Tri-City News May 18 2023

Formertreasurerof LittleLeaguefaces

The criminal case against a former treasurer of the Coquitlam Little League (CLL) will come before Port Coquitlam Provincial Court tomorrow (Friday)

Terri April Michael was charged last Wednesday (May 10) with one count of fraud over $5,000 and one count of theft over $5,000 from the nonprofit

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, the maximum penalty for fraud is 14 years behind bars while a theft conviction carries a 10-year prison term

Michael became a suspect in a police investigation in August 2020 a year after the league’s 11/12 All Stars represented Canada at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. when the executive

found more than $150,000 had vanished.

At the time, league president Sandon Fraser told the Tri-City News that $229,971 31 should have been in the league’s bank account, but was not.

Fraser, who has led CLL since 2016, did not return a request for comment; however, in a media statement posted on the league’s website last Friday (May 12), he voiced his appreciation to the public for its support during the “difficult time”

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the baseball season, many families forgave the refunds they were owed to help CLL recover

W H E W , W H A T A P A R T Y

JENNIFER GAUTHIER/TRI-CITY NEWS

Reese Murphy, 3, shows her effort at the May Day Kids bike race prior to the Port Coquitlam centennial May Day parade last Saturday (May 13). According to the city, more than 25,000 people participated in the day’s festivities that also included a massive party in the Terry Fox Hometown Square. See more photos on Page 3. see MICHAEL WAS, page 5

Premier speaks at Coq Economic Summit

Construction to begin on downtown condos

Don Drysdale Richard Rainey Alexander Huxtable

Port Coquitlam celebrated 100 years of May Day with a parade through the city’s downtown that included cancan dancers (left) and the family of hometown hero Terry Fox as grand marshals (below). After the parade, thousands gathered at the city’s community centre for big party complete with food trucks, beer gardens and carnival rides (bottom

PoCo celebrates May Day centennial

It might have been the party of the century.

Port Coquitlam wrapped up its centennial May Day celebrations last Saturday with a parade through its downtown followed by a massive party in the Terry Fox Hometown Square behind the city’s gleaming new community centre

According to a press release, the events attracted more than 25,000 visitors to Port

Coquitlam’s downtown.

“The event was a huge hit the biggest event by attendance in the city’s history,” said Mayor Brad West.

“The festival was an atmosphere of so much community pride in the heart of our downtown”

Saturday’s festivities kicked off with the PoCo May Day kids’ bike race. More than 500 kids, ages three-12 sped around the

downtown core in a renewal of an event that was part of the annual PoCo Grand Prix professional bike race until it fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then the pace slowed with the passage of the Rotary May Day parade, featuring floats, marching bands and dancers representing more than 90 local community groups and businesses.

The parade was led by family members of hometown hero Terry Fox.

Following the parade, the celebrations continued with live music and cultural performances in the Party at the Square that also featured food trucks, a special artisans’ market, kids and youth zone and beer garden

“What a day it was for Port Coquitlam,” said West.

JENNIFER GAUTHIER/TRI-CITY NEWS

photo)

Rezoning could help preserve former bank branch

Mario Bartel mbartel@tricitynews.com

A protected heritage building in Port Moody could soon be afforded even more protection

At a meeting on April 18, the city initiatives and planning committee gave its support to an application for a development variance permit to rezone 2346 Clarke St from light industrial use to general commercial

The committee also said the application could proceed to council without a public hearing.

The building that occupies the 2,281 sq. ft. site was built in 1914 as a new home for the Royal Bank, which had opened Port Moody’s first bank branch seven years earlier in leased premises nearby

The bank occupied the structure until 1956, and since then, it’s had various commercial tenants, including, Mayor Meghan Lahti recalled, a Sears outlet shop, as well as other small retailers and offices

But, in the 1980s, the property was zoned for light industrial uses, although Port Moody development planner

Andrei Pop couldn’t say why that might have happened

Carola Thompson, a consultant working with the property’s current owners who are looking to sell, said that could put some of the heritage components of the building at risk should new owners decide to gut the interior for an industrial purpose

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.

A covenant protects the building’s exterior features but that doesn’t extend to its interior,

which still features the original bank vault, fir floors, mouldings and baseboards, and a warren

of offices on the second floor that were originally used as living quarters for bank staff, according to Canada’s register of historic places

Thompson said the current owners did much of the work to restore the building’s interior and exterior to their original state and they want to ensure those characterdefining features are preserved

“Industrial uses and small protected heritage buildings aren’t a good match,” she said.

Pop said, given the building’s location in Port Moody’s downtown

heritage conservation area and its long history as a commercial building, entrenching that use through rezoning makes sense

That would allow future owners to repurpose it for anything from artists’ studios, to childcare to live/work units to a restaurant, offices or shops without necessarily compromising its heritage interior

“Preserving the building is more compatible with retaining the interior of the building with commercial uses than industrial uses,” he said in a report.

MARIO BARTEL/TRI-CITY NEWS

A former Royal Bank branch the first in Port Moody is now being used for offices after a varied past that included retail shops.

Michaelwastreasurerforsixyears

“The focus on this experience has driven the board of directors over the past years while the RCMP investigation into the missing funds was conducted,” his statement reads “Throughout that time, CLL has received countless support from our families, alumni, vendors, sponsors, other baseball organizations and the larger community.

“For that, we are grateful,” Fraser added.

“That support has allowed CLL to continue to focus on giving each child the best experience possible”

The RCMP’s announcement of the charges came the same day CLL started its Karl Gosselin Tournament for 12- and 13-year-olds at

It was all smiles in 2019 when the Coquitlam Little League All-Stars won provincial and national championships.

Blue Mountain Park

Last Friday, the league also emailed a newsletter to players’ parents to tout its upcoming tournaments, its inaugural Bat-A-Thon fundraiser at Mackin Park on May 27, its bursary program and post–season try-outs. Its end-of-season Founders Day is on June 17 Police did not

return requests for comment; however, in a media statement, the detachment wrote, “Our investigators worked diligently throughout this two-and-a-half year investigation to gather evidence, identify and interview witnesses and support charges”

Michael, 65, was the league’s treasurer between

September 2014 and August 2020; her husband, Bruce, was also the CLL secretary during the same time period.

Founded in 1955, CLL offers community and competitive baseball opportunities to young people ages four to 16 in the Tri-Cities, Burnaby and Maple Ridge Its alumni include Curtis Taylor (Arizona Diamondbacks); David Otterman (Milwaukee Brewers); David Kington (St. Louis Cardinals); Michael Crouse (Toronto Blue Jays); Shawn Bowman (New York Mets); Cam Aronetz (LA Dodgers); and Don Gurniak (Montreal Expos)

If you have information about the CLL probe, call RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote 2020-21019.

Big Canada Day bill for park party

Coquitlam will pull an extra $125,000 from its coffers to mark the country’s 156th birthday.

On Monday, council green-lighted the cash from the city’s sponsorship reserve for the July 1 party at Town Centre Park

Last year’s celebrations drew about 85,000 visitors an increase of 13 per cent over the last full in-person Canada Day festivities in 2019.

In a report, Lanny Englund, Coquitlam’s general manager of parks, recreation, culture and facilities, wrote that the price tag

to mount mega-events has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020, and more money is needed to pay the bills so that Canada Day activities are not cut.

