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by Guest AuthorDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by Visit Coquitlam Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Embrace all that fall has to offer and take some time to explore Coquitlam in October. Get outside on a rainy day trail run in Mundy Park, explore our many parks in search of fall colours or watch salmon return to local streams. Stay inside and cheer on the Coquitlam Express, listen to live music, catch a performance or search out local comfort foods at one of our many restaurants.
There will be candy, pumpkin pie, hearty cuisine and new art exhibitions. Here are 10 fun events and activities to get outdoors, spark creativity, reunite with friends and get those pulses racing.
Coquitlam Fall – Photo credit chnarphoto on IG
10 Fun Things to Do in Coquitlam This October
Bring Back the Noise
Calling all hockey fans! The Coquitlam Express are hosting three home games this month. Expect extra safety measures, including required proof of vaccination, mandatory face masks and 50% room capacity. They take on the Chilliwack Chiefs October 15, Powell River Kings October 27 and the Langley Rivermen October 31 at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex. Get your tickets. Locals tip – head to nearby Austin Heights for a pre- or post-game meal at one of the many restaurants in the neighbourhood.
Sing Your Heart Out
Have you checked out My Pub yet? Formerly known as the Frog and the Nightgown, My Pub on Falcon Drive near City Centre has a new menu, live bands, happy hour, plus Karaoke every Friday from 9:00pm to 1:00am. Sing your favourite tunes or just enjoy the show. Check out their website or Facebook page for details.
Listen to Live Jazz and Blues
2021 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam. Blue Moon Marquee, a swingin’ blues band born of the wild rose foothills of Alberta will take to the stage October 16. These performers carry the energy and sound of a full band with the swinging energy of jazz tinged blues.
This weekend is pretty lean on events but there are some big ones like VIFF and BC Culture Days. Check out the new October event list and find more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
The Canuck Place Gift of Time Gala returns this year for an inspiring evening and engaging gala in support of children and families across BC and the Yukon. On October 30th, attendees – at home or in person – will be granted access to an exclusive online auction and be treated to a virtual program featuring a powerful speech from Canuck Place mom, Sharon Bulger.
Through your generosity and kindness, you can make a significant difference in the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. Children and families need a healing environment to ease suffering and a roadmap for the future to navigate unimaginable circumstances. With your support, Canuck Place will be there for the journey.
Your support of Gift of Time will give short lives the gift of great days.
The 2021 Gift of Time presented by Nicola Wealth will feature both an exclusive in-person experience and an engaging virtual broadcast.
Registration for the Virtual Event is by donation and all gifts over $10 will be eligible for a tax receipt.
The Lazy Gourmet is offering delivery of gala boxes there’s a Grazing Box (serves two) for $150, a 3-Course Meal Kit (serves two) for $250, and Cocktail Kit (serves two) for $45. They can also work with you to create a fully custom catered dinner party for the event.
Or in person:
Where: Parq Vancouver
Tickets:Purchase in-person tickets here. Due to current capacity restrictions, there are a limited number of tickets available so please purchase today to avoid disappointment! Please help us keep the children, families, and guests safe. Proof of vaccination will be required.
Why not both?
Canuck Place is excited to offer an exclusive overnight experience at the JW Marriott in Vancouver where you and a guest will enjoy everything the live Gift of Time has to offer, without the large gathering.
A one night stay at the JW Marriott for two
The 2021 Gift of Time gala meal prepared by Parq Vancouver’s Executive Chef as well as a bottle of red or white wine delivered to your room along with this year’s guest gift
Registration for the Gift of Time Virtual Event, which you will enjoy on the hotel room TV
$100 charitable tax receipt
Over the past 16 years, the Gift of Time Gala has raised over $14.5 million to support care at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. Your support will provide critical care to over 818 children living with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them. When children and their families come to Canuck Place, the end of the story is already known. But the journey to get there has yet to be written.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the Gift of Time since 2013
The countdown has officially begun toward a one-of-a kind 3-day Canadian E-Fest – more than just a race weekend! The event will welcome, for the first time, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to the streets of Vancouver and offer plenty of action off-track beginning with a creative business conference on sustainability followed by concerts in the evening.
