Cultural and leisure activities are more commonplace today along the New Westminster waterfront than they have been in more than 100 years. The Anvil Centre—including the New Westminster Museum and Archives—are evidence of cultural workers on today’s waterfront, as well as other City of New Westminster services.

Doug and Helga Leaney started Paddlewheeler Riverboat Tours in 1989. They were recreational boaters, who fell in love with the working river, and wanted to share it with everyone they could. All year round, the Leaneys and their staff run cruises on the MV Native (a paddlewheeler) and the Beta Star.

Fraser River Discovery Centre is another cultural venue along the water. The workers in this non-profit organization are tasked with educating the public about the cultural, environmental, and industrial features of the Fraser River. The floating museum, the MV Samson V, and the Columbia Theatre are also places of cultural activity.

We are trying to open [the river] up and make sure that people are understanding what happens on the river, with the tugboats, with the seals, you know, the salmon fishing, all the different things it offered us. The barges that go by with wood chips so there’s an understanding of the river for goods movement, for the ecology as well. 
-CLAUDE LEDOUX, Parks Horticulture Manager, City of New Westminster                                         

I really truly embrace the working river. It’s just what it is. I love development, I love density, I love the idea of a town thriving, moving. I love when I hear the chug-a-chug of the tugboats and the trains, and the Skytrain whizzing by. It’s all good. 
-CATHERINE OULLETT-MARTIN, former Executive Director, Fraser River Discovery Centre