There’s no crash course.
There’s no point of even studying.
“Just come prepared to have a good time. That’s the only preparation that you can do,” said Paul Nelson, chairperson of the Friends of Terry Fox Library, which on Saturday will host its inaugural trivia night — on the eve of the annual Terry Fox Run.
The fundraiser is being modelled after the quiz night hosted by Pitt Meadows Library, which is also part of the Fraser Valley Regional Library network.
And Nelson said the Port Coquitlam group hopes to raise at least $2,000 for the Mary Hill Road facility to promote literacy in the community.
Up to 100 tickets — at $20 each — will be sold for the event that will see tables of eight participants answer a total of 50 questions, split into 10 themes such as entertainment and B.C. history and geography.
Irene McKinney, a Friends member for two years, has devised the questions.
“They won’t be too hard but they won’t be easy either,” said past Friends chairperson Margaret Owens. “They’ll get you thinking.”
This is how it will work: Tables will be assigned a ballot, which after the theme is complete, will be run up to Nelson and Owens, who are emceeing. It will be marked for accuracy and the scores will be written at a board at the front of the room — in part, to stir competition.
Each table has the chance to win prizes based on their name and performance, for example.
And the winner will not only get a certificate and bragging rights but also a box of Smarties, Nelson said.
Throughout the night, door prizes will be handed out and refreshments will be served. As well, tickets will be sold for a 50/50 draw.
Last year, the Friends of the Terry Fox Library collected $1,000 through a book sale to support such programs as Books for Babies, teen events and capital items.
In the past, it has purchased a large-screen high-definition television, a puppet theatre, an XBox, DVDs and books for adult learners.
However, its fundraising efforts do not go into the library operations, Nelson stressed.
Owens said the Friends hope to draw the crowd that frequents trivia nights throughout Metro Vancouver.
“They’re very popular with some people,” she said. “They like to test their knowledge and help out the libraries at the same time.”
• To buy Friends of Terry Fox Library trivia tickets for Sept. 17, call 604-927-7999. If available, tickets will be at the door on Saturday night (cash only).
