City of Coquitlam

#WritersPrompt How do you keep your brain sharp? Researchers say playing games can help keep your mind active and healthy. Write a paragraph, a short story or a poem about the brain games you enjoy, or a game you want to learn how to play. Share your writing with us at http://ow.ly/2fhQ50DhMky.

Enjoy fun activities just for YOUth in February. Check it out get creative in Drawing and Mixed Media, take your business idea to the next level in Entrepreneurship 101, learn about budgeting and writing a cover letter in Life Skills, gain confidence in Public Speaking, or relax and have fun at Girls-Night-In. Best of all, you can connect with other youth safely. ... Register online at http://ow.ly/khlE50DmgRN. Click Register for Programs and in the Youth section, open an area of interest to see available programs, dates and times.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Traffic signal improvements will be taking place at the the intersection of Barnet Hwy at Pinetree Way/Lougheed Hwy on Wednesday, Jan. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be significant traffic delays. One lane of traffic will be closed in each direction in order to complete the work. Please use an alternate route or plan extra time when using this route.

Did you catch the latest edition of Coquitlam’s PRC E-News? #ICYMI February program registration is open, celebrate Family Day in Coquitlam, register for Youth Fitness Orientations and relax your mind, body and spirit in yoga programs starting soon. Subscribe today at http://ow.ly/MrTt50Di3sn

Winter holidays can mean more packaging - please separate your waste correctly and note that the Town Centre Recycling Depot is closed December 26 and January 1. Regular hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Check out recycling details here: http://ow.ly/pj5j50CU3w4

There is a rainfall warning in effect for this afternoon and evening with occasional high winds. You can help prevent flooding by clearing the catch basins adjacent to your property, watch for flooded roadways when driving and ensure loose items on your property are secured. Check out Winter Wise tips here: http://ow.ly/boDB50D0PR2

Check out the great Meals for Seniors options available next week. Tuesdays options include beef stroganoff with egg noodles and vegetables or chicken alfredo with vegetables. Thursdays options include red lentil moussaka or Salisbury steak, onion gravy, potatoes and vegetables. ... Visit http://ow.ly/UzKW50Dm7gy to view the registration schedule and order your frozen meal delivery or pickup. Phone orders are received during business hours at 604-927-4386. Never miss an update by subscribing to our Meals for Seniors NotifyMe email list. Subscribe at http://ow.ly/37fo50Dm7gz

Bears don’t go into hibernation because of cold weather, but as a result of low food availability. Encourage bears to den up by securing all attractants including your waste collection carts. Allowing wildlife to access attractants could result in a $500 fine. http://ow.ly/RGZu50CU3op

Looking for ways to create memories and spend quality time with your family on the Family Day long weekend? We have just the thing for you! Celebrate Family Day this year with an activity kit full of fun activities and supplies. To reserve your kit, visit http://ow.ly/1ayf50DmsOy and open the February dropdown. Registration should be done by the Parent/Guardian on the family account, and only register for one kit per family.

Natural Christmas trees can be disposed of in your Green Cart (please cut to 1-metre lengths), at the Coquitlam Recycling and Waste Centre, or you can drop them off at a tree-chipping event to support a local community group. Check out dates and locations: http://ow.ly/mr5W50CU4cl

Meet our Pet Duo of the Week - Bun Solo and Princess Leia! These best friends came to the Coquitlam Animal shelter as strays and must be adopted together as they are bonded to each other. They are very friendly, social and could live with rabbit-savvy children. These two will need a spacious indoor enclosure to romp around in and room for cardboard boxes which they love to nibble on. If you are interested in adopting this pretty pair, fill out an application here: http://ow.ly/Mni650Cmdkt To learn more about these rabbits and the other animals for adoption at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter, visit http://ow.ly/40Pv50CmdnN

Happy New Year! Anytime is a good time to start focusing on a healthy and active lifestyle, but it’s hard to resist kicking off a new year with a new fitness goal. #FitnessFriday Reach your fitness goals faster with the help of a personal trainer. Whether you are new to the gym or an experienced fitness lover, a personal trainer can teach you new exercises, keep you motivated and help you work out effectively and efficiently. Visit our website to view the personal training packages available and get started. http://ow.ly/1wPJ50CSIbL

Take advantage and grow your business’ online presence with a free webinar Thursday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. A consumer survey conducted by the City in late spring showed that while about a third of Coquitlam residents are supporting local businesses more now, more of them are turning to online shopping, delivery and ordering for curbside pickup. Set your business up for success during the pandemic and beyond with this offer. ... To register, call 604-927-3905 or email [email protected] Learn more: http://ow.ly/ygp150CcZ3P

