Two of this year’s Poetry In Voice winners will be among 16 students from Port Coquitlam’s École des Pionniers performing at a talent show on Friday.
Graduating student Brittany Huellas-Bruskiewicz clinched first place and $5,000 at the national competition in Toronto last month for her bilingual recitation while Gabrielle Nebrida-Pepin, also Grade 12, earned $1,000 for her second prize win in the English category.
Both students will recite poems — in French and English — at the school fundraiser that will benefit next month’s convocation ceremony for the 28 graduates, École’s biggest grad class since the school formed in 2000.
Grade 12 student Ashton Ramsay, who also handles marketing and promotions for the Royal Canadian Theatre Company, said École’s fourth annual talent show will be full of surprises with singing, dancing and stand-up comedy acts.
“There’s going to be something for everyone,” he said, noting the goal is to collect $3,000 from the show.
As well, a silent auction will be open with prizes that include spa treatments, a vitamin gift basket and a romantic meal for two.
Three weeks ago, École students marched from their old school site on Wellington Street — the old Port Coquitlam secondary site, where hometown hero Terry Fox graduated — to their new digs nearby on Patricia Avenue.
School District 93, which serves the francophone community in the Tri-Cities, Ridge Meadows, Burnaby and New Westminster, built the new school at a cost of about $25 million; it was constructed to meet LEED gold standards.
The former PoCo High is set to be demolished next month.
• The talent show runs Friday, May 11 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. in the auditorium in the new École des Pionniers (1618 Patricia Ave., Port Coquitlam). Tickets are at the door for $8/$5/$25 for a family of four (cash only). Call 604-552-7915.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
