TROPHY
Tri-City News employee Marianne LaRochelle was this week named the top sales representative for the newspaper for 2016. The award was created by sales manager Bentley Yamaura and presented before publisher Shannon Mitchell.
SOCKS, TOQUES
Students at Coquitlam’s Ranch Park elementary as well as staff from the Dufferin Care Centre last month delivered socks and toques made by the “Sock Granny” to the homeless shelter at 3030 Gordon Ave., run by RainCity Housing.
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CHIEF' HELP
Andrew Teel, the Coquitlam fire department’s fire chief for a day in Grade 3, got a boost to his cause last month. The Coquitlam Fire Firefighters’ Charitable Society gave the 14-year-old teen $2,000 for Covenant House, a Vancouver charity Teel has been collecting twoonies for the past six years.
FOR THE KIDS
Maura Fitzpatrick, fundraising manager for the Children of the Street Society, accepted $2,500 from Shirley Keeper, vice-chair of the North Shore Community Foundation, last month for school-based prevention workshops.
SPONSORSHIP THANKS
Tri-City News publisher Shannon Mitchell (centre) was presented with an award last month from parish pastor Steve Obetoh and Elizabeth Oshun for sponsoring a family fun fair at their Port Coquitlam church.
TOY DRIVE
Port Moody Police Chief Const. Chris Rattenbury joined other law enforcement officials last month for the Wishes Without Borders toy drive. The event took place at BC Children’s Hospital. To donate, visit www.wishestoydrive.ca.
FAN CHOICE
A Port Moody business took a fan choice award from Envision Financial last month after it was named one of three best local salons in the Lower Mainland..Owner Vanessa Chaloner (right) accepted the prize from the credit union, saying in a press release: “I started out as a stay-at-home mom who started a home-salon business that catered to moms and women, and ended up becoming so busy that my home could no longer accommodate all my amazing clients. It’s to them I owe my thanks and gratitude for showing me such incredible support and voting for me in these awards.”
It’s the second year Envision has doled out fan choice accolades to small- and medium-sized businesses. Nominations were cast by the public between Oct. 4 and Nov. 7 via social media.
“We’re overwhelmed with the positive responses we received from voters in the Fan Choice Awards,” said Norm Attridge, assistant vice-president of small business banking at Envision Financial. “While it’s no secret that small business is the backbone of B.C.’s economy — accounting for over 93% of jobs in the private sector — it’s inspiring to see so many community members advocate for small businesses.”
Chaloner is pictured with business banking advisor Mehran Aazamifard (at left).
HOSPITAL HELP
The Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation got an early Christmas present last November when the Coquitlam Firefighters’ Charitable Society handed over $3,000. The money, which was presented Nov. 29, will be used to help buy a $50,000 paediatric bronchoscope, which will allow hospital doctors to see a young patient’s airway and lungs.
PLEASANT(SIDE) SONGS
The Pleasantside Carollers were out last month for their annual sing-a-long to collect donations for the Share food bank. The 21 participants rung in 170 pounds of food and $335 in cash for the charity, on Dec. 18. “We would like to thank the good people of Alderside and Bentley roads for their generosity,” Yvonne and Paul Harris of Port Moody said in an email.
CURLERS DRIVE
Curlers Erin MacLeod and Christina Mattiello of the Harbour Chines mixed league — which operates out of the Coquitlam Curling Club on Friday nights — swept in more than 100 items of goods and $775 last month for the Share food bank, which is based in Port Moody. The league is made up of 11 teams (44 people) “and all of them enthusiastically jumped on board to help out,” MacLeod said in an email. Their campaign ended Dec. 16 — the league’s last curling night before the winter break.
$13K IN DONATIONS
The Port Coquitlam branch of the Canadian Royal Purple Society distributed more than $13,000 last month to charities. Among the recipients were the BC Family Hearing Resource Society, Eagle Ridge and Ridge Meadows hospital foundations, Tri-City Transitions Society, Camp Kerry, Katie’s Place, PoCo May Day committee, PoCo Heritage Society, Share and Children of the Street Society.
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@jcleughTC
