Holiday Message from the Mayor
The Christmas season offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the year behind us and look ahead with optimism. In Port Coquitlam, 2025 was defined by progress, community spirit, and the shared pride we feel in the place we call home.
This year, our City continued strengthening amenities and public spaces that support healthy, active living, from the completion of Phase 2 of the PoCo Climb, which now offers a fully connected trail experience, to enhanced community events and capital investments that help make Port Coquitlam vibrant and welcoming. We also celebrated the installation of the new Terry Fox sculptures outside the Port Coquitlam Community Centre, an inspiring tribute to a local hero whose legacy continues to unite us.
As we gather for Christmas, I encourage all residents to stay connected, take part in community activities, and enjoy the many winter programs and traditions that make this season special in Port Coquitlam, including the Parade of Lights, festive workshops, holiday skate events, and the arrival of the CPKC Holiday Train.
On behalf of Council, thank you for your continued support and dedication to our community. I wish you a safe, joyful Christmas season, and a happy New Year ahead.
Mayor, Brad West
2025 Highlights
Don’t Miss Out - Festive Events & Activities
Holiday Family Movie: Sing-along to Frozen
Saturday, December 13 from 2 - 4 pm
Families are invited to sing along to the movie Frozen in the Michael Wright Art Gallery. For extra fun, come dressed as your favourite character from the movie! Space is limited and admission is free. Learn more: portcoquitlam.ca/register.
CPKC Holiday Train
Saturday, December 20 at 6:35 pm
Join us for the arrival of the CPKC Holiday Train in Port Coquitlam! The CPKC Holiday Train tours across tons of communities, with professional musicians playing free concerts from the brightly decorated train’s stage. CPKC donates to the local food bank at each stop, with attendees encouraged to also make a donation. This year the Barenaked Ladies will be performing! Learn more: portcoquitlam.ca/holidaytrain.
Holiday Skates
December 20 - January 4 - Port Coquitlam Community Centre
Get in the holiday spirit and lace up your skates! Join us at our holiday skates:
• Skate with Santa: Saturday, December 20 from 2:30-4pm
• Christmas Eve Skate: Wednesday, December 24 from 11:30am-1pm & 1:30-3pm
• New Years Eve Skate: Wednesday, December 31 from 11:30am-1pm & 1:30-3pm
For the full holiday skating schedule visit: portcoquitlam.ca/skating.
Christmas Tree Festival
November 29 - December 21
Vote for your favourite tree in the 13th Annual Christmas Tree Festival, a fundraiser for PoCo Heritage. Details at downtownpocobia.com.
Bundle up, Port Coquitlam, winter fun is coming your way! The City is rolling out a flurry of exciting programs for all ages to keep you moving, creating, and connecting all season long. From fitness, skating and swimming lessons to arts and community activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Check out the Winter Leisure Guide for more information about these programs:
• Day Camps: Plan for the busy season ahead and enroll your child in Pro D Day and Spring Break Camps! From skating to arts and sports, there is lots of fun to be had this winter. Details are in the winter leisure guide, pages 4-7.
• Children’s Services (Ages 3 months to 10 years): Join us for a variety of exciting programs, including after school activities, early-years sports, Playschool Out/Inside, City Preschool, or drop-in programs. Details are in the winter leisure guide, pages 38-45.
• Youth Activities (Ages 11-18): Try out a new hobby in our after school programs. The City offers multiple cooking and crafting programs, pages 32-36.
• Seniors Activities (Adults 60+): Connect with others as you learn how to make beautiful flower arrangements, explore the benefits of drumming or try a new language with beginner Spanish. Join us for one of our free Tuesday Talks sessions, and learn about a variety of interesting topics. Details are in the winter leisure guide, pages 46-49.
• Arts and Culture: Get creative this winter! Make a cosy mug out of clay, learn new printmaking or painting techniques, and shake off the week with a Friday afternoon dance class. We have visual and performing arts programs for all ages. Find out more on pages 50-56.
• Swimming Lessons (All ages): Swim lessons for a variety of levels, including preschool, Swim Kids and Advanced Aquatics. For details, visit portcoquitlam.ca/swimming.
• Public Skating Programs and Lessons (All ages): Take private or group lessons to perfect your skating technique. Schedule: portcoquitlam.ca/skating.
• Fitness (All ages): A variety of fitness, yoga, and wellness classes. Find the schedule at portcoquitlam.ca/fitness.
• Sports (Adults 18+): Get moving this winter and try a new sport. From pickleball, basketball, badminton to volleyball there is something for every level. Schedule: portcoquitlam.ca/sports.
Program and registration information is provided in the winter leisure guide, available online at portcoquitlam.ca/leisureguide. For more information about program registration, contact Recreation via email at recreation@portcoquitlam.ca or call 604.927.PLAY(7529).
asking residents to plan ahead, stay informed, and be prepared throughout the season.
The City’s winter-response fleet includes over 800 tonnes of salt, 20,000 litres of brine, plows, sanders, bobcats, utility vehicles and light-duty trucks designed for cul-de-sacs and narrower areas.
The City also uses a Snowplow Tracker that provides real-time location and route information during snow events. When snowfall arrives, residents will be able to view plow activity and track progress at portcoquitlam.ca/snow.
