Looking back on 2022: New West shows its kindness

You don't have to go very far to see how generous and giving New Westies have been—and 2022 was no exception.

It's been a tough few years for a number of charities, but the Royal City Gogos were determined to keep up its fundraising pace as it hosted a number of craft fairs, including one in the summer, and one closer to the winter holidays.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have a culture of warmth and acceptance in our group,” explained Janine Reid, who founded the Royal City Gogos. Gogo is the Zulu word for grandmother, and the group fundraises in support of African grandmothers, many of whom are caring for a generation of grandchildren orphaned by AIDS.

The intergenerational theme of giving was also prevalent as former New West Secondary School graduates Don Robertson, Chuck Leek, and Ronda Baker hosted their inaugural alumni golf event in June, with most of the proceeds going towards the athletics program at the school. Robertson told The Anchor at the time that if the fundraiser saw success, they'd like to expand financial support for the school's music and drama departments.

"Lord knows everyone's dollars are stretched thin," Leek added in his interview with The Anchor, "but organizing this has been fun. The chance to help, reconnect with these guys, it's a win-win."

One of New West's finest feline celebrities has always been big on helping, and for BenBen—quite well known as the "internet's saddest cat"—he made sure his presence was known during a summer event held at the Turkish Mosaic Workshop. This was the start of an assortment of fundraisers that benefitted the New West Animal Shelter, with Bosley's Columbia Square leading the way and smashing its goals with upwards of $6,000 raised over the month.

Westminster House demonstrated the importance of giving back through its Clean-Up New West event. Westminster House is a not-for-profit that helps women focus on addiction recovery, with this event the group's way of showing appreciation for the community allowing it to get their lives back on track.

"Having our staff, alumni and our clients get involved in the community, feel good and help out, it’s a way of giving back,” explained Laura Dunne, who is a development assistant with the program. “We want to give back to this city that really supports our recovery program, our treatment centre, and also the women who choose to live in New Westminster and build their lives here.”

Two local families managed to have their deportations stayed: Guadalupe Adrianna Rosales Contreras and Jose Alberto Vargas Mendez were given the good news in June, while Claudia Alejandra Zamorano Gomez and five members of her family found out just days before their deportation date that they wouldn't have to leave. Both reprieves came after hundreds of letters were written to the federal government, along with an assortment of local rallies.

We also had the opportunity to get to know Tanushree Pillai, who leads the South Asian Food Pantry initiative. Families have been able to access food that is culturally appropriate, something Pillai previously told us she'd struggled with when she first came to Canada.

“There are times when you just want those things. Things that are tied closely to culture, and while people are grateful for the food, there is still this huge gap,” explained Pillai, who managed to get the food pantry off the ground through a Neighbourhood Small Grant.

Perhaps you've walked past Good Omen downtown and seen a beautifully painted box placed outside the shop. The personal care bank launched over the summer, and features supplies for those who need it—the box simply reads, "Take what you need. Leave what you can."

“It’s available for everyone. I would love for people to begin accessing this, and not to feel that they don’t deserve it. These are basic care needs for everyone, and everyone is welcome to access them,” said Lia Hood, adding that it’s the least she can do for the people around her.

“I feel like our community has been living through so many crises. A global pandemic, a housing and poverty crisis, a poisoned drug supply, so this felt like a tangible way that I could support my neighbours and my community and give people the opportunity to participate by being able to make donations and participate that way.”

More recently, generosity and kindness were on full display during November's snowstorm, with people leaving their homes to provide food and water to those stuck along McBride—en route to the Pattullo Bridge—while the Gudwara in Queensborough provided the same hospitality and kindness to drivers stuck there.

“Locals have been walking the roads with the traffic gridlocked, offering food, drinks, and even allowing us to use their bathrooms. I’m really so stunned and in awe," said Twitter user TianRabbani.