FOR THE EARTH
Ecological education programs at Douglas College, which has a campus in Coquitlam, this month dug up $12,000 from the RBC Foundation.
The funds will be used for two programs run by the college's Institute of Urban Ecology, which is run by executive director Rob McGregor: the environmental education workshops and the user network for the insect biology in the urban garden (UNIBUG).
RCHF AND TB
Jeff Norris, the president and CEO of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, which serves the Tri-Cities, was on hand to accept a $20,000 donation from the TB Vets Charitable Foundation.
The cash will be used to help buy a radial EBUS probe, a tool used to sample/biopsy peripheral lung lesions. Also at the presentation were TB Vets' executive director Kandys Merola and board chairperson Eric Beddis.
GREAT BIZ
Nine Tri-City small business owners are on the shortlist for the Douglas College Self-Employment Program Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
The local finalists are: Sohrab Pakseresht Esmaeil, Labyrinth Art Interiors (Port Moody) and Zahra Majzoubi, Zara Custom Curtains (Coquitlam) in the construction and manufacturing category; Jim Anderson, Anderson Prototypes (Port Moody) in the high-tech category; Leann Fox, BackPAC Fundraising (Port Moody) in the home-based category; Carrie Tang, Bronco Belle Texas BBQ & Grill (Coquitlam) and Brenda Fraser, Brenda's Bangles & Baubles (Coquitlam) in the retail category; Mike Oakley, Home James Services for Seniors (Port Coquitlam) and Antoaneta Eneva, A1 Design Studio (Port Moody) in the service category; and Dewan Bayney, Kontakt Records (Port Moody) in the youth category.
The annual accolades will be presented on Oct. 21 at the Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam.
Tickets are $20 through the website: douglascollege.ca.
35 YEARS
A public works foreman was applauded for his long service this week by Port Coquitlam city council.
Brian Savage, president of CUPE Local 498 and a Maple Ridge city council candidate for next month's municipal election, has been with PoCo city hall for 35 years.
SOUND BUDGET
For the 17th year in a row, the city of Port Coquitlam has won an award for its budget.
This month, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada recognized PoCo with a distinguished budget presentation accolade for the 2014 fiscal year.
The city heard from nearly 950 people - in person and online - during the budgeting process.
"We're very happy to receive this award again. Our council and staff work hard to ensure our budget is presented in the most transparent way possible," Mayor Greg Moore said in a press release.
Meanwhile, the 2015 budget and 2015-2019 financial plan will be presented to city council on Dec. 2 and 3 at meetings that will be open to the public, a city spokesperson said.
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