Friday, May 16
BABY TIME
Parents and caregivers of newborns and toddlers can drop in - for free - at Coquitlam's Place Maillardville (1200 Cartier Ave.) for Baby's First Two Years program, which is sponsored by the United Way of the Lower Mainland and B.C.'s ministry of Children and Family Development. It runs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and Friday's guest speaker is Annie Anderson, an infant sleep consultant. Call 604-933-6146 for more information.
GET WET
The oldest water park in Coquitlam has opened just in time for the May long weekend. The Burns Park spray pad - the first park to be updated under the city's aquatic infrastructure and service strategy - was activated on Thursday by the Grade 2 class from Alderson elementary along with members of Coquitlam city council. The park is located at 802 Edgar Ave., in southwest Coquitlam.
FUN FOR YOUTH
The city of Port Coquitlam hosts its swim, movie and pizza night at the Hyde Creek recreation centre (1379 Laurier Ave.) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for kids aged seven to 12. Friday night's feature will be The Nut Job. To register, call 604-927-7529 or visit experienceit.ca.
LET'S HEAR IT
Musical theatre students at Coquitlam's Gleneagle secondary (1195 Lansdowne Dr.), including Andrew de los Reyes and Jennifer Gillis, kick it up in their final performance of Footloose: The Musical. Tonight's closing show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12/$8 (no charge for kids under 5) and available through the school by calling 604-464-5793.
FREE SWIM
Don your swimsuit for a free dip at the City Centre Aquatic Complex (1210 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam), courtesy of Westminster Savings credit union. The swim runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Call 604-927-6999.
BUENA VISTA
Singles aged over 50 can be part of the monthly meeting of the Tri-City Singles Social Club, happening at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Royal Canadian Legion (2513 Clarke St., Port Moody). Among the club's activities are dancing, theatre-going, dining and day trips. Call 604-466-0017 or email [email protected].
GLADIATORS
The actors at Port Coquitlam's Second Storey Theatre (201-2250 Shaughnessy St.) are at it again, hosting shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. For this run, they're giving us performances inspired by the 1990s TV program American Gladiators. Tickets for the Canadian Gladiators version are $12/$10 via ssimprov.com.
Saturday, May 17
MONSTER SALE
Hunt for treasures at the Old Mill Boat House at Port Moody's Rocky Point Park (2770 Esplanade Ave.) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in support of the Dogwood Pavilion's Dragon Boat team. Plants, toys, baking and books will be for sale. Call 604-591-9907 for details.
EMPTIES NEEDED
Bring your empty pop cans and bottles to the parking lot of Cooper's Foods (1430 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to support the Meridian Village Tenant Association's campaign. The group partners with the city of PoCo, Canadian Tire Jump Start, Metro Vancouver Housing Corp. and Share each year to help kids from low- to middle-income families get fit through summer sports programs. Anyone not able to drop off that day can call Erica at 778-870-0154 or email [email protected] for at-home collection.
GREENTHUMBS
Perennials and tomatoes will be sold - along with baking goods and books - at Port Coquitlam Garden Club's annual plant sale, happening 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trinity United Church (2211 Prairie Ave.). Call 604-942-6950 for more information.
FREE SKATE
Enjoy a free skate at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St., Coquitlam) from 2 to 3:15 p.m. or 3:45 to 5 p.m., thanks to Westminster Savings credit union. Skate and helmet rentals are also free. Wristbands will be handed out 30 minutes before each session to the first 200 participants. Call 604-927-6027 or visit coquitlam.ca/pslc.
ART SHOWS
Check out the amazing art on show this month at Tri-City galleries. At Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam), see the crystalline porcelain by Pat Schendel and Brandon Martin, the mixed media by Anouk Jonker and the oil on canvas works by Lil Chrzan. At the Port Moody Arts Centre (2425 St. John's St.), see the exhibitions that opened Thursday from Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk and P. Thomas Wood. At Port Coquitlam's Leigh Square Community Arts Village (behind PoCo city hall), there's traditional rug hooking on display by Gone Hooking, a textile art group. And Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) has a show by UBC professor Richard E. Prince, titled As I Was Reading...
Sunday, May 18
FRESH GRUB
Load up on local produce grown by Metro Vancouver farmers at the weekly Coquitlam Farmers' Market, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Dogwood Pavilion (Poirier Street and Winslow Avenue). Visit makebakegrow.com.
Please send Things to Do listings to [email protected].
