About Kids New West

KidsNewWest.ca connects families in New Westminster with other families, community service providers, information, resources and events. It is operated by the Kids New West Child Development Committee: a group of people including representatives from government, not-for profit and other agencies. The member organizations, and the work of the group, are supported by municipal, provincial, federal and philanthropic funders.

Our History...

In 2013-14, the New Westminster Early Childhood Development Committee and the Middle Childhood Development Committee merged to form Kids New West Child Development Committee in an effort to be a stronger voice speaking on behalf of children 0-12 years old, to increase collaboration amongst members, to be eligible for a greater breadth of funding opportunities, and to efficiently share administrative supports.

Formed in 2003 as a ‘Children First’ Committee, focused on early childhood development (ECD), the Committee held a region-wide symposium to introduce Children First to Early Childhood Development service providers and to develop an Early Childhood Development Strategic Plan. During this time, the Children First Committee was officially formed, and it developed a mission, vision, guiding principles, terms of reference and decision-making guidelines. The Children First Committee evolved into the New Westminster ECD Steering Committee, formed to oversee the development and implementation of the Early Childhood Development Strategic Plan, and worked closely with key local partners.

Action Teams were formed to work on strategic plan goals and a Community Development Coordinator was hired to support the process.

From 2004 to the present, the committee evolved to meet the changing needs of children, families and the community through:

  • Conducting annual reviews to maintain transparent and accountable practice
  • Employing evidence-based research and reliable local information and data to inform decision-making
  • Creating Action teams
  • Creating an early and middle childhood strategic action plan: the 2015 – 2019 Kids New West Child Development Strategic Plan, completed in August 2015, with re-envisioned mission, vision, values, guiding principles, goals, and objectives