Hobbies in Coquitlam
This exhibition features some of the amazing hobbies and pastimes from local Coquitlam residents. Hobbies have long been an important but often quite private part of community life. Hobbies reflect both the ingenuity and creativity of our local community. Coquitlam Heritage’s exhibition shows the many ways in which people find joy and connection through their hobbies. Each piece tells a story of passion, skill, and dedication, offering a glimpse into the lives of those who call Coquitlam home.
What defines a hobby? Unlike simple leisure activities, hobbies are sustained pursuits that involve skill, creativity, and dedication.
Heritage is deeply connected with hobbies. People have always engaged in gardening, toy-building, or collecting wide-ranging objects from rocks to books.
Some hobbies are quite practical like quilting, fixing cars, coding; other endeavours are less practical and more artistic or focused aspects of collecting.
We invite you to explore these stories and discover how hobbies have shaped not only individual lives but also the collective heritage of Coquitlam.
Generously funded by the Province of British Columbia.
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Often communal activities, such as drumming, dancing, and storytelling, which strengthen social bonds are both a personal and crucial social function.
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Calligraphy, painting, and poetry were considered expressions of Confucian ideals and personal refinement. The elite often engaged in these activities to demonstrate cultural sophistication. Activities like tea cultivation and appreciation became a refined pastime, evolving into a deeply ritualized practice.
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Yoga, meditation, and dance were recreational but also served to express devotion.
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Storytelling, beadwork and other activities were undertaken for both spiritual and artistic reasons.
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In the Golden Age of Islam (8th to 13th centuries), calligraphy, chess, and astronomy were as essential as the creation of detailed geometric patterns in art and architecture reflecting aesthetic and mathematical interests. Poetry and storytelling were also popular communal pastimes.
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Hobbies like ikebana (flower arranging), tea ceremony, and haiku poetry were cultivated as expressions of Zen Buddhist. The fabled Samurai warriors also practiced martial arts and calligraphy as artistic expression as well as to maintain a disciplined lifestyle.
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Inscribed in 2021 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The art of traditional embroidery is widespread in Palestine. Originally made and worn in rural areas, the practice is now common in all of Palestine and among members of the diaspora. Each of these garments is embroidered with a variety of symbols including birds, trees and flowers. Many women embroider as a hobby, and some produce and sell embroidered pieces to supplement their income, either on their own or in collaboration with other women.
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A growing middle class meant people had more disposable income and free time. This gave larger numbers of people access to hobbies. It made stamp collecting, photography, and gardening even dog breeding very popular. New technologies popularised hobbies like radio building, model trains, and later, video games and digital arts.
Origins of Hobbies
The concept of hobbies has evolved over time. All cultures have some form of hobby. The act of engaging in a hobby has very much influenced cultural, social, economic, and technological developments. Hobbies, as we understand it today, emerged in the 18th to 19th century, however its roots can be traced even earlier, where frequently leisure activities were tied to spiritual or more practical purposes.
Hobbies around the world
In ancient Egypt, leisure activities were often intertwined with religious practices. The board game Senet was both recreational and symbolic, representing the journey to the afterlife. The art of storytelling, music, or dance were essential to cultural rituals.
What is a hobby
A hobby is any regular activity people undertake for pleasure, relaxation, and personal fulfilment, typically during one’s free time. A hobby is distinct from professional or obligatory tasks. People pursue hobbies voluntarily. These activities reflect personal interests, passions, or curiosities. Hobbies can range from creative pursuits like painting, writing, or crafting to physical activities such as gardening, sports, or dancing. They provide a sense of accomplishment, a way to express individuality, and an opportunity to develop skills or knowledge in a particular area.
CARTOGRAPHY: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MAPMAKING
DEFINITION
The study and practice of creating maps, combining data analysis, geography, design, and technology to represent spatial information effectively.
KEY PURPOSE
To selectively feature or omit terrain characteristics based on a map’s intended use.
HISTORICAL ORIGINS
Earliest Examples: Debated, with potential candidates like a 7th-millennium BCE Anatolian painting (possibly a map of Çatalhöyük).
Oldest Confirmed Maps: Babylonian world maps from the 9th century BCE, centering on the Euphrates River.
CIVILIZATIONAL IMPACT
Essential for urban planning, navigation, disaster response, resource management, and climate change analysis.
MODERN EVOLUTION
Transitioned from hand-drawn techniques to digital tools, though traditional methods persist in niche applications.
