by Emily Zhang | May 7, 2022
New Westminster Museum and Archives, 374.
WWII ended on September 2, 1945. More than 45,000 Canadian soldiers lost their lives to the war, including Hugh VanderVeen from Coquitlam. Hugh fought in the Royal Canadian Air Force. In 1944, his entire crew of nine went missing in action in a massive raid in Hamburg and were presumed dead. Hugh’s body was never found. To her dying day, his mother expected her son to return home, but he never did.
PRODUCER: In charge of the entire production, overseeing everything from choosing the production, working with a director, budgeting, venues, and hiring staff.
DIRECTOR: Overseeing the on-stage production, working in collaboration with other departments and actors to ensure a complete and high quality show.
STAGE MANAGER: In charge of organizing and coordinating the productions. Oversees rehearsals, communicating between departments and actors, and supporting the director.
DRAMATURGE: An editor in theatre and opera who researches, adapts, and edits scripts and other texts to ensure a cohesive show.
PROPS MANAGER: Buys, manages, and keeps stock of props for each show. Making sure the correct props are in the correct places.
SET DESIGNER/STAGE DESIGNER/SCENIC DESIGNER: In charge of designing the overall look of a show and creates sets for each scene. Bigger productions often have smaller departments within set design such as carpenters, electricians, painters, etc.
STAGE HAND/TECHNICIAN: Responsible for coordinating and setting up scenes, ensuring everything on set is ready.
WARDROBE SUPERVISOR/COSTUME DESIGNER: Making sure costumes are clean, ready, and assigned to the right actors. On smaller productions, the role of wardrobe supervisor and costumer designer are usually the same person, while on larger productions there would be a separate costumer design department.
LIGHTING DESIGNER/TECHNICIAN: In charge of lighting each scene. Lighting designers design the lighting of each scene while lighting technicians make sure it is carried out.
SOUND TECHNICIAN: Supports the audio during performances, in charge of tasks such as adjusting volumes, mixing sounds, and providing additional sounds as needed.
COMPOSER: Person in charge of the music for the production, either creating and/or playing the music themselves or overseeing a live band or orchestra.
CHOREOGRAPHER: In charge of designing the sequence of movements for scenes involving dancing, fighting, or other action scenes.
316 Marmont St,
Coquitlam, BC V3K 4R1
You really need to understand the customers’ needs. Business will grow when the customers are satisfied with what we provide.
–Angela Chang
Ridgemont Foods is a grocery store located along Ridgeway Avenue in Coquitlam that opened over 40 years ago. Its current owner, Angela Chang bought the store in 2019 and has since been selling grocery goods, lottery tickets, cigarettes, flowers, and other dollar store items. For Chang, understanding her customers is key to providing what they need. Her initial struggle with the cultural differences between Canada and South Korea taught her that her needs from a corner store differ from that of her customers, so she made sure to ask her customers what they want so that her store would better reflect the wants and needs of the community it serves.
(604) 936-3337
1067 Ridgeway Ave,
Coquitlam, BC V3J 1S
My dad had a business. I used to go to help my dad. I like that environment, the interaction with people. I like the small business. I don’t know, I think the interaction with people, it became a part of my life.
–Rojwol Shrestha
Shana’s Flowers is a flower shop and bodega on Gatensbury, Coquitlam that started its operations in 2013. The store sprung from the idea of an Italian restaurant, which had been the initial plan for owner Rojwol Shrestha, whose background is in hospitality and information technology. Due to regulations, however, he changed his mind and instead opened Shana’s Marketplace, a corner store which sold lottery tickets, snacks, and candies. In 2018, as a means to stay competitive, the store transitioned into a flower shop, after Shrestha’s wife Hashna, a former fashion designer in Nepal with a passion for art, said she wanted to focus on flowers. Although different from his academic background, Shrestha enjoys the freedom of a small business and the environment that comes with interacting with people.
https://shanasflowers.ca/shop/
587 Gatensbury St,
Coquitlam, BC V3J 5G4
We try to be friendly to all customers. And we usually know our customers, even their family, even how many people are living in their home and what’s their problem now. Why are they happy right now. And we know most of our customers even by their first name. And we usually talk to them and try to be happy when they come here. And we try to talk to them and make them happy. If they are not happy, we try to make them happy.
