May Days Writing Contest: Tiny Stories Big Adventures
Thank you to everyone who submitted their creative work to the “Tiny Stories about Big Adventures” contest! The City of Port Coquitlam and the Terry Fox Library were thrilled by the imagination, heart, and talent showcased by writers across our community.
We are excited to announce the winning stories for this year’s contest:
- An Adventure Called Canada by Kateryna Shumovska
- Clerodendrum by Elissa Cook
- Mother Natures Clarion Call by Susan Cairns
- Side by Side by Laura Collini
- Tammy Tornado by Adam Cook
- The Book Wyrm by Gryphon Pownall
- The Family Farmhouse by Tara Nykyforiak
- The Night the Power Went Out by Ziggy Linklater
Congratulations to all the winners, and heartfelt thanks to every writer who shared a tiny story with big spirit.
This collaborative project between the City of Port Coquitlam and the Terry Fox Library celebrates local storytelling talent. The eight winning entries will be professionally illustrated and showcased along the popular Donald Storywalk in early 2026. Each winning author will also receive a gift certificate from Western Sky Books, generously sponsored by the Downtown Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association (PoCo BIA).
We look forward to bringing these adventures to life in 2026 for the entire community to enjoy!
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.
