Tri-City News May 11 2023

MPquestions continueduse of‘Maillardville’

Diane Strandberg dstrandberg@tricitynews.com

The historic neighbourhood of Maillardville, located at an important crossroad between Burnaby and New Westminster, has long been Coquitlam’s most prominent heritage community.

But now Maillardville is about to be ejected from the federal Port Moody–Coquitlam riding and possibly linked with neighbouring municipalities for a new riding to be called New Westminster–Burnaby–Maillardville.

However, the two MPs most affected with this most recent change Port Moody–Coquitlam MP Bonita Zarrillo

and New Westminster–Burnaby

MP Peter Julian oppose the move.

Julian disagrees with adding an extra city to the riding, noting that it doesn’t reflect communities of interest.

Zarrillo takes an even stronger stronger stance, arguing against the change and calling for Maillardville to be reinstated into her riding.

Her Austin Avenue constituency office would no longer be in the riding by 2024 if the redistribution goes ahead as planned.

Jettisoning Maillardville from Coquitlam would effectively exile the community

DIANE STRANDBERG/TRI-CITY NEWS

Dave Jonsson, a professional skateboarder and motivational speaker, believes this spot under SkyTrain in

Father Maillard principal at residential school

from organizations and other ties with which it has had a long association, Zarrillo told a federal hearing in mid-April

She said the change was done without consultation, especially with the Kwikwetlem First Nation, whose two reservations would be in two different ridings.

Zarrillo also questions whether the name “Maillardville” should be included in the name of a federal riding.

With Canada at a time of reconciliation with Indigenous people, Zarrillo said using the name was “unconscionable” because Father Maillard, the community’s namesake, worked at residential schools in B.C.

“To perpetuate this name, and to elevate this name in a new riding in 2023 when he was also a principal of a residential school in northern B.C., is unconscionable,” Zarrillo told the commission

When contacted by the TriCity News, Zarrillo did not back down from her statement but expanded on her point

“During this time of reconciliation, we should not be elevating that name based on the fact that we know that Father

Maillard was a principal of a residential school and the history around that,” she said.

However, she balked at getting rid of the name completely.

“I think there’s a conversation right now how we are handling the new learnings,” she said

“I’m not advocating the removal of names I’m advocating that we don’t perpetuate without knowledge about those names.”

Coquitlam’s museum has

already begun the research. Coquitlam Heritage executive director Candrina Bailey said historians have found letters and other documents, such as a ferry manifest and a newspaper article, that confirm Father Maillard’s ties to B.C residential schools

Information to be presented soon to the Coquitlam Heritage Society’s board of directors suggests Father Maillard worked at St. Joseph’s Mission

Residential School in Williams Lake for a number of years after he left Maillardville, as well as at Sechelt Indian Residential School, which has a history write-up in Canada’s Centre for Truth and Reconciliation online archive.

No incidents involving Father Maillard are listed at the Sechelt school during his time.

As for St. Joseph’s, an investigation into 93 unmarked graves was announced in early 2022

But Bailey said the museum is in the early phase of its inquiry about Father Maillard’s involvement in residential schools.

“We are committed to truth and reconciliation and we need to make sure if it was true [he worked at residential schools]. We didn’t ignore it,” Bailey said.

Johanne Dumas, executive and artistic director of the Société francophone de Maillardville, said she’s surprised by MP Zarrillo’s stand on not using the name Maillardville in the riding moniker.

Dumas told the Tri-City News she wrote a letter to the MP, siding with her in opposition to removing Maillardville from the Port Moody–Coquitlam riding.

But Dumas said she has “never heard a whisper” against Father Maillard in her 37 years with the francophone cultural organization.

“I have never heard anything so I can’t put accusations against someone just by making them guilty by association,” said Dumas.

She said she’s heard nothing but good things about the priest, including from former students who visited her from France during Maillardville’s 100th anniversary Father Maillard moved to France and taught at a Canadian college, she said, and when the former students visited they were complimentary of the man.

“They all were unanimous at how nice that man was and how kind he was and how he shared his love and passion for Canada”

While she supports Zarrillo in keeping Maillardville in the Coquitlam riding, and admitted to being well aware of issues surrounding residential schools and their impact on indigenous people, Dumas said people shouldn’t make assumptions without facts.

“I haven’t heard anything,” Dumas said.

DIANE STRANDBERG/TRI-CITY NEWS

Maillardville is the heart of Coquitlam’s historic French-Canadian community But it could be split in a proposed change to federal ridings and an MP questions if its name should continue.

Don Drysdale Richard Rainey Alexander Huxtable

Elderly pedestrian killed in collision

Diane Strandberg dstrandberg@tricitynews.com

Coquitlam RCMP is investigating a fatal accident involving a motorcycle and an elderly pedestrian that occurred Sunday morning (May 7) in the Burquitlam neighbourhood.

According to a police press release, Mounties received the call at 9:34 a.m. to attend the area of Clarke Road and Smith Avenue after a motorcyclist struck a pedestrian.

The motorcyclist was travelling westbound on Clarke Road as the pedestrian was crossing Clarke Road near the McDonald’s restaurant, located at 531 Clarke Rd. in Coquitlam

The motorcyclist collided with an

Driversnotgettingthemessage

83-year-old pedestrian, who was transported to hospital.

The pedestrian later succumbed to their injuries

The motorcyclist remained on scene to speak with police.

Cpl Alexa Hodgins, media relations officer with the Coquitlam RCMP, said the General Investigative Section (GIS) has taken on the file and victim services has been engaged.

Coquitlam RCMP are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have video between 9:15 a m and 10 a m on Sunday, May 7 along Clark Road near Smith Avenue in Coquitlam to contact the Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550, quoting file number 2023-11691

Buntzen Lake parking reservations

BC Hydro is bringing back a free online parking reservation system for Buntzen Lake for 2023. Between May 16 and September 4, all drivers will need to make a reservation online before arriving. Reservations can be made at 7 a.m. the day before your visit. Morning, afternoon, and all-day passes are available.

For more information, visit: bchydro.com/buntzen

Apparently “Distracted Driving Month” didn’t deter many motorists from bad behaviours.

In the latest statistics available, Coquitlam RCMP traffic service commander S/Sgt. Mark McCutcheon said 1,484 violation tickets were

issued in March, when police were reminding motorists to take more care behind the wheel.

The violations included 582 fines in high accident zones across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra an average of five tickets per day and

a 25 per cent increase from the 464 issued in February and 49 per cent from the 392 in January.

“It’s a little disappointing to be issuing this many tickets,” said McCutcheon.

“We would like to think that people are getting

the message to leave their phones alone.”

From its March campaign, 229 tickets were written by Coquitlam RCMP for “unlawful driving behaviour” on Highway 7B and in the area of Coast Meridian Road.

Before accessing public long term care, meet the caring staff at Shaughnessy Seniors Community. We are here to support families with 24/7 accredited care and a cozy home-like community. Call

What’sNew? WhatCoquitlamHasInStorefor2023

Withthehelpofmillionsofdollarsingrantsand non-taxrevenue,Coquitlam’s2023CapitalPlanisin fullswing:

• OverhaulsofSpaniPool,TownCentrePark CommunityCentre(formerlytheInnovation Centre),anewoutdoorcommunityplazaat MaillardvilleCommunityCentreandthestartof civicservicesatthefutureBurkeMountain SecondarySchool/Parksite

• Upgradestomorethanadozenparks,includingan updatedtrack/newartificialturfatTownCentre Parkandimprovementstoplaygrounds,irrigation, fencing,backstopsandcourtsthroughouttheCity

• Activetransportationenhancementsincludingthe firststageoftheGuildfordGreenway,anew multi-usepathonLougheedHighway,and sidewalk/pathwayextensiononAustinAvenue

• City-wideroadimprovementsincludingvarious paving,lightingandsignalupgradesalong LougheedHighwayandMarinerWay.

• UtilityworksincludingupgradestotheFosterWater PumpStation,newstormandsanitationseweron UpperVictoriaDriveandPollardStreet,and continuationofsewer,drainage,roadand environmentalupgradesatCedarDriveand PartingtonCreek

• Streetscapeenhancementsincludinglighting, publicartandstreetfurniturethroughoutthe community

Tofindoutmore,pleasevisitcoquitlam.ca/news

Monday,May15

Council-in-Committee2pm PublicHearing7p.m.

8pm coquitlam.ca/council coquitlam.ca/agendas

BuildinganInclusiveCommunity 2023Equity,DiversityandInclusion Workplan

The2023workplansupportsCoquitlam’s commitmenttoincorporatinganEDIperspectiveinall aspectsoftheCity’swork.Coquitlamhasadaptedthe GlobalDiversity,EquityandInclusionBenchmarks,to helpguideCityinitiativesthroughfourfocusareas:

• Foundational–DrivetheStrategy:EnsuringEDI prioritiesarereflectedinday-to-daywork

• Bridging–AlignandContext:Usingdatatodrive andenhanceEDIworkandcommunications

• External–ListentoandServeCommunity:Building relationshipswithexternalgroupsandremoving barrierstoserviceaccess

• Internal–AttractandRetainPeople:Removing barrierstoemploymentandadvancement Tolearnmore,pleasevisitcoquitlam.ca/EDI

NeighbourhoodNews

City-WideGarageSale&GiveawayEvent

RegisterbyFriday,May26at4p.m.forourCity-Wide GarageSaleandGiveawayevent Theeventtakes placeonSaturday,May27andSunday,May28from 9am to1pm

Residentscanparticipateononeorbothdaysandcan chosetosellorgiveawayitems Theeventisopento single-family/duplexhomes,aswellasmulti-family homeswhoconfirmthepropertyowner,property managerorStratahasapprovedparticipation. Toregister,pleasevisitcoquitlam.ca/GarageSale

FitnessandFun

EnhancedSwimmingandWaterPlay OptionsthisSummer

DuringtheconstructionoftheSpaniPoolrenewal project,Coquitlamresidentsandvisitorsstillhave manyopportunitiesforswimmingandwaterplaythis summer:

• EarlyopeningofEagleRidgePool–May1for aquaticusergroupsandJune3forthepublic;public admissionisonly$2

• Theannualmaintenanceclosureofthepoolat PoirierSportandLeisureComplexhasbeen rescheduledtothefall.

