Chilliwack, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Chilliwack is a Canadian
city in the Province of British Columbia
. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District
after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and recreational areas such as Cultus Lake
and Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park
s. There are many outdoor opportunities in the area, including hiking, horseback riding, biking, camping, fishing, and golf. Chilliwack is the location of the head offices of the Fraser Valley Regional District.
arrived in the Chilliwack area. At the time of their first contact
with European
s it is estimated that there were as many as 30,000 people living within Sto:lo territory.
In 1857, gold was discovered in the Fraser Canyon
. By 1858, over 30,000 gold miners had trekked to the goldfields
, most travelling through the Chilliwack area. By the mid 1860's several farms had grown up around the steamboat landings on the Fraser River called Miller's Landing, Sumas Landing and Chilliwack Landing.
The Township of Chilliwack was incorporated in 1873, the third municipality in British Columbia. Initial settlement was along the Fraser River at Chilliwack Landing. Steamboats were the main mode of transportation, carrying goods and passengers between Chilliwack and New Westminster. After the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway
in 1885, many residents began to cross the Fraser River
at Minto Landing to catch the train at Harrison Mills
.
With little room for expansion along the river, the commercial area of the town moved south to the junction of the New Westminster-Yale Wagon Road, Wellington Avenue and Young Road, called "Five Corners." A large subdivision called Centreville was built In 1881. The name Centreville was replaced In 1887 by the more popular "Chilliwhack." The area was incorporated in 1908 as a separate municipality, the City of Chilliwack. The City and the Township co-existed for 72 years. In 1980 they merged to form the District of Chilliwack. The District of Chilliwack became the City of Chilliwack in the early 1990s.
The spelling of Chilliwack is sometimes a matter of confusion. Prior to the amalgamation of the City of Chilliwack and the Municipality of Chilliwhack, there were two different spellings. Upon amalgamation, the spelling of the City was used. Archaic spellings include Chilliwhyeuk and other versions closer to the original Halkomelem, the language of the Sto:lo communities around Chilliwack and Sardis.
Chilliwack is located in the Upper Fraser Valley
, 100 kilometres (60 mi) east of Vancouver
on the Trans Canada Highway. The city is bounded on the north by the Fraser River
, and on the south by the Canada-United States border.
Surrounded by tall mountain peaks (such as the dramatic Mount Cheam
and Slesse Mountain
) and mighty rivers (the Fraser
and Vedder
), Chilliwack's natural setting is magnificent. Some have argued that the city itself, once a small agricultural town, "has become an example of sprawling suburbia and bad city planning." Efforts to revitalize the languishing downtown, and to curb the spread of housing subdivisions into valuable farmland, have proved challenging.
Chilliwack receives nearly the same number of days of precipitation (184.6 days at greater than .2 mm) as comparable local communities nearer Vancouver such as Maple Ridge (185.8 days) and the City of Mission (186.0 days) (Environment Canada Statistics). Summers in Chilliwack are usually sunny and hot, with long days (light out until well after 10pm in June with dusk that lasts for hours).
Due to its location at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley, there has been some debate about preserving Chilliwack's air quality. However, the 2011 World Health Organization's study of air quality shows that Chilliwack enjoys air quality among the best in the world. For PM10 ( 10 microns) size particulate, Canada averaged third best in the world (along with Australia) at an average of 13 micrograms per cubic metre. The City of Chilliwack and Metro Vancouver were tied at a low 8.0 MPCM. For smaller particulate of 2.5 micron size, "the City of Chilliwack averaged 4.9 micrograms per cubic metre. Vancouver also had 4.9, Calgary had 5.6, Winnipeg had 5.6, Toronto had 7.9, Montreal had 11.2 and Sarnia had 12.7."
2006 census)
, manufacturing, and tourism. The city is particularly famous for its fishing, golf, hiking and year round whitewater rafting. The Canadian military used to have an army training base in Vedder Crossing, but it was closed in the mid 1990s. Today all that remains is the Army's area support unit or ASU. The remainder of the base has since been converted into the Canada Education Park, which houses the RCMP's Pacific Regional Training Centre (PRTC) and is the site of the new eastern campus of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). UFV's current campus is on Yale Road.
The largest industrial operations in Chilliwack are:
Agriculture
Food processing
Manufacturing
Retail and wholesale trade
Technology
Tourism
), which closed in 1999 due to defense cutbacks as a result of the end of the Cold War
in 1991.
