Tri-Cities artist and mental health advocate J. Peachy wants to see the Riverview Lands in Coquitlam preserved for future residents of the Tri-Cities in the same way that Stanley Park was preserved for the residents of Vancouver. To express his concerns Mr. Peachy held a rally at Spirit Square across from Coquitlam City Hall.

While this rally was not extensively publicized and held on a day with less than optimal weather conditions, a small but determined group of resident came out to show their support and have their say.

A brief history of the lands  -- 

The Riverview lands have an extensive history as healing lands going back to the 1900's. In 1913 a permanent Provincial mental hospital, administered by Dr. Henry Esson Young was opened. This being the first “Hospital for the Mind”.

In 1911 British Columbia's first Provincial Botanist, John Davidson, established an arboretum, nursery and a botanical garden on the hospital lands, often with the assistance of patients as he believed in the therapeutic value of working with nature. The botanical garden was eventually moved to the University of British Columbia in 1916 but the arboretum remained.

Several hospital staff lived at the remote site, and by 1927 this had grown into a small community called Essondale which included shops, a school, a bowling alley, a pool, and fire hall.

The BC government began to shut down Riverview in the 1980's as there was a shift away from institutionalization. In 1984, the provincial government sold 57 hectares (141 acres) of Riverview lands to developers. The land was subdivided and became Riverview Heights.

In 1992 the Riverview Heights Horticultural Society was formed to preserve the remnants of the botanical garden, and to advocate for John Davidson's vision of psychological therapy through horticulture.

In 2005, a City of Coquitlam task force on the hospital lands rejected the idea of further housing on the lands and declared that the lands and buildings should be protected and remain as a mental health facility.

In 2009, Riverview Hospital was added to the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

Many of the Coquitlam residents who came out to this informal rally expressed their desire to see the Riverview lands preserved not only because of the arboretum and green space it provides but also because of the historical significance of the Hospital and surrounding community that once thrived on it's own in the area.

At the end of this video, we have another short video that was shot with the Mayor of Coquitlam, Richard Stewart a couple of years ago. He expresses his concern for preserving the lands, buildings and heritage of the site. While little has changed over the last few years many residents seem to be of the opinion that no news is good news. While they would like to see more effort made to preserve the Riverview site, they are at least happy that there have been no further indications that further land on the site will be developed for commercial purposes.