City of Port Moody, BC: Complete City Guide

Port Moody is a small, scenic city of about 34,000 people wrapped around the eastern end of Burrard Inlet, in the northeast of Metro Vancouver. With forested mountains on both sides of the water, a waterfront park with a long pier, and a famous strip of craft breweries, it is one of the most charming places in the region. Port Moody calls itself the "City of the Arts," and it has a big claim to history: it was the original western end of the Canadian Pacific Railway, where the first transcontinental passenger train arrived in 1886. It is the smallest of the Tri-Cities, alongside Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam.

Port Moody sits on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

Port Moody at a Glance: Quick Facts

Statistics Canada counted the population again in May 2026, but city-level results are not expected until 2027. Figures on this page use the 2021 census unless stated.

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History of Port Moody

Before the city

For thousands of years Coast Salish peoples fished, harvested shellfish and travelled by canoe at the head of Burrard Inlet, which was rich in salmon, clams and wildlife. Archaeological sites along the shoreline show long use of the area by the ancestors of today's Tsleil-Waututh and other nations.

In 1859, during the gold rush, Colonel Richard Moody of the Royal Engineers ordered a trail cut from New Westminster to the inlet, which became North Road, so the colony could reach Burrard Inlet if the Fraser River were blocked. The settlement that grew at the end of it was named in his honour.

The end of the line

In the 1880s Port Moody was chosen as the western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and land speculation boomed. On July 4, 1886, the first transcontinental passenger train from Montreal arrived in Port Moody. The celebration was short-lived: the CPR soon extended its line to Vancouver, which opened in 1887 and took over as the terminus. Port Moody's boom collapsed, but the city never forgot its role, and still celebrates it every summer at Golden Spike Days.

Mills, oil and the 20th century

Industry kept the town going. Sawmills, including the long-running Flavelle mill, lined the shore, and in 1915 Imperial Oil opened a refinery on the north shore of the inlet with its own company town, Ioco. Port Moody incorporated as a city on March 11, 1913. Later, the Burrard Thermal power plant and bulk shipping terminals were built on the inlet.

From the 1970s, new suburbs on Heritage Mountain, Glenayre and College Park brought families. The refinery closed in 1995, and the city turned toward arts, recreation and its waterfront, branding itself the City of the Arts.

Recent decades

Newport Village and Suter Brook added a walkable town centre, and the Evergreen Extension SkyTrain opened in December 2016 with two stations in Port Moody. Since then, debate over how much to grow around the stations, especially in Moody Centre and on the former Flavelle mill site, has dominated local politics. Meghan Lahti, first elected to council in 1996, became mayor in 2022, and the city's first civic political party, Port Moody Voice, launched ahead of the 2026 election.

Key dates in Port Moody history

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Geography of Port Moody

Port Moody surrounds the Port Moody Arm, the narrow eastern end of Burrard Inlet. The city is split between the south shore, home to most residents, the town centres and SkyTrain, and the quieter, forested north shore with Ioco and Pleasantside. Mountains rise on both sides: Eagle Mountain and Heritage Mountain to the south and east, and the forested slopes toward Buntzen Lake and Belcarra to the north. Burnaby lies to the west, Coquitlam to the south and east, and the villages of Anmore and Belcarra to the north. Several salmon-bearing creeks, including Noons Creek and Mossom Creek, flow into the inlet.

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Port Moody Neighbourhoods

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Port Moody Climate and Weather

Port Moody has a mild, rainy oceanic climate. Surrounded by mountains at the head of the inlet, it gets more rain than Vancouver, and its sheltered location makes summers warm and calm, ideal for paddling.

Figures are approximate, based on Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for the area.

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Urban Planning in Port Moody

Port Moody's biggest planning question is how much to grow. The arrival of SkyTrain brought proposals for high-rise towers around Moody Centre and Inlet Centre stations, and a new Official Community Plan has divided residents between those who want more housing near transit and those who want to protect the city's small-town character. Major sites include Coronation Park near Inlet Centre Station, the Moody Centre transit-oriented development area and the former Flavelle sawmill site on the waterfront. Protecting the inlet, creeks and forested hillsides is also a central goal.

