Nestled in gorgeous natural surroundings, Coquitlam is a picturesque city located at the geographic center of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Part of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, Coquitlam is the sixth-largest city in British Columbia and one of the 21 municipalities that make up Metro Vancouver. Besides, Coquitlam is home to the Molson Canadian Theatre, as well as the large Evergreen Cultural Center. 

What is the community of Coquitlam like? 

Home to around 140,000 residents, Coquitlam is a large, bustling community just 10 to 15 kilometers east of Vancouver.  The community borders Burnaby and Port Moody to the west, New Westminster to the southwest, and Port Coquitlam to the southeast. 
Lying close to Vancouver and surrounded by the rest of the Lower Mainland, Coquitlam offers its residents easy access to virtually unlimited choice in cultural and leisure activities. Nonetheless, the city has fostered its unique appeal among residents and visitors alike and offers tons of exciting things to do within its borders.  
The city is home to a myriad of parks and green spaces, which span over 2,200 acres. Located in the center of the city, Mundy Park is the largest park in Coquitlam, with an area of 435 acres. The Park offers many walking trails, which pass the park's two lakes - Mundy Lake and Lost Lake, sports fields, a lacrosse box, an outdoor swimming pool, a disc golf area, a picnic area, and a playground.  
Besides, the Coquitlam Reds of the B.C. Premier Baseball League plays their home games at Mundy Park, which also plays home to a wide variety of wildlife including black bears, deer, raccoons, ducks, geese, swans, and a large variety of other birds.   
The Blue Mountain Park, at the same time, is among the City’s original parks and continues to be a vibrant community space. In addition to being home to scenic trails, the Park offers a variety of sport and recreation amenities, including a grass playing field, ball diamond, and three tennis courts. On warm summer days, the wading pool and spray park are popular meeting places for families.  
In addition, the Burke Mountain Pioneer Park is a 4.4-acre community park intended to help create a sense of community in Burke Mountain and provides a focal point for socializing, as well as children’s play and recreation.   
Coquitlam is also big on arts and culture. The city is home to the Evergreen Cultural Center, which is located in the Town Center area and features a 264-seat black box theatre, rehearsal hall, art studios, and art gallery. Other artistic establishments in the city include the Molson Canadian Theater, Cineplex Entertainment, and Place des Arts.  

What is Real Estate like in Coquitlam?     

Real estate in Coquitlam has shown incredible growth over the recent years. The home prices in Coquitlam have grown by more than a strong 84% between 2012 and 2021. Also, the city has experienced strong growth during the last 12 months. Between June 2020 and May 2021, the home prices in Coquitlam saw a growth of more than 14.28%.   
The median home price in Coquitlam is around $859,000. Currently, there are 738 active homes for sale in Coquitlam, and at present, it typically takes just 36 days for a listed home to sell. Moreover, the average cost to rent a house in Coquitlam is around $1,550 per month. 

How is the economic landscape of Coquitlam?    

As a bedroom community, the majority of Coquitlam residents commute to work in Vancouver, Burnaby, and other Metro Vancouver suburbs. Coquitlam’s major industrial area is positioned near the geographic center of Metro Vancouver with easy access to the expanding Trans-Canada Highway corridor. This area has been the choice of major retailers including Home Depot, IKEA, HomeSense, and Rona, among others. 
Among the largest employers within Coquitlam are the City of Coquitlam with approximately 850 employees, Art in Motion with approximately 750 employees, and Hard Rock Casino with approximately 600 employees. 

How are the schools in Coquitlam?     

Coquitlam is served by School District 43 Coquitlam and offers four public secondary schools, seven middle schools, and dozens of elementary schools. Besides, Coquitlam Town Centre is home to the 4,000-student David Lam Campus of Douglas College, which offers university transfer, career training, and academic-upgrading programs.  
When it comes to higher education, Coquitlam lies in proximity to several universities, prominent among them being the Simon Fraser University. Established in 1965, the Simon Fraser University is a public research university with three campuses: Burnaby (main campus), Surrey, and Vancouver. The 170-hectare (420-acre) main Burnaby campus on Burnaby Mountain, located 20 kilometers from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and comprises more than 30,000 students and 160,000 alumni.   
Consistently ranked as Canada's top comprehensive university and named to the Times Higher Education list of 100 world universities under 50, SFU is also the first Canadian member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the world's largest college sports association. In the 2020 Academic Ranking of World Universities rankings, the university ranked 301–400 in the world and 13–18 in Canada. Besides, the 2022 QS World University Rankings ranked the university 298th in the world and thirteenth in Canada. 

Coquitlam in a nutshell        

To sum up, Coquitlam is a vibrant community that plays home to several top-notch outdoor recreational facilities and is notably home to more than eighty parks. Thanks to its proximity to Vancouver, Surrey, and various other big cities, Coquitlam offers its residents an infinite array of recreational options, as well as access to the region’s top-notch professional and business opportunities. If you are mulling over moving to British Columbia, Coquitlam is the place to be.