Optimist Walk for Youth - November 16, 2025

 

Hello, sports, school, music/arts, and other youth groups, the Optimist Walk for Youth is back!

Raise money for your group by collecting pledges for the Coquitlam Optimist Club. The benefit of sharing: your group gets back 75% of the funds you collected plus a chance to win matching funds up to $1,000. How good is that?!

What happens to the other 25%? The Optimist Club provides management, signage, a marked walking route around Mundy Park, and food for returning walkers. The remainder of the 25%, after expenses, supports Optimist Club community service projects such youth sports groups, food banks, breakfast programs for schools, and others. This year, the net proceeds will be donated to a group identified by the Optimist Club Committee.

WHEN:

• Walk Day is Sunday, November 16, 2025, with check-in and registration starting at 12:00 noon. One person (Group Leader) should bring all the pledges to registration on Walk Day to register their group. Each individual walker does NOT need to register; just be ready to walk at 1:00 pm.
• This year, we are also happy to accept e-transfers to our president, Chiara, Missalino at her email address: chiara.missalino@gmail.com.

WHERE:

• Registration and the start of the walk are at Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex at 633 Poirier Street, Coquitlam. Groups also have the option to stage a Virtual Walk at a location best suited for them.
• If you participate remotely/virtually from a distance, you can email your scanned master pledge form. It is not necessary to be there on the Walk Day (November 16th, 2025). You can transfer the funds raised to chiara.missalino@gmail.com.

Interested in getting involved? Send an email to: coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com. and we will send you the information and pledge forms for your group.

Each group gets one entry into a draw to win the Walker’s Windfall: we will match the funds you raise up to $1,000. The draw will be made at the end of the walk.

ADDED BONUS -­‐ Coquitlam Optimists’ Annual FREE SKATE follows the walk!

Free Skate in Coquitlam Nov. 16, 2025

 The Coquitlam Optimist Club will sponsor its 45th annual Free Skate at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex, 633 Poirier Street, on November 16, 2025 from 2:45 pm to 4:00 PM.  Admission is free, but if you are able, please bring a nonperishable item for the Food Bank.

Optimist Walk for Youth

WHAT IS IT? 

An EASY way to earn money! 

Anyone can join the 5k walk and fundraise for their group  

Raise money for your group by collecting pledges for the Coquitlam Optimist Club. The sharing benefit -­‐ your group gets back 75% of the funds you collected! How good is that??!!

We provide the management, signage, marked walk route around Mundy park and registration onsite as well as food post event. As a note, groups can walk in their own city as long as you register your group.

If you participate remotely/virtually from a distance, you can email your scanned master pledge form -­‐ not necessary to be there on the Walk Day (November 19th, 2023). To organize transfer of fund, contact Al at Alkersey777@gmail.com.

YOUR group receives a cheque for 75% of the money you raised!

The 25%, after expenses, supports other Optimist Club Community Service Projects such Youth sports groups, food banks, breakfast programs for schools and others. This year, the net proceeds will be donated to a group decided by the Optimist Club Committee.

WHEN:

• Walk Day check-­‐in and registration start at 12:00 pm on Sunday, November 19, 2023. One person (Group Leader?) should bring all the pledges to registration on Walk Day to register their group. Each individual walker does NOT need to register; just be ready to walk at 1:00 pm.

WHERE:

• Registration and the start of the walk are at Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex at 633 Poirier Street, Coquitlam. Groups also have the Option to stage a Virtual Walk to start at a location best suited for them.

Interested in getting involved? Send an email to: coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com and we can send you the information and pledge forms for your group.

Wear costumes, matching uniforms, school colors! Make it fun for your group.

Each group gets one entry into the draw to win the Walker’s Windfall, up to $1000. A draw is made at the end of the walk to see who wins.

ADDED BONUS -­‐ Coquitlam Optimist Annual FREE SKATE!

The Free Skate starts after the walk on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 2:15pm -­‐ 5:30pm in the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex. Please bring a non-­‐perishable food item  for the Share Food Bank. Free admission and skate rental.

Earn $$ for Your Group - Join the Walk for Youth

 

We HELP you fundraise by taking care of the EVENT details: signage, promotion, and registration.

YOUR group receives a cheque for 75% of the money you raised!

The rest, after expenses, support other Optimist Club Community Service Projects such Youth Sports groups like curling, golf and karate, Cadet Groups and Food Banks.

WHEN:

Pre-Registration is Saturday, November 13 from 10am to 2pm.

