Coquitlam

About Coquitlam

Before we proceed we wish to acknowledge the ancestral, traditional, and unceded Aboriginal territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, and in particular, the Kwikwetlem First Nation, on whose territory the Tri-Cities stand.

Kwikwetlem refers to the unique sockeye salmon that once ran abundant in Coquitlam River and Coquitlam Lake, sustaining the community for thousands of years. The Arrival of Settlers Beginning in the early sixteenth century, European fishermen caught cod off of the coast of Newfoundland and developed working relationships with the indigenous peoples, trading metal and cloth goods in exchange for beaver furs and fresh meat. 

The Colony of British Columbia 

Due to the instability, chaos, and attention from the US that was brought on by the gold rush, Britain decided to formally create the colony of British Columbia. After the Royal Engineers disbanded, the Sappers became some of the first Caucasian settlers in Coquitlam. Due to the fact that Coquitlam was deeply forested and had access to rivers for transportation, many began working the land for lumber, beginning Coquitlam’s history of millwork.

Fraser Mills

In 1889, shortly before the incorporation of Coquitlam in 1891, Canadian Western Lumber Company, also known as Fraser Mills, was founded on the banks of the Fraser River. Fraser Mills soon became the largest mill in the Commonwealth.