Local Arts

Last year, when CP Rail asked Blue Rodeo frontman - and newly appointed Order of Canada recipient - Jim Cuddy to play on its holiday train, he did it on a whim.

A few days ago, I sat down with my young boy to colour Vicki Allesia's Port Moody. He was on the right, for the kids' side; I was on the left to replicate some of her recent acrylic paintings - albeit with wax crayons.

Jack and Jill, Little Miss Muffet and Puss in Boots are among the three dozen characters who will grace a Port Moody stage this week for a special Christmas production.

On the shortest day of the year, take some time out to soak in some film shorts screened at the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

A futuristic musical that won a number of awards last year will have a Port Coquitlam actor in the cast for its Coquitlam run next week.

This past summer, Port Coquitlam prodigy Michelle Khoo clinched gold at the prestigious Wien Welt Wettbewerb in Vienna - the first time a Canadian has won the highest honour at the International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition.

Join a Coquitlam-based wind group this weekend for an Old World Christmas special. The Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble will pipe out traditional tunes for its holiday concert at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way) on Saturday, Dec.

Port Coquitlam pianist Greg Norlin has a new CD out for the holidays. The singer/songwriter released his debut album, winterKeys , that features classic Christmas songs and a few originals.

In February, when his Cellar Jazz Club in Vancouver closed after 13 years, Cory Weeds thought the B3 Kings would die right alongside, too.

Joshua Ballard comes from a Port Coquitlam family firmly rooted in show business. His mother is a makeup artist, his dad cuts hair and his four siblings- all of whom have first names also starting with the letter "J" - are actors.