Geography
New Westminster is located at 49° 13' North, 122° 54' West (49.216667, -122.90). New Westminster is part of the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area, on the north bank of the Fraser River. The city is 19 km (12 miles) southeast of the Vancouver city proper. Amongst its natives are actor Raymond Burr and race car driver Greg Moore.
New Westminster is the oldest city in western Canada and was the capital of British Columbia between 1858 and 1866. In 1860, the city became the first incorporated city west of the Great Lakes.History