Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

We’re Still Here for You

The City of Port Coquitlam is taking proactive action to protect public health while continuing to provide essential services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Please watch this page for updates. Any changes to services will be posted here and on social media – Twitter and Facebook.

Sign up for Email Updates

Stay up to date with our e-newsletter!

Subscribe

Our Approach

  • The City is guided by provincial and federal authorities on health matters and is committed to responding promptly to each new directive.
  • The health and safety of residents and employees is our top priority.
  • Decisions to close facilities or cancel events are not taken lightly, but are made when necessary to protect public health.
Do Your Part and Stay Safe

Help flatten the curve – please follow safety measures as directed by health authorities:

  • Physical distancing: Stay at least 2 metres (six feet or two arm lengths) away from anyone not from your household.
  • Regularly and thoroughly wash hands with soap and water (use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available).
  • Avoid touching your face.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze.
  • Discard tissues and disposable masks into a waste container.
  • Avoid gathering in large groups.
  • Wear a mask. Masks are mandatory in indoor public spaces
What We're Doing

Port Coquitlam is actively monitoring updates from local, provincial and federal health authorities and is taking immediate action as directed to protect the safety of residents.

To help prevent the spread of the virus, the city has:

  • Posted signage at facilities and public spaces reminding the public and staff of proper hygiene and social distancing requirements.
  • Assigned bylaw enforcement officers to help ensure compliance with provincial health orders.
  • Activated the City’s Emergency Operations Centre.
  • Activated the City’s business continuity plan to ensure we can maintain our core services such as water, sewer, police and fire.
  • Provided remote access tools for key staff to work from home.
  • Kept the public informed.
City Services

The City has partially reopened select facilities and reintroduced some modified programs.

Essential services continue to be provided, including fire and police protection, water and sewer services, garbage collection and critical infrastructure maintenance and operations. 

A variety of services are also still being provided by phone, email and online. Click here to view department contact information.

City Hall Temporarily Closed to the Public

Your health and safety is important to us, City Hall is temporarily closed to the public, but open for business. Our online services and staff are available to help you 8:30am-4:30pm.

Business and Development Services

Seniors Services

Council Meetings and Public Hearings

Events and Programs

All events and programs in City facilities and parks have been cancelled, postponed or modified to comply with direction from the Provincial Health Officer to physically distance and to limit public gatherings to 50 people.

Full refunds are being provided for activities or rentals affected by the closures.

City Events

  • Virtual versions of some popular City events are taking place. Watch this website or follow the City of Port Coquitlam on social media for updates.

Membership / One City Passes

Monthly and annual membership passes continue to be suspended. Passholders will be contacted when passes are reinstated.

Questions about recreation programs: recreation@portcoquitlam.ca or 604.927.7529.

Recreation Programs

City Facilities

The City has begun to reopen select facilities with enhanced public health measures in place. Strict adherence to public health directives will be in effect at all facilities as they reopen. Measures will include:

  • Hand sanitizing stations,
  • Signs, physical barriers, floor markings and one way traffic to ensure physical distancing and to direct traffic flow,
  • One way entrance to and exiting from facilities,
  • Masks worn by all staff.
  • Signs encouraging visitors to wear masks, and
  • Enhanced cleaning, particularly of common touchpoints such as door handles and countertops.

City Hall

City Hall is temporarily closed to the public, but open for business. Our online services and staff are available to help you 8:30am-4:30pm.

Recreation Facilities

In keeping with PHO, effective at midnight indoor adult group fitness classes including aqua-fitness will be cancelled from March 30-April 19. Those registered in these classes refunds will be credited to your account. If you would like a complete refund please contact Recreation at recreation@portcoquitlam.ca or call 604.927.7529.
 
Our recreation facilities that offer indoor individual activities including pre-registered public swimming and weight room access will remain open and have COVID-19 safety protocols in place. Pre-registration is required at portcoquitlam.ca/register.
 
For more information on the public health orders please visit gov.bc.ca/covid19.

Port Coquitlam Community Centre

  • Two arenas are open for bookings by user groups with approved COVID-19 safety plans. User groups must comply with the City’s COVID-19 Facility Safety Plan for Port Coquitlam Community Centre.
  • Weight training areas are open (Masks must be worn at all times including while exercising. Physical distance of 2.5M (8ft) between each patron in all directions must be maintained while exercising)
  • All services will require advanced pre-registration.
  • No spectators are allowed at any sport activities under the order. The only people allowed to attend sport activities are those that provide care to a participant or player. For example, providing first aid.

