Bringing Our Community Together to Rebuild Hope
When a fire displaces families from their homes, the immediate response matters. But so does what happens weeks later, when the cameras leave, the initial donations have been distributed, and families are still trying to rebuild their lives.
That is where The Common Table began.
Following the Pinecrest Manor fire in New Westminster, a group of CentreCanada youth asked a simple question:
“How can we help?”
They decided that watching from the sidelines was not enough.
What began with a group of young people has grown into a community-wide effort bringing together residents, businesses, community organizations, elected officials, emergency support representatives, volunteers and neighbours.
100% of donations raised through this campaign go toward supporting those affected. CentreCanada does not retain any portion of the funds, including for the administration of the campaign or event.
And the campaign is still going.
The Common Table
On August 22, 2026, we brought the community together around one table at CentreCanada’s New Westminster headquarters.
The evening included:
- A community dinner
- Musical performances
- Stand-up comedy
- A silent auction
- Artwork created by our summer school students
- Youth organizers sharing why they stepped forward
- Local businesses and community partners
- Community leaders and elected officials
- Neighbours coming together in support of neighbours
The event generated more than $15,000 in pledges toward the campaign.
But for us, the number was only part of the story.
The real impact was seeing people who might otherwise never sit together around the same table come together for families in their own community. Freshet News described the event as a fundraiser organized by CentreCanada that brought community members together six weeks after the fire.
It started with our youth
The initiative was led by CentreCanada youth who spent weeks preparing, reaching out to guests, organizing the venue and bringing people together.
They did not wait for someone else to solve the problem.
They asked what they could do, and then they did it.
Their message was simple:
This is our community. These are our neighbours. We show up for our neighbours.
Our youngest supporters showed up too
Our summer school students wanted to contribute as well.
They picked up their paintbrushes and created artwork that was auctioned at The Common Table, with proceeds going toward the campaign.
For children who could not rebuild someone’s home or replace everything a family had lost, this was their way of helping.
A small act of creativity became part of something much bigger.
The community showed up
The Common Table brought together people from across New Westminster and beyond.
Businesses opened their doors and supported the effort. Community organizations joined in. Volunteers gave their time. Youth took responsibility. Neighbours gave what they could.
And people sat together.
Because sometimes rebuilding hope begins with something as simple as showing up.
The story reached beyond the room
The Common Table was covered by Freshet News, which reported that the dinner generated more than $15,000 in pledges and highlighted the role of CentreCanada’s youth organizers.
Read the full story:
Freshet News: Dinner raises more than $15,000 in pledges for displaced New Westminster residents
We are also continuing to share the campaign and its progress through our social channels.
The table is still open
The Common Table was one evening.
The campaign continues.
There are still families rebuilding after the fire, and there are still ways for our community to help.
Whether you are an individual, a family, a business, a community organization or a local leader, you can be part of this effort.
Donate. Share the campaign. Bring someone else to the table.
Every contribution helps us move closer to our goal.
Help us reach it.
100% of campaign donations go toward supporting those affected by the fire. CentreCanada retains no portion of the funds.