Heritage Maker
Steve Chapman born in Birmingham, UK, relocated to Canada in 2001. For over a decade, Steve has been an integral part of Coquitlam Search and Rescue, spearheading its community education program and sharing his knowledge to foster safety and awareness.
HOW THE HOBBY SHAPED OUR PAST—AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS
Maps are essential to navigating and planning. They also provide us with a clear outline of how our community and the city around us takes shape over the years. Maps are an essential history record.
COMMUNITY THREADS: HOBBY AS A LOCAL BOND
As a local cartographer Steve helps to document Coquitlam and its surroundings. As a guide for anything ranging from nature hikes to local businesses.
HOBBY AS LOCAL HERITAGE: A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
Maps play a crucial role in both urban planning and documentation on how our neighbourhoods are shaped over the years.
In His Own Words
Steve Chapman - Cartographer
Born in Birmingham, UK, Steve Chapman relocated to Canada in 2001, where he carved out an impressive and multifaceted career. Beginning as an electronics engineer, he pivoted to cartography in 2007 after being laid off, embracing his long-held passion for maps and the great outdoors. As a self-taught cartographer, Steve honed his skills through online tutorials, experimentation, and collaboration with other talented cartographers. His dedication and creativity led him to become one of Canada’s most versatile and innovative cartographers, serving a global clientele.
Steve’s work includes the creation of two best-selling local hiking maps of the Tri-Cities and Golden Ears regions. He has also contributed his expertise to prominent guidebooks, including the best-selling “105 Hikes” and the award-winning “Backpacking in Southwestern British Columbia.” These achievements cement his reputation as a leader in the field.
A true mountain enthusiast, Steve has climbed iconic peaks like Denali, Lobuche East, and Mont Blanc, showcasing his adventurous spirit. His other interests include hiking, kayaking, skiing, and mountaineering— activities that deepen his connection to nature and inspire his professional work.
For over a decade, Steve has been an integral part of Coquitlam Search and Rescue, spearheading its community education program and sharing his knowledge to foster safety and awareness. His dedication to both his craft and his community defines a life driven by passion and purpose.
Taxidermy
DEFINITION:
The art of preserving and mounting animal specimens for display or study.
ORIGINS
Traces back to ancient Egyptian embalming practices.
Flourished as a Victorian-era status symbol and decorative art.
MODERN APPLICATIONS
Primarily used in museum exhibitions.
Increasingly popular for pet memorialization.
TECHNIQUES
Traditional skin preservation and stuffing.
Contemporary anatomical mounting methods.
QUILTING AND KNITTING
LOCAL HISTORY
Coquitlam’s women – particularly in Maillardville’s francophone community – preserved culture through needlework. At Lady of Lourdes Elementary (1912-1960), girls practiced sewing during mandatory after-school hours. Meanwhile, homes like 1125 Cartier Street featured spaces where women gathered for sewing and knitting after dinner.
These needle arts served vital roles:
Knitting produced essential clothing during wartime and economic hardship.
Quilting became important social gatherings where women shared news and skills.
Patterns and techniques carried cultural traditions across generations.
QUILTING TRADITION
Popular in the 19th century as:
Farewell gifts.
Fundraising (war efforts/missionary work.)
Memorializing collective histories.
QUILT CONSTRUCTION
Top Layer: Patchwork of fabric pieces stitched in patterns.
Middle Layer: Insulating batting (historically wool or cotton.)
Backing: A single continuous fabric layer that forms the quilt’s underside.
Quilting: All layers hand-stitched together with decorative patterns.
FRASER MILLS EXAMPLE
Features autographs of local women (see red quilt.)
Served as both war fundraiser and personal record.
Challenges historical silences about women’s contributions.
The featured quilts are significant objects in our collection because they represent the activities and voices of the women in our community. Quilting, in the case of the quilts displayed here, was a communal practice which preserved women’s narratives often excluded from official records.
This quilt is called a signature quilt which became popular in the 19th century. They were made as gifts for people moving out west, as a way of honouring or documenting a community, and as a fundraising tool for missionary work or for supporting the troops during the war.
This quilt holds the signatures of women who lived in Fraser Mills. They collected donations to support the war effort, and in their own way, made their mark in history by signing their name during a time when women did not have the right to sign much.
Heritage Maker
Ann Carlsen, long time Coquitlam resident, has been practicing law in British Columbia since 1991, specializing in intellectual property law. Ann has helped many artists, writers, and inventors protect their intellectual property. Ann is an important member of the board of directors at the Coquitlam Heritage Society, providing legal advice and guidance over the years.
