Marcus Cyganiak, Co-Founder of BuyRIC.com, provides an update on the new Port Mann Bridge construction between Surrey and Coquitlam, which is slated to be completed in 2013.

After years of debate, it was officially announced in late 2010 that a new Walmart Supercenter would be opening along the Lougheed Highway corridor in Port Coquitlam, as part of Onni’s new Fremont Village Shopping Centre development in the Dominion Triangle.

The anticipated grand opening date was originally set for June 20, 2011, but that date was delayed because of construction and related issues. The new opening date is now set for July 22, 2011.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Fremont Village / Dominion Triangle Map:

In the spring of 2011, many people speculated that the Walmart in Port Coquitlam may never be opening when a controversial article entitled “PoCo Wal-Mart application on hold,” was published in The Now newspaper on April 15, 2011.

“Always low prices may never make their way to Port Coquitlam,” was the beginning line of the article in The Now. “An application to bring Wal-Mart to the the city has been stalled for at least two weeks, after a report detailing the company’s rezoning wishes was dropped from Monday’s council agenda.”

The article confused many readers with a misleading headline. The Walmart Supercenter in Port Coquitlam was never actually on hold or cancelled.

Kris Cyganiak explained the situation on the Port Coquitlam Walmart cancellation confusion in a BuyRIC.com Projects article on April 22, 2011, which you can read by clicking here.

Over 400 employees have been hired for the Walmart Supercenter located at 2150 Hawkins Avenue Walmart in Port Coquitlam. Their first day of work was June 11, 2011.

Since that time, Walmart has had employees working day and night shifts preparing the inside of the store for the July 22, 2011 grand opening date.

Exterior preparations have almost been completed, with the parking lot being partially paved, as the landscaping continues to take shape.

The new shopping cart huts have already been installed at several locations throughout the parking lot of the Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter.

Below is a video of the exterior of the Walmart Supercenter on the evening of May 30, 2011, courtesy of BuyRIC.com TV.

Exterior Video of the Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter:

Click here to see a representation of what the Walmart Supercenter at Port Coquitlam’s Fremont Village by Onni will look like once it opens on July 22, 2011. The “look inside” pictures are from a Canadian sister store with a reverse layout.

Walmart Canada plans to open a total of 40 new Walmart Supercenter stores across the country between February 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012. Additional details and comments from David Cheesewright, President and CEO of Walmart Canada, can be read by clicking here.

As the Onni group of companies nears substantial construction completion of the new Walmart Supercenter at its Fremont Village development in Port Coquitlam, confusion has arisen over a local news story.

The Now newspaper published a story on April 15, 2011 entitled “PoCo Wal-Mart application on hold” and declared that:

“Always low” prices may never make their way to Port Coquitlam.

An application to bring Wal-Mart to the city has been stalled for at least two weeks, after a report detailing the company’s rezoning wishes was dropped from Monday’s council agenda.

Mayor Greg Moore said he delayed putting the report on the table because two councillors (Michael Wright and Mike Forrest) were absent from the meeting.

The city’s smart growth committee — comprised of councillors, business representatives and citizen advisors — was split on its decision in terms of a recommendation to council. Development services director Laura Lee Richard’s report to the committee illustrated that staff recommended the application be denied.

The article gives readers the impression that for some reason, the PoCo Walmart is suddenly “on hold” or might “not even open” due to a rezoning application.

It said that the city’s smart growth committee was split on its recommendation to council while Port Coquitlam’s Development Services Director Laura Lee Richard’s report to the committee illustrated that staff recommended the application be denied.

The story went on to quote Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore as follows:

“I’m not in favour of the staff recommendation to reject it right now,” he said, “but I’d like to see us move it forward so we can listen to the downtown and northside businesses, and we can listen to our residents on the land use.”

If the rezoning application moves forward, a public hearing could happen as early as May.

As we have already written extensively on the Onni Fremont Village development and the new Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter we felt that a clarification of this subject was in order.

First of all, the Port Coquitlam Walmart is not “on hold” or “cancelled,” the building construction is proceeding as planned and is approximately 4-5 weeks away from substantial completion. At that point Walmart Canada will start to stock the new store with inventory and prepare it for its current anticipated opening date in late June 2011.

The developer, which is the Onni Group originally received an adoption of Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 3624 from the city of Port Coquitlam to zone the subject property at 2150 Hawkins Avenue to Large Format Commercial (LFC) on January 10, 2010.

Onni then received a Development Permit on September 23, 2010 from the city to construct a freestanding 151,290 sq. ft Walmart Supercenter on the site within the LFC zoning and proceeded with construction.

The issue at hand is that the current zoning on the Port Coquitlam site (LFC) does not accommodate certain ancillary departments or uses that are normally included in standard Walmart Supercenters store designs and that are also expected to be included at the Port Coquitlam Walmart under construction at the Fremont Village site.

As it is currently planned the PoCo Walmart Supercenter will have several sections at the front of the building that will have separate mini retail establishments. This is the classic “store within a store” concept that many people are familiar with when they visit Loblaw Canada’s “Real Canadian Superstore” or even some Home Depots in Canada as well as other Walmarts across Greater Vancouver.

