New Westminster, Canada

Capital City

With a population of 78,916, New Westminster is a dense, urbanized city in the Lower Mainland. The Royal City has a history of economic ups and downs, with its prime as a commercial center overtaken by the rise of Vancouver. Bureaucracy has long been a persistent headache, with the colonial government neglecting infrastructure and the capital being moved to Victoria. However, the city offers a diverse cultural scene, from the venerable Hyack Festival to the Chinatown community. For those seeking an affordable urban lifestyle outside of Vancouver, New Westminster may be worth considering, but the perpetual damp of the West Coast climate and lingering small-town politics can be a turn-off.