New Westminster's Columbia Street community, once a thriving business centre in British Columbia, was on the main route from Vancouver to the Fraser Valley. It was known as "The Golden Mile" in the 1940's, bustling with restaurants, shops, banks and department stores. After the opening of Highway 1 in the early 1960's, the traffic went away, and so did many of the businesses.
The area has undergone massive changes in the last five years. New Westminster's revitalization program is well underway. Highrise condo towers now dominate the skyline, with Plaza 88 set to host two new bank branches, several restaurants, a 10-screen cineplex, and over a million square feet of mixed residential, retail and office space. The old Westminster Quay Market has reopened as River Market, and upon completion Westminster Pier Park will provide 8 acres of waterfront recreational area for walking, sports, picnics, fishing and festivals.
The newly renovated Columbia Theatre, in the heart of the Columbia Street community, provides a perfect opportunity for businesses to get in front of the increased traffic and business activity already moving back to the "Golden Mile". With its image and cachet as a heritage property and its excellent theatre and function hall facilities, The Columbia has a great deal to offer to corporate sponsors and partners, and we invite you to join us in our exciting journey.
Forgive the cliche, but this truly is a ground-floor opportunity. Barry Buckland would be proud to show you what has been accomplished at The Columbia over the past year and what is planned for the near future. Please contact us for a personal tour of The Columbia and to discuss various sponsorship and partnership opportunities available.