The problem is that Onni was required to submit a rezoning application for additional uses to the existing LFC site zoning in order to allow for the use of “personal and health services” at this location.

Onni filed for a zoning amendment for “personal and health services” with the RZ000065 rezoning application of March 24, 2011 for the 2150 Hawkins Avenue Walmart site in Port Coquitlam. The amendment is specific to the Walmart building and is seeking a proposed text amendment to the current zoning to allow for approximately 5,192 sq. ft. of the building (which has a total size of 151,290 sq. ft) of “personal and health services” in the building.

The zoning amendment is needed to allow Walmart to include services such as a medical office, hair salon, photography studio, vision center, and nail salon and insurance offices according to the “Report to Committee” documents filed with the city of Port Coquitlam.

Laura Lee Richard, Director of Development Services for the city of Port Coquitlam recommended that the Onni rezoning application to allow “personal and health services” on the site and therefore in the Walmart Supercenter under construction, be denied on at least two separate occasions.

The first recommendation for denial came in a “Report to Committee” letter to council on March 16, 2011and the second in a similar letter dated April 4, 2011.

The April 4, 2011 letter was submitted to council on April 11, 2011 with the following recommendations to council:

1. That the application to permit personal and health services in a large format building at 2150 Hawkins Avenue be denied.
2. That staff be directed to undertake a comprehensive review of policies and regulations applicable to large format commercial and highway commercial uses following completion of a review of the appropriate land use policy for the vacant lands in the Dominion Triangle currently designated Light Industrial in the Official Community Plan.

According to the letter, there are two major options open for city council to consider in the rezoning application:

1. Deny the application to permit personal and health services use in the Large Format Commercial Zone at this time (staff recommendation). As noted in the attached report, this action is recommended in the recognition and support of the established policies for commercial area development in the City of Port Coquitlam, i.e. that personal and health services are directed to the Downtown and North Side and that automobile-oriented uses serving a regional market are encouraged in the Dominion Triangle area. However, it is understood that the nature of appropriate development of the remaining vacant lands in the Dominion Triangle area is under review and that the impending land use decisions in the area could have an outcome of significant changes. Therefore, it is also recommended that this issue be flagged by requesting staff review established policies following completion of the land use policy review.
2. Proceed to a Public Hearing to allow for public comment on the merits of the proposal. If this option is preferred, it is recommended Council request the Smart Growth Committee bring forward a recommended amending bylaw in this regard as there are also two major options to allow for personal and health services. The options are:

   a. Site-specific amendment: to allow the use only within the Walmart building;

   b. Text amendment: to permit the use equitably within all large format, highway-commercial buildings.

   An additional consideration in either case would be to restrict the maximum floor area that personal and services could occupy within the buildings.

In what appears to be a strict interpretation of existing zoning guidelines, the rational for denial of the zoning amendment appears to rest on the following statement:

This action is recommended in the recognition and support of the established policies for commercial area development in the City of Port Coquitlam, i.e. that personal and health services are directed to the Downtown and North Side and that automobile-oriented uses serving a regional market are encouraged in the Dominion Triangle area.

At the April 11, 2011 Port Coquitlam city council meeting, a report to council with the above recommendations on the issue were removed from the agenda and deferred for a two week period.

According to Port Coquitlam Mayor, Greg Moore, he deferred the issue because two councilors (Michael Wright and Mike Forrest) were not at the council meeting.

So the recommendation to council is in recognition of the city of Port Coquitlam’s established policy of commercial area development, which is to direct “personal and health services” to the Downtown and North Side of the city. While the Dominion Triangle area’s policy is to encourage automobile-oriented uses serving a regional market.

The problem is that Large Format Commercial retail stores such as Walmart Supercenters have evolved to include “personal and health services” as a standard component of their store designs across North America. It is the new “normal” across the retail landscape.

The existing zoning of Large Format Commercial (LFC) on the site will not preclude the Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter from opening on time. It will not even impede the store from having its customary McDonald’s inside the store. But the lack of approval on the zoning amendment to allow for “personal and health services” may mean that the 5,192 sq. ft. of the store dedicated to services will sit idle until the issue is resolved.

The next scheduled Port Coquitlam council meeting is on May 9, 2011.

Since it’s opening, BC Place Stadium has been the centerpiece of Vancouver’s downtown core and for over 25 years, it has been an emblem of British Columbia.

The stadium was constructed from April 1981 to June 19, 1983, as part of the preparations for Expo 86, with a construction cost of $126 million.

BC Place Stadium Under Construction 1981

When construction started on BC Place in 1981, no one in the city of Vancouver would have been able to predict that the huge white domed stadium that opened on June 19, 1983 would play host to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

BC Place Stadium Aerial View 1983

BC Place Stadium False Creek View 1984

For that matter, they probably wouldn’t have predicted that less than a year after its completion, BC Place Stadium would play host to over 65,000 people attending the “Celebration of Life” to see the papal visit of Pope John Paul II to Vancouver, BC on September 18, 1984.