–Masoud Zand Mehraban
Shiraz Farm Market is a grocery store in Clarke Road, Coquitlam that began operations in 2017. Owned by Masoud Zand Mehraban, a former interior designer from Iran, the store prides itself in carrying the first fruits of each season and good quality halal meat, the popularity of which is a testament to Mehraban’s dedication to importing from the best. Their halal meat is sourced from Alberta, which according to Mehraban is the closest in taste to Persian lamb. In addition, they also source fruits from all over the region and even the United States to ensure they can offer the first of each season. Located in Burquitlam Plaza, Shiraz Farm Market is a vital component in the revitalisation of the plaza which is now a growing Persian community.
https://shirazfarm.ca/
552 Clarke Rd #405,
Coquitlam, BC V3J 3X5
When I was a kid, I always wanted to go to the snack store at lunchtime, or before school, or after. We just figured it’s going to do better in this area.
–Deepak Jhand
Tri City Snacks N More is a convenience store along Schoolhouse Street in Coquitlam which opened on February 2022, replacing School House Market & Florist. Specialising in rare snacks and flavours from all over the world, the store began as a side project for owner Deepak Jhand, who also runs a vape shop in Surrey. For Jhand, Tri City Snacks is a way to explore business outside the vape industry, and a way to contribute to the local community, the area of which is surrounded by schools, daycares, residential buildings, and a library. Meanwhile the hired managers of the store, a mother and daughter duo who are local to the area, see the store as a way of keeping alive the spirit of the old corner store that was part of their childhoods.
https://tricitysnacks.ca/
642 Schoolhouse St,
Coquitlam, BC V3J 5P9
Sometimes I wonder whether we need so many choices to provide to customers. But when I’m looking toward [what] our competitors have […], we have to… We’re trying to get as much as possible. And hopefully this brings more people. We’re not complaining that we’re not selling our stuff. Quite opposite.
–Grigori Khaskin
Euro Food Tri-City is a grocery store, deli, and catering company located on the Coquitlam side of North Road. The business started in 2010 as a retirement project for Grigori Khaskin, a former chemist at the Academy of Science in Ukraine and retired professor at Simon Fraser University, who owns and runs the shop with his wife, Svetlana. As its name suggests, Euro Food Tri-City specializes in carrying European grocery goods, such as candies, cakes, meats, and cheeses, as well as locally-made delicacies derived from traditional European recipes. Euro Food Tri-City prides itself in providing delicious, niche European products that are rarely found in Canada and items that aren’t simply a repeat of those in big chain stores.
https://eurofood.ca/
555 North Rd #1,
Coquitlam, BC V3J 1X2
Seeing as things have been sped up with COVID coming into play, the digitisation sped up a lot. So now we wanted to make more consumer goods available in an e-commerce platform.
–Saabir Daya
Door Treats is a virtual convenience store that delivers snacks throughout the Lower Mainland from its base of operations in Ketch Court, Coquitlam. Launched in 2022, Door Treats takes its cues from e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Amazon to bring a new twist to the classic corner store model. Owner Saabir Daya, a digital marketer by profession, notes that the digitisation of consumer goods has only sped up with the pandemic and wanted a way to make quality snacks and goodies readily available in a same day delivery platform. However due to the virtual nature of the store, Daya admits that they lack the interactive element inherent in physical shops, and have taken to sponsoring events and maximising their digital media to connect with consumers.
https://doortreats.ca/
1312 Ketch Ct Unit #101,
Coquitlam, BC V3K 6W1
We pride ourselves in our customer service, getting to know our customers, what their needs are, meeting their needs, and to meet the price range as much as we can.
— Janet Tan
Blue Mountain Produce is a grocery store on Ridgeway Avenue, Coquitlam which began its operations as a produce market before expanding into a grocery store. Its owner Janet Tan, a social worker born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, emphasises the importance of community in their business philosophy. To Janet, running a corner store goes beyond selling goods to customers, it is forging relationships with people to better meet the needs of the community. This philosophy has allowed the store to expand its catalogue, which now includes dry goods, frozen meat, and dim sum, as well as support other businesses by carrying locally made and produced goods, such as bakery items.
https://bluemountainproduce.com/
1041 Ridgeway Ave Unit B & C,
Coquitlam, BC V3J 1S6
Mostly I have 80% Filipinos [customers]. It’s all walks of life and all ages. It can be so young and really old. It’s like a home to them. They enjoy coming. Besides, I am the only Filipino store in this area, so it’s a meeting place for everybody.
