There are a dozen days left for students off on spring break in School District 43.
And, for parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles looking to keep their charges busy — and out of the house — we’ve compiled a list of activities to entertain kids and youth in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. Queenston Park. A neighbourhood park on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain, Queenston has a rubber surface — with part of its playground built into the slope. Located at 3415 Queenston Ave., the park also has a sports court good for basketball and ball hockey.
2. Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex. Grab your bathing suits and ice skates to take a dip in the pool and spin on the rink in the 19,000 sq. ft. centre, which is located at 633 Poirier St. and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
3. Evergreen Cultural Centre. On March 16, the Coquitlam arts hub, at 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, has two shows in its spring break lineup: Peter Pan, from 10 to 11 a.m., and Beauty and the Beast, from 1 to 2 p.m. The plays are presented by Duffle Bag Theatre Company. Afterward, tour Lafarge Lake in the award-winning Town Centre Park.
4. Glen Park. Last summer, the City of Coquitlam installed a bike pump track and beach volleyball court at the City Centre park, located at 1149 Westwood St. The track is ideal for young learners on two wheels.
5. Rocky Point Ice Cream. With two Tri-City locations — Rocky Point Park in Port Moody and Town Centre Park in Coquitlam — this parlour dishes up unique handcrafted flavours, such as Banana Fudge, Earl Grey & Honey and Gingersnap Cookie, that will please everyone in the family.
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. Coquitlam Public Library. There are two branches — City Centre and Poirier — that not only have a good selection of books and educational programs, but also a substantial collection of lendable technology toys to try out, including binocular kits, laptops and telescopes.
2. Sheep Paddocks loop trail. Hop on your bikes and follow the trail through Colony Farm Regional Park, off Lougheed Highway. The area is popular with walkers, joggers and bird watchers, and has a great view of the Port Mann Bridge.
3. SkyTrain. There are six stops in the Tri-Cities along the Millennium Line and each station has landmarks and businesses around it. At the Moody Centre stop in Port Moody, check out the Outpost (3001 St. Johns St.) then walk over to PoMoArts (2425 St. Johns St., formerly the Port Moody Arts Centre) to tour the galleries and view the exhibits.
4. Fishing. Grab a rod and bait for some recreational fishing at a local lake (a basic licence not needed for fishers under 16). In Coquitlam, you can catch and release rainbow trout at Lafarge and Como lakes, which were restocked by the Freshwater Fisheries Society on March 8 and 9.
5. Doughnut Love. Open in 2021, this business owned by Coquitlam residents Clint and Kat Hiles is a go-to for anyone with a sweet tooth or looking for a treat — and support a charity. It’s located at 107-1655 Como Lake Ave.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. Pickleball. Try out one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. The City of Coquitlam has eight outdoor and four indoor facilities; last year, the municipality converted Bramble Park courts for pickleball to address demand. Go to coquitlam.ca/593/Tennis-Pickleball-Courts to find out where to play. In Port Coquitlam, pickleball games can be booked at the new downtown community centre and at the Hyde Creek Recreation Centre. And, in Port Moody, there’s the recreation complex and Art Wilkinson Park for pickleball players.
2. Driving range. Pull the clubs out of the closet and hit the links in the Tri-Cities. For first-timers, there are driving ranges at Eagle Quest Golf (1001 United Blvd., Coquitlam) and the Westwood Plateau Executive Course (1630 Parkway Blvd., Coquitlam). For more experienced players, head to the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club (3251 Plateau Blvd., Coquitlam) or, starting March 24, the Carnoustie Golf Club (533 Dominion Ave., Port Coquitlam).
3. Photography. Explore the Tri-Cities with your camera. Capture the wildlife along the Deboville Slough, and Mundy and Macquabeak parks. Alternatively, hike the Traboulay PoCo Trail, a 25.3-km route along the Coquitlam and Pitt rivers in Port Coquitlam.
4. YMCA and Maillardville Community Centre. Coquitlam has a new rec hub in Burquitlam, called the Bettie Allard ‘Y’ while, in Maillardville, the City of Coquitlam has updated Place Maillardville with a 22,000-sq. ft. facility. Both complexes are open daily and have drop-in fun.
5. Cactus Club. Have a meal at the newest restaurant on the Coquitlam Centre mall parking lot. The 335-seat dining room and lounge in the 10,000-sq. ft. eatery is located at the corner of Pinetree Way and Barnet/Lougheed highway, across from the Coquitlam Central SkyTrain station.
SOUND OFF! Do you have a favourite place in the Tri-Cities to take children during spring break? Email us at [email protected].