Pope John Paul II in BC Place for Vancouver “Celebration of Life” 1984

Less than two years later, the stadium hosted Prince of Wales Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, to officially open the Expo 86 Vancouver Worlds Fair on Friday, May 2, 1986.

Prince of Wales Charles and Late Princess Diana in Vancouver for Expo 86

BC Place Hosted the Opening of Expo 86 in Vancouver

Since it’s opening, BC Place has held some of the most memorable concerts in Vancouver’s history including sold-out shows for the late “King of Pop” icon Michael Jackson and Madonna, just to name a few.

Three Michael Jackson Concerts at BC Place – November 1984

The stadium has also hosted British Columbia’s largest trade and consumer shows, including the Vancouver International Boat Show, BC Home and Garden Show and the Pacific International Auto Show. It also became the home of the BC Lions CFL football team and in the fall of 2011, it will become the new home of the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS soccer team.

BC Place White Dome Roof – A Vancouver Icon 1981-2010

BC Place has hosted over 26 million people since opening in 1983. The stadium has been a central showcase for Vancouver and an iconic addition to its skyline. The huge white domed stadium became a signature landmark for the city of Vancouver.

BC Place White Dome Roof – Vancouver Signature Landmark until 2010

On February 12-28, 2010, BC Place Stadium had the distinct privilege of hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, along with medal presentations, for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, watched by attendees and millions of TV viewers from around the world.

BC Place – Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics – February 12-28, 2010

BC Place – Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics – February 12-28, 2010

BC Place – Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics – February 12-28, 2010

As the largest event facility of its kind in the province, BC Place Stadium was also the worlds largest air supported domed stadium until May 4, 2010.

Vancouver Skyline with BC Place White Dome Roof 2009

At approximately 11:00 AM on May 4, 2010, another chapter in the history of BC Place and the city of Vancouver came to pass.

Vancouver Aerial View of BC Place White Dome Roof

BC Tourism minister Kevin Krueger and BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) chairman David Podmore were on hand to throw the switch on May 4, 2010. The 16 fans that keep the stadium’s air-supported dome inflated were shut off for the last time.

End of an Era – BC Place White Dome Roof Deflated May 4, 2010

The giant 10-acre Teflon-coated woven fiberglass roof on BC Place was fully deflated only 48 minutes later – effectively changing the skyline of Vancouver forever.

Vancouver Skyline without BC Place White Dome Roof 2010

The spectacle of that day was predetermined two years earlier, when on May 16, 2008, David Padmore was on hand to announce a new a $563 million renovation to BC Place that would see the stadium get a new $458 million retractable roof.

New BC Place Retractable Roof Design Announced 2008

“As much of the preparatory work on the roof as possible will be done prior to the 2010 Games,” said Podmore, as Vancouver began preparing for the Winter Olympics in February 2010.

“The remaining work to install the new roof will be completed over an estimated eight months after the Games are over,” added David Podmore.

Concept designs of the renovated BC Place are provided to the right, which were presented in 2008 at the retractable roof design announcement.

“This is exactly how BC Place was planned and built more than 25 years ago. By waiting until after 2010 to complete the retractable roof, we’ll get better competitive pricing.”

New BC Place Retractable Roof Design Section Detail

BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) awarded a $458 million fixed-priced contract to PCL Constructors Canada Inc. for the construction of the new retractable roof.

PCL Awarded Contract for New BC Place Retractable Roof

Workers then began preparing for the deflation of the dome for the next two years by reinforcing BC Place’s columns and walls to support a new retractable roof while they completed interior renovations in time for the start of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.

New BC Place Retractable Roof under Construction 2010

BC Place was closed for construction on April 6th, 2010 and since that time, has been under major structural renovation to install its new retractable roof by the fall of 2011.

New BC Place Retractable Roof under Construction 2010

When it opens again in the summer of 2011, the 60,000 capacity BC Place Stadium will again make history with the world’s largest retractable roof of its kind to replace what was the world’s largest air supported stadium dome roof.

New BC Place Retractable Roof under Construction 2010

Upon completion, the new BC Place roof will be the largest cable-supported, fully retractable, fabric roof in the world, with an area of more than four hectares (10 acres).

BC Place will have World’s Largest Retractable Fabric Roof in 2011

The design allows for the fabric roof to retract into the center of the roof opening to be hidden inside a suspended housing, which will also support a four-sided electronic video board. The roof will be able to open or close within 20 minutes.

Open Center of New BC Place Retractable Fabric Roof Design 2011

The new BC Place Stadium retractable roof will include:

• 36 masts, each one weighing 240 tons, with an average height of 50m (165ft).
• 35km of steel cable used to support the roof.
• 76,000 square metres of fabric used to cover the roof.
• 18,000 tons of steel used in the roofs construction.
• 90mm (3.5 inches) – diameter of individual cables used in the spans between masts (Whistler’s Peak to Peak Gondola uses primary cables that are 56mm in diameter).
• Capability to support 7,000,000 kilograms by the new roof structure.
• Longest span between the masts will be 240 metres in length.
• Up to 25% energy savings will result from the new, cable-supported retractable roof.

