COQUITLAM
Coquitlam is the sixth-largest city in the province, with a population of 139,284 in 2016. The city is always buzzing with activities and is home to Canada’s largest functional fitness event, CanWest Games. The earliest residents of this area were the Central Coast Salish Kwikwetlem Peoples, who still reside in the area. Coquitlam is derived from their traditional name and means "small red salmon," which refers to the salmon that once travelled up the Coquitlam River to spawn in Coquitlam Lake.
Neighbourhoods of Coquitlam B.C.
Maillardville
Maillardville is Coquitlam's Most Historic Neighbourhood. It was once the largest francophone community west of the Rockies, but its French population has slowing declined in the last years.
Mackin Park is home to Festival du Bois every year, a weekend celebration of francophone culture. This park has playing fields, ball diamonds, tennis courts, walking trails, a playground, spray park, large skateboarding area and Nelson Creek. If you’re looking for another great playground in this neighbourhood, try Rochester Park, which features a spectacular nature-themed playground structure, zip line, climbing wall, tube slide, saucer swings and more.
Surrounded by shopping and entertainment, it has its own movie theatre, pubs, lots of great restaurants. Maillardville is also closer to Lougheed Skytrain and transit than most of the other Coquitlam neighbourhoods.
(Credit: https://www.searchbcrealestate.com/blog/top-5-neighbourhoods-coquitlam/)
Coquitlam West (Burquitlam)
Also known as Burquitlam, Coquitlam West is situated between Burnaby and Coquitlam. North Road, which is the main thoroughfare through Burquitlam, was the first road built in the lower mainland! It was originally constructed to connect New Westminster to Port Moody.
This neighbourhood features two SkyTrain stations: Lougheed Skytrain and Burquitlam Station. As you exit North Road you have a variety of food options and shopping at Lougheed Mall. If you love golfing, Vancouver Golf Club is nearby and it is recognized as one of the finest 18-hole courses in the Pacific Northwest.
(Credit: https://www.searchbcrealestate.com/blog/top-5-neighbourhoods-coquitlam/)
North Coquitlam
This area is very appealing to many people moving to Coquitlam due to proximity to Coquitlam Town Centre Mall. It also has three Skytrain stops: Coquitlam, Lincoln and Douglas stations. Douglas College is nearby with many public elementary schools close by. There are many restaurants in the area and not to mention the famous Lafarge Lake and Coquitlam Town Centre Park within walking distance. This park also features Canada Day Fireworks yearly which draws many visitors to a free fireworks display.
(Credit: https://www.searchbcrealestate.com/blog/top-5-neighbourhoods-coquitlam/)
Westwood Plateau
Westwood Plateau is a neighbourhood in the northern region of Coquitlam. Between 1990 to 2005 the area transformed into one of the higher end neighbourhoods in the lower mainland. There is tons of greenery here with the famous Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club located at the top of the hill. The area also features many great schools. There is a nice retail plaza nearby called Westwood Plateau Village featuring many shops includings an IGA grocery store and Starbucks. If you enjoy hiking, there are several trails nearby and you can almost certainly discover wildlife by living in Westwood Plateau.
(Credit: https://www.searchbcrealestate.com/blog/top-5-neighbourhoods-coquitlam/)
Burke Mountain
Burke Mountain is one of the newer development areas in Coquitlam, conveniently located with quick access to Highway 1 and the Mary Hill Bypass. It is rapidly growing and it is located in the northeast side of Coquitlam and North of Port Coquitlam. There are many good elementary schools nearby, with plans for future schools, shopping and parks are expected to be built here. The area also has many new homes being built. You are close to nature with several hiking trails. The Skytrain to Lafarge-Douglas is within 10 minutes, or, you can head over to the Westcoast Express. The views on top of Burke Mountain are spectacular. You are also very close to Fremont Village with lots of shopping such as Costco, Home Depot and Walmart.
(Credit: https://www.searchbcrealestate.com/blog/top-5-neighbourhoods-coquitlam/)
City Centre
From shopping to great dining, sporting events and live performances, Coquitlam’s City Centre is a hub of activity (Credit: Tourism Coquitlam). According to the Tri-City News “over the next 25 years, Coquitlam's City Centre is expected to transition from a suburban shopping hub to an urban downtown, serving residents beyond the municipal borders and acting as a focal point for Metro Vancouver's northeast sector” (Gary McKenna / Tri-City News). Further: an entertainment district with bars, restaurants and theatres is proposed along an extended version of The High Street that will continue south over what is now the Coquitlam Centre mall parking lot.
