Coquitlam is paying tribute to all moms this week as we approach one of the most unusual Mother’s Day celebrations in history. To celebrate Mother’s Day in Coquitlam, City staff have created a CoquitlamSPIRIT package filled with creative ways we can all show appreciation for our moms – even if we can’t be with her in person. 

Mother’s Day in Coquitlam

This package includes: 

• Easy craft ideas for kids 
• Fun ways to surprise Grandma 
• Local gift ideas from shops offering pickup and delivery
• Takeout and delivery brunch options
• Plants that would make ideal gifts
• #SupportLocal restaurants and businesses offering Mother’s Day gifts and celebrations

CoquitlamSPIRIT Package Highlights

Get Crafty: For the first time in history, kids won’t be coming home from school with their lovingly prepared Mother’s Day presents. Visit CoquitlamSPIRIT’s Child Activities page for some fun and easy crafts kids – and dads – can do at home to give to mom on her special day.

Cook Up Something Special: How about cooking up a favourite meal for mom? Or making breakfast in bed? We have included some of our favourite and easy-to-make recipes on our website.

Surprise Grandma: Put a smile on grandma’s face, too. Visit the website to find out about our Grandma Day Door Surprise suggestion. 

#SupportLocal Gift Ideas: Think flowers, baked goods, frozen treats, boutique gifts or takeout brunch. VisitCoquitlam.ca has some helpful lists of local restaurants and businesses that are open – and ready – to serve you. Can’t see mom in person? Check out your options for delivering a bouquet to her doorstep. Or choose a plant that will make a great addition to balcony or backyard planters.

Visit the website for these – and more – ideas. Also, we’d love to see your stories on social media about ways you’ve been showing your #CoquitlamSPIRIT. 

Mother’s Day Contest

Enter the City of Coquitlam’s #CoquitlamSPIRIT Mother’s Day Contest! They’ve giving away:

$50 to Floral Melody
$50 Pasta Polo
$50 to Coffee + Vanilla

To enter the contest, follow City of Coquitlam on Instagram, like their #CoquitlamSPIRIT Mother’s Day Contest post and comment with how you would celebrate your mom. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, May 8 by 10:00am.

A digital release form will be required to be signed and contact-less pick-up will be arranged. Winner must pick-up prize by Friday, May 8, 2020 at 3:00pm.

About CoquitlamSPIRIT

Part of the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CoquitlamSPIRIT provides free activities and resources to help residents stay active, healthy and connected while they practise physical distancing.

Coquitlam residents are encouraged to follow the City of Coquitlam on social media on Facebook and Twitter and download the CoquitlamConnect mobile app for up-to-date City information.

Read more from the City of Coquitlam »

Last night John watched a video on YouTube of legendary broadcaster Jack Webster touring around Expo86 with Canadian business magnate, investor and philanthropist Jim Pattison. Although I lived through it as a six year old, with family season passes, it was cool to see that behind-the-scenes footage of something so monumental in our city’s history. One of the major legacies from Expo86 is marking a milestone today so there’s going to be an online birthday party for Science World – and they’d like to invite the world!

Online Birthday Party for Science World

What: A very happy birthday science show
Where: On Facebook here
When: Wednesday, May 6, 2020 at 2:20pm (for 30 minutes)

The show will be hosted by Director of Performance and Fun Times, Brian Anderson and accompanying Science World facilitators who will observe social distancing rules while on stage.

The birthday celebration will feature some of Science World’s most highly-popular science demonstrations, including: setting the table, baking the cake, exploding Pringles can and blowing out the candle.

Additionally, they will be giving away five ultimate family passes to winners who participate and comment on the livestream that can be redeemed when the iconic dome opens again. 

This event follows on the heels of #GivingTuesdayNow and viewers, if they have the means to do so, are encouraged to donate online to help ensure that the next generation gets a Science World. 

Related: Science World’s Online Resources for at Home Activities

Published in partnership with VisitCoquitlam.ca

If you’ve been spending a lot of time at home you may have noticed migrating birds returning to the skies, fence posts and trees. Backyard birding is the new block party. So, just what have you seen? 

Many of these birds you may see from your balcony or in your yard, but if you venture outdoors, birding is an activity you can enjoy while social distancing. In fact, most birds are active early in the morning so by getting an early start you’ll have a better chance of hearing and seeing them, as well as encountering fewer people along the way.

It’s been pretty tough for most of us these past couple of months – staying at home, not seeing friends or family (except for virtually), and doing what we can to “flatten the curve”. Now more than ever before the importance of “community” is something a lot of people are talking about.

But what if you never had family or friends to start with?

Dan’s Legacy BC and Mental Health Week

Dan’s Legacy is a non-profit organization I’ve been proud to support for the past few years, and they’re really making a difference in the lives of young people in our community who are facing the world alone.

These are youth who grew up in the foster care system, and now that they’re aging out of government care at 19, are pretty much on their own. Because of significant trauma in their childhoods, they’re dealing with mental health and addictions issues, and things have only gotten worse since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. Anxiety, depression and hospitalization for overdose and suicide attempts have gone up 50%. It’s a tough reality – but Dan’s Legacy’s team of therapists are there for the youth.

These therapists are front-line health care workers who go directly to their clients wherever they are, there’s no wait list and their counselling and wrap-around programs are free.

As well as mental health support, Dan’s Legacy knows they can help the youth help themselves by building their own networks – whether that’s reconnecting urban Indigenous youth to their traditional culture and community, helping LGBTQ2S+ youth find support and services, or bringing everyone together for a hot meal every week at their Sunday Haven community dinner and food bank – Dan’s Legacy is there for these young people when they ask for help.

In the past five years Dan’s Legacy has helped over 400 youth meet their educational, employment, and recovery goals.

May 4-10 is Mental Health Week in Canada and if you’d like to help Dan’s Legacy continue to provide these critical services to at-risk youth, visit www.danslegacy.com to donate, or text DANS to 45678 to make a fast and easy $10 donation right from your phone.

And if you or someone you know is asking for help, contact Tom Littlewood, Program Director at (604) 999-9136 or tom(at)danslegacy(dot)com.

From the local agricultural destination that brought us Drive-Thru Easter, we now have Maan Farms Drive-Thru Mother’s Day!

Maan Farms Drive-Thru Mother’s Day

When: May 9 & May 10, 2020 from 9:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Maan Farms (790 McKenzie Rd., Abbotsford)
Tickets: $10 person, book online. Rain or shine. Arrive for your pre-booked time slot.

Your experience includes Mama Maan’s yummy berry crepes, featuring Maan Farm’s homegrown berries, along with a choice of coffee or berry lemonade.

You can also purchase add-ons:

• Maan Farm’s wine
• Fresh meals like butter chicken and samosas
• Cheesecake-stuffed chocolate chip cookies
• Specially curated gift boxes for mom: (1) do-it-yourself (DIY) roti & curry kit and an instructional video (2) wine & cheese kit (3) self-care kit

Have a drive-thru morning with a visit from Queen Elsa of Arrendelle and a farm safari with farm animals, including baby goats. To find out more innovative experiences this summer, follow Maan Farms on Facebook.

Related: Vancouver Mother’s Day Gift Boxes and Brunch to Go