A Year in Review: Coquitlam 125

A Year in Review

celebration, stories & connections

A year of

Coquitlam 125 Cast Force

CAST Force Members: Front row: Councillor Chris Nilson# @ris Sun# Aanice Cotter# Aoan DcCauley Chair # ;iana Bemp# Sandra Dartins# Daria Centola.

Back row: Cuke 9alson# 9rian Cee# Dichael Fera Mice Chair # >ordon Fulton# Dichael ?olroyd# Carl Trepanier# Belven Tan# Councillor Craig ?odge.

Absent: Jon-Paul Walden

Introduction Supporting Artists Volunteers Partners Marketing & Promotions Signature Events Legacy Projects 55+ BC Games Sanctioned Events Other Celebrations Message from Council

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

3 4 5 6 7 8-17 18-20 21 22 23 Back

The Coquitlam 125 Advisory Steering Task Force – known as the CAST Force – was tasked with planning and delivering Coquitlam’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

The CAST Force’s mandate was to: > provide advice and act as a resource to Council on the planning and funding process for Coquitlam 125; > support and guide recommendations to Council regarding Coquitlam 125 for the beneÔt of members of the public# spanning all ages and abilities; and > collaborate with and include a wide variety of groups in the planning and implementation of Coquitlam 125# including but not limited to arts# culture# heritage# sports# business# youth# First Eations# francophone# School ;istrict +*# seniors# new immigrants and the general public.

An enthusiastic and hardworking group made up of volunteer community members and two members of Council# the CAST Force successfully reached out to a broad range of community groups and volunteers# bringing neighbourhoods together and increasing active participation and creativity throughout Coquitlam.

@t was a year to remember# and a year to build on.

As we celebrated our 125th anniversary throughout 2016# the community of Coquitlam came together to forge memories that will serve as a catalyst for deeper connections moving forward.

Stories make up the fabric of a community. We invited everyone – residents# visitors# businesses and community groups – to share their Coquitlam stories during 2016 through words# images and art.

The collected materials now form part of the City Archives.

A small sample of stories and videos are featured in this book.

See the complete selection at www.coquitlam.ca/archives.

64 44 16

Tens of thousands of residents# hundreds of volunteers and dozens of artists# community groups and corporate partners took part in Coquitlam 125 signature and sanctioned events# public art projects and cultural activities that highlighted what makes Coquitlam unique: our history# our arts and

culture# our multiculturalism# our neighbourhoods# and our continued growth into a complete# progressive community.

Woven through the year’s events and projects was the theme Stories told, Stories to be created# which celebrated Coquitlam’s rich history and dynamic future.

Un francophone natif de Maillardville

Circa 1993, Cartier Ave. in Maillardville Excerpt of story by Danielle Eugène Bouchard

@ have lived in Coquitlam all of my 62 years. @ proudly continue to speak French# the language of my ancestors. @ worked hard at maintaining my level of French. @ was a French immersion teacher and then a Francophone teacher. @ have also remained involved with Les Èchos du PaciÔc# a Francophone and Francophile choir.

Je suis un francophone natif de Daillardville et je suis Ôer de ma langue Tip: If you are reading this book online, click the videos to be linked directly. All videos can be found at www.youtube.com/ cityofcoquitlam in the Coquitlam 125 playlist.

Videos created Stories written Stories submitted

What a Year! wrap-up video

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Supporting Artists The arts were a strong theme in all Coquitlam 125 festivities. We invited artists and artisans to create art and display their creations at many of our events# and provided a wide variety of performance opportunities for both established and emerging musicians# dancers and actors.

Dost events offered public art-making opportunities# and our Coquitlam 125 legacy projects included a permanent public art installation see page 1/ .

Total number of artists, artisans and performers who participated

The Artist Rendering Tales Collective @nc. ARTC@ # a collaborative of seven artists specializing in media# literary# visual and performing arts# was engaged throughout 2016 to help document and share Coquitlam’s stories.

