An UNOFFICIAL site for Copperstone, New Westminster
There is now a bench available in the lobby of the 244 building. Feel free to get off your feet when waiting for a guest or delivery to arrive!
We are working on getting a bench for the 248 building, after which all three buildings and the courtyard will each have at least one bench.
This site is privately run and is not officially associated with Strata Plan BCS2742 Copperstone.
Typos or errors can be reported to: admin@copperstonecommunity.org
⬇️Scroll down to see the latest updates and check the sidebar to the right for our concerns, ideas and more.
Below is the explainer as a PNG image file. You can also find it as a PDF here.
This is still an important issue for Copperstone–there is a lot of money unaccounted for, budgets have not been presented accurately, and council has explained none of this to owners or residents.
Most long-term Copperstone residents will know that if we get a decent snowfall in the winter, something always follows: the four speed bumps leading into the guest parking lot and central courtyard get pulled out by whatever snow removal company has been hired.
The companies aren’t to blame–if they don’t know about the speed bumps and there is already snow on the ground, they literally can’t see them and will just plow them up.
The fault lies with our council.
Last year, in a conversation with me and my partner, our current strata president said the speed bumps getting plowed out was “inevitable.”
He’s wrong.
This year, council managed to come up with perhaps the worst idea regarding the speed bumps getting pulled out by the snow removal company: When snow was in the forecast, they called the company and had them remove the speed bumps in advance.
UPDATE: As of February 9, 2025 the speed bumps are still absent.
Why is this bad? Because council framed the issue incorrectly. They saw the problem as “the speed bumps always get accidentally removed” and found a solution to that (“we will intentionally remove them in advance”) when the real problem is “How do we keep the speed bumps in place so they can still be effective?” Instead of insuring the speed bumps stay in place so they can actually function, council did the opposite and took them away.
The speed bumps are a safety measure, to keep traffic from speeding in or out of the parking lot. If they are not there, there is nothing to slow traffic down. Wet, icy conditions (which we currently have) are when speed bumps are most needed–and our council had them removed because that’s the best they could come up with.
Copperstone deserves better.
When we say things like “Copperstone is our home” it’s not just something to say–we mean it! And our home extends beyond the front door of our unit. That’s why Jeff and I have started cleaning up the stairwell and area around the parking garage entrance on Allen Street.
Today, we removed a bag of trash from the bottom of the stairwell and cleaned up a few errant wrappers and a lot of cigarette butts. We’ve put signs in place noting the area is monitored (and will, of course, remove them if asked) and we’re hoping that by keeping the area clean, we’ll discourage people from hanging out there and leaving a mess.
Plus it’s just nice to get out in the fresh air and talk to neighbours as they come and go. If you see us out there, feel free to say hi!
NOTE: This is the same notice that usually gets posted in the Copperstone buildings or emailed to owners.
The City of New Westminster has plans to turn East Columbia Street into a ‘Great Street’ – a more pedestrian- and cycling-friendly street with enhanced sidewalks, better lighting, bike lanes and safer intersections. As part of the Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment, the project is required to improve the frontages around the campus. In partnership with the City, the project completion will improve accessibility and transportation management around the hospital campus, including along Sherbrooke Street. The works along Sherbrooke Street will include traffic calming measures at the intersections.
The work will be done in phases, between Keary Street and Sherbrooke Street, starting the last week of March. We expect the work to be complete by mid-December 2024.
When needed, flaggers will direct traffic and ensure access to the hospital. At least one lane will remain open at all times. We will provide regular updates on the phases of the work and any impacts to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Thank you for your patience as we work to enhance our community’s infrastructure.
EllisDon and the Royal Columbian Hospital Redevelopment Team
Questions
Contact us at RCHRedevelopment@FraserHealth.ca or 604 418-5326.
Visit www.fraserhealth.ca/royalcolumbian.