Friday, May 6
FILM JUSTICE
Port Coquitlam's Trinity United Church is hosting the Social Justice Film Festival beginning today at 7 p.m. in the church (2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam). Showing Friday is Inside Job at 7 p.m., then the festival continues Saturday at 10 a.m. with Food, Inc. and The New American Century, followed by Guns for Hire and Afghanistan: Guns, Drugs and Money at 11:30 a.m., With God On Our Side and Crude: The Real Price of Oil at 1:30 p.m., and Wiki Rebels, Acts of Transformation: War Toys to Peace and, finally, the Coca-Cola Case at 3 p.m. Admission to the festival is by donation on Friday, including refreshments after the film, and $5 for a half day or $10 for a full day on Saturday. All tickets are available at the Trinity United Church office (604-942-0022) or at the door before the film. Lunch is available on Saturday for $6, with proceeds benefiting a local charity.
A MODERN TWIST
Based on Dickens' Oliver Twist, Pinetree secondary school's Treehouse Theatre presents Oliver!, a musical drama featuring a cast of 26 students from Pinetree secondary and Summit middle. Tonight's performance is at 7:30 p.m. at Pinetree secondary (3000 Pinewood Ave., Coquitlam). Tickets are $10 each and reservations are recommended. To reserve tickets, email Leslie Ikeda at [email protected], or stop by the Pinetree office. Tickets are also available from cast members or at the door 30 minutes before the performance.
CATCH THE FEVER
Stage 43 presents the Noel Coward comedy classic Hay Fever at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday night at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Directed by Elie Savoie, the play explores the theatrical excesses of a family that torments a group of unsuspecting visitors. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors, and are available at the Evergreen box office, by phone at 604-927-6555 or online at evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
SEE YOU AT THE FAIR
All this weekend, the fair is in town in the parking lot of the Port Coquitlam recreation complex (2150 Wilson Ave., Port Coquitlam). Rides and games open at 3 p.m. Friday and noon on Saturday and Sunday. Rides and games by West Coast Amusements. Wristbands are $25 per person per day.
Saturday, May 7
FIREFIT CHAMPS
Coquitlam Fire and Rescue's biggest fundraiser of the year is at Coquitlam Centre mall (northeast corner of the parking lot, 2929 Barnet Hwy., Coquitlam). Firefighters from across the province will compete in the Coquitlam Firefit Championships from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and everyone's welcome to cheer them on. This one-day event features firefighter fitness challenges as well as a barbecue, silent auctions, a 50/50 draw and games for the family. All the money raised benefits the Coquitlam Firefighters Charitable Society.
TEA TIME
St. John's Anglican Church in Port Moody is hosting a spring tea from 2 to 4 p.m. at the church (2206 St. Johns St., PoMo). Vendors will be selling baked goods, crafts and plants as well as homemade pie and ice cream. For more information, email Ferne at [email protected].
BUDDY & BLUE
Buddy Holly and Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Mr. Frank Sinatra, are back and joining forces on stage at Port Moody's Inlet Theatre (at city hall; tickets at the PoMo arts centre, 2425 St. Johns St.). This musical tribute to these two legendary crooners begins at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m., and features accompaniment from the Blue Morris nine-piece swing band.
VE DAY EVENT
The Coquitlam Royal Canadian Legion branch invites everyone, especially those whose families were liberated in Europe in May 1945, to the Porter Street cenotaph at 10:30 a.m. for a special commemoration ceremony. The event marks VE Day, the end of the Second World War in Europe and honours those who fought. After the ceremony, there will be a get-together at the Coquitlam Legion. For more information, call Yetty at 604-939-1971.
MAY DAY PARADE
The two-hour Port Coquitlam Rotary May Day Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. on Shaughnessy Street in downtown PoCo. From there, the parade route winds onto Elgin Street, onto Mary Hill, then down Hawthorne Avenue, ending at Tyner Street. The parade will feature floats, music, marching bands and street performers.
SINGING AT RIVERSIDE
The Coastal Sound Adult Choir is hosting a cabaret fundraiser to help the group purchase music by showcasing its talents at Riverside secondary school (2215 Reeve St., Port Coquitlam). Besides singing fan faves from Broadway show tunes to Hollywood hits, there will be dancing, door prizes, snacks and beer, wine and pop sales. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available from Peggy at 604-312-3247.
AWARDS GALA
Join Place des Arts in celebrating its 2011 arts scholarship winners at the annual awards gala at 7 p.m. in the Leonore Peyton Salon (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). Performances in ballet, hip hop, piano, clarinet and violin will accompany the awards, as will visual art from this year's recipient of the W.H. Sclater Memorial Award. Admission is by donation at the door, but seating is limited so reservations are available by phone at 604-664-1636 or at the PdA reception desk.
FINGERLING FEST
Port Moody Ecological Society hosts its 20th annual Fingerling Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Noons Creek Hatchery and the PoMo rec complex (300 Ioco Rd., Port Moody). The day includes displays about the hatchery, children's activities, the release of 40,000 young salmon and musical performances by children's entertainers Bobs and Lolo at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Entry is by donation. For more information, call 604-469-9106 or visit noonscreek.org.
Sunday, May 8
FARMERS' FIRST
Coquitlam Farmers Market is back with its first market of the spring season from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today in the parking lot at the Dogwood Pavilion (624 Poirier St., Coquitlam). A full line-up of local vendors will be on hand selling crafts, farm-fresh produce and prepared goods. For more information on the market, which will run every Sunday through October, call 604-318-8966.
POP GOES THE CHOIR
The popular Joan West Memorial Concert series is back with its sixth instalment featuring the Corpus Christi College Chamber Choir, conducted by Tony Araujo, at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church (315 Walker St., Coquitlam). The program boasts show tunes, pop music and a special flashback to the '80s segment. Tickets for the entire series are $50 and can be bought at the Our Lady of Fatima parish office or by calling 604-936-2525.
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