What does the future hold for the IOCO Lands ?

In January 2015 a Hong Kong-based developer, the Brilliant Circle Group, announced its purchase of the Ioco Lands from the Imperial Oil Company. This 232-acre parcel extends from the Port Moody inlet shores northward into Anmore, with one third of the land being located in Port Moody, and two thirds located in Anmore. Currently the Ioco Lands are only zoned for the lowest-density development (single family homes).

Apart from the environmental concerns that many have expressed about development near Bert Flinn Park, or concerns about traffic flow, or over destiny in a region that has few amenities, but there are those that are more concerned about a potential loss to British Columbian history for these lands are also home to the Ioco town-site which first formed in 1921. This former shanty town was formed to serve the men who worked at the Imperial Oil Company refinery and did not wish to commute daily by ferry across the inlet. The town eventually grew to include 83 homes, 2 stores, 2 churches, a community hall, a post office, a well as a clubhouse, tennis courts, a sports field, and a bowling green. Many of the structures on site were built by the Imperial Oil Company for their employees.

The refinery was shut down in 1995 and in 2002 the town-site was established as a Heritage Conservation area. Many of the buildings are still on the site today and fences have been erected since the 2015 purchase by Brilliant Circle Group. Despite the fences that been put in place to try to preserve the structures on the site, there have been break ins and the structures continue to decay with little in place to prevent their deterioration.

This presentation by the Port Moody Heritage Society, takes a look at the town site as it is today and explores some of the options remaining to preserve as much of the heritage value as possible.