LUUUIIIIII.....
Coquitlam resident and legendary footballer Lui Passaglia’s campaign with the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation has resulted in a new pediatric colonoscope for the GI clinic. The cancer survivor launched Get Behind Lui last year.
TRAIN THE TRAINER
The Coquitlam and Port Moody Innovative Fitness clubs held their annual Train the Trainer events recently in support of KidSport Tri-Cities. More than $17,000 was raised to help 57 kids play.
PASSING TORCH
Carlo Zarrillo, past chair of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, handed over the gavel at last Saturday’s Business Excellence Awards gala to incoming board chair Catherine Ackerman. (PHOTO BY BUTTERSTUDIOS.COM)
LEADERSHIP 150 PINS
A number of Tri-City residents were honoured for their community service by Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam MP Ron McKinnon last Thursday at his constituency office in PoCo.
The Liberal backbencher awarded Canada 150 leadership pins based on nominations from Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart, PoCo Mayor Greg Moore and the public.
Two of the recipients — Kon Chiu Lam and his wife, Son Nun Lam, better know as George and Connie — were featured in The Tri-City News last November; they were recognized for making a difference with their customers at G&A Market in PoCo.
McKinnon also handed out pins to Julie Silgailis, who has helped Syrian refugees settle; John and Irene Brown of the PoCo Legion; youth leader Monica Bassili; Alex Bell, the founder of the Coquitlam Crunch Challenge that has raised nearly $20,000 for the Coquitlam Foundation Diversity Fund; youth-at-risk worker Jerome Bouvier (pictured above with McKinnon); Sandy Burpee, a Coquitlam Search and Rescue volunteer who also advocates for the homeless; Nancy Furness of Amnesty International and an environmental activist; Mary Kam of SUCCESS; Kerry Lockwood, an educator who is also part of the Salmonids in the Classroom program; Centina Lowe of SUCCESS; Trish Mandewo, an entrepreneur and a member of the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce; Carol Metz-Murray of the Tri-City Transitions Society; Nitasha Naicker, a school volunteer; Betul Nebhen, a new Canadian who helps refugees settle; Carol Todd, an anti-bullying lobbyist; and Geoff Scott of Tri-Cities Community TV.
BUSY DRIVERS
A non-profit group that helps cancer patients get to their medical appointments logged 1,149 rides between September and December last year.
The Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society — which was featured in last week’s Spotlight column because of a $1,000 donation from the Port Moody firefighters — recorded 693 trips in Coquitlam, 357 in Port Coquitlam and 99 in Port Moody last fall. That compares with a total of 404 lifts in the Tri-Cities for the same period in 2016, said spokesperson George Garrett. To become a driver or donate to the cause, visit volunteercancerdrivers.ca.
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