The base was first opened in 1941 as Camp Chilliwack after Canada's 1939 entry into the Second World War. A few months after the outbreak of the Second World War in the Pacific after the sudden attack on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor
, the camp was expanded to garrison Canadian Army units for the defence of Canada's West Coast. The base was a garrison for army units, but also a recruit training facility; 112 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre, and A6 Canadian Engineering Training Centre was housed at Chilliwack for the duration of the war until its end in 1945.
During the Cold War
, the base was used as a permanent training and garrison facility for the Canadian Army units of British Columbia. The based housed the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering, formerly A6 Canadian Engineering Training Centre, and also housed 58 Field Engineer Squadron which was transferred from CFB Esquimalt
on Vancouver Island (Greater Victoria).
Upon the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, the base was renamed Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack (CFB Chilliwack
). The base housed:
In 1994, the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
, was transferred from CFB Esquimalt
to CFB Chilliwack
, the last unit to be transferred to the base.
Due to Department of National Defence cutback due to the end of the Cold War, the base was closed in 1997. The CFOCS, was transferred to Area Support Unit St-Jean in Quebec (ASU St-Jean), the CFSME transferred to CFB Gagetown
, 3 PPCLI and 1 Combat Engineer Regiment were transferred to CFB Edmonton
.
The base, which consisted of 2 areas, Vedder Creek, which contained the barracks and schools, was mothballed and sold for civilian development, while the Chilcotin Training Area, or better known as Area C, is still operational and is part of Western Area Training Centre (WATC).
Area C is used by the Primary Reserves units of British Columbia for field training and for the use of its firing ranges. The ASU is also used by Cadets for field training. The ASU also houses supply depots for supplying the Canadian Army units of 39 Canadian Brigade Group
, and the cadet units of BC.
. There are currently 12 routes. Routes 1-5 primarily serve the downtown core while routes 6, 7, 10 and 12 serve the Sardis/Promontory area. Route 8 serves the southern community of Yarrow. Route 9 is a summer only shuttle to Cultus Lake
. Route 11 heads east along Yale Road East towards Agassiz/Harrison.
There are 2 zones, but the only route that covers both is the #11, which crosses the zone boundary at the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge.
contains a total of 31 public schools as well as 1 Catholic school. The two main high schools, Sardis Secondary School
(grades 10-12) and Chilliwack Secondary School
(grades 10-12) are complemented by G.W. Graham Middle-Secondary School
which has students from grade 7 to grade 12. There are five other Middle Schools each taking grades 7 to 9.
Post Secondary institutions in Chilliwack consist mainly of the University of the Fraser Valley, a school consisting of over 21000 students over several campuses all over the Fraser Valley
. Starting as a college
in 1974, it became a university college
in 1988 and in 2008 it became a full university
.
. Despite being named after Chilliwack, the band actually formed and has always been based, in nearby Vancouver. Since 2004, Chilliwack has hosted the annual Back to the Blues Gospel blues
festival. The city of Chilliwack itself has a vibrant (albeit self-contained) rock music scene, centring mostly around young ska and punk rock bands. The drumline from Sardis Secondary played at several venues during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Bands originating in Chilliwack include: These Kids Wear Crowns
, Mystery Machine
, Acoustic Warfare, and The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets
. Chilliwack has a thriving classical music
community and there are biannual performances of the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra. The city hosts an annual Jazz Festival put on by the Chilliwack Happy Times Jazz Society every spring.
The Chilliwack Museum, located in the 1912 former city hall, is a National Historic Site of Canada.
The Book Man
is the second-largest used bookstore in the province of British Columbia.
Also, The Chilliwack Times is delivered every Tuesday and Friday to over 30,000 homes in Chilliwack and in surrounding communities
's Chilliwack Chiefs
, play at Prospera Centre
. The team is formerly the Quesnel Millionaires
. The franchise was purchased and moved to Chilliwack by the Chiefs Development group, headed by Moray Keith, Jim Bond and Harvey Smyl. They started in the BCHL's Interior Conference for the 2011/2012 BCHL Season. While the original Junior "A" team, the Chilliwack Chiefs, plays in Langley, British Columbia
, as the Langley Rivermen (the Chiefs Development Group sold their interest in the Langley Chiefs
but retained the 'Chiefs' name). The Western Hockey League
's Chilliwack Bruins
, formerly played at the Prospera Centre. The expansion franchise began play in 2006 and ended when the team was sold at the end of the 2011 season. They became the Victoria Royals WHL hockey team in 2011.