Quick Facts – BC Place Retractable Roof and Renovation Project:

The BC Place retractable roof and renovation project involved designs by Stantec Architects Ltd with structural engineering provided by Geiger Engineers of New York, and Schlaich Bergerman and Partners of Stuttgart, Germany, supported by specialist consultants – Tensys, RWDI, Genivar, Acoustical Design Group, and CW Kling & Associates.

Design Details of New BC Place Retractable Fabric Roof 2011

FabriTec Structures will complete the BC Place fixed roof, while the entire retractable roof portion and the fixed façade for the stadium will be fabricated and installed by Hightex GmbH of Germany.

Design Details of New BC Place Retractable Fabric Roof 2011

Hightex, a world leader in the design and construction of retractable roof systems stated that:

The new roof substructure consists of a radial cable net and outer steel columns. The fabric roof is divided up into 36 fixed outer panels and 36 inner retractable segments. The outer fixed roof, to be the subject of a separate contract, has an area of about 34,000m². The inner roof will consist of a double layer Tenara membrane with an inflated inter-space to form “cushion” elements.

The cushions will be pre-stressed using hydraulic tensioning units and inflation via fan units. The retractable roof will be connected to the 36 radial cables by specially designed sliding and driving carriages. The deflated cushion will be stored at the centre of the roof in a membrane garage. To close the roof, the driving carriages will pull the membrane outwards radially towards the perimeter. The retractable roof is made of a highly translucent fabric, which will allow the fabric to be folded without damage.

The new façade comprises some 6,000m² of transparent membrane panels using ETFE. The facade panels are pre-stressed using metal arches and are attached directly to the primary steel structure.

Hightex’s total scope on the project includes the fabrication of the outer roof, fabrication and installation of the retractable roof including drive technology and the fabrication and installation of the ETFE facade.

Façade Details of New BC Place Retractable Fabric Roof 2011

“This is the first big project (in North America), we are really happy that we found a client who is interested in this technology,” said Knut Göppert managing director of Schlaich Bergermann and Partner SBP.

BC Place – New Retractable Roof Complete in 2011

“It’s not following the typical US route with huge, big monster structures,” said Göppert.

BC Place – New Retractable Roof Complete in 2011

“The roof will actually have three layers and a ring of glass will separate the fixed fabric with the retractable fabric. When the roof isn’t closed, a maze of cables will be visible to those inside the stadium and there could be shadows cast,” added Göppert.

New BC Place Roof Retractable Design Details 2011

Below the retractable roof eave you will find a 12.5 clerestory façade clad in ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) membrane that is a clear fluorocarbon film.

While this is the first use of this material in Canada, it has been widely used in Europe and is probably the most recognizable feature as the cladding for the 2008 Beijing Olympics “Water Cube” swimming venue as well as the “Bird’s Nest” stadium.

New BC Place Roof ETFE Façade Design Details 2011

The retractable center-opening portion of the roof is approximately the size of the playing field at BC Place and will provide 8,500 square metres of open sky. It is made of a flexible Tenara fabric. The outer permanently fixed portion of the roof is made of PTFE Coated Fiberglass, and will cover all of the seating inside BC Place in all weather conditions.

Retractable Center Portion of New BC Place Roof 2011

On January 13, 2011, BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) announced that the last of the 36 masts for the new retractable roof at BC Place were lifted into place on that afternoon.

“With the completion of this engineering milestone, the next major portion of the project is to install and tension the cable net that is being suspended from the masts, in order to support the new fabric roof,” said David Podmore, Chairman of BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo).

“With the completion of this key heavy-lifting phase of the project, we are confident the remaining elements will be completed on time this fall,” added Podmore.

BC Place will Create a New Look for Vancouver in 2011

On February 7, 2011 PavCo announced that the revitalization of BC Place is scheduled to be complete by Friday, September 30, 2011.

“There’s still a lot of work to do of course, but we have an exceptional team of skilled tradespeople, designers, engineers and construction professionals involved in this project,” said David Podmore.

“Our September 30th scheduled completion is also dependent on weather or other factors beyond our control,” Podmore added. “While we will do our level best to be ready on that date, we will, of course, always put the safety of our talented and dedicated workers ahead of any other consideration.”

“Nonetheless, construction at BC Place is progressing so well, that we are now at a point where we can confidently set the re-opening date,” Podmore continued. “By committing to completion by September 30th, the BC Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and their respective leagues are now able to finalize their plans for 2011.”

The new renovated BC Place stadium will feature new lighting including a translucent façade that will be used to create a multi-colored lighting effect around the building similar to what was seen at the 2008 Beijing Olympics “Water Cube” swimming venue.

New Translucent Lighting Façade for BC Place 2011

A new state of the art sound system will compliment a new four-sided high definition scoreboard that will be one of the largest in North America. The scoreboards video screens will be visible from every seat in BC Place.

A new FIFA-approved all weather artificial turf will cover the playing field area of the 234,000 square feet of floor space available at the stadium.

