Maillardville

Maillardville is a community on the south slope of the city of Coquitlam, British Columbia.

In 1889, Frank Ross and James McLaren opened what would become Fraser Mills, a $350,000, then state-of-the-art lumber mill on the north bank of the Fraser River. By 1908, a mill town of 20 houses, a store, post office, hospital, office block, barber shop, and pool hall had grown around the mill. A mill manager's residence was built that later became Place des Arts.^[1] In 1909, Ross and McLaren, in search of workers, recruited a contingent of 110 French Canadian mill workers from Quebec. With the arrival of a second contingent in June 1910, Maillardville was born. Named for Father Edmond Maillard, a young Oblate from France, it became the largest Francophone centre west of Manitoba.^[2]

In 1971, the City of Coquitlam and the Village of Fraser Mills were amalgamated, which gave the city a larger tax base. The mill closed in 2001, and is now rezoned into a residential area.^[1] Maillardville's past is recognized today in street names, the Francophone education system and French immersion programs, French-language guides and scouts, and celebrations such as Festival du Bois.^[3]

Maillardville celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Fraser Mills: History Retrieved on 15 February 2009
2. ^ City of Coquitlam: History and Heritage Retrieved on 15 February 2009
3. ^ CitySoup.ca: Coquitlam Regional History Retrieved on 15 February 2009
4. ^ Maillardville100.com: 100 Years of History Retrieved on 22 February 2009

External links

• Maillardville 100 Ans/Years
• Maillardville Residents Association
• Festival du Bois
• Scouts Francophones

Coordinates: 49°14′15″N 122°52′01″W / 49.2374°N 122.867°W / 49.2374; -122.867