Other sports include football, baseball and swimming. The Canadian Junior Football League
's Chilliwack Huskers
play at Exhibition Stadium
. Chilliwack's minor baseball Cougars were the 2006 Western Canadian tier 2 champions. Chilliwack hosted the 2007-2008 Synchronized Skating Canadian Championships at the Prospera Centre.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
city in the Province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District
Fraser Valley Regional District
The Fraser Valley Regional District is a regional district in British Columbia, Canada. The FVRD covers an area of 13,361.74 km²...
after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and recreational areas such as Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake, British Columbia
Cultus Lake Park is a lake, associated community and provincial park in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia, Canada. It is the source of the Sweltzer River. The lake itself is warm, and the area has become a popular recreation destination with ample opportunities for fishing, water...
and Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park
Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park
Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Covering 92.58 km², the park is located 150 km east of Vancouver in the Chilliwack River Valley.Chilliwack Lake is suitable for boating, canoing, swimming and fishing...
s. There are many outdoor opportunities in the area, including hiking, horseback riding, biking, camping, fishing, and golf. Chilliwack is the location of the head offices of the Fraser Valley Regional District.
History
Between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago the Sto:loStó:lo
The Sto:lo , alternately written as Stó:lō, Stó:lô or Stó:lõ and historically as Staulo or Stahlo, and historically known and commonly referred to in ethnographic literature as the Fraser River Indians or Lower Fraser Salish, are a group of First Nations peoples inhabiting the Fraser Valley of...
arrived in the Chilliwack area. At the time of their first contact
First contact (anthropology)
First contact is a term describing the first meeting of two cultures previously unaware of one another. One notable example of first contact is that between the Spanish and the Arawak in 1492....
with European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s it is estimated that there were as many as 30,000 people living within Sto:lo territory.
In 1857, gold was discovered in the Fraser Canyon
Fraser Canyon
The Fraser Canyon is an 84 km landform of the Fraser River where it descends rapidly through narrow rock gorges in the Coast Mountains en route from the Interior Plateau of British Columbia to the Fraser Valley...
. By 1858, over 30,000 gold miners had trekked to the goldfields
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
, most travelling through the Chilliwack area. By the mid 1860's several farms had grown up around the steamboat landings on the Fraser River called Miller's Landing, Sumas Landing and Chilliwack Landing.
The Township of Chilliwack was incorporated in 1873, the third municipality in British Columbia. Initial settlement was along the Fraser River at Chilliwack Landing. Steamboats were the main mode of transportation, carrying goods and passengers between Chilliwack and New Westminster. After the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
in 1885, many residents began to cross the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
at Minto Landing to catch the train at Harrison Mills
Harrison Mills
Harrison Mills, formerly Carnarvon and also Harrison River, is an agricultural farming and tourism-based community in the District of Kent west of Agassiz, British Columbia. The community is a part of the Fraser Valley Regional District...
.
With little room for expansion along the river, the commercial area of the town moved south to the junction of the New Westminster-Yale Wagon Road, Wellington Avenue and Young Road, called "Five Corners." A large subdivision called Centreville was built In 1881. The name Centreville was replaced In 1887 by the more popular "Chilliwhack." The area was incorporated in 1908 as a separate municipality, the City of Chilliwack. The City and the Township co-existed for 72 years. In 1980 they merged to form the District of Chilliwack. The District of Chilliwack became the City of Chilliwack in the early 1990s.
The spelling of Chilliwack is sometimes a matter of confusion. Prior to the amalgamation of the City of Chilliwack and the Municipality of Chilliwhack, there were two different spellings. Upon amalgamation, the spelling of the City was used. Archaic spellings include Chilliwhyeuk and other versions closer to the original Halkomelem, the language of the Sto:lo communities around Chilliwack and Sardis.
Geography
Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley is the section of the Fraser River basin in southwestern British Columbia downstream of the Fraser Canyon. The term is sometimes used to refer to the Fraser Canyon and stretches upstream from there, but in general British Columbian usage of the term refers to the stretch of the...
, 100 kilometres (60 mi) east of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
on the Trans Canada Highway. The city is bounded on the north by the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
, and on the south by the Canada-United States border.
