New Westminster Family Place is proud of taking the top spot in this year’s New West Pride window decorating contest.
As part of Pride Week, local businesses and community organizations were encouraged to decorate their windows. Winners were announced at the New West Pride street festival on Aug. 17 on Columbia Street.
“We were so grateful for winning because of what it represents – our window is pretty, but it was about talking to our families and children about what the words and the meaning behind Pride,” said Dana Osiowy, executive director of New Westminster Family Place. “We want to be loud and proud about being a place for LGBTQ families – this is why that representation is important to us.”
Heba Saada, Family Place’s early childhood educator, came up with the idea for the window display and summer student Himani led the activity and did the display that adorned the window at Sixth and Cunningham streets.
“We did such a fun activity with our families,” Osiowy said. “As you know each colour in the Pride Flag has a particular meaning so we made cards of each of the colours and we talked about Pride and our children and parents coloured, wrote and scribbled what red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony and purple for spirit means to them.”
New West Artists and PAWS Veterinary Clinic and Grooming second place in the annual competition.
Park campout
New West residents are invited to pitch a tent and enjoy a campout in Hume Park.
A family camp-out, taking place on Sept. 13 and 14, includes outdoor games, a campfire and s’mores. New Westminster Parks and Recreation staff will provide games, hot dogs and snacks on Friday night and a light breakfast on Saturday morning.
Families are invited to bring a tent, chairs and sleeping bags to Hume Park for this event, where they’ll be able to enjoy an affordable camping experience and the park’s natural surroundings.
Registration is $40 per family. Call Centennial Community Centre at 604-777-5100 to get more information.
