Michael Thomas

The Port Coquitlam Heritage and Cultural Society hosted an Antiques Roadshow this past weekend at the Outlet at Leigh Square. Folks from all over the area brought in their antiques and collectibles to have expert appraisers give them feedback on their family jewels! Other’s just came to watch. Hoping to catch a glimpse of a rare piece of art, or a hidden treasure!

With accumulated knowledge in First Nations art, European art, Asian art, English furniture, paintings, sculptures, art glass, vintage & antique jewellery, and of course silver and gold, the appraisers Linda Devine, Jim (James) Finlay, Jeff Harris  and Ed (Edward) Tokarek held court! Helping local residence shine a light on family history and cherished keepsakes.

The line ups weren’t too long, but every time slot was filled! The residence of Port Coquitlam love their heritage, as they took the time this weekend to dust off their collections for a little bit of show and shine!

Size was not limited, as long as you could get it there yourself. And people did! Items big and small poured through the front doors. Paintings, rugs, an old bench and an antique radio were amongst the first things through the door.

Council candidate Michael Thomas who volunteered for set up, was impressed with the turnout. “It was great to see such strong support from members of our community. The event was filled before it even started! Thank you to all of our Volunteers, especially Margaret Owens. Whose vision, dedication and perseverance made this event such a success!”

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Sports day is a National day of celebration and awareness of the part that sport plays in our communities and our lives! This year Sports Day was held on Saturday, September 17^{th, 2011.}  In communities across the country, including ours, cities and municipalities kicked off the big day with a week chalk full of open houses, exciting games, and a Jersey Day!

Helping build community spirit and national pride, as we all cheered for our favorite teams! Getting out, enjoying the fresh air in this, the most beautiful place on earth!

Sports Day in Port Coquitlam was kicked off with a game up pick up hockey with the Mayor. The game commenced at the historic Rowland Lacrosse box at Wilson & Mary Hill road in down town Port Coquitlam. This was a free event, aimed at boosting awareness of sport. With a strong focus on the need to keep families, kids and adults moving. Keeping healthy and having fun!

Although we chased storm clouds filled with rain through the morning hours, the sky cleared nicely. Just in time for our family to be able to join in the fun! Dressed in retro Canucks colours, Michael Thomas donned his jersey and picked up his stick to help promote sport and physical activity in our community!

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To my friends and neighbours of Port Coquitlam

Port Coquitlam is a vibrant community with a small town charm. We’re a community where people come together and work for the common good and I can see this in every corner of town. It’s my love for this city that pushes me to work and volunteer for our community and it’s my love for my family that drives me to see that Port Coquitlam is the best that it can be. This is why, with the support and constant encouragement of my friends and family I have decided to seek election to Port Coquitlam City Council.

I will be running a clean campaign and a positive campaign; built on ideas with experience at its foundation. Like the experience I gained on the Transportation and Operations Committee where I pushed for crosswalk and traffic improvements; the experience I have from the Planning and Development Committee, where I’ve pressed for smart sustainable growth and protection of fish and wildlife habitat. It’s the experience I’ve gained as a director for PoCo Heritage, where I’ve fought to bring a museum to our great city. It’s the professional experience I have in the corporate setting as an Information Systems Manager; It’s my experience as a small business owner which helps me understand the needs of local business. Most importantly it is the experience I have as a husband and father which keeps me grounded.

Sincerely,

Michael Thomas

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By Gary McKenna – The Tri-City News
Published: February 10, 2011 5:00 PM

A vacant city-owned retail space next to Port Coquitlam city hall would be ideal for a museum and archive display centre, according to a member of the PoCo Heritage and Cultural Society.

With the archives already located in the building at Leigh Square, putting a museum in the space formerly occupied by 10,000 Villages would consolidate the city’s historical resources, said society member Michael Thomas.

“Our dream for heritage was to have a major presence within Leigh Square,” he said. “Bringing it all under one roof just makes sense.”

On Thursday, the city confirmed that 10,000 Villages, a fair-trade retailer, would not be renewing its lease for the property. According to the parks and recreation department, the society approached the city about using the space for a museum.

Currently, the society operates a display centre at the community police station on Mary Hill Road. Thomas said putting the museum in Leigh Square would allow the policing office to expand while a larger heritage display centre would be more visible to the public.

Leigh Square

Society members have met with the mayor regarding the issue and will be making a presentation during Monday night’s city council meeting.

Barry Becker, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said so far the heritage society is the only community organization that has approached staff about using the space.

Many factors would have to be considered in finding a new tenant and he said it is too early in the process to speculate on what tenant could move into the building.

Becker noted, however, that the city drew revenue from the previous occupant through a lease agreement. While not referring specifically to the heritage society, Becker said a special partnership with the city would have to be considered if a not-for-profit moved into the space.

“That is different than if it was a commercial venture going in there,” he said. “If it went to a non-profit, then we would look at a partnership agreement.”