Surrounded by tall mountain peaks (such as the dramatic Mount Cheam
Cheam Peak
Cheam Peak, called Theeth-uhl-kay in the Halqemeylem language of the Sto:lo and usually referred to as Mount Cheam, is the farthest northerly peak of the Cheam Range, a subrange of the Skagit Range of the Canadian Cascades mountains. It dominates the eastern Fraser Valley, rising above Bridal Falls...
and Slesse Mountain
Slesse Mountain
Slesse Mountain, usually referred to as Mount Slesse, is a mountain just north of the US-Canada border, in the Cascade Mountains of British Columbia, near the town of Chilliwack. It is notable for its large, steep local relief. For example, its west face drops over to Slesse Creek in less than ....
) and mighty rivers (the Fraser
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
and Vedder
Vedder River
The Vedder River, called the Chilliwack River above Vedder Crossing, is a river in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington....
), Chilliwack's natural setting is magnificent. Some have argued that the city itself, once a small agricultural town, "has become an example of sprawling suburbia and bad city planning." Efforts to revitalize the languishing downtown, and to curb the spread of housing subdivisions into valuable farmland, have proved challenging.
Climate
Chilliwack's mild climate with limited extremes provides excellent growing conditions for a wide variety of crops and agricultural products. The highest temperature recorded in Chilliwack was 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) on July 29, 2009, and the lowest recorded temperature was -21.7 C in 1968. Precipitation falls mostly as rain, with snow limited, for the most part, to the surrounding mountains.Chilliwack receives nearly the same number of days of precipitation (184.6 days at greater than .2 mm) as comparable local communities nearer Vancouver such as Maple Ridge (185.8 days) and the City of Mission (186.0 days) (Environment Canada Statistics). Summers in Chilliwack are usually sunny and hot, with long days (light out until well after 10pm in June with dusk that lasts for hours).
Due to its location at the eastern end of the Fraser Valley, there has been some debate about preserving Chilliwack's air quality. However, the 2011 World Health Organization's study of air quality shows that Chilliwack enjoys air quality among the best in the world. For PM10 ( 10 microns) size particulate, Canada averaged third best in the world (along with Australia) at an average of 13 micrograms per cubic metre. The City of Chilliwack and Metro Vancouver were tied at a low 8.0 MPCM. For smaller particulate of 2.5 micron size, "the City of Chilliwack averaged 4.9 micrograms per cubic metre. Vancouver also had 4.9, Calgary had 5.6, Winnipeg had 5.6, Toronto had 7.9, Montreal had 11.2 and Sarnia had 12.7."
Demographics
(according to Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
2006 census)
- Population: 69,217
- Growth Rate (2001–2006): 10.6%
- Total Private Dwellings: 27,929
- Area: 260.19 km².
- Density: 266.0 people per km².
People from Chilliwack
- Dave ArchibaldDave ArchibaldDavid J. Archibald is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player. He is currently an assistant coach with the Western Hockey League's Chilliwack Bruins.-Playing career:...
, former professional hockey player with Minnesota North StarsMinnesota North StarsThe Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
and Ottawa SenatorsOttawa SenatorsThe Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. - Tony ClarkeTony Clarke (activist)Tony Clarke is a Canadian activist. Born in 1944, he grew up in Chilliwack, British Columbia, graduating from Chilliwack Senior Secondary School in 1962. He was class president. He studied at the University of British Columbia and did graduate work at the University of Chicago, obtaining a PhD in...
, activist, who graduated from Chilliwack Senior Secondary. - Allan FotheringhamAllan FotheringhamAllan Fotheringham is a Canadian newspaper and magazine journalist. He is widely known by the nickname Dr. Foth and styles himself as, "Always controversial... never at a loss for words" and also as "the Great Gatheringfroth".-Life:Fotheringham attended Chilliwack Secondary School, where he was...
, columnistColumnistA columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
. Worked for The Chilliwack Progress as a student. - Betty FoxBetty FoxBetty Lou Fox was a Canadian cancer research activist, the mother of Terry Fox and founder of the Terry Fox Foundation. She was the most prominent figure in Terry Fox's legacy .-Biography:...
, cancer research activist, mother of Terry FoxTerry FoxTerrance Stanley "Terry" Fox , was a Canadian humanitarian, athlete, and cancer research activist. In 1980, with one leg having been amputated, he embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money and awareness for cancer research... - Patrick GallagherPatrick Gallagher (actor)-Career:Gallagher is best known for his television roles as Det. Joe Finn in Da Vinci's Inquest, the alcohol salesman in Entourage, Leon in The Line, Farhod the Fierce in Pair of Kings, and Ken Tanaka in Glee, and his film roles as Awkward Davies in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World...
