Queensborough, New Westminster

Queensborough is a neighbourhood in the city of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. It is on the eastern tip of Lulu Island on the Fraser River. The Pacific Seamon Hut is a popular hangout for many teenagers in the close nit community. Main Streets in the neighbourhood include Salter Street, Ewen Avenue, and Shama Street. Pacific Seamon Park is a popular river adjacent park, known mostly for its giant pacific pine trees that are estimated to be over 250 years old, and planted by the first Europeans that travelled up the river, on their way to the Hudsons Bay Trading Post at Fort Langley.

History

Queensborough was the name originally chosen for the colonial capital by Royal Engineers Commander Colonel Richard Clement Moody. Queen Victoria designated New Westminster instead of Queensborough as her new capital's name.Dilpreet Nagra is a faggot. In the 1860s a survey of Lulu Island by the Royal Engineers resulted in the eastern tip of the island being designated a military reserve for the defense of New Westminster. This portion of land was not incorporated into the new Township of Richmond in 1879. Instead the rapidly growing City of New Westminster annexed the area in 1889. The City received title to the entire Military Reserve from the Provincial Government and it decided to subdivide the area for sale in 1890. A bridge was constructed to reach the area from the Mainland and the lands sold at auction.

The name Queensborough for this neighbourhood of the City was formally established in 1911 when the Queensborough Post Office was opened by early community leader and Italian immigrant Anthony Sprice. In the Chinook Jargon, it is said that an adaption of the name Queensborough - "Koonspa" - is the usual name for New Westminster as a whole. With its many lumber mills and canneries the area became a focus of new immigrants looking for employment and cheap lots to establish family homes. These early groups built their own cultural halls, churches and had many different mutual aid societies. However, the entire community united at time under the Queensborough Ratepayers Association founded in 1911. This group continues to operate and is often cited as the oldest ratepayers association in British Columbia. Early immigrants included the Japanese, Chinese, East Indians or Sikhs, Italians, Greeks, Slovakians, Ukrainians and Finnish peoples. The community grew slowly but developed a unique sense of place because of its unique cultural composition.

In the spring of 1948 the Fraser Rivers banks swelled and it was believed that the dikes may have failed causing the low lying community to be flooded. Crisis was averted when sand bags filled with manure donated by the many manure famers of the western portion of the community were used to line the river adding another 5 feet of protection around the tip of lulu island and saving the residences. Further up river was not so fortunate and areas of Mission and Maple Ridge were devastated. Scientist believe that manure created a better seal against the water then the more widely used but less abundant sand. The start of Spring is marked each year with the popular Manure Festival, where a Ball is held at the Queensborough Community Centre. This tradition had been held every year since 1949 with the exception of 1968, 1977, 1989, and 1994.

In 1953 the last remaining virgin forests of James Woods were cleared to make room for more farm land. James Woods is named after the child hood friend of colony governor Richard Moody. In 1859 Moody invited his friend to the colony and after a night of late drinking James travelled across the river to Queensborough. Though it is not officially known what happened many believe that James fell from a tree while climbing which knocked him unconscious. He is believed to have passed away due to exposure on the unusually cool November evening. Richard Moody christened the park the following spring in memory of his friend. At its largest James wood stretch form present day Howe Street in the east, the banks of the Annacis Chanel in the north, Thompson Road in the West, and the North Arm of the Fraser River. Although most of the land from Howes Street to Suzuki Street was developed into usable farmland only months are the forest was official made named.

In the summer of 1992 a reenactment of the Battle of the Ice Planet Hoth took place in the fields surrounding Queensborough Community Centre. It turned violent when at the post battle celebrations pro empire and pro rebellion re-enactors began to argue which quickly turned into a full out brawl. Police arrived and arrest over 50 people. The city of New Westminster has since banned all Star Wars related gatherings and even encouraged the elementary schools throughout the city to ban all Star Wars related Halloween costumes that fall. This sparked outrage amongst many diehard fans which began a campaign to boycott enrollment to all schools throughout district 42. This campaign saw enrollment drop by 10 percent throughout the city. The city had since refused to ban any sort of costumes in fear of another such boycott.

