JOHN B DONATION
Tara and Brent Lapinski, owners of the John B Pub in Coquitlam, poured $5,000 into KidSport Tri-Cities this month — a donation that will pay for 18 more kids to play sports, said executive director Chris Wilson (pictured at left).
HEARTFELT
Interventional cardiologists doctors Gerald Simkus and Roger Philipp thanked donors this month for helping to upgrade equipment in Royal Columbian Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab. A total of $3.3 million was brought in.
KERNEL CASH
Michael Trentalance of RONA of Austin Avenue in Coquitlam gave $154 this month to Maura Fitzpatrick of the Children of the Street Society after the group was picked as its charity for March.
ROYAL WEEK
Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore proclaimed May 14 to 20 as Royal Purple Week in the city. The local branch marked its 70th year in February and has raised thousands of dollars for charity.
SPCA HERO
Animal lover Melvin Chan was named the 2017 Volunteer of the Year at the BC SPCA’s annual awards ceremony this month. Chan is the volunteer co-ordinator for the charity’s Port Coquitlam education and adoption centre. “Melvin is an amazing volunteer and animal advocate,” said PoCo SPCA centre manager Dania Macie, in a news release. “He is passionate about what he does and is invaluable to our operation with everything he does behind the scenes with volunteer coordination and training sessions.”
POCO CHAMP
Terry Fox secondary graduate Julianna Russo was honoured by Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore and city council on Monday with a certificate of achievement. The ballerina, who was born a right-arm amputee, starred in a War Amps television ad that recently took first place in New York. Russo is a member of The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMPS) program. “Thank you for everything that you do and representing the community,” Moore told her at Monday’s city council meeting.
NAILED IT
A Coquitlam builder hammered down two wins at this month’s Ovation Awards, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association annual gala that is sponsored in part by Glacier Media — The Tri-City News’ parent company. Troico Home Solutions Inc. clinched Best Townhouse/Condominium Renovation: Under $300,000 as well as Best Renovation: Under $200,000. “We continue to see strong growth in new home development and renovations across Metro Vancouver,” said association CEO in a news release. “The wide variety of homes up for awards this year was truly outstanding.”
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