, actor from Glee & Night At The Museum. Graduated from Chilliwack Senior Secondary. - Keith Hunter JespersonKeith Hunter JespersonKeith Hunter Jesperson is a Canadian-born American serial killer known as the "Happy Face Killer" for the smiley face he drew on his many letters to the media and prosecutors. He had a violent and troubled childhood under a domineering, alcoholic father...
, serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
. - Rick KlassenRick KlassenRick Klassen is a former defensive lineman who played 10 years in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions from 1981–1987, 1989–1990 and Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1988....
, former CFL football player. - Dale MartindaleDale MartindaleDale Martindale , is a Canadian born vocalist best known as the lead singer for the New Wave music band Images in Vogue. In addition to his work with Images in vogue, Dale Martindale has had several side projects, including 69 Duster and Primary as well as Pretty Volume and numerous solo...
, lead vocalist for the CASBY AwardCASBY AwardThe CASBY Award is a Canadian award for independent and alternative music, presented annually by Toronto, Ontario radio station CFNY, currently branded as 102.1 The Edge. The name CASBY stands for Canadian Artists Selected By You....
-winning band Images in VogueImages in VogueImages in Vogue was a Canadian New Wave group in the 1980s.The band was formed in 1981 in Vancouver, and originally consisted of vocalist Dale Martindale, guitarist Don Gordon , synth players Joe Vizvary and Glen Nelson, bassist Gary Smith and percussionist Kevin Crompton...
. - Dr. George PedersenGeorge PedersenKnud George Pedersen, OC, O.Ont, OBC is a Canadian academic administrator.He was the president of Simon Fraser University , University of British Columbia , University of Western Ontario , interim president of the University of Northern British Columbia, and founding president of Royal Roads...
, University president. President of five universities (University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaThe University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, Simon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
, University of Western OntarioUniversity of Western OntarioThe University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, Royal Roads, UNBC), graduated from Chilliwack High School in 1950. - Steven PointSteven PointSteven Lewis Point, is the 28th and current Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.From 1975 to 1999, Steven Point served as Chief of the Skowkale First Nation...
, first aboriginal Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia - Diana SwainDiana SwainDiana Swain is a television journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . She has been the host of CBC News At Six, CBC Toronto's local nightly newscast, since September 2004...
, television journalist. Graduated from Chilliwack High School in 1983. - Rita SteblinRita SteblinRita Katherine Steblin is a Canadian-born musicologist, noted for her archival work combining music history, iconography and genealogical research....
, famous musicologist in VancouverVancouverVancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... - Rob TallasRob TallasRobert Wayne "Robbie" Tallas is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks...
, former professional hockey player with Boston BruinsBoston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
and Chicago BlackhawksChicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
. - These Kids Wear CrownsThese Kids Wear CrownsThese Kids Wear Crowns is a six-member Canadian pop rock band, formed in 2009 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. They were "discovered" on MuchMusic's "disBand" and signed to a contract with Capitol Records/EMI. They have performed with acts such as Hedley, Faber Drive, Forever The Sickest...
, winners of MuchMusicMuchMusicMuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
's show disBANDDisbandDisband was an all girl band in New York City from 1978-1982. The members were artists rather than musicians. The band's sound was a type of a cappella No Wave. Disband performed mostly at art venues like Franklin Furnace, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center and Hallwalls... - Homer ThompsonHomer ThompsonHomer Armstrong Thompson was a leading classical archaeologist of the twentieth century, specializing in ancient Greece....
, classical archaeologist. Grew up in Chilliwack on a dairy farm. - Tasha TilbergTasha TilbergTasha Tilberg is a Canadian fashion model.- Modeling :Tilberg has appeared in advertisements for Alberta Ferretti, Bloomingdale's, Comma, Fendi, Esprit, Gucci, Mango, Missoni, Moschino, Versace and Versus and she has walked in fashion shows for, among others, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Anna Molinari,...
, supermodelSupermodelThe term supermodel refers to a highly-paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term became prominent in the popular culture of the 1980s. Supermodels usually work for top fashion designers and labels...
. Born in Chilliwack on July 23, 1979. Appeared on the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire. CoverGirl model.
Economy
Chilliwack's primary industries are agricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, manufacturing, and tourism. The city is particularly famous for its fishing, golf, hiking and year round whitewater rafting. The Canadian military used to have an army training base in Vedder Crossing, but it was closed in the mid 1990s. Today all that remains is the Army's area support unit or ASU. The remainder of the base has since been converted into the Canada Education Park, which houses the RCMP's Pacific Regional Training Centre (PRTC) and is the site of the new eastern campus of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). UFV's current campus is on Yale Road.
