When mulling questions at next week’s trivia night at Terry Fox secondary, it’s best to consider the answers with a bit of panache.
The Port Coquitlam high school gym will be a scene of intense brainstorming next Saturday as more than 300 adults — many dressed as superheroes — vie for the title at the 25th annual event, a fundraiser for the school’s music department.
The theme of “superheroes” was chosen by the parent volunteer committee to be in line with the school namesake: hometown hero Terry Fox who, in 1980, ran a marathon for 143 days to build awareness and raise money for cancer research.
“We were thinking, ‘What is the definition of a superhero?’” event chairperson Jacquie Bischoff said. “Our conclusion was, anybody who inspires you just like Terry Fox did so many years ago for our country.”
Prizes will be awarded, among other things, for best costumes and for highest points per table, as scored by judges Craig Hodge, a Coquitlam city councillor who has three sons at Fox; Michael Thomas, the school trustee; and Bischoff’s husband, Anthony.
The night will run like this: 42 teams — each containing eight participants per round table — face the judges as emcee Arlynd Woodward reads out the 10 questions he devised for each of the seven categories (hint: superheroes and Canada 150 are on the program).
After each category, runners — i.e., Grade 11 and 12 students in band and choir — collect the papers and pass them up to the judges to keep score. The tallies are then projected on two large screens to build competition and excitement.
Last year, ticket sales as well as the 50/50 and raffle draws and silent auction brought in $6,800 for the music department run by teacher Ryan Cho.
But this year, the parent committee (which also includes Cyndi Bauslaugh on refreshments and Christine Knoll on prizes) wants to meet or beat that goal to help music students with their field trip fees and other operational costs.
The Terry Fox Trivia Night “is so popular that we have had parents come every year since it began 25 years ago,” said Bischoff, an Irvine elementary teacher who has two students at Fox: Jordan in Grade 12 and Kristen in Grade 10.
“Both of my kids have benefitted from this program and we want other students to thrive in music as well.”
• To reserve a seat at $20, visit terryfoxtrivianight.ca. No tickets will be sold at the door.