Hyde Creek Recreation Centre

  • Indoor swimming is open. Advanced registration is required.

Leigh Square (Outlet and Gathering Place)

  • Pre-registered programs at the Gathering Place and the Outlet are available.

Terry Fox Library

  • Open with limited hours: Mon – Thu – 10 am – 6 pm and Fri-Sat 10 am – 5 pm

Council Meetings and Public Hearings

Business and Development Services

The Annex will continue to be open on an appointment-only basis; this will be reassessed in mid-September based on the success of the City Hall partial reopening.

City Parks and Natural Spaces

Residents are still encouraged to get outdoors for their mental and physical health, provided they avoid large groups and stay at least two metres (six feet) away from anyone not from their household. Please use safely and responsibly.

Open:

  • All City parks and playgrounds
  • Traboulay PoCo Trail and local trails
  • Public washrooms in parks (with increased cleaning)
  • Sports courts and sports fields
  • Skate and bike skills parks
  • Dog parks

Bookings for Sports Fields

User groups that have finalized safety plans may book fields.

Prior to booking a sports field, local sport organizations must have:

  • A sport-specific COVID-19 Safety Plan that details precautions to be put in place to mitigate the risk of virus exposure or infection, and that has been approved by the group’s board of directors or provincial sport organization.
Businesses

The city is offering more support to local businesses by opening up streets and sidewalks for patios, lineups or display space and offering in-kind services.

These changes were approved by City Council to help local businesses take advantage of B.C.’s phased restart plan, which will allow some businesses to reopen soon with appropriate public health protocols in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The changes include:

  • Opening up public rights-of-way such as streets, sidewalks and parking lots around businesses for commercial activities such as patios, lineups and product displays,
  • Supporting these uses by offering in-kind services such as construction of temporary platforms or mobile structures, reconfigured lane markings, revised parking restrictions or relocated infrastructure such as signs, planters, benches, waste containers, 
  • Streamlining processes and provide a “one-stop shop” for right-of-way encroachment permits,
  • Waiving the related application, security and other permit fees for 2020 and
  • Temporarily eliminating late fees for business licences.

City staff will work with businesses to provide advice about how they can meet the regulatory and insurance requirements. Interested businesses should contact the City’s Property Use Coordinator at business@portcoquitlam.ca or by phone at 604-927-5266.

Resources for businesses:

Community Resources
  • Kids Help Phone – Provides young people with the support during difficult times. As an e-mental health service.  Text CONNECT to 686868. You can also reach a Kids Help Phone counselor 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868.
  • BC 211 – Provides free information and referral regarding community, government and social services in BC.  Call 2-1-1 or visit bc211.ca
  • S.U.C.C.E.S.S. – Immigration Settlement and Integration Programs can assist newcomers and refugees in a number of languages:
    Arabic: 236-880-3048 |Korean: 236-880-3071 | Vietnamese: 236-880-3250 | Chinese: 604-889-2486 | Japanese: 236-880-3392 | Farsi: 236-880-3483
    Tagalog: 236-838-5782 | Punjabi: 604-362-0216
  • Safe Seniors, Strong Communities Program – Matches seniors who need support with non-medical essentials, to volunteers in their community for services such as grocery shopping and delivery, meal preparation and delivery, prescription pickup and delivery, phone and/or virtual friendly visits. To register for services, or to offer help, call 211 or go to m.bc211.ca.
  • BC Virtual Mental Health – Enhanced virtual services will help all British Columbians with mental health needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on adults, youth and frontline healthcare workers. Find resources to help you navigate through this time here.

If you have any questions or need further resource information, please call or email the City of Port Coquitlam’s Access and Inclusion team at 604-927-7975 or accessinclusion@portcoquitlam.ca.

Media Releases

Public Health Information

For health-related concerns, please contact:

  • 811 (HealthLink BC)
  • Public Health Agency of Canada novel coronavirus telephone information line at: 1-833-784-4397
  • Your health-care provider or local public health office

For health information and updates please visit:

Contact

Tel 604.927.5411
Email info@portcoquitlam.ca