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PoCo’s Stories puts spotlight on the arts

A dozen local artists and groups that will be featured in a new exhibition entitled PoCo’s Stories
SainasJuno
Terry Fox secondary school Rock School teacher Steve Sainas will be part of PoCo Heritage’s PoCo’s Stories exhibit.

Bluesman and music teacher Steve Sainas won a Juno in 2015 but his latest accolade is just as cool.

The longtime music teacher at Terry Fox secondary is one of a dozen local artists and groups that will be featured in a new exhibition entitled PoCo’s Stories that honours their contributions to Port Coquitlam’s arts and culture scene.

“It’s a huge honour,” Sainas said of the hometown recognition.

Sainas said he’s most excited by the fact that the exhibit puts a spotlight on how important the arts are to the community.

The PoCo’s Stories exhibit, put on by the Port Coquitlam Heritage and Cultural Society, also features Tom Argue, Colin Craig, Nikki Hillman, Alexine Law, Graham Myers, Gerry Thompson, Adrian Walker, Thelka Wright, The Bird and the Lion, Coastal Sound Music Academy and Vita Artes Performance Academy.
Sainas started the Rock School program at Terry Fox and was honoured at the 2015 Junos with the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year honour. While his name was etched on the Juno, he said the honour was “shared recognition” with his students, past and present.

Sainas, a blues player who performs up to three gigs a week, said he’s inspired by the talent, energy and enthusiasm of his students. “Every day I come in and the kids are just so stoked to play music.”

Two of his students — one current and one former — are also being featured in the PoCo’s Stories exhibit: Elaina Beaunaventura and Mandy Costa, who together have formed the group Bird & Lion.
Sainas was given the choice between speaking or performing at the exhibit opening on April 23 and, not surprisingly, he chose the latter.
He will play a song he wrote called “Gastown Blues,” which laments the loss of live music venues in downtown Vancouver. “To remind people we need to support live music and the arts or we will lose them.”