FRANKIE GOES TO U.K.
Port Moody resident Frankie Cena will be representing the country after he was crowned Mr. World Canada last week in Vancouver. The UBC undergraduate, who in his new role will serve as a spokesperson for various companies and causes as an actor, model and ambassador, will compete at the Mr. World Pageant in England next month. Cena is well-known in the Tri-Cities: He coaches debate for Port Moody high school students, has participated at the Golden Spike Days festival, was involved with the Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts in Coquitlam (playing Danny in Grease!) and was in Theatrix's production Next to Normal, portraying Gabe.
60 YEARS STRONG
Port Moody's Neil and Grace Stewart marked their 60th wedding anniversary last week. And the couple took their entire family out to celebrate the long union with a dinner and dance at the Copper Room in Harrison Hot Springs, said daughter Nancy Rees-Thomas. The Stewarts, who were wed in Vancouver on Oct. 18, 1952 and now have five great grandchildren, bought their waterfront property in Pleasantside for $500 years ago and continue to live there today, Rees-Thomas said. They remain active in their community: both are square dancers with the Port Moody Ocean Waves and attend St. Andrew's United Church; Grace also volunteers with the Eagle Ridge Hospital.
FOR THE FISH
Shane Peachman of Port Coquitlam's Hyde Creek Watershed Society recently thanked Lolea Moseanko of Surfwood Equipment in Coquitlam for her company's donation. The group was the target of thieves who stole outside equipment from the hatchery this past summer. Surfwood handed over a new Stihl chainsaw and backpack blower as well as a helmet and other gear. The society's 13th annual salmon festival is Nov. 18.
DIAMOND GALS
Coquitlam RCMP Const. Michelle Luca and auxiliary constable Jodie McNeice were among the local officers who received a Queen's Diamond Jubilee award last month in Vancouver.
RCH ROOM
William Siu, Royal Columbian Hospital's medical director of neurology and interventional radiologist and department head of medical imaging, took a look at the facility's new multipurpose room this week. The suite, which officially opened on Tuesday, will benefit hundreds a patients a year needing cardiac, stroke or other specialized care.
YOUTH AWARD
A Port Moody-based agency that provides employment skills for at-risk youth has won a national award for its green initiatives. A Chance to Choose co-ordinator Evelyn Humphreys is in Ottawa this week to accept the Socially Responsible Green Initiative Award from the National Youth Employment Coalition. To mark the achievement, A Chance to Choose will be holding its own awards event and fundraising dinner to recognize the young people who developed the permaculture garden. The gala will be held Oct. 30 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Coquitlam. For tickets at $20, email [email protected].
NEW GOV
Port Coquitlam's Dana Martin is the new Soroptimist governor for western Canada. Martin is serving a two-year term with the international volunteer group for business and professional women working to improve the lives of girls and women. A member since 2005, Martin has held several leadership positions including region governor-elect and secretary and club president. Martin is a clinical counsellor with the Fraser Health Authority.
COST CUTTER
Port Moody has received a municipal excellence award for lowering its commercial development costs. PoMo scooped the accolade for its 18% drop over 2010. "We want to encourage development in Port Moody and a huge step in that direction is streamlining our process. We're continually improving how we do business so that we can save developers both time and money," Mayor Mike Clay said in a release.
SOFT LANDING
An updated tot lot in Coquitlam that reopened on Wednesday was funded in part with a grant from Tire Stewardship BC. TSBC chairperson Don Blythe was at the launch of the new Blue Mountain Park playground, which includes recycled rubber to allow the area to be wheelchair accessible; the rubber also provides cushioning for falls.
NO TRASH
A Coquitlam school has won MP Fin Donnelly's challenge for litterless lunches. The NDP MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam rose in the House of Commons on Tuesday to announce Riverview Park elementary had taken the top prize in his third annual contest. Sandra Allen and Leia Donnelly's Grade 3/4 class went 91% litter free during Waste Reduction Week, Oct. 15 to 19.
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