• CityCentreAquaticComplexoffersarobust scheduleofdrop-inswimming,aquafitand swimminglessons

• Tenno-costsprayparkslocatedthroughoutthecity andBlueMountainWadingpool

• Newfreepop-upparkeventsthatwillincludean inflatablewaterslide,slipandslideandotherfun activities–SpiritSquareonJuly22andMundyPark onJuly23

• Coquitlam’sSummerChild&YouthPassgoeson saleMay23,whichprovidesunlimitedadmission forthoseunder18toCoquitlam’sdrop-inactivities, includingpoolaccessfromJune16toSept 4 Availableatcoquitlamca/SummerPass

• Coquitlam’sBettieAllardYMCAwilloffersadditional swimhoursforCoquitlamresidents Visit gvymcaca/coquitlam-resident-access-ratetolearn moreaboutthescheduleandrates

Tolearnmoreaboutavailableoutdoorpoolsandspray parks,pleasevisitcoquitlam.ca/OutdoorPools

TheSummer2023ProgramGuideisnowavailableonlineat coquitlam.ca/ProgramGuide Registrationwillopenformost campsandprogramsonWednesday,May17at8:30am

HowtoRegister?

• Onlineatcoquitlam.ca/registration

• Phone-inregistrationisavailableat604-927-4386,weekdays 8:30a.m.to6p.m.(exceptforstatutoryholidays)andweekends 10am to2pm

• Youcanalsoregisterin-personatmanyofourrecreationfacilities

WateringRestrictions May1–Oct15

Housing,trafficandCrunchmice

Comments, concerns and even a congratulations came before Coquitlam City Council at Tuesday’s spring townhall meeting.

Council and senior managers filled the council chambers and fielded more than a dozen questions from the public on topics ranging from affordable housing and traffic safety to the tree canopy and child care

But there were also a few out-of-the-ordinary topics raised like the lack of hospital in Coquitlam, the rodents around the Coquitlam Crunch trail and the possibility of setting up cannabis smoke lounges in the city.

Mayor Richard Stewart answered most of the questions, which were delivered in person or via Zoom or Slido; however, in many cases, his answer was simple: That’s the provincial government’s jurisdiction.

On topics such as affordable housing and child care, council and staff spoke about the city’s policies, procedures and plans while also mentioning the downloading of responsibilities by the B.C government

Phil Buchan, who ran for council in last fall’s civic

elections, talked about the “record number of renovictions and demovictions in the past five years” in Coquitlam. He’s currently helping a friend find another home, but rents for a one-bedroom place range from $1,500 to $1,700 a month, he said

He encouraged council to provide more below- and nonmarket housing in the city

Stewart countered that city hall is doing what it can to offer incentives to developers and apply for provincial grants for housing projects.

In fact, the mayor argued, Coquitlam has been such a leader in creating affordable homes that the province is giving Coquitlam a pass when it comes to money requests and giving them to municipalities not stepping up

Genevieve Bucher, Coquitlam’s director of community planning, said Coquitlam has spent $17 million to help create affordable homes.

Coquitlam residents also posed questions about the urban planning concept on Burke Mountain, where the commercial district will be centralized in the Partington

Creek neighbourhood; the need for more garbage bins along Burke trails; cycling connections throughout the city; and dangerous trees.

On the lack of hospital, Stewart pointed again to the provincial government, which owns and runs healthcare institutions in B.C “We’ve been nagging the province,” he said, noting the city “offered up Riverview”; however, the province opted to rebuild Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, which he predicted will have cost overruns. “The Tri-Cities needs a full-sized hospital. We are underserved now.”

Still, the increasing high-rise construction in the western neighbourhood of Oakdale drew the biggest concerns for council and staff

While one homeowner said he supports the densification, he said the concentration of heavy machinery and tradespeople is making Oakdale dangerous to get around.

And Dave Irving of the Oakdale Neighbourhood Association said his group is working with area developers to better coordinate road closures

Homelessness post funded for two years

Coquitlam formalized its funding contribution this week to pay for part of the coordinator position with the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group Group co-chairs Keir Macdonald and Cristina Pereira appeared before Monday’s council-incommittee to talk about the part-time co-ordinator’s work that will cost Coquitlam $25,040 for the next two years, based on the Simon Fraser cost-sharing formula with Port Coquitlam ($9,587) and Port Moody ($6,015) Coquitlam council earmarked the money last December in its 2023 budget The co-ordinator’s role is currently filled by Polly Krier, an Anmore village councillor. Besides city representatives, the task group includes a large crosssection of stakeholders from officials with Douglas College and the Fraser Health Authority to developers,

businesses and non-profit groups.

Founded in 2007, the task group addresses topics such as homelessness, affordable housing, and mental health and addiction services in the Tri-Cities

This work includes helping BC Housing with the supportive shelter at the Sure Stay Hotel and organizing the winter shelter program at TriCity churches, as well as the extreme weather response shelter at the Kyle Centre in Port Moody.

In a letter to the three mayors, the group said the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing drug poisoning crisis and affordability issues created “unprecedented challenges” for the community over the past few years.

“This has made finding safe, secure and appropriate housing an unattainable goal for many,” Macdonald and Pereira wrote.

Save

Dilapidatedhousemaysoonbedemolished

DIANE STRANDBERG dstrandberg@tricitynews.com

BC Housing may soon demolish a dilapidated 1940s era home sitting behind construction fencing at 2365 Kelly Ave., in Port Coquitlam.

The housing agency has been roundly criticized by city council including Mayor Brad West for failing to take action to knock down the building it purchased in 2021 for a 50-bed supportive housing project for people with mental health concerns.

At its meeting last Tuesday (May 2), Port Coquitlam council agreed to a remedial action order requiring BC Housing to deal with the house that is covered in graffiti; it has also been a home to squatters and a dumping ground since 2016

“It’s a sad statement we’re here having to take this step It’s not a common step,” said West, who called the situation “embarrassing” for the province and the Ministry of Housing.

According to a staff report, the house has been the subject of 13 complaints, most of them prior

to BC Housing’s ownership, but the property still doesn’t meet city standards.

The building, constructed in 1948 and located on one of two properties slated for the BC Housing development, is considered to be a “nuisance” and a “hazard,” according to the city that wants it down within 30 days

Several councillors also expressed concerns about the house that is next to a newer

apartment building.

“Without question, it’s dilapidated,” said Coun. Nancy McCurrach.

“The building rests almost on an apartment next to it and is potentially a fire hazard.”

Council was told that BC Housing has been contacted repeatedly, but as yet hasn’t presented a plan for demolishing the building

Adding to the challenges is the fact that while BC

Housing announced it had purchased properties at 2365 and 2371 Kelly Ave. at a cost of approximately $6.1 million, no further funding announcements for constructing the apartments have been made.

In October 2022, the society that will operate the supportive housing project penned a letter asking where the money was after hearing nothing for months.

The New View Society, which

provides supportive housing and programs for people with mental health concerns, was hoping for a commitment to see the housing built.

Now though, it appears BC Housing might be ready to do some work on the project or at least take responsibility for demolishing the house.

In a statement, the housing agency told the Tri-City News that it was working on “next steps”

“Through new funding under Budget 2023, BC Housing is working on next steps, including demolition of the existing single-dwelling structure which will address many of the property issues and plans for the proposed new development,” stated Tim Chamberlin, senior communications advisor with BC Housing in an email “BC Housing will be reaching out to the city to discuss the future development of the site,” he added.

Once built, the proposed sixstorey, 50-unit building would provide 30 studio suites and 20 two-bedroom apartments as well as a clubhouse program.

DIANE STRANDBERG/TRI-CITY NEWS

An abandoned house on property owned by BC Housing has been deemed a “nuisance” and a “hazard” by the City of Port Coquitlam, which is calling for its immediate demolition.

in the Tri-Cities. Where are the cheapest gas prices right now?

BrewStreetisstayingonewaypermanently

MARIO BARTEL mbartel@tricitynews com

A busy street in Port Moody’s Suter Brook Village will stay one way.

At its meeting on April 25, council endorsed a staff recommendation on a pilot project to make Brew Street one way permanently.

The aim is to improve pedestrian safety in the dense mixed-use neighbourhood that includes condos, shops and offices

The pilot project was implemented after years of complaints from residents about speeding cars, vehicles circling Suter Brook’s streets looking for free curbside parking spots, commercial vehicles impeding traffic and pedestrians, as well as inattentive drivers

In addition to restricting traffic to one way on Brew Street, temporary curb extensions were built where the private road intersects with Suter Brook Way and signs advising motorists of turning restrictions were erected.

In a report to council, Port Moody traffic engineer Geoffrey Keyworth said a consulting

company hired by the city to monitor the temporary measures noted:

• pedestrians had an easier time crossing Suter Brook Way and there were fewer near-miss

incidents with vehicles

• there were fewer pick-ups and drop-offs from vehicles at a

90 degree bend on Brew Street

• it was easier for motorists to get around delivery trucks

• drivers tended to stick to appropriate speeds

Keyworth said Port Moody police observed similar compliance and the public expressed general appreciation for the effort.

He added the development’s owner, Onni Group, will now be directed to make the calming measures on Brew Street permanent at its expense

Other initiatives of the overall traffic calming plan for the neighbourhood include:

• extending the median on Murray Street to prevent left turns from Murray into Suter Brook Village

• removing the right-turn channels at Murray and Morrisey so traffic has to slow down when entering and exiting the neighbourhood

• raising intersections along Morrisey Road at Brew Street, Suter Book Way and Capilano Way, as well as at the intersection of Brew Street and Suter Brook Way

• constructing more curb extensions at other intersections

MARIO BARTEL/TRI-CITY NEWS

Brew Street in Suter Brook Village will stay one way after a pilot project, and temporary curb extensions marked by planters will also become permanent fixtures to help calm traffic in the neighbourhood.

OPINIONS & more

COVID-19healthemergencycomestoanti-climacticend

When it came, it was with more of a whimper rather than a bang.

The World Health Organization’s declaration last Friday that the COVID-19 public health emergency is officially over no doubt struck many as anti-climactic, to say the least.

