Pitt Meadows, British Columbia

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Pitt Meadows is a City in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Pitt Meadows is part of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. The population of Pitt Meadows was approximately 14,700 in 2001.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Transportation 3 Economy 4 Education 5 Facts

[edit] Geography

Pitt Meadows is a largely flood plain town, sandwiched between the Pitt River on the west and Maple Ridge on the east. To the north, Pitt Lake is the largest fresh water tidal lake in the world, connected by the Pitt River to the Fraser River, which is the southern boundary of Pitt Meadows. The Pitt River flows backwards at high tide and has created a delta where it joins the lake. The northern sector of the flood plain, closest to Pitt Lake, is largely a peat bog including a large wildlife refuge.

On the west side of the Pitt River (closer to Vancouver) is Port Coquitlam.

[edit] Transportation

The main portion of the town of Pitt Meadows is bisected by the CPR mainline. As of 2003, the CPR intermodal yards and distribution centre west of the town centre are being expanded.

TransLink's West Coast Express commuter trains connect Pitt Meadows to Vancouver and Mission.

There are height restrictions on buildings due to the proximity of the Pitt Meadows Airport to the southeast. In 2003, the airport was undergoing expansion to support scheduled passenger service for short-haul prop-driven planes. The airport is also home to a skydiving school, as well as a number of other businesses.

Construction of the Golden Ears Bridge has started in Pitt Meadows.

[edit] Economy

In addition to the commercial activity that already exists in Pitt Meadows, a new retail shopping centre has been built on the border with Maple Ridge. This new shopping center includes a Real Canadian Superstore, Jysk/Winners/Homesense, Michaels, SportChek, Blenz Coffee, a Telus retailer, as well as Bell, EB Games, a new Liquor Store, and a Cineplex Odeon.

Major agricultural products include cranberry and blueberry farms as well as a number of specialty green-houses growing things like cut-flowers and specialty peppers.

[edit] Education

Pitt Meadows has one secondary school, and four elementary schools. Pitt Meadows Secondary School (P.M.S.S.) in particular is well-known around the Fraser Valley and the Greater Vancouver Area for its basketball, wrestling and hockey progams, some of which can be offered as an alternative to Physical Education. Currently, the school has enrolled around 1200 students.

[edit] Facts

• Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer Elmer Tippe is a Pitt Meadows resident^{[citation needed]}.
• Vancouver Canucks star Brendan Morrison is from Pitt Meadows.
• The movie Happy Gilmore was filmed in Pitt Meadows^{[citation needed]}.

Coordinates: 49°14′N, 122°41′W