He projected event costs will rise up to 70 per cent this year “in all budget line items” over the 2019 cost of $186,000, translating to a bottom line of $365,000.

Still, the tally will be offset by a $45,000 federal grant from Heritage Canada, as well as $28,000 from the BC Fairs, Festivals and Events Fund, as well as sponsors

TRI-CITY NEWS FILE PHOTO

May18–24

What’sNew?

MakeaSplashatCoquitlam’sSpray Parks

Coquitlamopeneditstensprayparksearlierthan scheduledtohelplocalresidentsstaycoolthrough theunseasonablywarmtemperatures EagleRidge OutdoorPoolwillopenfortheseasononJune3,also earlierthanoriginallyscheduled Workisalso underwaytoensurethattheWadingPoolatBlue MountainParkisreadyforitsscheduledopeningon June17

Forafulllistingoflocationsandhoursofoperation, visitcoquitlamca/OutdoorPools

BuildinganInclusiveCommunity FreeWi-FiinCityParksandFacilities

Coquitlam’sfreeWi-Fiin30+publicspaces,including parksandcityfacilities,enablesinternetaccessand helpsbridgethedigitaldividebyprovidingequal opportunitiesforeducation,employmentandsocial engagement

TolocateCoquitlam’sfreeWi-Filocations,please visitcoquitlam.ca/wifi

HaveYourSay CoquitlamAdoptsNewEconomic DevelopmentStrategy

Coquitlamhasanewvisionforalocaleconomythat promotesaresponsiblefuturewithshared prosperitythankstotheadoptionofanew EconomicDevelopmentStrategy

Councilgaveunanimousapprovallastnighttothe document,whichoutlinesstepstocreateavibrant regionalandculturalhubnorthoftheFraserRiver thatisadesirableplacetolive,visitanddobusiness

TheEconomicDevelopmentStrategyisaforwardlookingdocumentthatoutlinesavisionandspecific goalsandstrategiesthattheCitywillundertaketo supportthedevelopmentofaresilientand sustainableeconomythatworksforeveryone

ThefinalEconomicDevelopmentStrategyandallof itsrelatedcomponentsareavailabletoreadat coquitlamca/EconomicStrategy

FitnessandFun

ImprovementstoCoquitlam’sPercy PerryStadium

Frommid-Mayuntilfall2023,PercyPerryStadiumat TownCentreParkwillbeclosedwhilereplacements andimprovementstakeplacetotherubbertrack andartificialturffieldatthecentreofthetrack

Inordertomaximizecostefficienciesandlimit disruptiontothesekeyrecreationalamenities,both thetrackrenewalandartificialturfreplacementare plannedtobecompletedatthesametime.

Tolearnmoreabouttheproject,visit coquitlam.ca/PercyPerryRenewal.

TheSummer2023ProgramGuideisnowavailableonlineat coquitlam.ca/ProgramGuide

Startplanningyoursummeractivitiesnow!

HowtoRegister?

• Onlineatcoquitlam.ca/registration

• Phone-inregistrationisavailableat604-927-4386,weekdays8:30am to6p.m.(exceptforstatutoryholidays)andweekends10a.m.to2p.m.

• In-personatmanyofourrecreationfacilities

DidYouKnow?

PublicWorksWeekMay21–27

Let'scelebrateandthankourteamofprofessionals whooperateandmaintainourroads,water,sewer anddrainagesystems24hoursaday7daysaweek PublicWorksplaysanessentialrolemeetingthe infrastructureneedsofourcommunitywithateam ofprofessionalsreadyandresilienttomanage day-to-dayoperationsandemergencies

Didyouknow?

• PublicWorksprofessionalsmaintainandrepair:

1,592kmofpipe –watermains,storm mainsandculverts, sanitarymains

300+vehicles includingour Fire/Rescuefleet

• 2022successesinclude: 11,342 completedwork orders/service requests

73pump stations

1,000+ piecesof equipment

cleaned

5,650km roadsswept

25,550propertiesbi-weeklygarbage andweeklygreenwastecollected

225tonnesrecyclablescollectedat TownCentreRecyclingDepot

71%householdwastedivertedfrom landfill

2/3of8,700itemscollectedvialarge itempickupprogramrecycled

Joinusincelebratingtheworkoftheseprofessionals. Formoreinformationandagalleryofimagesofour crewsinaction,visitcoquitlam.ca/PublicWorks.

EbyspeakstobizcrowdatChambersummit

B.C. has had the best recovery in Canada coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic

And the province’s economy continues to get stronger and cleaner, Premier David Eby touted before 200 business people and civic politicians on Tuesday (May 15) at the TriCities Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Summit. Held at the Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam, the gathering heard common themes from keynote speakers Eby and Jean-Francois Perrault, senior vice president and chief economist of Scotiabank

Among them:

• the need to build more affordable units to house the influx of workers and new Canadians moving to B.C.

• the challenges to find and retain skilled workers

• the ongoing social issues surrounding mental health Eby, who singled out Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart for his “leadership” in building more affordable homes in the city, delivered his comments hours before he and Stewart celebrated the opening of 100 new affordable units in Coquitlam at 55One, located at

551 Emerson St.; those homes will be operated by the 43 Housing Society, a branch of the SHARE Family and Community Services Society.

At the Chamber event, Eby talked about the “remarkable growth in our province last year,” of which records are being surpassed this year, he said

Besides the province’s GDP uptick, Eby said more B.C. women are now in the workforce thanks in part to increased investments in childcare spaces.

Parents, he said, are also saving $900 a month, per child, to have someone look after their charges while they’re on the job. On the employment front and to help alleviate the healthcare pressures, the premier said more than 3,000 nurses from around the world have signed up to work in B.C and strides are being made to fast-track their international credentials.

And, under his StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, there are more post-secondary

opportunities and skills training available, he said.

Life sciences, as well as the mining and tech sectors, are booming in B.C , Eby said while singling out a couple of Tri-City businesses

“People are moving to B.C. to help build our province up,” he said.

Later this month, Eby said he’ll be in Korea, Singapore and Japan and preliminary meetings are indicating that countries want to trade with the province because of its stability, geography and governance In fact, he said, B.C exports are up 70 per cent from when the NDP formed government

“Still, if we learned anything in the pandemic, it’s that we can’t go at it alone,” Eby said, noting the opportunities for partnerships, including with First Nations.

As for the social issues facing business owners with storefronts, Eby sympathized and said the B.C government is taking action with prolific offenders to keep them off the streets by hiring more prosecutors and police, as well as probation and correctional officers. Recently, the province

“took the keys from three Hell’s Angels clubhouses,” Eby said, to send a message to organized crime

As well, the province is budgeting $1 billion into mental health services and supports, which will eventually see the expansion of the Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addictions at səmiqʷəʔelə/Riverview in Coquitlam to other parts of the province.

Meanwhile, Eby also fielded questions from the Chamber audience on attracting and retaining talent; the cost of doing business with increases in labour, inflation and property taxes; and the use of mass timber and pre-fab for new housing.

Eby’s remarks before the TriCities Chamber of Commerce came a month after BC United leader Kevin Falcon addressed the business crowd at the Vancouver Golf Club the same day the party launched its rebrand from the BC Liberals

The next big Chamber event is the Golf Classic on June 29 at the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club, also sponsored in part by the Tri-City News.

ManyofCoquitlam’sfacilitieshavespecialoperatinghoursormaybeclosedonVictoriaDay Visitcoquitlam.ca/holidayhoursformoreinformation.

Ifyourequireimmediateassistanceregardingwater,sewerorroads,pleasecall604-927-3500.

FacilitiesClosedonMay22

• CentennialActivityCentre

• CoquitlamCityHall

• DogwoodPavilion

• GlenPinePavilion

• RobinsonMemorialCemetery

• SmilingCreekActivityCentre

• SummitCommunityCentre

• TheGetawayYouthCentre

• TheLandingYouthCentre

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• TownCentreRecyclingDepot

FacilitiesOpenwithAdjustedHoursonMay22

• CityCentreAquaticComplex

• CoquitlamAnimalShelter

• MaillardvilleCommunityCentre

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| coquitlam.ca

• PoirierCommunityCentre

• PoirierForum

• PoirierSport&LeisureComplex

• VictoriaCommunityHall

JANIS CLEUGH/TRI-CITY NEWS

Premier David Eby (at left, talking with Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart) was a keynote speaker at Economic Summit 2023, hosted by the TriCities Chamber of Commerce at the Executive Plaza Hotel on Tuesday

Downtownprojectreadytoriseafterdelays

DIANE STRANDBERG dstrandberg@tricitynews.com

Hammers will soon be swinging at The Met in downtown Port Coquitlam.

Quarry Rock Developments

founder Matthew Webber confirmed to the Tri-City News last week that form work for concrete will soon begin on The Met, followed by construction of the five-storey, wood-frame building at 2241–2251 McAllister Ave

The project is unique as the City of Port Coquitlam retains ownership of a portion of The Met commercial units due to the fact that the development is partially built on a city parking lot while the remainder of the property is on the site of commercial buildings that were destroyed by fire in 2016

Webber said marketing of the condo units will likely begin in the next 90 days now that costs have been confirmed, trades are in place and an expected completion date of spring or summer of 2025 has been identified.

Burnaby-based Kaiser Landen Realty Inc. will be responsible for marketing the project.

Among the unique features for future Met residents will be access to electric car share vehicles that can be booked using the Mondofi app

The app, developed in Vancouver, will also provide secure building access (via video link) as well as direct communication with building managers, the building’s strata council and strata documents.

“You can use your phone to access the front door, it interacts

with touch screens at the front of the buildings,” said Mondofi co-founder Leigh Angman “What we’re replacing are those 1975-era monochrome screens, punch pad and telephone dialing systems where you can’t hear what anyone is saying.”

Mondofi will also capture and save up to 15 seconds of video of those accessing the building while the app can be used to provide secure access to

parking and amenities

Meanwhile, some may be wondering about the progress on the 63-unit condo building, which began construction in June 2021.

Although a large hole has been dug for underground parking, the site has been awaiting the next phase of construction.

According to Webber, Quarry Rock’s developer, the project has faced delays due to pandemic-related supply chain issues and labour shortages

“We wanted to deliver sooner but the pandemic came up, creating supply chain issues [and] who could have expected that and then cost inflation?”

Details are still being worked out as to what businesses will move into the almost 20,000 sq ft of commercial space

However, restaurants and cafés are likely to be part of the mix

As well, a large space has also been carved out for a bowling alley, but the city hasn’t confirmed that PoCo Bowl is moving in.

Nevertheless, the

development, with a plaza, and connecting to the Donald Pathway, is sure to be a draw

“It will definitely be a place for entertainment,” Webber said.

The City of Port Coquitlam has confirmed that it will own four commercial rental units in The Met, totalling just over 15,000 sq. ft.

However, the future occupants have yet to be confirmed, deputy CAO Karen Grommada wrote in an email to the Tri-City News

“At this time it is too early to know what is going in there, though the large unit is being designed to have a bowling component,” Grommada stated, adding, “The city has engaged with Colliers to market the spaces as part of our downtown revitalization.”

Among the other complexities of the project, according to builder VC Management is the high-water table and underground garage Webber confirmed that the construction team doing the form work has to complete another job but is expected to be on site at The Met in the coming weeks.

DIANE STRANDBERG/TRI-CITY NEWS

Construction of a five-storey wood-frame condo project that will include 20,000 sq. ft of commercial space is scheduled to begin soon after years of delays.

Moreoff-leashareascouldbecomingfordogs

MARIO BARTEL mbartel@tricitynews com

Dogs in Port Moody could soon have more places to roam free.

Last Tuesday (May 9), councillors tasked staff to report back with a proposal for a pilot project implementing off-leash hours in Bert Flinn Park. They’ll also look for an appropriate location for a new off-leash area near city hall

In her motion advocating for the former, Coun Samantha Agtarap said many dog owners already allow their animals to run freely in the park, beyond the short stretch of service road at the park’s eastern entrance that is already designated offleash. She said formalizing hours and designating specific trails for such activity will make the rules clear for everyone

Several speakers during public input prior to the meeting expressed support for off-leash hours in Bert Flinn Park, while others worried untethered dogs could wander into environmentally sensitive areas and damage delicate habitat or increase the occurrence of negative

interactions with other park users like hikers and cyclists.

Coun Kyla Knowles said it’s important any pilot program allowing dogs off-leash in the park be implemented with clear guidelines and signage

“Off-leash dogs run where they want to run,” she said.

“How do we balance providing

off-leash dog space without compromising the needs of people without dogs?”

Port Moody’s general manager of community development, Kate Zanon, said the city receives about seven to 14 complaints a year about loose dogs in Bert Flinn, of which only two or three result in tickets

being issued by bylaw officers.

Coun. Haven Lurbiecki said any rules about off-leash hours in the park will only be as good as they’re enforced

“We definitely need to be monitoring if we go ahead with this,” she said.

Coun. Amy Lubik said going ahead with a pilot project to test

off-leash hours in the park is worth a shot

“We can see how things go, whether they work or not and how to improve,” she said, adding, “Maybe we can find ways to make everybody feel safe in those areas.”

As for another off-leash area near city hall, Mayor Meghan Lahti said it’s been her observation since taking office last November that the lawn in behind Inlet Theatre is a popular spot for dog owners to let their charges run free for a few moments of exercise or chasing a ball. She said designating that spot as an off-leash area, but not delineating it with fencing or boundaries, will ease owners’ worries about possibly being ticketed.

“I’d like to take away the concern of people that they have to be on guard”

But some councillors were concerned allowing dogs to run loose on that patch of lawn could disrupt family activities or events that often take place nearby, like weddings.

Agtarap suggested staff explore other options around city hall as well.

TRI-CITY NEWS FILE PHOTO

Dogs are currently allowed to be off leash along a small stretch of the gravel path at the entrance to Bert Flinn Park. But that could soon be expanded to other designated trails.

