Coquitlam Heritage Society (CHS) started its operations around June 1993 in the lower level (basement) of Mackin House. Its initial objectives were to restore Mackin House and turn it into a heritage house museum. The renovations were completed in 1999 and CHS opened Mackin House Museum to the public.
Today, CHS offers numerous services to Coquitlam’s residents. In addition to yearly exhibits in Mackin House, we offer seasonal tours of the Fraser Mills Train Station and CP Rail 1970’s Caboose in Heritage Square. We also operate year-round as a Tourism Information centre for the City of Coquitlam.
We provide a variety of events and workshops for all ages. Educators can request a tour booking and engage in the heritage programs offered online and in person. Our collection includes local artifacts of importance as well as the oral histories of community members, making our collection an evolving mosaic that reflects our city.
Coquitlam Heritage Society also operates the following buildings at Heritage Square:
Originally built in 1910, this building has serves as one of the five stations on what is now known as the Westminster Subdivision of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Fraser Mills Station
This caboose was built in the 1970s from the Angus shops in Montreal. This car was the last one connected to the train and was used to accommodate the train crew.
CPR Caboose
Our Mission
Our mission is to engage residents, businesses, community organizations, government, and visitors in the preservation and celebration of and respect for Coquitlam’s vibrant and multicultural heritage and diverse communities.
Anti-Racism Commitment
Coquitlam Heritage is committed to being Anti-Racist.
Originally, Coquitlam Heritage’s collections and activities reflected people of European descent. However, over the last few years, Coquitlam Heritage has significantly increased our reflection of Coquitlam's diversity in our events, exhibits, and board composition. In developing an Anti-Racist heritage organization, we make the following commitments:
Celebrate the diverse voices in the Coquitlam community through our exhibits and events;
Tell cultural stories only with participation from members of that community;
Fill the gaps in our historical records so that all members of our community are recognized and celebrated in our collections.
We commit to developing or improving by:
Amplifying diverse voices through our communication channels; and
Reviewing our own internal policies and changing them as necessary to ensure that they reflect Anti-Racist principles.
Please note that projects are not one-offs. They are built in a particular year as shown, but continue on our schedule thereafter.
Make A donation
Whether you love our exhibits, programmes, or our events, all of these labour-intensive, important activities can continue with your support. Your donations also keep the collections safe and well cared for. You can make a difference in preserving your community's heritage. Thank you!