1) Before the village adopted the name of Maillardville, from its first parish priest Edmond Maillard, the town was known generally as "French Town" Other names were "Shack Town’ and "Pea Soup Hill"
2) Among other enticements, the pioneers were lured with promises of good weather. Hard winters in the east forced men to be separated from their families logging during one season and milling in the other. BC’s temperate climate allowed for year round operations thus allowing workers to remain in one location.
3) The second contingent was made up of many young married couples and thus was dubbed the "Honeymoon Express"
4) The young parish of Notre Dame de Lourdes quickly built a Church but sadly, it burned to the ground Christmas Eve, 1913. It was thought that the fire started in the cedar boughs used for decoration.
5) Also in that same year, 1913, a post office was established with the post mark "Maillardville" the village’s first official recognition.
6) Chief of Police Pare was a talented community organizer. Among his lesser known abilities was a proficiency at the cornet.
7) When Port Coquitlam and Fraser Mills seceded from Coquitlam in 1913, a location for Council Chambers needed to be found. After heated debate and threats of lawsuits by the residents of Burquitlam, Maillardville was chosen as the new site. City Hall remained there until 1992.
8) A location for City Hall was not the only thing debated. Suggested names for the settlement included Cargo and Rosetown as well as Pareville and Winnipeg West. Maillardville of course was eventually adopted.
9) Canuck fans can take consolation in knowing the Stanley Cup once came to Vancouver. It was the Vancouver Millionaires with Maillardville’s own Joe Boileau winning it in 1915 sweeping the Ottawa Senators.
10) After the Church burned in 1913, a new one was built on the opposite side of the Square. In winter, the old foundation was flooded for a skating rink….what else from les Canadiens!
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