Museumexhibitreopeningavictoryforcommonsense

The recent announcement that the Old Town exhibit in the Royal B.C. Museum would reopen to the public is a reminder that museums and politics are intrinsically linked. Museums can be political when it comes to what they choose to collect and display, and about how and why they tell stories of the past. They are not necessarily neutral bodies

In recent years the Royal B.C. Museum which is owned by the provincial government decided to move toward the “decolonization” of its exhibits and displays.

But what constituted “colonization” was never adequately explained or defined, so when it was announced 18 months ago that Old

Town would be closed the public reaction was harshly negative.

The exhibit is a quaintly charming recreation of Victoria city life in the late 1800s. A cobbled street, storefronts housing a print shop and a saloon as well as a multi-level hotel drew visitors by the thousands.

But while the exhibit has proven to be immensely popular over the years, there is a vocal minority who consider pretty much any recreation or depiction of our past to be offensive because it inevitably shows objects and people from our colonial past

This minority seemed to have captured the views of the museum management, who announced in

November 2021 that Old Town would disappear.

After leaving the strong impression that Old Town had been torn down, the museum surprised many when it casually announced in February that, in fact, the exhibit was still largely intact.

And now it will largely reopen to the public at the end of July Some parts of it will reopen in the winter.

The reason for the turnaround, which will undoubtedly be a popular decision?

None other than newly appointed Tourism Minister Lana Popham, the minister responsible for the museum.

Soon after taking over the portfo-

lio in January, Popham began pushing back against the museum management, prodding it into revisiting its position and demanding that it find a way to reopen Old Town.

Under Popham’s guidance, Old Town will open with some new “contextual information” panels installed in various places to further explain the early history warts and all of this province.

This is a victory for common sense and our depiction of history

Politics will always be linked to the Royal B.C. Museum. Popham’s intervention showed the upside of that linkage.

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC

Graham REG ONAL PUBL SHER publisher@tricitynews.com

Mark Falkenberg EDITOR editor@tricitynews.com

Vicki Magnison REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR vimagnison@glaciermedia.ca

Millie McKinnon CREAT VE SERV CES MANAGER mmckinnon@tricitynews.com

Karen Seguin DISTRIBUTION MANAGER circulation@tricitynews.com

Spark,Bringcoquitlamparksalive!

WorldBeeDay

CometotheInspirationGardeninTownCentre ParkforWorldBeeDayonMay20 Therewillbe opportunitiestogetinvolved,gainknowledge andBEEinspired

•PollinatorPowerworkshop 11:15a.m.–12p.m.and3:15–4p.m.

•HangingBasketworkshopfrom2–2:45p.m.

Formoreinfoandtoregister,email parkspark@coquitlam.ca

coquitlam.ca

TreeCanopy/UnderstoryWalks

CelebrateCoquitlam’streecanopyand urbanforestswithsometree-rificactivities happeningthismonth,rainorshine

•May20from12–2p.m.atComoLake

•May26from9–11a.m.atComoLake Formoreinfoaboutthesefreeactivitiesand toregister,emailparkspark@coquitlam.ca.

Spotlighton SPORT

We’rePoppingUpatLocalEvents

Coquitlam’sSpotlightonSportteamwillbe poppingupattournamentsinthecoming weeks LookfortheteamattheCoquitlam

LittleLeagueMackinYardInvitationalon Saturday,May20from1–3p.m.atMackin ParkandtheUnitedRugbyClubJunior7s TournamentonJune8.Stopbytheteam tentforsomegreatgiveaways.Formore info,emailspotlightonsport@coquitlam.ca

ShouldBertFlinnParkhavemoreoff-leashtrails?

The Editor: Port Moody really has nothing in the way of offleash for dogs Giving the dogs an off-leash time for the big loop would be a good step forward.

As for people who worry dogs will wreck habitat or the foliage; they should worry more about the mountain bikers who have made all sorts of trails running through the park that I’m sure have caused more damage

Coquitlam has Mundy Park which is a lot bigger,

has just as much wildlife and way more people who use it; yet, they’re

able to accommodate both off leash time and people time

Port Moody needs to get with the times and provide more off-leash space that is fun and stimulating for the dogs.

Peter Dulson

Port Moody

It has been my experience many dog owners cannot control their dogs when off-leash. I strongly oppose increasing the off-leash area in Bert

Flinn Park

If the off-leash area for dogs is increased, this will reduce the area for others to use, as not

everyone loves dogs jumping up on them or barking at them.

Barb Dickson

Port Moody

We love Bert Flinn Park because it offers a variety of terrain, well-maintained trails and soul-soothing atmosphere.

We all appreciate that our dogs can run and play freely for that 1-km stretch but agree that extended hours and offleash boundaries would be much more beneficial

for our furry friends. We are all as courteous as possible to hikers and bikers that we encounter along the way and also respect those dog owners who have their pets on leash

Not all of them show us nor our dogs the same courtesy.

In fact, we have been the target of snide remarks on a number of occasions even along the off-leash trail.

Go figure

Rhonda Vance

Port Moody

SecureYourAttractants

JAMIE STREET/UNSPLASH

Port Moody residents have mixed feelings about expanding off-leash trails in Bert Flinn Park

Little Free Library builder hopes to see more

DIANE STRANDBERG dstrandberg@tricitynews.com

A Port Coquitlam teen had so much fun building and installing a Little Free Library with her dad, she wants other families to do the same.

Shanali Beligala, who is graduating from Terry Fox Secondary in June, said her library is now installed at Princeton Park in Coquitlam, and she’s collecting books for it and others across the Tri-Cities.

“The reason I got really interested in doing this initiative at a park is that there are so many kids of all ages going to the park with their friends and families,” she said.

“When they get a chance they can take a few books out and take them home to read”

Beligala, an avid reader herself since a very young age, has collected books for all ages for her Little Free Library and she’s encouraging others to build these libraries as a “fun thing to do.”

She said she’s always looking for more to add. If you have a book to contribute, send an email to littlefreelibrary10@ gmail com

There are 19 Coquitlam parks

with Little Free Libraries.

They’re looked after by local stewards, and the city is encouraging more, said Coquitlam parks manager

Kathleen Reinheimer

In fact, there is room at two larger sites Blue Mountain Park and Mundy Park for more of these tiny, hand-built structures that hold books for sharing, while also keeping

them dry.

“Coquitlam Parks is very supportive of the Free Little Library initiative and happy to work with groups or individuals who are interested in supplying

and/or stewarding an installation.”

Typically, the city works with the donors to find a good spot close to benches, playgrounds or other gathering areas where the public will be able to enjoy a reading break

Once a spot has been confirmed, parks staff will install the library to ensure that it’s stable and safe

“We try to keep the process very simple and just register the library sponsor so that we can contact them if the situation changes,” Reinheimer said.

Details of Coquitlam’s process can be found on the city’s website.

Port Coquitlam also has Little Free Libraries and the city even has a map with additional information on its website

There are book boxes in local businesses, several city parks and in front of residences and daycares, according to the map.

As for Beligala, she’s heading off to the University of Victoria this fall to study computer science. But she plans to continue to look after her Little Library at Princeton Park.

“I enjoy working on projects that benefit the community”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Shanali Beligala stocks books for the Little Free Library she and her dad built for Princeton Park in Coquitlam.

Sasamat crew douses fire by Belcarra Regional Park

An acre close to Belcarra Regional Park was still being treated as an active fire scene Monday and Tuesday after a blaze broke out last weekend.

