The Tri-Cities will come alive with historical displays, mural painting and — yes — even music show from a Tina Turner tribute artist for the national Culture Days celebration this weekend.
Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the 8th annual festivities include about 35 free events in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, which have been grouped below according to date and municipality.
Friday, Sept. 29
COQUITLAM
Scavenger hunt
Kick off the weekend with a scavenger hunt for a chance to win a cool prize pack. Residents aged 16 and up can track down the 12 salmon sculptures — installed around town last year for Coquitlam 125 — as part of the city’s Spot the Salmon contest. Starting at 9 a.m., entrants will receive scavenger hunt questions by email, which must be answered in full by Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. to qualify. The grand prize winner will get a $100 gift card to Coquitlam Centre, a $100 art pack from Opus Art Supplies and four all-day Compass ride passes. As well, there will be pop-up gifts at random locations. Register at coquitlam.ca/culturedays.
Dogwood Pavilion
Tri-City artist Tammy Pilon leads a drawing workshop with water-soluble pencils, at the seniors centre (1655 Winslow Ave.) from 10 a.m. to noon. Register by calling 604-927-4386 (program number 602169).
Société francophone de Maillardville
Si vous pouvez parler et lire le français, vous voudrez vous joindre à ce club de lecture spécial. The book club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. at 942b Brunette Ave.
PORT COQUITLAM
Hyde Creek
Families can hear stories and sing songs from around the world at the Terry Fox pop-up library at the rec complex (1379 Laurier St.) from 11:30 a.m. to noon.
PORT MOODY
Scavenger hunt
The city starts its second annual trek today around the public art collection and historical sites for a chance for guests to win some city swag. Register at portmoody.ca.
Noons Creek
Help Squamish Nation carver James Harry as he plies the wood at the hatchery (behind Port Moody rec complex, 300 Ioco Rd.) for a Welcome Post, which is expected to be raised on June 21, 2018, during National Aboriginal Day. The Emily Carr University of Art + Design student will be under the gazebo today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PoMo Station Museum
Paint one of 720 tiles — for the Canada 150 Mosaic Mural project — with scenes of the city: waterfront, wildlife and history. The finished mural will be installed at the Port Moody rec complex. The painting takes place at the museum (2734 Murray St.) today from 3 to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 30
COQUITLAM
Mackin House
Coquitlam Heritage hosts its last weekend of tours of the interactive exhibit, A Man’s World. Learn how Coquitlam men managed through the prohibition and First World War — many of them Fraser Mills workers. The tours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum (1116 Brunette Ave.).
City Centre Library
Chinese, Farsi, Indian and Korean performers will be at the library branch (1169 Pinetree Way) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to show their multicultural pride. New Canadians will also share stories about their journeys of discovery in Coquitlam.
Glen Pine
Spend a few hours at the 50-plus pavilion (1200 Glen Pine Crt.) making crafts and dancing to entertainment — including from a Tina Turner tribute artist (aka Luisa Marshal). The events run from 3 to 5 p.m. and 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Call 604-927-6940.
Société francophone de Maillardville
Enjoy the afternoon geocaching — in English or French — in the French-Canadian neighbourhood, using your smartphone. The event runs from 2 to 4 p.m. at Société francophone de Maillardville (942b Brunette Ave.).
PORT COQUITLAM
The Outlet
Celebrate Canada 150 with an unveiling of a legacy project in The Outlet (behind Port Coquitlam city hall) at 12:15 p.m. The 8 x 12’ mural — made up of 600 handpainted tiles from attendees at Canada Day and other Canada 150 events — will be shown for the first time. PoCo is one of 150 communities in a Canada 150 Mural Mosaic this year and its mural, titled Our Journeys, features scenes from Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope and the Kwikwetlem First Nation as well as other imagery from designers Lewis Lavoie and Phil Alain. The mural will be permanently displayed at The Outlet. And, from noon to 3 p.m., families can create art — using free supplies — with the Leigh Square staff. Also, don’t forget to swing by PoCo Heritage between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to tour the newly installed touring exhibit Terry Fox: Running to the Heart of Canada.
Gathering Place
Emerging and professional writers can get tips at a workshop between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., courtesy of the PoCo Writers Drop-in Group, behind PoCo city hall. As well, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Cutie Circle Ukulele Jamboree hosts an open jam. Bring your instrument or borrow one at the event to learn to play a song with the help of the Populele “smart” ukulele.
Terry Fox Library
The dictionary is the focus of a display — running from noon to 4 p.m. — courtesy of the Rotary Club of Port Coquitlam, which in September, gives a free illustrated dictionary to PoCo students in Grade 4. Also, be sure to check out the Markerspace show and drive a mini-robot through a maze in the library (2470 Mary Hill Rd.).
PORT MOODY
Port Moody Arts Centre
Take the kids to PMAC (2425 St. Johns St.) from 1 to 3 p.m. as the venue launches its fourth edition of Art 4 Life, an exhibition that goes until Nov. 1 and highlights work from participating artists of all abilities and ages. The art, science and literacy fun is courtesy of the Port Moody Rock and Gem Club, the Tri-Cities Literacy Committee and the Port Moody Public Library.
City hall
Rocky Point artist-in-residence Ryan Mellors, a professional circus artist, will be in the Parkview Room (second floor) from noon to 4 p.m. to take guests on a virtual tour of the green space. Take a demo of the new interactive VR experience showcasing the park history. And from 6 to 7 p.m., Mellors will give his final performance in the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Drive).
The Stitchery
Take part in mini workshops for felting or stitching at The Stitchery, a new sewing studio at 80 Mary St., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Spatial Art Studio
Get your hands dirty at a pottery workshop at Spatial Art Studio (C-2415 Clarke St.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and make an ornament for Halloween or Christmas. The studio will provide supplies.
Private garden
Port Moody ceramic artist Gillian McMillan opens her home (2214 St. George St.) as part of a demonstration by the Tri-City Potters, a non-profit group for people interested in clay. Visit today and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 1
COQUITLAM
Mackin House
Meet in front of the museum (1116 Brunette Ave.) in Heritage Square at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. for a tour of the French-Canadian neighbourhood of Maillardville and learn how Coquitlam pioneers lived at the turn of the century.
Place des Arts
Family Day at PdA takes a Culture Days twist, starting with a tour of the three exhibitions including Illuminated Compulsion by Ross Hayduk, Info-diction by Barbara Pearson and Inspiration 45. The event, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 1120 Brunette Ave., will see participants create mixed-media paintings — using newspaper and paints — with Pearson while faculty member Catherine Dumaine will also be on hand for a special fibre arts activity. Visitors can craft an owl-themed decoration using bottle caps and jar lids, design a sculptural lamp with industrial materials and customize a handmade fidget spinner.
Evergreen Cultural Centre
Make your own tickets to Canada 150: The Show at the city facility (1205 Pinetree Way) between noon and 1:45 p.m. — then step into the theatre for a free performance written by Mandy Tulloch and with a cast of three dozen youth.
Pinetree Comm. Centre
The Cutie Circle Ukulele Jamboree hosts an open jam at the complex (1260 Pinetree Way) from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring your instrument or borrow one at the event to learn to play a song with the help of the Populele “smart” ukulele.
PORT MOODY
Mossom Creek
Learn about native plants and their historic uses on a guided tour at 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. at the salmon hatchery and education centre (located at the top of Mossom Creek Drive). Or spend an hour or two enjoying the forest and watercourse, until 2 p.m.
Inlet Theatre
Step back in time with Expect Theatre as it performs the Venosta Radio Show from the 1920s, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the theatre (100 Newport Dr.), courtesy of the Port Moody Heritage Society.
