IOCO
Port Moody | Fall 2015
Located on the northern shore of Burrard Inlet in British Columbia, Ioco (an abbreviation of Imperial Oil Company) was originally a townsite constructed for employees of Imperial Oil.
Construction of Ioco began in 1920, with a total of 83 buildings being built during the height of its occupancy. With the closure of the refinery in 1995, Ioco could no longer hold onto its residents, resulting in a swift exodus of a population borne out of industry.
Only 14 buildings are left standing today, mostly due to relentless efforts to preserve Ioco as a historical site. The few houses that remain, preserved as best as possible with little resource, along with it’s manicured abandoned streets, create an environment of careful decay that stands as evidence to a temporary home.