What Vancouver is known for

Situated in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, the Coquitlam Destination contains several prominent cities including Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, and the namesake, Coquitlam. As of 2021, an estimated population of 148,625 residents inhabits Coquitlam, making it the sixth-largest city in the province. The city encompasses a total land area of approximately 152.5 kilometers square (58.9 square miles) and is primarily suburban. The majority of those who reside in Coquitlam commute to work in Vancouver and other Metro Vancouver suburbs such as Burnaby, for example.[1]

Vancouver is located north of the border between British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington. The city occupies land slightly south of the destination’s central region and is notably the most populous city in British Columbia. Nearly 2.6 million people reside in the Greater Vancouver area as of 2021; however, the combination of Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley constitutes a regional population of about 3 million people. With over 5,700 people per square mile, Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada and the fourth highest in North America after New York City, Mexico City, and San Francisco. Vancouver is considered by many locals and visitors alike to be fairly diverse regarding the city’s ethnic and linguistic culture as 49.3% of visitors are non-native English speakers.[2]

A relatively high quantity of visitors are drawn to Vancouver annually for various tourist attractions as well as the outdoor recreational activities that the city has to offer. Vancouver has an elected park board that operates over 250 parks; 24 community centers that contain swimming pools, arenas, and playing fields; and 3 championship golf courses. The largest park in Vancouver is Stanley Park which covers 404 hectares (1,000 acres) and is home to an abundance of wildlife, ancient cedars, and a path along a seawall.[3] 

Aside from the parks, people also tend to visit Vancouver’s beaches, one of the more popular ones being English Bay. A number of events take place at English Bay such as the Polar Bear Swim on January 1st of every year. During this event, many people in Vancouver go to English Bay to swim in the ocean when temperatures are generally colder. The city also hosts a festival called the Celebration of Light from late July to early August. Typically fireworks are lit during the Celebration of Light.[4]

Coquitlam, the destination’s namesake, is mostly known for its wide range of outdoor recreation that visitors can pursue throughout the city, which may involve hiking, mountain biking, fishing, golfing, or visiting the many gardens of Coquitlam. The Holy Creek Trail, Westwood Plateau Trails, Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, and Minnekhada Regional Park are some areas where designated trails wind through the city’s forested regions. The city has about 100 kilometers of pathways for hiking and walking that all range in difficulty between easy, intermediate, and advanced. Furthermore, numerous sports facilities and recreational areas allow visitors to engage in disc golf, tennis, hockey, and lacrosse, among other activities.[5]

Geography

A sizable portion of the Coquitlam Destination is comprised of the Pacific Ocean from the southwest to the north. Ferry routes that lead from the B.C. Ferry Terminal in Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay, Langdale, and Bowen Island course through this oceanic section of the destination’s western region, serving as a continuation of the Trans Canada Highway. To the south of Vancouver and Coquitlam near Boundary Bay, the Fraser River flows from the destination’s southwest area to the east into Pitt Lake, Hayward Lake, and Harrison Lake, all of which are located outside the Coquitlam Destination’s borders. Beyond the natural aquatic landforms that characterize the topography, nearly the entirety of the destination’s northern area is comprised of mountainous land, while the southern portion is urban.

The aforementioned Horseshoe Bay neighbors Cypress Provincial Park to the northeast. Forests of fir, hemlock, and yellow cypress, hence the name, can be found throughout the park. Many outdoor enthusiasts visit Cypress Provincial Park for wildlife viewing and hiking. With regard to wildlife, the park encourages visitors to be wary of potentially harmful wildlife as it has been reported that the park is home to a fair amount of bears.[6]

Coquitlam contains several habitats for wildlife and serves as a place of dwelling for deer, coyotes, bears, skunks, raccoons, pigeons, and crows. The city tries to prompt residents to rid the neighborhoods of any attractants, intending to keep animals away from residential areas.[7] Similarly, Vancouver tries to address the wildlife found in neighborhoods humanely as the city frequently receives common rock doves, European starlings, rabbits, rats, and Eastern grey squirrels. Roughly 500 species of birds, 140 species of mammals, and 400 species of fish can be found in the Vancouver area.[3]

The climate in Coquitlam during the summer has been described by previous tourists as “comfortable” and “partly cloudy,” while the winter season has been said to be “cold” and “wet” with overcast skies. According to those who have visited the city, the reportedly “best time of year” to go to Coquitlam is from mid-July to mid-August, especially for those who plan on undertaking warm-weather activities. Generally speaking, temperatures vary between 32 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of the year. The warm season tends to last from June to September with moderate temperatures reaching above 70 degrees Fahrenheit on average. July is most commonly the hottest month of the year with an average high of 76 degrees Fahrenheit. As for the cold season, temperatures typically drop below 48 degrees, though December, the coldest month in Coquitlam, has temperatures that fall between 33 and 42 degrees on average.[8]

From October to April, Coquitlam receives the most amount of precipitation, with a greater than 37% chance of any given day being a wet day. November generally has an average of 18.1 wet days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation, making it the month that receives the highest number of wet days in comparison to the rest of the year. Precipitation diminishes from April to October, and August is most commonly the month that receives the least amount of precipitation. The most prevalent form of precipitation that the city experiences is rain.[8]

History

Coquitlam’s name supposedly derives from a Coast Salish term, Kwikwetlem (kʷikʷəƛ̓əm), which translates to English as “red fish up the river.” The Kwikwetlem people inhabited the area between the Fraser and Coquitlam rivers. It wasn’t until the 1860s that European settlement took place, which began after Simon Fraser, a European explorer, passed through the area in 1808.[9] 

During the mid-19th century, Coquitlam’s early stages of development entailed the construction of North Road to allow royal engineers in New Westminster to have year-round access to port facilities in Port Moody. The first “boost” for Coquitlam’s economy took place in 1889 when Frank Ross and James McLaren opened Fraser Mills, a lumber mill situated on the north bank of the Fraser River. Throughout several years of development, by 1908, the city had become a mill town comprised of 20 houses, a store, post office, office block, hospital, pool hall, barber shop, and a Sikh temple, all of which surrounded the mill. Moreover, the settlement constructed a mill manager’s residence that later became Place des Arts.[1]

The towns of the Lower Mainland, including Coquitlam, experienced significant population growth after World War II, which presently continues. More residents came to the city when Coquitlam improved its accessibility after the construction of the Lougheed Highway in 1953. The amalgamation of Fraser Mills and Coquitlam occurred in 1971, ultimately giving the city a larger industrial base.[1]

Following World War II, Vancouver received an influx of people from East Asia. This led to the city becoming Canada’s main business hub for trade with Asia and the Pacific Rim. The city has served as a popular destination for immigrants from other parts of Canada and from overseas throughout its history.[10] Currently, the pan-ethnic demographic statistics show that residents of East Asian descent account for about 29.26% of the city’s population, which is the second-most common pan-ethnicity after those of European descent which totals 43.22%.[2]