Coquitlam kids can broaden their horizons and expand their social circles through a variety of free activities for Youth Week 2023.
The celebration is May 1 to 7 across B.C., held each year to build connections between youth and their communities, and to profile the issues, accomplishments and diversity of youth across the province.
Locally, Coquitlam is set to host a slew of games, arts and crafts, dances, and health and wellness events for youth aged 11 to 18 at local civic facilities.
"Dozens of fun, healthy and creative drop-in and registered activities are in store as Coquitlam once again joins communities across B.C. to celebrate the diversity and positive contributions of youth during Youth Week," said Judy Hamanishi, the city's community recreation manager, in a news release.
Safe space
Each activity will take place at the Maillardville, Pinetree and Poirier community centres.
And new this year are a pair of special presentations for youth and adults to learn about safe internet use amid a rise in online child exploitation reports.
Coquitlam RCMP — per Cybertip.ca — said there was a 150 per cent increase in youth of all genders being sextorted between December 2021 and May 2022.
As well, Statistics Canada research showed, in 2020, there were 131 incidents per 100,000 children and youth exploited and abused online compared to 50 per 100,000 in 2014.
Three out of four victims in that same span were girls aged 12 to 17.
The PLEA Community Services' Children of the Street program presentations are set for May 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Maillardville Community Centre (1200 Cartier Ave.). Pre-registration is required, said Hamanishi.
What's to do?
Coquitlam is also bringing back the popular week-long scavenger hunt for Youth Week 2023.
Starting Monday (May 1), interested hunters that sign up for daily emails will receive clues that'll send them to selfie spots around the city and share them online.
The rest of the free events include:
May 4
- Youth Week barbecue at Pinetree Community Centre
May 5
- Poirier Sport Leisure Complex Youth Night
- Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs lacrosse game
- Disco skate or swim
May 6
- Wibit Wars and a pre-employment and volunteer fair
May 7
- Alphabet soup LGBTQ2S+ drop-in and girls night-in
Events that require registration are as follows:
May 1
- Financial literacy workshop (virtual)
- Create an art journal
May 2
- Yoga4Youth
- "Me, Myself and Mental Health" workshop (virtual)
- Movie night
- "Nature Journaling": Art for Mental Health
May 3
- Bubble Ball
- Zumba 4 Youth
- Safer Space – Children of the Street presentations
- Planting with the Park Spark Youth Urban Garden Team
May 5
- Youth Week DIY spa and tie dye night
- Planting with the Park Spark Youth Urban Garden Team
- Maillardville celebrates Youth Week
- Pre-teen glow in the dark dance
May 6
- Drawing pencil (fundamentals)
May 7
- Poirier youth create and paint night
For more information about youth week, you can visit the City of Coquitlam's website.
