Maillardville, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
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
. 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
.
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. 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
.
Maillardville celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
In 1889, Frank Ross and James McLaren opened what would become Fraser Mills
Fraser Mills
Fraser Mills is a neighbourhood and formerly separate village municipality in the southwestern part of Coquitlam, British Columbia.Located on the northern shore of the Fraser River, the area was originally the site of a sawmill. The mill was known at first as the Ross McLaren Mill and opened in...
, a $350,000, then state-of-the-art lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
mill on the north bank of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
. 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
Place des Arts (Coquitlam)
Place des Arts is a non-profit teaching arts centre located in the Maillardville area of Coquitlam, British Columbia.Founded in 1972, the centre offers programs in visual arts, music, drama, dance and creative writing...
. In 1909, Ross and McLaren, in search of workers, recruited a contingent of 110 French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
mill workers from Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. With the arrival of a second contingent in June 1910, Maillardville was born. Named for Father Edmond Maillard, a young Oblate
Oblate (religion)
An oblate in Christian monasticism is a person who is specifically dedicated to God or to God's service. Currently, oblate has two meanings:...
from France, it became the largest Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
centre west of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
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. Maillardville's past is recognized today in street names, the Francophone education system and French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
programs, French-language guides
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
and scouts
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
, and celebrations such as Festival du Bois
Festival du Bois
Festival du Bois is the largest and most attended Francophone festival on the west coast of Canada, held in the Maillardville neighbourhood of Coquitlam, British Columbia...
.
Maillardville celebrated its 100th birthday in 2009.