New FIFA Approved Artificial Turf – BC Place Stadium 2011

On February 8, 2011, the BC Lions Football Club announced that it would be the first to put this new turf to use by staging the inaugural sports event in the newly renovated BC Place stadium on Friday, September 30th.

BC Lions to Play First Game in New BC Place on September 30, 2011

“This is another historic day for our organization and we are absolutely thrilled to be opening up the new BC Place on September 30th,” said Lions president and CEO Dennis Skulsky.

“It is our honour and privilege to host what will be BC Place’s first professional sports event under the new retractable roof. This outstanding facility is going to be Canada’s premier sports and entertainment venue and I can’t think of a better way to thank our fans who have supported the club so loyally during our time away from BC Place.”

The BC Lions have planned some special events to open the newly renovated stadium with their first game.

“Going back to BC Place is a major date and we will treat it specially and have special things done for our fans,” said Jamie Cartmell, BC Lions director of communications.

BC Place New Retractable Roof Opening September 30, 2011

While the original estimated cost of completely replacing the existing BC Place Stadium with a new multi-purpose facility was in excess of $1 billion, the installation of this new retractable roof and renovation has essentially created a new building that will extend the life of BC Place for another 40 years or more.

BC Place Stadium – Vancouver’s New Epic Landmark in 2011

The new stadium is sure to take its rightful place as Vancouver’s epic landmark for years to come.

The $1.4 billion Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project linking Coquitlam to Vancouver via Port Moody and Burnaby with a new convenient SkyTrain service received its environmental approval from BC’s Environmental Assessment Office.

The BC Ministry of Environment announced on February 3, 2011 that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure received an environmental assessment certificate following Environment Minister Murray Coell’s and Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux’s decision to grant the environmental assessment certificate after considering the review led by BC’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).

The project, with an estimated cost of $1.4 billion, is set to connect the cities of Burnaby, Port Moody, and Coquitlam across the span of 11 kilometres of advanced light rapid transit line between Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby and Douglas College in Coquitlam with an end-to-end transit time of approximately 13 minutes.

Components of the Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project include:

• Elevated and at-grade guideways
• A two kilometre tunnel between Coquitlam and Port Moody
• Six Evergreen stations
• Power substations
• Train operating systems
• Parking facilities
• Vehicle storage
• Light maintenance facility

Fully integrated into the existing SkyTrain system, the Evergreen Line project will link directly to the Millennium Line with connections to the Expo Line, Canada Line, the West Coast Express, and regional bus networks in Vancouver.

The Government of British Columbia mentioned the following economic benefits of the new Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project in a press release:

Provincial taxes generated during construction will be approximately $74.9 million, including commodity taxes ($51.1 million), personal income taxes ($19.1 million) and corporate taxes ($4.7 million). Municipal revenue during construction is expected to be $6.2 million. The four-year construction phase is expected to generate 4,000 person-years of full-time, direct employment.

According to EAO assessment report, it was concluded that the project would not likely have significant adverse effects, based on mitigation measures and commitments to conditions of the environmental assessment certificate. The provincial certificate notes that 157 commitments must be met throughout various stages of the project.

Several key commitments of the provincial certificate include:

• Install erosion and sediment control structures to prevent the introduction of silt, sediment and/or sediment-laden run-off into creeks.
• Re-vegetate affected riparian habitats and ensure the survival of plant material in re-vegetated areas, including the control of invasive species.
• Undertake a noise and vibration management plan that will set out site-specific measures to mitigate noise and vibration related impacts to residents and businesses.
• Provide municipalities with 72-hours advance notice of construction work scheduled beyond municipal noise bylaw hours.

The Evergreen Line Rapid Transit Project did not require an environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, however:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Environment Canada participated in the provincial environmental assessment. Before the project proceeds, the proponent will still need to obtain the necessary federal and provincial licences, leases and other approvals.

The Ministry stated that, “The Kwikwetlem First Nation, Musqueam Indian Band, Qayqayt First Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation were consulted on the assessment, and the Province is satisfied the Crown’s duties to consult and accommodate First Nations interests have been discharged as they relate to the decision to grant the environmental assessment certificate.”

After its completion the project will remove approximately 60,000 cars from the road by 2020, effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 18.3 kilotonnes over that same time period.

The final hurdle for the project remains the ongoing funding gap with TransLink’s portion of the project’s construction cost. Once this is resolved, the project can be fast tracked to the construction start phase.

Not only is the new BC Place going to have a retractable roof after its current renovation and a possible casino but it will also have a new Terry Fox memorial replacing the existing one that has stood for 27 years at the entrance to BC Place.

Vancouver artist and author Douglas Coupland has agreed to create the new memorial with the support of the family and at the request of BC Pavilion Corporation, the operator of BC Place.

The new Terry Fox Memorial at BC Place will feature a series of four individual sculptures that together replicate the familiar running gait set by Terry Fox during his Marathon of Hope in 1980. Once completed, the new memorial will replace the existing Terry Fox Memorial in time for the reopening of BC Place this fall.

“This new memorial will serve as a permanent reminder of both Terry’s efforts 30 years ago to raise money for cancer research, and the subsequent accomplishments of the Terry Fox Foundation in the years since,” said Premier Gordon Campbell. “The incredible determination that Terry showed us back in 1980 lives on today through the work that is still being carried on in his name around the globe. Little did Terry know that his decision to run across Canada would carry on for decades to come, and provide hope for millions around the world.”

“We’re pleased that we were able to combine our renovation of Terry Fox Plaza with the opportunity to make sure a suitable memorial to Terry lives on here,” added David Podmore, Chair of BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo). “Although most of the current memorial will be removed, the etched steel panels from it will be preserved and given to the Fox family. Terry was an inspiration for all Canadians, and this new memorial by Doug Coupland will help us all feel one step closer to this incredible young man, and his accomplishments.”

Douglas Coupland is familiar with the Terry Fox story, having written the 2005 tribute book “Terry” in collaboration with the Terry Fox Foundation. Coupland grew up – and continues to live – in Vancouver.

He has published twelve novels and several non-fiction books in 35 languages and most countries on earth. He has written and performed for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford, England, and in 2001 resumed his practice as a visual artist, with exhibitions in spaces in North America, Europe and Asia.

In 2008, Coupland helped create the Terry Fox Miracle Mile in downtown Toronto. Last year, Coupland’s Digital Orca sculpture was unveiled at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This summer, news also came of Coupland’s winning design for the Canadian Firefighters Memorial to be unveiled in Ottawa in 2012.

Of this new commission, Coupland says, “Terry was a man, but he was also the only icon Canada created in the 20th century. I’m deeply honored by the Fox family to be asked to continue his memory.”

“In creating this piece, I wanted to ensure we captured the very essence of what Terry’s run was all about,” Coupland said. “By creating four sculptures depicting the four distinct movements that made up his unusual gait, the aim was to help people understand the pain and suffering he endured to reach his goal. For those of us who actually remember seeing his run on the nightly news 30 years ago, the four sculptures will always remind us of the commitment he made, and his unwavering courage.”

This week Walmart Canada announced that it plans to open 40 new Supercenters with Grocery sections across the country between February 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012. This will include the construction of new stores, expansion, remodeling, or relocating of existing stores, which will result in over a billion dollars of investments into Canadian communities.

The new Walmart Supercenters are expected to create more than 9,200 employee and construction jobs. Specific locations of these stores have not yet been announced, but Walmart expects to make the announcement sometime in the coming weeks and months.

“Walmart Supercenters offer Canadians the widest assortment of products under one roof in the marketplace,” said David Cheesewright, President and CEO of Walmart Canada. “Our customers consistently tell us that they are looking for convenience and everyday low prices. Walmart Canada delivers both.”

Also confirmed this week by Walmart is that two additional provinces in Canada, Manitoba and Quebec will be getting a taste of Walmart Supercenters for the first time in 2011.

“What we’ve seen in other markets is that it (the arrival of Supercenters) has pushed prices down,” said Alex Roberton, spokesperson for Walmart Quebec. “But we’ll have to see what the impact is going to be in the new markets where we’re putting supercenters. At this point, our focus is on providing our customers with good quality fresh produce at a price that doesn’t force them to choose between their budgets and having good produce.”

In Quebec, shoppers can expect to see its culture reflected on Walmart’s shelves inside three new supercenters.

“We’ll have a wider variety of cheeses and you’ll see more local cheeses in Quebec than what you’d find in an Ontario supercenter,” said Alex Roberton, Walmart spokesperson.

The Supercenter format was first launched in Ontario in 2006, and then spread over to Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. The Walmart Supercenter format provides a full range of groceries in addition to the general and standard merchandise.

Changes inside the new format Walmart Supercenter designs include vibrant paint schemes, brighter lighting, wider aisles, easy-to-read signs and fewer in-aisle displays and better line-of sight presentation of products.

Departments have also been arranged to be more convenient with a logical arrangement of products that allow customers a more natural flow through the different sections.

Walmart Canada currently has 323 stores that serve more than 1 million customers each day, including 119 supercenters, as of December 31, 2010. By January 31, 2011, the store count will rise to 325, while this week’s announcement is expected to bring the count to 333 stores by the end of January 2012, including 164 supercenters and 169 discount stores.

The Walmart Corporation operates more than 8,000 stores across three business segments of retail stores worldwide, with over 54% of the company’s stores being located in the United States. Walmart Corporation earned $408 billion in revenue in FY2010.

Groceries are a big part of Walmart. Over 51% of Walmart corporate worldwide revenue was earned from grocery sales in 2010. The Canadian retail grocery landscape is sure to feel the entrance of Walmart Canada’s Supercenters with their new grocery departments as they increasingly compete for market share in Canada.

Walmart’s new Port Coquitlam store will have a lot more to offer shoppers when it opens in Onni’s new Fremont Village development in June 2011. As the first new format Walmart Supercenter in Greater Vancouver, this store promises to be a lot different that what people are used to seeing from Walmart in Canada.

Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter – Opening June 2011

Walmart began a renewal effort in 2008 called “Project Impact” to remodel all of its North American stores by 2013 with a new architectural Supercenter design concept created by WD Partners of Dublin, Ohio.

“It’s all about making shopping easier for the customer,” said Bill Wertz, a regional spokesman for Walmart Stores Inc.

Changes inside the new Walmart supercenter designs include vibrant paint schemes, brighter lighting, wider aisles, easy-to-read signs and fewer in-aisle displays and better line-of sight presentation of products.

Departments have also been arranged to be more convenient with a logical arrangement of products that allow customers a more natural flow through the different sections.

One of the most significant features of the new Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter will be the addition of a full-fledged Grocery Department within the 151,290 sq. ft. structure, which represents approximately 20% – 25% of the floor space.

Walmart Supercenter – Home & Pharmacy Entrance

The new Grocery Department will be easily accessible through the entrance labeled as “Food & Fashion” on the right side of the store as you approach it from the main parking lot in front, while the “Home & Pharmacy” entrance is located on the left.

So how will the interior of the new Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter look inside when it opens in June 2011? Well, we are going to give you a preview of what to expect.

The following pictures are from a sister store that has a reverse layout design. So what you see in these pictures will actually be in reverse order, from left to right in the new Port Coquitlam store.

We’ll start with the much-anticipated new Grocery Department sections:

Bakery Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Deli Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Produce Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Meat Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Seafood Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Grocery Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Frozen Foods Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Dairy Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

The new entertainment section follows the design principals set out in the “Project Impact” effort by providing a wide expanse for the department at the back of the store while keeping it clearly in the customers line of site when arriving through the central “Home & Pharmacy” entrance at the front of the store.

Entertainment Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

A further testament to the new Supercenter layout design can be seen in the seasonal section, which will be located at the extreme left hand side of the new store adjacent to the Garden Center. From here, customers have a clear view across the entire width of the store.

Seasonal Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Wide Main Store Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

Wide Store Front Section – Walmart Canada Supercenter

As you can see, the new design will be much more upscale and attractive than the basic Walmart store designs currently located in the lower mainland.

The sleek and modern layout of the new Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter will undoubtedly impress people when the first customers walk through the doors on the anticipated opening date of June 20, 2011.

Walmart is set to be the first retail store to be completed in the first phase of Onni’s new Fremont Village development in Port Coquitlam. Construction has progressed very well over the winter months and the store is on track for an anticipated opening date of June 20, 2011.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Fremont Village Location

This will be the first Walmart in Greater Vancouver to move away from Walmart Canada’s traditional store design by incorporating numerous green building design elements including a “green roof” as well as incorporating Walmart’s new concept Supercenter design that the company has been rolling out across the United States in recent years.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Exterior Under Construction

The new Port Coquitlam Walmart Supercenter will have a much sleeker exterior design than Walmart’s existing traditional big box stores around Vancouver and will be rather upscale in its look and feel.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Completed Exterior in 2011

WD Partners, an architectural firm from Dublin, Ohio in the US, developed the original concept for Walmart’s new Supercenter design. They were asked to help Walmart develop more appealing store exteriors that would visually communicate their new retail strategy of fast, clean, and friendly across North America.

Walmart Supercenter – US Design Concept

WD Partners states that their “design standards easily accommodate regional architectural variations, as well as community guidelines.”

“An architectural kit of parts layers over one of three base buildings in a way that does not impact major structural, life/safety or utility systems, including an urban building option,” continues WD Partners in their statement. “Store exterior formulas allow for customization, but can be put together only in brand-right, aesthetically attractive combinations.”

Walmart Supercenter – US Design Concept

One of the features of the new Supercenter design is that it is very flexible in size. Store designs can range from as big as a 267,000 square foot model (or larger if desired) to as small as 100,000 square feet. This feature allows Walmart to easily adapt the design to specific neighborhoods and municipalities as required.

Walmart Supercenter – US Design Concept

The Port Coquitlam Walmart’s architect, Mallen Architecture of Vancouver designed the 151,290 square foot building with some new and innovative construction features. One of the most impressive is that the building has a “green roof” design that covers the majority of the structure.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Green Roof and Store Front Design

The building is also being built with a combination of 2” and 4” thick thermal exterior metal panels that have a core of rigid insulation for most of the exterior walls.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – View of Exterior Thermal Metal Wall

These metal panels are pre-painted in the Walmart colors providing for faster construction. They replace the traditional concrete tilt-up construction exterior walls that are normally used for this type of building.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Interior view of Thermal Metal Wall

Port Coquitlam Walmart – 2” Thick Exterior Thermal Metal Wall Panels

The selection of the Thermal Panels over concrete tilt-up also allowed Onni to continue construction over the winter months avoiding any weather related delays due to snowfall. This was quite fortunate as this year; Port Coquitlam did receive its share of cold temperatures and a surprising snowfall.

The video below from November 2010 shows the ongoing construction of the new Walmart during a snowfall. Also shown are neighboring retail outlets around the Fremont Village development including Costco Wholesale, The Home Depot, and Save-On-Foods.