PoCo Heritage and Cultural Society has been lobbying the city for a museum for several years. Mayor Greg Moore has said he would like to see a museum in place in time for the city’s centennial, which is in two years.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com

Original URL: http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/115761754.html

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PoCo Salutes the Wines of Italy with
Eighteen Fine Wines and Gourmet Appetizers

Join us for an evening to remember! PoCo Heritage, renowned wine expert John Gerum and Earls Kitchen and Bar have teamed up to present “A Taste of PoCo Spirit III”. Fine Wines of Italy will be featured paired with delectable appetizers from Port Coquitlam’s own Earls Kitchen and Bar.

The Gathering Place will set the stage on the evening Saturday February 19, 2011 for a truly unforgettable night. This unique venue will provide the… perfect blend of Art, Wine and Cuisine. The exhibit titled ‘Roots: In the International Year of the Forest’ will be featured.

Take you wine encounter to the next level with an introduction to the Fine Wines of Italy. Learn tips on how to properly appreciate the wines and pick new and interesting food pairings.

Tickets are only $40 (NO HST) and can be purchased online at pocomuseum.org or in person at the Outlet. We look forward to seeing you February 19!

Please note: Only Cash and Cheque are accepted at the box office. Credit Cards and Debit Cards are accepted online (via paypal).
Wine List

Mezzacorona Pinot Noir Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio Tommasi Valpolicella Tommasi ‘Poggio al Tuffo’ Rompicollo Cusumano Nero D’Avola 2008 Mionetto Prosecco Brut Product Profile Di Lenardo Pinot Grigio Di Majo Sangiovese 2008

Lagaria Pinot Grigio della venezie Toscolo Chiante Flor Prosecco Santa Anastasia Contempo Nero D’avola Villa Teresa Merlot Villa Teresa Pinot Grigio Villa Teresa Prosecco Villa Teresa Rose plus exclusive wines from Earls

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By Jennifer McFee – Coquitlam Now
Published August 18, 2010

Port Coquitlam’s interest in gardening is deeply rooted in the community, and local green thumbs are being honoured for their bright blossoms and colourful creations.

The 14th annual Pride of PoCo Garden Awards, hosted by the PoCo Garden Club and the City of Port Coquitlam, brought in more than 50 nominations. A panel of judges considered each garden’s street-side appeal, maintenance of plant and landscape materials, and effective use of colour and space.

John and Hulda Theiler won first place for their 1478 Columbia Ave. creation, which they have been working on for more than 40 years.

“It’s my hobby,” Hulda said. “I used to work in a greenhouse and I think it comes with the job. It keeps your mind off things.”

City parks co-ordinator Bill Herbst said the Theilers’ garden was an easy pick for this year’s top prize.

“It was very tasteful with sophisticated planting, very pleasing to the eye. The gardeners obviously know what they’re doing,” Herbst said. “You could just see the pride in that particular one.”

Second place went to Laura and Michael Thomas of 4058 Liverpool St. Michael gives most of the credit to his wife, who writes her own gardening blog at florabylaura.ca.

“We put a lot of hard work into it,” he said. “It’s nice to have a happy result at the end of it all.”

Herbst said the second-place garden made good use of lighting and features, including a bench, trellises and an Inukshuk.

“It was a real classy little island bed in the front garden and a very nice balance of plants and colour,” he said.

Luigi and Rosemarie Vissochi ranked third for their garden at 2677 Fortress Dr.

Herbst said this garden has been nominated many times and has won awards in the past.

“There’s very excellent use of colour. It’s very well maintained,” he said. “All the neighbours have caught on. It’s probably the No. 1 block for the number of entries every year.”

The top townhome garden went to Donna Pisoney of 1102 Bennet Dr.

“There was lots of good colour in this one, lots of statuaries,” Herbst said. “It was a fun little garden and very well maintained.”

Victor and Maria Martinho brought home an honourable mention for their water-wise garden at 1575 Prairie Ave.

“Their front garden has no lawn. It’s just all gravel and pots and some statuaries. It’s very well maintained and it doesn’t take a lot of water, so we wanted to recognize that,” Herbst said. “That’s another thing that the city is looking for — reducing the water consumption.”

Blakeburn Elementary also earned an honourable mention for its community involvement in Blakeburn Park.

“In Blakeburn Park, the city park beside Blakeburn school, there’s a playground area and a little bark mulched area that was looking rather desolate,” Herbst said.

“The school, with volunteers, took it onto themselves to plant it up. It was a nice initiative so we wanted to recognize their efforts.”

All in all, Herbst said the quality of PoCo’s gardens has increased over the past several years.

“The city sees the value in promoting the beautification of people’s gardens,” he said. “Over time, we have noticed that there are a lot more people investing a lot more time and work into their front gardens, and it’s really paying off.”

Winners will be recognized at the Sept. 13 council meeting.

Original Link  http://www.thenownews.com/life/PoCo+honours+city+best+gardens/3422121/story.html#ixzz1O4DFeo00

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Like any Port Coquitlam resident with civic pride should know, Michael Thomas, a 29 year-old father of three, knows Terry Fox put his city on the map.

