COQUITLAM, B.C., March 31, 2026 – The City has adopted its first-ever Accessibility and Inclusion Plan, advancing ongoing efforts to make everyday life in Coquitlam more welcoming, accessible and inclusive for residents and visitors. 

The Plan builds on the City’s long-standing work to enhance accessibility in the community, while also meeting the requirement for all B.C. municipalities under the Accessible British Columbia Act.

Community Engagement Vital

The Accessibility and Inclusion Plan was shaped by meaningful contributions from community members who generously shared their time, knowledge, and lived experiences, including people from the disability community and other equity-deserving groups. 

Members of the City’s Accessibility and Inclusion Advisory Committee, both past and present, also played a vital role in guiding the work and championing inclusion every step of the way. 

This work is essential because disability is far more common than people may realize. In B.C., nearly 30 per cent of people aged 15 and over live with at least one disability. In Coquitlam, that means about 43,000 residents may experience barriers in their daily lives, often alongside other aspects of their diversity such as their age or gender.  

Strengthening Existing Work

Accessibility and inclusion have long been priorities for the City, guiding ongoing improvements to parks and facilities, services, digital tools, and workplace practices. Building on this foundation, the City continues to identify and remove barriers so it can better serve the diverse needs of the community and its workforce. 

Serving both the organization and the community, the Plan will guide enhancements across six focus areas: Built Environment, Delivery of Services, Employment, Information and Communications, Procurement, and Transportation. 

Over the next three years and beyond, it will support actions that make it easier for people to access City services and programs, move through our public spaces, and participate in community life. 

Moving Forward with Intention

As a forward-looking guide, the Plan is designed to strengthen accessibility and inclusion at the City in a strategic way. In an effort to ensure that community perspectives continue to shape the Plan and future work, there are multiple ways that people can report accessibility barriers and/or share general feedback on the Plan:

• Online: An Accessibility Feedback Form is available at coquitlam.ca/accessibility
• Email: EDI@coquitlam.ca with feedback or to request assistance to fill out an Accessibility Feedback Form
• Call: 604-927-3000 and ask to be directed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion staff
• In-person: Visit City Hall (3000 Guildford Way) and ask to speak to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion staff

This work reflects a continued focus to building a Coquitlam where everyday experiences are more accessible, inclusive and welcoming for people across a range of lived experiences, today and in the years ahead.

Media contact:
Manisha Dutta
Senior Manager, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
EDI@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.