Patrick Johnstone
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pjnewwest.bsky.social
Patrick Johnstone
@pjnewwest.bsky.social
Mayor of New Westminster, though nothing here is Official City Communications.

Go Dumples!
Pinned
Hey new followers. I’m an Environmental Geologist who became Mayor of a really cool city. Historic (by Canadian west coast standards), young & diverse (in demographics), dense, transit-oriented, compassionate, and punching above our weight on climate, housing, & reconciliation. It’s called #NewWest
No dunk on our western suburb, but #NewWest is ramping up its support for arts, culture, & festivals in the City at a time when grant funding is harder to get. This starts with a 50% increase in our Community Grants program that supports many of the events that make #NewWest fun...
Here’s my feature on the fireworks being cancelled, how it links back to the origins of “No Fun City” a quarter century ago, and why other festival groups in Vancouver are worried

grateful I got to say “evil doppelgänger of world class city” on the air this week

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
November 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM
“Level set” count = 1
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Hey #NewWest. See all these people pissed off about Vancouver's slash & burn budget? We're not doing that. We work to keep taxes in check but respect our residents when they tell us that public services matter and & worth the investment. pub-newwestcity.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...
pub-newwestcity.escribemeetings.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Public Transit has a marketing problem in Canada. Not to customers (who love it) but to senior governments (who are apparently not even aware it exists). May I propose:

"Transit. It's like a pipeline, but for people!"
November 25, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Three points about E-scooters (& siblings):
🛴🛴🛴
E-mobility devices are here and are not going away;
E-mobility devices can improve urban mobility, affordability, & livability;
E-mobility devices are a novel safety challenge in our traditional transportation realm.

What do we do about this? 🧵
November 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
👀
The gap between the Colorado Avalanche and second place in the NHL standings is the same between second place and 25th.
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 AM
So we are just going to keep giving the ostriches grifters media coverage?
November 22, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Hey #NewWest housing folks- there is an open house this evening 5:30 - 8:30 at Century House to talk about proposed OCP changes to facilitate infill density.
Link for info here: www.newwestcity.ca/calendar-of-...
Our City, Our Homes – Infill Housing Program
YouTube video by NewWestCity
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Excited #NeWest is making this announcement. I've enjoyed getting to know Donnie & am already inspired by her leadership style, infectious enthusiasm about local gov't making peoples lives better & her track record in recreation, local gov't & housing. Welcome!
www.newwestcity.ca/city_hall/me...
November 19, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Meeting Anna Zivarts at last week's @movementyvr.bsky.social event led to great conversations about equity in transportation planning. We won't achieve Vision Zero in #NewWest without centering human design & considering the increasing number of people for whom driving is not an option.
November 17, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Patrick Johnstone
A new, 605-seat elementary school is coming to #NewWestminster 👏📚🏫

This is an investment in #NewWest future. This school will not only provide students with the space and tools they need to thrive, but it will also strengthen the community for generations to come.

news.gov.bc.ca/releases/202...
New elementary school coming to New Westminster
A new, 605-seat elementary school is coming to New Westminster.
news.gov.bc.ca
November 17, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Vancouver becoming yet less Awesome.
Yesterday morning, I was informed that Vancouver Is Awesome no longer wishes to have Canucks coverage on its website and that I, effectively immediately, was out of a job.
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 PM
It was a great morning as we gathered at Fraser Middle School to hear the Premier announcing the investment in a new elementary school with 605 seats in downtown #NewWest! Let’s get building!

And the backing band was great too!
School and city officials are here for today’s announcement by Premier Eby @davidebybc.bsky.social about funding for a new #NewWest elementary school
November 13, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I know we’re all enjoying Mamdani-mania, but seeing straphanger, bicycle user, affordable housing champion, renter, better-policy wonk and mom @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social pull well ahead in the Seattle Mayor race has been inspiring! It was a fun campaign to watch from north of the line.
November 12, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Last Friday, I attended a meeting convened by @visionzerovancouver.ca with regional elected folk, transportation & public health professionals to talk about inter-agency collaboration on the ending of road deaths and serious injury. It helped solidify for me the value of the #NewWest VZ approach.
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
👀
SEATTLE!!!

We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Well done tonight @visionzerovancouver.ca and @thewaroncars.bsky.social! A really positive community-building and movement-building event!
Awesome event tonight!! More photos to come. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported!
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 AM
This will be a good one folks!
💫 New panelist alert! We're thrilled to have @tomflood.bsky.social joining @lucymaloney.bsky.social & @thewaroncars.bsky.social THIS SATURDAY for Life After Cars in downtown Vancouver, hosted by the incredible @uytaelee.bsky.social.

A few tix still available!
visionzerovancouver.ca/2025/08/01/l...
November 8, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Met some war heroes today.
(IYKYK)
November 8, 2025 at 1:54 AM
The Budget Announcement giveth,
The small print taketh away.
😐🚌🚊🚎😐
November 8, 2025 at 1:50 AM
I been writing these reports for eleven years now. Every two weeks (on average). Here's what happened this week in #NewWest Council. www.patrickjohnstone.ca/2025/11/coun...
Council, November 3, 2025
We had a relatively short Council meeting, but one full of inspiration as we received two presentations from people doing great things in our community – one about a reconciliation initiative in Ci…
www.patrickjohnstone.ca
November 7, 2025 at 5:08 AM
X supported Cuomo; Bluesky supported Mamdani.

Talk to me again about bubbles?
November 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
It's great to have local news in #NewWest again to talk about the work the City is doing: www.freshetnews.ca/could-vision...
New Westminster aims to end traffic-related deaths and serious injuries - Freshet News
New Westminster forms Vision Zero task force in an effort to end traffic-related deaths and serious injuries
www.freshetnews.ca
November 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The saddest part of Dick Cheney’s death is that it happened so long after his specific brand of hubris caused hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths that most have forgotten this legacy, and no longer have the energy to dance on his grave.
November 4, 2025 at 5:19 PM