The holidays have us cooking more, using additional electrical and heating appliances, as well as candles inside our homes. Coquitlam Fire Rescue wants to remind you to be fire safe and follow our tips to ensure a safe and happy holiday season. Smoke and CO2 alarms also make great last-minute gifts! http://ow.ly/cTGV50CU3g1

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Is your New Years resolution to learn more about Archives? We thought it might be! Browse descriptions of the City of Coquitlam Archives’ holdings and see all of the photographs and documents we have digitized in our online search portal. http://ow.ly/26PO50C6mdW

As the holiday season approaches, the City is once again showcasing Coquitlam businesses and encouraging residents to shop close to home. Visit Coquitlam's Give Local campaign launches this week with contests, insider shopping tips and promotion of local retailers, restaurants and other businesses. #GiveLocalCQ Learn more: http://ow.ly/uNyr50CorjV

Happy holidays from all of us at the City of Coquitlam and a friendly reminder that many civic facilities are closed or are operating at reduced hours until the New Year. Check here for hours and details: http://ow.ly/F9I750CSGAl Here is to a safe and healthy holiday season and a better 2021, Coquitlam!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a fish in a bowl looking at the outside world? Try writing a paragraph, a short story or a poem about observations and a time when you watched from the inside looking out. What did you see and feel? Do you think your experience would be different if you were on the outside looking in? Share your writing with us at http://ow.ly/wHvl50ClVMw.

Craving shepherd’s pie or beef stroganoff? Go to http://ow.ly/g6kY50Cpv6p to order your Tuesday frozen meal for delivery or pickup. You have until 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23 to order. Phone orders are received during pavilion business hours at 604-927-4386. Never miss an update by subscribing to our Meals for Seniors NotifyMe email list at http://ow.ly/Zkdo50Cpv6q

A message from Mayor Richard Stewart: "In my family, watching A Charlie Brown Christmas always kicked off the holiday season for us kids. It drummed the meaning of Christmas into us, and many of those lessons still ring true today in particular, the sentiment of peace on earth and goodwill toward others. In the context of a worldwide pandemic, that means protecting others and trying to keep everyone safe. ... It’s been a very long year; for many, the most difficult year they have ever endured. Back in March, many of us thought life would be back to normal by now and we’d be celebrating the holidays and the end of 2020 with family and friends. After the year we’ve had, it’s very tempting to ignore the health orders and take comfort in our traditions and our loved ones." Read the full message or see the video version: http://ow.ly/B8eA50CU3Gq

Our Bloom of the week is Callicarpa, also known as Beauty Berry. Did you know that the plant can grow to be four to five feet tall? It's easy to grow and a food source for many birds, including robins, mockingbirds and woodpeckers. As a bitter berry, it can be cooked and sweetened to make jellies and sauces. What’s blooming in your fall garden? Let us know by tagging #CoquitlamSPIRIT on social media. http://ow.ly/lqAS50CfKRB

Based on updated Orders by B.C.’s Provincial Health Officer on Nov. 19, we are making further adjustments to our recreation programming in order to continue to provide safe fitness options for our community. We still have a number of great fitness options available for all abilities. Please check out all the details: http://ow.ly/MVcc50CqNuR

Wild salmon with hollandaise sauce or teriyaki chicken. Or both? We are taking registration for our Friday, Nov. 20 Meals for Seniors pickup or delivery. Place your order by noon on Nov. 19. Learn more at http://ow.ly/ZRnb50CnlvJ. Never miss an update by subscribing to our Meals for Seniors NotifyMe email list at http://ow.ly/HPXL50CnlvK

Another fun pollinator fact:

It's ARCHIVES AWARENESS WEEK in BC. To celebrate, the City of Coquitlam Archives is showcasing some of the less common formats held in our vault. Today we are featuring Scrapbooks! Scrapbooks contain a personally selected collection of memorabilia like photographs, clipped newspaper articles, ticket stubs, etc. attached to the pages of the book. This image is a page from a 1912 scrapbook that documents life at the construction camp for the second phase of the Coquitlam Dam.... You can see the entire scrapbook in our online search portal: http://ow.ly/kIfH50C9zPb For more information on scrapbooks, check out our online exhibit, Scrapbooks Fragile Time Capsules. https://coquitlam.ca/743/Scrapbooks---Fragile-Time-Capsules

Hey YOUth! Looking for a place to chill? The Getaway Youth Centre is open to youth ages 14 to 18. Stop by for safe group programs; activities including ping pong, foosball, pool, video games, and more; social support; and public information. http://ow.ly/5Nio50BTA3k Youth Badminton and Basketball court bookings are also available for pre-registration at Centennial Activity Centre. Register online at http://ow.ly/ppTm50BTA3j and click Indoor Court Bookings in the Drop In section, or call 604-927-4386. All classes, facility spaces and the number of participants have been adapted and designed to ensure physical distancing and both staff and public safety.

