# Lafarge Lake — Town Centre Park's Reclaimed Quarry > Lafarge Lake was not always a lake. From the 1950s through 1965 the site was a gravel quarry operated by Lafarge Canada. **Source:** https://soldbycraig.ca/lafarge-lake-coquitlam/ **Author:** Craig Johnston, REALTOR® (BC Licence V99960) · The MACNABS · Royal LePage Elite West **Site:** https://soldbycraig.ca --- Lafarge Lake · Town Centre Park · Coquitlam ## Lafarge Lake — from gravel quarry to Coquitlam’s signature urban lake. Lafarge Lake was not always a lake. From the 1950s through 1965 the site was a gravel quarry operated by Lafarge Canada. The cement company donated the site to the City in the mid-1980s; reclamation, natural springs filling, and pathway development followed. Town Centre Park officially opened in May 1989 — and today the lake hosts Lights at Lafarge, Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display. [Get my Town Centre home value →](/home-evaluation/) [Free Move-Up Planner (PDF) →](/coquitlam-move-up-planner/) **Updated:** July 8, 2026 · **License:** V99960 · **Brokerage:** Royal LePage Elite West Tri-Cities Move-Up Specialist 47+ year Coquitlam resident Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide Medallion Club Team Member since 2021 BCFSA #V99960 Quick answer · What should you know about Lafarge Lake? Lafarge Lake was not always a lake. From the 1950s through 1965 the site was a gravel quarry operated by Lafarge Canada. The cement company donated the site to the City of Coquitlam in the mid-1980s; reclamation and pathway development followed, and Town Centre Park officially opened in May 1989. Today the lake hosts **Lights at Lafarge** — Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display — and sits beside the Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station. **Craig Johnston, Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®** and a 47+ year Coquitlam resident, can walk you through what living near Town Centre means for a buy or sell decision. Verified facts · Coquitlam parks ## The Lafarge Lake fact sheet. Every figure below is drawn from the City of Coquitlam record and the public history of the site. These are the details buyers, families, and out-of-towners ask about first. 1950s–65 Origin: former Lafarge gravel quarry City of Coquitlam record Mid-1980s Site donated to the City by Lafarge City of Coquitlam record May 1989 Town Centre Park officially opened City of Coquitlam record 1991 Hosted the BC Summer Games City of Coquitlam record Dec 2016 Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain opened Millennium Line east terminus Nov–Jan Lights at Lafarge — the region’s largest free winter lights display City of Coquitlam event ### At a glance - **Within:** Town Centre Park, North Coquitlam. - **Managed by:** City of Coquitlam. - **Adjacent SkyTrain:** Lafarge Lake-Douglas, the Millennium Line’s eastern terminus, opened December 2, 2016. - **Signature event:** Lights at Lafarge, Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor winter lights display, running late November through January. The real estate connection ## What Lafarge Lake means for buying or selling near here. Town Centre area residents — the North Coquitlam high-rises and the Burquitlam-adjacent buildings — walk to Lafarge Lake. That walkable green heart is one of the practical reasons Town Centre condos hold their appeal. The Lights at Lafarge tradition — Coquitlam families and grandparents bringing kids to walk the lake from late November through January — is one of the city’s signature shared experiences. When you buy or sell in Town Centre, this is the lifestyle context behind the numbers: a reclaimed quarry turned into a lake, a park, a transit hub, and a gathering place all within a short walk of home. [Read the Town Centre guide →](/north-coquitlam-town-centre-guide/) [Where to buy in Coquitlam](/where-to-buy-in-coquitlam/) Who’s writing this ## Local context that makes the numbers make sense. A 47+ year Coquitlam resident and licensed REALTOR® with The MACNABS at Royal LePage Elite West, Craig Johnston has watched Town Centre grow up around Lafarge Lake — from the park’s opening through the arrival of SkyTrain and the high-rise era. If you’re weighing a move near the lake, that lived local context is the layer a fly-in agent can’t copy. ### Craig Johnston, REALTOR® Tri-Cities Move-Up Specialist · 47+ year Coquitlam resident · Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® · Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide · Medallion Club Team Member since 2021 · Royal LePage Elite West · BCFSA #V99960. REALTOR® V99960 Royal LePage Elite West Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® Top 2% Team Member — Royal LePage nationwide Medallion Club Team Member since 2021 5.0 stars · 34+ verified Google reviews [Read Craig’s full bio →](/coquitlam-realtor-craig-johnston/) [Book a strategy call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) Verified client reviews ## What clients say. 5.0 stars across 34+ verified Google reviews. Three, verbatim. ★★★★★ “We received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities: no subject to sale and achieving our price.” Jim Turnbull · Google Review ★★★★★ “Craig sold my property in just 6 days. Before I knew it, we had multiple offers — all over asking price.” Heather Fox · Google Review ★★★★★ “Craig worked with my wife and me for over 3 years to find the perfect home.” David Catterall · Google Review ## Buying or selling near Lafarge Lake? Talk to Craig. A 47+ year Coquitlam resident and licensed REALTOR® at The MACNABS, Royal LePage Elite West. The local context that makes the numbers make sense — no pressure, every question answered. [Get my home value](/home-evaluation/) [Book a 20-min strategy call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) [Call 604-202-6092](tel:+16042026092) Keep exploring ## Lafarge Lake sits inside Town Centre — start here. Lafarge Lake is the green heart of North Coquitlam’s Town Centre. These are the pages to read next when you’re weighing a move nearby. #### Neighbourhoods - [North Coquitlam / Town Centre Guide](/north-coquitlam-town-centre-guide/) - [Burke Mountain](/burke-mountain/) - [Where to Buy in Coquitlam](/where-to-buy-in-coquitlam/) #### Start here - [Free Home Evaluation](/home-evaluation/) - [Book a Strategy Call](/book-a-strategy-call-with-craig-johnston/) Best REALTOR® by area ## A specialist for your specific Tri-Cities city or neighbourhood. [Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-coquitlam/) [Burke Mountain](/best-realtor-in-burke-mountain/) [Westwood Plateau](/best-realtor-in-westwood-plateau/) [Heritage Mountain](/best-realtor-in-heritage-mountain/) [Port Moody](/best-realtor-in-port-moody/) [Port Coquitlam](/best-realtor-in-port-coquitlam/) [Anmore](/best-realtor-in-anmore/) [Belcarra](/best-realtor-in-belcarra/) [Or compare all Tri-Cities specialists →](/best-local-realtor-tri-cities/)