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Port Coquitlam

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Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Flag of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Flag
Coat of arms of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Coat of arms
Motto: 
"Working Together For The Future"
Location of Port Coquitlam in Metro Vancouver
Location of Port Coquitlam in Metro Vancouver
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
Regional DistrictMetro Vancouver
Incorporated1913
Government
 • MayorGreg Moore
 • Governing BodyPort Coquitlam City Council
 • CouncillorsSherry Carroll
Mike Forrest
Darrell Penner
Glenn Pollock
Brad West
Michael Wright
 • MPJames Moore (Conservative)
 • MLAMike Farnworth (New Democrat)
Area
 • Total28.79 km2 (11.12 sq mi)
Elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
 (2007)
 • Total55,375
 • Density1,998.48/km2 (5,176.0/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
Postal code span
V3B, V3C, V3E
Area code(s)604, 778
WebsiteCity of Port Coquitlam

Port Coquitlam is a city in British Columbia, Canada. Located 27 km east of Vancouver, it sits at the confluence of the Fraser River and the Pitt River. Coquitlam borders it on the north, the Coquitlam River borders it on the west, and the cities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows lie across the Pitt River. Port Coquitlam is almost entirely bisected by a Canadian Pacific Railway yard with two underpass crossings and one overpass. Port Coquitlam is often referred to as "PoCo." It is Canada's 88th largest city by population.

Port Coquitlam is not to be confused with the adjacent and larger Coquitlam.

History

The area was first used by the Coast Salish people, including the Kwikwetl'em people. The first European settlers began farming beside the Pitt River in 1859. The Canadian Pacific Railway moved its terminus from Vancouver to the banks of the Fraser River in 1911. Port Coquitlam was first incorporated as a municipality on March 7, 1913. Port Coquitlam was originally mostly farm land; however, because of the densification and expansion of Vancouver, it has now become mostly suburban housing, especially on its northern and southwestern sides. The economy has diversified with a variety of industrial and commercial developments, including metal fabrication, high technology industries, and transportation.

Demographics

The second half of the 1990s saw the population grow at a rate of 9.8%, with a large number of immigrants, who by 2001, comprised 25% of the population. English was the first language for 76% of the inhabitants. Religions practiced were Catholic 36%, Protestant 32%, Other 14%, and No Religion 18%.

In 2009 Port Coquitlam was rated 85th for its murder rate (for Canadian cities with a population over 50K). [1]

Transportation

Because of its primarily suburban nature, Port Coquitlam relies heavily on its vehicular roads to move people and goods. For example, two of its major arterial roads, Shaughnessy Street and Lougheed Highway bisect Port Coquitlam east to west and north to south, respectively.

TransLink provides a number of bus routes throughout the city. The most used bus route in this section of the Greater Vancouver Regional District is the 159. The 159 connects southern Port Coquitlam to the SkyTrain. Other bus routes in the city are the 160 and C38. The 160 links Port Coquitlam and Vancouver. It passes through Coquitlam Central Station and Port Moody Station. Two major stops in the city include the Port Coquitlam Centre and the Port Coquitlam Station. Numerous other Community Shuttles serve the Port Coquitlam area, including the C38 which connects Northern Port Coquitlam to Coquitlam Central Station via Port Coquitlam Station.

See also: List of bus routes in Metro Vancouver

The Lougheed Highway passes through Port Coquitlam, running from Coquitlam in the west to the Pitt River Bridge in the east. Although this highway has made much of Port Coquitlam a very congested area, it is one of the few major arterial highways in the area.

The Mary Hill Bypass, officially known as Highway 7B, runs adjacent to the Fraser River from the Pitt River Bridge on the east to the Port Mann Bridge on the west.

Canadian Pacific Railway has a major rail yard in the central sector of the city.

In October 2009 the new Pitt River Bridge, a new seven-lane cable stayed bridge, opened to the public replacing the existing crossing. The previous crossing was made up of 2 swing bridges which were removed upon completion of the new cable stayed bridge. The Pitt River Bridge crosses the Pitt River connecting Port Coquitlam to neighbouring Pitt Meadows.

In March 2010 the Coast Meridian Overpass, a new four-lane cable stayed bridge, opened to the public giving a new option for traveling north to south over the Canadian Pacific Railway Oxford Street rail yard.

A 25 km hiking and biking trail, known as the Traboulay PoCo Trail, completely surrounds the city.

Public schools

Public schools in Port Coquitlam are part of School District 43 Coquitlam.

Secondary schools

Middle schools

Elementary schools

  • Birchland Elementary
  • Blakeburn Elementary
  • Castle Park Elementary
  • Cedar Drive Elementary
  • Central Elementary
  • Coquitlam River Elementary
  • Glen Elementary (French Immersion)
  • Irvine Elementary (French Immersion)
  • James Park Elementary
  • Hazel Trembath Elementary
  • Kilmer Elementary (French Immersion)
  • Lincoln Elementary (Closed in 2007).[2][3]
  • Mary Hill Elementary (French Immersion)
  • Westwood Elementary

Private schools

Notable residents

  • Terry Fox, athlete and cancer treatment activist
  • Robert Pickton, convicted serial killer, alleged to be Canada's most prolific
  • Zach Hamill, professional hockey player, drafted 8th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins

On April 5, 2007, former Port Coquitlam mayor Scott Young was jailed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The arrest is apparently related to a February, 2007 incident in which the mayor was accused of harassing an ex-girlfriend. This is Young's 3rd arrest since becoming mayor in 2001. [4] The Mayor was released on bail and will next appear in court on April 16. [5] He currently faces the following charges under the Criminal Code of Canada: Two counts of assault, one count of breaking and entering with intent, one count of criminal harassment and three counts of breach of condition of a release order.[6] Scott Young stepped aside as Port Coquitlam mayor temporarily on April 13 2007.[7] Scott Young has indicated he intended to return to active mayorship after the Victoria Day holiday, and return Tuesday, May 22, 2007. However, the Mayor did not return until May 28th 2007 which was the last possible day for him to return, as his resignation is automatically tendered by British Columbia provincial law after missing 4 meetings or 60 days of which both would have occurred on May 28th 2007 had he not resumed his duties. [8]

Scott Young was replaced as mayor of Port Coquitlam by Greg Moore on December 1, 2008. Young was defeated in his quest for a councillor's seat in the November 15, 2008 local municipal elections.[9]

Surrounding municipalities


See also

References

  • Francis, Daniel, ed. Encyclopedia of British Columbia, Harbour Publishing Ltd, 2000
  1. ^ Macleans: [1] 14 October 2010
  2. ^ "Save Lincoln School".
  3. ^ "Coquitlam School District 43".
  4. ^ Lower Mainland mayor arrested
  5. ^ Mayor freed
  6. ^ canada.com
  7. ^ "Port Coquitlam mayor steps aside, apologizes". CBC News. April 13, 2007.
  8. ^ Port Coquitlam mayor set to reclaim his job
  9. ^ Port Coquitlam Municipal Elections


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