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Festivals, SkyTrain celebrated in new Coquitlam tourism guide

A Canada Day fireworks photo as seen from the new Coquitlam Town Centre Park Plaza graces the cover of a new city tourism guide.
tourism
Eric Kalnins, Coquitlam's tourism manager, at Town Centre Park Plaza on Wednesday.

A Canada Day fireworks photo as seen from the new Coquitlam Town Centre Park Plaza graces the cover of a new city tourism guide.

The glossy 48-page guide is the fourth for the municipality, which is trying to market itself — as well as businesses, festivals and attractions — to residents and visitors alike.

"We really want people to flip through it while they are spending time in our community," said Coquitlam tourism manager Eric Kalnins, who has overseen three Travel and Experience guides. "If residents have friends or family here, we want them to show some pride in the city."

For this edition — which carries the tag "Where city life meets wildlife" — Kalnins said the tourism office "dug deep" with stories on such popular topics as fishing, hiking, birding and biking. 

For example, Coquitlam Search and Rescue volunteer — and Tri-City News columnist — Steve Chapman provides an article about circling Minnekhada regional park while Andrew Redmont, manager of Sea-Run Fly & Tackle, offers a comment about angling, Fabian Kim, owner of Kinetik Cycles in Coquitlam, talks about mountain biking and mom Kathy Simmonds informs about geocaching in Maillardville.

Also new to this year's booklet is the arrival of the Evergreen Extension, which opened last December — two months before the travel guide went to print. The $1.3-billion rapid transit system has been a boon to Coquitlam tourism with many events booking facilities as a result: Kalnins cited Play On! Vancouver, which is coming back to Coquitlam Centre mall and bringing with it 250 teams.

"SkyTrain is key to its return," Kalnins said, noting the tournament's economic impact to Coquitlam is estimated at $2 million.

Also highlighted in the guide is the city's new public art — especially at the Evergreen stations and for Coquitlam 125 — and its running trails. As well, a light is shone on the Coquitlam 150 garden at Blue Mountain Park, the expanded winter lights display at Lafarge Lake, seniors' and kids' activities and the numerous beer and wine festivals around town.

"Every year, we look for content that is new and fresh and exciting," Kalnins said. "Luckily, there's always lots of choice here."

As for the pictures, Kalnins said his office kept costs down by using city stock images as well as photos submitted via the Twitter hashtag #explorecoquitlam (permission was obtained from the owner).

Some 10,000 copies of the guide are now available at more than 100 visitors' centres including at Vancouver International Airport and, this summer, on the BC Ferries.

The guide cost $35,000 to produce, with $26,000 recouped in advertising revenue.

jcleugh@tricitynews.com

 

COMING UP

• April 29: ISA North American Qualifier at Town Centre Park

• May 27: Coquitlam Food Truck Festival at Spirit Square 

• May 28: MEC Century Ride from Pinetree community centre

• June 17: BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival at Town Centre Park

• June 28: Harry Jerome Track Classic at Town Centre Park

• July 14 to 16: Coquitlam Cheetahs provincial track and field championships at Town Centre Park

• July 29 and 30: CanWest Games at Town Centre Park

• Aug. 5 and 6: Coquitlam Kinsmen Craft Beer Festival at Town Centre Park

• Aug. 12: Kaleidoscope Art Festival at Town Centre Park