100 YEARS YOUNG
Port Coquitlam resident Vera Deptford got a visit from Mayor Greg Moore during her 100th birthday party last week. Moore presented the centenarian with a tribute certificate at the special event, held Sept. 17 at the Park Place Shaughnessy Care Home and attended by Polynesian dancers from the Spirit of the Pacific Cultural Society.
TO THE WORLDS
Four students with danceLAB studios in Coquitlam are off to Germany to compete in the World Dance Championships next week. Brooklyn O'Neill, 15, of Coquitlam, Samantha Sadler, 17, of Port Moody, Melanie Ebbett, 14, of Coquitlam, and Vienna Kliman, 14, of Coquitlam are part of Team Canada that will attend the Frankfurt event. The dancers worked with choreographers Josh Beamish (MOVE: The Company), Danielle Gardner (So You Think You Can Dance Canada) and Sarah Brinson (So You Think You Can Dance USA) to prepare for the competition. Also on Team Canada from the Tri-Cities are Keely Knutson, Raelyn Metcalfe, Devan Genereux, Ashton Mitzel, Emily Loski,Sarah Jeffery and Maia Cervellin from Port Coquitlam's K&S Dance Productions, and from Coquitlam's Tri-City Dance Centre, Rebecca Gombar, Kimberley Turnbull, Hailey Kragelj, Matisse Maitland, Sydney Dumore, Emily Roberts-McCue and Kiana Serr.
KITS FOR KIDS
Families with Coquitlam's Children of Integrity Montessori Academy have been busy filling fabric bags for the annual Ten Thousand Villages' school kit program, which ships school supplies to impoverished countries. To help with the program, visit www.tenthousandvillages.ca by Sept. 30.
EASY RIDER
An 11-year-old student at Coquitlam's Banting middle school, who also has Type 1 diabetes, took part in last week's Ride for Diabetes Research. Brandon Taylor, a JDRF youth ambassador, laced up his runners for the stationary bike challenge, an annual event that happened at the Vancouver Art Gallery last Friday. Since it started 24 years ago, the ride has raised more than $30 million.
GOOD DEED
Share Family and Community Services this month got a haul from the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive. The organization donated 7,832 pounds of food for the Share food bank, which helps Tri-City residents in need.
BANK ON IT
Three Coquitlam students this month deposited Coast Capital Savings education awards. Sana Eftekhar-Javaheri and Kaitlin Fajber each took home $2,000 citizenship prizes. "This is a wonderful way to kick off the start of a new school year," said Fajber, who is studying International Studies at Simon Fraser University, in a news release. And Dawn Johnson received a $5,000 Standing Tall Award for making a positive impact on her community in the face of a personal challenge.
