# Coquitlam Town Centre

Coquitlam Town Centre is the main commercial and retail neighbourhood for the city of Coquitlam, British Columbia. Coquitlam Town Centre covers 723 hectares (1,787 acres). The Town Centre also contains the highest concentration of high-rise condominiums in the Tri-Cities and northeastern Metro Vancouver.

## History

The concept of a town centre for the area dates back to 1975. In 1979, Coquitlam Centre Mall was built and became the main catalyst for the creation of a Town Centre. Over the following years, rapid population growth took place as new housing and low rise apartment developments were built over previously forested areas.
In the early 2000s, the City of Coquitlam updated the Town Centre Plan. Shortly thereafter during the mid 2000s, City Centre began to densify as various high-rise condominium developments took place. This is reflected in the rapid population growth of the recent decade, as City Centre grew by over 15% from 2011 to 2016.
The intent is to have a concentration of high-density housing, offices, cultural, entertainment and education facilities to serve major growth areas of the region, served by rapid transit service.
Coquitlam Town Centre is currently undergoing an update of the Town Centre plan.

## Geography

Geographically, Coquitlam has two large parcels of land (one in the south-west, the other in the north-east), with a smaller central area between them. This central area, Coquitlam Town Centre, was designated as a "Regional Town Centre" under the Metro Vancouver's Livable Region Strategic Plan.

## Demographics
### Population

Upon completion of the Coquitlam Centre Mall in 1979, the population of Coquitlam's City Centre was estimated to be 5,000.
Today, City Centre has grown to a population of 31,380.

### Ethnicity

| Ethnic groups in City Centre (2016) Source: | Ethnic groups in City Centre (2016) Source: | Population | % |
| Ethnic group | European | 14,070 | 43% |
| Ethnic group | East Asian | 10,845 | 33.1% |
| Ethnic group | Middle Eastern | 3,405 | 10.4% |
| Ethnic group | Southeast Asian | 1,520 | 4.6% |
| Ethnic group | Aboriginal | 905 | 2.8% |
| Ethnic group | South Asian | 830 | 2.5% |
| Ethnic group | Latin American | 580 | 1.8% |
| Ethnic group | Black | 465 | 1.4% |
| Ethnic group | Other | 600 | 1.8% |
| Total population | Total population | 33,038 | 100% |

### Language

| Languages spoken in City Centre (2016) Source: | Languages spoken in City Centre (2016) Source: | % |
| Language | English | 69% |
| Language | Chinese | 14% |
| Language | Korean | 6% |
| Language | Persian | 4% |
| Language | Other | 7% |
| Total % | Total % | 100% |

## Rapid Transit
### Evergreen Extension

Three stations for the Evergreen Extension are in operation in the town centre - Coquitlam Central, Lincoln, and Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station, which is the terminus of the SkyTrain line.

## Facilities

Public facilities presently at the Town Centre Park area include:
| Coquitlam City Hall | Coquitlam Public Library | Police Station | Fire Hall |
| Innovation Centre | Douglas College | Pinetree Secondary School | Evergreen Cultural Centre |
| City Centre Aquatic Complex | Percy Perry Stadium | Lafarge Lake |

## Parks

* Glen Park
* Town Centre Park

## Retail and Shopping

Coquitlam Centre - constructed in 1979 is the main mall in the City Centre.
Other major retail centres:
* Pinetree Village
* Sunwood Square
* Henderson Place Mall
* Westwood Mall
* Various mini malls in the Glen and Johnson area

## Schools
### Elementary

* Glen Elementary
* Walton Elementary
* Nestor Elementary

### Middle

* Maple Creek Middle
* Scott Creek Middle

### Secondary

* Gleneagle Secondary
* Pinetree Secondary

### College

* Douglas College (David Lam Campus)