Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

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Port Coquitlam
(Coat of Arms of Port Coquitlam)	(Flag of Port Coquitlam)
Location of Port Coquitlam within the Greater Vancouver Regional District in British Columbia, Canada
Area	28.79 km² (11.1 sq mi)
Population	57,563 (2005 est.)
Pop'n density	1,998.48/km² (5,176/sq mi)
Location	49°15.74′N 122°46.86′W
Elevation	metres
Incorporation	1913
Province	British Columbia
Regional District	Greater Vancouver
MP	James Moore (Conservative)
MLA	Mike Farnworth (New Democrat)
Mayor	Scott Young
Governing Body	Port Coquitlam City Council Mike Bowen Arlene Crowe Mike Forrest Greg Moore Darrell Penner Michael Wright
Time zone	Pacific (UTC-8)
Postal code	V3B, V3C, V3E
Area Code	604, 778
City of Port Coquitlam
British Columbia Portal

Port Coquitlam is a city in British Columbia. 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.

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

Contents 1 History 2 Demographics 3 Transportation 4 Public Schools 5 Notable residents 6 Surrounding municipalities 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] Demographics

The second half of the 1990s saw a population growth 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 practised were Protestant 36%,Catholic 32%, Other 14%, and No Religion 18%.

[edit] 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 (Vancouver) 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 160. 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. Other bus routes in the city are the 159. The 159 connects southern Port Coquitlam to the SkyTrain. 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 Greater 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 British Columbia provincial highway 7B - borders Port Coquitlam on the east and the south and 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 portion of the city.

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

[edit] Public Schools

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

Riverside Secondary
Terry Fox Secondary

Citadel Middle
Kwayhquitlum Middle
Maple Creek Middle
Minnekhada Middle
Pitt River Middle

Birchland Elementary
Blackeburn Elementary
Castle Park Elementary
Cedar Drive Elementary
Centeral Elementary
Coquitlam River Elementary
Glen Elementary (French Immersion)
Irvine Elementary(French Immersion)
James Park Elementary
Hazel Trembath Elemantary
Kilmer Elementary (French Immersion)
Leigh Elementary
Lincoln Elementary (scheduled for demolision)
Mary Hill Elementary (French Immersion)
Little Krista-Ally-Jessica-Winona Academy

[edit] Notable residents

• Terry Fox, athlete and cancer treatment activist
• Ann Hansen, a member of the Squamish Five, a self-styled urban guerilla group
• Robert Pickton, alleged to be one of Canada's most prolific serial killers
• Joel Wedemire. alleged to be one of Canada's most prolific serial teachers

[edit] Surrounding municipalities

	Coquitlam	Coquitlam
	Coquitlam		Pitt Meadows
		Port Coquitlam
		Surrey	Barnston Island

[edit] See also

• Province of British Columbia
• Greater Vancouver Regional District
• School District 43 Coquitlam
• Tri-Cities (British Columbia)

[edit] References

• Francis, Daniel, ed. Encyclopedia of British Columbia, Harbour Publishing Ltd, 2000

[edit] External links

• portcoquitlam.ca Port Coquitlam website
• Map of Traboulay PoCo Trail

Neighbourhoods in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
Main neighbourhoods	Town Centre | Citadel Heights | Mary Hill | Central Port Coquitlam | Riverwood | Imperial Park | Glenwood | Birchland | Manor | Sun Valley | Lincoln Park | Oxford Heights
Other areas:	Mary Hill Industrial Park | Meridian Industrial Park