Known as Community Engagement Artists# ARTC@ members spent the year gathering stories at Coquitlam 125

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

events and around the City; mentoring volunteer interviewers# writers and actors; creating historical characters who represented Coquitlam’s past; engaging the community through visual art projects; and documenting the events with photos and Ôlm.

Residents were invited to engage with the artists by sharing their stories

616

and participating in video booth interviews and art activities. The artists also interacted with residents at signature Coquitlam 125 events# where they brought history to life as iconic Coquitlam characters such as a French millworker# a female Westwood Racing Circuit driver from the 1050s and 1060s# and an early Daillardville dairy operator.

Volunteers Molunteerism was an essential component of Coquitlam 125# both in planning and executing the activities and events# and as a method of engaging the community.

Molunteers were trained# mentored and put to work in roles that included: > working groups and event planning volunteers# > lead volunteers who managed other volunteers and liaised with event coordinators# > historical characters# who portrayed a Coquitlam character at ofÔcial Coquitlam 125 events# > production assistants who staffed the video booths and assisted actors#

Coquitlam 125 Volunteer Structure CAST Force Working Groups CAST Force members and other interested volunteers

CAST Force Sub Committees

Activate Coquitlam 125

Communications

Dish & Dialogues

Community Engagement Artists

Kaleidoscope

Community Engagement

Neighbourhood Nights

Salmon Project

Community Heritage Picnic

Sanctioning

Lights at Lafarge

Event Activation Volunteers

> event ambassadors# who greeted and assisted the public# > activity attendants# who managed activity sites and assisted participants# and > event logistics volunteers# who helped with setup&takedown# food services# water and waste management# and parking.

Total Volunteers

Volunteer Hours

156

2,035

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Corporate & Government Partners IN-KIND SUPPORT

Coquitlam 125 would not have been possible without the generosity of our corporate partners and the many businesses and organizations that contributed cash or in-kind support. We are extremely grateful for their help in making this milestone year a great success.

Media Partners

275,500

+

195,000

“ Presenting Partners

Salmon Project Partners

Supporting Partners Westcoast is pleased to provide our support in helping the City of Coquitlam celebrate its 125th anniversary and the City’s commitment to achieving environmental sustainability.

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

”

Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Legacy Fund

”

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Kaleidoscope:

6

470,500

Community celebrations are at the heart of preserving and celebrating our history and our identity.

Community ?eritage Picnic:

Diana Kemp, HR Manager

=

Funded by the Government of Canada

Marketing Partner

“

TOTAL SUPPORT

Government Partner Financé par le gouvernement du Canada.

Eeighbourhood Eights:

CASH SUPPORT

Marketing & Promotions CQ125 was supported by a multi-media promotional campaign that included: > a dedicated website# > a social media campaign using the hashtag coquitlam125# > media partnerships with both broadcast and print media that resulted in signiÔcant promotion of

both the anniversary and events in local and regional print and online publications# television and radio networks# and > strong branding throughout the community that included street banners# window decals at civic facilities and other community signage.

Increases in social media followers from 2015

38% 23%

32% 72%

115,294

lifetime coquitlam125.ca pageviews

The Community Engagement Sub-Committee visited sports groups and community organizations to inform them about how they could get involved in the Coquitlam 125 celebrations.

Members also attended community events to promote the celebrations leading up to and during the year of celebration.

A special Coquitlam 125 tent was purchased and used for this purpose.

Global BC provided a 125 Reasons to Celebrate promotional video as part of its sponsorship.

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Activate

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

Activate Coquitlam 125# held on Jan. 2# was the year’s Ôrst signature event and marked the Coquitlam 125 kickoff.

Activities included: > the opening ceremony with participation from the Kwikwetlem First Eation# > live entertainment by emerging and established performers# > a festival atmosphere with displays# face painting# balloon art and art-making activities# > a variety of free recreational and Ôtness activities# and > the Community Engagement Artists’ roving heritage characters and video booth for sharing Coquitlam stories.

