Coquitlam 1n bloom

> Community engagement through sports

Colten Kamlade
Staff Reporter

 

Coun in Bloom has just
released a list of initiatives
focused on sports in the community
just in time for the spring.

Coquitlam in Bloom is a non-
profit organization that is focused on
improving the city through work within
the community. According to their
website, this includes helping to develop
civic pride, environmental responsibility,
and beautification of the city.

This year, Coquitlam in Bloom will
be focusing on fostering participation
in sports. The first Spotlight on
Sports event was hosted March 6
and was a kickoff event for local
sporting associations. Some upcoming
events to look out for are the sports
fair, the speaker series, adopt-a-
bench program, and the community
sport volunteer workshops.

According to the City of Coquitlam
website, the sports fair will “give
members of the public an opportunity
to try out a variety of sports—all in
one location.” The speaker series will
be an event at which those involved in
sports can “discuss community sport
trends and issues.” The adopt-a-bench

program allows residents to help keep
dugouts or spectators stands “free

of litter and graffiti, while reporting
any hazards or signs of vandalism.”

At the community sport volunteer
workshops, attendees will be given “tips
involving everything from recruitment
and retention to recognition.” There
are also opportunities to volunteer at
Town Centre Park, where some of the
activities will take place. According

to the Coquitlam in Bloom website,
volunteers will help “create a positive
experience for all by answering
questions at an information booth,
and guiding users through the use of
a park map and information sheet.”
In 2016, Coquitlam in Bloom
won the national over 50,000
population category of the civic pride
and beautification competition.
In 2017, Coquitlam took second

Whitecaps begin "

ahew era

> Roster bolstered after disappointment last season

Erik Pinto
Senior Columnist

 

he 2016/17 Whitecaps season
ended in utter disappointment.

There were high hopes for the
club, which were backed by great
form and consistent performances,
but the Whitecaps fell short to fellow
Cascadia rival Seattle Sounders in
the MLS semi-finals, not scoring
a goal over both fixtures.

Despite ending last season on a sour
note, the boys are back. The Whitecaps
began a new season this past week with
a new-look and a new starting 11. Head
coach Carl Robinson made it clear in
the off-season that changes needed to
be made throughout the entire roster.

The Caps said their goodbyes to 17
players, most of whom played crucial
roles on past game days. Notable players
heading out include leading goal scorer
Freddy Montero, veteran midfielders in
Bolafios, Mathias Laba, and a consistent
starter in Tony Tchani. In defence, the
Caps shipped a talented young defender
in Tim Parker back home to New
York. Finally, between the woodwork,
David Ousted’s four-year tenure in
Vancouver came to an abrupt end when

he found himself on the bench behind

the Kiwi keeper Stefan Marinovié.
Despite all these subtractions, the
club managed to make additions forming
a well-rounded roster that seems very
capable of making a deeper playoff push.
The new and improved Whitecaps
added names like Felipe Campanholi
Martins, Efrain Juarez from the Liga
MX, and Jordon Mutch (on loan from
Crystal Palace), although the most
notable of all off-season acquisitions
was MLS veteran and renowned goal-
scorer Kei Kamara. For years he has
been a scoring threat in the MLS playing
across six different teams in the league.
Fans got to see this new talent
on display with a sold-out, record
crowd at BC Place on March 4. Witha
buzzing atmosphere it was the future
of the Whitecaps shining bright. Kei
Kamara notched his first goal in the
Caps’ classy new grey kits. Alongside
Kamara, the 17-year-old Canadian
international Alphonso Davies also
managed to get on the board with his
first career MLS goal. These two goals
sent them comfortably past the Impact.
Hopefully the season opener
was just a preview of what is to come
for this campaign as this young
franchise begins another journey
in seek of substantial success.

 

place. That year the city also
received recognition for its tree risk
management on Burke Mountain.
Even if you aren't taking part in
the Spotlight on Sports, you can still
help your city. The Coquitlam in Bloom
webpage suggests helping beautify the
places you live by planting gardens
or cleaning up litter. It also suggests
joining a Bad Seed weed pull to help
prevent the spread of invasive species.

 

Photo by Analyn Cuarto

Photo of Alphonso Davies via Whitecaps Instagram