COQUITLAM, B.C., June 18, 2024 – Coquitlam has released its 2023 Annual Report, offering a look back at the City’s accomplishments, financial position and areas of strategic focus over the last year. The full report is available at coquitlam.ca/AnnualReport.
Community Satisfaction and Key Achievements
Results from the Community Satisfaction Survey, conducted by Ipsos, showed that 94 per cent of residents rate Coquitlam’s quality of life as good or very good, and 93 per cent are satisfied with the services provided by the City. These results highlight the City's success in delivering quality services and maintaining a high standard of living.
The detailed survey results and the City’s four guiding Business Plan themes of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Reconciliation; Resiliency; and Balanced Growth and Livability helped to direct the City’s work in 2023, and prioritize the issues that matter most to Coquitlam residents. This included advancing the City’s Housing Affordability Strategy and Climate Action Plan, and initiating a new Strategic Transportation Plan.
Infrastructure and Transportation Enhancements
Transportation remains one of the top three issues identified in the Community Satisfaction Survey. With community feedback helping to shape the direction of future project phases, in 2023 work began on a Strategic Transportation Plan.
Investments in critical infrastructure and public works initiatives, including road improvements, park upgrades, and new paths and sidewalks, help to keep our city safe and vibrant. Major facilities projects, such as the Town Centre Park Community Centre renovations and Spani Pool renewal, were prioritized to address the needs of our growing community.
Housing Affordability Strategy Progress
Through its Housing Affordability Strategy, Coquitlam was able to leverage strong partnerships with the development sector and other governments to increase housing supply and deliver the following in 2023:
- 274 new rental units completed for a total of 980 new rental homes since late 2015, including 400 below- or non-market units (lower rates for lower/moderate incomes).
- Over 11,000 in new rental units in the development process, including nearly 2,000 below- or non-market.
- 2,255 rental units under construction, including 445 below-or non-market.
Notwithstanding Coquitlam’s past success in advancing the delivery of housing supply and infrastructure to support community growth, provincial legislation introduced in late 2023 could negatively impact future housing gains.
Learn more at visit coquitlam.ca/HousingChanges.
Accessibility and Inclusivity Initiatives
Over the past year, Coquitlam also continued initiatives that remove barriers and create a more inclusive community.
In 2023 Coquitlam was one of eight B.C. municipalities and two Indigenous communities to receive a BC Accessibility Grant, delivered through the Rick Hansen Foundation last fall. The grant funding was used to enhance accessibility at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex, Dogwood Pavilion and Town Centre Park Community Centre, as well as provide City staff with accessibility training.
Another focus area was ongoing efforts to enhance the accessibility of public communications materials by integrating industry best practices and elements such as accessible graphs, increased font size and colour contrast.
An Award-Winning City
In 2023, Coquitlam was named one of BC’s Top Employers for a sixth year in a row, and received a Community Excellence Award from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for efforts to reduce wildlife attractants, an Organizational Safety Excellence Award from the BC Municipal Safety Association, and both provincial and national Communities-in-Bloom awards.
The City of Coquitlam also received the “triple crown” from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its most recent financial reports. This designation recognizes governments that have received the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting, Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Reporting Award and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
City Budget Data Available Online
Community members also reflected a strong interest in knowing more about City budgets and spending. In support of its commitment to accountability and transparency, Coquitlam’s online financial data tool offers access to:
- Capital Budgets – a breakdown of the 5-year capital budget down to the project level.
- Project Explorer – a highlight of select new and ongoing projects.
- Operating Budgets – a breakdown of the operating budget.
- 2023 Annual Revenues and Expenses – based on the City’s most recent audited financial statements.
Visit the online data tool at coquitlam.openbook.questica.com.
Media contact:
Gorana Cabral
Director Finance
604-927-3030
FinancialPlanning@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.