The largest industrial operations in Chilliwack are:
Agriculture
- Rainbow Greenhouses (115 employees, 45 seasonal employees)
- Inline Nurseries (40 employees, 70 seasonal employees)
- Unifeed (ViterraViterraViterra Inc. is a leading global agri-business with extensive operations in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. With a growing international presence that includes trading and marketing offices on four continents, Viterra delivers high quality nutritious food ingredients to more...
) (80 employees) - Fraser Valley Duck & Goose (70 employees)
- Cannor Nurseries (65 employees)
Food processing
- Vantage Foods (110 employees)
- Johnston Packers (110 employees)
- Fraser Valley Meats (56 employees)
- Natrel/Island Farms (45 employees)
- Coast Mountain Dairy (45 employees)
- Rogers Foods (20 employees)
Manufacturing
- Uneeda Wood Products (180 employees)
- Masonite International (178 employees)
- IMW Industries (150 employees)
- TY-CROP Manufacturing (140 employees)
- Visscher Lumber (126 employees)
- Westeck Windows (94 employees)
- Soprema (45 employees)
Retail and wholesale trade
- Overwaitea Food Group (450 employees)
- Real Canadian Superstore (340 employees)
- Canada Safeway (178 employees)
- Wal-Mart(156 employees)
- Canadian Tire (125 employees)
- Sears Canada (108 employees)
Technology
- Stream Global Services (900 employees)
- Murphy Air (40 employees)
- TEKSmed Services (32 employees)
Tourism
- Best Western Rainbow Country Inn (83 employees)
- Coast Hotel (64 employees)
- Cultus Lake Park Board (50 employees)
- Minter Gardens (50 employees)
Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack
Chilliwack was home to Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack (CFB ChilliwackCFB Chilliwack
Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack was a Canadian Forces Base located in Chilliwack, British Columbia.On 2 September 1997, Area Support Unit Chilliwack was opened on the former CFB Chilliwack properties that was retained by the Canadian Forces.-Camp Chilliwack:Military Camp Chilliwack was...
), which closed in 1999 due to defense cutbacks as a result of the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
in 1991.
The base was first opened in 1941 as Camp Chilliwack after Canada's 1939 entry into the Second World War. A few months after the outbreak of the Second World War in the Pacific after the sudden attack on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
, the camp was expanded to garrison Canadian Army units for the defence of Canada's West Coast. The base was a garrison for army units, but also a recruit training facility; 112 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre, and A6 Canadian Engineering Training Centre was housed at Chilliwack for the duration of the war until its end in 1945.
During the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the base was used as a permanent training and garrison facility for the Canadian Army units of British Columbia. The based housed the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering, formerly A6 Canadian Engineering Training Centre, and also housed 58 Field Engineer Squadron which was transferred from CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
on Vancouver Island (Greater Victoria).
Upon the unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, the base was renamed Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack (CFB Chilliwack
CFB Chilliwack
Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack was a Canadian Forces Base located in Chilliwack, British Columbia.On 2 September 1997, Area Support Unit Chilliwack was opened on the former CFB Chilliwack properties that was retained by the Canadian Forces.-Camp Chilliwack:Military Camp Chilliwack was...
). The base housed:
- Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (formerly Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering)
- Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School (CFOCS) (transferred in 1971 to CFB Chilliwack)
- 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (formerly 58 Field Engineer Squadron)
In 1994, the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
, was transferred from CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
to CFB Chilliwack
CFB Chilliwack
Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack was a Canadian Forces Base located in Chilliwack, British Columbia.On 2 September 1997, Area Support Unit Chilliwack was opened on the former CFB Chilliwack properties that was retained by the Canadian Forces.-Camp Chilliwack:Military Camp Chilliwack was...
, the last unit to be transferred to the base.
Due to Department of National Defence cutback due to the end of the Cold War, the base was closed in 1997. The CFOCS, was transferred to Area Support Unit St-Jean in Quebec (ASU St-Jean), the CFSME transferred to CFB Gagetown
CFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.- Construction of the base :...
, 3 PPCLI and 1 Combat Engineer Regiment were transferred to CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton
CFB Edmonton is a Canadian Forces base located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is also known as Edmonton Garrison or "Steele Barracks".-History:...
.
The base, which consisted of 2 areas, Vedder Creek, which contained the barracks and schools, was mothballed and sold for civilian development, while the Chilcotin Training Area, or better known as Area C, is still operational and is part of Western Area Training Centre (WATC).
