The Quay, or Westminster Quay, is New Westminster’s riverfront condo district. It sits below downtown along the Fraser River, on land that was industrial waterfront until the 1980s. Housing is almost entirely concrete mid-rise and high-rise condos built since the mid-1980s redevelopment. New Westminster SkyTrain Station is a short walk away and the boardwalk runs past the front doors, so the Quay suits commuters, downsizers and anyone who wants river views with transit close by.
At a glance
- Housing: condo buildings and high-rise towers, mostly built from the mid-1980s onward. There is very little townhouse or detached housing.
- SkyTrain: New Westminster Station on the Expo Line, a short walk uphill.
- River Market: the River Market is on the Quay itself. Columbia Street is uphill across the rail corridor.
- Schools nearby: École Qayqayt Elementary and Fraser River Middle School are in neighbouring downtown, and New Westminster Secondary is the district’s secondary school. Catchment depends on your exact address, so confirm it with New Westminster Schools.
- Parks: the Esplanade boardwalk and Westminster Pier Park, which together form a 2.5 km waterfront park.
History
The riverbank was home to Indigenous people long before the city existed. The city calls this place a gathering place for over 10,000 years, in the territory of the Coast Salish peoples, in particular the Qayqayt First Nation. New Westminster Schools records that the Qayqayt village stood along what is now Front Street, just uphill from today’s Quay. After 1859, Indigenous residents were moved to reserves away from the core, and the city reserve was closed in 1916. Chief Rhonda Larrabee later revived the Qayqayt First Nation.
In 1859 the Royal Engineers chose and surveyed the site of the colonial capital. From the start the city depended on the river. Farmers sold produce at a waterfront market before 1900, and the shore supported sawmills, shipbuilding, longshore work and tugboats, as the New Westminster Museum’s working-waterfront exhibition documents. The 1898 fire destroyed the market and docks along with most of downtown.
In the 1940s a City Market opened behind Pacific Coast Terminals. When the port terminals closed in the late 1970s, the city began planning new uses for the shoreline. Tourism New Westminster says the land was sold in 1979 for redevelopment, and Pacific Coast Terminals moved to Port Moody in 1981. The Westminster Quay Public Market opened in 1986, in time for Expo 86 and the same year the original SkyTrain line opened. It later became the River Market after a major renovation.
In 1984 the city bought the Samson V, the last of the federal snagboats that kept the river channel clear. It is now a floating museum on the Quay. Because nearly everything here was built on former industrial land after the 1980s, the Quay has no heritage houses and its condos are close in age.
Living here
Life at the Quay revolves around the river. The boardwalk is the daily walk, run or stroller route. To the east it joins Westminster Pier Park, with a festival lawn, spray plaza, fitness circuit, ping pong tables and hammocks. The park was damaged by fire in 2020 and reopened in 2021. The Fraser River Discovery Centre and the Samson V are right on the water.
The River Market is the indoor hub, with food vendors and community events. For a bigger grocery run, most residents head uphill to downtown or ride SkyTrain.
There are trade-offs. An active rail line runs between the Quay and downtown, and the Fraser is still a working river, so expect train horns and tug traffic. Views depend heavily on which way a unit faces and which floor it’s on. Walk the route from the building to the station yourself before you decide.
Places to eat
Restaurants on the Quay rated 4.5 stars or higher on Google when we last checked (October 2026). We re-check this list every few months.
- Las Shilas Mexican Street Food: Mexican and tacos, 906 Quayside Drive
The Quay is a short walk from Downtown, so see the Downtown New Westminster guide for more places to eat nearby.
What condo buyers and sellers should know
Most Quay buildings went up after 1985, so many fall in the late-1980s and 1990s era of BC’s leaky-condo crisis. For any building from about 1985 to 2000, ask for the depreciation report and the building envelope history, and confirm what remediation has been done and what is still planned.
Waterfront buildings add a few more topics: exposure to the river, how the building meets the boardwalk, and the strata insurance deductible. Elevators, parkades and mechanical systems in high-rises are expensive to replace, so read the depreciation report’s timeline against the contingency reserve fund.
BC requires strata corporations with five or more lots to obtain a depreciation report every five years. Also check the rental, pet and short-term rental bylaws and any special levies. If you’re selling, order your Form B and gather the strata minutes early.
Getting around
- SkyTrain: New Westminster Station on the Expo Line, at Columbia and 8th Street. Columbia Station, a few blocks west, is the transfer point between the Surrey and Production Way–University branches.
- Bus: the 103 runs between New Westminster Station and Quayside. Check TransLink for current schedules.
- Walking and cycling: the Esplanade and Pier Park run along the river, reached from downtown by the Fourth Street overpass (with an elevator) and the Sixth Street overpass (a ramp). The BC Parkway follows the Expo Line.
- Driving: Front Street and Stewardson Way run along the river toward the Queensborough Bridge and Richmond. McBride Boulevard leads up to Brunette Avenue and Highway 1. The stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge to Surrey opened in February 2026.
FAQ
What is the Quay in New Westminster?
The riverfront residential district below downtown, redeveloped from industrial port land starting in the 1980s.
How far is SkyTrain from the Quay?
New Westminster Station is a short walk uphill, and the 103 bus connects the station with Quayside.
Are Quay condos older or newer?
Almost all were built after the mid-1980s, many in the late 1980s and 1990s, along with some newer towers.
What should I ask for when buying at the Quay?
The depreciation report, the envelope and remediation history, the contingency reserve balance, the insurance deductible and any special levies.
Is there a park at the Quay?
Yes. The Esplanade boardwalk connects to Westminster Pier Park along the Fraser River.
Last reviewed 28 October 2026 by Adam Lloyd. Catchment boundaries change. Confirm your address with New Westminster Schools before you buy.