News Flash

The world’s biggest sporting event is coming to our region, and Coquitlam is getting ready to celebrate.

COQUITLAM, B.C., March 11, 2026 – The world’s biggest sporting event is coming to our region, and Coquitlam is getting ready to celebrate.

With the World Cup coming to North America, the City is planning a series of free, family-friendly events from June 11 to July 19 so the community can join the excitement close to home. From block parties to large outdoor viewing events, residents will have the chance to gather with friends and neighbours, cheer on their favourite teams and experience the energy of a once-in-a-generation global sporting event.

The Summer of Soccer initiative is supported through City reserves, ensuring the events can be delivered free for residents.

Whether you’re a lifelong soccer fan or just in it for the atmosphere, Coquitlam residents will have plenty of ways to join the celebration – no stadium ticket required.

Summer of Soccer Highlights

Residents can look forward to four unique viewing experiences across the city this summer, each offering a different way to gather, celebrate and enjoy the excitement close to home:

• Kick-off Event – Percy Perry Stadium (Friday, June 12) – Celebrate Canada’s opening match with a stadium-style viewing experience featuring a large screen, halftime entertainment and interactive soccer activities on the field.
• Community Viewing Party – Blue Mountain Park (Wednesday, June 24) – Bring a blanket or lawn chair and cheer on Team Canada at this relaxed neighbourhood viewing party with food trucks and a casual park atmosphere.
• Canada Day Soccer Viewing Area – Town Centre Park (Wednesday, July 1) – This activation will offer casual drop-in viewing that complements the broader Coquitlam Celebrates Canada Day festivities.
• Grand Finale Viewing Party – Percy Perry Stadium (Sunday, July 19) – Don’t miss the tournament’s final match as Percy Perry Stadium transforms into a lively fan zone with big-screen viewing, activities for all ages and a celebratory atmosphere.

Each City event will feature large-screen match broadcasts, food trucks and a lively sporting atmosphere. Admission is free, for everyone to attend.

Neighbourhood Block Parties Bring the Action Home

To help bring the tournament spirit to every corner of the community, the City is offering two options of soccer-themed block party packages. For 2026, residents may apply to host gatherings with one of two soccer-themed party packages. All approved block parties will receive soccer-themed play kits, encouraging informal play and family-friendly activities. 

• Package 1: World Cup Soccer Watch Party (20 packages available) - The City will provide the screen and streaming infrastructure for live viewing through a contracted supplier for a neighbourhood soccer viewing party. 
• Package 2: World Cup Soccer Celebration (20 packages available) - Residents will receive a $500 grant towards the hosting of a soccer-themed neighbourhood celebration.

Enhanced Block Parties make it easy to celebrate soccer and community close to home. These packages are limited and applications will open closer to the start of the tournament. To learn more and stay updated, visit coquitlam.ca/soccer

Stay in the Loop

Further details about the Summer of Soccer schedule, programming information and event updates will be shared closer to the tournament. For more information, visit coquitlam.ca/soccer.

Media contact:Heidi HughesTourism and Visitor Economy Manager 604-927-6970FestivalsAndEvents@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.

Apply for a $500 Neighbourhood Small Grant to fund a local project that brings your community together to share skills and strengthen connections.

COQUITLAM, B.C., March 11, 2026 – Apply for a $500 Neighbourhood Small Grant to fund a local project that brings your community together to share skills and strengthen connections.

Applications are open until April 30 at coquitlam.ca/NeighbourhoodGrants. 

Support for your Dream Project

Neighbourhood Small Grants help remove financial barriers for small-scale community projects. These grants are exclusively for informal groups or individuals that live in Coquitlam and are looking to fund initiatives within their neighbourhoods, including workshops, social gatherings or improvement projects.

Examples of past projects that have made use of the Neighbourhood Small Grants include:

• Lending libraries
• Recycling or upcycling events
• Workshops on gardening, crafting, or Indigenous art
• Community performances or sports events
• Pollinator gardens or other environmental projects

All grant-funded projects need to be offered free to participants and must be completed by November 30, 2026. Project participants are encouraged to share their experiences and photos on social media and tag @cityofcoquitlam.

Easy to Apply OnlineVisit coquitlam.ca/NeighbourhoodGrants to submit your online application. The closing date for all applications is April 30. Grant recipients will be notified by email and receive funding shortly after confirmation. 

This program is a partnership between the City of Coquitlam, the Coquitlam Foundation, Vancouver Foundation, and the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC.

Building Stronger Communities with Grants

The Neighbourhood Small Grant program is part of Coquitlam’s ongoing efforts to build welcoming, connected communities through initiatives like Block Party Grants, Neighbourhood Nights and volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit our Welcoming Neighbourhoods webpage. 

Media contact:Ami GoshaliaNeighbourhood Small Grant CoordinatorNeighbourhood Small Grants – Coquitlam 604-468-9598NSGCoquitlam@gmail.com 

Jenny LushDirector of Partnerships & Planning604-927-6132jlush@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.

