Club

Quote sheet: Local businesses speak to benefits of proposed USL PRO team in New Westminster

“As a staple of the New Westminster neighbourhood for over 20 years, we fully support the efforts of Vancouver Whitecaps FC to bring a USL PRO team to our community. The positive benefits that this project would bring will have a lasting effect for years to come. We look forward to cheering on the home team!”


Ron Grossman
Paddlewheeler Pub


“We strongly believe in the value of athletics and we think this proposal will create opportunities to develop sport as a whole in our community. We would be pleased to have the Whitecaps as a neighbour.”


Brian McLennon
Manager, Athletics, Douglas College


 “I am a Naturopathic Doctor who has been practicing in the City of New Westminster for over four years. Not only do the Vancouver Whitecaps provide excellent entertainment value on the field but the organization is a class act all around and are excellent corporate citizens. Their work in the community is exemplary and I believe their initiative to bring a USL PRO team to New Westminster will greatly benefit the community. The presence of a USL PRO team will raise the profile of the City, create positive economic benefits, and enhance sport development for New Westminster’s youth. I believe the plans to refurbish Queen’s Park Stadium are an exciting redevelopment opportunity and it would be exciting to see it move forward and attend games in the near future!”


Dr. Allana Polo
Columbia Integrated Health Centre


“The Inn at the Quay would most definitely support this initiative, and would be happy to welcome visiting players, personnel, and supporters to our hotel and to our community.”


Kathy MacKerricher
General Manager, Inn At The Quay


“Chevron Canada is a proud sponsor of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and supporter of the sport of soccer in British Columbia. Chevron has strong links with the residents of New Westminster – through our retail business operations – and is supportive of initiatives that foster economic development and healthy living in the community.”


Adrien Byrne
Spokesperson, Chevron


“I would like to offer my personal and corporate support to the proposed improvements to Queen’s Park Stadium and the introduction of a USL Professional Soccer Franchise to the City of New Westminster. The sport’s accessibility is the key to its community involvement and the lessons and skills picked up on the soccer field can serve a child throughout their lives. I have experienced firsthand the remarkably family friendly atmosphere the Whitecaps organization produces and can honestly tell you that it radiates through each arm of the organization, whether it is the players, the management or the staff. The idea that this can be brought to our hometown is exciting and will be inspirational to the youth both here and in the surrounding areas. We are looking at an opportunity to bring affordable and fun family entertainment on a grand scale right to our doorstep and I look forward to it. What better way to showcase the City that New Westminster is while giving a great new experience to the people who live here. Personally I look forward to bringing my family to games and all the activities that go along with it. Corporately I look forward to another bright spot in the growing New Westminster economy. When I look at the changes that have occurred in the last 20 years I see a city that has emerged as a gleaming gem, one that I am proud to do business in. The corporate world in New Westminster works well with the community and together we achieve greatness through events like the Show and Shine, the Hyack events and the Food Truck Festival. We will be able to expand these events and shine even brighter with an organization as community minded as the Whitecaps.”


Andrea Backman Galasso
Dealer Principal and Partner, Key West Ford Sales Ltd.


“We’re thrilled and excited to have an organization such as Vancouver Whitecaps FC here in our community. It would be fantastic for our young athletes to have this team in the City of New Westminster.”


Karen Nichol
Royal City Physio


“Having hosted an official Whitecaps FC Viewing Party earlier this year, we’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that this organization will have on our community, both from a social and economic perspective. We’re very excited about welcoming fans who live and work in New Westminster, as well as those outside of the city, to come enjoy professional soccer in our backyard.”


Jamie Cates
The Terminal Pub


“Tim Hortons is proud to support Timbits Soccer across the lower mainland and support a USL PRO team in New Westminster to grow community support for the sport and youth soccer.  We have worked closely with Vancouver Whitecaps FC over the past four years to promote soccer, and look forward to the same with a USL team in New Westminster.”


Chris Wakefield
Regional Marketing Manager, Tim Hortons


“For the past 10 years I have operated two software companies in New Westminster, based at Uptown Centre at sixth and sixth. I employ nearly 60 employees, many of whom have moved to live in New Westminster over the past several years. My whole staff is very excited about the prospect of bringing a professional team to New West, and the potential improvements to the stadium to be enjoyed by the community. We use Queen's Park often for company events and our sports activity days, and I see the opportunity to have my companies purchase a large number of season tickets to give to clients and staff as team building events and social activities. We look forward to seeing the City move forward with the right decision to approve the proposal and bring the Whitecaps here next spring!”


Steve Kump
President & CTO, Speed Shift Media


"BMO is very proud to be the Official “Bank of Soccer” in  Canada. We have worked very hard to support this fantastic sport in our communities across the country. From youth teams in local neighbourhoods all the way up to the professional level, we are fully committed and applaud the Whitecaps FC’s goal to bring a USL PRO soccer franchise to New Westminster. This will be a great encouragement for our youth to have a stepping stone into higher levels of 'The Beautiful Game'."
- Michael Bonner
Senior Vice President, BC & Yukon Division, BMO Bank of Montreal
"My family and I own and operate Gino's Restaurant, which has been in Sapperton in New Westminster since 1972. We support all of our local sports teams and we're big Whitecaps FC supporters. We'd be thrilled to see this team here in our community and we'd like to help in any way to see this through."
- George Glavas
Owner, Gino's Restaurant

"As Premier Founding Partner of Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Bell proudly supports the club’s proposal to bring a USL PRO franchise to New Westminster. It’s an initiative that will further build on soccer’s growing popularity in B.C. while helping to fuel economic development in the New Westminster community.


- Wade Oosterman
Chief Brand Officer, Bell Canada
As the September 15 deadline approaches, New Westminster residents and businesses are encouraged to write to Mayor and Council with their feedback to 
explore_whitecaps@newwestcity.ca
.