Canadian E-Fest
When: June 30 to July 2, 2022
Where: The course will be around the False Creek area
Tickets:On sale online Friday, October 8, 2021 at 12:00pm Pacific
The sale will offer grandstand tickets, suite tickets for the unique E-Volve conference, and daily general admission tickets while including all activities on and off-track, during the whole weekend. For all ticket holders, free access will be granted to Science World, the E-Sports Tournament, and the fun-filled Allianz E-Village.
Today, the program was unveiled and it includes more than just a race weekend.
Canadian Canadian E-Fest – With the ABB Formula E car on display. Photo by Scott Graham for Miss604
Canadian E-Fest Includes 4 Pillars
E-Prix — headlined by the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship where the world’s leading all-electric race series will take to the streets of Vancouver for the first time.
There will also be a Celebrity Race featuring Olympian Charmaine Crooks, Canadian actor/director Jason Priestley and Olympic freestyle champion Alexandre Bilodeau, to name a few, who will be participating in 12 Solo single-seat EV street cars produced by Vancouver’s own Electra Meccanica.
Both the Formula E and Celebrity Race will feature Grid Kids, providing 24 children with the opportunity to create lifelong memories around up-close exposure to the stars and the Formula E drivers and their cars,
E-Live — 2 nights of concerts as part of Canadian E-Fest featuring internationally known recording artists
E-Volve — a 2 day conference staged by C2 International, a leading events innovator that creates and produces forward-thinking successful business events around the world, featuring prominent speakers.
On June 30th, Erin Brockovich will take the stage as a first keynote speaker. Brockovich became a 20th century icon overnight thanks to Julia Roberts Oscar-winning performance. Erin’s dogged persistence was the impelling force behind the largest medical settlement lawsuit in history. Aside from being a New York Times Bestselling Author, she’s known as an iconic environmental activist and consumer advocate.
E-Sports — a tournament gathering virtual gamers across Canada, beginning next spring leading all the way up to the event where the finalists will line up on the starting grid on stage, in front of an enthusiastic crowd to cheer their favourites.
Canadian Canadian E-Fest – With the ABB Formula E car on display. Photo by Scott Graham for Miss604
“The real driving force for me in pushing for Vancouver to be the Canadian host city for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2022 was economic recovery. Stimulus events like this are significant for our city and hard-hit tourism sector, plus they bring hope and fun for residents” said Councilor Sarah Kirby-Yung. “With climate change, we also need to advance the dialogue around and adoption of electric mobility and Formula E can inspire people to make those choices” Kirby-Yung added.
Other events scheduled for the 3-day E-Fest include a paddock tour for False Creek residents to thank them for the privilege of using their neighbourhood. The newly named City Gate Straight on the track will be inaugurated in honour of the False Creek Residents Association (chaired by Patsy McMillan). July 1st, the promoter invites all Vancouverites to run, walk or cycle on the False Creek race circuit.
Canadian Canadian E-Fest. Photo by Scott Graham for Miss604
“More than just another race, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship coming to Vancouver for the summer of 2022 is truly an electrifying event” said Royce Chwin, President and CEO of Destination Vancouver. “We have much work to collectively do as we rebuild our visitor economy that supports the many tourism-related businesses. The OSS Group have put together an incredible event and festival blending competition, knowledge sharing and culture with a critical focus on sustainability and green economy initiatives, all of which fits our drive to build our city and tourism industry back, better.”
Canadian Canadian E-Fest – With the ABB Formula E car on display. Photo by Scott Graham for Miss604
E-Fest was organized by the Canadian OSS Group as a means to bring awareness of environmental leadership to the world, specifically by staging the event in Vancouver, one of the most sustainability conscious cities in the world. The event is expected to top $80 million in economic value, and create approximately 3,000 jobs. Launch attendees were treated to a taste of “black water” offered by Trace, the Official Water Supplier for the Canadian E-Fest.