Artists, artisans and performers

Total volunteers

Public attendance

In-kind or cash support

18

8

1,200

1,244

Sama – Persia’s Mystical Dance 9orn in @ran# Fereshteh Qakery immigrated to Canada in 2014 and was welcomed by Coquitlam’s large Persian community. She brought with her a deep connection to Sama dance# which she teaches and performs in Coquitlam. “@ts message is to think positive. @t provides a feeling of freedom and each movement has meaning.”

The video that kicked off the Coquitlam 125 festivities.

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

A signature Coquitlam 125 event# Dish & Dialogues was a unique dinner series held in February and Darch that blended ethnic food and lively conversation about Coquitlam.

Participants enjoyed a multi-course meal while meeting other local residents and sharing their Coquitlam

experiences around the dinner table. A facilitator posed questions throughout the evening to get the conversation Õowing# and as stories were shared# a graphic recording artist illustrated them on the Õy.

The popular series was intended to celebrate the community’s diversity# bring residents together# and highlight the special nature of Coquitlam through the stories of its people. The events were held:

4 Artists, artisans and performers

22 Total volunteers

> Feb. 4 at Douglas College Punjabi# Persian and First Eation food # > Feb. 16 at Pasta Polo @talian food # and > Dar. 2 at >rand Palace Chinese food .

100 Public attendance

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

Town Centre Park was alive with music# storytelling# visual arts# theatre and dance July 2* and 24 during Kaleidoscope# a Coquitlam 125 signature event.

Artists, artisans and performers

Total volunteers

322

28

Public attendance

In-kind or cash support

9,000

10,250

Kaleidoscope was a place to both enjoy and participate in all aspects of the arts# from listening to storytellers and big-name musical acts# to creating art# to watching dancers and theatre performances. There were surprises around every corner# with roving historical characters and pop-up theatre and choral performances throughout the grounds. ?ighlights included: > two stages featuring big-name# local and regional artists# > a Coquitlam Sings choral performance of the Coquitlam 125 song# > Story Caf # featuring storytelling# author readings# poetry and music performances# > a plein air contest in which 20 artists completed a painting in four hours# and > theatre performances at the Story Café and in pop-up shows.

Coquitlam’s Farming Traditions

Shaw TV’s Around Town show promoted Kaleidoscope.

Coquitlam’s history is deeply rooted in the tradition of farming. Through hard work and ingenuity# Coquitlam’s early settlers nurtured the land to support animal and vegetable farms. The tradition continues today with backyard gardens# Community >arden plots and farmers’ markets.

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

The 2016 Eeighbourhood Eights program# a signature Coquitlam 125 activity# brought together Coquitlam neighbours all summer long for family games# sports# arts and crafts# entertainment and light refreshments at nearby parks or schools. City staff and volunteers were on hand at each event to coordinate the activities.

The free family events are organized by the City as part of its communitybuilding efforts. The program gave neighbours a chance to connect# have fun together# and ultimately strengthen relationships and safety in their neighbourhood – also a goal of Coquitlam 125.

As part of the Coquitlam 125 celebrations# Eeighbourhood Eights was expanded to 12 sites in 2016# up from nine in 2015 and Ôve in 2014. A variety of special activities were also added in 2016# including visits by historical characters# heritage games and a video booth to record stories about Coquitlam.

Artists, artisans and performers

Total volunteers

38

38

Public attendance

In-kind or cash support

2,350

7,500

128 Block parties held 6,862 People attended issued, valued 123 Grants at $18,450

The 125 Block Party Challenge encouraged residents to host 125 block parties in 2016 in recognition of Coquitlam’s anniversary# and offered 150 grants to be used for food# activities# entertainment# equipment and venue rentals. The community responded with enthusiasm and met the goal in September.

Block Party organizers were also invited to incorporate a Eeighbourhood Tree Day activity into their event. Activities such as Tree Care Workshops# Tree-Well Work Parties# and Tree Planting Fpportunities were supported by a *#000 TD >reen Streets grant.

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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ata Lafarge

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

Live performances# hands-on activities and more than 60#000 twinkling lights capped off a year of celebration at Lights at Lafarge on Eov. 26.