Jay Sharpe, fire chief of the Sasamat Volunteer Fire Department, said multiple calls came in

when smoke was spotted at around 8 p.m. last Saturday (May 13) from a private power pole on the former Camp Howdy grounds.

Sharpe said he had the electricity to the 10 water access-only cabins turned off while about 22 volunteer firefighters

battled the flames.

The Metro Vancouver Initial Attack Team, as well as the BC Wildfire Service, also helped on Sunday morning.

There were no injuries; however, the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue vessel from North Vancouver patrolled

the waters to ensure the firefighters were safe as the fire was on steep terrain.

“We had to fight the fire from the top and bottom. It was a high-risk activity,” Sharpe told the Tri-City News.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.

Let’s talk about trees!

Help us develop tools to manage and protect a vital community resource

Port Moody’s trees are integral to the health and well-being of our people, plants, and animals. We’re developing an Urban Forest Management Strategy and reviewing our Tree Protection Bylaw, and we want your input!

How should we manage and protect trees as our community evolves? Here’s how you can get involved in our second phase of public engagement on Trees in Port Moody:

Attend our Urban Forest Management Strategy

Open House on June 1, 2023, in person at the Civic Centre (100 Newport Drive) between 4:30–7:30pm

Fill out our Urban Forest Management Strategy survey online by June 25, 2023.

Fill out our Tree Protection Bylaw Review survey online by June 25, 2023.

Sharpe said while most of the fire was doused by 2 a.m. Sunday, crews were on the property for the next two days to monitor for hot spots as the weather was forecast to

be warm and windy. “It’s still an active fire scene,” Sharpe said on Monday. “The fire is out, but the problem with fires in areas like this is that there is a lot of forest debris.”

Council Meeting

When: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Where: This meeting will be held electronically and live streamed at portmoody.ca/watchlive, with in-person attendance available in Council Chambers at City Hall (100 Newport Drive).

Time: Regular Council Meeting 7pm

Find an agenda package at portmoody.ca/councilcalendar.

View a video recording (available by 3pm on May 24, 2023) at portmoody.ca/councilcalendar.

Learn how you can provide input during an electronic meeting at portmoody.ca/councilmeetings.

Council procedures are subject to change due to COVID-19. For the latest information, please check portmoody.ca/COVID19.

SASAMAT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT./FACEBOOK

A pall of smoke hangs over from a fire on the former Camp Howdy grounds near Belcarra Regional Park.

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO

PERIOD PROMISE

SATURDAY, MAY 20

About 26 per cent of people who menstruate in B.C say they’ve gone through a period without having the necessary sanitary products From 10 a.m to 2 p.m., the Soroptomists in the Tri-Cities will host a product donation drop-off at No Frills (100-1960 Como Lake Ave., Coquitlam), as well as a fundraiser, to support the United Way’s Period Promise campaign to ensure pads and tampons are available.

MORE: periodpromise.ca/ soroptimisttricities.org

LEGION DANCE

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Dance the night away with the band the Rhythm Street at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 263 (1025 Ridgeway Ave., Coquitlam) from 7 to 11 p.m It also performs Saturday; membership is waived on that night

MORE: rclegion263.ca

HERE BIRDIE

SATURDAY, MAY 20

The Vancouver Avian Research Centre hosts its first open house of the season at the research and banding centre at Colony Farm Regional Park in Coquitlam Admission is $15; registration is required.

MORE: birdvancouver.com

GET COLOURFUL

SATURDAY, MAY 20

Celebrate the South Asian festivals of Holi and Vaisakhi at

Colour Fest, a gathering at Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). The free family-friendly festival signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love and, for many, a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships Hosted by Diwali Fest, the festivities are from 5 to 8 p.m. and include musical and dance performances, a colour zone, art stations and food trucks. Tickets are up to $22.63 to take part in the colour zone.

MORE: diwalifest.ca/events/colour-fest-2023

FARM FRESH

SUNDAY, MAY 21

The weekly Coquitlam Farmers Market is now open in the parking lot of Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam). From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up some fresh farm fare, talk to the vendors and enjoy the music and children’s crafts. The POP (Power of Produce) Kids Program will also be running And don’t forget to bring your grocery bags to load up with goods. Launched in 1996, the Poirier Street Farmers Market is the longest running suburban farmers market in the Lower Mainland.

MORE: makebakegrow.com

Coquitlam home part of massive drug-trafficking bust

Police recently executed a search warrant at a Coquitlam home one of three simultaneously conducted across the Lower Mainland as part of a drug trafficking investigation

What resulted was a massive seizure of drugs, weapons and cash

following a months-long operation connected to B.C.’s gang conflict.

Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) said four people were arrested May 2 in the ongoing case, and more is believed to take place.

Homes in Coquitlam, Vancouver and Surrey

were the sites of the search warrants.

Police executed its Coquitlam warrant at a residence in Austin Heights near the intersection of Austin Avenue and Marmont Street.

Among the items recovered by police

included:

• $70,000 in street-value illicit drugs, packaged in a manner consistent with trafficking

• 10 firearms of varying calibre, some with illegal modifications

• 3,800 rounds of ammunition

• Around $50,000 in

counterfeit Canadian currency

• 2017 Mercedes C300W, believed to have been purchased using criminal proceeds

According to MVTP’s statement, it’s believed the suspects involved were using transit to transport illicit drugs including psilocybin (“magic mushroom”) into multiple communities as far back as fall 2022.

And with B.C gang conflict a factor in the case, Chief Dave Jones said the suspects had access to firearms and posed a threat to public

safety.

“Transit Police are committed to public safety and want to send a clear message that if you use the transit system to commit crime, you will be arrested and face criminal charges,” Jones said, adding the investigation involved officers from several departments and jurisdictions, incuding the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC)

The drug trafficking ring also included a psilocybin grow operation. It was immediately dismantled and all drugs were seized.

Free water safety courses

Drowning is preventable.

That’s the message from YMCA BC, and for the month of May, the organization is offering free water safety courses to interested families with young kids.

This includes the new Bettie Allard YMCA in Coquitlam that opened in January located at 555 Emerson St

Instructors will teach parents and children as young as three basic swimming skills, as well provide an assessment of their current abilities.

According to Lifesaving Society BC, as of 2020, the drowning death rate in children under five years old is one in 100,000 and 92 per cent take place when an adult isn’t

nearby

“Swimming is not only a fun, healthy activity, but a critical life skill,” said David Woollven, YMCA BC vice president for health, fitness and aquatics

He said it’s never too late to learn water safety, especially for young kids.

“Learning water safety skills will not only keep you safe around water but is a great introduction to the world of swimming that often continues with swim lessons and competitive swim programs, and can even lead to a career.”

Woolven added YMCA staff is always encouraging local residents to stay safe when in water and is “committed to reducing water-related injuries”

The swim classes are also an opportunity for kids to expand on their physical activity, he said.

“Swimming also motivates children to strive for selfimprovement, teaches goal orientation and cultivates a positive mental attitude and high self-esteem”

The free water safety courses at Bettie Allard YMCA are scheduled between until Saturday, May 20 at various times and with limited spots

Sessions are divided among intermediate or beginner swimmers, for kids aged six to 13, as well as preschool beginners, for kids aged three to six.

