Friday, Dec. 1
MINISTER MEET
Say hello to Coquitlam-Maillardville NDP MLA — and B.C.’s municipal affairs and housing minister — Selina Robinson at a Christmas open house in her constituency office (102-1108 Austin Ave., Coquitlam) from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Non-perishable goods will be accepted for the Share food bank. Call 604-933-2001.
IRAN, ISRAEL
The Vashaan Music Society hosts Fusic #2, a concert in the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody) featuring the improvised sounds from Iran and Israel. The show with Hamin Honari (percussion), Itamar Erez (guitar) and Sina Ettehad (kamache) starts at 7:30 p.m. Visit Vashaan.com or call 604-727-7289.
HARP MUSIC
Janelle Nadeau, Kim Robertson and Joaquin Ayala present A Prairie Christmas, a show harkening holiday traditions with classic merry tunes. The concert starts at 8 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). Call the box office at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
FA LA LA
Coquitlam’s annual Lafarge Lake light display will see Douglas College students on site for carolling and a light-making workshop. On Saturday, the city’s Park Spark mascot Sparky will lead a parade around the lake (glow sticks and candy canes available) while, on Sunday, be part of a night scavenger hunt. Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the winter light activities run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Welcome Tent next to Town Centre Park Plaza (1299 Pinetree Way). Visit coquitlam.ca.
Saturday, Dec. 2
GET UGLY
Don your most unattractive garb and toque for the Now That’s Ugly Society’s annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Dash, a 5k run at Rocky Point Park (2800 Murray St., Port Moody) that starts at 11 a.m. It’s the first year the charity event is benefitting Make-A-Wish BC & Yukon. Registration (open at 10 a.m.) is $55 for adults and $35 for youth aged nine to 18 (no cost for kids eight and under). Visit nowthatsugly.com/dash.
CANADA 150
If you were one of the 550 Coquitlam residents who painted a tile for the city’s Canada 150 mosaic mural, you, your family and friends will want to see the unveiling of the massive art project, happening at 11 a.m. in the Coquitlam Public Library (1169 Pinetree Way). Visit coqlibrary.ca.
PIER CHEER
Join Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay as he flips the light switch to the Rocky Point Park pier at 6:30 p.m. as part of the city’s Holiday Cheer at the Pier. The free event begins at 6 p.m. with hot chocolate, carol singing and kids activities while Santa Claus makes his way in for photos and to hand out candy canes to the little ones. Visit portmoody.ca.
K-JAZZ, METAL
The inaugural Laon Music Festival, sponsored by the Korean Society of B.C. and The Korea Daily, features two bands at the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr., Port Moody) at 7 p.m.: Blue Pill, a contemporary jazz ensemble, and Ultrarisk, a progressive metal band. Tickets at $10 are available by calling 778-896-8564.
ALL TOGETHER
The Coquitlam Chorale has two Christmas Fantasia shows at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) this weekend: tonight at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Call 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
CHA CHA CHA
Join the Hot Salsa Dance Zone for a cha-cha-cha lesson at 8 p.m. in the rehearsal hall at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). The dance floor opens up about an hour later, with the party running until 12:30 a.m. Park for free or take the Evergreen Extension to the Lafarge Lake-Douglas station. Admission is $10. Visit hotsalsadancezone.com.
Sunday, Dec. 3
TOUCHDOWN
Cheer on the players in the BC Minor Football Championships, starting at Percy Perry Stadium (1299 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) at 10 a.m. with peewees and ending at 5 p.m. with the midget game. Entry is $10/$5. The games will also be lived streamed at vbnsports.com. Visit bccommunityfootball.ca.
WINTER MARKET
Grab your grocery bag and head over to the Port Moody recreation complex (300 Ioco Rd.) where the winter farmers market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit makebakegrow.com.
BEARY FUN
Bring a new or gently used stuffy to the Coquitlam Express game at 2 p.m. for the Teddy Bear Toss benefitting Share Family and Community Services. The hockey team asks kids to throw their furry animal onto the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex ice when it scores its first goal. A pre-game BBQ (by donation) is at 1 p.m. while a family skate is after the game; skate and helmet rentals are free. No cost for children’s admission with a toy or food bank donation. And don’t miss out on the opening ceremony when Korean War veterans Frank Smyth and Hong Chang will present the club with a framed photo of The Imjim Classic. Visit coquitlamexpress.ca.
LANTERN LIGHTS
Make a multicultural lantern — from Europe, Korea, China or Iran — at A Lantern Affair, at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) and Mackin House. The free workshops and entertainment begin at 3:30 p.m. Call 604-664-1636 or visit placedesarts.ca.
