Friday, Sept. 7
MOTOWN
The city of Coquitlam closes its summer concert series with a nod to Motown, featuring Kokosoul and Hitsville USA on the TD Community Plaza stage at Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). The free music concert begins at 7 p.m. and visitors are encouraged to dress up in late 1950s and 60s costumes and dance to the tunes. TCBY Frozen Yogurt, Whistler Wood Fired Pizza Co. and Wings Outdoor Grill will have food trucks on site. Visit coquitlam.ca.
ART RECEPTION
Meet the creators behind the new art shows opening at 7 p.m. at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam): Dorothy Doherty has painting and clay works in her series Exploring Form in Paint and Clay while Jay Lyonns presents The Forgotten City, and School District 43 art teachers exhibit multiple mediums in a group display. The three shows are on until Oct. 6. Visit placedesarts.ca.
VAMANOS
Four musicians from Guanajuato, Mexico, spice up the Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke St., Port Moody) with a performance starting at 8 p.m. A set dinner will be served an hour before the RevoluSon show, which is part of the eatery’s Music Beyond Borders series. Call 604-937-0998 or visit gallerybistroportmoody.com.
Saturday, Sept. 8
ALL THOSE STEPS
Test your endurance at the ninth annual Coquitlam Crunch Diversity Challenge in aid of the Coquitlam Foundation Diversity Fund and the Dogwood Seniors Society Nothin’ Dragon Masters dragon boat team and community programs. Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the event starts at 8 a.m. with The Stair Master and is followed by the Make It Or Break It and the recreation hikes. Meet at the base of the stairs at 1248 Lansdowne Dr., Coquitlam. Visit coquitlamcrunch.com to register online.
ADVENTURE CHALLENGE
Sports lovers will be at Rocky Point Park (2800-block of Port Moody) from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the 12th annual Innovative Fitness Adventure Challenge, a three-discipline event for teams of two and four to kayak, mountain bike and trail run around a 29.5-km course. Proceeds support KidSport. To volunteer or sign up, visit ifac.ca.
SUPER HEROES
Kids can dress up as Iron Man or Wonder Woman — or another super hero — for the Port Coquitlam Heroes in the Park gathering, from noon to 3 p.m. at The Park at Fremont (Seabourne Place at Ranger Lane). Families can meet first responders — i.e., firefighters, police, search and rescue members and paramedics — at the free drop-in event. Visit facebook.com/events/253766418687423/.
USED SPORTS GEAR
The early bird gets the worm at the biannual KidSport Tri-Cities used sporting goods sale, running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Poirier Forum (618 Poirier St., Coquitlam). Pick up donated bikes, hockey equipment, lacrosse swag and skates, among other items, at the sale. Admission is by donation or with non-perishable goods for the Share food bank. Sponsored by Westminster Savings and The Tri-City News, the sale helps with children’s registrations for sports programs. To volunteer, email cwilson630@gmail.com. Visit kidsporttricities.ca.
READING MEDALS
Kids who completed their reading booklets this summer can pick up their medals from the Coquitlam Public Library (Nancy Bennett Room, 575 Poirier St.) at a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Visit coqlibrary.ca.
PARK UPDATE
The city of Coquitlam is throwing a neighbourhood party to celebrate the newly updated Cape Horn Park (186 San Juan Pl., Coquitlam) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There’ll be games, flower planting, music and hot dogs. Visit coquitlam.ca.
CHA CHA
Alberto Gonzalez and Teresa Szfler are back after the summer break with their weekly salsa dance night, held in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). A beginner’s class starts at 8 p.m. with the tunes spinning for the party from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is $10. Parking is free or hop on the Evergreen Extension to the Lafarge Lake/Douglas station. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
ELECTRIC BLUES
Guitarist, songwriter and singer Arsen Shomakhov lights up the Gallery Bistro (2411 Clarke St., Port Moody) with his electric blues sounds at 8 p.m. A regular on the blues/jazz festival circuit, the Russian native and his band represented the White Rock Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., in 2014 and ’16 — both times advancing to the semi-finals. For tickets, call 604-937-0998 or visit gallerybistroportmoody.com.
Sunday, Sept. 9
SOOFI FOOD
Pasta Polo restaurateur Fred Soofi will serve up a three-course lunch at the Coquitlam Farmers Market, located in the parking lot at Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; get tickets in advance for his meal via eventbrite.ca. Visit makebakegrow.com.
PAWS FOR CAUSE
Bring your pooch to Coquitlam Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way) for the annual BC SPCA Paws for a Cause, a fundraiser for the animal society and the new Tri-Cities’ adoption and education centre. Running from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the festival site will include a beer garden, vendors and a barbecue. Call 604-468-4044 or visit spca.bc.ca/tricitieswalk to register.
TREEFEST 25
Join the Riverview Horticultural Centre Society as it celebrates 25 years of its tree festivals at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam. From 10:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., take a guided tree tour, listen to talks about the heritage site’s arboretum, visit the SPARC and Coquitlam Amateur Radio Emergency Services Society displays, and enjoy the anniversary cake. The family-friendly party will happen rain or shine. Enter the grounds from Colony Farm Road and follow the signs. Visit rhcs.org.
PARK REFRESH
Another Coquitlam park will be feted this weekend. The city hosts a party to mark the makeover of Good Neighbour Park (1415 Foster Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take part in games, plant pansies and dance to the music; free hot dogs will be served. Visit coquitlam.ca.
MEET THE MP
MP Ron McKinnon (Liberal, Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam) hosts his annual summer social at Lions Park (2300 Lions Way, Port Coquitlam) from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., where the federal politician will also recognize his community champion nominees and winners. Call 604-927-1080 or visit ronmckinnon.org.
jcleugh@tricitynews.com
