SUPER VOLUNTEER
A Port Coquitlam resident was one of six British Columbians to be given a Public Safety Lifeline Volunteer award last week. Attorney General and Justice Minister Suzanne Anton recognized Vasantha Aruliah - a native of Sri Lanka and a 15-year member of the PoCo Emergency Preparedness Program - for her passion, dedication and hard work. Aruliah also spends time with the Canadian Red Cross, the Port Coquitlam cadets and the Community Volunteer Services for Seniors, among other groups.
TRADES HELPER
Port Moody's Allan Bruce has been honoured by the Red Seal Program with the 2014 Darryl Cruickshank Memorial Award for his leadership in helping aspiring skilled tradespeople around the country. A mobile crane operator like his father, Bruce has championed trades training and apprenticeship across Canada for 30 years.
YWCA AWARD
Coquitlam resident Kristi Blakeway is a Woman is Distinction. This week, YWCA Metro Vancouver recognized the vice principal of Thomas Haney secondary with its Connecting the Community award for her work with the social project H.E.L.L.O. (Helping Everyone Locate Loved Ones) in Vancouver's downtown eastside.
COLLEGE HONOUR
A Port Moody resident who graduated from Douglas College's dispensing optician program a decade ago received the institution's 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award this week. Scott Kling, an eye-care professional with Essilor Canada who is also an educator, advocate and volunteer with the Third World Eye Care Society, was honoured on Wednesday by the college that has a Coquitlam campus.
SUPER HERO
A Grade 1 student at Port Coquitlam's Blakeburn elementary is officially a ChildRun Super Hero. Madison Kingra, seven, has been taking part in the BC Children's Hospital Foundation fundraiser for four years. And last year, she decided she wanted to wear a Super Hero cape at the event, which identifies youth who have brought in more than $1,000 for childhood cancer research. "I want to end cancer so no more kids get sick!" said Kingra, whose father and two school mates have battled the disease. On Sunday, after the 5 km run, Kingra said she hoped the money she donated helped to cure at least one child from cancer, Steve Kingra said. In total, the PoCo girl collected $1,150 for the cause.
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