On this year’s Heritage Homes Tour, Heritage New West and the Massey-Victory Heights Residents Association will present a special display on the heritage light standards project at locations on York Street and Surrey Street along the tour route.

Preserving the Character of Massey-Victory Heights

For more than 70 years, the distinctive capped-top light standards of Massey-Victory Heights have helped define the character of one of New Westminster’s most unique residential neighbourhoods.

Installed in the 1950s, the lights were among the first residential street lighting systems in Canada to feature underground wiring — an innovative modern feature at the time. Their lower scale, softer lighting, and distinctive profile remain closely tied to the neighbourhood’s identity and atmosphere.

Today, those heritage street lights have become the focus of an important community conversation about infrastructure renewal, neighbourhood character, and heritage preservation.

New Westminster’s Postwar Neighbourhood

Massey-Victory Heights is New Westminster’s only neighbourhood developed entirely after the Second World War, reflecting the modern planning ideals of the era.

Originally created for returning veterans and young families, the neighbourhood was carefully planned with curving tree-lined streets, modest homes, lower-scale lighting, and open views — qualities that quickly made it one of the city’s most sought-after residential areas, attracting families from across New Westminster, including Queen’s Park.

The neighbourhood remains known for its strong community identity, mature landscaping, mid-century homes, and quiet residential streets bordered by some of the city’s busiest traffic corridors.

Why the Lights Matter

For many residents, the street lights are more than infrastructure.

They are part of the visual identity and human scale that distinguish Massey-Victory Heights from other neighbourhoods in New Westminster. Residents have long valued the softer lighting and pedestrian-friendly scale of the original standards, particularly in a neighbourhood designed around families, walkability, and residential character.

The lights also help preserve open views and contribute to the community atmosphere that continues to define the area today.

The Replacement Project

In 2024 and 2025, the City of New Westminster advised residents that the lighting infrastructure in Massey-Victory Heights was aging and increasingly difficult to maintain.

According to the City:

• underground wiring no longer meets modern electrical standards;

• some pole bases are corroding;

• the existing direct-buried system presents operational and safety challenges; and

• replacement parts for the original standards are increasingly difficult to source.

The City initially proposed replacing the heritage standards with larger LED davit-style poles similar to those used on major streets and in other neighbourhoods.

That proposal prompted strong community response.

Community Advocacy

The Massey-Victory Heights Residents Association (MVHRA), together with Heritage New West, began advocating for preservation of the original street lights and greater recognition of their heritage value.

More than 150 residents signed a petition supporting heritage consideration for the lights, while residents also participated in workshops, meetings, and presentations to City Council.

Concerns focused not only on the loss of the original standards, but also on:

• the visual impact of taller modern poles;

• brighter LED lighting;

• loss of neighbourhood character;

• impacts on views and streetscape scale; and

• preserving an important part of the area’s postwar identity.

Heritage Assessment Confirms Significance

In response to public concern, City Council directed staff to commission a formal heritage assessment of the existing street lights.

Independent heritage consultant Julie Shueck concluded that the Massey-Victory Heights light standards possess significant heritage value, meeting five of the six evaluation categories in the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, including:

• historic value;

• aesthetic value;

• social value;

• cultural value; and

• scientific value.

The assessment confirmed what many residents had long believed — that the lights form an important part of the neighbourhood’s heritage character.

Current Status – Spring 2026

Following a community consultation workshop and the heritage review process, the City selected a new decorative heritage-inspired lighting standard designed to balance modern infrastructure requirements with neighbourhood character.

The City has also committed to preserving and refurbishing five original light standards along Churchill Avenue as commemorative heritage features.

Construction on the lighting replacement project is expected to begin in late May 2026, beginning in:

• Zone 1: Mott Crescent and Courtney Crescent; and

• Zone 2: York Street, Massey Street, William Street, and Churchill Avenue.

The City has indicated that existing lighting will remain operational until replacement fixtures are received and installed.

Why it Matters

The debate surrounding the Massey-Victory Heights light standards reflects broader conversations occurring in communities across Canada:

• how cities modernize aging infrastructure;

• how neighbourhood character is preserved;

• how heritage value is recognized outside landmark buildings; and

• how communities balance change with identity.

For residents of Massey-Victory Heights, the street lights are not simply functional objects. They are part of the story of a postwar neighbourhood built for veterans and young families — and a reminder that even everyday streetscape elements can carry deep community meaning.

Sources

• City of New Westminster project updates and public consultation materials

• Julie Shueck, Heritage Assessment Report

• Massey-Victory Heights Residents Association

• Heritage New West