CROWNING MOMENT
A Gleneagle secondary graduate who was crowned Miss Vancouver World 2017 in March will head to Toronto this summer to compete for the title of Miss World Canada. Lia Fallah, 21, a theatre undergrad at Simon Fraser University, is known for her past dance performances at the Port Moody Youth Arts Festival. The Iranian-born woman said her focus as pageant winner is to open the conversation around mental health.
VIP PARADE WINNER
Tri-City News’ staff joined Susy Que (centre) and her friends at the VIP tent last Saturday to see the annual May Day parade in downtown Port Coquitlam. Que also won gifts from Tri-City businesses as part of her contest win.
AD DESIGN BONUS
Students in Ms. Rennie’s class gave a cheer after winning gift cards to Coquitlam Centre mall. The cards were courtesy of Morrey Nissan, which had a Tri-City News ad designed by the students for the company this month.
SCIENCE SCORES
The Coquitlam Public Library gave its top Science Expo awards to Rian Bhalla (elementary), Kate Zraly and Madeleine Quong-Lee (middle), Hoomehr Mangoli (junior) and Christopher Halim (senior).
ELKS CASH
Another $1,000 came through from the Burnaby Elks Lodge No. 497 for the Coquitlam-based Children of the Street Society this month. So far, the non-profit has donated $4,000 for student workshops.
KIDS HEROES
Childcare advocates and businesses were honoured last week at the 8th annual Tri-Cities’ Champions of Young Children Awards of Excellence. The May 11 gala at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver, in Coquitlam, saw Bricks 4 Kidz win the business prize; the accolade was presented to owners Agnes Olszewska and Kyla McLeod. Diane Lee, program director at the YMCA Child Care Resource and Referral Program, scooped the leadership prize for her 35 years as collaborator. The Champion for Children Who Have Special Needs award went to Joanne Perkins, a program assistant at Friendly Forest Preschool. Meanwhile, the Tri-City Family Place was named as the 2017 Champion Group Winner while Tazeen Bharucha, a Strongstart facilitator for School District 43, was named the individual champion. Finally, the volunteer champion award went to Luc Picard, a volunteer at Step-By-Step Child Development Society.
SENIORS’ FUNDING
A Coquitlam legacy fund will help seven organizations with promoting healthy lifestyles among seniors. This month, the Coquitlam 2016 55+BC Games Society awarded grants to Glen Pine 50plus Society ($8,200); Dogwood Pavilion Seniors Society ($8,200); Dogwood Nothin’ Dragon Boat Masters ($4,000); Coquitlam 50+ Slo-Pitch Club ($3,817); Coquitlam Lawn Bowling Club ($3,250); Leisure Connections ($1,750); and L.J. Christmas Manor ($1,700). The society hosted the provincial games last September. More than 3,200 participants competed in 22 sports that were organized by some 1,000 volunteers. “The Coquitlam business community was very generous both in-kind and through donations,” said president Gayle Statton, in a release.
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