The City of Coquitlam Council awarded Freedom of the City honours to two distinguished community leaders during a special ceremony on March 9, 2026.

COQUITLAM, B.C., March 10, 2026 – The City of Coquitlam Council awarded Freedom of the City honours to two distinguished community leaders during a special ceremony on March 9, 2026. 

John Cashore and Mary O’Neill were recognized for decades of dedication to public service, education, social justice, community well-being and environmental protection.

Freedom of the City reflects the values that define Coquitlam — service, compassion, leadership and stewardship — and is reserved for those whose contributions have shaped the City’s social, environmental and civic landscape.

Recognizing Lifetime Contributions

John Cashore was honoured for his extensive public service and advocacy in environmental protection, Indigenous relations, mental health and social justice. A former Member of the Legislative Assembly and provincial cabinet minister, his leadership contributed to the protection of significant natural areas, including Pinecone Burke Provincial Park and ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park, while advancing human rights-based approaches in mental health care and affordable housing initiatives.

Mary O’Neill was honoured for her outstanding contributions to education, student well-being and community support. Over nearly four decades in School District 43, she played a pivotal role in crisis response programming, restorative justice initiatives and counselling supports for students and families. Since retiring, she has continued to support vulnerable populations and mentor future counsellors and educators, including serving as an instructor at City University of Seattle (Vancouver Campus), where she supervised teachers completing their Master’s Degrees in Counselling.

Coquitlam’s Freedom of the City Recognizes Outstanding Citizens

Freedom of the City is the highest honour Council can give to recognize distinguished service to the community. Recipients of this honour in Coquitlam have made outstanding, long-term contributions to the city and supported significant improvement in community life and culture.

To date, Coquitlam has awarded Freedom of the City on 12 individuals: Sandy Burpee, Fern Bouvier, Don Cunnings, Reverend John Davies, Dorothy Fleming, Larry Fleming, Rene Gamache, Dr. J. Crosby Johnston, Jean Lambert, Bob McNary, Eunice Parker, Leonore Peyton.

To learn more about the Freedom of the City award and past recipients, coquitlam.ca/Freedom.

Media ContactLindsey GristDirector, Legislative Services Legislative Services Division604-927-3010CommitteeClerk@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.

BC Hydro will be completing utility work along Guildford Way, west of Town Centre Boulevard on March 12 and 13, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastbound and westbound traffic will be limited to a single-lane along sections of Guildford Way.

What:  BC Hydro Utility Work 

Where: Guildford Way, west of Town Centre Boulevard (Location Map)

When: Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Traffic Impacts: During active construction, eastbound and westbound traffic will be limited to a single-lane along sections of Guildford Way.  Traffic control personnel will assist pedestrians and cyclists.  Please plan an alternate route to avoid delays or plan extra time when using this route.

Travel with caution through construction zones, watch for work crews and equipment, and obey all traffic personnel and signs, including construction speed limits. Thank you for your patience.

For more information, contact:Public Works Liaison604-927-3550pwl@coquitlam.ca  

Single-lane alternating traffic will be in place along Robson Drive between Kenney Street and Blackwater Place starting March 9 for approximately 3 weeks, as Metro Vancouver completes underground utility relocation work. Please plan extra time.

What: Metro Vancouver Coquitlam Water Main – Underground Utility Relocation Work

Where: Robson Drive between Kenney Street and Blackwater Place (Location Map)

When: Starting Monday, March 9, for approximately 3 weeks. Work will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Traffic Impacts: Single-lane alternating traffic will be in place along Robson Drive between Kenny Street and Blackwater Place.  Please plan extra time when using this route or plan alternate route.

 Travel with caution through construction zones, watch for work crews and equipment, and obey all traffic personnel and signs, including construction speed limits. Thank you for your patience as Metro Vancouver's contractor completes this necessary work. 

 Follow the City on our social media channels Facebook and Instagram where we update regularly with info on traffic hot spots.

For more information, contact:Metro Vancouver Information Centre: 604-432-6200After Hours Emergency: 604-451-6610Email: icentre@metrovancouver.org (Include “Coquitlam Water Main – Robson to Guildford Section” in the subject line)Website: metrovancouver.org (Search for “Coquitlam Water Main – Robson to Guildford Section”)

City crews will be completing underground utility work along Moray Street between Pinecrest Avenue and Brookmount Avenue on Monday, March 9 to Wednesday, March 11, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Single-lane alternating traffic will be in place. Plan alternate route.

What: Underground Utility Work 

Where: Moray Street between Pinecrest Avenue to Brookmount Avenue  (Location Map)

When: Monday, March 9 to Wednesday, March 11.  Work will take place between the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (weather dependent)  

Traffic Impacts: During active construction, single-lane alternating traffic will be in place on Moray Street.  Please plan an alternate route to avoid delays or plan extra time when using this route. 

Travel with caution through construction zones, watch for work crews and equipment, and obey all traffic personnel and signs, including construction speed limits. Thank you for your patience.

For more information, contact:Engineering and Public Works - Customer Service604-927-3500epw@coquitlam.ca