For more information, visit the YMCA BC’s website

Suspect arrested

Kyle Balzer kbalzer@tricitynews.com

A man has been arrested for his suspected connection to a pair of sexual assaults on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain last week.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Alexa Hodgins said the suspect was taken into custody on May 11 by the detachment’s investigational support team

He’ll remain with police until his next court appearance, Hodgins said.

Two females were reportedly groped by a man in his 20s or 30s on separate occasions on May 8

Police said the first incident happened around 1 p.m. at a bus stop at Coast Meridian Road and David Avenue, while the second was several hours later, at 9:10 p m , near the intersection of Burke

Village Promenade and Soball Street.

An image of the alleged suspect was shared by Mounties in hopes of moving the case forward.

‘CONCERNING’

“We would like to thank the public for their assistance in identifying this individual,” said Hodgins, who called the incidents “concerning” in an earlier statement

“The information provided from the public will continue to aid our officers as they continue the investigation.”

Hodgins said the victims did the right thing in coming forward

She is encouraging the public to report all suspicious activities to police

Anyone with more information is encouraged to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 Quote file number 2023-11781.

CoquitlamLittleLeaguerlivesMajorLeaguedream

MARIO BARTEL mbartel@tricitynews.com

A Coquitlam Little Leaguer whose baseball aspirations were sidelined by a difficult medical diagnosis has been able to live out his Major League dream

Matty Sherdahl, 14, threw out the first pitch before the Toronto Blue Jays hosted the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on Monday (May 15).

Sherdahl was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer in 2021. He quickly endured two surgeries for a biopsy and to relieve pressure from fluid buildup on his brain. More operations, four rounds

to walk. He couldn’t even sit up and he had to relearn how to swallow and talk

Still, Sherdahl’s indomitable spirit and sense of humour persevered He nicknamed his tumour “Jack Sass” and he told his parents he would “kick it.”

A GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Sherdahl’s treatment raised more than $45,000

said Matty continues to get stronger with the help of physiotherapy sessions once or twice a month.

He’s “relearning how to run, jump and working on his balance,” she said But “playing baseball isn’t something he is able to do right now.”

As well, Tamara Sherdahl said Matty continues to struggle with this short-term memory and attention

“He still has a traumatic brain injury and is still healing,” she added.

The trip to Toronto has been arranged by Make-

A-Wish Canada that grants life-changing wishes to kids with critical illnesses. Matty will be accompanied by his mom and dad, Chris, along with his younger sister, Kinsley, who just started playing rookie ball herself

In fact, Tamara

Sherdahl said Matty gave her his favourite bat he used when he played rookie.

“She said the best part of baseball that day was when the coach let her take extra hits because he loved hearing the ‘ting’ when she hit the ball.”

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PMSS goes pink for musical ‘Legally Blonde’

It was a dream come true when Port Moody Secondary students Maryam Niaz and Kyan Ho were both picked to play Elle Woods in the school’s spring musical of Legally Blonde

For Niaz, a Grade 12 student, her last stage production was at Citadel Middle where she portrayed the villain Jafar in Aladdin She loved performing so much that the IB student auditioned again for her final year of high school.

“I thought I would try out one more time just for fun,” she told

the Tri-City News. “And I was so shocked to get the lead.”

For Ho, who is in Grade 11, winning the double-casted part of Elle was déjà vu

In 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the dance student was selected by her program, Mellado Dance Elite, as Elle for its show. “This [school] experience has almost made up for that,” she said

From May 24 to 26 and May 30, June 1 and 2, the pair will each lead three shows at Port Moody Secondary (300 Albert

St.) along with a different cast of 12 student–actors.

Teacher Jesse Meredith is the director while Grade 12 student Maria Kapitanenk is the choreographer

“We needed something uplifting and positive after the past couple of years that we had,” Meredith said when asked why Legally Blonde was chosen

“We wanted a musical the students could connect to and something to bring people into our theatre.”

Based on the novel by

Amanda Brown and the 2001 blockbuster film starring Reece Witherspoon, with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde follows the perky Elle and her sorority sisters as they mourn the loss of Elle’s boyfriend, Warner, who dumps her and leaves California to study at Harvard Law School

Determined to win him back, the fashion-conscious Elle also enrols in the Boston institution and proves she’s no dummy by successfully defending an

exercise maven charged with murder.

A total of 40 students are in the crew to mount the Port Moody Secondary musical, an extra-curricular program

Meanwhile, Meredith said the school already has 75 students signed up for Musical Theatre 11/12 in September a course he’s helped to establish at the school

For tickets at $10, go to the School Cash Online system (register as a guest) at sd43. schoolcashonline.com.

JANIS CLEUGH/TRII-CITY NEWS

The cast of Legally Blonde at Port Moody Secondary School.

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‘Through the Decades’ with choir

A choir celebrating 10 years in the Tri-Cities will hold a concert and classic rock ’n roll dance at a Port Moody high school next weekend

The 72-member Choral Connections performs a cabaret show titled Through the Decades at Heritage Woods Secondary (1300 David Ave.) on May 27.

The curtain rises at 7 p m for the production that will be followed by a dance in the school’s grand hall with tunes from the band Double Image.

As well, the group will raise funds through a raffle and 50–50 draw.

President and founding member Terry Bates told the Tri-City News that the choir started in 2013 with Michael Grice as conductor But after he returned

to Montreal, Ingrid Gay the music teacher at Heritage Woods won an audition to replace him.

Today, the ensemble meets at Trinity United Church in Port Coquitlam for its practices with founding pianist Vincent Lo. And, like during the COVID-19 pandemic, the gatherings continue to be available on Zoom.

Meanwhile, vocalists interested in joining Choral Connections in September can learn more about the group at the concert or via the website.

Tickets are $35/$20 to see Through the Decades at Heritage Woods Secondary. Visit choralconnections.ca.

FUN WITH ART

Place des Arts has two activities next week to get

adults and teens creative.

On Friday, May 26, instructor Cyd Eva will lead a pARTy@PDA event called Positive Space

The 19-plus evening will see attendees take part in a night of abstract painting by exploring positive and negative space while listening to the South African house tunes curated by DJ Costa Besta. Tickets are $26 per person, or $42 for two

Meanwhile, on May 27, from 2 to 4:30 p m , the Youth Arts Council will host an outdoor picnic and painting event for teens ages 13 to 15.

Titled Paint, Play and Picnic, the gathering will include supplies and refreshments at the arts hub (1120 Brunette Ave , Coquitlam) To register, visit eventbrite ca or go to placedesarts ca

IOCO PLAYERS/FACEBOOK

Mike Arseneault, founder of the Ioco Players theatrical company, at a table reading to prepare for “Twelve Angry Jurors.” Arseneault is the director while Anita Spiller is co-director

Show goal ‘is for people to walk out and be kinder,’ director says

A 19-year-old man is on trial for murdering his father.

And all the jury members believe he’s guilty except for one.

That’s the plot for Twelve Angry Men, a classic American courtroom drama that explores prejudices in the 1950s

It’s also the spring production for the Ioco Players, Port Moody’s newest theatrical company led by Mike Arseneault.

