May Days Writing Contest: Tiny Stories Big Adventures
Calling all Port Coquitlam writers! The City of Port Coquitlam and the Terry Fox Library are excited to invite residents to participate in the “Tiny Stories about Big Adventures” contest. This initiative encourages local writers to craft compelling narratives, with submissions being accepted until May 31, 2025.
Adventures both real and imagined, come in all shapes and sizes – they can be about a person, a captivating place or a memorable experience. Stories may be based on real life or can be fictional. While the adventure itself can be expansive, each story must adhere to a concise length of 200 to 250 words.
This collaborative project between the City of Port Coquitlam and the Terry Fox Library aims to showcase local storytelling talent. Eight winning entries will receive the unique opportunity to be professionally illustrated and featured along the popular Donald Storywalk in early 2026. In addition to this public display, each winning author will be awarded a gift certificate from Western Sky Books, with the generous sponsorship of the Downtown Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association (PoCo BIA).
Current Donald Storywalk: Tiny Love Stories
Love in all its forms inspires many of life’s special moments. Stroll the Donald Storywalk between Elks Park and Wilson Avenue for eight charming stories from the 2024 Tiny Love Stories contest, all written by Port Coquitlam residents. Each panel is exquisitely illustrated by B.C. artist, author and animator Kari Rust, who captures the essence and emotion of each story with creativity and detail. Kari has taught art and animation, and has written and illustrated several children’s books. Visit www.karirust.com to learn more about the illustrator.
This project is a collaboration between the City of Port Coquitlam, Terry Fox Library, and the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association. This community arts project promotes literacy and enhances the City’s outdoor spaces.
The eight selected stories include:
- A Starry Love Story by Mithila Karnik
- Zoomie Loves Adventure! by Denise Chau
- Mr. Ferreira’s Sunflowers by Elissa Cook
- Enrique & the Birds by Carolina Chavarriaga
- The Time Capsule by Jennifer Pownall
- An Ordinary Woman by Kateryna Shumovska
- Thank You Gramma by Ashleigh & Hailey Waters
- Holding Up Strong by Allison Fontana
Listen to all eight winning stories from our Tiny Love Stories contest, and follow along with the text and illustrations below. There are 8 illustrations total, please scroll to page 2 of the gallery below to see the second half of the story.