HOW THE HOBBY SHAPED OUR PAST—AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS
Knitting was once an essential way of producing warm garments before mass production, making common items like Stockings, socks, mittens, scarfs, caps, bonnets. During the war years knitting for soldiers helped keep the troops warm. Coquitlam Heritage’s collection has spinning wheels, wool combs and even a more industrial sock weaving machine.
COMMUNITY THREADS: HOBBY AS A LOCAL BOND
Knitting can be a private act but it can also have a strong social component. Ann who frequently knitted on buses and trains mentioned that people would often approach her and be very curious about knitting. She said knitters are a very friendly bunch.
HOBBY AS LOCAL HERITAGE: A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
In 2019 the Tri-City newspaper reporter Mario Bartel interviewed Fran Grant who set up Knit2gether Coquitlam, a group which met every month at Coquitlam Public Library’s Poirier. Groups of knitters are keeping the tradition alive as well as producing warm mittens and scarfs.
In Her Own Words
Ann Carlsen - Avid Knitter
I started knitting when I was four years old, taught by my Uncle Bill. When I was four, I lived in England with my Mother and Grandparents. My father had left for Canada to make a new home for us in Windsor Ontario. We did not have a television, so in the evenings the whole family sat around the radio and knitting.
I remember the first wool and knitting needles I received as a reward for being good at the dentist. The needles were mauve and child sized (I still have them) and variegated yarn. I remember the scarf I made in garter stitch (every row was a knit row). I still remember how it curvy the sides were, as I lost stitches and gained stitches.
By the time I was twelve I was knitting sweaters for myself, mainly in fair isle (style of knitting that uses many colours of yarn in patterns).
I still knit, but I love cabling, in the Aran style.
This sweater in the exhibit is an example of a Norwegian style from the area known as Stavanger. It was originally designed to be worn by fishermen. My Father was Norwegian, and I was born in Norway, in the Stavanger area. Traditionally it is black with white designs knitted in. The white yarn is carried on the back to give the sweater extra warmth. I have heard that the designs are specific to a specific family and if a fisherman dies at sea, the family can be identified by the design.
This particular sweater was begun by my Mother. When she went to assisted living (at 96 years old), she asked me to complete it. The way the sweater is shaped is unique to the Stavanger sweater. The body is knit on a circular needle (or 4 or more straight double pointed needles). The armholes are not knitted into the body. Instead, the body of the sweater I knitted as a tube, and when completed, the space for the sleeves are cut into the body. The opening is then sewn to stop running of the knitting. The sleeves are then sewn into the body. The shoulders are sewn together, leaving a space for the neck. An embroidered band is usually placed around the neck, and any opening in the front.
Community Rug
Photography
ORIGINS
Traces back to the camera obscura (4th century BCE), documented by Aristotle (Greece) and Mozi (China.)
Artists used this light-projection phenomenon for image tracing.
SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH (1727)
Johann Heinrich Schulze proved silver salts darken from light exposure (not heat), paving the way for photographic chemistry.
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An early photographic process, invented by Nicéphore Niépce around 1822, that involved the hardening of bitumen in sunlight.
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A detailed image formed on silver-plated copper, invented in the 1830s by Louis Daguerre after collaborating with Nicéphore Niépce.
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An early photographic process, introduced in 1841 by William Henry Fox Talbot, in which negatives were made using paper coated with silver iodide.
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Made from two almost identical photographs, side by side, to be viewed through a stereoscope, resulting in the illusion of three-dimensionality. This successfully came to fruition in 1849, after David Brewster improved upon an early idea by Charles Wheatstone.
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A photographic process that used a prepared piece of glass coated with collodion and then made light-sensitive with further chemicals. It would be exposed and developed within the span of about fifteen minutes and required the use of a portable dark room.
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A dry substitute to wet collodion that involved glass plates coated with a gelatin emulsion of silver bromide. It can be stored until exposure, eliminating the need for a portable dark room.
PORCELAIN DOLL CRAFTING, DOLL COLLECTING
Heritage Maker
Barbara Bradshaw, a Coquitlam resident, honed her skills in porcelain doll-making by attending many classes. Her creation, Lady Grace, reflects the artistry of traditional European-style porcelain dolls, which were historically crafted in Germany and France as luxury playthings for affluent children. Bradshaw’s work ties into Coquitlam Heritage’s large doll collection — many local residents have owned and cherished such dolls over the years.
HOW THE HOBBY SHAPED OUR PAST—AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS
Porcelain dolls like Lady Grace preserve the craftsmanship of 19thcentury doll-making, blending artistry with cultural history. The techniques Bradshaw learned—such as painting bisque porcelain with specialized pigments (metallic oxides for glazed surfaces) — ensure these delicate heirlooms endure. Coquitlam Heritage holds a significant collection of such dolls, showcasing their role in local family traditions and decorative arts.
