Tri-City May Days 2023

Welcome from the Mayor

There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of the 100th Port Coquitlam May Days Spring Festival! The excitement is building in our community to celebrate this important milestone We have an extensive line up of events and activities for everyone to enjoy and participate This centennial event is one that no one will want to miss!

Join council and community leaders as we kick off the 100th Annual May Days Festival at 7:30 pm on Friday, May 5, with the opening ceremonies in the spectator arena at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre

Enjoy the official opening, which includes the installation of the Royal Party and maypole dances performed by local elementary school children and seniors

Join us Saturday, May 13 in downtown Port Coquitlam for a FREE full

day of family fun

Starting at 10 am, bring your lawn chair and join our community as we line the streets of downtown Port Coquitlam to cheer on the kids in the May Days Bike Race At 11am, watch the vibrant parade floats and marching bands come to life along Shaughnessy Street Make sure you stick around for the Party in the Square starting at 12pm which will be held at the Terry Fox Hometown Square to enjoy May Days Market, entertainment, refreshments and our community spirit at its best

The participation of our residents, sponsors and volunteers are what make May Days so special I’d like to give a special thank you to our May Day Committee members, the Rotary Club of Port Coquitlam Centennial and our volunteers for the countless hours they put in and to the Department

of Canadian Heritage for their generous financial contribution Thank you also to all our sponsors who have also played a part in making this a successful event On behalf of City Council, we look forward to having you join us for our biggest celebration yet, the 100th May Days Celebrations - be a part of history! Further details can be found on the City’s website, social media channels and in your local newspaper

Please return, to enter the draw 130-2637 Shaughnessy Street

Name: Number: May 15 - August 15, 2023

Mayor Brad West

Brad West Mayor, Port Coquitlam

May Day Street Banners

Archival photos from the last 100 years of May Day are featured on banners throughout the city, the Port Coquitlam Community Centre and City Hall These photos give us a glimpse into the people, places, and events that have made their mark on the history of our city’s celebration

Some banners feature May Queens like Helen Berry crowned the first year the Women’s Institute organized the event in 1925 and Victorine Young shown in 1929 enthroned among flowers The banners also feature important PoCo May Day traditions such as the Parade and Royal Party procession

2023 Royal Party

May Queen: Natalie Willemse; Ambassador: Carter Wainwright

Flower Girls: Audrey Osborne, Chloe Comey, Donya Soltani, Marwa Dinari (First Princess), Olivia Weisgerber, Scarlette Bower

Jr Lancers: Aiden Read Alex Wainwright Connor Wa Kolob Ho Kyle Marples Ryan Smith

Princesses: Alivia Heavenor, Claire Robbie, Cristina Hara, Elissa Sadeghpour, Grace Zhao, Isabelle Johnston, Lydia Alemu, Maanya Sood, Natalie Willemse, Kacey Herrera, Lily Muir, Maryam Dinari, Zoe Milne

Lancers: Alan Shong, Benjamin Nicoll, Brenden Lui, Carter Wainwright, Charles Amirault, Daniel Alvarez (Record Bearer), Javier Johnston, Nathan Patel, Ryden Wu, Sudhanwa Koundinya

Time capsules

As part of this year ’ s celebration we will be uncovering the past with a time capsule! The capsule was buried in Veterans Park in 1998 as part of the 75th Anniversary of May Day, to be opened on the centennial anniversary Look out for more details on the opening and ways to contribute to a new capsule set to be buried as part of this year ’ s festivities

Friday, May 5th

Opening Ceremonies

Doors open 7:00pm | Opening Ceremony 7:30pm | Jon Baillie Arena – Port Coquitlam Community Centre, 2150 Wilson Ave

Enjoy the official opening of the 100th annual May Day Festival, which includes the presentation of the Royal Party, Maypole dances performed by local children and dance performances choreographed by 1 Vibe Entertainment Musical entertainment by Marie Hui Duo and performance by Underground Circus

Friday, May 5 - Sunday, May 7

Art Focus Artists’ Association Spring Show

May 5, 9pm | May 6 & 7, 11am – 5pm | The Outlet, Leigh Square

Drop by the Outlet in Leigh Square to see Art Focus members’ beautiful works of art at the group ’ s annual Spring Art Show a May Days tradition All are welcome!

Saturday, May 6th

May Days Readers & Writers Festival - TriCityWordsmiths

10am – 5pm | Port Coquitlam Community Centre

The May Days Readers & Writers Festival features a full day of panel discussions writing workshops and more Featured speakers include authors Iona Whishaw, JJ Lee, and Gisela Woldenga, slam poet Izzy Herbert, and local writers Farida Somjee, Collen VanNiekirk, and Bill Arnott The Tri-City Wordsmiths are presenting the festival at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre in celebration of their 10th anniversary as a writing club in the Tri-Cities, with support from the PoCo Community Foundation

Book Fair & Market Hall

10am – 4pm

Stop by the Mabbett Hall for a lively Book Fair and Market Meet local writers and explore their books, play writing games, participate in a short workshop or two, cozy up for story time, discover a new poet or local history writer, or read at the Open Mic Have fun, play with words, and find a new story (or three) to take home with you

Tile Painting Workshop

Join local artists Melissa Burgher and Joanne Dennis in workshops that will include tile painting on May 6, creating the temporary labyrinth on May 8, and a labyrinth walk on May 9 Details and pre-registration at portcoquitlam ca/register

