COQUITLAM, B.C., July 20, 2026 – A proposed wildlife corridor along Partington Creek on Burke Mountain will help protect one of Coquitlam’s most ecologically important natural areas while supporting thoughtful neighbourhood growth.
The corridor will preserve a critical connection for wildlife movement between Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, Minnekhada Regional Park and surrounding green spaces on Burke Mountain. The protected area also includes a salmon-bearing creek that supports a diverse range of wildlife species.
Expanding Protected Natural Areas
The initiative follows a 15-month wildlife monitoring study commissioned by the City before development could occur in the area. Using motion-activated cameras, the study captured more than 400,000 wildlife images documenting 57 species, including several provincial and federally listed species at risk.
The study also recorded more than 31,000 images of black bears across more than 2,600 independent events, confirming the corridor as one of the most active bear habitats documented in the community.
The City has secured additional environmentally sensitive lands to establish the first phase of the wildlife corridor between Cedar Drive and Victoria Drive as part of a proposed townhouse development in the area. The plan includes a 50-metre-wide corridor along Partington Creek, expanding to a 100-metre buffer at a wildlife “hot spot” identified through the study.
Protecting Habitat While Planning for Growth
As part of the proposal, lands surrounding Partington Creek would be transferred to City ownership and designated as parkland to support long-term environmental protection. The project would also expand Knoll Park and create a larger continuous natural buffer adjacent to the creek corridor.
The corridor is intended to help reduce human-wildlife conflict by maintaining large natural areas where animals can safely move, forage and access habitat away from residential areas. The proposal also supports broader goals within the Partington Creek Neighbourhood Plan to balance housing needs with environmental stewardship.
Wildlife species documented during the study included black bears, cougars, bobcats, river otters, coyotes, bald eagles, barred owls, western spotted skunks, beavers and great blue herons.
The first phase of the wildlife corridor is being secured through three related development projects on Burke Mountain, which include more than 400 townhouse units, transportation improvements and additional parkland dedication. As part of these projects, the City is protecting the Partington Creek Wildlife Corridor at no cost to taxpayers by securing land through the development approval process.
The first development proposal within the corridor received first reading from Council on May 25, 2026. Following a Public Hearing on June 22, 2026, Council granted second and third readings. If the development proceeds, approximately 30% of the identified wildlife corridor will be protected. For more information on the project, visit the City’s current development applications page.
Media contact:
Caresse Selk
Senior Manager Environment
604-927-3500
epw@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.