Coquitlam Regional History
The development of the Coquitlam Region began with the British Columbia gold rush of 1858. In that year, Colonel R.C. Moody arrived at Mary Hill with 400 Royal Engineers to establish a provincial capital city. This site was rejected in favour of New Westminster for defense reasons. In 1859, the Royal Engineers built North Road from New Westminster to Burrard Inlet for land access to the Inlet, which forms the boundary between the City of Coquitlam and the City of Burnaby today.
In 1891, the entire Region, with the exception of Port Moody, was incorporated as the District Municipality of Coquitlam. The word "Coquitlam" has its origins to the Burrard Inlet Indians who spoke the language T-Kamanynu. "Coquitlam" pronounced like Kwayquitlam, is believed to be derived from Kokanee or Kickininee, a little red fish identical to sockeye except in size. They are land locked and they grow to a size of about 8 to 16 inches depending on the habitat and food available.
In 1905, the Provincial Government expropriated 1000 acres of land in Essondale (now called Colony Farm) on the Coquitlam River, to establish a residential care facility for mental health patients.
In 1911, another boom was developing in the Region: the first hospital was under construction at Essondale; the Vancouver Golf Club was building a golf course in Burquitlam; and CPR was proposing a major expansion of its facilities in Westminster Junction including a shipyard at the mouth of the Pitt River. There was much speculation in land and the Municipality of Coquitlam invested heavily in the development of new streets and sidewalks, costing more than $200,000.
For the next thirty years, the Region languished with the exception of residential development in Coquitlam and slow industrial growth in Port Moody. By 1951, the population of Port Moody was only 2,200. the City of Port Coquitlam had 3,200 residents (barely the number at incorporation) and Coquitlam had 15,700 people.
The post World War II era signalled an explosive period of growth for the Region, especially in the residential sector. Clusters of small business developed quickly in Coquitlam. Within twenty years, the population of Coquitlam had swelled to many more than 50,000. In Coquitlam, where the principal industrial growth had long been in gravel quarrying, the base was broadened through legislation; in 1971, the local and provincial governments moved to bring about an amalgamation of Coquitlam and Fraser Mills.
Maillardville
This unique community was established in 1909 when the first contingent of French Canadian pioneers arrived by train from the east to work at the Canadian Western Lumber Co. Ltd., now called Fraser Mills. Under conditions of employment with the lumber company, a school, a church and a rectory were built to facilitate this French community. This settlement soon grew into a village and plans were made to incorporate itself as a township. The Provincial Government would not hear of a French town; however, the following year the Federal Government granted it a post office under the name "Maillardville." The name was derived from Father Maillard, the first French priest at the church Notre Dame de Lorde. With a post office and a French Catholic Parish, Maillardville became the fist recognized French Canadian settlement in BC.
Sources: Caron, D.; McWilliam, B.; Ryon, D.; and Rogers, D. - Port Coquitlam: City of Rivers and Mountains - Corporation of the City of Port Coquitlam, 1988. Chambers, Edith - History of Port Coquitlam, 1973 Davis, Charles - The Vancouver Book, 1976 Monk, H.A.J. and Steward, J.A. - A History of Coquitlam and Fraser Mills, 1985
Sources: Caron, D.; McWilliam, B.; Ryon, D.; and Rogers, D. - Port Coquitlam: City of Rivers and Mountains - Corporation of the City of Port Coquitlam, 1988. Chambers, Edith - History of Port Coquitlam, 1973 Davis, Charles - The Vancouver Book, 1976 Monk, H.A.J. and Steward, J.A. - A History of Coquitlam and Fraser Mills, 1985
(used with permission from the Tricities Chamber of Commerce)