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Port Moody Architecture and Landmarks

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Port Moody Demographics and Population

The 2021 census counted 33,535 people in Port Moody. The city has many families and professionals, relatively high household incomes, and a mix of hillside single-family homes and condos around Inlet Centre and Moody Centre. About 40% of residents were born outside Canada.

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Ethnicity and Cultural Diversity

Figures are rounded from the Statistics Canada 2021 Census Profile.

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Languages Spoken in Port Moody

English is the main language. Other common languages include Mandarin, Persian (Farsi), Korean, Cantonese, Spanish, Tagalog and French.

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Religion in Port Moody

About half of residents reported no religion in 2021, and Christians make up most of the rest. There are smaller Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh communities, with many places of worship nearby in Coquitlam.

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LGBTQ2S+ Port Moody

Port Moody is a welcoming, inclusive community with Pride events across the Tri-Cities and inclusive programs at the library and recreation centres. Most of the region's queer nightlife is in Vancouver.

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Homelessness in Port Moody

Homelessness in Port Moody is counted as part of the Tri-Cities. The 2025 point-in-time count found about 144 people experiencing homelessness across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, down 10% from 160 in 2023, but with more people sleeping outside (69, up from 62). The region's only permanent shelter is in neighbouring Coquitlam, and local churches and agencies run seasonal shelter and outreach programs.

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Port Moody Economy and Major Employers

Port Moody's economy mixes small business, tourism, health care and some heavy industry on the inlet. Eagle Ridge Hospital, run by Fraser Health, is one of the largest employers. Brewers Row, a cluster of craft breweries on Murray Street, has made the city a beer destination. Retail and restaurants are concentrated at Newport Village, Suter Brook and St. Johns Street. On the waterfront, Pacific Coast Terminals operates a bulk shipping terminal, while former industrial sites such as the Ioco refinery, Burrard Thermal power plant and Flavelle mill have closed or are being redeveloped. Many residents commute to Vancouver and Burnaby.

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City Government, Mayor and Council

Port Moody is governed by a mayor and six councillors, all elected city-wide for four-year terms. Voters also elect two trustees to the School District 43 board. City Hall is at 100 Newport Drive.

Mayor and city councillors (term 2022–2026)

The next civic election is Saturday, October 17, 2026. Mayor Lahti is seeking re-election and is challenged by Councillor Haven Lurbiecki, who leads Port Moody Voice, the city's first civic political party, and by independent Paul Lambert.

Other levels of government

Port Moody is in the federal riding of Port Moody–Coquitlam and the provincial riding of Port Moody-Burquitlam. Metro Vancouver provides drinking water, sewage treatment and regional parks, and TransLink runs transit.

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Policing and Crime in Port Moody

Unlike Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, which use the RCMP, Port Moody has its own municipal force, the Port Moody Police Department, overseen by the Port Moody Police Board. Port Moody Fire Rescue provides fire services. Port Moody is one of the safest cities in Metro Vancouver, with low violent crime; most reported crime is property crime such as car break-ins and theft.

For emergencies call 9-1-1. For non-emergency police matters call the Port Moody Police at 604-461-3456.

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Military in Port Moody

Port Moody has no Canadian Armed Forces base. Local cadet units and the Royal Canadian Legion keep military traditions alive, and the city holds a Remembrance Day ceremony each November 11.

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Port Moody Sister Cities

Port Moody does not currently promote any formal sister city relationships. Check with the City of Port Moody for the latest information.

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Public Transport and Getting Around Port Moody

Driving

The Barnet Highway (Highway 7A) links Port Moody to Burnaby and Vancouver along the inlet. St. Johns Street, Clarke Street, Murray Street, Ioco Road and David Avenue are the main local roads.

Cycling and walking

The Shoreline Trail runs around the head of the inlet from Rocky Point Park to Old Orchard Park, with boardwalks, salmon creeks and bird-watching along the way. Bert Flinn Park has forest trails for hiking and mountain biking, and the multi-use path along the SkyTrain line connects to Coquitlam.

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Schools, Universities and Colleges in Port Moody

Port Moody is part of School District 43, which also serves Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Anmore and Belcarra and uses elementary, middle and secondary schools.

Secondary and middle schools

Colleges and universities nearby

Port Moody has no university campus, but Douglas College's David Lam Campus in Coquitlam and Simon Fraser University on Burnaby Mountain are both about 10 to 15 minutes away.