–Laramie Tan-Amit
Located in Austin Heights, Jeepney Mart is a convenience store that specialises in imported grocery goods from the Philippines. The store opened in 2009, after owner Laramie Tan-Amit was laid off from her accounting job and decided to try her hand at retail business, something she grew up doing in the Philippines. As the only Filipino store in the area, Jeepney Mart prides itself in providing a sense of home for its largely Filipino clientele. For Tan-Amit, Jeepney Mart is not just a place for people to buy things, it’s a place where people can feel comfortable, exchange stories, and learn from one another. Tan-Amit has also incorporated her work as an accountant into Jeepney Mart and currently offers accounting and income tax services in store.
https://www.facebook.com/jeepneymart/
1071 Austin Ave,
Coquitlam, BC V3K 3P2
In the 1920s and 30s, a modest baseball diamond on the current Mackin Park site attracted loyal ball fans from across the region. Each Sunday afternoon, large crowds descended on the park, paid their 10 cents and filled the stands. Many came to cheer on the “Circle F” Fraser Mills team as it challenged teams from Seattle, New Westminster, and the Asahi team from Vancouver. The Mill managers would often import college players from the United States to improve their line-up. These people would be given jobs at the mill. However, they very seldom showed up for work. One man would punch in for about 10 of them.
Group portrait of Circle F players in 1930. Photograph courtesy of City of Coquitlam Archives – CCOQ F20-S02-F20.3338CCOQ C6-S01-C6.933.
On April 12, 1943, the Canadian Western Lumber Company Limited donated Mackin Park to the District of Coquitlam. Mackin Park was officially dedicated as a public park on December 4, 1979.
During the 2011 Canadian Winter Olympics, the Olympic flame came to Coquitlam and a reception was held in Mackin Park on February 11, 2011. The flame was carried by Chris Wilson, a Coquitlam resident and championship wrestler, who represented Canada at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
Anecdotes
During the ’20s-30s, Children would fetch balls for the player in exchange for a nickel, they sometimes earned up to 70~80 cents in an afternoon.
Baseball games were very popular in Maillardville, and they would draw big crowds. People had to come early in order to even get a seat. In the earlier days, women were generally not allowed to come the games, but some women did not take this nonsense and came anyways.
Kenneth Charlton (born in 1919) lived on #47 King Edward Ave., where Mackin Park is now. When he was a kid he planted two chestnut trees. He remembered them being “oh, just two little guys”. Later, when the City cleared out all the houses in the area to make way for the park, they left the two trees standing. One of the trees died in the 1980s. Mr. Charlton, an old man by then, used to walk by every once in a while and pat it and say, “Come on, get better,” but it didn’t. Later, the other tree grew sick and had to be taken down as well.
The Windies Cricket club was created when two teams merged into one. One team, Westcan Cricket Club, was started in 1978 by Vibert Jack of Saint Vincents & Grenadines, and Neville Pemberton, from St. Kitts & Nevis and others. They initially played on a field near Pine Tree. Their rival club was a group of West Indians, mostly from the Surrey area, called the ‘Carib Cricket Club.” The two clubs competed against each other to see which was the best cricket club in the league and determined that they were both good. They decided to form a club with a social club-like atmosphere, that they hope would be the best team in the British Columbia Mainland Cricket Leage (BCMCL) and merged to form the Windies Cricket Club in 1997, under the society name Windies Sports and Cultural Association. They chose the cricket field in Mackin Park to be their home field, and it has served them since 1974.
The Windies, pre-COVID, met regularly at Mackin Park, and hope to resume when things return to normal. The club offers senior men’s cricket for ages 18 to 70, and junior boys’ and girls’ cricket for ages 6 – 18. The Super Strikers are their junior team. They also enjoy social events, such as celebrations of various West Indian Islands’ Independence Days. (The club is supported by various fund-raisers.)
Windies Cricket Club, circa 1990. Photo courtesy of Windies Sports and Cultural Association.
King Street is named after Lum King (林北琼), a Chinese farmer who lived on Alderson and Blue Mountain Street.
Lum King was born in 1877 or 1878, he immigrated to Canada in 1894 and became a naturalized citizen of Canada in 1902, had no religious beliefs, and was literate.
In Lum King’s early days, he had a nice home with a piano and a lovely chandelier in the living room. Sometimes, when people went to pay their milk bill, he would invite them in, and play and sing for them. One of the songs he used to sing was “Annie Laurie”.
He had two horses, Dukie and Dullie. He loved them. As he grew older, Lum King made less money, but refused to sell these horses. This resulted in him losing most of his property to pay his feeding bill.
King was a good friend and neighbor to many people, but after losing most of his property, he shared a stable with his last horse until his death in 1958. (He was 80 years old.)
