PORT COQUITLAM, BC – May 6, 2021… Port Coquitlam’s 98^th annual May Days festivities continue this weekend with a drive-through community cheer and more.

Starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, residents are invited to safely cheer on the May Days Royal Party, City Council and staff as they make their way through the community in vehicles of all types, including decorated cars, garbage trucks and fire trucks. A great success last year, the drive-through cheer celebrates May Days – one of the City’s signature events – and thanks essential workers and the community for doing their part during the pandemic.

Details about the May Days activities are posted at portcoquitlam.ca/maydays, which will include a special legacy video release hosted by Mayor Brad West on Saturday at 3 p.m. and the launch of an I Love PoCo contest with prizes.

“After the past year, we wanted to wrap up our May Days celebrations by lifting everyone’s spirits, and what better way to do that than by bringing back last years’ popular drive-through cheer,” said Mayor West. “It’s also the City’s way of saying ‘thank you’ to all the frontline workers and first responders who have worked tirelessly to keep our community safe, and to everyone who has done their part. So please come out and make some noise, but do so safely and with your immediate household. Let’s stay the course and get through this together.”

Port Coquitlam residents can view from the front of their homes and balconies while following all public health orders and avoiding large gatherings.

Vehicles participating in the drive-through cheer will include dump trucks, a flush truck, an excavator, a bobcat grader, fire trucks and vehicles from Bylaw Services and Community Policing. The Mayor, City Councillors and members of the May Day Royal Party will participate in their own vehicles and COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place.

The route kicks off at 6 p.m. from the City’s Public Works Centre, 1737 Broadway and heads through the downtown before continuing to the northside along Prairie Avenue. Vehicles will return to the southside via Fremont, travelling along the Mary Hill Bypass, Pitt River Road, Citadel Drive, lower Shaughnessy Street and Eastern and Western Drives, and back to the Public Works Centre at approximately 8 p.m.

A map of the route can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/maydays, along with details about the following activities taking place during May Days. 

A legacy video – to be released online May 8 at 3 p.m. and hosted by Mayor West. The video will share the history of May Days in Port Coquitlam while featuring the 2021 May Days Royal Party and performances by local talent. 

Virtual launch May 8 of the Donald Storywalk – at portcoquitlam.ca/storywalk, showcasing Jade Wong’s winning story from the 2020 Flash Fiction contest illustrated by Wen Wen Lu, the City’s 2020 Lions Park Artist in Residence. Later this spring, the illustrated story will be installed in panels along the Donald Pathway. 

Launch of the I Love PoCo contest – Look for new children’s artwork with the I Love PoCo theme on signs in local parks and public spaces for a chance to win one of five $50 gift cards to a Port Coquitlam business of your choice. To enter, take photos with five signs and post on social media, tagging the city and using the hashtag #ilovepoco #portcoquitlam. The contest runs until the end of May.

A scavenger hunt in downtown Port Coquitlam – continuing until the end of May and held in collaboration with the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association.

Naturally PoCo Street Banners – roll-out of the new street banners featuring photos submitted by local photographers showcasing Port Coquitlam’s natural beauty.

The online exhibit Imaginings III – A Virtual Collection of Port Coquitlam Student Artwork – continuing at portcoquitlam.ca/exhibitions until June 25.

“We’re very pleased to be bring on the colour of Spring with these art exhibits celebrating and showcasing local talent throughout our community,” said Cllr. Nancy McCurrach, Council’s designate for arts and culture. “I encourage everyone to check them out as they help brighten our public spaces.”

Residents are also encouraged to celebrate May Days in their households by decorating their windows with spring flowers and the May Days logo (available online or in May 6 issue of the Tri-City News), planning a picnic at a local park with their household, and ordering takeout to support a local business. Some businesses are offering May Days specials – see downtownpocobia.com for details.

For more information about May Days or to download the logo, visit portcoquitlam.ca/maydays.

This year’s plans replace the iconic annual parade, Party in the Square and other events that were again cancelled this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. May Days is organized in partnership with the May Days Committee and the Port Coquitlam Centennial Rotary Club and is funded by Canadian Heritage.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Pardeep Purewal
Manager of Communications & Admin Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5335 Cel 604.218.0533
Email purewalp@portcoquitlam.ca