Building Canada strong by investing in the Burke Mountain Community Centre

Canada NewsWire

COQUITLAM, BC, Sept. 9, 2026

COQUITLAM, BC, Sept. 9, 2026 /CNW/ -- Building a strong Canada starts with investing in modern and reliable infrastructure that makes it possible to increase housing supply and create resilient communities.

The Build Communities Strong Fund is investing $51 billion in a wide range of infrastructure projects across the country that support economic prosperity, housing, sport, education, health, transit, and climate adaptation.

To that end, Ron McKinnon, Member of Parliament for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, announced a federal investment of up to $67.4 million in this project through the Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.

The Burke Mountain neighbourhood in northeast Coquitlam is one of the fastest-growing communities in the province, creating a growing need for community amenities and services to support current and future residents. The new Burke Mountain Community Centre will help meet these needs by serving as a hub for the planned Burke Mountain Village Centre and offering a range of recreational, cultural and community services for residents of Burke Mountain and across Coquitlam.

The centre will include a six-lane lap pool, steam room, sauna, climbing wall and drop slide, along with a double gymnasium for sports and active play. It will also have a fully equipped fitness centre with a weight room and studio space, multi-purpose rooms for programs, meetings and events, and a new branch of the Coquitlam Public Library—the first co-located library branch in Coquitlam.

The community centre is being designed with sustainability, accessibility and climate resilience in mind. It will be designed to achieve the Zero Carbon Building Design Standard, supporting the City of Coquitlam's greenhouse gas reduction goals. The facility will also include climate-resilient features so it can serve as a place of refuge during extreme weather events, particularly for vulnerable populations. It is designed to achieve Gold certification under the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Rating system, helping ensure the centre is accessible to people of all abilities.

The Build Communities Strong Fund is a cornerstone of the Government of Canada's plan to build the infrastructure needed to build Canada strong – today and for generations to come.

Quotes

"The Build Communities Strong Fund is building the infrastructure that Canadians rely on every day. Today's investment in local community infrastructure in Coquitlam will help create a new hub for recreation, learning and community connection, while providing much-needed amenities for the growing Burke Mountain community and residents across Coquitlam."

Ron McKinnon, Member of Parliament for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam

"Every community deserves spaces where people of all ages and abilities feel welcome and connected. This investment will help Coquitlam create an inclusive community centre where residents can come together, stay active, access programs and services, and connect with their neighbours. With a new library branch located within the centre, the facility will also provide more opportunities for residents to learn, gather and access resources—all in one welcoming, accessible space."

Zoe Royer, Member of Parliament for Port Moody—Coquitlam

"This is a long-term investment in the future of Burke Mountain and the growing needs of its residents. By supporting a modern, accessible and sustainable community centre, we are helping ensure families, seniors, youth and residents of all abilities have access to spaces where they can stay active, connect and participate in their community. This investment will help build a stronger, more inclusive community for years to come."

Jake Sawatzky, Member of Parliament for New Westminster—Burnaby—Maillardville

"This community centre will give people more opportunities for recreation, connection and access to services as our community continues to grow. This spring, our government announced $10 million to help advance this project forward, and today's federal investment builds on that commitment. It's encouraging to see all levels of government working together to deliver the services and amenities families need, now and into the future."

The Honourable Jodie Wickens, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain

"Burke Mountain Community Centre has been thoughtfully planned and designed to become the social and recreational hub of this growing neighbourhood. With spaces for swimming, sports, fitness, play and community gatherings – surrounded by incredible views – it will be a place where residents can connect and create memories for generations to come. We are grateful for this federal investment, which will help Coquitlam deliver the infrastructure and amenities our growing community needs. Council remains committed to working with all levels of government to build a vibrant and livable community for Coquitlam residents and families."

His Worship Richard Stewart, Mayor of the City of Coquitlam

Quick Facts

The federal government is investing up to $67,463,368 in this project through the Direct Delivery stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund.
The City of Coquitlam is also allocating $4.6 million of the funding it has received through the Housing Accelerator Fund to the community centre. The municipality has received more than $20.4 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to date.
Coquitlam proposed an ambitious Housing Action Plan, which included streamlining the development approval process and introducing process efficiencies to improve permitting timelines, while also introducing changes to encourage missing middle housing options and support gentle density.
The HAF rewards local governments for pursuing changes that cut red tape and build more homes faster. The HAF supports local solutions that create more housing options while also helping communities plan for growth.
Starting in 2026-27, the Build Communities Strong Fund will deliver funding through three major streams:
- A Provincial and Territorial stream, which provides $17.2 billion over 10 years, including $5 billion in health infrastructure funding over three years;
- A Direct Delivery stream, which provides $6 billion over 10 years, including $1 billion over 4 years as part of a Local Impact Stream that is being delivered by Canada's Regional Development Agencies to support community infrastructure projects with local impact; and,
- A Community stream (formerly the Canada Community-Building Fund), which provides $27.8 billion over 10 years and, indexed at 2% to deliver $3 billion per year ongoing.

The Buy Canadian Policy is an important part of the Build Communities Strong Fund. It will help ensure that more of every public dollar goes right into the Canadian economy – creating Canadian careers, using Canadian resources, and benefiting Canadian communities.
The Build Communities Strong Fund will be a force multiplier in infrastructure – with funding that will be matched by nearly $17 billion from provinces, and additional billions leveraged through municipal and territorial partnerships as well as private capital. The fund will also boost Canada's GDP by $95 billion over the next decade.
Under the Direct Delivery stream, at least 10% of the funding will go towards investments in Indigenous communities.
Project funding is subject to the signing of a contribution agreement between the Government of Canada and the recipient.
Federal funding is conditional on fulfilling requirements, including those related to consultation with Indigenous peoples and environmental assessment obligations, if applicable.

Associated Links

SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities