New Westminster: Highway 17 (South Fraser Perimeter Road) at Tannery Road Overpass in Surrey, looking east

The Fraser River defines the setting of New Westminster — its broad tidal channel has shaped a city built on rising ground above an active waterfront. Known as the Royal City, New Westminster served as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia from 1859 until 1866, a role reflected in its long-established civic identity. Historic streets climb from the river toward residential neighbourhoods, while Westminster Pier Park brings public space back to the shoreline. The city is part of Metro Vancouver yet retains a distinct river-port character between Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. Continue to other webcams in Metro Vancouver to compare riverfronts and urban settings around the Fraser River.

British Columbia has served as Canada’s Pacific frontier since joining Confederation in 1871. This vast western province extends from the Pacific coast across the Coast Mountains and interior plateaus to the Canadian Rockies; these coordinates lie in its sparsely settled northern interior. The Fraser, British Columbia’s longest river, drains a large part of the province before reaching the Strait of Georgia. First Nations have shaped these lands for millennia, and their living cultures remain integral to communities throughout the province. Victoria, on Vancouver Island, is the provincial capital, while Vancouver is its largest city and a major Pacific port. Forestry, mining, fisheries and outdoor travel all reflect a terrain where waterways and mountain corridors matter. View additional webcams nearby to better understand how British Columbia’s northern interior relates to its Pacific coast and mountain ranges.

Canada has served as a frontier between French and British colonial powers since the 17th century. The world’s second-largest country extends from Atlantic shores to the Pacific and Arctic coasts, with the Canadian Shield, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River shaping its vast geography. First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples are central to Canada’s identity, while Ottawa’s Parliament Hill represents its federal political life. French remains the official language of Quebec, adding a distinct dimension to the country’s public culture. See how Canada connects across North America by browsing webcams in neighbouring regions.