Magic Writing Tent

Ages 6 - 12 | 12 – 1pm and 2 – 3pm

Michael Wright Art Gallery at the Gathering Place

When you enter the Magic Tent, you enter a world where transformation is possible! What is fun and magical for you about spring? Pre-registration required at portcoquitlam ca/register

Saturday, May 13th

May Days Market

on Wilson Avenue - 12 – 6 pm

Saturday, May 13th

· May Days Market - local food, artisans and businesses

· Community Safety Fair - Quake Cottage, Police Vehicles and Fire Trucks

· Youth Zone - PoCo Youth games and activities

· City Info Tent

· Food Trucks – Big Red Poutine and Patricia’s Catering

· Little Sprockets bike course for young children

· Musical performers and activities

· Interactive business demonstrations

· Terry Fox Library Craft Activity

Friday, May 12th

SD43 Student Art Show

Opening

6 – 8pm | Michael Wright Art Gallery

Imaginings V: A Collection of Port Coquitlam Student Artwork

The Imaginings V Exhibition highlights the breadth, depth and possibilities of ideas made by local students of Terry Fox and Riverside Secondary Schools

This year ’ s exhibition features some artworks inspired by the United Nations Global Goal #14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources

Pancake Breakfast

The Outlet | 8 – 11am

A pre-parade tradition – enjoy a pancake breakfast with the whole family Proceeds to the 4th PoCo Scouts: $5 00

May Days Kids Bike Race

10 – 10:45am | Downtown Port Coquitlam

The Kids’ Bike Race will be divided into three heats racing the 1 3 kilometre course: ages three to four years old at 10:15 a m racing 100 metres, ages 5 to 8 years old at 10:25 a m racing 1 kilometre and nine to 12 years old racing 1 3 kilometre at 10:35 a m Visit portcoquitlam.ca/maydays for details

Port Coquitlam Rotary May Day Parade

Parade Start Time – 11am

Enjoy marching bands floats and many laughs Parade route is Shaughnessy to Elgin Elgin to Mary Hill Mary Hill to Hawthorne ending on Tyner Road Road closures go into effect at 9am

Saturday,

May 13th Party in the Square

12 – 10pm | Terry Fox Hometown Square, Port Coquitlam Community Centre

· Beverage Garden

· BBQ

· Carnival Rides and Games

· Food Trucks on Kelly Avenue - Cazba Express, Mister Taco and Little Ooties

· Market food vendors - Gary’s Kettle Corn, Cotton Candy/Caramel Apples, Banana Bike

· Art Zone – (until 8pm) Arts & Culture, PoCo Heritage and PoCo Arts Council

· Family Quiet Space

Saturday,

Ron

Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam

ron mckinnon@parl gc ca

604-927-1080

101-3278 Westwood St, Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 3L8

Valid only at COBS Bread Oxford Market • Present voucher to receive offer • Not redeemable for cash or with any other offer • One voucher per customer per day

• Invalid if reproduced • Expires August 31, 2023.

April 26 – June 23

PoCo Heritage May Days Photo

Exhibitions

City Hall | Port Coquitlam Community Centre

Celebrate the history of May Days in the Port Coquitlam Community Centre and City Hall by taking a look back at the last 100 years

Photographs, artifacts, and records straight from the archives will be on display from April 26th - June 23, 2023

The exhibit in the Port Coquitlam Community Centre take you through photographs of each decade leading up to the present, delving into various aspects of May Day and informed by the experiences of those who made May Day what it is today The exhibit in City Hall highlights the origins of PoCo’s celebration and the changing look of May Day through a display of Royal Party attire throughout the years

May Days Flash Fiction Contest

April 12 to May 13

Port Coquitlam residents who love to write are invited enter the May Days Flash Fiction Contest, open April 12 to May 13 To enter the contest, write a short fairytale of less than 750 words, set in Port Coquitlam, that contains a magic item and the number 100

The winning story will be featured on the City of Port Coquitlam’s Donald Street Storywalk and the author will win $75 gift card to Western Sky books Two runnersup will also win gift cards to Western Sky Books The Flash Fiction contest is a collaboration between the City of Port Coquitlam and the Terry Fox Library Visit portcoquitlam.ca/maydays for details

Calendar of Events

Schedule of 100th May Days Events

May 5

• Opening Ceremonies;

• Art Focus Spring Art Show

May 6:

• May Days Readers & Writers Festival;

• Art Focus Spring Art Show;

• Magic Writing Tent

May 7:

• Art Focus Spring Art Show

• Earth-Walk + Write

May 8:

• Building Temporary Labyrinth Walk

May 11:

• Port Coquitlam Farmers Market on Kelly Avenue

• PoCo Heritage Photo Exhibit Opening

May 12:

• SD43 Student Art Show Opening Reception

May 13:

Thank you to our community partners: PoCo Arts Council, TriCity Wordsmiths, PoCo Foundation, Art Focus, SD43, Terry Fox Library, Kinsmen, Scouts, Kinsight

• Pancake Breakfast

• Rotary May Day Parade

• May Days Party in the Square

The MAY DAY Committee and the City of Port Coquitlam THANK all volunteers, performers, supporters and participants who have contributed to the 100th Annual May Day Festival.

SPONSORED BY:

Port Coquitlam Centennial

portcoquitlam.ca/maydays