Coquitlam is fast becoming the Lower Mainland's number one location for lifestyle and business.  The City's open and accessible government enables all members of the community - business and residents - to prosper and grow in a safe and clean environment.

City Profile

Coquitlam is strategically located at the geographic centre of the Lower Mainland, making the City an attractive place for residents, industries and a thriving retail sector. Coquitlam is bordered by the municipalities of Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Burnaby and New Westminster, as well as the Fraser River to the south, Pitt River to the east and the Coastal Mountains to the north.  

Coquitlam Today - A Growing City

Growth in Coquitlam through the early and middle parts of this century was steady.  The opening of the Lougheed Highway in 1953 made the City more accessible and set the stage for residential growth in the early 1960s.  Coquitlam experienced a period of boom in the mid-1970's which continues today.

Population

Population trends in Coquitlam are indicative of changes in the region. Greater Vancouver is one of the most rapidly growing areas in Canada, and Coquitlam is among the fastest growing municipalities in the region.

Year                Coquitlam                Region **

1976 *               55,464                 1,166,348

1981 *               61,077                 1,268,183

1986 *               69,291                 1,380,729

1991 *               84,021                 1,602,502

1996 *             101,820                 1,831,665

2001 *             112,890                 1,986,965

2006 *             114,565                 2,116,581

Coquitlam's population increased by over 21% between 1986 and 1991, and again from 1991 to 1996.  A further increase of 10.9% occurred between 1996 and 2001.

* Statistics Canada, Census Data
** Regional totals reflect the Vancouver Census Metropolitan  Area
    Source: Greater Vancouver Key Facts

Today, there is the continuing development of attractive residential areas offering a mix of housing types, the pedestrian-oriented Town Centre, a wide range of commercial activities, major industrial/business parks, and new recreation facilities. The pattern of growth has given Coquitlam diverse neighbourhoods within four distinct areas.

Southwest Coquitlam

The Southwest is well established with a network of public and commercial services and residential neighbourhoods. This area is characterized by a variety of building styles, from the modern to the historical, graced with the French-Canadian flavour of Maillardville. Coquitlam's three major industrial and business parks are strategically located between the Fraser River and Lougheed Highway.

The Town Centre

Coquitlam's Town Centre is a newer, 720-hectare community. It provides a dynamic focus as the Regional Town Centre for the northeast sector of Greater Vancouver. When planning for the Town Centre began in the mid-1970s, the area contained only a handful of homes and a small neighbourhood centre. Today, there are over 9,400 homes and a wide variety of commercial services.

The Town Centre core is also a focal point for civic, cultural and educational services.  The City Centre Aquatic Complex, Town Centre Stadium and Park, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Public Safety Building, Coquitlam City Hall, the David Lam campus of Douglas College, Pinetree Secondary School and the Pinetree Community Centre, can all be found in the Town Centre area.

While the Town Centre area is a thriving commercial and residential area, it also offers a direct link to nature, with hiking trails along Hoy Creek and Coquitlam River. Watching the salmon return to spawn in these watercourses is enjoyed by many, with an average of 500 people attending the "Salmon Come Home" event at Hoy Creek each fall.

Westwood Plateau

North of the Town Centre lie the Westwood lands - featuring 570 hectares of prime residential development with widespread appeal. Cluster houses, townhomes, single family houses, two golf courses, creeks and walking trails will attract a population of 15,000 to Northwest Coquitlam's Westwood Plateau.

Northeast Coquitlam

Northeast Coquitlam is highlighted by both Minnekhada Regional Park and the southern portion of the massive Pinecone Burke Provincial Park. Currently almost 4,000 people live in a mix of older, well-established and new neighbourhoods, as well as extensive rural properties and farms.

Infrastructure