Union

I've always loved this graphic on the outside of the building that houses the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers) union on Columbia Street. This union is Canada's largest, with 250 000 members...many of whom work at Wal-Mart. They must love that!

Skins

...they aren't just for iPods, you know. Even traffic standards / transformer boxes here in town are covered with skins such as this one. Some have pictures of the town, some have historical photos, some are pictures of plants...

Saintly Sunday

This church has been featured before, the St Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It looks a little different today as it's Holodomor Awareness Week (holod = famine, moryty = kill by starvation) in Canada, where the various Ukrainian groups remember the victims of the famine created as the Soviet government requisitioned all foods grown in Ukraine. Some reports state that near to one quarter of Ukraine's population perished. There are 33 black flags representing the year 1933, when the famine reached its peak of devastation.

(Info from the black sign on the building.)

Airy

Back to Royal City Centre today. A few more decorations have been put up - some strings of lights and enormous decorations suspended on bunting. Tasteful. I can't remember if this mall gets a Santa Claus and castle; I'll have to check back each week. Stay tuned!

Modern Blue

This is a common theme these days on apartment blocks around New Westminster and, indeed, the whole Lower Mainland. Some modernizing is happening, as you can see with this gorgeous blue paint and the new white window frames. However, nothing can hide the dated brick at the bottom. That stuff only works with what was probably the original brown-ish pebbled siding (the now blue part) and the old-style wood or steel window frames. Regardless, an improvement! Now if only we could banish ugly architecture for good, and stick with what will stand the test of time.

Wonderland

For the first time, New Westminster Daily Photo leaves the city. This photo was taken in Surrey, just across the river, as I was waiting for the bus to return to New Westminster. This is just a taste of the weather we had over the past 24 hours: snow, then more snow, then snowy rain, then rain.

Jaunty

Met this handsome fellow whilst walking home the other day. If the forecast holds true, perhaps he will have some companions tomorrow: 5-10cm are scheduled to fall.

Uptown

These flags appeared relatively recently, perhaps over the last couple weeks. Knowing me, however, they've probably been around longer and only last week did I look up far enough to notice them.

Round Around

Taken in Royal City Centre which, pleasantly, wasn't yet in full on Christmas mode. All the decoration seen was in the form of the beautiful pointsettias lining the stairways. These stairs end up at the underground parking.

Font

I've always loved the font used for the sign on this automotive shop. This red seems to be an incredibly popular colour for buildings in New Westminster; this is at least the fourth or fifth red building that's been posted here.

First Snow

The town square clock - posted last Saturday - and how it looks this Saturday.

Due to the effects of La Nina (the year following an El Nino year), we are - apparently - due for lots of snow and colder temperatures than typical. Last night was the first major storm: wind, rain, then snow. Today the air was crisp with the arctic air still lingering.

Blue

Rail bridge across the Fraser River, between New Westminster and Queensborough.

Scales

Attached to the side of the new Law Courts building is a statue of Themis, goddess of justice (sculpted by Elek Imredy). The scales signify impartiality, and the sword power.

"Fiat justitia, ruat coelum."
Let justice be done, though the heavens should fall.

Floating

Down there, on Front Street, is Antique Alley. Amongst the interesting shops is some interesting cinema history: this was the street that was converted into the futuristic main street set of Robocop. The stairs that appear to float above the street lead up to the Front Street parkade, located over the street.

Fishgate

Near Sapperton Landing.

Snip

Wall outside a barber shop just off Columbia, down towards Front Street.

Obey

This is the old New Westminster Courthouse. The new one is facing it, on the opposite side of the street. According to various sources including Heritage New Westminster, this building is in the Romanesque Revival style, originally built in 1891, destroyed by fire in 1898 along with most of downtown New Westminster, and rebuilt in 1899.

Tick tock

The new-ish town square clock near Moody Park, in today's grey autumn weather.

Symmetry

View from the front of City Hall, up towards the memorial statue posted yesterday.

Freedom

Egg

Sculpture found in Olympic Square at the intersection of 8th and Columbia.

Higher Learning

Douglas College, as viewed from Agnes Street across 8th Street.

Time, time, time

Near the entrance to City Hall is this time capsule, buried in the ground. It was buried in 1961, place by then mayor Beth Wood, and is to be opened in 2061.

The cover reads: Contains material relating to the centennial year records of the City of New Westminster.

If you're into the Waymarking game, this is included in the Time Capsules category!

Saintly Sunday

Ukrainian Catholic Church of Most Holy Eucharist, 4th Avenue and 6th Street. Lovely how the sky matches the windows.

Cosmic

This is the Cosmic Maypole, a totem pole on the grounds of City Hall. The inscriptions says that it was created for Habitat Forum in 1976 by artist Georganna Malloff, and was erected in 1980.

Suspended

Another view over the Fraser River towards Surrey, including the SkyTrain suspension bridge. This photo was taken in July; the trees are decidedly more orange, and the sky more grey these days.

Sisters

Sister city agreement was signed in 1991. New Westminster's other sister cities are Moriguchi, Japan, and Lijiang, China.

Scaffold

The 1970s wasn't a pleasant one for architecture in many cities, and New Westminster is no exception. Whilst a few buildings from that era are pure enough in design to be eyecatching, far too many are just the opposite. This building falls in the latter category, and is currently undergoing a facelift. It is by no means the only building in town to be having such work done. I am very curious what it will look like when finished.

Deco

I understand that with more people living in cities these days, taller apartment blocks are needed. However, with that drive for higher blocks, something is lost in the details. Mind you, what buildings like this have in character they lack in soundproofing. You win some, you lose some.

Loneliest Number

Inside of the oldest rolling stock currently on the SkyTrain lines in the Lower Mainland (travelling Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Coquitlam).

This shot was taken on my morning commute, just above the Fraser River on the SkyTrain suspension bridge. Yes, I was the only passenger in this carriage!



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