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

• Social 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 into a waste container.
• Avoid gathering in large groups.
• Stay close to home

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.

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.

Business and Development Services

• Business and development online one-stop-shop
• Development Services: available by phone and email for assistance with proposed and existing applications:
  • Planning Division: planning@portcoquitlam.ca or 927.5442.
  • Building Division: building@portcoquitlam.ca or 927.5444.
  • Development Engineering: developmentengineering@portcoquitlam.ca or 927.5420.
• Building, plumbing, fire or other permits – information and application forms
• Appointments for building inspections
• Business licences – information and application forms

Seniors Services

• Seniors check-ins, mailing list and online programming: sign up at portcoquitlam.ca/wilsonseniors, wilsonseniors@portcoquitlam.ca or call 604-927-7974.

Additional Services

• Online services
• Report a problem with a City service: 604-927-5311 or the PoCo Waste-line app
• Bylaw complaints: 604-927-5440 or bylawservices@portcoquitlam.ca.
• Property taxes and utilities: taxes@portcoquitlam.ca or 604.927.5425.
• Purchasing: purchasing@portcoquitlam.ca or 927.5232

All events and programs in City facilities and parks have been cancelled or postponed following direction from the Provincial Health Officer to cancel public gatherings of more than 50 people.

Full refunds will be provided for activities or rentals affected by the closures. Monthly and annual membership passes and library due dates are suspended for the duration of the closure.

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

Cancelled or postponed events include:

• Volunteer Recognition Awards ceremony
• Easter Arts Carnival
• City-Wide Garage Sale
• Public Works Open House
• Repair Cafes
• Spring Break Camps

Closed to public until further notice:

• City Hall
• Public Works building
• Port Coquitlam Community Centre
• Hyde Creek Recreation Centre
• Terry Fox Library
• Outlet
• The Gathering Place

By appointment:

City Hall Annex (business and development services) – click for contact information. 

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

Starting June 15, user groups that have finalized safety plans may begin to book fields. The city has met with sport user groups to review and adjust the previous schedule, and reinstate bookings that were cancelled through to the end of June for groups who are ready to return to sport.

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.

It is the responsibility of sport groups to remind all participants, coaches, officials and spectators of the guidelines, which include frequent handwashing, limiting and sanitizing shared equipment, physical distancing measures, and ensuring that no one with symptoms attends the sport activity.

User groups will also need to have measures and modifications in place to support public safety, such as focusing on drills and skill building, limiting touch points, and ensuring physical distancing. Every organization must operate within provincial health restrictions. All users should continue to take individual precautions and stay home if sick.

The City is waiving penalties and extending the deadline for payment of 2020 utility and tax bills in response to City facilities being closed to the public.

By direction of the Provincial Health Officer:

• Dine-in service is closed at all restaurants and cafes. Takeout/delivery is permitted.
• Liquor-primary businesses (pubs, bars and nightclubs) are closed.
• Personal services businesses (e.g. salons and spas) are closed.

City staff will be proactively working to monitor and ensure compliance.

Resources for businesses:

• Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 support
• Downtown Port Coquitlam Business Association COVID-19 support
• Provincial government COVID-19 business continuity resources
• Port Coquitlam emergency preparedness business resiliency information and toolkit

• 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.
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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.