Area C is used by the Primary Reserves units of British Columbia for field training and for the use of its firing ranges. The ASU is also used by Cadets for field training. The ASU also houses supply depots for supplying the Canadian Army units of 39 Canadian Brigade Group
39 Canadian Brigade Group
The 39 Canadian Brigade Group is part of Land Force Western Area of the Canadian Army. It is composed of Canadian Forces Primary Reserve units which are based in British Columbia. No. 39 CBG is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, at the Jericho Garrison on West 4th Avenue...
, and the cadet units of BC.
Public transportation
The public transit system is operated by Chilliwack/Agassiz-Harrison Transit System, which is partly funded by BC TransitBC Transit
BC Transit is a provincial crown agency responsible for coordinating the delivery of public transportation within British Columbia, Canada, outside of Greater Vancouver...
. There are currently 12 routes. Routes 1-5 primarily serve the downtown core while routes 6, 7, 10 and 12 serve the Sardis/Promontory area. Route 8 serves the southern community of Yarrow. Route 9 is a summer only shuttle to Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake may refer to:*Cultus Lake, British Columbia, Canada*Cultus Lake , United States*Little Cultus Lake, Oregon, United States...
. Route 11 heads east along Yale Road East towards Agassiz/Harrison.
There are 2 zones, but the only route that covers both is the #11, which crosses the zone boundary at the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge.
Education
School District 33 ChilliwackSchool District 33 Chilliwack
School District 33 Chilliwack is a school district in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia. The majority of the schools are located in the built up areas of Chilliwack including Sardis and Vedder Crossing.-History:...
contains a total of 31 public schools as well as 1 Catholic school. The two main high schools, Sardis Secondary School
Sardis Secondary School
Sardis Secondary is a public high school in Chilliwack, British Columbia part of School District 33 Chilliwack.It was rebuilt in 1995.Currently Mr. Bob Long is the Principal and the Vice Principals are Mr. Zhu, and Ms. Mussell....
(grades 10-12) and Chilliwack Secondary School
Chilliwack Secondary School
Chilliwack Secondary is a public high school in Chilliwack, British Columbia part of School District 33 Chilliwack. The first Chilliwack Secondary was established in 1903. The school moved to its present site in 1950. It is under going construction soon to convert it to a hybrid high school and...
(grades 10-12) are complemented by G.W. Graham Middle-Secondary School
G.W. Graham Middle-Secondary School
G.W Graham Middle-Secondary School, also referred to GWG, is a school for students in grades 7 to 12 in Chilliwack, British Columbia....
which has students from grade 7 to grade 12. There are five other Middle Schools each taking grades 7 to 9.
Post Secondary institutions in Chilliwack consist mainly of the University of the Fraser Valley, a school consisting of over 21000 students over several campuses all over the Fraser Valley
Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley is the section of the Fraser River basin in southwestern British Columbia downstream of the Fraser Canyon. The term is sometimes used to refer to the Fraser Canyon and stretches upstream from there, but in general British Columbian usage of the term refers to the stretch of the...
. Starting as a college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in 1974, it became a university college
University college
The term "university college" is used in a number of countries to denote college institutions that provide tertiary education but do not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university...
in 1988 and in 2008 it became a full university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
.
Arts and culture
Perhaps the best-known musical act affiliated with the city is the band ChilliwackChilliwack (band)
Chilliwack are a Canadian rock band that had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. Although they are a Canadian band, the members were all born in, as well as reside in, the United States of America. They are perhaps best remembered for their five biggest songs "My Girl ", "I Believe", "Whatcha...
. Despite being named after Chilliwack, the band actually formed and has always been based, in nearby Vancouver. Since 2004, Chilliwack has hosted the annual Back to the Blues Gospel blues
Gospel blues
Gospel blues is a form of blues-based gospel music that has been around since the inception of blues music, a combination of blues guitar and evangelistic lyrics...
festival. The city of Chilliwack itself has a vibrant (albeit self-contained) rock music scene, centring mostly around young ska and punk rock bands. The drumline from Sardis Secondary played at several venues during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Bands originating in Chilliwack include: These Kids Wear Crowns
These Kids Wear Crowns
These Kids Wear Crowns is a six-member Canadian pop rock band, formed in 2009 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. They were "discovered" on MuchMusic's "disBand" and signed to a contract with Capitol Records/EMI. They have performed with acts such as Hedley, Faber Drive, Forever The Sickest...