COMMUNITY THREADS: HOBBY AS A LOCAL BOND
From workshops to collector exhibitions, porcelain doll-making has connected Coquitlam residents through shared appreciation for antique craftsmanship. Bradshaw’s dedication highlights a community passion for preserving history through tangible artistry.
HOBBY AS LOCAL HERITAGE: A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
Bradshaw’s dolls, alongside Coquitlam Heritage’s collections, bridge European traditions with local storytelling. These delicate creations remind us how hobbies can weave global heritage into Coquitlam’s identity, preserving artistry for future generations.
Porcelain dolls are dolls made partially or entirely out of bisque porcelain. The earliest European porcelain dolls were China dolls made primarily in Germany between 1840 and 1880. These dolls have heads made of bisque, either tinted (glazed china) or untinted (unglazed or “parian”), with bodies made of other materials due to the delicacy and weight of the ceramic. This doll is called Lady Grace and was crafted by Barbara Bradshaw.
A set of tools, including scrapers, knives, and texture tools used for making and molding porcelain dolls.
Paints used to paint porcelain dolls. Porcelain paints are dependant on whether or not the bisque is glazed. For glazed porcelain, the pigments used do not dissolve in water or oil, since they are made of a blend of metallic oxides and powdered glass to ensure the glaze and the paint adhere together.
A series of paint brushes, including a palette knife, used for painting porcelain dolls.
Aviculture: The Art of Birdkeeping
DEFINITION
The practice of keeping and breeding birds, encompassing both hobbyist care and conservation efforts.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Traditionally associated with nobility displaying wealth through exotic birds.
James Murray’s Ryan House (now PDA) aviary (1931-1936) housed 16 species including peacocks and parrots. (picture to the right Murray family having tea in the aviary)
MODERN CONTEXT
Evolved from status symbol to include scientific research and species preservation.
Remains a specialized but rewarding pursuit.
THE HOBBYIST’S VALUE
Offers intellectual stimulation and opportunities for community engagement.
Storytelling
Heritage Maker
Mythili Garikiparthi is a young budding writer living in Coquitlam. She has been writing and journaling for a while. Especially during the COVID pandemic, writing served as a way to manage difficult times.
HOW THE HOBBY SHAPED OUR PAST—AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS
Long before settlers arrived, the Kwikwetlem people shared oral traditions along the shores of the Coquitlam River. Legends of transformers, salmon runs, and the sacredness of the land were passed down through generations, embedding history in spoken word.
COMMUNITY THREADS: HOBBY AS A LOCAL BOND
Letters, diary memories from Fraser Mills workers and Maillardville’s francophone families captured the recent history of Coquitlam’s residents. Biographical, historical or creative writing catches the essence of a place in all its complexities.
HOBBY AS LOCAL HERITAGE: A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
Works like Coquitlam 100 produced by the District of Coquitlam in 1991, chronicle the rich local history. A copy can be found in the Coquitlam Public Library.
In Her Own Words
Mythili Garikiparthi - Writer
I’ve been writing and journalling for a while now. It got me through COVID. Sometimes it is what gets me through a day.
Gold notebook – one of many ‘lucky’ notebooks. Of course, when you run out of room, you just have to get yourself a new one and be convinced it’s lucky. This is opened up to a scene from a play about a shelter.
1967 German Adler - was a present from my father from right before the quarantines started. I broke my fair share of fingernails on it!
Blackout poetry.
Booklet.
Draft about dreams that I never finished.
BOOKBINDING: PRESERVING THE WRITTEN WORD
WHAT IT IS
The art of assembling and securing pages into a durable, functional book.
TRADITIONAL METHODS
Sewn Binding: Pages stitched together with thread for flexibility.
Case Binding: Attaching sewn pages to a hardcover (common in hardback books).
Coptic Stitch: Exposed spine stitching, dating back to ancient Egypt.
MODERN TECHNIQUES
Perfect Binding: Glued spines (used in paperbacks).
Wire/Spiral Binding: Coils or loops for notebooks & manuals.
MATERIALS USED
Paper, thread, glue, leather, cloth, and decorative elements.
WHY IT MATTERS
Protects content, extends lifespan, and transforms text into a tactile object.
ANTIQUE BOOKBINDING: A MASTER’S CRAFT
THE ARTISAN
Mike Toddington of Coquitlam, a master bookbinder trained in traditional European techniques.
