Friday, April 4
ART SHOWS
Tour Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) this weekend to look at the new month-long exhibits by painters Ronald G. Straight (Interpreting Nature) and Alexandra Edmonds (Lay of the Land) as well as Clay For You's ceramic display (The Classic Silhouette of Korean Pottery), which marks 10 years of the Tri-City group. Call 604-664-1636 or visit placedesarts.ca.
FOR THE KIDS
Support the Charlene Reaveley Children's Charity, which for its third year is hosting a gala dinner at Dogwood Pavilion (624 Poirier St., Coquitlam) to help families with children who have lost a loved one. The event at 6:30 p.m. will be held on the birthday of Reaveley, a Coquitlam mother-of-four who was killed in a car accident. Tickets are $44.80 by calling 604-339-6658 or emailing [email protected]. For more information on the charity, visit crccs.ca.
SWEET MUSIC
Sit back and relax as the Handel Society of Music hosts a choral recital of St. John's Passion by J.S. Bach at St. Joseph's Catholic Church (140 Moody St., Port Moody) at 7:30 p.m. Call 604-461-1369.
THE BRITISH ARE COMING
Catch Port Coquitlam teacher Damon Calderwood and his acting partner-in-crime, Gordon Roberts, in Holmes and Watson Save the Empire, which runs tonight and tomorrow at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). For tickets at $39/$30/$15, call the box office at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Saturday, April 5
BOTTLE DRIVE
The 1st PoCo Scouts will collect empty cans and bottles from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kilmer elementary (1575 Knappen St., Port Coquitlam). For assured pick-up, call 604-970-2579. Also, the 12th Coquitlam Scouts will have its drive of refundable containers from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the area from King Albert Avenue south to Cape Horn Avenue, west to Montgomery Street and east to Mariner Way. Donations can be left on the doorstep, marked 12th Coquitlam. To drop off empties, go to Mundy Road elementary school (2200 Austin Ave., Coquitlam). Email [email protected].
GROWING CONNECTIONS
Mixed media artists Larissa Blokhuis and Cheryl Hamilton feature their work in a new exhibition, titled Growing Connections, that opens today at 2 p.m. at Leigh Square Community Arts Village (behind Port Coquitlam city hall). Blokhuis works with glass, felt and other mediums while Hamilton concentrates on painting and illustration. Their show ends April 28. Call 604-927-8400.
STORY TIME
New family story times start today at the City Centre branch of the Coquitlam Public Library (1169 Pinetree Way), running every Saturday until May 24. The drop-in program is from 11 to 11:30 a.m. and repeats at 1:30 to 2 p.m. Join the librarians as they introduce stories, songs, finger plays and rhymes for the entire family. Registration is not required. Call 604-554-7334 or visit library.coquitlam.bc.ca.
SWIM-A-THON
Port Coquitlam residents of all ages can join - or cheer from the sidelines - the lap swimmers at the Youth Swim-a-thon, held from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hyde Creek recreation complex (1379 Laurier Ave., Port Coquitlam). Sponsored by VanCity, Sport Method Consulting and the Rotary Club of Port Coquitlam, the third annual city event is to support disadvantaged young people and provide them with life skills and employment training in aquatic lifesaving and children services. Students from Terry Fox and Riverside secondaries are taking part as well as the Suwa'lkh Learning Centre. Besides the swim, there will be face painting, games and art activities; refreshments are provided by Starbucks and Hyde Creek Express Café. Visit pocoyouth.com.
TIPS FROM FLORIDA
Port Coquitlam author Florida Ann Town will be the guest speaker at the Tri-City Wordsmiths' meeting, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Terry Fox Library (2470 Mary Hill Rd., Port Coquitlam). Her talk, titled What To Name the Baby?, is about how authors choose names for their characters and books. The event will also include a launch of her seventh and latest book, On The Rim. Books and refreshments will be available. Call 604-475-2875 or email [email protected].
GROOVY
UBC's CiTR DJ Nick, the host of Sunday's radio show La Fiesta on 101.9 FM, will be the guest at the salsa and Latin dance party at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Presented by the Hot Salsa Dance Zone, the event starts with a dance lesson for beginners from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door or in advance by calling 604-725-4654 or visiting hotsalsadancezone.com.
KABOOM!
Port Moody explodes with art tonight with its first major gathering of visual, literary and performing artists - many of whom will display their skills at city hall (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody). The event, called KaBoom!, at 7 p.m. is free and for all ages; however, registration is required by going online at portmoody.ca/kaboom.
Sunday, April 6
FROM THE FARM
It's time to fill the fridge with fresh fruits and veggies - as well as other goods - from Metro Vancouver vendors at the farmers' market, held in front of the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit makebakegrow.com.
BACKYARD WALK
Lace up your waterproof boots and be guided through the Riverview Hospital grounds by Don Gillespie and other Burke Mountain Naturalists members. Meet at 1 p.m. on the uphill side of the Henry Esson Young building, for the two- to three-hour hike. Call 604-290-9910 or visit rhcs.org.
ON THE CATWALK
The Glen Pine 50-plus Society hosts its spring fashion show and tea from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Glen Pine Pavilion (1200 Glen Pine Crt., Coquitlam), with garments from By Berit Boutique, Creekside Fashions, Jones International of New York and Mr. Big and Tall. Admission is $8 for society members and $13 for non-society members. Parking available in the Coquitlam city hall lot on Burlington Street. Bring your tea cup and tea pot if you want. To register, call 604-927-6940.
GIVE THANKS
RCCG Trinity Chapel will serve up its free monthly Thanksgiving lunch at its facility (1932 Cameron Ave., Port Coquitlam) from 2:30 to 4 p.m. to those in need. Food hampers will be available. To reserve a seat, call 604-474-3131 or visit rccgtrinitychapel.com.
FREE DIP
Don your bikini or trunks for a free swim at Chimo Pool in the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (644 Poirier St., Coquitlam), courtesy of Westminster Savings credit union. The swim is from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 604-927-6027.