In fact, I suspect many people had assumed the emergency ended months ago as we have largely returned to “normal” life for quite some time now

Crowds have gathered in large numbers, mask wearing is optional, and the vast majority (85 per cent) of British Columbians are fully vaccinated. Those one-way shopping aisles (remember them?) and social distanc-

ing markers disappeared long ago

But COVID-19 has not disappeared and is highly unlikely to. It is now an established pathogen around the world, and it continues to inflict damage to parts of our population, particularly the elderly

For example, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reports that in the last week of April, 175 people were in hospital after testing positive for the virus, and 16 of those were in critical care

During the last six months almost half the deaths of people who had recently tested positive for COVID-19 resulted from the virus being the underlying cause of death (these primarily involve people over the age of 70)

New COVID-19 variants continue to emerge as well. The latest is called XBB.1.16 (nicknamed “Arcturus”), and it was first detected in India

But our high vaccination rate means the ongoing existence of COVID-19 will likely not pose the kind of threat it did before the vaccines did their job.

As of the start of this month, more than 35,000 people had been hospitalized with the virus since the pandemic was declared, with the median age being 70 years

More than 7,100 were sick enough to be in critical care and more than 4,000 people died (the median age being 82 years).

The emergency exposed many things, some of them good and some

of them bad

The rapid development of COVID19 vaccines was a miracle of sorts, given the historically slow pace of creating other vaccines.

However, a visible and vocal anti-science community emerged, and so did conspiracy theories largely associated with the far-right fringe. There were deep divisions in some communities, and many found themselves in isolation for much of the pandemic

Still, we have come through it all and are in a much better place than we were for the first two years or so of the pandemic.

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

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Cityfacilitiesfallshortforskateboarders’needs

The Editor: Skateboarding really gets the short end of the stick when it comes to usable spaces

On paper, it looks good that the cities have made all these new skate spots in the community

But I’m sorry to say that they are a big waste of money because they don’t cater to all skateboarders; they are small and made to cater to beginners

The one up in Sheffield Park in

Coquitlam shares its space with a garden and a basketball/hockey net

If there is any other sport going on there, you can’t skateboard safely

My son is nine years old born and raised in Port Coquitlam He has dreams of going to the Olympics for skateboarding.

We have been driving to New Westminster for close to four years every dry day, as it has the best bowl in the Lower Mainland.

But even that city is missing the point: I see lights all over the park for other sports in the winter months while we’re left standing in the dark

We would really like to see a real skate park built one that would consist of vert, bowl and street.

Not every child wants to play soccer or hockey.

We end up in the Real Canadian Superstore underground parking lot, sharing the space with the homeless who have come over from the RainCity shelter at 3030 Gordon Ave in Coquitlam.

We go to Surrey’s Chuck Bailey skate park because there

are lights and a covered bowl; however, every winter, when we need the space, there is fire, garbage, drug paraphernalia and God knows what

Basically, at the end of the day, we don’t need any more small, temporary spots.

We are in desperate need of a real spot were people can feel safe to learn and, if they want, to advance to a pro level

Brian Cunningham Port Coquitlam

SHAWN HENRY/UNSPLASH

Skateboarders in the Tri-Cities need more facilities that cater to their needs safely, says a local parent

SCIENCE EXPO 2023 iNSPIRATION. iNVESTIGATION. iNNOVATION

Our citizen-scientists in the Middle, Junior, and Senior categories wowed judges on Saturday with their demonstrations, each winner netting cold hard cash for their submissions

In our Elementary Category (Grades 4 and 5), all students received an identical gift card prize as a celebration of their inspiration, investigation and innovation in presenting their experiments to the panel of judges!

A sincere thanks to:

• The wonderful judges from Douglas College who volunteered their time

• Devon Ross and our partners at School District 43 for spreading word about the event

• The Fountainhead Network for providing a special prize for the Senior category

Saturday, May 6 | 11:00am–3:00pm City Centre Branch, 1169 Pinetree Way

SENIOR CATEGORY

(Grades 11 and 12)

1ST PLACE

Chris Cheng and Derek Yu

JUNIOR CATEGORY

(Grades 9 and 10)

MIDDLE CATEGORY

(Grades 6, 7, and 8)

Drop in and be amazed

Using Delta-wave Propagation to Induce Sleep

2ND PLACE

Erika Pieper

Art + Ecology

1ST PLACE

Daniel Zhang

Neural Sommeliers

2ND PLACE

Ariel Shi

Blooming Squares

by local

1ST PLACE

Kythan Hsu

How Different Oils Burn

2ND PLACE

students’ experiments and

innovations.

Aamya Sood and Zoe Wang

Mist Machine

3RD PLACE

Ezequiel Churchill Browne

All are welcome!

Hoverboard (Magnetically Powered)

3RD PLACE

Billy Lim and Harish Maharaja Biodegradable Plastic

Thank you to Elementary and Middle participants: Nicole, Ella, Sebastian, Kasra, Cyrus, Gabriel, Elysee, Jessica, Vedanth, Irwin, Elena, Valentina and Muhammad. We hope to see you at next year’s Expo!

Presented by Coquitlam Public Library with Douglas College & SD43

Much to celebrate at PoCo’s New View Society

DIANE STRANDBERG dstrandberg@tricitynews.com

Home is where the heart is and nowhere is that more obvious than at Maplewood Manor

From the welcoming patio in downtown Port Coquitlam where beans are already growing in raised garden beds to the 20 independent living apartments, the apartment is an oasis of calm and connection.

“I wake up to the beauty of my day,” says resident Chris Racine

For Racine, who has lived in the apartment operated by New View Society for 31 years, living in the building provides him with stability, as well as contentment.

And he can socialize with other residents in the kitchen and lounge, which has a large flat screen TV.

Together with New View, the residents are celebrating the conclusion of a three-year, $5-million renovation, funded by BC Housing

New View is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and will be participating in the Rotary Parade during May Days on May 13, as well as holding community events

throughoutthe year

“We’re trying to celebrate that we’ve been dong mental health in the community for 50 years providing services to individuals in ways that don’t

focus on the illness but focus on the wellness,” said Chantelle Burga, executive director for the society, New View Society was established in August 1973

in response to the deinstitutionalization of patients from Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam.

The goal was to provide social, recreational or work programs

to assist people with community integration; since then, New View has grown to provide 50 units of housing housing, a clubhouse and community living support

Now, New View is working on plans for the future, which includes a 50-unit building on two lots on Kelly Avenue.

With provincial funding for housing announced in the 2023 budget, the hope is that BC Housing will be able to unlock the funds and build the housing.

“We need to provide housing for people as they age,” acknowledged Burga, who hopes to see a ground-breaking one day soon for the new development.

Meanwhile, back at Maplewood Manor, residents are enjoying a cup of coffee and snacks in the newly renovated lounge.

The new building has HVAC improvements, a new elevator and accessibility features; every room is newly painted with new flooring, and there are new carpets throughout Greg Birch, who has only lived at Maplewood Manor since last

DIANE STRANDBERG/TRI-CITY NEWS

New View Society in Port Coquitlam is celebrating its 50th anniversary as well as a $5-million renovation to Maplewood Manor.

‘Midnight in Paris’ honours Chamber winners

The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) provides a voice for more than 1,000 establishments and non-profits in the region.

Several dozen of them were honoured recently, with eight officially adding some hardware to their offices from the 2023 Business Excellence Awards (BEA)

On April 30, the TCCC’s “Midnight in Paris” theme brought local entrepreneurs together at the Hard Rock Casino to celebrate their achievements and dedication to community

Three walked away with the titles of “business of the year”: Jamila’s Kitchen and Grill (One to 10 employees), Manhas

Health Co. (11 to 30 employees) and Tru Earth Environmental Products Inc (30 or more employees).

It’s the second BEA trophy in three years for

Jamila’s Kitchen and Grill as owner Malik Malikzada won the “community spirit award” in 2020 The Barnet Highway restaurant is known for its community generosity,

including providing meals to those in need and donating proceeds from certain deliveries to local non-profits.

Manhas Health Co was recognized for its

dedicated team of health professionals, including physicians, personal trainers, chiropractors and registered massage therapists.

Tru Earth Environmental Products Inc is also a multi-BEA winner.

The Port Moody business took home the “environmental steward award” in 2022.

It creates eco-friendly laundry detergent as part of efforts to reduce chemical and material waste

Meanwhile, Hema Bhatt of Natu’oil Services Inc. won “business leader of the year,” and Port Coquitlam Coun. Paige Petriw was named “young professional of the year”

for her work with Spotlight Events.

Other 2023 BEA winners included:

Community Builder of the Year

• Aultrust Financial Ltd

Not-For-Profit of the Year

• Access Youth Outreach Services Green Business of the Year

• Ethical Waste Services Chamber Member of the Year

• Navid Morawej, Aultrust Financial Ltd.

A total of 21 businesses were named finalists after a panel of judges sifted through a combined 100 nominations

The Tri-City News was a media sponsor of the event.

BUTTER STUDIOS/TRI-CITIES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce brought a touch of Paris, complete with mimes, to its recent 2023 Business Excellence Awards at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver

TOP 5 things to do

Port Coquitlam The procession starts at 11 a.m and will be emceed by Kevin Lim Afterward, walk over to the Terry Fox Hometown Square (south of the Port Coquitlam Community Centre) for Party in the Square, running from noon to 10 p.m Country music sensation JoJo Mason headlines the show at 8 p.m.

MORE: portcoquitlam.ca/maydays

CHINESE MUSIC

SATURDAY, MAY 13

PEANUTS GANG

FRIDAY, MAY 12

Students at Dr. Charles Best Secondary (2626 Como Lake Ave., Coquitlam) present their spring musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown tonight and Saturday in the school gym. Directed by Brad Case and under the musical direction of Brent Hughes, the show stars Lulu Hughes as Charlie Brown (above), Sidney Winkler as Snoopy and Evan Zhang as Linus Tickets are $20/$15 through the School Cash Online system or at the door on show nights. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. MORE: 604-461-5581

PLEASE SIR!

FRIDAY, MAY 12

The streets of Victorian England come to life when North Shore Mountain Theatre offers the musical Oliver! Jr., based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and adapted from the full-length musical by Lionel Bart. The show follows a young orphan named Oliver Twist who dreams of finding where he truly belongs. It runs tonight and Saturday at the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, Port Coquitlam) at 7:30 p.m.; there is also a Saturday matinee at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $14. Email mountaintheatre5678@gmail.com

MORE: eventbrite.ca

PARADE DAY

SATURDAY, MAY 13

The family of Port Coquitlam hero Terry Fox will marshal the 100th annual Rotary May Day Parade through downtown

Join the Goldenpearl Ensemble at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) for an evening of traditional Chinese, folk and chamber music. You can hear the sounds of the ruan (Chinese guitar), sheng/suona (Chinese windpipes) and erhu (Chinese violin) played by the musicians Zhimin Yu, Zhongxi Wu and Song Yun. The recital starts at 7 p.m Tickets are $21/$16.

