Description

The 2025 Mayor's Annual State of the City Address is hosted by the New West Chamber of Commerce, with presenting support from FortisBC and venue sponsorship from Starlight Casino. Additional contributions include our Photography Sponsor, Butter Studios. 

Join Mayor Johnstone for his annual State of the City Address—an honest and hopeful look at where we’ve been, and where we’re headed.

As global storm clouds roll over and uncertainty is the only certainty, the Mayor will reflect on the role of local government in navigating challenges, the shared issues all cities face, the progress we are making in addressing them, and the importance of bold leadership in turbulent times. 

A live audience Q&A will follow the Mayor's Address, hosted by Charmaine de Silva. 

Details: Wednesday May 14, 2025 from 11:30am-2:00pm at Starlight Casino's Red Bar Lounge (350 Gifford St, New Westminster, BC V3M 7A3) 

Ticket cost: $52.50 New West Chamber Member, $68.50 Non-Member Guests

Please note that you must be 19+ to attend this event, and EVERYONE MUST PROVIDE I.D. FOR ENTRY. Government issued I.D. will be scanned before entry for all visitors. 

If this event is not accessible to you for any reason, please contact events@newwestchamber.com to make accommodations. This Mayor's Speech will be recorded and available online following the event. 

Agenda:

11:30am Registration opens

11:50am Take Seats

12:00pm Welcome and Land Acknowledgement

12:15pm Lunch Served, Program Begins

12:30pm Mayor Johnstone's Address Begins

1:15pm Live Q&A hosted by Charmaine de Silva 

1:45pm Giveaway Prizes

2:00pm Event Ends

About Mayor Johnstone:

First elected in 2014, Patrick Johnstone served two terms on New Westminster City Council before being elected as Mayor in 2022. Born and raised in the Kootenays, he has resided in New Westminster with his partner Antigone since 2006. Patrick is a Professional Geoscientist, having studied Geography and Earth Sciences at SFU, and worked in a variety of geology jobs, primarily in the field of Environmental Geoscience. He served as the President of the Environmental Managers Association of BC and on the board of the Contaminated Sites Approved Professionals Society. His interest in local government arose from his advocacy on environmental and active transportation issues, his many volunteer connections in New Westminster, and his interest in leading community conversations about urbanism and the opportunities present in an exciting, dense, historic and growing community like New West. Since first being elected, Patrick has served on the Lower Mainland LGA (First Vice President), the Community Energy Association (Board Chair), the New Westminster Electrical Commission, and various task forces and advisory committees in the City.

In a constantly evolving world, Charmaine de Silva thrives while helping organizations tackle complex communications challenges. As a strategist and advisor at Hill & Knowlton, she is trusted to support clients’ public relations, earned media issues, and management needs so they can succeed amidst modern pressures.  Prior to joining Hill & Knowlton, she spent almost two decades as a journalist and leader in some of Canada’s best newsrooms. As a reporter, her relentless pursuit of truth led to several ground-breaking investigations and garnered some of North America's most prestigious journalism awards. As a journalist and community advocate, she has worked to celebrate and champion Vancouver's diversity, promote inclusion, and advance 2SLGBTQ+ rights. For her contributions to journalism and the community, she was honoured to be named in VanMag's Power 50 list in 2023.

Please contact events@newwestchamber.com for any questions.