One of the fastest growing areas within the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the Tri-Cities area of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody continues to attract thousands of new residents each year.
The opportunity to live a relaxed suburban lifestyle and have the amenities required by business to facilitate economic growth has made the Tri-Cities a favoured choice for potential new residents, and in some cases, their businesses.
With its prime location as the geographic centre of Greater Vancouver and a combined population of more than 200,000 people, the Tri-City area is experiencing considerable commercial and industrial development. A continuing residential housing boom sets the table for economic stability.
The planned introduction of a commuter rail service through the region to downtown Vancouver is a positive indication that the area's mounting transportation needs are being addressed. A TransLink commitment to improve transit services - including the Evergreen Line - will help absorb the impact of major new and improved facilities.
Those facilities include a Coquitlam campus to house 2,000 Douglas College students, a multi-purpose community centre, a cultural centre, a police headquarters building, city hall and a library - all in the Coquitlam Town Centre area. There's also a provincial courthouse in Port Coquitlam and a civic complex in Port Moody holding a 200-seat community theatre/council chamber and a state-of-the-art public library.
These additions simply add to the area's desirability as a place to live and work.
The Tri-City area is blessed with an abundance of parkland and scenic shoreline property which combine with a moderate climate to provide residents and visitors unequalled recreation and leisure opportunities.
Coquitlam, for example, has more than 70 active and passive parks totaling more than 3,300 acres. The region is home to three regional parks and has 27 miles (17 kilometres) of waterfront property.
Modern services compliment the area's natural beauty.
Education needs are met by an efficient public and private school system, while Eagle Ridge Hospital services Tri-City residents from its Port Moody location.
Located approximately 25 miles (16 km) from Vancouver, the Tri-City area is accessible by road, rail, air and water. Vancouver International Airport is Canada's second busiest air terminal, with direct links to other Pacific Rim countries as well as Europe, Australia and South America. The Canada-United States border at Blaine, Washington, is a 40-minute drive from Coquitlam.
Major employers in the Tri-Cities area include both the private sector and government agencies. Retail trade and manufacturing supply the most jobs in the region with health, social service, construction, wholesale trade and business service following.
Some sectors, including manufacturing, retail trade, business services and transportation, have grown rapidly as the region's economy has matured with population growth and land development. Manufacturing and construction remain the prime focus of the secondary sector due to the continuing building boom in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