MORE: placedesarts.ca/ 604-664-1636

50 YEARS OF LES ECHOS

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Les Echoes du Pacifique, Metro Vancouver’s francophone choir based in Maillardville, marks its golden anniversary with a concert on Mother’s Day weekend. The 50th annual show, Le Francais a Choeur (translation: French at heart), includes 16th-century madrigals and French-Canadian folk songs, jazz and the début of new music created by the choir’s composer, Ron Smail. The celebration with the 17-member group takes place at St Laurence Anglican Church (825 St Laurence St., Coquitlam) at 7:30 p.m Tickets are via brownpapertickets.com; admission is free for kids under 13.

MORE: lesechosdupacifique.info

$1MinpublicarttomakeCoquitlammore‘vibrant’

Coquitlam will sink $1 million over the next two years to paint murals, add lights to trees and install street furniture to make the city more colourful and lively

On Monday (May 8), city council OK’d the Streetscape Enhancement Initiatives program that

will use $100,000 from the $435,000 Destination Development Grant that the city’s economic development office won last month; the other $900,000 will come from the city’s Land Sale Reserve Investment Fund: 2023

• art: murals $100,000

• feature lights: Brunette Avenue $25,000

• feature lights: City Centre $220,000

• gateway lights: Lougheed $15,000

• architectural: Maillardville arch and bus stop $90,000

• furniture: bike rack and bench expansion

$50,000

2024

• art: murals: $150,000

• architectural: Maillardville arch and bus stop $30,000

• architectural: Pinetree Way $120,000 around the City Centre library

• furniture: bike rack and bench expansion

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In his presentation before council-incommittee, utilities director Jonathan Helmus said the artistic and functional updates will spruce up Coquitlam and “will make our businesses grow and stay here.”

Helmus said the city plans two to four murals a year with the first two planned for blank walls in City Centre (south of city hall) and at Place des Arts

For the tree lights in City Centre, the city will focus on Pinetree Way and Glen Drive while Brunette Avenue will also get a permanent sparkle around Mackin Park to make the area safer for pedestrians.

In Austin Heights, the city proposes more lights in trees, public art and

painted medians. And he said city staff will work with the Kwikwetlem First Nation on the designs a nod to reconciliation, Coun Brent Asmundson noted Still, Coun. Matt Djonlic said he wants the future public art to be simple, fun, easy to maintain and most of all visible.

He referenced the frog sculpture in front of the Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station as being a good example; however, the art pieces next to the Lincoln SkyTrain station are tucked away.

Djonlic said he’s excited about the economic spinoffs that the public art will create. “This kind of vibrancy makes it all the more enticing for businesses and people to invest in Coquitlam”

Coq.councilspeaksoutaboutSFUfootball

The sudden cancellation of the SFU football program is an “embarrassing decision,” the football coach at Coquitlam’s Centennial Secondary told council this week.

Dino Geremia rallied city council to speak up about the program cut that will affect Centennial and Terry Fox secondary graduates that now make up about one-third of the Red Leafs’ roster.

Two of them, Andrew Lirag (freshman defensive back) and Cameron Keeskotagan (sophomore defensive line), were at Monday’s meeting.

The cancellation on April 4 of the longstanding athletics program came without warning or consultation with the alumni and stakeholder groups, Geremia said, and it also came as the student–athletes were preparing for their final exams

Geremia said the loss of the football program

translates to a shortage of mentors on the local high school and community fields as alumni often return home to help.

He said a letter from Coquitlam–Maillardville

MLA Selina Robinson, B.C.’s minister of postsecondary education, was sent to the university on April 17; Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said city council followed up her letter last week.

In it, Stewart writes to Dr. Joy Johnson, president and vice-chancellor of SFU, that Coquitlam has made investments in

amateur sport with new and updated facilities

He pointed out the new artificial turf field at Centennial, as well as the field at Dr Charles Best both of which are shared with School District 43. In addition, the city is now planning an artificial turf field at the new Burke Mountain Secondary.

Stewart said he’d also like to invite Johnson to speak before Coquitlam City Council to talk about the reasons why the football program was nixed in haste

The cancellation comes after the Lone Star Conference, the Texasbased league where the Red Leafs began playing in 2021, decided in January not to renew its two-year affiliate contract with the only Canadian school in the NCAA.

On Monday (May 8), Braden McMillan, SFU’s director of media relations and public affairs, told the Tri-City News, “This has been a very

difficult situation and our hearts are with the football student–athletes and staff who have had an incredibly challenging time over the past few weeks Since court proceedings about this issue are underway, we won’t be commenting until after those proceedings are completed.”

Empathizing with the student–athletes in the audience, Coun Brent Asmundson said SFU’s move is “extremely disappointing” and will destroy young men’s futures. Coun. Craig Hodge, who’s son is in a university football program in Ontario, urged Geremia to “keep up the fight.... It’s hitting the whole football community,” he said.

Coun Dennis Marsden called the decision “stupid” as it offers no transparency while Coun Steve Kim said it’s a “pretty big slap in the face” to student–athletes.

City of Coquitlam CouncilMeetings

Coquitlam City Hall – 3000 Guildford Way

Monday, May 15, 2023

2:00

Council-in-Committee

Closed Council*

Public Hearing / Regular Council**

*The first item to be considered in the public portion of this meeting is a resolution requiring adoption prior to the Council Meeting being closed to the public.

**A Regular Council Meeting will convene immediately following adjournment of the Public Hearing.

Watch Live Broadcasts and archived Council videos online at coquitlam ca/webcasts

Agendas are available online by 3 p m on Friday at coquitlam.ca/agendas

Sign up for Council News direct emails at coquitlam ca/directmail

With gracious hearts, we would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who joined CRCCS for the 2023 Online Auction!

We’re so grateful to serve such an amazing and supportive community Your support and generosity will help us continue making a difference in the lives of so many.

DINO GEREMIA

Coq. city-wide garage sale minimizes waste

Coquitlam’s annual bargain hunt of slightly used or good condition household items will occur later this month.

Registration is now open to local homeowners for the 2023 city-wide garage sale, scheduled for the final weekend of May.

The goal is to minimize waste and maximize reuse, recycling and material recovery, as well as “discourage illegal dumping and littering,” said Coquitlam environment manager Caresse Selk

“The event is a great

opportunity to sell or give away household items in good condition, while contributing to environmental sustainability and community wastereduction efforts,” she added in a news release

“Since 2014, the

successful event has seen a consistent number of registered households every year with over 1,200 registered participants in total.”

New this year, Selk said, is a giveaway component.

Coquitlam hopes this additional incentive

can encourage property owners to sell and give unwanted household items that are still usable for others and prevent them from reaching the landfill

Interested residents can sign up their residence for one or both dates via the City of Coquitlam’s website. The deadline to register is 4 p m on May 26.

On the page, homeowners can indicate whether they are selling or giving away belongings, and select categories of the items available.

These include:

• Books and toys

• Clothing

• Electronics

• Household decoration and furniture

• Lawn and garden tools

• Sports equipment

The Coquitlam citywide garage sale and giveaway event takes place 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 27 and 28

Residents who can’t participate in the garage sale event can still recycle items at the City’s Recycling Depot in Town Centre Park on Trevor Wingrove Way.

September, said he appreciates the nice rooms and pointed out to this reporter the Indigenous touches throughout the building, such as a button blanket in the hallway

An avid gardener, Birch works in a garden plot outdoors in the courtyard, with rehabilitation and recovery manager Darrell Roemer.

Birch is also raising plants on his newly renovated balcony

Back downstairs in the amenity room, Racine said he’s looking forward to bringing his family to the amenity room for Christmas functions.

He’s also pleased with New View’s commitment to helping people on their

life’s journey, whether it be volunteering or a paid job.

“It’s very empowering to have money in your pocket,” said Racine, adding, “It’s better than feeling sorry for yourself.”

Find out more about New View, its clubhouse and programs, by

visiting its website at newviewsociety.org.

Upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations include:

• May 13 - May Day

Breakfast at the New View Clubhouse

• Sept 13 - Grand Finale at Terry Fox Hometown Square

DIANE STRANDBERG/TRI-CITY NEWS

Maplewood Manor resident Greg Birch, right, works on his garden with rehabilitation and recovery manager Darrell Roemer

More than 40,000 salmon chum were released into Port Moody’s Noons Creek last Saturday (May 6) by hundreds of Tri-Cities families and potential future nature volunteers in the first Fingerling Festival held since 2019. Previous restrictions on gatherings resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic had postponed the popular free family-friendly event, considered the largest of its kind in the Lower Mainland according to the Rivershed Society of BC. The goal is to educate the public about preserving local ecosystems and their positive impacts on the regional community

TrinaHunthomesold

The new owners of

The owners had

requested the city waive its fee for such address changes after they purchased the home at 38 Hawthorn Dr. that was formerly occupied by Trina Hunt, whose remains were found near Hope on March 29, 2021, more than three months after she’d gone missing

from her home. Just over a month later, police announced they were investigating Hunt’s death as a homicide.

Subsequently, the home where Hunt had lived with her husband for 14 years was surrounded by

, page 27

A memorial in front of Trina Hunt’s home in Port Moody’s Heritage Mountain neighbourhood during a search for the missing woman in January 2021.

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owners

police tape on at least two occasions as investigators tried to piece together the circumstances of her disappearance and murder

No charges have yet been laid in the case

The five-bedroom, four-bathroom house was listed for sale last October at an asking price of $2,388,800 more than $700,000 above its 2021 assessed value of $1,656,000

The listing sparked a furor on social media as commentators expressed outrage the house could be sold even as Hunt’s murder remained unsolved

“Can you honestly understand someone who would want to buy this house Disgusting,” said one poster on a Facebook group

It’s such a backlash that sparked the home’s new owners to request its address be changed In a

letter to the city, they said the property has “been stigmatized because it is related to an ongoing police investigation” They said a new address would give “the home, street, neighbourhood and community a fresh start”

But in a discussion at council April 25, Coun

Kyla Knowles said she couldn’t understand why the owners would want the city to waive its standard fee for changing addresses.

“I sympathize with the reasoning, but I’m less clear on why we should waive the fee,” she said, adding the city’s financial

resources are already stretched to their limit.

Coun. Callan Morrison agreed, saying the owners hadn’t presented any information they’re suffering financial hardship.

