(All photos from New Westminster Public Library historical photo archives)

While it's easy to forget with such a high degree of urbanization, New Westminster was originally part of the coastal rain forest.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Unfortunately, it didn't take long for the forest to be logged and our original streams to be covered up or used as industrial sewers.

In spite of a legacy of heavy industry, deforestation and the elimination of most natural watercourses and habitat, New Westminster has a number of 'built-in' sustainability features: access to a good transit system, relatively high density and access to local services in many areas, local employment opportunities, a range of affordable housing and a variety of social and cultural services.

In previous years, the City has undertaken pilot projects to promote sustainability, such as the Walkable City project, the Smart Growth checklist, the rain barrel program, the Crosstown Greenway, energy upgrades at some City buildings and the Livable City Strategy.

Unfortunately, far from being a leader in urban sustainability, the City has undertaken relatively few independent initiatives to promote the environment and until recently had no staff assigned to address environmental issues. Examples of this inaction include:

• Many parts of the City are unfriendly to pedestrians and cyclists and those who depend on wheelchairs for accessibility
• Most children are now being driven to school and aren't provided bike racks
• There has been little stewardship of our streams, riverfront or natural areas
• No reclamation of contaminated areas has been undertaken
• The great majority of new buildings being constructed are not built according to established green construction practices
• Most transit users must wait in the rain without the benefit of a shelter
• There has been no progress on our greenhouse gas reduction commitment under the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Partners for Climate Protection program

The City's proposed Green Action Plan is a good initial blueprint for making New Westminster more sustainable, but needs to ensure that social, environmental and economic sustainability are all addressed. To ensure that the plan addresses all of these issues and becomes a reality, it is important for community stakeholders to take an active interest in the plan development and oversees its implementation.