Westminster Club Since 1889

The comfort and camaraderie of yesterday in a setting for today…

New Westminster is a City rich in culture and history.  This unique heritage has been crafted throughout the years by numerous factors including landscape, community, industry, associations and politics.  Together these aspects have shaped New Westminster into the City it is today.  Many of the groups that played a role in the development of the Royal City have roots dating far into the City’s past.  After 120 years of operation in the downtown area, the Westminster Club is not only one of the oldest non-profit organizations in British Columbia, but, also a prominent figure in the history and growth of New Westminster. 

The Club was informally organized in 1889, receiving its name and incorporation the same year.  The Westminster Club has the distinction of being the first legally incorporated club of its kind in the Lower Mainland.  When the Club was organized, the Federal Riding of New Westminster included the area now known as the City of Vancouver.   The Westminster Club was originally created to be a private club where gentlemen from the surrounding community could gather to socialize, read, drink, dine, shoot billiards and play cards.  Men of all professions, from lawyers and bankers to farmers and grocers, joined and membership grew rapidly.  When a fire gutted the city core in 1898 the Club drifted from place to place until the construction of the Westminster Building in 1912.  (Then known as the Westminster Trust Building)   The Club took up residence on the top floor of the Westminster Building and remains there to this day. 

In 1989, as part of the Centennial celebrations, the Club was presented with its very own Coat of Arms. The images on the Arms reflect the unique nature of the City and the Motto, Pro Prosperitate Honoreque Urbis, “For the Prosperity and Honour of the City”, which also form a part of the Club’s Mission Statement and approach to the City.  As the times changed, the Club strove to evolve with them.  Women were granted membership and many of the archaic bylaws were abolished.  The culmination of this modernization was realized with the election of the Club’s first female President, Karen Baker-MacGrotty in 2002.

Today the Westminster Club, under the direction of a diverse Board of Directors and President, Mr Allen Domaas, past CEO & President of the Fraser River Port Authority, continues to reinvent and renew itself to remain as a contributing member of the community,  “For the Prosperity and Honour of the City”.   

The Club offers members and their guests a place to gather, connect, relax and have fun, while also working toward attracting the next generation of members that will ensure the club continues to contribute to the community and remain an important part of the fabric of New Westminster for years to come. 

The Club is pleased to welcome its most recent members, Mr. Bob Webber of Havers Dillon & Associates Ltd, Mr. Erik Lindquist of Dec Design Mechanical Consultants Ltd, Mr Chad Bernst of Crimson Electric Inc,  Mr. Danny Grant, President of Agribusiness Ltd., City of New Westminster, Mr. Rick Page, Director-Legislative & Communications Services, Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, Ms. Shawn Bayes and Mr. Adam Goss, Park Georgia Reality Ltd.

The Westminster Club has a variety of Banquet and Meeting Rooms with panoramic views of the City and Fraser River atop the Historic Westminster Building that are available for rent by Full Members and Limited Members. The rooms can be configured for corporate functions, seminars, speaker presentations, or to take full advantage of the catering services for special occasions, social functions, anniversaries, parties, or weddings.  The Club’s main banquet area can accommodate a sit down function of 140 guests or a stand up function of 250 guests.

For more information on Membership, Business Services and/or Venue Rentals please call or email us and we will be happy to answer your questions.