Community Information: Coquitlam

Coquitlam occupies 130 square kilometers in the northeast sector of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. Bounded by the wilderness of the Coastal Mountains to the north and the mighty Fraser River to the south, this attractive community abounding with parks and recreational facilities offers a relaxed suburban lifestyle 35 minutes from Downtown Vancouver.

Compared with other municipalities in the Region, Coquitlam has a higher growth rate, younger population, and above average income. For additional statistics visit the City of Coquitlam Web site’s Community pages.

Housing and Zoning

For current house prices see our Market Tracker.

Information on housing and zoning, including description of neighbourhoods, development plans, and the recently approved regulations permitting secondary suites, is available on the City of Coquitlam Development Services Web pages .

Shopping, Dining and Entertainment

Three major shopping centres - Coquitlam Centre Mall, Westwood Mall, and Sunwood Square Shopping Centre are concentrated in the Town Centre. A full range of shops and services exist in other areas to serve the needs of local residents.

There are also three movie theatres, one night club and dozens of diverse restaurants and pubs.

Parks and Recreation

Coquitlam is proud of its abundance of green space and leisure facilities. The Minnekhada Regional Park, and the southern portion of the massive Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park lie in its northeast area. Ten major city parks and a multitude of smaller neighbourhood parks are located throughout the city.

Recreational facilities include the Poirier Street Recreation Centre in the southwest, the Town Centre Stadium, the nearby Aquatic Centre in the city centre, and a dozen of smaller facilities such as community centres, outdoor pools and spray parks. For more details you can browse the City of Coquitlam Web site’s Parks and Environment pages.

Transportation

The Lougheed Highway and TransCanada Highway traverse the City linking it to other parts of the Region.

The public bus system enables transit within the city and to and from neighbouring municipalities. The city is also served by the WestCoast Express, a fast commuter rail service connecting Coquitlam Centre with downtown Vancouver. The current SkyTrain project is expected to connect Coquitlam with Vancouver, New Westminster, Surrey, and Burnaby by 2003.

The City has developed elaborate networks of biking and pedestrian routes. More information is available on the City of Coquitlam Web site’s Transportation pages.

Education

School District #43 operates Coquitlam public schools.

• To see the list of schools and additional information visit the School District’s Web site.
• A list of Independent schools is available at the Federation of Independent School Associations’ Web site.
• For school rankings, visit the B.C. Ministry of Education Web Site or contact the Coquitlam School District for detailed school profiles.

The City is a home to the Douglas College David Lam Campus. Information on programs is available at the Douglas College Web site.

Other Web Sites

• City of Coquitlam
• Vancouver Magazine