But Coun Haven Lurbeicki said she sympathizes with the new

owners’ concerns.

“It’s a point of compassion given this particular situation,” she said

In the end, though, council carried a motion to deny the request to waive the fee with a file from Diane Strandberg

a

Diane Strandberg dstrandberg@tricitynews.com

Veteran skateboarder

Dave Jonsson knows what it takes to be a professional and he constantly practices to be the best

At 36, the Port Coquitlam resident can still wow a crowd as when he does tricks such as “trust” jumps over teachers during his high school motivational talks.

Now, though, Jonsson is taking his enthusiasm for the sport to a new level: He’s organizing an advocacy group, called Skate Undercover, to get a covered skate park or smaller skate spot somewhere in the TriCities.

Jonsson’s own kids, ages five, seven and nine, enjoy the sport, as do

hundreds of other kids in the area, but for now they are stuck trying to find dry

skate

doesn’t do well in the rain and it’s a bit more dangerous,” said Jonsson.

Since an indoor skatepark closed in Port Coquitlam, local families have been wondering where to go.

To get out of the bad weather, kids often end up in unsanctioned spaces such as the parking lot of the City Centre branch of the Coquitlam Public Library or the nearby Real Canadian Superstore.

They cart their own rails and ramps to the spot after agreeing to a meet-up, said Jonsson.

to provide a safe spot for skateboarding and scootering, not only for his kids but for generations after them.

“I recognize we’re in this for the long haul,” said Jonsson.

He said there are short term needs, such as finding a spot for a few obstacles under a SkyTrain line, a bridge or overpass or even in someone’s unused warehouse.

spots to do their ramps and rails out of the rain

“The equipment

But when his own son was less than thrilled with the idea of skateboarding in the Superstore parking lot, Jonsson knew he had to do something

Longer term, Jonsson would like to see a purpose-built space that could also be used by other sports There could even be a nonprofit set up to fundraise, said Jonsson,

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Port Coquitlam skateboarder Dave Jonsson has organized Skate Undercover to try to secure a covered skate park in the Tri-Cities.

Pressure on indoor

who is hoping people will follow his Instagram page, join a 3,000-name petition promoting the cause in Pitt Meadows or email him via his website.

His ask isn’t huge: He’d like an indoor space, such as temporary use of a warehouse, a small spot under the SkyTrain near North Road and Como Lake, under the Pitt River bridge or even the covered bike trials park in Port Moody.

A number of kids have joined him in the effort and even Coquitlam’s manager of park planning and design is impressed.

“Dave’s group is super well spoken. He’s got a bunch of great young kids that are way better

advocates than I was at 12 years old,” said Doron Fishman.

Fishman said a covered multi-purpose space that could be used for skateboarding and other sports is part of the long-term plan for Coquitlam’s City Centre area As well, the new Northeast Community Centre for Burke Mountain will have a covered space that could accommodate skateboarders and scooters.

But Doron said there are many other groups that are looking for indoor space as well

“There’s a lot of pressure on our indoor facilities; Coquitlam is a growing community, with growing

demands. We’re trying to do our best to balance competing demands.”

The idea of renting out the Poirier Forum is one option that has been raised; however, Jonsson worries that it could be too costly

Another idea is a dry spot under the Mariner Way overpass but future plans for the property near Coquitlam Central SkyTrain station has nixed it for now.

Still, Jonsson’s not giving up and he’s hoping the scootering and skateboarding community will come together to advocate for a covered space somewhere in the Tri-Cities

“This is going to happen I know it will,” he said.

Percy Perry renovations sending walkers away

KYLE BALZER kbalzer@tricitynews.com

Tri-Cities residents who like to get their 10,000 steps a day at Percy Perry Stadium will soon have to trek elsewhere.

Coquitlam is scheduled to close the outdoor recreation facility “from mid-May until fall” to complete planned upgrades to the amenities.

The projects began in October, but it’s since remained open for public use

This time, the full closure is so workers can replace the entire rubber track, as well as the artificial turf field, marking the first improvements for Percy Perry Stadium in 12 years

“The track and field facilities were last upgraded in 2011 and

the artificial turf sports field in the centre of the track is more than 10 years old and is due

for a replacement,” said Kathleen Reinheimer, Coquitlam parks manager, in a statement

“This work will ensure that the track and field amenities remain of a high standard and

will allow Percy Perry Stadium to continue to be Coquitlam’s preeminent sports hosting venue”

Reinheimer added the city plans to finish the track and turf field improvements at the same time later this year,. She noted its main tenant, the Coquitlam Cheetahs Track and Field Club, will be accommodated at other facilities during the project

No exact or estimated date of completion was immediately provided in the City of Coquitlam release.

Meanwhile, the stadium’s neighbouring Town Centre Park facilities will remain open during construction, including Mobilio and Fridge fields, the changing rooms and washrooms

The covered grandstand will also be open for residents’ leisure or fitness activities

Coquitlam suggests dedicated fast-walkers, joggers and runners to visit the indoor track at Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St.) as an alternative in addition to Town Centre Park’s walking loops.

Percy Perry Stadium opened in 1991, named in 2006 in honour of the late legend from Trinidad and Tobago who coached the Cheetahs.

He died of cancer in 2005.

Features that surround the track include areas for throwing, long- and high-jump competitions, allowing it to host roughly 20 meets every year, the city said

TRI-CITY NEWS FILE PHOTO

Walkers and runners who use the track at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam will soon have to find a new venue as the facility undergoes renovations beginning in mid-May

Spark,Bringcoquitlamparksalive!

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JointheBadSeedteamforeventsandactivitiestaking placeduringInvasiveSpeciesActionWeek.Helpremove invasiveplantsatTownCentreParkonMay17from 3–5p.m.andMay20from9a.m.–12p.m.Learnabout invasiveplantsonaTreeSpreeUnderstoryWalkat RiverviewForest onMay18from1–3p.m.andComoLake onMay20from12–2p.m.Formoreinformationabout theseopportunities,emailparkspark@coquitlam.ca

City of Coquitlam NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the City of Coquitlam will be holding a Public Hearing to receive representations from all persons who deem it in their interest to address Council regarding the following proposed bylaw. This meeting will be held on:

Date: Monday, May 15, 2023

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Location: City Hall Council Chambers, 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2

Immediately following the adjournment of the Public Hearing, Council will convene a Regular Council Meeting during which it will give consideration to the item on the Public Hearing agenda

How do I find out more information?

For copies of supporting staff reports and the bylaws, please visit www.coquitlam.ca/publichearing

For additional information and any relevant background documentation, contact the Planning and Development Department by email at planninganddevelopment@coquitlam.ca or by phone at 604-927-3430. You may also visit the Planning and Development Department in person at 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday excluding statutory holidays.

Prior to the Public Hearing written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office in one of the following ways:

• Email: clerks@coquitlam.ca;

• Fax: to the City Clerk’s Office at 604-927-3015; or

• In person: Attn: City Clerk’s Office, City Hall at 3000 Guildford Way:

• To the City Clerk’s Office front desk, which is located on the second floor of City Hall; or

The City is continuing to facilitate electronic participation for Public Hearings. Those wishing to listen and/or participate at the Public Hearing can visit www.coquitlam.ca/publichearing or call 604-927-3010 for details and instructions.

Item 1

Addresses: 589 and 593 Westley Avenue, 648 and 650 Gardena Drive, and 584, 588, 592 and 596 Kemsley Avenue

The intent of Bylaw No. 5287, 2023 is to amend City of Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw No 3000, 1996 to rezone the subject properties as outlined in black on the map marked Schedule ‘A’ to Bylaw No. 5287, 2023 from RS-1 One-Family Residential to CD- 40 Comprehensive Development Zone –40. In association with the application, a road cancellation application is also in process to close and sell a portion of Gardena Drive adjacent to 648 Gardena Drive.

If approved, the application would facilitate the consolidation of the subject properties and the development of a 35-storey market residential tower with 320 units and a sixstorey rental building with 132 units.

• Place in either one of two City Hall drop boxes located at the underground parking entrance or by the main entrance facing Burlington Drive.

To afford Council an opportunity to review your submission, please ensure that you forward it to the City Clerk’s Office prior to noon on the day of the hearing Please note that the drop boxes will be emptied shortly after 12:00 p.m. and not checked again prior to the hearing.

Written submissions provided in response to this consultation, including names and addresses, will become part of the public record which includes the submissions being made available for public inspection at Coquitlam City Hall and on our website at www.coquitlam.ca/agendas. If you require more information regarding this process, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 604-927-3010

Those who wish to provide verbal submissions are encouraged to participate remotely via Zoom. Remote participants can use their computers, smart phones, tablets or telephones to speak to Council.

Instructions for how to participate remotely are available at www.coquitlam.ca/publichearing

If you want to provide a verbal submission, please register as far in advance of the meeting as possible Registration for remote participants can be found at www.coquitlam.ca/publichearing. If you wish to participate via telephone, please call 604-927-3010 to register. Please note, you may also register to attend the meeting remotely without signing up to speak to an item. The City Clerk’s Office will compile a speakers list for each item. Everyone will be permitted to speak at the Public Hearing but those who have registered in advance will be given first opportunity.

Please also be advised that video recordings of Public Hearings are streamed live and archived on the City’s website at www.coquitlam.ca/webcasts.

Please note that Council may not receive further submissions from the public or interested parties concerning any of the bylaws described above after the conclusion of the Public Hearing.

Katie Karn, City Clerk

If you do not wish to provide input, but would like to view the proceedings, watch online: www.coquitlam.ca/webcasts coquitlam.ca/publichearing

Twocallsformusicians

Young musicians in the Tri-Cities who are proficient with works from Bach to Brahms are being invited to try out for next year’s Coquitlam Youth Orchestra (CYO).

The group will hold auditions for string, woodwind, brass and percussion players for its 2023–24 season on May 13 and 14 in Coquitlam.

Candidates will need to prepare a piece and a scale of their choice to try out for the junior, intermediate or senior ensembles

The junior CYO group (ages 9–12) is led by Lucia Hynsil Roh, who has her PhD in musical arts in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

The intermediate and senior orchestras for ages 12–14 and 14–22 are conducted by Reg Quiring, the founder and artistic director of CYO. Musicians wanting to audition can email sarah@ cyobc ca or go to coquitlamyouthorchestra ca for more details

EVERGREEN HOUR

If you’re strolling around Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake this summer, you may be able to take in a free show at noon.

