HOSPITAL HELP
The Pacific Blue Cross Foundation gifted $10,000 to the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation for mental health programs at Riverview Hospital lodges. As well, Phoenix Truck and Crane hauled in $15,000 to buy a transport defibrillator.
RED FOR UNITED
The United Way’s Vanessa Woznow was before Port Coquitlam city council to ask for a proclamation to have Sept. 21 named United Way Day. City hall was lit in red on the day to mark the occasion and to launch its fall fundraising drive.
BLUEBERRY SCORE
Coquitlam farmer Tom Ewen donated 66 pounds of his blueberries to the Share food bank, thanks to Coun. Teri Towner (pictured with food bank manager Mike Trelenberg) and 20 volunteers who picked the end-of-season berries.
YOUTH GO GREEN
Port Coquitlam’s youth crew saw 196 kg of small appliances and 200 kg of electronics dropped off at this month’s recycling event by Vancity and ElectroRecycle. The shred-a-thon also yielded $2,940. kg of paper, raising $1,560 in donations for the Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable.
GRAD CASH
Coquitlam’s Mario Slongo won a scholarship this summer for his undergraduate studies at UBC. Slongo, a Centennial secondary grad working on his engineering degree, reaped the $2,000 prize from LifeLabs for his academic achievements, leadership abilities, extracurricular activities and his essay.
VOLUNTEER THANKS
Port Moody resident Cathy Cena is this year’s winner of the Dove Award — an accolade in honour of the Dove family that recognizes outstanding volunteerism. Cena received the prize this month from Geoff Scott, executive director of Tri-Cities Community TV. Cena has served on numerous charitable and civic boards since moving to the municipality seven years ago.
LINK-ED IN
The first annual Links to Friendship Golf Tournament this month swung in nearly $30,000 for the Port Moody Seniors Friendship Society. The money will be spent to transport society members from “The Club” to their monthly events, said Jennifer Cowden, event co-ordinator for the tournament.
NEW CHAPTER
A Port Coquitlam elementary school will benefit from the Indigo 2017 Adopt a School program. Westwood elementary is the beneficiary of the campaign in which Coquitlam Chapters will fundraise on its behalf for the drive ending Oct. 8. The funds will go to supply the school with books and educational resources.
TRADES CASH
School District 43 is one of 15 Lower Mainland school districts to split $500,000 from the Industry Training Authority. The Tri-Cities’ school district will get $40,000 to support the Youth Work in Trades Program over the next academic year. The program for young apprentices is open to B.C. students in grades 10, 11 and 12. “ The world is changing and B.C. parents need to know we are preparing young people to succeed for life beyond school, and providing training options outside of the university post-secondary pathway,” said Christine Klar, ITA apprenticeship advisor (Vancouver), in a news release. “This funding provides practical experience for students entering the trades and will help prepare them for the job market.”
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