, Mystery Machine
Mystery Machine (band)
Mystery Machine are a Canadian alternative rock band, mainly active in the 1990s. Based in Vancouver, the core of the band consisted of Jordan Pratt, Luke Rogalsky, Bean and Shane Ward....
, Acoustic Warfare, and The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets
The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets
The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets is a rock band from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. Their music largely consists of often tongue-in-cheek homages to the works of H. P...
. Chilliwack has a thriving classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
community and there are biannual performances of the Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra. The city hosts an annual Jazz Festival put on by the Chilliwack Happy Times Jazz Society every spring.
The Chilliwack Museum, located in the 1912 former city hall, is a National Historic Site of Canada.
The Book Man
The Book Man
The Book Man consists of two secondhand bookstores. The original store is in Chilliwack, British Columbia measuring over , and is noted as the second largest used bookstore in the province. It is located at 45939 Wellington Avenue. Their second branch is located in Abbotsford, British Columbia...
is the second-largest used bookstore in the province of British Columbia.
Media
The Chilliwack Progress is British Columbia's oldest community newspaper, published continuously with the same name in the same community since April 1891.Also, The Chilliwack Times is delivered every Tuesday and Friday to over 30,000 homes in Chilliwack and in surrounding communities
Sports
The British Columbia Hockey LeagueBritish Columbia Hockey League
The British Columbia Hockey League is a Junior "A" ice hockey league from British Columbia under Hockey Canada, a subsection of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Founded in Vernon in 1961, the BCHL now includes 16 teams. These teams play in two conferences, known as the Coastal and the Interior...
's Chilliwack Chiefs
Chilliwack Chiefs
The Chilliwack Chiefs were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. They were a part of the British Columbia Hockey League and played in the Mainland Division/Coastal Conference...
, play at Prospera Centre
Prospera Centre
The Prospera Centre is a 5,386-seat multi-purpose arena in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, built in 2004. It is the home of the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League after the Quesnel Millionaires were moved from Quesnel, British Columbia for the start of the 2011–12 BCHL...
. The team is formerly the Quesnel Millionaires
Quesnel Millionaires
The Quesnel Millionaires were a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada. They were members of the Interior Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They played their home games at Quesnel Twin Arena...
. The franchise was purchased and moved to Chilliwack by the Chiefs Development group, headed by Moray Keith, Jim Bond and Harvey Smyl. They started in the BCHL's Interior Conference for the 2011/2012 BCHL Season. While the original Junior "A" team, the Chilliwack Chiefs, plays in Langley, British Columbia
Langley, British Columbia (city)
The City of Langley is a municipality in Metro Vancouver. It lies directly east of the City of Surrey, adjacent to Cloverdale, and surrounded on the north, east and south by Township of Langley.-History:...
, as the Langley Rivermen (the Chiefs Development Group sold their interest in the Langley Chiefs
Langley Chiefs
The Langley Rivermen are a junior "A" ice hockey team based in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League . They play their home games at Langley Events Center.-History:...
but retained the 'Chiefs' name). The Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
's Chilliwack Bruins
Chilliwack Bruins
The Chilliwack Bruins were a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League, based out of Chilliwack, British Columbia. The 2006–07 season marked the Bruins inaugural season in the WHL. The team played at Prospera Centre, which was expanded to 5,386 seats for the arrival of the Bruins...
, formerly played at the Prospera Centre. The expansion franchise began play in 2006 and ended when the team was sold at the end of the 2011 season. They became the Victoria Royals WHL hockey team in 2011.
Other sports include football, baseball and swimming. The Canadian Junior Football League
Canadian Junior Football League
The Canadian Junior Football League is a national amateur Canadian football league consisting of 19 teams playing in six provinces across Canada. The teams compete annually for the Canadian Bowl...
's Chilliwack Huskers
Chilliwack Huskers
The Chilliwack Huskers are a Canadian Junior Football team based in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The Huskers play in the eight-team B.C. Football Conference, which itself is part of the Canadian Junior Football League and competes annually for the national title known as the Canadian Bowl. The...
play at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium (Chilliwack)
Exhibition Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Chilliwack, British Columbia. It is the home of the Chilliwack Huskers of the Canadian Junior Football League. It is one of the few stadiums with covered seating in the country that has a playing field with no running track around it. The...
. Chilliwack's minor baseball Cougars were the 2006 Western Canadian tier 2 champions. Chilliwack hosted the 2007-2008 Synchronized Skating Canadian Championships at the Prospera Centre.