Out & About
Westwood Plateau Golf Course
This golf course is one of the many award-winning courses in Coquitlam BC. Located just 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Westwood Plateau is a master-planned community set high above the municipality of Coquitlam on Eagle Mountain. Over the past 10 years the golf courses and their facilities have been consistently recognized for outstanding service (5th Best Customer Service in North America by Golf Digest Magazine – 2002) and product quality (Best New Course in Canada – 1996).
(Credit: https://poco-inn-and-suites.com/about/our-neighbourhood/#Westwood)
Shopping Central
Pop into Coquitlam Centre, just steps from Lincoln SkyTrain station, to stroll through its nearly 200 stores or hit up the Farmers Market for fresh local produce, handcrafted goods, and mouth-watering food trucks. From Koreatown’s North Road to Place des Arts’ artisan shop, travelers on the hunt for the best shopping won’t need to go very far.
(Credit: Tourism Coquitlam: http://visitcoquitlam.ca/see-do/adventures-outdoors/parks-gardens/parks-playgrounds/)
Mundy Park
This temperate rainforest is a magical place and one of Coquitlam’s most treasured urban forests. At Mundy Park locals come for respite in nature unspoiled. Home to owls, deer, butterflies and black bears, with an extensive 16 km trail system, you will find unexpected serenity.
Pause to look for local wildlife, take the scenic loop around Mundy Lake or rest at the viewing benches at Lost Lake. There is also a sports fields, lacrosse box, outdoor swimming pool, disc golf area, picnic area and playground on the outer edges of the park. An extraordinary place to explore.
(Credit: Tourism Coquitlam: http://visitcoquitlam.ca/see-do/adventures-outdoors/parks-gardens/parks-playgrounds/)
Hard Rock Casino
Home to the only Hard Rock Casino in Canada, you can up your side hustle playing the slots or placing bets at a Blackjack table or blend into the crowd for a live performance. Where adults come to play, Hard Rock is full of fun memorabilia, live shows and a wide selection of restaurants on site. Local bands take the stage each weekend, filling the dance floor in the Asylum Lounge, and big-name acts at the Molson Canadian Theatre draw crowds from all over British Columbia. For a more chilled out vibe with handcrafted cocktails, park yourself at the Unlisted Lounge and check out. (Credit: Tourism Coquitlam: https://visitcoquitlam.ca/see-do/entertainment/things-to-do/)
Town Centre Park
Make like a local and head over to Town Centre Park, one of the most recognized Coquitlam parks. This sprawling green space is home to the picturesque Lafarge Lake (stocked with trout for fishing), so it’s no wonder it was named the Best Public Space by the Canadian Institute of Planners in 2017. Town Centre Park is a destination on its own.
Children go wide-eyed when they see the colourful playground, but the park also has a large spray park, sand volleyball courts, skate park, sports court, tennis courts, free outdoor table tennis and foosball tables. With easy lakeside trails and a massive green space to zone out, this will give you a sense of the wonder of nature around us.
(Credit: Tourism Coquitlam: http://visitcoquitlam.ca/see-do/adventures-outdoors/parks-gardens/parks-playgrounds/)
Westwood Plateau Trails
If you’re looking for a challenging experience with steep terrain in a dense forest setting, try the Ridge Park Trails on Westwood Plateau. The trails can be accessed from a number of locations including Parkway Boulevard and Hampton Park. These trails total approximately 23 km and while many have manageable slopes, take care on gravel surfaces and steeper sections. Accessible by transit, this trail system offers scenic, forested hiking with bountiful wildlife. Map the trails at trailsbc.ca.
(Credit: Tourism Coquitlam: https://visitcoquitlam.ca/see-do/adventures-outdoors/hiking/)
Coquitlam Crunch
Hike the Coquitlam Crunch, a heart-pumping outdoor stair-climb trail with a net elevation of 242 metres leading up Westwood Plateau. This challenging fitness trail starts at the base of Westwood Plateau and climbs 2.2 km to the summit on Eagle Ridge Dr. Start by climbing more than 400 stairs followed by an uphill hike, with the entire loop taking approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete. The Crunch is open year-round and is free of charge. Free parking is available off Lansdowne Dr. and it’s also accessible by transit from Coquitlam Central SkyTrain station. For trail route information, visit coquitlam.ca/crunch.
(Credit: Tourism Coquitlam: https://visitcoquitlam.ca/see-do/adventures-outdoors/hiking/)
Food is at the Heart
Coquitlam is a multicultural city, with flavours heralding every corner of the world. Sit back and let your taste buds explore – from traditional recipes passed down through generations to creative west-coast inspired dishes. Incredible culinary experiences can be found hidden in neighbourhood plazas or down unassuming streets. Local tastes and global flavours are closer than you think.
(Credit: Tourism Coquitlam: https://visitcoquitlam.ca/eat-drink/)