Once the snow fall starts, crews will be removing snow from priority routes:
• First priority: main and arterial roads, steep hills, school zones along steep hills.
• Second priority: bus routes, school zones (flat areas), collector roads.
• Third priority: residential streets leading to subdivisions, industrial side streets. Back lanes are last priority. Note: Second and third-priority routes are not serviced until first-priority routes are clear and maintained.
Waste Collection in the Snow
The City will collect garbage before recycling when the temperatures drop. If roads are hazardous due to snow and ice, the City may temporarily cancel waste collection. If this occurs, notifications will be posted on the PoCo Sort & Report App downloadable at portcoquitlam.ca/sortreport on the City’s social media channels and at portcoquitlam.ca/snow. Crews will begin collecting waste in missed zones after completing the regularly scheduled zone the next day. It may take several days to complete collection for missed zones.
Clearing Sidewalks
When it snows, all Port Coquitlam residents and businesses are required to remove snow and ice from sidewalks bordering their property by 10 am after a snowfall. Residents and businesses who do not clear sidewalks can face a fine of $150 per incident. If you know of a neighbour that is unable to clear ice and snow, be a good neighbour and help to shovel their sidewalk when you do your own.
For more snow-removal information and winter preparation tips, visit portcoquitlam.ca/snow, use the PoCo Sort and Report app to report any City service issues or email portcoquitlam.ca/report or call 604.927.3111.
Be A Grate Neighbour! Clear Your Catch Basin
Port Coquitlam residents are encouraged to support neighbourhood flood prevention by taking part in the City’s “Be a Grate Neighbour” campaign. With the fall rain season underway, residents can make a meaningful difference by safely clearing leaves and debris from catch basins fronting their homes to help keep water flowing and streets safe.
Find a Catch basins near you: portcoquitlam.ca/catchbasin
Stay Safe this Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time for family, joy, and celebration. However, it also brings unique fire risks that can turn festive moments into dangerous situations. Statistics show that December through February sees the highest number of home fires each year as people rely on portable heaters and adorn their homes with seasonal decorations.
The Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services shares these essential fire safety tips:
Safe Use of Space Heaters
• Choose heaters with a CSA or ULC approved seal.
• Keep the heater at least 1 metre (3 feet) away from anything that could catch fire or burn such as drapes, clothes, papers, people and pets.
• Always turn off and unplug the space heater when you leave the room or go to bed.
Holiday Decoration Safety
• Place your tree at least one metre away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• If using a real tree, purchase one with green needles that are hard to pull from branches, and keep it watered.
• Use flame resistant or flame-retardant decorations.
• Blow out lit candles prior to leaving a room or going to bed, and always supervise children around lit candles.
• Only use lights outside that are designed and CSA approved for outdoor use and fully intact strings of lights without loose bulb connectors or broken or frayed wires.
• Use clips to hang holiday lights, as staples may damage electrical cords.
• Unplug lights when not in use or overnight to decrease risk of electrical fires.
Fire-Safe Holiday Cooking
• When cooking, do not leave your stove unattended and monitor nearby children.
• Stay in the kitchen at all times. Keep a close eye on the food, especially if you are frying.
• Keep things that can catch fire, such as towels, packaging, oven mitts and wooden utensils away from the cooking area.
• Never put water on a grease or oil fire. Cover the pot or pan with a lid or baking sheet and turn off the heat. Do not move the pot or pan while it’s hot. It could spill causing burns or a fire.
• If a fire occurs inside the oven, keep the oven door closed and turn off the heat.
For more information on holiday safety, visit portcoquitlam.ca/fire or call 604.927.5466.
Extra Holiday Pickup
The City’s recycling trucks will visit all five collection zones over the course of Dec. 26 and 27, which would typically be non-collection days due to statutory holidays and weekend. Recycling is picked up biweekly in Port Coquitlam, which sometimes leaves households with full blue carts over the holidays, depending on their pickup days.
The additional pickup will take place:
• Dec. 26: Zones 3, 4 and part of Zone 5 (Langan Street and streets to the north).
• Dec. 27: Zones 1, 2 and the rest of Zone 5 (south of Langan Street).
Details are also posted on the Collection Schedule & Zone Map page at portcoquitlam.ca/waste.
Council Meeting Schedule
Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, except August.
Council Meetings:
• Tuesday, January 13
• Tuesday, January 27
• Tuesday, February 10
• Tuesday, February 24
• Tuesday, March 10
Committee of Council:
• Tuesday, January 20
• Tuesday, February 3
• Tuesday, February 17
• Tuesday, March 3
For full agenda and to watch the meeting from the comfort of your home, visit: portcoquitlam.ca/council
Get Your 2026 Community Calendar & Sort it Right Guide
Port Coquitlam residents can now pick up the City’s annual PoCo Life community calendar, celebrating the events, public spaces and people that make our City a great place to live, work and visit.
Free copies of the 2026 PoCo Life calendar and Sort It Right Guide are available at all civic facilities, including City Hall, recreation centres and the Terry Fox Library. Quantities are limited and available while supplies last. For more information, visit portcoquitlam.ca/2026calendar or portcoquitlam.ca/sortitright.
Get Ready to Have Your Say on 2026 Budget!
Port Coquitlam is inviting residents to share their input as public engagement in late January for the 2026 budget.
Budget details and input opportunities will be posted at portcoquitlam.ca/2026budget.
