Queensborough, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Queensborough is a neighbourhood in the city of New Westminster, British Columbia
, Canada
. It is on the eastern tip of Lulu Island
on the Fraser River
.
Commander Colonel Richard Clement Moody. Queen Victoria designated New Westminster instead of Queensborough as her new capital's name. In the 1860s a survey of Lulu Island by the Royal Engineers resulted in the eastern tip of the island being designated a military reserve for the defense of New Westminster. This portion of land was not incorporated into the new Township of Richmond in 1879. Instead the rapidly growing City of New Westminster annexed the area in 1889. The City received title to the entire Military Reserve from the Provincial Government and it decided to subdivide the area for sale in 1890. A bridge was constructed to reach the area from the Mainland and the lands sold at auction.
The name Queensborough for this neighbourhood of the City was formally established in 1911 when the Queensborough Post Office was opened by early community leader and Italian immigrant Anthony Sprice. In the Chinook Jargon, it is said that an adaption of the name Queensborough - "Koonspa" - is the usual name for New Westminster as a whole. With its many lumber mills and canneries the area became a focus of new immigrants looking for employment and cheap lots to establish family homes. These early groups built their own cultural halls, churches and had many different mutual aid societies. However, the entire community united at time under the Queensborough Ratepayers Association founded in 1911. This group continues to operate and is often cited as the oldest ratepayers association in British Columbia. Early immigrants included the Japanese, Chinese, East Indians or Sikhs, Italians, Greeks, Slovakians, Ukrainians and Finnish peoples. The community grew slowly but developed a unique sense of place because of its unique cultural composition.
Queensborough is today a growing suburban district with a rapidly redeveloped waterfront area known as Port Royal. It is connected to the rest of New Westminster by the Queensborough Bridge
and Annacis Island
in Delta
by the Derwent Way Bridge
. It is served by Highway 91A.
, and one middle school, Queensborough Middle School, are located in the neighbourhood.
To the north end of Queensborough is an area called Port Royal. To the south is Thompson's Landing, to the west is the industrial area of Tree Island, and to the east is the Fraser River
.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is on the eastern tip of Lulu Island
Lulu Island
Lulu Island is the name of the largest island in the estuary of the Fraser River. The island makes up most of the City of Richmond, a major suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia...
on the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
.
History
Queensborough was the name originally chosen for the colonial capital by Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers, Columbia detachment
Columbia detachment of the Royal Engineers was a British military contingent that played a major role in the settlement, development and security of the new British Columbia. Sent at the request of Governor James Douglas to help maintain order during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, the detachment was...
Commander Colonel Richard Clement Moody. Queen Victoria designated New Westminster instead of Queensborough as her new capital's name. In the 1860s a survey of Lulu Island by the Royal Engineers resulted in the eastern tip of the island being designated a military reserve for the defense of New Westminster. This portion of land was not incorporated into the new Township of Richmond in 1879. Instead the rapidly growing City of New Westminster annexed the area in 1889. The City received title to the entire Military Reserve from the Provincial Government and it decided to subdivide the area for sale in 1890. A bridge was constructed to reach the area from the Mainland and the lands sold at auction.
The name Queensborough for this neighbourhood of the City was formally established in 1911 when the Queensborough Post Office was opened by early community leader and Italian immigrant Anthony Sprice. In the Chinook Jargon, it is said that an adaption of the name Queensborough - "Koonspa" - is the usual name for New Westminster as a whole. With its many lumber mills and canneries the area became a focus of new immigrants looking for employment and cheap lots to establish family homes. These early groups built their own cultural halls, churches and had many different mutual aid societies. However, the entire community united at time under the Queensborough Ratepayers Association founded in 1911. This group continues to operate and is often cited as the oldest ratepayers association in British Columbia. Early immigrants included the Japanese, Chinese, East Indians or Sikhs, Italians, Greeks, Slovakians, Ukrainians and Finnish peoples. The community grew slowly but developed a unique sense of place because of its unique cultural composition.
Queensborough is today a growing suburban district with a rapidly redeveloped waterfront area known as Port Royal. It is connected to the rest of New Westminster by the Queensborough Bridge
Queensborough Bridge
Queensborough Bridge is a highway bridge in New Westminster, British Columbia. It was built in 1960 by the City of New Westminster, costing $4 million. The bridge spans over the north arm of the Fraser River for road access to the suburb of Queensborough at the east end of Lulu Island.It has since...
and Annacis Island
Annacis Island
Annacis Island is an island located in the South Arm of the Fraser River in Delta, British Columbia, Canada. The island is now mostly industrial, and it contains one of the Metro Vancouver's secondary wastewater treatment plants...
in Delta
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
by the Derwent Way Bridge
Derwent Way Bridge
The Derwent Way Bridge is a small road and rail swing bridge over the Annacis Channel of the Fraser River in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. The bridge connects the community of Queensborough, part of New Westminster on Lulu Island, to Annacis Island in Delta.It was originally built...
. It is served by Highway 91A.
Education
One elementary school, Queen Elizabeth Elementary SchoolQueen Elizabeth Elementary School (New Westminster)
Queen Elizabeth Elementary is a public elementary school in New Westminster, British Columbia part of School District 40 New Westminster.-See also:*Monarchy in British Columbia...
, and one middle school, Queensborough Middle School, are located in the neighbourhood.
Demographics
There is a large population of Indo-Canadian families who live here, however, in recent years the area has become home to many Caucasian and Asian families due to the increasing number of single-family dwellings being built. Many of these new homes are built to resemble old heritage-style homes. In the 1960s, there were many European immigrants; Italians, Portuguese, Polish, Russian etc. as well as Chinese.To the north end of Queensborough is an area called Port Royal. To the south is Thompson's Landing, to the west is the industrial area of Tree Island, and to the east is the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
.