APPRENTICESHIP
Completed a rigorous 7-year apprenticeship with a major UK bookbinding firm. Studied craft bookbinding at the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts.
INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
Elected “Father of the Chapel” (a historic senior title dating to monastic bookbinding traditions).
CAREER SHIFT
Transitioned from bookbinding to police service, and immigrated to Canada in 1969.
CURRENT PRACTICE
Maintains a private workshop, specializing in the restoration of treasured volumes.
Sports
Heritage Maker
Diane Nosella and Adam Wanono are both Coquitlam residents who have contributed to this exhibit and loaned some of their respective families sports paraphernalia to this exhibit.
HOW THE HOBBY SHAPED OUR PAST—AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS
Sport have been part of Coquitlam for a long time. From children and parents playing hockey or shooting basketball hoops in the back lanes or front of their house, to the many parks in the city that offer sports facilities.
COMMUNITY THREADS: HOBBY AS A LOCAL BOND
The variety of the different sports reflects our diverse community. From cricket in Mackin Park, to roller derby, to lacrosse, hockey, and many other sports.
HOBBY AS LOCAL HERITAGE: A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
Located in the Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex, the Coquitlam Sports Hall of Fame celebrates the city’s rich athletic history. From hockey legends like Brent Seabrook (NHL) to soccer stars such as Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), the Hall of Fame honours local athletes, teams, and sporting achievements.
Music
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Suprema Accordion (MH.2011.1.451)
The piano accordion is a type of accordion that is equipped with right-handed piano keys, which are used to open valves that allows air to pass through the reeds, creating sound when the instrument is pumped. Suprema accordions were made in Sirolo, Italy between 1951 and 1959.
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Album by Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians (MH.2011.1.428)
Guy Lombardo was a Canadian American musician whose style is primarily known as “sweet jazz.” He formed the Royal Canadians in 1924 with his brothers Carmen, Lebert and Victor, and other musicians from his hometown.
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Button Accordion (MH.2012.12.1)
The button accordion is a type of accordion that uses buttons instead of piano keys on its side. It works by opening a valve, when pressed, that allows air to pass through the reeds to create a note. This accordion dates back to the 1860s.
RESTORED CHINESE JUNK, INNOVATOR
Heritage Maker
Montgomery Gisborne, grew up in Sunbury along the Fraser River, he was influenced by the local community and developed a deep fascination for Chinese maritime history. After earning a degree in technology from Ryerson Polytechnical University, he became a involved in Canada’s electric vehicle movement, founding Enviromotive Inc. Gisborne also restores vintage vehicles and made history with his solar boat, the Loon.
HOW THE HOBBY SHAPED OUR PAST—AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS
Gisborne’s work in electric and solar-powered transportation proved the viability of sustainable technology long before it became mainstream. His restoration of the Chineses Junk ( a traditional wooden sailing ship used in China for centuries ) helps to preserve marine history and cultural understanding in our diverse community. Large sailing ships have always been a part of Coquitlam, docking at the Fraser Mills docks to revive their cargo.
COMMUNITY THREADS: HOBBY AS A LOCAL BOND
From organizing Canada’s first electric vehicle rally to demonstrating solar boating, Gisborne turned his passions into community events. His advocacy brought people together around sustainable transportation, leaving a lasting impact on environmental awareness in the region.
HOBBY AS LOCAL HERITAGE: A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
Gisborne’s contributions connect Coquitlam to global movements in green technology and heritage preservation. His story highlights how innovation and tradition can coexist, shaping both local and broader environmental history.
THE SEA DRAGON (HAI LONG) AND THE SEA GODDESS (MA ZU)
In 2016, my family and I acquired an authentic Chinese Junk Ship, Hai Long, built in 1968 in Hong Kong Lantau Island.) By all accounts she was an authentic piece of Chinese culture and history, a beautiful 12-meter vessel, which we decided to share with the world by taking guests, 12 at a time, on a two-hour tour during which they would learn about the Ming Dynasty era nautical exploits and adventures of the greatest mariner of all time – Zheng He.
Due to the good grace of the Formosa Chifa Mazu Temple (Canada Branch), a permanent guest boarded Hai Long to keep every passenger safe and loved… a young woman named Ma Zu, dressed in her sacred vestments and upon a gilded throne. Maker’s symbols have dated this Ma Zu shrine to the reign of the Qian Long Emperor (1711 – 1799). According to tradition, Lin Mo — better known as Ma Zu — was born on Meizhou Island, not far from Quanzhou in Fujian province, in the second half of the 10th century. She possessed divine powers, which she used to grant villagers’ prayers for rain and rescue those in trouble at sea. It was one such rescue attempt that took her life, leading locals to erect a temple in her honor.
