- A focus group with small business owners
- A workshop with the Arts, Culture, and Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Presentation to the Urban Development Institute
How will my input be used?
Your input, along with research on economic trends and local economic data, will help the City develop visions, goals, and strategies to draft the updated Economic Development Plan.
The draft will be shared with the community City Council for their review before final implementation. Please stay tuned for updates!
Phases
Community Engagement
- Engagement with residents, workers, businesses, community organizations, institutions, and other interest holders
- Analysis of feedback
- Reporting back on what we heard
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Share your ideas and input through these opportunities:
💬 Pop-ups
Meet the project team in person to learn more about the Economic Development Plan and share your ideas. Join us on:
- Saturday, February 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Anvil Centre (Love New West)
- Thursday, February 12, 4:00 – 7:00 pm at təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre (inside the main entrance)
- Wednesday, February 18, 2:30 – 4:30 pm at Queensborough Community Centre (inside the lobby)
- Saturday, February 28, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm at Royal City Centre (by the Sixth and Sixth entrance)
💡 Ideas board
Have you seen a great initiative in another city? What ideas could New West try to boost our local economy?
Share your ideas and see what other community members are saying on the ideas board.
📝 Online survey
Take one of our online surveys:
- Community Survey: This survey is open to those who live, work, and go to school in New Westminster (but not owners or managers of businesses or community organizations).
- Business and Community Organization Survey: This survey is open to owners and managers of businesses and community organizations. Click here to access the survey.
These surveys should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Your responses are anonymous and voluntary, and you can skip any questions.
By responding to the survey, you can enter a draw to win one of five $25 gift cards to a New West business of your choice!
These surveys close end of day Sunday, March 1, 2026.
Following the Community Engagement phase, the project team will also be conducting other engagement activities in March and April, 2026 to help draft the updated Economic Development Plan, including:
- Pop-ups at local career fairs
- Interest holder workshops with members of the business community
- Knowledge sharing with urban Indigenous community members
- A focus group with small business owners
- Workshop to the Arts, Culture, and Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Presentation to the Urban Development Institute
Upcoming and ongoing events
Past events
Event date: February 28th, 2026 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM.
Royal City Centre
1 registrant
Event date: February 18th, 2026 at 10:30 PM to February 19th, 2026 at 12:30 AM.
Queensborough Community Centre
1 registrant
Event date: February 13th, 2026 from 12:00 AM to 3:00 AM.
temesew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
1 registrant
Event date: February 7th, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Anvil Centre
2 registrants