Two Port Coquitlam liquor stores have cracked the ranks of B.C.’s top five fundraisers in this year’s drive to provide fun, booze-free high-school graduation parties.
The B.C. Liquor Store branches at Westwood Centre and Nicola Station ranked third and fourth top fundraisers in the province, collecting $7,070 and $6,468, respectively.
The money will be handed over to the graduation planning committee at School District 43 to plan the festivities. In the past, that’s included such activities as karaoke contests, photo booths, arcade games, mini putting and magicians.
This is not the first time the B.C. Liquor Store branch at Westwood Centre has been featured as one of the top fundraisers in the province. Last year, the store raised $9,881 for dry grad, topping all other liquor branches in the province. In the summer of 2017, the store raised the most money for B.C. wildfire relief in the province, collecting $25,855 in just eight weeks — the most of any government liquor store.
This year, store manager Sean McKenzie attributes the third-place finish to renovations.
Between March 4 and 31, 192 B.C. Liquor Stores collected over $280,000 for 335 high schools.
Since the program began in 2001, it has collected over $7.1 million for dry graduation celebrations across the province.