Coastal Fujian was and is highly dependent on fishing and maritime trade, and locals’ frequent seafaring activities naturally created demand for a sea goddess. It has been said that, “Wherever there are Chinese people, Mazu can be found.” She is worshipped by the wealthy and the poor, and Confucians, Buddhists, and Taoists alike. The influence of Taoist folk beliefs is obvious, but Confucians can point to her efforts to save her father from drowning as an example of filial piety, while Buddhists praise her care for all living things and associate her with Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.
Mazu’s status rose further during a brief period of overseas maritime exploration in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). After that dynasty’s collapse in the 17th century, Ming loyalists decamped to Taiwan, not far from the Fujian coast, driving out the Dutch and bringing the island back under Chinese control. The successful conquest brought even greater attention and honors to Ma Zu, as the Qing court named her the “Queen of Heaven” and required top officials to visit local temples dedicated to the sea goddess in their jurisdictions and offer sacrifices.
Ma Zu is honored not for political reasons, but because of her humanity and motherly compassion. Ma Zu’s popularity has always been due to her connections to the rhythms of everyday life. Ma Zu worship remains popular in Fujian, Hainan, Taiwan, and overseas Chinesespeaking populations up to the present day. In Ma Zu’s gradual progression from mortal woman to sea goddess, we can see the story of Fujian’s rise from provincial backwater to economic and cultural powerhouse. At the same time, her grassroots popularity reminds us of the continued importance of the simplest emotions — humanity, maternal care, and love for all — across Chinese history.
Some of the above text is paraphrased from “The Sixth Tone” by Luo Yang.
In His Own Words
Montgomery Gisborne
I arrived on this planet through Surrey Memorial Hospital in 1963 and grew up in Sunbury, a wonderful community on the south bank of the Fraser River which is now completely indistinguishable from its original form I remember well, near where the Alex Fraser bridge lands on the Delta side. My community was largely Asian and this greatly influenced my early years, along with my rampant interest in the adventures and exploits of the great mariners, especially the great Admiral of the Chinese Treasure Fleet, Zheng He. This goes a long way in explaining my passion towards Chinese navigation history, manifested in my love of our wonderful Chinese Junk Ship, Hai Long.
That’s me in vertical stripes, middle row. My mother being a frugal homemaker, it isn’t difficult to locate my sibling behind me.
I graduated from Ryerson Polytechnical University, Toronto, with a bachelor of technology honours degree in 1991. I have been working on automobiles since my early teens and grew up in an automotive and mechanical engineering environment. After many successful restorations of gas-powered automobiles, I became actively involved with electric vehicles in 1992. Since 1993, I have served on the executive of Canada’s largest electric vehicle association, the Electric Vehicle Society, in various capacities. In 1996, I decided to take my involvement in electric vehicles one step further with the construction of an electric car to compete in the 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003, “American Tour de Sol” electric vehicle rally, the world’s largest and most popular environmental event. In 2003, my first commercial entry, a Chinese-made electric car, placed first.
I served as president of the Durham Electric Vehicle Association during the 1998-1999 term, when I conceptualized and organized Canada’s first electric vehicle rally entitled the Canadian Clean Air Cruise.
My efforts have been published in a variety of publications including Cottage Life, Toronto Star, Home Power Magazine, The Robb Report, Car Guide, Boating Business, and the New York Times and I have appeared on a variety of radio and television newscasts and talk shows in the U.S. and Canada. My unique story was featured on Rogers Television and on CBC’s Marketplace television, as well as History Television’s “Things That Move”. A story about my efforts to promote my innovative “Loon” solar boat was the topic of a program aired on the Discovery Channel. CBC also covered my efforts to promote solar boating in their Venture program and I went before the Dragons on the first-ever episode of “Dragon’s Den”.
The Tamarack Lake Electric Boat Company was formed by me in 2005 to bring to market my solar boat innovations, such as the “Loon”, a viable solar-assisted electric recreational boat. In 2006, I took my family (including my wife Denise and daughter Deanna) on a 170-kilometer journey down the historic Trent-Severn Waterway, the first to ever do so. Later solar-powered trips included the Rideau Canal and we are the first people ever to travel the New York State Canals in a solar-powered boat (2007).