Those who attended his funeral were each given a shiny five-cent coin. Not a Chinese tradition (that we know of), but a kind gesture, nonetheless.
The Rising Star Church is a more recent addition to the Maillardville community. First established in 2017 under the name The Dream Church, it is an Evangelical Presbyterian Church that focuses on being a good neighbor and sharing God’s love in their community. It is also a social gathering place for the vibrant Korean-speaking community in Coquitlam. The lead pastor is Johnathan Kim (Jong Hyun Kim). The majority of attendees are people in their 20s-40s. (They host in-person service at 2:00pm every Sunday and online service at 8:00 pm every Friday.)
Woody’s Pub was once Woods Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Coquitlam. First built in 1923 by partners Cecil Woods and Albert Houle, Woods Hotel was a beloved gathering place for the Maillardville community. It offered food, beer, and a warm fireplace during the winter months. Other businesses in this area included Bob’s Burgers, the Jubilee Hotel and Sam’s Theatre.
During its many years of business, Woods Hotel was robbed several times. According to one newspaper article by The Vancouver Sun from October, 1944:
The thieves entered the hotel by the front door, using a key which police think was especially made by them. They carefully severed the burglar alarm wires and removed the safe through the back door to a waiting truck…
The safe contained $1500 belonging to the hotel and between $500 and $600 belonging to [the manager]. The Woods Hotel robbery was the latest of 12 similar occurrences in Vancouver beginning Oct. 1. Since that date, five safes have been stolen, three cut open, one stolen and blown open.
Jubilee Hotel on Brunette Street, circa 1936. Photograph courtesy of City of Coquitlam Archives – CCOQ C6-S01-C6.535.
Many houses in this area are either built or remodeled in the 1930s ( including 1077 Alderson, 1037 Alderson, 1038 Alderson, 1039 Alderson, 1045 Alderson, 1055 Alderson…)
Before the 1930s. People built bigger houses, then the Great Depression hit, and people started to seek smaller houses with less maintenance. People who already owned property also tried to downsize and built smaller houses.
During the Depression, one could easily rent great big homes with four and five bedrooms for $10 or $12 a month. At the time, wages were 25 cents an hour for the single men and 27 cents for married men. For reference, in those days you could buy six loaves of bread for 25 cents.
The Maillardville Village Plaza was designed to function visually at a vehicular scale as a green oasis welcoming people to Maillardville. It referenced the structure, materials, and programming of public plazas in France and Quebec in order to capture an appropriate sense of place and pay homage to the French-Canadian heritage in Maillardville.
To further establish this style, in 2001, the City commissioned for a village clock to be put in place. The clock is designed by renowned artist and horologist Raymond Saunders, maker of the famous Gastown Steam Clock. He provided several design drafts to the City. They eventually landed on the design with fleur-de-lys spandrels on the dial and a weathervane on top. At night, it is lighted up by LED lights (originally neon lights), making the time visible, even from afar.
Raymond is currently 82 years old. He performs regular maintenance on the clock every year during daylight saving time.
Raymond Saunders presenting a part of his clock collection.
Raymond Saunders giving Coquitlam Heritage staff a tour in his horology workshop.
Photograph courtesy of City of Coquitlam Archives – CCOQ F1-S11-SS01-F1.010.
This street was likely named after Roderick C. MacDonald. He was the reeve of Coquitlam from 1924-1942. In addition to his political career, he was a wrestler, shoemaker and real estate trader. He had a store on Pender Street in Vancouver, one in Sapperton, and then one in Chilliwack.
MacDonald was a Scottish man and embraced his heritage—including the stereotypes that came with it. His daughter recalled that “he had the old Scottish traditions–very thrifty”. During the Great Depression, he interviewed a young woman for welfare, and was going to gave it to her. Then he saw her pulling out a package of ready-made cigarettes going down the municipal steps– so he did not give her the welfare.
This small church, located at 220 Allard St., in Maillardville, was founded in the early 1970’s by James Blackwell, a Black man who was then a part of the U.S Denomination, Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Memphis TN. The church was popular among the Black residents of Maillardville. To honour this history, Coquitlam Heritage has installed a commemorative plaque on the street-facing wall of the building.
At Blackwell’s passing in 1978, Pastor Fredrick B. Ram took over and the Church (known then as Church of God in Christ of All Nations) served the community there on Allard Street for many years. The church is currently led by Pastor Shailendra Narayan and continues to be a “house of prayer for all nations”.
