Maillardville’s story begins with work, migration and the search for a place to belong. In 1909, Fraser Mills recruited French-Canadian workers from Eastern Canada. Families built a community near the mill, and the neighbourhood took the name of its first priest, Father Maillard.
Coquitlam Heritage describes Maillardville as the largest Francophone community in Western Canada. That history lives in more than a label. Homes, institutions, family stories and gatherings all helped give the area a distinct identity while the city around it changed.
To explore it, start with Coquitlam Heritage’s history materials or a self-guided heritage walk. Look for the modest details as well as the landmarks: a street name, an older house, the distance between a workplace and a home. Remember, too, that Fraser Mills drew workers from many backgrounds, including Sikh and Chinese communities whose histories deserve attention alongside the better-known French-Canadian story.