Penned as a teleplay by Reginald Rose and adapted for the stage in 1955 then as a film, directed by Sidney Lumet in 1957 the show follows the dozen jury members as they’re about to pronounce the fate of the young man accused of stabbing his father to death.

Instead, they change their minds after being convinced by the hold-out juror of reasonable doubt.

For the Port Moody production, Arseneault switched the title to Twelve Angry Jurors to accommodate the female cast members and give it a modern twist by making it inclusive.

Still, the old-fashioned biases linger.

“It’s about 12 people coming together, but unfortunately a lot of the themes back then are still around today: judging people by the colour of the skin or what they’re wearing. We haven’t changed any of the lines”

He added, “The whole goal of the show is for people to walk out and be kinder We need to listen to each other’s point of view, even if we don’t like it. This is what makes us a stronger community.”

Arseneault said he specifically cast actors from different backgrounds and with various theatrical experience to make the play diverse They are:

• Paul Wiebe (Juror 1)

• Angela Konieczny (Juror 2)

• Garth Hodgson (Juror 3)

• Michael Kahn (Juror 4)

• Mantaj Bains (Juror 5)

• Stephanie Wood (Juror 6)

• Jesse Peachment (Juror 7)

• Robson Baker (Juror 8)

• Sue Davey (Juror 9)

• Chuck Mayne (Juror 10)

• Bhushan Patil (Juror 11)

• Jennifer Hague (Juror 12)

Meanwhile, Port Moody

Mayor Meghan Lahti returns to Ioco Players to play the judge while Pete Spiller is the guard and Seamus Heffernan is the clerk. Directed by Arseneault and Anita Spiller, Twelve Angry Jurors also features original music by Hodgson Arseneault, who portrayed Juror 1 (the foreman) on a Portland, Ore., stage years ago, admits the dialogue-heavy show has serious material and isn’t appropriate for kids.

But he feels the provocative topics are important to raise and spark conversations

“The whole show is about the doubt and insecurities that we face,” he said, addi “W li in a society types of peo everyone in will find thin characters t relate to and

Twelve An runs June 8 Inlet United at The Sprin Spring St., P with a 2 p.m on June 10. a free 30-m back with th crew after t performanc visit eventb

ARTIST of the week

NATALIE ROBINSON

“Upstairs balcony (up close)” is the name of the painting by Natalie Robinson, who has an exhibition in the Suncor Gallery at PoMoArts until June 8. A 2021 graduate of Emily Carr University of Art+Design, Robinson is one of two recipients of the Port Moody centre’s Kwi Am Choi Scholarship for emerging artists Her series, Base Bid, looks at the link between memory and architecture and follows a recent rezoning of her street. “Each painting hopes to live in a kinetic space, as if frozen in time, shifting from an active to a paused state,” the Chinese–Canadian artist writes in her statement. A Burnaby resident, Robinson has another display up this month: Room in Frame is at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery. And in August, the Slice of Life gallery will host her exhibit Conversation Piece. PoMoArts (2425 St. Johns St.) is open weekdays 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

POMOARTS PHOTO

Coquitlam Express prepare for new BCHL era

MARIO BARTEL mbartel@tricitynews.com

Tali Campbell’s frequent flyer card could be getting a workout this summer, thanks to a recent decision by the BC Hockey League (BCHL).

As of June 1, the junior ‘A’ circuit will be an independent entity, no longer constrained by rules and regulations imposed by Hockey Canada.

That means its 18 teams will be free to recruit collegetracking players as young as 16 years old from across North America and even overseas to supplement its own homegrown players from B.C Previously, players from out of province had to wait until their final two years of junior eligibility before they could join a BCHL program.

In a statement on its website, the league said it’s making the move to provide a junior hockey alternative to young players who don’t want to risk their postsecondary eligibility by playing Major Junior in the Canadian Hockey League, which U S colleges consider a professional league, or who don’t have a viable Junior ‘A’ alternative nearby.

The general manager of the Coquitlam Express said the change creates new opportunities for young players looking to leverage their ability on the ice into a post-secondary education. It also significantly broadens the pool of players

available to the league

The world is literally the BCHL’s oyster, and that means Campbell has to get out there digging.

Already he’s been to San Jose for the U.S. nationals; he recently attended a tournament

in Las Vegas and he’ll soon be off to Florida for another

SCOUTING IN SWEDEN

Also on Campbell’s agenda is a scouting trip to Sweden with Express owner Fayaz Manji. Campbell said the prospect

of being able to bring top young players from around the world to Coquitlam to develop for four years is “exciting” but it also comes with considerable challenges

Campbell said every BCHL organization will have to step up its billet and education programs to accommodate the young out-of-towners, many of whom will be away from home for the first time while still attending high school.

MORE STAFF

Managing it all will require additional front office staff and more scouts will have to be engaged.

In other words, Campbell said, the hockey operations of BCHL teams will have to become more professional. And with that comes budgetary pressures that will have to be addressed with better marketing plans to attract more fans and sponsors

Campbell said he expects the support of local businesses that is the financial lifeblood of every BCHL team will eventually be complemented by larger,

MARIO BARTEL/TRI-CITY NEWS

The Coquitlam Express could look a lot different after the BC Hockey League approved a move to become independent from Hockey Canada, which will allow the Junior A circuit’s 18 teams to recruit players as young as 16 from out of province.

MARIO BARTEL/TRI-CITY NEWS

Centennial Centaurs forward Olivia Spyridis tries to protect the ball from a Terry Fox Ravens defender in their Fraser North District senior girls soccer semifinal last Thursday at Centennial Secondary The Centaurs won 3-0 and will play Burnaby Central in the final today (May 18). Both teams have already qualified for the girls’ AAA provincial championships, to be played in Kelowna June 1–3.

Changes include new standards

continued from page 31

corporate sponsors that want to hitch their wagon to the league’s reputation as a top feeder to high-profile U.S. college programs and even the occasional early-round NHL draft pick

To ensure every team is able to put its best foot forward and compete on a level playing field, Campbell said the BCHL is implementing operational changes like limiting the number of players that can attend training camp and setting standards for team-issued gear

As well, the league has set a goal to eliminate player fees by 2025.

Still to be navigated is the relationship BCHL teams will be able to maintain with affiliate players competing in leagues that remain a part of Hockey Canada

It’s an issue of particular interest to Campbell; he’s also a part owner of the Nanaimo Buccaneers, a junior ‘B’ team in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League that acts as a feeder to BCHL teams

‘COMMON SENSE’

“I’d hope there’s some common sense at the board level at Hockey Canada and BC Hockey that it’s all about the kids,” Campbell said “If we put roadblocks

in the way that doesn’t allow them to affiliate with BCHL players, that’s disastrous.”

It’s all added up to a busy month for Campbell since the Express was eliminated in five games by the Chilliwack Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.

It’s a result that still stings.

But there’s been no time to salve the wound.

When the league announced its move to independence on May 1, Campbell said his phone needed to be recharged three times as he was taking so many calls from agents and players’ families.

He said the foundation

and culture of leadership and community involvement the Express have built over the past four years have made the team a desirable destination

Keeping that momentum going on a much broader platform will make for a busy summer.

“Your workload has increased by double,” Campbell said.

