As 2017 — and the Canada 150 celebration — closes, we turn our attention to arts, cultural and history highlights in the new year.
And, judging from what our venue leaders report, it’ll be a busy year in the Tri-Cities — with a few anniversary bashes and big names landing in the region. Here’s what’s on the radar for the first half of 2018:
JANUARY
The Fantasticks: Directed by Chalene Scott, Stage 43 brings its new musical comedy to the Evergreen Cultural Centre stage starting Jan. 11. Partial proceeds support PoCo Heritage programs. Tickets via 604-927-6555 or visit evegreenculturalcentre.ca.
Rudolf Koch exhibit: The Port Moody Station Museum presents sketches of daily life in WWI trenches as depicted by German typographer Rudolf Koch. The display is on loan from the Klingspor Museum in Offenbach, Germany. The opening reception is Jan. 14 with the show running until the end of April. Visit portmoodymuseum.org.
Emerging Talent: For the past 20 years, this juried exhibit in the Art Gallery at Evergreen has showcased the skills of Grade 12 art students in School District 43 — many of whom are heading to top post-secondary institutions in September. It runs Jan. 21 to Feb. 18. Visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Sports Exhibit: PoCo Heritage continues its PoCo Stories series with an exhibit opening this month about sports history in the city. It will include a selection of archives from notable athletes, coaches and teams that came from the community such as Terry Fox. Visit pocoheritage.org.
FEBRUARY
Art Focus Artists Association: This Port Coquitlam art group honours its 25-year past with an anniversary exhibit in the Michael Wright Art Gallery in Leigh Square Community Arts Village; the opening reception is Feb. 2, with the group show running until Feb. 26. Visit portcoquitlam.ca.
Sunday Coffee Concerts: It’s the 19th year for the Sunday Coffee Concerts at the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam. And this year’s lineup offers something for everyone — kicking off Feb. 4 with Caws and Effect (good for kids aged seven and up); Kim Sato and Project Soul (a hip hop dance group) on Feb. 18; Second Storey Theatre (an improv company) on March 4; and 5 on a String (a bluegrass band) on March 18. Tickets via 604-927-7529 or experienceit.ca.
Unmentionables of the 1920s: Vancouver-based designer Melanie Talkington has an extensive collection of antique corsets and lingerie dating back to the 18th century, which she will show on Feb. 13 at the Coquitlam Public Library (City Centre branch) as part of a presentation by the Coquitlam Heritage Society. Her collection has been on loan to the Louvre in Paris. Cost is $10 per person. Visit coquitlamheritage.ca.
1920s Fashion Show: Vancouver fashion historian Ivan Sayers returns to the Tri-Cities for a Coquitlam Heritage Society fundraiser on Feb. 17, featuring garments from the Roaring 20s. His talk coincides with the Mackin House Museum exhibit, Rising Hemlines — on until March 3. Admission to the event, held at All Saints Parish Hall, is $35. Visit coquitlamheritage.ca.
Coquitlam Archives: City archivist Emily Lonie starts a year-long presentation this month of online shows, rolling out various scrapbooks in the municipal collection. “The exhibit will discuss the history of scrapbooks as a medium and will examine the preservation issues with scrapbooks from various eras,” she said. Visit coquitlam.ca/archives.
MARCH
Sean McCann: This former Great Big Sea musician makes his debut at the Evergreen Cultural Centre with a performance on March 2 as part of his west coast tour. Tickets via 604-927-6555 or evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Onegin: Arts Club on Tour brings its award-winning production to the Evergreen Cultural Centre from March 6 to 10. Based on the poem by Pushkin and the opera by Tchaikovsky, the hit musical moves, shakes and wakes audiences with its sweeping score. Tickets via 604-927-6555 or evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
BC Uncorked: This wine and food fest returns to the Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club on March 10, drawing hundreds of patrons wanting to learn about BC wineries and supporting the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Tickets via bcuncorked.com.
Festival du Bois: It’s the 29th year for Festival du Bois, the largest and most-attended francophone festival on the west coast. Produced by Société francophone de Maillardville (a non-profit society), the event runs at Mackin Park on March 23, 24 and 25 and includes French-Canadian fare and world beats. Tickets via festivaldubois.ca.
APRIL
Vimy Ridge: Honour Canada’s contribution to WWI with a commemoration of the anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge, on April 8. Visit portmoodymuseum.org.
L’Innovation!: Place des Arts faculty members Barry Tan, Geeta Das and Stefan Nazarevich present new arrangements of French music recently chosen by the public in a survey. The recital is on April 21 at Place des Arts. Tickets via 604-664-1636 or brownpapertickets.com.
MAY
Port Moody Arts Centre: The society operating the old city hall building on St. Johns Street marks 20 years with a special group exhibit opening May 3, titled In the Blink of an Eye. Visit pomoarts.ca.
Sarah Hagen: This Toronto-based pianist is back in Coquitlam for two shows at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. Her May 13 solo performance is titled Perk Up, Pianist! while, on May 14, she is the guest for the Musical Mornings salon series (which Hagen started) with fellow pianists Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann. Tickets via 604-927-6555 or evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
JUNE
Caulfield School of Dance: Students from this renowned Port Moody school bring their 29th year-end production to the Terry Fox Theatre in Port Coquitlam on June 8, 9 and 10. Tickets after May 15 via 604-469-9366 or caulfield.bc.ca.
BC Highland Games: Calling all Scottish clans! Town Centre Park will be alive with pipes, drums, Highland dancers and heavy events for the festival on June 16. Tickets via bchighlandgames.com.
JULY
Music on the Grill: Marking its 10th year, this series at the Evergreen Cultural Centre runs July 7, July 28 and Aug. 18 and includes a barbecue dinner on the patio. The line-up has yet to be announced “but we do promise the return of one of our most popular musicians to ever play in this series and a Juno award-winning band who is celebrating their 25th anniversary tour,” said ECC marketing manager Andrea Jabour. Tickets via 604-927-6555 or evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
Summer Concert Series: The city of Coquitlam brings back its popular outdoor music series to Town Centre Park Plaza with shows on July 13, Aug. 3 and Sept. 7. Visit coquitlam.ca.
Ribfest: This annual chow down at Rocky Point Park sees five companies vying for the title of best ribber. This year’s feast, organized by the Rotary Club of Port Moody, runs from July 20 to 22 . Visit portmoodyribfest.ca.