Allard Family Portrait. Thomas Allard is on centre back. Photograph courtesy of City of Coquitlam Archives – CCOQ F20-S02-F20.3338
Tom Allard was one of four entrepreneurial brothers who came here with their parents in 1912 from Quebec via Saginaw, Mich., and Revelstoke, where they operated a lumber mill.
From growing mushrooms behind municipal hall, and selling them, the enterprising Allards branched out into various endeavors: Tom Allard operated a lumber mill in Ranch Park with his brother, Frank.
Jim Allard started a gravel pit on Pipe Line Road in northeast Coquitlam–it is still in the family. Bill Allard—he was always called the rich Allard—owned a funeral home before establishing a foundry in New Westminster. Later on, Tom Allard would also have a gravel pit on Schoolhouse Road. He was a pipefitter by trade, and was involved in the installation and maintenance of Coquitlam’s water works. He also served as a Coquitlam alderman for 12 years (1929-1942). Allard Street was named after him.
Boileau Billiard Hall with a group of Maillardville men. Louis Boileau is on far right. Photograph courtesy of City of Coquitlam Archives – CCOQ C6-S01-C6.1061
The Boileaus were an old Maillardville pioneer family. Boileau Street was named after Louis Boileau. Louis Boileau had a confectionery, poolhouse and barber shop on Brunette Street; he was noted for being awfully tight. He liked baseball and came to the games in Mackin Park.
Louis Boileau was rumoured to be a rich man. He owned a lot of properties. According to one account, he never went anywhere except the playoff ball games and to collect the rents from his properties once a month. However, nobody wanted to bet with him, and he’d complain: “Whatsa matter, no money this town?”
Despite his grumpy attitude, people still liked Louis. A neighbour recalled that “everyone loved Louis, as he had a wonderful personality and did a grand job with their hair. He was a nice, plump man, real cute. ”
Louis’s nephew (his brother Joseph’s son) Aurele Boileau was said to be the first French Canadian baby boy born in Maillardville. He even had a commemorative silver tray proclaiming he was No.1. Aurele grew up to excel in sports and played on the Circle F team. He started working at Fraser Mill at 17, and was nicknamed Togo by the foreman after the Japanese worker he replaced in the plywood plant. We think the nickname stuck because there was another teammate on the Circle F team named Aurele (Sauve). To distinguish the two, Aurele Boileau became “Togo” Boileau.
The Societé du Foyer Maillard was formed when a French Canadian Maillardville couple made a substantial land bequest in the 1960’s. Their wish was to build an affordable home for seniors. The wish became a reality, with the support and donations of many community residents, CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Cooperation) and B.C. Housing Corporation.
Photograph courtesy of City of Coquitlam Archives – CCOQ C6-S01-C6.674.
Johnny Dicaire a.k.a Mr. Maillardville was also instrumental in the establishment of Foyer Millard. He was one of the first person the recruiters (Théodore Théroux and Father O’Boyle) met in Ottawa in 1909 when the Canadian Western Lumber Company was recruiting skilled workers from the east. Johhny Dicaire was only 17 years old at the time.
In 1931, workers of the mill attempted to unionize and organized a several strikes to pushback wage cuts. Johnny Dicaire was a big supporter of the movement, but ultimately this attempt was not successful, and Johnny was blacklisted by the company for his involvement in the it. This meant that he could no longer find work in Maillardville.
For many years, Johnny lived away from Maillardville and his family in order to earn a living. When he finally returned, he was still beloved by the community and was given the title of Mr. Maillardville because of his popularity and involvement in the town. He was the caller at square dancing, built up an active senior community, and served as president of the old-age pensioners of Maillardville for 15 years.
Foyer Maillard has seen many changes over the years but their continued and selfless commitment to helping seniors in the community has never changed.
Installed in 2010 by local British Columbia artist Douglas Taylor. Opened on October 23, 2010, “Pioneer Spirit” is a gift from the City of Coquitlam commemorating the 1909 to 2009 Centenaire de Maillardville/Maillardville Centennial. The piece embodies the spirit of the pioneers who arrived in the area at the turn of the century, and provides a way-finding presence in the heart of Maillardville.
The kinetic work includes four sails and three solar panels, powering Led lighting and three listening stations. The listening stations allow you to experience a variety of sounds: natural sounds from the immediate area collected by parabolic microphone, archived recordings of the pioneers of Maillardville, and a choral piece called “Ils Rêvent d’un Village” “The Dream of a Village”. This piece was commissioned by the Societe du francophone Maillardville through the 2009 Cultural Capitals of Canada program, and is performed by “Les Échos du Pacifique”.
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