Fremont Village Walmart Construction Port Coquitlam November 2010

The front of the new Walmart building will incorporate a traditional EIFS stucco system for the architectural details, while the bottom skirt will have a stone or brick facade.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Exterior EIFS Stucco System

The Onni Group of Companies is the owner of the Fremont Village development in Port Coquitlam. Walmart Canada has entered into a long-term lease with Onni (who owns the land and building for the Port Coquitlam Walmart) for the building. Under the arrangement, Onni is responsible for building the structure and providing Walmart with a turnkey building, including outfitting the interior with everything but the stock.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Fremont Village Layout

Most people in the lower mainland that have visited a local Walmart probably expect the same store layout and selection. However, the Port Coquitlam store is a Walmart Supercenter that will feature many additional departments that most shoppers in Greater Vancouver are not familiar with. Viewing the completed store from the exterior in June 2011 will explain everything.

Port Coquitlam Fremont Village – 151,290 sq. ft. Walmart Supercenter Store

The exterior of the Port Coquitlam Walmart store will have three front entrances labeled as “Garden Center” on the left, “Home & Pharmacy” in the middle and “Food & Fashion” on the right. Approximately 20% – 25% of the store is dedicated to a new Grocery department with Fresh Produce, Bakery, Deli, Meat, Seafood, Dairy and Frozen Foods sections.

After years of speculation, the debate about the possible location of a Walmart store along the Lougheed Highway corridor between Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and Albion is over.

Walmart is slated to be the premier tenant in the Onni Group of Companies new 50-acre project currently under construction in the Dominion Triangle area of Port Coquitlam, BC; located at the high profile intersection of Lougheed Highway and Mary Hill Bypass west of the new Pitt River Bridge.

Onni’s Fremont Village development is described as a new hybrid lifestyle project with over 525,000 square feet of retail space in what is sure to be at the epicenter of Metro Vancouver’s next great regional retail hub.

Fremont Village Map

The new development is situated adjacent to the local retail hub of Ottawa Street at Lougheed Highway in Port Coquitlam that is already home to large-format retail including Costco Wholesale, The Home Depot, and Save-On-Foods. Fremont Village is a natural fit for the area.

Dominion Triangle – Fremont Village – Map

The first phase will encompass approximately 14 acres with up to 300,000 square feet of medium and large format retail development in the northern portion of the property.

Port Coquitlam Walmart Layout

The initial construction at the site designated as 2150 Hawkins Street will provide a total of 179,292 sq. ft of commercial retail space in four buildings. This will include a freestanding 151,290 sq. ft Walmart as the anchor tenant. The Walmart building has been designed with a green roof component including planted ground cover giving it a high performance rating in terms of environmental sustainability. The other three structures will have conventional roof designs.

Port Coquitlam Walmart – Green Roof

A second phase on the southern portion of the property along Lougheed Highway will be developed at a later date with up to 225,000 square feet of retail space and a Main Street “lifestyle” component with a potential of two concrete highrise towers and a mixture of low-rise condominiums with up to 600 residential units.

Fremont Village Layout with Condo Towers

Along with Walmart, other potential tenants include Shoppers Drug Mart, Thrifty Foods, PetSmart, CIBC, and Royal Bank. Commercial real estate company DTZ Barnicke recently published a report (2010 Market Outlook) that Canadian Tire was a confirmed tenant for the Fremont Village development.

Developing Dominion Triangle Project with Fremont Village Construction

Onni describes the Dominion Triangle as an exceptionally high profile location serving a primary trade area encompassing Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, and Maple Ridge with a population in excess of 300,000 people. This target area is projected to have a population increase in excess of 32,000 people by 2018 over ten-year period.

Fremont Village Shopping Centre Location

The entire Tri-Cities area is forecast to have some of the highest regional population percentage growth figures in Metro Vancouver over the next 30 years.

Fremont Village is within view of one of the largest residential real estate developments currently underway in Metro Vancouver, the Burke Mountain development in Coquitlam.

Burke Mountain in Coquitlam seen from Fremont Village in Port Coquitlam

Fremont Village in Port Coquitlam seen from Burke Mountain in Coquitlam

Wesbild Holdings is developing approximately 400 acres on Burke Mountain in a phased project that will be turned into approximately 1,300 housing units that will be home to over 5,000 residents in close proximity to Fremont Village when completed.

Burke Mountain Homes in Coquitlam

The ongoing Province of British Columbia Gateway Program has brought substantial transportation and infrastructure improvements to the area including the completion of a new Pitt River Bridge and a complete upgrade of the Mary Hill Bypass.

Pitt River Bridge connecting Port Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows

Onni will construct a new all directional access intersection on Lougheed Highway to provide easy access for the 30,000 to 61,000 vehicles that pass by the Freemont Village site per day.

Dominion Triangle – Arial View

The recent completion of the nearby Golden Ears Bridge has also expanded rapid and convenient access to the site from Langley and Surrey, providing a secondary trade area for the development.