A tree is a symbol of new life and seeing it decorated brings joy.
In Port Coquitlam, a large fir tree in Citadel Heights is being decorated — for the third time in 12 months.
Last year Joanne Pesusich came up with the idea of inviting the community to help decorate the giant tree outside her yard.
It was a gesture to bring joy during a “COVID Christmas” in 2020.
People loved the idea and added their own decorations. Then, in April, when the COVID-19 pandemic dragged on, Pesusich decided to decorate the tree again.
This time the community came to her aid — this time in support of frontline workers.
Now the tree is being lit up again, with Pesusich encouraging her fellow residents via Facebook to help out.
“Last year, I wanted to come up with a way to brighten community spirit during a Covid Christmas,” she posted.
“I put up a sign and members of our neighbourhood added their own ornaments to our tree on the corner… and it brought so much joy to the community!”
When nobody claimed their ornaments after New Years, Pesusich took them inside, dried them out and put them in storage.
“And here they are,” she further wrote. “Come by and see if you can find your ornaments from last year.”
Residents are encouraged to add more decorations if they so wish, making this Port Coquitlam tree one of the brightest in the neighbourhood.
The story of Pesusich’s tree is not the only good news story of 2021 in Port Coquitlam.
The Tri-City News wrote a number of positive pieces about local businesses, artists, student activities and more.
Here’s a sample:
• A cell phone lost in the Coquitlam River washed up on a Mayne Island beach in March after an eight month journey and was later returned to the Port Coquitlam teen who lost the phone in a rafting incident
• In May, Mayor Brad West was called out of a Metro Vancouver board meeting to attend the birth of his son Owen, a brother to older sibling Liam
• Lisa Rae Simons, a professional singer, brightened the faces of her neighbours near Settlers Park this summer and fall. Each Sunday, Simons and a pick-up band of fellow musicians would meet at the park, sing popular tunes and take musical requests from park visitors
• One Port Coquitlam teen was happy to get her beloved skateboard back when a neighbour spotted a Facebook post about it going missing. After some inquiries and involvement by Coquitlam RCMP, the teen got her skateboard back and a man was arrested for break and enter.
• Port Coquitlam custom baker Cassandra Curtis won the big prize $10,000 when she and her team baked the winning cake in the Food Network’s Big Bake competition in November.
