I live in a neighbourhood called Burke Mountain, which is in Coquitlam, British Columbia. It is a quiet suburban area that is located on Mount Burke, hence its name, and is still currently under several developments with new schools and a shopping center that is supposedly in the works.  While it is a developing location, it still maintains its natural feel, as trees surround us, and the further one goes up Coast Meridian Street, the more undeveloped it feels.  For someone who likes a balance of nature and the quietness of a suburb, it is truly a wonderful place to reside. 

As for its history, Burke Mountain falls under the jurisdiction of the Kwikwetlem First Nations, as their ancestral territories cover the majority of Coquitlam, including Burke Mountain.  The Kwikwetlam people, based on their region and history, have made a living through the resources provided by the rivers. While they have a special connection to their lands, their river systems seem to be of the highest importance. Fish, most notably salmon, acted as their primary source of sustenance.  This made them have great respect for the salmon cycle, and their customary laws demanded that all members of Kwikwetlamn to use all its lands, waters and resources responsibly. Their ancestors have been in this region, spanning back to nearly 3000 B.C., through archaeological evidence that is supplemented by their oral history.  Because of their tremendous respect for the riverlands, they strongly opposed the construction of the Coquitlam Dam, as it would endanger river wildlife.  Led by Chief Johnnie in 1899, the Kwikwetlam First Nations urged the federal government to reconsider damming the Coquitlam River, which ended up being futile as the dam was created regardless.  The sockeye salmon that the Kwitwetlam First Nations depended on for centuries became nearly extinct.  

Burke Mountain is a developing neighbourhood, but it has also been a site for major conservation efforts.  Pinecone Burke Park was created in order to protect Pitt Lake, North America’s biggest freshwater tidal lake.  It also protects the wildlife, plants, and fish that exist within Pincone Burke Park.  Pinecone Burke Park is also home to Burke Mountain’s distinct animals that I occasionally see before I go on my morning runs.  Black and grizzly bears are a common sight, especially before their hibernation seasons, but also unique birds such as the great blue heron.  Pinecone Burke Park is also home to several fungi and plant species such as licorice, western sword ferns and bog Labrador tea.  Bog Labrador tea is able to grow due to the wetlands that exist within the park. Trees such as western hemlock, bigleaf maple and red alder are also common throughout the park.  

Mount Burke is also a significant historical site regarding European contact.  

In the mid-1800s, Captain George Henry Richards discovered Mount Burke.  Captain Richards and his crewmates were responsible for clearing a large amount of land that modern-day Burke Mountain stands on today.  Mount Burke was named after Edmond Burke, a European politician.  Mount Burke was also a site for a major logging operation, which makes sense since we are blessed to have some of the tallest and most stunning trees in all of the Lower Mainland!  There was also a fully operational ski lodge that existed in the 1960s, which unfortunately does not exist anymore.  However, I question how successful that ski lodge must have been.  I have been living in this neighbourhood for nearly ten years, and snow has always been a rare sight.  While Burke Mountain is technically on Burke Ridge, its close proximity to Mount Burke can confuse those who are unfamiliar! 

As mentioned, Burke Mountain is a developing neighbourhood despite its long existence.  The City of Coquitlam has vast plans for Burke Mountain, which include a shopping center placed on Princeton Avenue for locals, along with the creation of the Burke Mountain Community Center.  Single-family houses are continuing to be built to appease the growing demand of those wanting to reside in Burke Mountain.  Despite these developments, on a personal level, I feel that these developments are only good for financial purposes but have the potential to destroy the nature that many residents here enjoy.  Already, there is a major school being built on David Avenue and Coast Meridian Street that has cleared a large portion of the forest.  While the City of Coquitlam appears to have grand-scale plans to make Burke Mountain the new centrepiece of Coquitlam, I fear that constant development may make Burke Mountain’s unique identity feel lost.  One of the reasons many people live here, including some of my long-time neighbours, is the peace and quiet of living near nature. I hope city planners keep in mind what made Burke Mountain so desirable in the first place and will promote further attempts to protect and conserve the wildlife that is specific to our neighbourhood. 

Sources

https://sumiqwuelu.com/about-sumiqwuelu/KFN 

https://sumiqwuelu.com/about-sumiqwuelu/history

https://www.kwikwetlem.com/our-people.htm

https://www.kwikwetlem.com/our-history.htm 

https://bcparks.ca/pinecone-burke-park/ 

https://www.burkemountainhomes.com/blog/a-history-of-burke-mountain

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinecone_Burke_Provincial_Park

https://burkevillage.ca/village/master-plan/

https://www.burkemountainhomes.com/developments 

https://www.coquitlam.ca/394/Burke-Mountain-Updates