The Evergreen Cultural Centre is programming spaces around its City Centre facility for street performances.

The inaugural Open Air Performance Series will run from July 10 to Sept. 1 Mondays to Fridays and will feature emerging and professional artists such as musicians, dancers, jugglers, clowns, magicians and puppeteers for hour-long events near the lake or close to the SkyTrain station.

The aim is to give

exposure to Metro Vancouver talent and increase Evergreen’s connection to the community. “By providing free performances in a high-traffic community space, our hope is that the Open Air series will allow us to develop new relationships with local artists and Town Centre Park visitors alike,” Jessica Fowlis, Evergreen’s marketing manager, said.

Developed by the performing arts department at Evergreen and led by Tanya Mathivanan, the centre’s performing arts assistant, the series will see a variety of solo and duo displays around the arts hub.

Performers will be provided with the basic technology set-up and will be able to sell their CDs and merchandise.

Artists, who will be selected based on their submitted materials (audio/video, social media, etc.) will be paid $100.

The deadline to apply online is June 1

Looking for a fun and educational way for your child to spend their summer break? Look no further than Vancouver Young Actors School’s summer camps in Port Coquitlam’s Fremont Village! Our week-long summer camps offer a unique opportunity for young actors of all experience levels to hone their skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Taught by current professional actors, our camps are designed to help young actors develop their craft, build their confidence, and make lasting friendships

With a focus on both performance and technique, our camps cover everything from script analysis and character development to improvisation and audition skills And with a variety of camps available for different age groups and start dates, there’s something for everyone! So why not give your child the gift of creativity and adventure this summer? Whether professionally, or just for fun, sign up for Vancouver Young Actors School’s summer camps today!

REG QUIRING, CYO

Development helpsCoq.creeks, topengineersays

Coquitlam has some of the healthiest rivers, streams and creeks in the Lower Mainland

But the water quality isn’t so good in neighbourhoods that aren’t developing, according to the city’s latest report on monitoring.

Jaime Boan, Coquitlam’s general manager of engineering and public works, said the watercourses in the city’s 27 watersheds have been getting A’s on their report cards over the past five years; however, some creeks in the southwestern neighbourhoods like Burquitlam and Maillardville need help.

They include:

• Stoney Creek

• Booth Creek

• Como Creek

• Rochester Creek

The city samples the water for indicators such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, E.coli, fecal coliform, nitrates, metals, conductivity and pH levels. And, based on the results, it marks each test with a green (good); yellow (satisfactory); or red (needs action) colour

The city is working with stakeholders such as the Stoney Creek Environment Committee, the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable and the Hoy–Scott Creek Watershed Society to improve the water quality and quantity

Boan said development benefits watercourses as new infrastructure, such as infiltration systems (to capture surface water

runoff), is installed.

Next year, the municipality has money set aside to boost action on the southwestern creeks that are trending downward, he said

As well, the city is looking at incentivizing developers and builders who create more pervious areas for single-family homes, “which are being built with increased impervious areas that affect both creek-base flow and peak flow and, therefore, water quality,” Boan wrote in his report for the council-incommittee meeting on May 1.

Boan also said city staff will boost efforts in the southwestern regions to educate the public about illegal dumping in storm systems; the campaign will specifically target the owners of restaurants, food trucks and recreational vehicles.

Coun. Brent Asmundson, who has been on the city’s sustainability and environmental advisory committee for years, said the provincial fine of $500 for dumping is too low

Coun. Matt Djonlic agreed, saying the penalty is a “slap on the wrist” for some businesses. “We just can’t have people poisoning our creeks and getting away with it. It’s unacceptable,” he said

Still, Asmundson said he’s buoyed over the Coquitlam River results, which show nearly all of the samples met or exceeded the regional water quality guidelines.

LocalPROS Q&A

Michelle Bailey Qualicare Home Care

Your questions answered by Trusted Local Professionals

Home Care

When should my elderly father move out of his home?

First thing to ask Dad is: where does he want to live for the rest of his life? Does he want to move in with family, or to an assisted living community (on a waitlist), or get a bit of help in his own home?

Figuring out Dad’s goals for aging and then working backwards can be a good way to create a plan. Perhaps Dad wants to stay at home until he cannot use the stairs anymore; or perhaps no matter what, he wants to remain in the same home he has lived in for the past 40 years Whatever the plan is, home care is a solution to help him for the short or long term. In-home caregivers can help with daily household tasks like cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping - to more complex tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, medication assistance, overnight supervision, and appointment accompaniment Qualicare offers customized solutions through our 360° Approach to care. Services can be increased or decreased depending on Dad’s current needs, and if Dad decides to change his plans, Qualicare pivots with him to provide the right in-home support for as long as it is required

778-730-0225

www.qualicare.com mbailey@qualicare.com

Cabinet Refinishing EXPERT

What are the benefits of Gleam Guard?

All our technicians are personally trained by Tracy Booth the founder and inventor with 35 years of experience in the Gleam Guard dust-free odor-free process

Call and talk with Tracy to get a quote about your cabinets and wood throughout your house

How long and what’s involved in the Gleam Guard process?

On an average size kitchen, it takes about 2 days to complete, you can still use your kitchen in the evenings and mornings while we work during the day in a dust and odor-free environment The convenience of not having to remove your dishes from your cabinets while we refinish your cabinets gives you extra peace of mind and no additional stress. Unmatched 5 year guarantee and no mess to clean up after we leave

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Brushing vs Flossing: Which comes first?

We recommend our patients brush their teeth at least twice a day. Brushing morning and night helps clear out food debris, plaque and bacteria ideally preventing gum disease and tooth decay

Flossing daily removes debris from between teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach. It minimizes the risk of tooth decay between teeth and helps promote healthy gums by keeping those spaces free of unwanted bacteria and reducing buildup

Now to settle the debate

We recommend flossing first as it helps loosen bacteria and food debris both on and between your teeth making brushing more successful at removing those particles Also, if you use toothpaste with fluoride and you floss after brushing, it can remove the fluoride from your teeth, which might make it less effective

What is most important is that you do both daily Keep your floss handy so you remember These small changes can have a large impact on your dental health. Keep smiling, Dr. Sherry

604-942-9739

www.elgindentalgroup.com

What is Sponsored Content?

Sponsored Content is a brand-sponsored article that lives on a media publisher’s website It looks and reads like the publications own content but is, in fact, a paid advertisement It positions the brand as an expert by delivering interesting content that is relevant to a publisher’s audience.

As we move further down the digital road it’s important to connect with your audience online Not merely advertise products and services spark interest, answer questions, educate readers with valuable information. One example of this would be for a Realtor to sponsor an article on “How to turn your Basement Suite into a Rental Unit?” A Travel Agency could talk about “5 Best Trips to Cure the Winter Blues!” Maybe a Yoga Studio discusses “The Health Benefits of Maintaining a Good Work-Life Balance?” The general idea is to provide your audience with helpful, interesting, even must read articles sponsored by your business of course! It’s a softer, but more memorable sell, presented in a journalistic style

Sponsored Content builds brand trust & credibility, when used effectively can drive online traffic and engagement by leaps and bounds!!

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ndhillon@glaciermedia.ca

Dr Sherry Ghodousi Elgin Dental Group

LocalPROS Q&A

LocalPRO of the month

Your questions answered by Trusted Local Professionals

What happens if I break or chip my dentures?

The best solution is to return to the Denturist who made your dentures and have the cracked denture repaired professionally It may seem easy to fix, but it is important that the repair is done correctly to prevent problems with chewing and to avoid any sore spots The Denturist also needs to check the denture and adjust it after it is repaired The denture may be too old and may no longer fit closely to your gums, and you may need a new denture Do not try to glue it together yourself, it can be toxic as well it can displace your bite if done incorrectly

What is tinnitus and what are the causes?

Tinnitus is the involuntary perception of sound, sometimes heard as ringing, popping, or buzzing noises in your ears or head, in the absence of an external sound in the environment Approximately 37% of adult Canadians experience annoying tinnitus Tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss and common causes include noise exposure from working in industrial noise (e g construction), aging, and other medical conditions.

If you’re experiencing tinnitus and it is affecting your hearing, your ability to fall asleep at night, your concentration/focus during the day and/or it is causing you to feel anxious or upset, have your hearing assessed by an Audiologist as a first step There are many options to help manage tinnitus, and this can include sound therapy through hearing aids or sound generators, directed counselling, and stress reduction strategies

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522 Seventh St #270, New Westminster

Clay & Lacey Tierney, Owners Budget Blinds, Tri-Cities

Window Covering EXPERT

I just bought beautiful shades from Budget Blinds, how do I clean them?

If you have a cellular or honeycomb shade, Dust them with a feather duster, or lightly vacuum with an upholstery attachment For dust inside the cells, a blow dryer on the lowest, cool air setting will blow the dustout Clean with a sponge and a mild detergent/warm water solution and blot dry Dry cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning are not recommended Extra care should be used when cleaning opaque/blackout fabrics, as the fabrics could become permanently creased If you have a Solar shade, to keep them clean you would lightly vacuum both sides of shade using a brush or upholstery attachment Softly brush with a mild detergent and warm water solution. Rinse thoroughly and allow the shade to dry completely before raising it Do not immerse them in water

If you have annoying or bothersome tinnitus, don’t lose hope You are not alone and there are many ways to better manage your tinnitus Contact us today to book a hearing assessment. My colleague and I are both Registered Audiologists/Hearing Instrument Practitioners and we have specialized training to help our clients with tinnitus management.

Why does my carpet smell even when it looks clean?

To solve this mystery, we need to understand the way carpets are laid Under the carpet there is a pad that provides cushioning, and under that there is the subfloor, which can be concrete or a wood product

When the carpet is cleaned, the only layer to be thoroughly cleaned is the topmost The bottom two layers are more difficult to reach thus they retain some of the original liquid and the odor as well

If even after a professional cleaning, your carpets are still smelly, there are few options for you:

Replacing the carpet pad The downside is that the labor required for the removal and repositioning is the exact same as if you were installing new carpets

Replacing the carpet and pad When navigating this option, make sure to look for a carpet with liquid repelling qualities so you don’t risk repeating the experience

QI want to get more knowledgeable about my finances, where should I begin?