Walk Day Check In and Late Registration start at 11:30am on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

All Groups should Pre-pay and be Pre-booked for Check In time for their Walk Start in 3- to 5-minute intervals. Just email your scanned pledge forms and e-transfer the funds that you raised or bring forms and payments with you.

WHERE: Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex at 633 Poirier Street, Coquitlam. Groups also have the Option to stage their Virtual Walk to start at a location best suited for them.

TO REGISTER: coquitlamoptimists@gmail.com 

or Phone: 604-562-9390 

or register on site at arrival.    

One lucky Group will win the Walkers Windfall Draw – up to $1,000!

Announcing the 2020-2021 Optimist-Curl BC Raffle Winners

Thank you so much everyone who purchased a ticket. In this time of social distancing we sold 832 Optimists Curl BC raffle tickets.

The draw was held upstairs in the Royal City Curling Club after 9:30pm on Saturday, April 3. An independent volunteer drew the names. We have awarded eleven prizes: 1 x $5,000 plus 10 x $500 = $10,000.

And the winners are…

Grand Prize: Cher Ricci, Coquitlam, BC $5,000

Other winners:

1. Marion Griffin, Pitt Meadows, BC $500

2. Colin Svendsen, Kaleden, BC $500

3. Deb Imada, Surrey, BC $500

4. Robyn Parkes, Langley, BC $500

5. Gloria Trimble, Richmond, BC $500

6. Roger Mitchell, North Vancouver, BC $500

7. Gary Cormack, Surrey, BC $500

8. Ron Shukyn, Coquitlam, BC $500

9. Debb Holland, Victoria, BC $500

10. Robbie Gallaugher, Vancouver, BC $500

Go to Curl BC website. https://www.curlbc.ca/passion-curling-programs to see how you have supported BC Youth Curling Development in U12 Blizzard and Passion Curling U15-U21. 

2019 – 2020 Optimists-Curl BC Ticket Raffle Results

Thanks to all who in this strange time supported the raffle to raise funds for youth curling development.

Draw Date: Sunday, April 04, 2020 after 9:30 PM in New Westminster with an independent volunteer upstairs in the Royal City Curling Club.

Tickets Sold: 1,522 of 2,000 for Optimists’ Getting Started in Curling Camps, RockSlide Camp Presenting Sponsorship and various Curl BC youth curling development initiatives targeting U15 and U12.

Eleven Prizes: 1 x $5,000 plus 10 x $500 = $10,000

And the Winners are:

1. John Richard, Victoria, BC $5,000

1. Irene Goodis, Penticton, BC $500
2. Rob Goble, Kamloops, BC $500
3. Donna Fulthorpe, Vernon, BC $500
4. Kent McKinnon, Hope, BC $500
5. Ed Lex, Vancouver, BC $500
6. Mike Rowden, Kamloops, BC $500
7. Jeannette Russell, Powell River, BC $500
8. Stew Thomson, Victoria, BC $500
9. Fran Blackwood, White Rock, BC $500
10. Peter Nenasheff, Armstrong, BC $500

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.

The Walk for Youth is Coming

Optimists Award Scholarships

The Coquitlam Optimist Club has presented Robert Simms Memorial Scholarships to ten 2018 graduates of Tri-Cities secondary schools.  The scholarship recipients and their schools are Dora Monica Bassili of Dr. Charles Best, Noamie Kamba of Centennial, Negin Ketabachi of Heritage Woods, Sophia Mueller and Stephanie Nguyen of Terry Fox, Ethel Pasion of Centennial, and Kristie Tai of Gleneagle. 

The $500 Robert Simms Memorial Scholarship is named in honour of a long-time School District 43 educator and counsellor, who was a charter member of the Coquitlam Optimist Club.  The selection of scholarship recipients is based primarily on the students’ service to their schools and the wider community.   In addition, the students’ academic records must demonstrate their ability to succeed at post-secondary studies. 

The 2018 scholarship recipients have chosen a range of post-secondary institutions.  Students attending schools in the British Columbia include Stephanie Nguyen and Kristie Tai (University of British Columbia), Negan Ketabachi and Ethel Paison (Simon Fraser University), and Sophia Mueller (Pacific Life).  Monica Bassili is attending the University of Alberta, while Noamie Kamba is at Trent University. 

Students attending schools in the Lower Mainland received their scholarships at a dinner hosted by the Coquitlam Optimist Club on September 4, 2018.

Raffle Supports Youth Curling Development

The Optimist Clubs of British Columbia in partnership with Curl BC are offering a $5,000 cash prize in a raffle to support youth curling development.  There also will be ten $500 prizes.

Tickets cost $20 each and are available from your local Optimist Club or your local curling club. Only 2,000 tickets will be sold.