The rain didn’t deter thousands of people from attending the signature event# which built on the annual Light the ?all event with special Coquitlam 125 activities. This was the Ôrst year the lights encircled the entire lake. ?eld at Town Centre Park and Evergreen Cultural Centre# the event included: > choral music and sing-alongs# > screening of the Coquitlam 125 video# > photos with Santa and a *D photo exhibit# > hands-on crafts Park Spark lights and Place des Arts lanterns # > heritage activities such as a marionette show# making beeswax candles and popcorn stringing# > a Face of the Future interactive experience# with black-light facepainting# LED dance Õoor and Õuorescent chalk mural-making# > choral music# roving entertainers and a black-light photobooth along the Lafarge Lake path# and

Artists, artisans and performers

Total volunteers

188

18

Public attended

In-kind or cash support

5,000

8,000

> a spectacular Ônale# with a Ôre show and the ofÔcial lighting of the seasonal lighting display by Dayor and Council.

Coquitlam’s Green Future @f @ had a time machine# @ would zap myself to Coquitlam in the year *5*0. @n *5*0# robots will do most of the work. The robots will keep Coquitlam so clean# the whole city will sparkle like diamonds.

Coquitlam will be rated the number one place in the world to live in the future.

Excerpt of story by Lewis Fang

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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THE SALMON PROJECT

Aody BroomÔeld created the Ôbreglass salmon sculptures.

By Maria Centola Lafarge Lake

By Wilfrido Limvalencia Mackin Park

By Jolayne Devente Mackin Park

By Elvira DS Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex

By Jenna Mortemore Coquitlam Crunch

By Dennis Creighton Blue Mountain Park

By Iman Baradaran Hashemi Poirier Public Library

By Shohre Shirazi City Hall

By Cory Douglas Victoria Park

By Elham Sarvi Cottonwood Park

By Flavia Chan Como Lake Park

By April Lacheur Mundy Park

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

As a permanent legacy of Coquitlam 125# a dozen Ôbreglass salmon sculptures were commissioned and handpainted in themes honouring the community’s past# present and future. The sculptures stand more than six feet high and have been permanently installed in high-trafÔc public spaces and parks throughout Coquitlam.

Lnveiled July 2* at Kaleidoscope# the sculptures were created by award-winning Squamish Eation artist Jody BroomÔeld and painted by 12 artists selected through a proposal process.

They feature a wide variety of creative and colourful designs# reÕecting many different aspects of the community as well as the artists’ diverse cultural backgrounds# experiences and inspiration.

Artists, artisans and performers

Volunteer hours

13

4

Public at unveiling

Cash support

9,000

60,000

Promotion of the salmon project included a Global BC interview

The striking Town Centre Park Plaza overlooking Lafarge Lake# which opened in July 2016# will provide a lasting memory of the City’s milestone year see page 20 for details .

The Coquitlam 125 tree created to light the lake is now a permanent Ôxture in Coquitlam’s annual winter light display. @t features etched Plexiglas leaves decorated by community members at various events throughout the year.

The stories collected throughout 2016 are a permanent reminder of the anniversary celebration. The 120-plus written and video stories submitted by residents and Community Engagement Artists throughout the year now have a home in the City Archives. Miew them at www.coquitlam.ca&archives.

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Town Centre Park Plaza Town Centre Park Plaza opened on the eastern shore of Lafarge Lake during the Canada Day celebration July 1.

With seating for up to 1#*00# scenic lake views and easy access# Town Centre Park Plaza is expected to become one of the premier outdoor performance and event venues in the City and the region.

The design combines landscaping# hardscape and freeform architectural elements# along with inscriptions and artistic motifs that reference milestones from the City’s 125 years and the area’s natural history.

The Coquitlam 125 project was supported by 500#0000 from the federal Building Communities through Arts and ?eritage Legacy Fund.

3,000

500,000 Cash support

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

Public at opening

55+ BC Games Coquitlam 2016 55" BC >ames# which took place Sept. 20-24# was one of the largest sporting events of the year.

