We walk along the same Fraser River banks where the scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) peoples built cedar longhouses and fished for salmon thousands of years before European settlers arrived to farm the fertile delta lands in the 1860s.
New Westminster grew from a district municipality in 1879 to become one of Metro Vancouver’s most distinctive communities, blending our three neighbourhoods of Ladner, Tsawwassen and North New Westminster whilst keeping nearly 200 heritage sites intact.
The Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre and New Westminster Archives connect us with the stories that built our neighbourhoods into what you see around you today.
Indigenous Foundations: Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations
Every morning, mist still drifts up from the Fraser River, the same way it did when the Tsawwassen and Musqueam peoples built their first villages along these rich waters thousands of years ago. We walk through neighbourhoods that sit on traditional territories where salmon runs brought food to families and cedar provided shelter, clothing and canoes for generations. Archaeological sites at Beach Grove and Whalen Farm date back to at least 400 BC, with some finds reaching as far back as 2260 BC. New Westminster’s story starts with these Coast Salish Nations, who understood every curve of our river, every gift each season brought. You can still hear their heritage in the place names we use today. Tsawwassen means “land facing the sea” in Halkomelem. When we look back at New Westminster’s past, we find a deep history that laid the foundation of our community centuries before Europeans arrived.
From Settlement to Municipality: New Westminster’s Early Years
New Westminster grew from wagons rolling through muddy paths to the connected community we know today. The first European settler, James Kennedy, pre-empted 135 acres in what became Annieville in 1860. Then in 1868, brothers Thomas and William Ladner arrived from Cornwall, England, and began farming the area that now bears their name. They built dykes to protect the flood-prone lowlands and established fishing and farming operations that would define our character. We became a district municipality in 1879, making us one of the oldest in Metro Vancouver. In that same year, James Deas had already been operating a cannery at present-day Deas Island since 1873, and Thomas Ellis Ladner opened another near Westham Island. Those original homesteads grew into our three distinct communities that shape New Westminster today. Each area still reflects the strong character of the families who decided to make this place their home.
Cultural Heritage and Community Identity
Thousands of years before settlers arrived, Indigenous communities shaped this land. The Tsawwassen and Musqueam First Nations lived along our Fraser River shoreline, establishing traditions we still honour today. In 2009, Tsawwassen First Nation became the first urban First Nation in BC to implement a modern treaty and the first First Nation to become a full member of Metro Vancouver.
We now celebrate our shared heritage through nearly 200 sites across New Westminster on our Heritage Inventories. We visit the Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre for interactive exhibits, research our roots at New Westminster Archives, and stroll through historic Ladner Village with its heritage clock tower honouring William Ladner. Each spring brings us together at Ladner May Days, the longest-running festival in New Westminster since 1896, linking our fishing and farming heritage with today’s diverse community, building a home where everyone belongs.
Museums, Archives, and Historic Sites
Walking into our Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre is like flipping through a family photo album, you’ll find stories that built our neighbourhoods, from Indigenous heritage to hands-on exhibits where children can interact with Burns Bog wildlife in the habitat theatre and create their own delta at the water table. When you want deeper ties to New Westminster’s past, visit New Westminster Archives in the same facility, where old photographs show familiar streets from decades past. New Westminster boasts heritage gems like the 1912 Municipal Hall on New Westminster Street (now heritage designated), the granite Ladner Clock Tower erected in 1932, and the totem pole carved by Chief Wilkes James that same year. You can visit Ladner Village for self-guided heritage walking tours and see our rural history through the New Westminster Heritage Driving Tour.
Modern New Westminster: Growth and Future Outlook
We’ve watched New Westminster grow from those early farming settlements into the thriving community you see today—one of Metro Vancouver’s most liveable places with a population of over 108,000.
From the Ladner brothers’ first farmstead to a connected city with three distinct communities, New Westminster’s story of growth continues unfolding before our eyes.
Our growth reflects real change through thoughtful development across 179 square kilometres. Since our incorporation in 1879, we’ve preserved what makes each neighbourhood special:
- Ladner keeps its historic fishing village charm whilst serving as our civic centre with City Hall and New Westminster Hospital
- Tsawwassen offers the sunniest weather in Metro Vancouver, with beaches, the ferry terminal, and Tsawwassen Mills
- North New Westminster provides urban convenience alongside Burns Bog and Watershed Park
- Agricultural Land Reserve protects over 50% of our land for farming heritage
The 1959 Massey Tunnel and 1986 Alex Fraser Bridge ended our isolation and brought tremendous growth. New Westminster’s story keeps writing itself—our future means continued success for all of us who call this place home.
Questions Often Asked
What Is New Westminster, BC, Known for Historically?
New Westminster’s history runs deep through our Indigenous heritage with the Tsawwassen and Musqueam peoples, our agricultural and fishing past with the Ladner brothers, and Ladner May Days, which has been bringing folks together since 1896.
What Are Some Historical Highlights of New Westminster, BC?
Ladner Village comes to mind for good reason. You’ll find heritage buildings along New Westminster Street, the 1932 clock tower honouring William Ladner, and the charming atmosphere of a 19th-century fishing village, creating a setting where your best memories take shape.
Is New Westminster One of BC’s Oldest Municipalities?
Yes, New Westminster is one of Metro Vancouver’s oldest municipalities.
When you walk through Ladner’s heritage streets, you’re seeing one of BC’s earliest communities up close. We were incorporated in 1879, just eight years after BC joined Confederation, and we’ve grown steadily while preserving our agricultural and fishing heritage.
