Burquitlam, Coquitlam

Living & working in Burquitlam, Coquitlam

Burquitlam, also known as West Coquitlam, is a transit-oriented neighbourhood at the border of Burnaby and Coquitlam that is undergoing rapid high-density urban transformation. While historically dominated by detached single-family homes, the local housing stock is transitioning to high-rise condominium and rental towers, low-rise apartments, townhouses, lofts, and studios. The primary transit and commercial corridors defining the area include Clarke Road, Como Lake Avenue, North Road, and Austin Avenue. Local recreation and green spaces include the nearly two-acre Burquitlam Park, which was revitalized through a municipal partnership with Concert Properties and the YMCA to include the Bettie Allard YMCA facility. This redevelopment project also enabled a 2.55-acre expansion of the nearby Cottonwood Park. Daily lifestyle in the area is structured around these public facilities, landscaped pedestrian pathways, and localized retail services.

The local business ecosystem is driven primarily by retail, service-oriented occupations, and rapid real-estate construction. The planned redevelopment of commercial hubs like Burquitlam Plaza along Clarke Road is expanding space for local businesses, restaurants, and professional offices. Remote-work options are integrated into local residential developments, with both the Myriad tower and the Burquitlam Park District featuring dedicated, light-filled co-working spaces and meeting rooms for residents. Off-site remote workers utilize independent coffee shops in the area, such as BjornBar Bakery located across from the transit station, and Coffeeholic in the nearby North Road commercial hub. Commute and transit connectivity is anchored by Burquitlam Station on the Evergreen Extension of the Millennium Line SkyTrain. This rail link, combined with TransLink bus routes including the 143, 151, 156, 180, and N9, provides direct access to major employment hubs such as downtown Vancouver, Burnaby’s Lougheed Town Centre and Simon Fraser University, Port Moody, and Coquitlam Centre. Clarke Road and Como Lake Avenue serve as the primary automotive arterials connecting drivers to regional highways.