You can listens for yips, yelps, and barks as you prowl the trails looking for coyotes of Colony Farm Regional Park on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Participants in the Metro Vancouver parks program Learn about these smart and wily animals: where they live, how they hunt and how they adapt to urban areas.

This program is for people ages five and older. Cost is $4 per person for children, youths and seniors, $7.50 for adults and $20 per family. Participants should wear clothing suitable to the weather and bring a flashlight.

To register, call 604-432-6359.

To find out about other Metro Vancouver programs, visit the event calendar at www.metrovancouver.org.

Jointworks

The city of Coquitlam offers Jointworks, a program developed by the Arthritis Society, twice a week, at Dogwood Pavilion, a rec facility for people 50 and older. A fitness instructor, will lead this program on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. Joint Works focuses on range of motion exercises, mild strengthening exercises and mild aerobic activities. This drop-in program costs $3.70 per person. For more information, call 604-927-6098.

Stories and more at Terry Fox Library

Port Coquitlam’s Terry Fox Library will be holding several free drop-in storytimes this Fall, allowing parents and children to learn and read together.

Story times include books, finger plays, songs and flannelboard stories and children will be joined by puppet friends for some cozy fun.

All ages are welcome and the program is free.

Friday sessions will take place between Sept. 18 and Oct. 9 between 10:15 and 10:45 a.m. The next Saturday storytime will take place on Sept. 19 from 11 to 11:30 a.m.

All events are held at the Terry Fox Library (2470 Mary Hill Rd.). For more information, call 604-927-7999.

Groovy way to raise money

The Coquitlam Foundation’s annual general meeting last Thursday highlighted the foundation’s achievements over the past year and looked forward to next month’s Bellbottoms and Beads fundraising gala reception and concert.

The foundation, which encourages and supports creative, targeted philanthropy that builds a vibrant, sustainable, and healthy community, distributed $44,000 in grants and $9,000 in bursaries and scholarships last year.

“What’s especially remarkable is that, at a time when many charitable institutions in the country were reporting drastic investment-fund depletions because of last fall’s economic meltdown, our funds actually grew 4%, or $59,207, last year,” Colleen Talbot, foundation chair, said in a press release.

The Coquitlam Foundation also received $191,990 in donations and a $14,500 gaming grant last year, for total revenue of $265,697. Overall, the foundation reported net assets of $1.6 million for the year ended June 30, compared with $1.4 million the previous year.

Still, the group, a registered charity, is always looking for donations, which can be sent to the Coquitlam Foundation, c/o PO Box 2, 1207 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, B.C., Canada, V3B 7Y3, or made through its website, www.coquitlamfoundation.com.

The Banquet

The Coquitlam Foundation’s upcoming Bellbottoms and Beads fundraising gala evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 in the upper lobby of the Red Robinson Show Theatre at the Boulevard Casino with a silent auction, food and spirits. The party then moves into the theatre at 8 p.m. for a concert by Creedence Clearwater Revisited. Tickets cost $150 each and can be purchased by calling 604-468-9598 or visiting the foundation website, www.coquitlamfoundation.com.