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Port Moody Public Library

Port Moody Public Library is located beside City Hall in Inlet Centre. Membership is free for residents and includes books, e-books, streaming, a makerspace, and programs for children, teens and adults.

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Arts and Culture in Port Moody

As the City of the Arts, Port Moody supports public art, festivals and a busy arts centre.

Filming locations

Port Moody is one of the most popular filming towns in the region. The heritage streets of Moody Centre, Rocky Point Park, the waterfront and the forested north shore regularly stand in for small-town America in film and TV productions.

Media

• Local news: Tri-City News, Tri-Cities Dispatch, Freshet News
• Regional: CBC, CTV, Global BC and CityNews

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Port Moody Nightlife

Port Moody's nightlife centres on Brewers Row on Murray Street, where breweries such as Yellow Dog, Moody Ales, Parkside and Twin Sails sit side by side, with taprooms, patios and food trucks. Newport Village and Suter Brook have restaurants, pubs and cafes, and St. Johns Street has a growing mix of local eateries. It is a relaxed, friendly scene; for clubs, most people head to Vancouver.

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Parks and Gardens in Port Moody

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Natural Attractions Near Port Moody

Port Moody is a gateway to some of the best nature in Metro Vancouver. Kayaking and paddleboarding from Rocky Point Park on the calm Port Moody Arm is a summer favourite, with seals, herons and eagles. Within 15 minutes are Buntzen Lake in Anmore, with swimming, hiking and its suspension bridge; Belcarra Regional Park, with Sasamat Lake, White Pine Beach and trails along Indian Arm; and the Coquitlam Crunch and Burke Mountain trails in Coquitlam. The forests here are lush temperate rainforest of cedar, fir and maple.

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Things to Do in Port Moody: Top Attractions

1. Rocky Point Park: walk the pier, grab an ice cream and watch the sunset.
2. Brewers Row: tour some of the region's best craft breweries.
3. Shoreline Trail: easy boardwalk walk around the inlet.
4. Kayak or paddleboard from Rocky Point.
5. Port Moody Station Museum: railway history in a heritage station.
6. PoMoArts: exhibitions, classes and local art.
7. Golden Spike Days: the city's big summer festival.
8. Buntzen Lake: swim and hike just north of the city.
9. Belcarra and Sasamat Lake: beaches and trails nearby.
10. Newport Village and Suter Brook: shops, cafes and dining.

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Sports Teams and Recreation in Port Moody

The Port Moody Panthers play junior B hockey at the Port Moody Recreation Complex, and the city has strong lacrosse, soccer, rowing and swimming clubs, including the Port Moody Aquarians. The Port Moody Recreation Complex on Ioco Road has arenas, a pool, fitness facilities and gyms. Inlet Park, Town Centre fields and school fields host sports year-round, and the inlet is popular for kayaking, rowing and sailing.

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Annual Events and Festivals in Port Moody

Dates change from year to year, so check with organizers before you go.

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Sustainability and Green City Goals

Port Moody puts a strong focus on protecting Burrard Inlet, its salmon creeks and forested hillsides. Local groups and the city have restored creeks and run salmon hatcheries, protected large parks such as Bert Flinn Park, and worked to clean up former industrial land along the shore. The city's climate plans aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and transportation, expand EV charging and cycling, and prepare for sea-level rise and heavier rainstorms along the waterfront.

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City Services and Amenities

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Port Moody FAQ

Is Port Moody part of Vancouver?

No. Port Moody is a separate city with its own mayor, council and police department, and part of the Metro Vancouver region.

Why is Port Moody called the City of the Arts?

The city adopted the name to celebrate its many artists, galleries, festivals and public art, and supports the arts through PoMoArts and city programs.

What is Port Moody known for?

Rocky Point Park, Brewers Row, the Shoreline Trail, its railway history as the original CPR terminus, and easy access to Buntzen Lake and Belcarra.

How far is Port Moody from downtown Vancouver?

About 40 minutes by SkyTrain with a transfer, about 30 minutes on the West Coast Express at rush hour, or 30 to 40 minutes by car.

What is the population of Port Moody?

The 2021 census counted 33,535 people.

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Sources

• City of Port Moody: Council
• City of Port Moody: 2026 Election
• City of Port Moody: Candidate nomination period for 2026 election
• Metro Vancouver: Homeless population data
• Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population

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