Update – Concert Headliner Announced
Diamond-certified, globally celebrated rock band Nickelback will kick off summer in their high-energy way, headlining an outdoor concert on the Vancouver E-Prix track, Friday, July 1, during Canadian E-Fest weekend. Tickets for the E-Live concert with Nickelback go on sale to the general public on Friday February 11th, with a presale the day before for E-Fest ticket holders, on a first come first serve basis. Tickets will be limited to 8 per buyer for both the presale and general on sale.
April 22, 2022: The City of Vancouver confirms that today One Stop Strategy Group Inc. (OSS) has elected to exercise its rights under the Host City Agreement to postpone the Formula E Event currently scheduled for July 2022 in Vancouver to a future date.
The City and OSS Group will continue to work together and hope to announce a new date in the near future.
City staff will report on this to Council at a date and time yet to be determined to request Council’s approval of an updated Host City Agreement.
September 30 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to recognize and reflect on the legacy of residential “schools” in Canada.
If you are looking for a way to commemorate and recognize this day of active listening, and action (on top of wearing an orange shirt, which is a good start) here are a few ways to do so as recommended by the IRSSS (Indian Residential School Survivor Society):
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Learn about the impacts of the Indian Residential School system
Read about how Orange Shirt Day originates from the story of Phyllis Webstad from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation.
Actively listen to people of First Nations, Inuit and Métis backgrounds
Stand up to stereotypes, prejudice and systemic racism
Have conversations with your family and friends (even children)
Be respectful towards trauma survivors and elders
Support Indigenous-led community organizations
Be patient, empathetic and receptive (it’s distressing for everyone)
Raise awareness in your community and online (wear orange)
For support:
IRSSS Toll-Free Line: 1-800-721-0066 (24-Hours)
National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
KUU-US Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
Tsow-Tun-Le Lum: 1-888-403-3123
Tune In
Start your day with CBC Vancouver’s award-winning reporter Angela Sterritt for a special, province-wide edition of The Early Editionfeaturing conversations with residential school survivors, activists, youth and community leaders about the meaning of this day and the journey to come. Tune in from 5:00am to 8:30am. There will be more programming throughout the day on CBC Radio Vancouver, CBC Gem and CBC TV.
Books
Here are my two favourite book-sellers/community builders in Metro Vancouver. They both post awesome recommended reads on their social media quite often, and they’re both Indigenous-owned and operated. Give them a follow:
SEPT 30: National Day of Truth & Reconciliation – Angela White, executive director of IRSSS, suggests what Canadians can do to acknowledge the ongoing legacy of residential schools, to honour survivors and intergenerational survivors, and to remember those who didn’t come home. pic.twitter.com/xspdvQu2SH
Check with your local community to see if there are any public events for everyone to attend. Here are a few that I found in Vancouver, Surrey, New Westminster, and Whistler.
Here are some Indigenous women-led businesses I have been following on Instagram. They not only have amazing products, they uplift and promote their communities:
You can also donate to causes such as the IRSSS and Indigenous organizations in your community, like UNYA (Urban Native Youth Association). Support Indigenous-led businesses, check out Indigenous artists and exhibitions, and continue to honour and observe throughout the year.
History of Residential Schools
Content Warning: Trauma, Abuse, Death
[Via the City of Vancouver]
“From the 1870s to 1996, Canadian governments removed more than 150,000 Indigenous children from their families and communities. Children were forced into residential schools, including the St. Paul’s Indian Residential School in North Vancouver. As a result, children suffered familial and cultural alienation, loss of their Indigenous languages and identities, and severe mental, emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
Estimates are that more than 6,000 Indigenous children died while attending Canada’s Indian Residential School System. This has negatively impacted all Indigenous people, communities and all Canadians. Moreover, the harm has extended over time and ongoing impacts of traumas experienced at Residential Schools continue to be felt throughout generations.”
