Three Port Coquitlam groups are slated to receive cultural development grants from the city.
At Thursday's healthy community committee meeting, the Polonez Tri-City Polish Association and the Art Focus Artists' Association were expected to be awarded $2,500 each while the Port Coquitlam Heritage and Cultural Society was to get $5,000.
The latter grant is for the society to host a national touring exhibit on hometown hero Terry Fox, created by the Canadian Museum of History.
Meanwhile, the committee was also expected to hand out self-matching grants to: the Ducks Volleyball Club for competition volleyballs ($1,653); the Port Coquitlam Community Garden for a fence around its garden in Elks Park ($2,257); and the Kwayhquitlum middle school PAC for courtyard updates ($2,807).
In other PoCo news:
FLOATING AROUND
Port Coquitlam's new May Day Rotary parade float is on a roll this year.
The $55,000 float, which debuted at the annual parade in 2015 and carries the royal party, is set to be seen in the June 4 Pitt Meadows Day Parade, Coquitlam's Teddy Bear Parade on June 12, the White Rock Torchlight Parade on July 31 and the Maple Ridge Christmas Light Parade on Dec. 3.
The entries are designed to raise PoCo's profile in those communities, city staff say, and the bill to participate in each parade is up to $800. Operating costs will come from the Community Spirit fund.
BYE TICKETMASTER
Ticketmaster will no longer have an outlet in Port Coquitlam — or in any other part of the country — later this year.
The city will end its agreement with the ticketing agency on Sept. 2 to conclude its operations at Leigh Square Community Arts Village, where it has been located since 2005.
The city received a commission for hosting the service: From 2013 to 2015, it took in a total of $11,808; however, with declining retail sales, it has reaped $1,800 so far this year, according to a staff report.
Ticketmaster plans to focus its future services on mobile and digital formats.
NO, THANKS
Port Coquitlam is taking a pass on hosting the 2020 or 2022 BC winter or summer games.
At its Thursday meeting, the healthy community committee was expected to decline the offer from the BC Games Society to host either game.
The games draw about 3,000 competitors and 500 supporters over a four-day period; in the past, the host municipality spends up to $150,000 plus staff time and other in-kind services.
"This proposal has been reviewed at a staff level and it has been determined that at this time it is not feasible for the city of Port Coquitlam to bid to host an event of this magnitude," wrote area recreation manager Glenn Mitzel in a committee report.
