By Archie and Dale Miller (A Sense of History Research Services)

General Tour Information

All tours are held in the City of New Westminster, are free and there is no need to register. The tours last between 1 ½ and 2 hours and go rain or shine. Your tour guides, Archie and Dale Miller, highly regarded, popular leaders for such walks, are known for always having the historical facts and accounts at hand while keeping the whole event light and entertaining.
If you have questions about the tour, the difficulty level of its route, or to confirm that a tour is going ahead in spite of weather problems or other factors on the day of the tour, call the tour leaders at 604-526-6113. You can also email the tour leaders at information@senseofhistory.com .
Always wear comfortable footwear and carry water, especially on hot days. The tours are scheduled later in the day in summer months to reduce the effects of the sun, but a hat, appropriate clothing, and sunscreen are always a good, health conscious idea.

Separate media releases will be issued to promote each of the upcoming tours. These releases will contain up to date information about the tour with, in some cases, newly researched findings that enhance the tour itself.

* Please note that the tours are subject to change in theme and route but any change will be announced well in advance of the tour date.

About the Tours and The Tour Leaders

Archie and Dale Miller (A Sense of History) are well known for their abilities with walking tours, cemetery tours, presentations, and other historically and heritage themed programs. Many people, groups, school classes, and others regularly arrange for tours by A Sense of History because of the excellence of the presentation, the comprehensiveness of the preparation, and the attention to detail. Archie and Dale are pleased to offer this free set of tours to the community as part of their ongoing work with the City’s history and as a way to encourage others to learn more of their community’s story.

The Schedule

April 6, 2008 (Sunday)
[Starts at 1:30 pm near the Tugger and Tin Soldier at the upriver end of the Westminster Quay Public Market. This tour will likely end in this same general area.]

The Changing New Westminster Waterfront

From the earliest days of New Westminster, its harbor has played an important role in the community’s economy and everyday life. This tour will look at the constantly changing harbour from the 1860s to today. You will hear of the river’s edge, the docks, the ships, the cargoes, the businesses on the wharves, a couple of big fires, and the overall evolution of the waterfront itself. Included will also be comments on the changes of the official harbour authority from a harbour commission in 1913 to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority of 2008.


May 4, 2008 (Sunday)
[Starts at 1:30 pm at the Cemetery entrance on Richmond Street, New Westminster. This entrance is across the street from the Office of Fraser Cemetery, located at 100 Richmond Street.]

A Walk Around St Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, New Westminster

This cemetery tour is one of two programs this year to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of St Peter’s Cemetery. (Note: the other St Peter’s program is a talk and slide presentation at the New Westminster Historical Society in August)
This tour will point out a variety of stories of interest in this long serving New Westminster cemetery. For 125 years this cemetery has been the local burial site for those of the Catholic faith. For some people this place is the Catholic section of the Fraser Cemetery but this is not the case. This is a completely separate burial ground managed through St Peter’s Church. Extensive research into this cemetery by Dale and Archie Miller will enable them to tell a wide-ranging set of accounts about this historical site.


June 1, 2008 (Sunday)
[Starts at 1:30 pm in front of the Queens Park Arena, off 1st Street at 3rd Ave., New Westminster. This tour starts in the park and ends at the waterfront at the Quay]

In Honour Of Simon Fraser: The Simon Fraser Monument And Other Stories

In 1808 Simon Fraser led an expedition down an uncharted river, later named after him. In 1908 the 100th anniversary of this adventurous task was celebrated at the Provincial Exhibition in New Westminster. Now, in 2008, a 200th anniversary is taking place.
This walking tour, a new tour in honour of the Simon Fraser bicentennial, starts at the site of the 1908 Exhibition and describes some of the features of that fair. The tour then moves on to see where the Simon Fraser monument, created for the fair, was originally placed, and then travels along Columbia Street and Front Street to Westminster Quay, where the monument, in its present location, will be viewed. Along the way, the tour participants will hear of Fraser himself, his expedition, and some of the reminders of his important trek.
[Two programs this year at the New Westminster Historical Society will also follow the Simon Fraser story: May 2008 for a presentation on the Fraser expedition; and October 2008 for a presentation about the 1908 Provincial Exhibition]


June 22, 2008 (Sunday)
[Starts at 3:00 pm at Hyack Square at the corner of Columbia Street and 8th Street, New Westminster. This tour will end nearby in the Downtown area. Please note the later start time to avoid the heat of the day]

The Board Of Trade Started In 1883: A Downtown New Westminster Tour

The New Westminster Board of Trade, now known as the Chamber of Commerce, started in 1883, 125 years ago. The City was young but it was growing rapidly and business was good. A group of local business people and entrepreneurs, saw the need to promote, far and wide, their own efforts and the potential of the community. The Board of Trade was born.
This new tour, created for this anniversary, will tour downtown, hear of the people involved in the formation of the Board of Trade, see where their businesses were located, note some stories of local trade and commerce and in particular, find out what some of the early shops and offices were like – all of this with a focus on the Board and the year 1883.
[Note: A presentation at the June, New Westminster Historical Society, will be on the history of the Board of Trade (Chamber of Commerce).


July 13, 2008 (Sunday)
[Starts at 3:00 pm at the Office of the Fraser Cemetery located at 100 Richmond Street, New Westminster. Please note the later start time to avoid the heat of the day]

A Life Of Connections To The Fraser River: A Cemetery Tour

This cemetery tour will draw connections between people and the Fraser River as another recognition of the river in this year of anniversaries. The Fraser River has been a vital link to life, work and play, for as long as people have lived near its banks.
On this cemetery tour you will meet people for whom the Fraser River has always held a great attraction and you will hear stories of dedication to a maritime life. Included in the accounts will be links to boats of all kinds, recreational activities including speedboats and canoes, waterfront industry, and more.

August 10, 2008 (Sunday)
[Starts at 3:00 pm at the corner of Queens Avenue at 6th Street, New Westminster, in the shadow of the Armoury of The Royal Westminster Regiment. This tour will end about two blocks from the start location. Please note the later start time to avoid the heat of the day]

A Collection Of Church Stories: Memories Of Religious Buildings

This tour, presented for the first time for the general public, will walk through a relatively small six to eight block area but will view the sites of over two dozen buildings with religious connections – most of these are now gone, known only, in many cases, to those who have sought out their stories.
Today a small number of churches remain in this same area and they carry on the religious heritage of the community in this part of town. This is an interesting tour that includes a number of “firsts” in the religious history, not only of the City of New Westminster, but of the overall Province.

September 7, 2008 (Sunday)
[Starts at 3:00pm at the Office of the Fraser Cemetery located at 100 Richmond Street, New Westminster. Please note the later start time to avoid the heat of the day]

Here At The Time Of The Gold Rush Of 1858: A Cemetery Tour

This cemetery tour, created in honour of the 150 year anniversary of the Fraser River Gold Rush, will introduce a number of individuals for whom direct connections can be traced back to that momentous event.
Some of these people have been “met” on other tours but on this tour, their connection to the Fraser River Gold Rush will be front and centre. Included in the tour will be gold seekers, Royal Engineers, steamboat workers, business owners, road builders, wives and mothers, and those who were children were here time.
[Note: A presentation at the September, New Westminster Historical Society, will feature anecdotes, stories, diary notations, newspaper accounts, and more, all on the 1858 Gold Rush]

An Added Note:
Two other tour dates are being considered for later in the year. Decisions on these will be made closer to the potential dates and appropriate announcements will be made.