HO HO HO
Tri-City resident Dorothy Rouch, 100, last week launched theBe a Santa to a Senior. The program supports struggling seniors during the holiday season by providing isolated seniors with gifts and companionship.
The public can pick-up ornaments with gift requests from the Senior Services Society (750 Carnarvon St., New Westminster) until Dec. 16.
CANADA KUDOS
A Tri-Cities' job skills program has clinched an award for helping at-risk youth get work.
A Chance to Choose won the social responsibility/employer engagement accolade at the National Youth Employment Coalition's third annual innovation awards gala on Oct. 3 in Collingwood, Ont.
Open to teens and young adults aged 16 to 30, A Chance to Choose combines skills development, work experience and certification. The federally funded program is based in Port Coquitlam.
TOP COUNTER
Port Moody's Ruben Ortiz was the valedictorian of this year's graduating class for the Certified Management Accountants Society of B.C.
Ortiz took the highest standing in the two-year CMA strategic leadership program. As well, he was presented with the gold medal award for achieving the highest aggregate standing in the province for the CMA national entrance exam and CMA strategic leadership program. Ortiz gave his speech last month at the Westin Bayshore Hotel.
BUS IN BIZ
Tri-City and TransLink officials - including Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart and Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore - were on hand last Thursday for the handover of a decommissioned shuttle bus to the Hope for Freedom Society.
The Port Coquitlam-based group will use the out-of-service HandyDART wheels to transport the homeless to Tri-City churches this winter for the cold/wet weather mat program.
