COQUITLAM, B.C., December 11, 2023 – Coquitlam Archives’ latest online exhibit, Coquitlam in Other Archives, showcases the local records housed in other archives across Canada.
Now marking its 10-year anniversary, the City of Coquitlam Archives nurtures a growing collection of photos and records from both the local government and the community that help paint a vivid picture of Coquitlam and its residents over the years. The City Archives is often the first stop for people seeking historical documents on Coquitlam, but it’s not the only archives that sheds light on the City’s people or past.
Interesting records about Coquitlam and its residents have made their way into other archival collections, as discussed in the Archives’ new online exhibit Coquitlam in Other Archives, at coquitlam.ca/OtherArchives.
Finding Coquitlam in Other Archives
Those with an interest in Coquitlam’s past are invited to view archival collections from outside the community, and to add to their understanding of Coquitlam’s past with documents and images that augment the records held by the City Archives.
Coquitlam Dam – City of Vancouver
In years past, events in Coquitlam drew the attention of the City of Vancouver Archives. The latest online exhibit shares some of the hundreds of photos in Vancouver’s collection about the construction of Coquitlam Dam from 1910 to 1912, as well as of Minnekhada Ranch, a country retreat and hunting lodge owned by the Hamber family from 1932 to 1958 that is now part of Minnekhada Regional Park.
First World War - Library and Archives Canada
Readers also see examples of how family and service records from Library and Archives Canada, the national archives, help create a richer rendering of the life of Alexander Windram, a First World War soldier from Coquitlam whose postcards formed the basis of the City Archives’ inaugural online exhibit in 2017.
səmiq̓ʷəʔelə (Suh-MEE-kwuh-EL-uh)/Riverview – BC Archives
A full picture of the Coquitlam mental health facility formerly known as Riverview Hospital (now səmiq̓ʷəʔelə, pronounced suh-mEE-kwuh EL-uh) is provided through BC Archives’ patient, operational and administrative records. This augments the City Archives’ extensive collection of documents and photos from the Riverview (səmiq̓ʷəʔelə) Hospital Historical Society, School of Psychiatric Nursing and Colony Farm, some of which are detailed in online exhibits. Links to BC Archives’ resources are included in the new online exhibit.
What You Can Find at the City Archives
Information at the City Archives can be divided into two groups: civic and community.
The City of Coquitlam civic records held by the Archives have long-term legal, administrative and historical value, including Council and committee minutes, bylaws, plans maps and aerial photographs.
The City Archives also collects non-government community records that document the social, political, economic, cultural and community life of Coquitlam. These records are donated by individuals, families, businesses, schools, community groups, artists and non-profits, and may include manuscripts, photos, maps, art and recordings.
Both types of records are available to the public at the City Archives at 1171 Pinetree Way. For those who are interested in doing historical research but don’t know where to begin, the online exhibit Archives 101 walks readers through the various options for accessing archival records, including a comprehensive, illustrated step-by-step guide for using the Quest online portal.
Explore Online Exhibits
The City of Coquitlam Archives’ webpage, coquitlam.ca/OnlineExhibit, features more than 20 online exhibits on a variety of topics. Archives staff produce a new exhibit each quarter, mining the Archives for insightful and sometimes quirky stories about Coquitlam’s past. Some exhibits also share information about new acquisitions and highlight upcoming events.
Each online exhibit marries engaging text with scans of documents, maps and photos to bring the subjects to life. Examples include exhibits on Coquitlam’s First World War soldiers, the local business that was Canada’s first plywood producer, early scrapbooking efforts, Colony Farm’s Holstein herd, the Westwood racing circuit, psychiatric nursing at Essondale, the 1981 B.C. Summer Games and more.
About the City of Coquitlam Archives
The City of Coquitlam Archives serves a dual purpose: to preserve and to make accessible. Since the inception of the archives program, the Archives has been raising its profile to encourage people to use its services and discover the many 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.