In 1998, Enviromotive Inc. was formed to fulfill my passion of “pushing the outside of the envelope” of electric vehicle design and implementation and in doing so, increase public awareness of the environmental benefits of clean electric transportation. An electric car dealership was opened in April 2003 in Toronto. Enviromotive worked with Canadian fleet operators to integrate clean electric cars into their fleets and sold electric cars to Transport Canada, the Department of National Defense, Ontario Parks, Parks Canada and the City of Toronto.
I was recognized by my peers and awarded the Keith Crock Technical Achievement Award for “innovations in electric land and water vehicles” by the Electric Auto Association, the parent body of the fifty-plus electric vehicle clubs across North America. In May 2011, I received the Mansura Award, awarded at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London, UK, for my work in building and promoting innovative solarpowered watercraft. The award is considered the Nobel Prize of enviro-friendly boating.
In 2016, we purchased an amazing piece of Chinese nautical history; an authentic Chinese Junk Ship. Hai Long is a rare find, a true Hong Kong-built all-teakwood junk with full provenance. She is authentic and original in every regard, including her large, fenestrated rudder, ornate woodwork and brightwork and her robust teakwood ribs and framework. Her overall condition is remarkable, a pure testament to the previous owner who grew old with Hai Long, having commissioned her bespoke construction in 1968 and making the decision in 2016 to sell to her present owners. With her sails in full bloom, she cuts an impressive profile and becomes the primary subject of discussion amongst all who see the boat.
Retro Futurism Collection
Coquitlam resident Geoff Scott first began his collection in the early 70’s when the only place to acquire such items was through local comic shops or trade magazines. Many of the items in his collection were acquired in the early 90’s through online message boards and early predecessors to eBay. The collection features many one of a kind items that are almost impossible to find today.
Geoff was initially drawn to collecting trading cards, from there he expanded his collection. Companies like Tip-Top Bread or Skelly would include trading cards in their products, Quaker Oats and even egg cartons would either include toys or have part of their package dedicated to be cut out. Quite a few items in his collection are objects like the egg cartons on display, or the kid in an Astronaut suit on a cardboard promoting chocolate. Marketing items of which not many were produced, and have since been largely lost.
Geoff Scott is not only a collector of retro-futurist objects but also a model builder. Displayed here is a model replica of a downtown Vancouver TV station where he worked in the 1980s. He has experience working on movie sets and is currently building a large-scale model of the Star Trek command deck.
Science Fiction in the 1950 and 60s
Science fiction in the 1950s and 1960s played a significant role in Canada, the United States and other parts of the world, however there are some cultural and commercial nuances. During this time, Canada was undergoing a transformation, embracing modernity and technological progress while at the same time navigating its position as a middle power in the Cold War era. Science fiction allowed the engagement with themes like space exploration, technological innovation, and engaging with the ever present anxieties of the nuclear age. Canadian media was strongly influenced by American and British science fiction, however local authors and shows were beginning to contribute to the genre as well.
Canada did not produce as many iconic space heroes as the U.S., however it developed its own science fiction stories along the lines of survival, exploration, and humanity’s relationship with nature - themes that resonated in a country with large swats of forests and wilderness. The Canadian author A.E. van Vogt, though he later moved to the U.S., was an influential science fiction writers of the mid20th century, with works like Slan and The World of Null-A gaining international acclaim. Additionally, Canadian television shows like The Forest Rangers (1963–1965), while not strictly science fiction, incorporated futuristic and technological elements that appealed to audiences fascinated by progress and innovation.
Like the US Canada was also caught in the global boom of science fiction-related merchandise. Space-themed toys, comics, and collectibles became popular among Canadian youth and collectors. Consumers mainly encountered American merchandise. Canadian cereal boxes and lunch boxes featured American space heroes like Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in popularizing science fiction content, aired American shows like Tom Corbett, Space Cadet and Canadian-produced programming, such as Space Command (1953 to 1954. ) This mix of international and domestic material shaped Canada’s engagement with science fiction, making it an unique participant in the retro-futurism of the 1950s and 1960s.
Heritage Maker
Geoff Scott, a Coquitlam resident, first began his collection in the early 1970s. Geoff has spent decades in TV production, bringing Tri-Cities stories to life through his work with Tri-City Community Television (TCCTV). He is an avid collector and model builder.
HOW THE HOBBY SHAPED OUR PAST—AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS
The act of collecting preserves today what will be our heritage and our legacy in the future. Science fiction has always been a gateway to imagining our future. Many people in our community grew up shaped by the ideas that are suggested or tested out in imaginary literature.
COMMUNITY THREADS: HOBBY AS A LOCAL BOND
This collection preserves the role science fiction has played—and still plays— within our community, from model building and collecting to social connections.