Like any Port Coquitlam resident with civic pride should know, Michael Thomas, a 29 year-old father ofthree, knows Terry Fox put his city on the map.”He’s a big part of our history here,” Thomas said Saturday afternoon as he sat with his three childrenand wife Laura to watch the unveiling of a Parks Canada plaque at Port Coquitlam City Hall to officiallyrecognize Fox as a person of national historic significance.”It’s important for my children to know who he is,” said Thomas.Fox, who died of cancer in 1981, was born in Winnipeg but raised in Port Coquitlam, and is arguablyCanada’s greatest and most recognizable humanitarian ever.This weekend also marks the 29th annual Terry Fox Run in honour of Fox’s determined effort in 1980 torun across Canada on a prosthetic leg to raise money for cancer research. Fox never finished the rundue to his illness but still met his charitable goal that year to raise a dollar for every Canadian.Since then the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $500 million dollars.Thomas has participated in the run since his high school days in Coquitlam. And while cancer hasalready claimed two of his grandparents, Sunday’s run will be particularly special for him.”This year it hit a little more close to home because a good friend of mine who is my age came downwith cancer and went into treatment. It was a little hairy for a while,” he said, adding that his friend’scancer is now in remission.

Thomas has shaved his head for the run and raised $1,100 for cancer research. He will also be a volunteer helper for the event. The run not only brings together people who have been affected by cancer it also brings communities together – perhaps none more than Port Coquitlam, where the plaque will be placed in front of city hall (also the same place where Fox received the Order of Canada in 1980).

The plaque is the latest tribute to Fox, adding to the countless statues and national and civic honours across Canada. It was commissioned by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, a body of Parks Canada that oversees national historic sites that commemorate persons, places, and events that have shaped Canada’s history. It was unveiled under sunny skies by Fox’s parents, Betty and Rolly Fox, as well as local and federal politicians, and Parks Canada representatives.

“We feel a close connection to Port Coquitlam,” said a teary eyed Betty Fox at the ceremony.

James Moore, Port Coquitlam’s MP and Minister of Canadian Heritage, was also at the event. “We can’t point to Terry enough for his courage and sacrifice. He is a true Canadian hero,” said Moore, who also lost his mother to cancer when he was sixteen years old.

The last line of the plaque reads: “The heroic nature and tragic interruption of his run have made Terry Fox an enduring Canadian icon.”

gwood@vancouversun.com

URL: http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=1988622

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The big shave!!!

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By Gary McKenna – The Tri-City News, Wednesday Feb 10, 2009
gmckenna@tricitynews.com

When Heritage Week 2008 began, supporters were still mourning a devastating loss. After months of haggling with the city to try and save the historic Wild Duck Inn, in early January an excavator rolled onto the property and demolished the 96-year-old building.

This year’s Heritage Week begins in much the same way.

Last month, a year after the Wild Duck’s demolition, another historic building, the Charles Lobb House at the foot of Mary Hill Road, was bulldozed.

With the destruction of these cherished landmarks, it is no surprise morale among members of the PoCo Heritage and Cultural Society has suffered.

So when Michael and Laura Thomas started attending heritage meetings last fall, longtime members such as Pippa Van Velzen and Lois Milne were happy to see some new faces. The pair are the latest additions to an organization in need of rejuvenation and have played a crucial role in the society’s fundraising efforts.

The Thomases are currently planning An Evening to Remember gala dinner for Feb. 21, an effort that will raise money for the eventual construction of a PoCo museum.

“I think the society as a whole has been a little demoralized with the losses of the Lobb House and the Wild Duck Inn,” Michael Thomas said. “But you can’t just sit around complaining about what has been lost. We need to build toward the future.”

If the society wants to accomplish its goal of creating the museum in time for the city’s centennial in 2013, the future Thomas talks about will be a busy one.

Van Velzen, one of the society’s directors, said it has been one of the organization’s goals for sometime to create a place to display the city’s artifacts.

“Lois Milne… it has always been her dream and it would certainly be nice to fulfill that for her,” she said.

And while building a museum may seem like a monumental task, Thomas said the organization is trying to break down the process in to small, achievable goals.

The first step in the process was launching the annual gala dinner, which already is proving successful. With ticket sales to date, the event is already in the black and Thomas believes the organization can raise ,000.

He hopes to launch other fundraising efforts that work to not only collect money for the society but, also, to raise awareness of heritage issues in the city.

“The publicity helps to raise the profile of the society,” Thomas said. “We are hoping to get 20 new members out of it.”

The next step is finding a piece of property on which to locate a museum. While Thomas knows the society is not in the financial position to be choosy, he and Van Velzen agree a museum needs to be located downtown.

Both said they would like to see something in Leigh Square, which would fit with the arts and culture focus of the area. They say they’ve spoken with the city and hope to be included in any future development of the square.

But until a location can be found, Thomas and Van Velzen have difficulty outlining their vision for the museum.

“Ultimately, that is the linchpin of the exercise,” Thomas said. “It is hard to design and plan a building if you don’t know where it is going to sit.”

Still, with more fundraising efforts on the way, society members believe the dream of building a home for the city’s historical artifacts will one day be a reality.

Original Link:

http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/community/39398589.html

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