The money raised from the annual raffle funds “I Rock the House” curling development camps throughout the province. At these camps, 15-17 year old juvenile curlers assist a professional trainer in teaching skills to the younger (9-11 year old) curlers.

The Optimist-Curl BC Junior Curling Raffle also supports:

• Coaches of youth curling teams across the province to become Competition Coach Certified;
• 2018 Optimist BC U18 Curling Championships;
• Rockslide Summer Curling Camp.

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Come to the Free Skate on Remembrance Day

Come to the annual Optimist Free Skate on November 11. The event will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Poirier Sports & Leisure Complex, 633 Poirier Street, Coquitlam, BC. Admission and skate rentals are free, but participants are encouraged to donate a non-perishable item for the Food Bank. The event is one way the Coquitlam Optimist Club recognizes the good things that the young people of our community do.

Optimist Club Awards Scholarships

The Coquitlam Optimist Club has awarded the $500 Robert Simms Memorial Scholarships to ten 2016 graduates of secondary schools in the Tri-Cities.  The recipients are:

• Elaine Buenaventura of Terry Fox, who will attend Capilano University;
• Bebo Elhosary of Heritage Woods, who will attend UBC;
• Sydney Herzog of Terry Fox, who will attend SFU;
• Jane Lee of Heritage Woods, who will attend UBC;
• Sami Ko of Terry Fox, who will attend UBC;
• Matthew McIlwrick of Port Moody, who will attend University of Pennsylvania;
• Kassandra Richard of Terry Fox, who will attend SFU;
• Monica U of Centennial, who will attend Douglas College;
• Stephanie U of Centennial, who will attend Douglas College; and
• Julie Yoon of Centennial, who will attend UBC.

The Robert Simms Scholarships honors students who have given outstanding service to their schools and communities while maintaining academic excellence.

Coquitlam and Tri-Cities: Skate for Free on November 11

It's Optimist-Curl BC Raffle Time Again

The Optimist Clubs of British Columbia in partnership with Curl BC once again are offering a $5,000 cash prize in a raffle to support youth curling development. There also will be eight $500 prizes.

Tickets cost $20 each and are available from your local Optimist Club or your local curling centre. Only 1,600 tickets will be sold.

The money raised from the annual raffle funds “Optimists' Getting Started Camps” throughout the province. At these curling development camps, 15-17 year old juvenile curlers assist a professional trainer in teaching skills to the younger (9-11 year old) curlers.

 

The 2015-16 draw will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 9:30 PM during the Pacific International Cup curling event at the Richmond Curling Club.

 



BC Gaming License No. 77145

 

Optimists Honor Scholarship Winners

The Coquitlam Optimist Club honored the 2015 recipients of the Robert Simms Memorial Scholarship at the annual Scholarship Banquet on September 8.

The scholarship recipients are Kristina May-Rashke, a 2015 graduate of Riverside Secondary School; Pegah Niktash and Tetiana Tyrsa, graduates of Port Moody Secondary School; Elizabeth Vagnar, Gleneagles Secondary School; Nicole Vukasovic and Cindy Wei, Centennial Secondary School.  All have recently begun their university studies.  Elizabeth Vagnar is attending the University of British Columbia. Cindy Wei is attending Waterloo University. Nicole Vukasovic, Pegah Niktash and Tetiana Tyrsaare are at Simon Fraser University.

The Robert Simms Memorial Scholarships are named in memory of a long-time teacher and counselor in School District 43.  The scholarships are awarded primarily based on the students’ service to their communities.  For more information on these and other scholarship opportunities, see our Scholarships page.


Kristina May-Rashke, TetianaTyrsa, Pegah Niktash and Elizabeth Vagnar
with Scholarship Chair Jackie Curtis

Youth Curling Raffle Winners Announced

The Coquitlam Optimist Club and Curl BC are pleased to announce the winners of the 2014-15 Youth Curling Raffle. 

 

The winner of the $5000 grand prize is Marion Griffin of Pitt Meadows, BC, who purchased her ticket from the Coquitlam Optimist Club. 

 

Winners of the eight $500 prizes are:

Jenny Rinsma & Team, Oliver, BC

Mary Beth Rodgers, Port Moody, BC

Brent Perry, Golden Ears Winter Club (Maple Ridge), BC

Don Barrett, Langley, BC

Al Fouquette, Langley, BC

Mel Johnson, North Shore Optimist (N. Vancouver), BC $500

Richard Brower, Vancouver, BC

Greg Palmar, Princeton, BC

Thank you to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket to support youth curling development.  They money raised this year will support seven Optimist's "Getting Started" camps.