HOBBY AS LOCAL HERITAGE: A LEGACY IN THE MAKING
Science fiction contributes to Coquitlam’s local heritage through its connections to filming locations and literature. Riverview Hospital served as a setting for productions like Watchmen, and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem had scenes filmed at Centennial School. Local author Bonnie Quinn, known for her speculative fiction, further roots the genre in Coquitlam’s cultural identity. Private collections, writers, and movies ensure sci-fi remains a visible part of the city’s heritage.
Flash Gordon
Flash Gordon is a comic character originally drawn by Alex Raymond and first published in 1934. He was made by King Features Syndicate largely to compete with the commercial success of Buck Rogers, after they failed to acquire the rights to the John Carter of Mars stories.
The Flash Gordon comic strip follows the adventures of Yale graduate Flash Gordon and his companions Dale Arden and Dr Hans Zarkov, as they come into conflict with Ming the Merciless, the ruler of the fictional planet Mongo. The series was first inspired by Philip Wylie’s novel When Worlds Collide, though it was dismissed for not being action oriented enough and was later reworked by Raymond with the help of ghostwriter Don Moore.
Flash Gordon became one of the most popular American comic strips of the 1930s, resulting in various licensed products, such as novels, toys, radio serials, television shows, and films. It even went on to influence other superhero characters, such as Batman and Superman, whose uniform of tights and a cape were inspired by Flash Gordon. However, with the start of the Second World War, the comic experienced a decline, with limited or discontinued runs in many countries. In Nazi Germany, it was forbidden to include it in any newspaper, while it was restricted to two publications in Italy. After the war, it experienced a resurgence of international popularity.
With the surge in superhero film adaptations, Flash Gordon is amongst the numerous sci-fi properties set to receive a film reboot, which has opened it to criticisms for its racist portrayal of its villain Ming the Merciless. Born in a time of ‘yellow peril’ paranoia, Ming the Merciless is coded as an East Asian character and is depicted as a violent oppressor from whom Flash Gordon must save his girlfriend. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) have since added a warning about discriminatory stereotypes for the film’s re-release.
Captain Video and His Video Rangers
Captain Video and His Video Rangers is an American science fiction television series that aired on the DuMont Television Network. It is noted for being the first of its genre in American television and the first show to feature a robot in live televised science fiction.
The series follows Captain Video, the leader of Video Rangers, who fight for truth and justice in Earth’s distant future. Their uniforms bore resemblance to that of the US Army, while their villains included Doctor Pauli, an inventor who wore gangster-style pinstriped suits and spoke like an amalgamation of a Nazi and a Soviet, and the “wily Oriental” Hing Foo Sung.
Though it was popular amongst children and many adults, the show was known for its crude and low-budget quality, due to being filmed live. It was also derided by critics of the day because of its early run which had been full of incoherent scripts and abrupt plot shifts to old Western films. By 1952, the series finally found its stride, with intelligent and imaginative writing, even featuring well-known writers Isaac Asimov, Jack Vance, and Walter M Miller Jr amongst its writers.
Baking
In the early 20th century, baking was a necessity for the residents of Maillardville and Coquitlam. Bread and pastries were staples, and households often baked their own out of practicality. In 1920, James Russell built a shed behind his home to house the first boulangerie-patisserie in Maillardville.
What was once a necessity has since evolved into a popular hobby. During the COVID-19 pandemic, baking saw a resurgence as more people turned to it for comfort and creativity at home. This shift reflects how often a basic and necessary skill is transformed into a cherished pastime.
What is missing in the display
Many people hope to find in this exhibition displays of that amazing sports team, dance troupe, or theatre group. There is no shortage of groups coming together for sports, hikes, or other shared activities, and all such pursuits are undoubtedly valid and valuable. But we have not featured them in this particular exhibit. For example we featured Coquitlam’s Windies cricket club and Roller Derby club in their own dedicated exhibitions.
What inspired this exhibition, however, was something quieter yet equally profound. The idea emerged from looking at our heritage walking tours and oral history interviews. What we noticed was the potential which existed in our community. A museum’s collection is not just a record of tangible objects, it is also a testament of the intangible. It represents the stories, passions, and traditions that define our community.
The hobbies we introduce in our exhibition are not part of a organised foam group.
They are hidden gems within our community, often practiced in intimate private setting.
But what all theses hobbies have in common is that they reveal beauty, creativity, and dedication. These hobbies are not just pastimes; they are expressions of identity, resilience, and the human spirit.