“Now you’re expanding out to a lot more networks, a lot more markets, a lot more opportunity for different players.”

But, he added, there’s nothing he’d rather be doing.

“I think it’s going to be exciting for our league.”

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WALZ, Quirin Joseph

It is wth heavy hearts we announce the passing of our beoved dad, Qu rin (Quinn) Joseph Wa z, on May 8, 2023, at age 96

Quirn lived a ful and remarkable l fe devoted to h s family, friends, and community Born December 6, 1926, on the famiy farm n Marysburg, Saskatchewan, ater moving to Humboldt Saskatchewan He was one of twelve chi dren (6 brothers and 5 sisters), born to Wi liam and Cec l a Wa z Quirin was proud of his prair e roots and took great satisfaction sharing stories of his youth In the ate 1940’s, in search of work, Quir n made his way out West to Port A bern e In the late 1950’s he relocated to Coquit am where he met and eventual y marr ed, his oving w fe, Kay n 1960 They spent the next 60 years l v ng on Burke Mountain ra s ng their famly, making ife ong friends and memories They were married for 61 years until Kay’s passng in May 2022

Quir n was a k nd and generous man, a ways wil ing to end a helping hand to those n need He w ll be deeply missed by family and friends

Quir n is surv ved by his chi dren, John, Judy (Ken) Mary-Anne (Jan), and M chael, grandch ldren Chad (Bee), Jeffrey (Jen), Scott (Breanne), Brooke, Anni, and Bronwyn, great grandch dren, Brody, Cameron, F n ey, and brothers Ed and Ken

Prayers will be held Tuesday, May 23 at 8:00pm and a funeral Mass on Wednesday, May 24 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Assumption Catho ic Church in Port Coquitlam In ieu of flowers, please cons der donating in Qu rin’s memory to the char ty of your cho ce

Oliveira Funera Home 604-942-7920

www oliveirafunera home com

McDONALD, Monique Alice Marie (Nee Gamache)

October 9th, 1951 - April 23rd, 2023

It is w th great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mon que on Apr l 23, 2023 at the age of 71, surrounded by her fami y

Monque was an avd sports fan, always watching the Vancouver Canucks and her special team the Toronto Bue Jays, which she watched on T V until her fina days She also oved playng bingo, cards and dong puzzes (the harder the puzze the better, even upside down)

Mon que is survived by her daughter Kay a, stepsons Todd and Terry McDonald, brothers: Marce (Anthea), Glbert (Jani), Mike (Darlene), Paul (Cindy), L one, Rene’ (Pau a) and s ster Elaine

She is predeceased by her lovng husband Dennis, brother Robert and her parents A me’ and Eva Gamache The fami y wishes to thank the doctors and nurses on the PATH unt at Ridge Meadows Hospita and al the caring and wonderful staff at the Chrst ne Morr son Hospice in Misson Celebration of Life, wil be hed on Saturday, June 3rd at 1:00pm at the Albion Community Centre 24165 104 Ave, Map e Ridge, al of Mon que’s fam ly and fr ends are welcome to attend

FOLSOM, Eva Anita

Eva Anita Folsom (nee Afano), 65 years od, passed away peacefully in the hospita on May 9, 2023 due to organ fai ure She was born on Apri 11, 1958 at Roya Coumbian Hosptal, New Westmnster to Francesco and Shir ey Alfano In 1982 she married her hgh schoo sweetheart, Ricky Fosom

Eva is survived by her husband, mother and sister Tna (Leandre) Bourque She was a loving and generous aunt to many n eces and nephews, Crystal, Thaddee, Ncholas, Sharleen, Juanita, James and Adam Her great neces and nephews, Dakota, Danica, Kyer, Trey, Katrina (Morgan), Jade, Vo et, Monca, Logan and Maverck She s preceeded by her father, s ster Doreen Kreschuk, brother Tony Alfano and nephew Chad

She was a hghly respected nurse for 35 years with her last 25 years spent as a registered nurse at Roya Columbian Hospital

Serv ce w l be he d on Saturday, May 20th at 11:00am at the St Clare of Assisi Catho ic Church ocated at 2888 Delahaye Drive, Coqu tlam, BC Donat ons to the BC Children’s Hospita Foundation are encouraged, in lieu of flowers

CAMPBELL, Frederick (Fred) Osburne

Sadly, on Apr l 30 2023, Frederick (Fred) Osburne Campbell passed away at the age of 79 after a br ef illness Lov ngly remembered by his brother David (Candace), nieces Jenn fer (Michae ) M lman, Kathryn (Coln) Vitols; great nephews Ethan, Logan, Alexander and Matthew, cousins and numerous friends

Fred was born Apri 23, 1944 in New Westminster to Bi l and Mary Campbe l, iving and working h s ent re life in the Port Coqu tlam area Fred was a Psych atric Nurse at Riverview Hospita , ret ring at the age of 55 He had many nterests; his church, photography, sketching, and pa nting

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 Harr s Rd, Pitt Meadows: Fr Dav d R Marr ott offic ating

In l eu of flowers, p ease donate to a char ty of your choice or the African Appeal thru the church

There w ll be a Tea fol ow ng the service

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I will pay CASH for your UNWANTED ITEMS!

spec a ize in RECORDS, Eng ish Bone China & Figur nes, Collectib es, Too s, Antques, ETC Rob • 604-307-6715

BUSINESS SERVICES

HealtH & beauty

Footcare Nurse $75 Nai cleaning, cutting, f l ing & reduction

Prevent on & reduction of calluses or corns Promote skin ntegr

Facebook/YVR Shoe Sample Sale https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070901604508

DriverS is look ng for DRIVER to deliver bundles to Carriers in the Tri-Cit es area

THURSDAYS and DRIVER to deliver papers to Coquitlam Apartments

THURSDAYS Must have reliab e van or the l ke

CALL: 604-472-3040

EMAIL: circulation@ tricitynews com

FOOD/beverage

HelP CONCESSION

legal/Public nOticeS

Warehouse Lien aga nst

The Giggle Dam Dinner Theatre of Port Coquitlam, BC, for arrears of container rent amounting to $1,068 48 pus any additona costs of storage that accrue If not pad in ful, the contents of the storage container filed with: furnture, boxes, strolers, miscelaneous equipment, and other miscelaneous items, w l be so d onl ne auction v a:

Ib d4Storage com on May 23, 2023

Open Daily 11am-6pm White Pine Beach

Belcara • Port Moody

HIRING F/T & P/T

• Superv sor • Cooks

• K tchen He p • Cash ers

No experience needed Call / Text / Email 778-863-3347

jeannevol585@msn com

BC’s Hometown Heroes come to the aid of people in life-threatening situations every day. From rescue to recovery, BC’s front line workers and first responders—our fire fighters, along with the doctors, nurses and health care teams at Vancouver General Hospital are always on duty for critically ill and severely injured British Columbians. When you need help, these heroes respond.

Your Hometown Heroes Lottery ticket purchases support VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, raising essential funds for equipment at VGH and UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehab Centre to support specialized patient care and comfort.

Ticket purchases also support programs of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, including burn survivor support services and burn and fire prevention programs.

They’re there when you need them... now it’s your turn to be there for them.