AStart with our podcast,“It’s Personal Finance Canada”that’s available on all major hosting platforms Already we’re in the top 5% of most followed podcasts globally on Spotify, not too bad for a couple of Canadians If you want to get information and be entertained in the process, check it out! If you’re looking for more hands-on advice or have something specific you’d like to explore, we can help with financial goal setting with action steps, financial planning, insurance, investments, health & dental as well as retirement or estate planning. It’s nice to have a professional tell you if you’re on track to meeting your goals or what you would need to do to achieve them. We’re there to help you every step of the way, through the different stages of life Finally, if you’re looking for a place to engage with others about personal finance and ask questions, feel free to join our new It’s Personal Finance Canada Facebook group and Facebook discussion group We take suggestions from the members about what to talk about on the podcast, started a book club, and I recently shared about my seven days no spend challenge It would be great to see you there!”

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Fox,RiversidestudentsshowartinImaginingsV

Dana Kim’s parents are both artistic: Her dad is a film director and her mother is a graphic artist And the Grade 12 student at Port Coquitlam’s Terry Fox Secondary credits them for showing her how to be creative and think outside of the box.

City of Coquitlam NOTICE OF INTENTION AND NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY DISPOSITION

City of Coquitlam Highway Dedication Cancellation Bylaw No. 5295, 2023

TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to Section 40 and Section 94 of the Community Charter, the City of Coquitlam Council intends to consider adoption of Highway Dedication Cancellation Bylaw No 5295, 2023.

The intent of the Bylaw is to close and sell a 72.9 m2 portion of Gardena Drive. The resulting parcel created by the road closure is proposed to be consolidated with the adjacent lands at 589 and 593 Westley Avenue, 648 and 650 Gardena Drive, and 584, 588, 592 and 596 Kemsley Avenue

Should you have any concerns or comments you wish to convey to Council, please submit them in writing no later than noon on Monday, May 15, 2023 to the City Clerk’s Office in one of the following ways:

• Email: clerks@coquitlam ca;

• Regular mail: 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7N2;

• In person: City Clerk’s Office, 2nd Floor, 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7N2;

• Fax: to the City Clerk’s Office at 604-927-3015.

A copy of Highway Dedication Cancellation Bylaw No 5295, 2023 may be viewed at City Hall (Planning and Development Department) and any inquiries relating to the proposal should be made to the Planning and Development Department (604-927-3434), 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except statutory holidays.

FURTHERMORE, TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to Sections 26 and 94 of the Community Charter, the City of Coquitlam hereby gives notice of the intention to sell the above described 72.9 m2 portion of road proposed to be closed and dedication removed.

Purchaser: Oakdale Kemsley Project Limited Partnership

Nature of Disposition: Fee Simple Selling Price: $323,800

For further information, please contact Mr Greg Hamilton, Manager, Real Estate at 604-927-6958

THIS ADVERTISEMENT IS FOR THE PURPOSES OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE ONLY, NOT SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER.

Riverside secondaries to unveil their pieces in Imaginings V

The exhibit, which will coincide with the city’s May Day 100 celebrations, will have its opening reception from 6 to 8 p m in the Michael Wright Art Gallery in the Gathering Place at Leigh Square.

The show will be in the gallery and The Outlet until June 9

on canvas of PoCo’s hometown hero that she plans to donate to her high school

In the latter painting, she includes Fox’s words “Anything Is Possible” a motto at Terry Fox Secondary that aims to motivate students and staff.

Her visual arts teacher also has been a source of inspiration. “She has encouraged me to try new things,” the 17 year old said of her high school instructor Grace Kim. “It’s nice to have her help in the class.”

On Friday (May 12), Dana Kim will be among dozens of art students from Terry Fox and

Dana Kim has three pieces in the marinethemed display that were created for school assignments:

• “Underwater,” a watercolour on paper depicting a sea monster that doesn’t exist

• “White on Black,” a white pencil crayon on Bristol based on the protagonist in the film Moulin Rouge

• “Terry Fox,” an acrylic

In total, Fox is submitting 70 pieces from grade 9 to 12 students for Imaginings V.

“I highly value the public exhibits as they are a perfect opportunity to showcase our students’ wonderful artworks, which boosts their confidence and further develops their interest in making art,” Grace Kim said, noting the Riverside Secondary component was organized by art teachers AJ Vittie and Cam Drysdale.

PHOTO VIA DANA KIM

Dana Kim with a tiger she painted at Terry Fox Secondary School.

ARTS & LIFE

Famous New Orleans banjoist performs at ECC on Mother’s Day

Don Vappie hasn’t toured Canada for a long time.

But on Sunday (May 14), the legendary banjoist, composer and educator from New Orleans as well as a fan of Canadian television programs will have five dates in Saskatchewan and B.C , stopping in Coquitlam on May 14 with three equally talented musicians

It’s a quick trip across the border that his agent booked after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions lifted for performing arts venues and theatres. And the tour comes at a time when the 67 year old is at the top of his game, after being recognized for showcasing his skills and

preserving the Creole culture for decades

In 2020, his work The Blue Book of Storyville was named the Times of London’s jazz album of the year. The next

year, the New Orleans native clinched the Steve Martin Banjo Prize while last fall, he was inducted into the Banjo Hall of Fame.

“I wonder what this year will bring,” Vappie told the Tri-City News during a phone interview from New Orleans “I seem to be on a roll”

For his Canadian gigs, Vappie said he’ll be playing tunes from his award-winning album, which he considers to be his best to date: Every song has a story behind it, and Vappie loves to share the tales about his hometown and about traditions in southeastern Louisiana.

“I was born into that,” he said. “Neither of my parents

played music, but I come from an extended family of musicians. At home, the Elders spoke in Creole when they didn’t want the kids to understand what they were saying. And everyone had a piano in their house, so I just started with the piano”

In high school, Vappie progressed to the trumpet and other brass instruments, but in college, he studied the bass

Today, besides being the banjoist/guitarist in the Winton Marsalis’ Jazz at the Lincoln Center Band, Vappie continues to pass down the Creole culture through live shows, as well as on T.V. and film, “because I just don’t want it to die. I listen to a lot

of music, but the New Orleans music is very interesting to me. It’s the root of all pop music.”

In Coquitlam, he’ll be joined by clarinetist David Horniblow (formerly of the Chris Barber Band and The Dime Notes) and guitarist Dave Kelbit (The Dime Notes, Django a la Creole), both of whom appeared on The Blue Book of Storyville recording; bass player Tom Wheatley (Dime Notes) will round out the quartet. For tickets at $35/$32/$16 for the Don Vappie and Jazz Creole show at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) on May 14 at 7:30 p.m., call 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.

French-Canadian choir marks golden year with a concert

Five decades ago, the church choirs at Coquitlam’s Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic parishes wanted to form a secular choral group.

Their aim was to keep the French-Canadian language and culture alive in Maillardville, the neighbourhood populated more

than a century ago by Quebecois residents with jobs at the Fraser Mills lumber mill and, post–WWII, by French-speaking Prairie people.

Daniel Bouchard was 19 when Les Échos du Pacifique started in October 1973.

A member of the Fatima

congregation, he signed up with the fledging community choir to carry on French-Canadian traditions, as well as to learn and share songs.

“Singing and especially choral singing are my passions,” said the retired primary French immersion teacher who has

familial roots in Manitoba

The founding member took a break from Les Échos, but 25 years ago, he returned for its silver anniversary concert where past singers were encouraged to chime in for a tune.

Bouchard said the old feelings flooded back.

“There’s nothing like singing in four-part harmony,” the Coquitlam resident told the Tri-City News “When you sing together, it’s like all the neurons in your brain are firing at once. We’re not just singing; we’re see

AT HEART, page 39

DON VAPPIE

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS

‘French at Heart’ is show title

Canadian composers

producing music.”

On Saturday (May 13), the tenor will be on the stage with 16 others for Les Échos golden year tribute that takes place at St Laurence Anglican Church (825 St Laurence St , Coquitlam) under the direction of Marla Mayson

the “magician” who has held the baton for the last 10 years, Bouchard said.

There, in a show titled Le Français a Choeur (translation: French at heart), the group will perform a variety of songs in French, from old French madrigals to Acadian folk songs and jazz arrangements by choir member (and Mayson’s husband) Ron Smail, as well as other

Danica Jovanovic, who is now the executive’s treasurer, said she joined Les Échos 18 years ago after moving from Yellowknife, then Vancouver Island.

When she took over a French immersion kindergarten job, the outgoing teacher told Jovanovic to snap up her spot in the choir

“It was the best gift. I wanted a cultural experience and to be close to my mother tongue,” the New Westminster resident said. “It gave me a sense of community with francophones and francophiles.”

Like Bouchard, Jovanovic said she’s also looking forward to the spring concert to celebrate

50 years of Les Échos because “we want people to have access to music so we can keep the French language growing.”

She added, “This program we have for the concert is so fun because it’s the beautiful pieces I love and also the pieces by composers I’ve never heard of We’ve got spoons and foot stomping, too There’s something for everybody.”

Tickets for Le Français à Choeur on May 13 are $20/$15 via BrownPaperTickets. com; admission is free for children ages 13 and under. Former choir members are invited to email info@ lesechosdupacifique.info for a special invitation to the 7:30 p.m

CELESTE SNOWBER PHOTO

Les Échos due Pacifique perform at the 2023 Festival du Bois in Coquitlam.

ARTIST of the week

POCO HERITAGE

To celebrate 100 years of May Days in Port Coquitlam this month, the staff and volunteers at PoCo Heritage Museum and Archives launched the May Day Centennial Exhibit in the city hall gallery (2580 Shaughnessy St.), as well as in the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (2150 Wilson Ave.) last night (May 11). The show features archival images of the city’s May Day parties over the past century, including photos from the parades (like this one from 1962) This year’s procession down Shaughnessy Street starts at 11 a.m. on May 13 and will be marshalled by the Fox family The museum’s picture and memorabilia display, which is up until June 23, was funded with a $18,451 grant from Library and Archives Canada’s Documentary Heritage Communities Program. The museum is run by the PoCo Heritage and Cultural Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the city’s history

POCO HERITAGE FILE PHOTO

She’s the ‘First Mom’ of Coquitlam sports

MARIO BARTEL mbartel@tricitynews com

When Sharon Perry was growing up in Squamish and then Comox, she played pretty much every sport available to her volleyball, basketball, cross-country, track & field, softball and swimming.

Now the successful Coquitlam accountant works to ensure other kids including her own have those same opportunities.

