PORT COQUITLAM, BRITISH COLUMBIA

'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. Port Coquitlam is commonly referred to as "Poco."
Port Coquitlam is not to be confused with the adjacent and larger Coquitlam.

Contents

History

Current mayor's legal troubles

Demographics

Transportation

Public schools

Private schools

Notable residents

Surrounding municipalities

See also

References

External links

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.

Current mayor's legal troubles

On April 5, 2007 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. ^[1]
The Mayor was released on bail and will next appear in court on April 16. ^[2] He currently faces the following charges under the Canada criminal code: Two counts of assault, one count of breaking and entering with intent, one count of criminal harassement and three counts of breach of condition of a release order.^[3] Scott Young stepped aside as Port Coquitlam mayor temporarily on April 13 2007.^[4]
Scott Young has indicated he intends to return to active mayorship after the Victoria Day holiday, and return Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

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 Protestant 36%,Catholic 32%, Other 14%, and No Religion 18%.

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 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.
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 - 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 sector of the city.
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.
Riverside Secondary

Terry Fox Secondary

Citadel Middle

Kwayhquitlum Middle

Maple Creek Middle

Minnekhada Middle

Pitt River Middle

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 Elemantary

Kilmer Elementary (French Immersion)

Leigh Elementary

Lincoln Elementary (scheduled for closure June 30, 2007.)^[5][6]

Mary Hill Elementary (French Immersion)

Private schools

Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School
British Columbia Christian Academy

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

★ Zach Hamill, Junior hockey player who got drafted 8th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft

Surrounding municipalities

See also

★ Province of British Columbia

★ Greater Vancouver Regional District

★ School District 43 Coquitlam

★ Tri-Cities (British Columbia)

References

★ Francis, Daniel, ed. ''Encyclopedia of British Columbia'', Harbour Publishing Ltd, 2000
1. Lower Mainland mayor arrested
2. [1]
3. [2]
4. [3]
5. Save Lincoln School
6. Coquitlam School District 43

External links

★ portcoquitlam.ca Port Coquitlam website

★ Map of Traboulay PoCo Trail