Port Coquitlam is a primarily suburban city located east of Vancouver in the Lower Mainland's Tri Cities region. Canadian Pacific Railway chose Port Coquitlam's flat plain, which had previously been an agricultural area, as the location for rail yards at the end of their transcontinental railway. Large areas of parkland provide opportunities for outdoor recreation in Port Coquitlam's suburban neighbourhoods, which account for a sizable portion of the city. The majority of Port Coquitlam's housing stock consists of detached homes and low-rise apartment buildings.
Port Coquitlam is covered by the public School District 43, which includes two senior schools, five middle schools, and fourteen primary schools. Additionally, five private schools serve PoCo. A wide range of outdoor activities are available in the city's parks, including an outdoor gym, skate park, bike skills park, indoor and outdoor swimming, as well as fields for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, ice hockey, and street hockey. The 25-kilometer Traboulay PoCo Trail circles the city and is accessible by bike and foot. The Leigh Square Community Arts Village offers seminars, programmes, and events for both young and elderly throughout the year. The Loughead Highway, Mary Hill Bypass, and Shaughnessy Street provide major access to and from PoCo.