Perry says she’s always made a point of giving back to her community by supporting various local causes and organizations, like the Coquitlam and Port Moody Firefighters’ charitable societies and the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation. But it’s youth sport that really stirs her passion.

Perry’s name and distinctive lavender branding are a fixture on three Zamboni ice cleaners, as well as the rink boards, at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex

She recently donated $110,000 toward construction of a

scoreboard for the new turf field at Centennial Secondary School She also helped pay for the uniforms for the senior girls basketball team at the school and she’s been a sponsor at Coquitlam Little League since

2013, helping support the Blastball program for young players just starting out, as well as improvement to facilities like the concession stands, the installation of security shutters and the acquisition of a portable

scoreboard.

Along with her longtime support of Kidsport Tri-Cities, there’s unlikely any young athlete in Coquitlam who hasn’t been touched in some way by Perry’s generosity.

You might say she’s the First Mom of Coquitlam sports.

Perry said her own involvement in sport at a young age laid the foundation for her future business success She loved travelling to tournaments, meeting kids from other schools and forging the bonds that come from being part of a team.

Perry said she thrived in the confidence and self-discipline sports brought to her life.

As her business burgeoned and her own growing family took to the fields, courts and diamonds, Perry said she wanted to ensure everyone could experience sport’s benefits

She said her support for youth sport complements her other community endeavours because sport is a building block of community.

Perry won’t get an argument from Anthony Ciolfotti, the principal at Centennial Secondary

“She helps us build community, which is a big part of what we’re about,” he said “She’s our biggest fan”

MARIO BARTEL/TRI-CITY NEWS

Coquitlam accountant Sharon Perry recently donated $110,000 toward the construction of a scoreboard for the new turf field at Centennial Secondary School

More local Sports coverage at your fingertips.

‘Only make it better’

continued from page 41

of what we’re about,” he said “She’s our biggest fan”

Tali Campbell, general manager of the Coquitlam Express, said support from community champions like Perry doesn’t go unnoticed by his players.

Kidsport’s Chris Wilson said Perry’s aid to the organization goes beyond dollars and cents He said it “enhances the non-profit’s reputation and legitimacy in the community which can lead to broader support longterm.”

Perry said her support of community sports has no downside, and the upside is unlimited

“We can only make it better”

United’s Matthew Tam pitches a pass to Keaton White-Burns (left) just as he’s about to be tackled by a Langley Rugby Club defender during a mini-rugby jamboree Sunday hosted by the Bayside Rugby Football Club at South Surrey Athletic Park. The mini-rugby program introduces the sport to kids aged four to 12, progressing from flag to tackle as they get older The program runs from September to December and February to May For more information contact unitedrugby ca.

DIXON TAM PHOTO

COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE

classifieds.tricitynews.com

REMEMBRANCES

ADVERTISING POLICIES

MERRETT, Joe

Joe Merrett age 79, passed away on April 14, 2023

Joe was ra sed in East Vancouver/Cedar Cottage, attending Se kirk Elementary School and Gladstone High Schoo He was involved in numerous sports throughout h s l fe, including soccer, baseba l, box ng, acrosse and later, golf and a short stint with cur ing And who can forget the years that the neighbourhood dads competed n the Handcar Races at Golden Sp ke Days Joe took h s sk l s and ove of sports to coaching numerous teams through the years: Little League basebal, softball and soccer He didn’t hesitate to volunteer on many sports boards, fil ing var ous roles from equipment manager, Pres dent of Port Moody Soccer, and vo unteer posit ons w th Port Moody Aquarians Swim Club Joe wi l be forever remembered with his name on the p aque at the entrance to the Rocky Point P er, reflect ng his time on the Port Moody Parks Board For several years, Joe was often seen at Eag e R dge Manor v siting his Mom, Betty

Joe was trained as a lather, ater working in commercial bu lding construction throughout the province nc uding Wil iams Lake, Kitimat, Smithers, the Okanagan etc He ater opened Soccerwest in Surrey and Coqutlam, helping many kids find the r ght boot! After se l ng the business, he worked manag ng a hote in Burnaby, at Just Fine Wines in Poco, and as a handyman Joe lived in Port Moody for 54 years, rare y m ssing a Go den Spike Days F refighter’s Pancake breakfast!

Joe leaves beh nd his w fe of 53 years, Pat; h s daughters, Caroyn (Jason), and Suzanne (George); and h s 4 grandchi dren, Brynn, Vanessa, Sam and David

Many thanks for the good care from the med cal staff at Eag e Ridge Hospita , Royal Co umb an Hosp tal and the Port Moody Fire Department

Please upload any photos of Joe by May 10 to: https://bit y/3LVmz7r

A Ce ebrat on of Life wil occur Wednesday, May 17 at 1:30pm at Vancouver Golf Course, 771 Aust n Avenue, Coquit am

Joe loved cars and his advice was “never spend more on a car than you did on your first house”

Call or email to reserve your space, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm: 604-362-0586 • 604-653-7851

DTJames@glaciermedia.ca • nmather@glaciermedia.ca

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Obituaries

CAMPBELL, Frederick (Fred) Osburne

SKULSKY, Vivian

Our mother Vvan passed away quietly in her sleep at Mount St Mary’s Hospital in V ctoria on Saturday

Apri 22 at the age of 85 Predeceased by her parents Ne l e and Rex, Vivian is survived by her sons Adam (Helena) and Todd, ssters Wanda, Brenda, Genie and a large extended fami y

Born October 23, 1937, Viv an spent her early years in Parksvile before her t ghtknit famiy moved to Lavington in the ate 1940s Raised n the Okanagan in the 1950s, she had many happy memor es from her chidhood and teenage years In May 1959, Vivian married our father Ph lp Skulsky in Vernon before mov ng to the Lower Ma nland to start the r new l fe together, eventua ly sett ing n Coqu tlam n 1966 Vivian worked at the Bay in downtown Vancouver for several years before devotng herself to ra sing her ch ldren Vivian was active n her community and always supported ocal youth sports through her nvolvement n Coquitlam M nor Hockey and the Coqu tlam M nor Softba l Assoc ation Always interested in sports, Vivian played baseba l and basketbal in her youth and was a faithful supporter of the Vancouver Canucks

Fol owing a separat on from our father in the late 1980s, Viv an worked several d fferent jobs before opening V v an’s Sandwich Shoppe in Sapperton n 1989 As her business deveoped to include catering and se ling her baked goods over the holidays, Vivian met people from a l walks of ife and made many new friends After sel ing the shop n 1997, Vivian worked as a cas no dealer for the next few years before open ng and operat ng Montana’s, a private poker club n Coquit am, from 2001 - 2006 After years of hard work, Vivian spent her retrement years relaxing with her fa thful compan on Mo ly and host ng week y card games before mov ng to Victoria in 2021 to be closer to her son

Vivian wil be remembered for her boundless enthusiasm and a desire to improve the lives of those around her She was caring and g vng and had a specia place n her heart for members of her fam ly and loved to support her wide col ect on of friends and acquaintances She had a big personality and wi l be great y m ssed

Our fam ly would ike to the say a spec al thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Mount St Mary’s Hospita for the kindness and consideration shown to my mother during her final months Condo ences may be offered to the fami y onl ne

Sadly, on Apr l 30 2023, Freder ck (Fred) Osburne Campbe l passed away at the age of 79 after a br ef llness Lov ngly remembered by his brother David (Candace), n eces Jennifer (Michae ) Mi an, Kathryn (Coin) Vitols; great nephews Ethan, Logan, Alexander and Matthew, cousins and numerous fr ends

Fred was born Apri 23, 1944 in New Westminster to Bi l and Mary Campbe l, iving and working h s ent re l fe n the Port Coqu tlam area Fred was a Psych atric Nurse at Rivervew Hospita , retiring at the age of 55 He had many nterests; his church, photography, sketching, and pant ng

The funeral w l be he d on May 20, 2023 at 1:30 pm at St Bride of Ki dare (P tt Meadows Community Church), 12109 Harrs Rd, P tt Meadows: Fr Dav d R Marr ott offic ating

In lieu of flowers, p ease donate to a charity of your choice or the African Appeal thru the church

There w l be a Tea follow ng the serv ce

CULLEN, Esther M. February 24, 1942 May 2, 2023

On May 2, 2023, Esther Marie Cullen passed away peacefully into the presence of her Lord. She is survived by two daughters, Grace (Gerry) and Val (Rod); six grandchildren, Kayla (Nick), Mitchel (Jessica), Joel, Rebecca (Jonah), Trevor and Daniel; and eight great grandchildren. She will be forever loved, remembered and missed by her family and friends.

As you share the stories and the memories of how they lived their lives and how very much they meant, may you find comfort...

REMEMBRANCES

Obituaries

Obituaries

LOWRY, Donna May

With heavy hearts, we announce that Donna May Lowry peacefuly passed away at the age of 80 on May 1, 2023, with her famly by her side Donna May s survived by her husband, Harry, of neary 60 years, and daughter Janet (Dave) She loved being a Grandma to her two grandchldren, Ashlee and Blake Donna May was predeceased by her son Brian in 2004 We wl mss her dearly Say H to Uncle Bran for us!

MOYER, Doreen

October 13, 1932 - April 26, 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Doreen, she wl be sady mssed, eavng behind her Husband of 74 years, Staney, 4 chidren, 6 Grandchldren, 4 Great Grandchildren

Servce to be announced at a later date, to nquire email: mssusan@shaw ca

STAPLES, Donald K. August 28, 1942 April 28, 2023

With profound sadness, we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our dad, Donald Staples of Port Moody.

Born in Regina, Sask, the youngest of nine kids and the last to move upwards, he joined the Canadian Navy in March 1963 in Nova Scotia until his honourable release in October 1974 in Esquimalt, B.C. Dad loved to fish, camp, play crib (he was a shark) and bingo His last crib hand of 28 was March 31, the day Mom passed.

Dad is predeceased by his young daughter Patricia (1971), son Peter (2005), wife Marj (March 2023), and all of his siblings over the years. Survived by son Paul; stepdaughter Karen Lee Bradley; stepsons Clay and Derek (Cyndi) Irvin; grandchildren Nathan, Isaac, Jacob and Mickayla Staples, Carson and Tyson Bradley, Dakota (Grace), Austin, Sierra, and Devin Irvin; and great granddaughter Alice Irvin.

Joining his love, Marj, has made Dad a happy card playing camper. We love you, Dad/Grandpa. Thank you for all your love.

There will be no service.

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