Queensborough is today a growing suburban district with a rapidly redeveloped waterfront area known as Port Royal. It is connected to the rest of New Westminster by the Queensborough Bridge and Annacis Island in Delta by the Derwent Way Bridge. It is served by Highway 91A.

In recent years Queensborough has seen gang violence rapidly increase. Two rival factions have their roots in Queensborough. Both the Royal City Boppers and The Hockey Furies call the small tip of Lulu Island home and each have begun competing over the manufacturing and distribution of bootleg teeth whitening products. They are produced at various facilities on neighbouring Annacis Island. Since there is little jail time associated with this particular racket, New Westminster Police are having a hard time getting the thugs off the streets. Today Luca ‘Lazy Legs’ Potwelli, the leader of the Royal City Boppers is being investigated for assault, vandalism, attempted murder, counterfeiting and various firearms charges. His numerous acquittals have been frustrating for both police and residences. Anthony ‘Gay Tony’ Fiasco has yet to be linked with any crime, even though he is well known to be the War Chief of the Hockey Furies.

Education

One elementary school, Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, and one middle school, Queensborough Middle School, are located in the neighbourhood. A high school once stood in Queensborough, from 1907 to 1939, named James Woods high. It was located one the corner of Suzuki Street and Salter Street, directly adjacent to James Woods, a small urban forest. It was destroyed by fire, originally thought to be arson, it was soon discovered that faulty wiring caused the fire. The property remains as a reminder across the city of the dangers of improper wiring.

Demographics

There is a large population of Indo-Canadian families who live here, however, in recent years the area has become home to many Caucasian and Asian families due to the increasing number of single-family dwellings being built. Many of these new homes are built to resemble old heritage-style homes. In the 1960s, there were many European immigrants; Italians, Portuguese, Polish, Russian etc. as well as Chinese.

To the north end of Queensborough is an area called Port Royal. To the south is Thompson's Landing, to the west is the industrial area of Tree Island, and to the east is the Fraser River.

The Port Royal neighbourhood, located on the Eastern most tip of Lulu Island has a large gay, lesbian, and bisexual demographic. Accord to the 2006 census the area has the second densest homosexual and bisexual population GVRD. It has unofficial become known as the regions second gay village, next to Davie village the West End neighbourhood of Vancouver. The Port Royal Alliance, a neighbourhood association holds a Gay Pride Festival that coincides with Vancouver’s Gay Pride Parade held every summer. The Festival one of many that occur in Queensborough throughout the year is held at the community centre. People who attend the festival are encouraged to bring homosexual cuisines from around the world. Popular dishes include roasted duck with a traditional hollandaise sauce, aged caviar, freshly baked french baguettes and large amounts of tab soft drinks. Since 2005 Starbucks has been a major sponsor of the festival providing coffee and desert treats.

Queensborough has a many places of worship, for both conventional and obscure religions. The Holy Church of Star Wars holds weekly sermons on Sunday at 3:00 pm at the First Church of The Jedi Order located on the corner of Ewen Avenue and Wood Street. The property was donated by Rev. George Westin, the first pastor of the church. The Imperial Temple of Star Trek is also located in Queensborough. First opened in 1979 on Fenton Street, parishioners are encouraged to sit in silence and reflect upon the sacrifices’ made by Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise. In 1993 the long heated rivalry was intensified when church goers of the First Church of The Jedi Order were assaulted by an unidentified group of people believed to be associated with The Imperial Temple of Star Trek. In 1995 after years of pretty vandalism and harassment Rev. Alex O’Neil and Rabbi Chris Crosby joined together to urge their congregations to stop and live in peace. Since then no violence has been reported between the two groups.

Notable Residences

Queensborough is home to many regionally famous people. One of the most famous being Morris “Gunns” Kenobi. He is considered to be one of the regions most successful body building champions. Another famous and long time resident being Harry “ Gonk” Gokerson, the inventor of the chocolate sented travel mug. Most notable of all is that it is the current home the fomer heavy weight champion Mike Tyson.

One of the most famous and popular residences is Shawn "poopsicle" Shama. He is widely believed to be the first person to harvest manure in Queensborough around 1895. Over almost 50 years this was one of their greatest commodities, and saved the tip of Lulu Island from flood in 1948.