#FitnessFriday The weight rooms and fitness centres at Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex and City Centre Aquatic Complex are open for pre-registered drop-ins. Sessions are 60 minutes long and are limited to 12 people each. Pre-registration is available 24 hours in advance online at coquitlam.ca/registration or by phone at 604-927-4386. Directional travel, limited capacity and physical barriers have been implemented to keep everybody safe.

Welcome back! Our facilities are open for pre-registered drop-ins and registered programs. We have a great selection of our regular programming available: skating and swimming lessons for all ages and abilities, weight room access, fitness classes, afterschool programs, youth and adult programs, seniors programs and more. All classes, facility spaces and the number of participants have been adapted and designed to ensure physical distancing and both staff and public safety.... Register online at http://ow.ly/TeXG50BTzmE.

We've expanded our Meals for Seniors ordering time! Tuesday's menu highlight is this butter chicken, but we have several other options available. Order deadline is noon on Monday, Oct. 19 for Tuesday pickup or delivery. See below for meal registration details: Online Meal Registration runs Friday 8:30 a.m. Monday 12 p.m. at www.coquitlam.ca/455 Phone registration at 604-927-4386 during business hours: ... Friday 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Monday 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. See more

TRAFFIC ALERT: Water main construction on Como Lake Avenue at Porter Street (Oct. 19-23) and Como Lake Avenue at Gatensbury Street (Oct. 26-30). Work is weather dependent and will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Traffic on Como Lake Avenue will be limited to single lane in each direction. There will be turn restrictions during active construction. Please plan extra time when using this route.

Town Centre Park users will be able to find a parking spot with ease this coming fall, as the City has expanded its digital parking signage project with funding support from the federal government. The signs will display real-time parking availability in Town Centre Parks parking lots A, C, D and E and will improve driver and pedestrian safety, reduce illegal parking in the park and alleviate traffic congestion along Pipeline Road. The project is a part of the City’s Five-Ye...ar Technology Roadmap and has received $550,000 in funding from the Infrastructure Canada - English Gas Tax Fund, a cost-sharing infrastructure program administered in B.C. by the Union of B.C. Municipalities. To learn more: http://ow.ly/a33f50BTIox #BuildingOurCommunities

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Eaton’s was founded in 1869 and was one of the first major retailers to be part of the Coquitlam Centre when it opened in 1979. The company ceased operations on October 17, 1999. (Photo: Craig Hodge fonds, City of Coquitlam Archives, Ref. No. F20.C039) http://ow.ly/ddVl50B7GfG

Coquitlam is encouraging residents, schools and businesses to join in the Great British Columbia ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. ShakeOut BC provides you with opportunities to practice the "Drop, Cover and Hold On" earthquake protocol and help prepare for an earthquake at home, school, the office, or on the road. http://ow.ly/7jB150BSOkJ

Did you know? It is Korean Cultural Week and Visit Coquitlam is celebrating by shining a spotlight on some amazing Korean businesses here in Coquitlam. Click below and read their latest blog post to get the Foodie 101 on the colourful Korean cuisine and learn about all of the hidden gems in Coquitlam for you to experience your next Korean meal. #ExploreCoquitlam

Meet Skittles, Fish Stick and Coffee Bean! These beautiful female rats are our pets of the week and are looking for their forever home. They are around 1.5 years old and are very fun and friendly. These girls are social, adventurous and love to play and cuddle each other. They are such close siblings that they must be adopted together. As you can see, they love hammocks, and their favourite treat is peanuts! To learn more about these girls and the other adoptable animals at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter, visit http://ow.ly/aSV550BRnOV.

Our Bloom of the week is Cleome, also known as Spider Plant. These plants make great indoor air purifiers. In fact, did you know that 15 spider plants can purify the air of an average size house? They grow quickly and produce small white flowers. What's blooming in your fall garden? Let us know by tagging #CoquitlamSPIRIT on social media. http://ow.ly/vXn750BRGPV