New Optimists Welcome (NOW)

Optimists bring out the best in our youth, our communities, and ourselves.  Find out how you can bring out the best in yourself while helping our youth and our community.  Come to our free information meeting at the Ramada Coquitlam, 631 Lougheed Highway on November 13 at 7:00 PM.

2019 Scholarship Winners Honored

The Coquitlam Optimist Club recently honored our 2019 recipients of the Robert Simms Memorial Scholarship.  The 2019 graduates of District 43 high schools include Mikaela Francis and Angela Loureiro (Archbishop Carney) , Miji Kiim (Terry Fox), Esther Ko (Gleneagle), Xian Kostyrko and Annie Whangbo (Port Moody), and Taisha Zivny (Centennial).  Miji, Ester, Xian, and Taisha are attending SFU.  Annie is attending UBC, while Mikaela is at UBC’s Okanagan campus.  Angela has begun her studies at Queens.  Miji, Ester, Taisha, and Annie were able to join us for the Annual Scholarship Dinner and are pictured here with scholarship presenter Vivian Newstead.

Raffle Winners Announced

Congratulations to Sean Wong of Burnaby, BC, who is the winner of the $5,000 grand prize in the annual Optimist-Curl BC Raffle.

In addition to the grand prize, $500 prizes have been awarded to the following people:

1.   Mansur Lalani, North Vancouver, BC
2.   Donna Antonishak, Kelowna, BC
3.   Tara Thompson, Kelowna, BC
4.   Mike Doiron, Kelowna, BC
5.   Barb Blake, New Westminster, BC
6.   Nick VanLeeuwen, Prince George, BC
7.   Sheila Buzash, Victoria, BC
8.   John David Sigurdson, Burnaby, BC
9.   Gulzar (Golly) Rasul, New Westminster, BC
10. Bruce Twerdy, Vancouver, BC

The raffle supports Optimists’ Getting Started in Curling Camps, Competition Coach - Youth Development Support, Rockslide Camp Presenting Sponsorship and Provincial U18 Presenting Sponsorship.

Students Soar in Oratorical Contest

Cathy Cena with Amy Ren, Jason Song, and Jerry Song

Amy Ren has won the Coquitlam Optimist Club’s Oratorical Contest based on the theme “Is There a Fine Line between Optimism and Reality?”

Amy was awarded a medal and an honorarium of $100.  Jason Song and Jerry Song placed second and third, respectively, receiving medals and honoraria of $50 and $25. Emma Conti placed fourth.

Amy and Emma will move on to the Regional Oratorical Contest in Chilliwack, where they will compete against winners from other Optimist Clubs in British Columbia. The winner of the regional competition will be sent to the Pacific Northwest District level to compete against students from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska for the chance to win a $2500 scholarship.  The winner of the District competition will have the opportunity to attend the Optimist International West Coast Regional Championship for a chance to win an additional $5,000 and up to another $15,000 scholarship at the Optimist International World Championship.

Announcing Our Club's Essay Contest Winners

Ashley Passaglia

Mark Dao

Ashley Passaglia, a grade 12 student at Terry Fox Secondary School, is the winner of the Coquitlam Optimist Club’s essay contest based on a theme of “When All the World’s Problems are Solved, is Optimism Still Necessary”.

Ashley received a $100 honorarium.  In addition, her essay will be sent to the Pacific Northwest District level to be judged along with winners from other Optimist Clubs in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.  College scholarships are available for top winners at the district level.

Ray Zheng placed second and received a $50 honorarium.  The third place winner was Mark Dao, a grade 12 student at Heritage Woods Secondary School.  He received $25.