Beyond the Homes: Three Special Places to Explore on Tour Day

In addition to ten private heritage homes and historic Irving House, this year’s New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour includes three fascinating “Places of Interest” that offer visitors an opportunity to explore some of the city’s broader architectural, cultural, and community history.

Included with Homes Tour admission, these bonus venues provide a wonderful way to take a break between homes, enjoy refreshments, and experience a different side of New Westminster’s heritage landscape.

Arundel Mansion

One of New Westminster’s most atmospheric historic buildings, the Arundel Mansion on Begbie Street was built in 1912 as an elegant apartment hotel catering to longer-term visitors and business travellers. Today, much of the building’s original character survives, including its tiled lobby floors, woodwork, and vintage Van-E-Mon elevator — believed to have been the first elevator in New Westminster.

Tour visitors can explore several suites within the building while enjoying complimentary afternoon tea, cookies, and muffins hosted by longtime resident Myrna Ball in the Mansion’s tea room. Next door, visitors can also stop by Found Art Salon gallery.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Nestled into the hillside above downtown New Westminster, Holy Trinity Cathedral is one of the city’s oldest and most historically significant churches. Originally established in 1859, the cathedral rebuilt following the devastating 1898 fire remains an important example of Gothic Revival architecture designed by G.W. Grant.

Visitors can admire the cathedral’s remarkable stained-glass windows created by Henry Bloomfield and Sons, including what is believed to be one of the earliest depictions of West Coast Indigenous people in stained glass.

From noon to 1 PM, visitors may also have an opportunity to hear the cathedral’s grand organ in performance. Refreshments may also be available, with proceeds supporting Holy Trinity’s community programs.

Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral

The striking Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral reflects a very different chapter in New Westminster’s architectural story. Designed by Vancouver architect Bing Thom Marr and completed in 1968, the cathedral combines Byzantine-inspired forms with the bold urban-modern aesthetics of the 1960s.

Inside, visitors will encounter richly coloured iconography, dramatic interior detailing, and a welcoming community atmosphere. A resident artist will help interpret the cathedral’s symbols and artwork throughout the day.

And yes — there will be food! The cathedral’s famous Ukrainian culinary traditions will be represented with offerings connected to the parish’s much-loved community food events.

Together, these three Places of Interest add another layer to this year’s Homes Tour experience — offering visitors not only beautiful homes, but also opportunities to explore New Westminster’s spiritual, cultural, artistic, and social history in some of the city’s most distinctive public spaces.