The annual provincial event showcases the outstanding athleticism of B.C. competitors aged 55 and up and promotes the beneÔts of leading an active# healthy lifestyle.

A Coquitlam 2016 55" BC >ames Legacy Fund has been established to provide grants for projects promoting healthy living for people age 55 and up.

The grants aim to keep the spirit of the 55" BC >ames alive in Coquitlam by promoting year-round participation in sport# community and social activities by residents aged 55 and up.

Coquitlam’s event involved more than *#200 athletes who competed in 22 sports. Dore than 1#200 volunteers from across the province also took part.

1,200 Total volunteers

3,200 Total athletes

1,750 Attendance over 3 days Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Sanctioned Events As a method of engaging the community# local organizations were invited to have their 2016 activities sanctioned as ofÔcial Coquitlam 125 events.

Salmon Come Home

Hard Rock Casino’s Ultimate Car Show

Almost 100 events were sanctioned and received marketing assistance from the City that included: promotion on

Austin Heights BIA Daisy Day

the dedicated Coquitlam 125 website and in local print media# social media posts and inclusion in the Coquitlam 125 calendar.

The sanctioned events included sports tournaments# arts and cultural activities# festivals# fundraisers# recreational events and more.

Stage 43’s Bear Bare Bones

Coquitlam 125 Wishing Tree at BC Highland Games

Sanctioned events

Coquitlam Crunch Challenge. Photo by Joep Olthuis, supandshoot.com

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Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Other Celebrations The 125th anniversary theme was carried into many additional City activities and events, including the annual Canada Day celebrations and an expanded Coquitlam in Bloom program that earned the City a national win in Communities in Bloom, a civic pride and beautiÔcation competition.

As well, the City unveiled a public art project on Dec. 2 that saw 11 striking new works of art exploring Coquitlam themes installed at the City’s four rapid transit stations. Read more below.

Coquitlam won in the national Over50,000 population category, and also received a “5 Blooms Silver” rating and a special mention for Mackin House Museum and Mackin Park. Activities for 2016 including public produce gardens, a signature rose named “Coquitlam,” a photo library of 125 local gardens, toy libraries at six parks, and giveaways of the dahlia, the Õower of the year.

Public art was installed in late 2016 at the four Coquitlam stations on the Millennium Line Evergreen Extension, the result of more than two years of work by the Evergreen Line Public Art Task Force. Seven B.C. artists were selected to create 11 works of art using a variety of mediums, including granite, concrete, pine beetle wood, glass, tile and recycled metal. The pieces explore Coquitlam themes such as nature, cultural diversity, transportation and local history. In addition, mosaic station identiÔers were designed for each station entrance. Pictured above left is Brent Bukowski’s ÈBurquitlam1 Between and BeyondÉ at the Burquitlam Station. Above right is Trent Hutton’s ÈTransLakeÉ at the Lafarge Lake – Douglas Station.

Coquitlam 125: Year in Review

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Coquitlam City Council From left: Councillor Terry O’Eeill Councillor Craig Hodge Councillor Brent Asmundson Councillor Teri Towner Councillor Mae Reid Mayor Richard Stewart Councillor Dennis Marsden Councillor Chris Wilson Councillor Bonita Qarrillo

We’ve come a long way since Coquitlam was incorporated on July 25, 1/01. @t was a small agricultural community in those days, with a new lumber mill the future Fraser Mills under construction near the Fraser River. Fast forward 125 years and the City has grown and evolved in ways that would make it unrecognizable to those early settlers.

Today, Coquitlam is a thriving, progressive and rapidly growing community with over 144,000 residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds, and over 6,200 businesses. Pet we still retain a friendliness and a desire to connect with one another. lt was wonderful to see the entire community embrace our year of celebration. We saw new relationships being forged and many examples of strengthened community pride and involvement.

As we marked our City’s 125th anniversary throughout 2016, we not only celebrated all that we have accomplished, but set the stage for an even stronger, more connected and prosperous community in the years to come.

For more information about our year of celebration, visit www.coquitlam.ca/125