COQUITLAM, B.C., Sept. 14, 2023 – As Coquitlam’s current City Hall turns 25, a new in-person exhibit at the City Archives recounts the municipality’s many homes over the years.
The exhibit, entitled Coquitlam’s Municipal Halls: A History, shares the journey of Coquitlam’s seat of government from the first Council meeting in a community hall in 1891 to the current City Hall that opened Sept. 19, 1998 at 3000 Guildford Way.
The exhibit is on display until March 15, 2024 at the City Archives office at 1171 Pinetree Way. Visitors are welcome during drop-in hours, Tuesday to Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.
Seven Homes in 132 Years
Featuring text, photos and historical office equipment and supplies from the Coquitlam Heritage Society, the exhibit leads visitors through the seven locations of Coquitlam’s government since its incorporation in 1891, including two community halls, a rail station and a private home.
Tenures ranged from a few months to six decades. Long-time Coquitlam residents will recall the longest-serving location at 1111 Brunette St., in what was once the thriving commercial hub of Maillardville. The first Municipal Hall on the site opened in 1920, and was demolished and replaced in 1971 by a new hall that served until 1998, when today’s City Hall opened in the newer commercial centre up the hill.
While at the Brunette location, the District Municipality of Coquitlam became a City in 1991, prompting the change from Municipal Hall to City Hall.
Sharing Coquitlam’s History
This new in-person exhibit is an example of the City Archives’ ongoing work to preserve and share the history of Coquitlam’s civic government and community.
The Archives is a resource for residents and researchers alike, providing information and insights from Coquitlam’s past through online and in-person exhibits as well as access to a vast collection of unique and authentic historical records.
Visitors may drop in to the Archives Tuesdays through Thursdays from 12 to 4 p.m., or make an appointment on Mondays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Before scheduling an appointment, those with research projects are encouraged to search the Quest online portal first to see what is available. Archives staff are available to help with searches.
About the City of Coquitlam Archives
City of Coquitlam Archives serves a dual purpose: to preserve and to make accessible the records of enduring value of the City of Coquitlam and its predecessor administrative bodies. Since the inception of the program, the Archives has been raising its profile to encourage people to use its services and discover the trove of records in the collection.
For more information about the City of Coquitlam Archives, visit coquitlam.ca/CityArchives.
Media contact:
Jamie Sanford
City Archivist
604-927-3900
archives@coquitlam.ca
We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.