1990-1999
The changing face of Maillardville continued to reveal itself throughout the nineties. The beautification of the commercial district was completed with the addition of the Tower Plaza at the west end of Brunette Avenue at Lougheed Highway. Maillardvillians could now soon expect a pedestrian friendly shopping experience with a "European flare". Modern day Heritage Square was yet a dream as the decade opened, it would be finished in 1999. The deconstruction of the pioneers' homes along Brunette, around Laval Square and through Cartier Avenue erased most visible signs of "Old Maillardville". The new village would be a string of condominium and town house developments with "French Character". Typically, this meant the use of mansard roofs, tall thin dormers, the occasional turret and widow’s walk. Most of the projects fulfilled the letter of the law, a few the spirit. The great bog south of Brunette, once considered undevelopable did, in fact, see much commercial building. The move of City Hall from Maillardville in 1998 completed the picture.
There was great hope and enthusiasm in Maillardville during the early decade and the cause was twofold. First, there was real excitement that the village was finally being cleaned up and tangible progress was being made. Second, the French community embraced this injection of new life wholeheartedly and with renewed vigour in reclaiming their heritage. Additionally, in Maillardville and Coquitlam and indeed throughout greater Vancouver, there was renewed interest in the French language and culture. French immersion and Programme Cadre flourished. Festivals, concerts, films and activities of all kinds abounded to celebrate la francophonie.
Coquitlam's approaching centennial celebrations also sparked rekindled interest in heritage. One of the projects was the completion of a book, "Coquitlam 100 Years-Reflections of Our Past" in which many from the older generation were interviewed and their stories told. Naturally, Maillardville pioneers had the opportunity to share their memories and experiences, as much of the first half of Coquitlam's history was intimately tied to that of Maillardville's. As one of those pioneers, Lambert Leroux was on hand for the official cake cutting ceremony with Mayor Lou Sekora. Daughter of Maillardville, country singer Lucille Starr, was also there as an honoured guest and to give a concert as part of the festivities.
For some however, there was fear that a significant part of Coquitlam's heritage was on the verge of being lost forever. George Porges, a member of the Coquitlam Historical Society, a passionate historian and advocate for the preservation of "Old Maillardville" had this to say in a Coquitlam Now article of July 1990:
"Our Past Is Part Of Our Present Coquitlam is a growing community whose history stretches back one century. Unlike its neighbours, it has failed to establish any official memories of bygone days. One of the reasons for that omission may be the fact that Coquitlam has developed without a core but rather as an agglomeration of pleasant neighbourhoods.
However, Coquitlam possesses a splendid historical treasure, unequaled in its way by anything west of the Rocky Mountains: the settlement of Maillardville which deserves our attention, respect and care. Many of the visible reminders of Maillardville's unique past are gone; it will be our eternal shame if we do not use the occasion of the Centennial Year to preserve what is left" The article goes on to describe a brief history of Maillardville and then concludes:
"Yet, to this day, its French Canadian roots are discernable to the attentive observer, and francophone life continues to exist in many ways. It is a symbol of the unity between Canada's "two founding peoples" Thus, in the words of a contemporary commentator "Maillardville is a precious resource and deserves our attention and respect" It must be the task of the Centennial Year to ensure that we do not lose this heritage."
As history has shown, most of the "visible reminders" did, in fact, disappear. The homes of Paquette, Allard, Proulx, Croteau, Dicaire, Frank Thrift's store and so many others all were demolished in the years between 1989 and 1993. Most of those homes were built between 1909 and 1912, truly a part of our heritage lost! Today, only one pioneer's house remains on Brunette. However, the homes of those two early dairy farmers, Bréhault and Booth did survive. The Booth house was completely restored in the early nineties. The Bréhault house at 310 Marathon Court has also been preserved by its owners. But the city did miss an opportunity to secure the future of the Bréhault farm house, when it refused the donation of that building in March of 1990, as the Now reports:
"Thanks But No Thanks After sending a "signal" it wants to protect the district's oldest house for posterity, Coquitlam council has rejected the owner's offer to donate it to the municipality. Two weeks ago at an in-camera executive meeting, council rejected the donation of the house....Since then the owners have all but closed the sale of their property and their realtor believes there may be a party interested in acquiring the 92 year old house for a restaurant site....
The district has provided three possible relocation sites for the house: Laval Square, Mackin Park and a site at Brunette Avenue and Begin Street. Land use committee chairman Ald. Bill LeClair said the district's goal is to preserve the house, not necessarily to own it. LeClair said the donation had a down side "The problem is the timing" he said "They want to move on selling their property-if we want the house we have to take it now. Rather than going through that hassle we suggested they find an alternate."
However, Mayor Lou Sekora said this week that the problem is the public purse "I'm not going to ask the taxpayer to pay for the move and the maintenance on that old building. What would we use it for? Let a private developer take it and set it up as a restaurant or store. You never get something for nothing. And you always look a gift horse in the mouth."
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