BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
CHILLIWACK
                    BETTER FOR BUSINESS • BETTER FOR LIFE

COMMUNITY PROFILE
                                        Attracting and Facilitating Economic Growth
BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
This Community Profile has been produced by the                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO),
                                                                            THIS DOCUMENT IS HYPERLINKED FOR EASY NAVIGATION.
the organization responsible for the City of Chilliwack’s
economic growth. CEPCO’s primary role includes:                             OVERVIEW ..............................................        3   ECONOMICS .......................................... 30
                                                                            • ADVANTAGES ..........................................        4   • LIVING COSTS . . ....................................... 31
• Assisting businesses with expansion and relocation                        • LOCATION . . .............................................   5   • BUSINESS COSTS ..................................... 32
                                                                            • CLIMATE .................................................    6   • BUSINESS LICENCES ................................. 33
                                                                            • QUALITY OF LIFE ......................................       7   • INCOME & INSURANCE ............................ 34
• Marketing Chilliwack as an appealing destination for
                                                                                                                                               • DEVELOPMENT COSTS .............................. 35
  business and investment                                                   DEMOGRAPHICS .................................... 8                • TAXATION .............................................. 36
                                                                            • POPULATION. . .......................................... 9

• Working to maintain and create local employment                           • HOUSEHOLDS .. ........................................ 10        DEVELOPMENT ..................................... 37
                                                                            • LANGUAGE & ETHNICITY .......................... 11               • HIGHLIGHTS . . ......................................... 38
                                                                            • RELIGION . . ............................................. 12    • INDUSTRIAL ........................................... 39
With a mission to strengthen Chilliwack’s economy,                                                                                             • COMMERCIAL ......................................... 40
the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO)                        AMENITIES ............................................ 13          • INSTITUTIONAL ...................................... 41
                                                                            • EDUCATION . . .......................................... 14      • RESIDENTIAL .......................................... 42
helps both new and existing business grow and prosper.                      • HEALTHCARE .. ......................................... 15       • DOWNTOWN .......................................... 43
Contact CEPCO to learn more.                                                • SAFETY & SECURITY ................................. 16           • FUTURE GROWTH .................................... 44
                                                                            • SPORTS & RECREATION ............................ 17
                                                                            • LEISURE & CULTURE ................................. 18           CONTACTS ............................................. 45
                                                                            • ATTRACTIONS ......................................... 19         • CHILLIWACK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT . . ... 46
                                                                                                                                               • GOVERNMENTS . . ..................................... 47
                                                                            INFRASTRUCTURE ................................ 20                 • TRADE & INVESTMENT CANADA ................ 48
                                                                            • TRANSPORTATION . . ................................. 21          • IMMIGRATION........................................ 49
                                                                            • UTILITIES ............................................... 22     • RESOURCES ............................................ 50
                                                                            • TELECOMMUNICATIONS . . ......................... 23
FOR BUSINESS EXPANSION, RELOCATION       FOR BUILDING APPROVALS, LICENSES
OR SUPPORT PROGRAMS, CONTACT:            AND PERMITS, CONTACT:              • MEDIA . . ................................................. 24

                                                                            LABOUR & INDUSTRY .......................... 25
                                                                            • KEY SECTORS .......................................... 26
                                                                            • EMPLOYERS . . .......................................... 27
                                                                            • LABOUR FORCE ....................................... 28
                                                                            • EMPLOYMENT ........................................ 29
T:   1.800.561.8803 • 604.792.7839       T:   604.792.9311
E:   info@chilliwackpartners.com         E:   info@chilliwack.com
W:   businessinchilliwack.com            W:   chilliwack.com

                                                                             COPYRIGHT 2014, Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation                                                                          2
BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES   |    INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |   ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT    |   CONTACTS

                                                                                 ADVANTAGES   |    LOCATION   |   CLIMATE   |   QUALITY OF LIFE

OVERVIEW                                            With the strongest growth rate in the area, Chilliwack
                                                    demonstrates significant strategic advantages.

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS    |    AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |    ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT    |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                         ADVANTAGES    |    LOCATION   |   CLIMATE   |   QUALITY OF LIFE

                                                                                                                     Chilliwack provides multiple advantages, from a talented
                                                                                                                     workforce to low overheads and greater profits.

                                                                                                                                                                                       OVERVIEW
ADVANTAGES                                                                                                                                    STREAMLINED APPROVALS: Ranked #1 in timing, according to
Chilliwack is one of the best places in the world to live, work, and play. A superb quality of life,                                          NAIOP’s 2014 Municipal Report Card, Chilliwack’s municipal services
combined with a strong economy, a low cost of living, and proximity to a multitude of amenities,                                              continue to remain the leader in fast, streamlined approvals.
make Chilliwack a destination of interest for prospective residents, businesses and investors.

                          QUALITY OF LIFE: With all the amenities of a major urban centre,
                          combined with gorgeous scenery, a more relaxed lifestyle and bur-
                                                                                                                                              SKILLED LABOUR: Home to Canada Education Park and the
                          geoning business and employment opportunities, Chilliwack offers an
                                                                                                                                              University of the Fraser Valley, among other educational institutions,
                          unparalleled quality of life.
                                                                                                                                              Chilliwack provides an ample pool of skilled and educated labour.

                          TOP RANKINGS: Chilliwack is ranked tops for commercial develop-
                          ment in the Lower Mainland. According to NAIOP’s 2014 Municipal
                                                                                                                                              ACCESS TO MARKETS: Located along the TransCanada Highway,
                          Report Card, Chilliwack is one of the most affordable and most expedi-
                                                                                                                                              near four USA border crossings as well as national and international
                          ent locations to build when it comes to cutting through the red tape.
                                                                                                                                              rail stations, Chilliwack provides easy access to a local market of about
                          And it is the only city to appear at, or near, the top of all rankings.
                                                                                                                                              2.8 million people, as well as easy access to Pacific Rim ports and USA
                                                                                                                                              customers and suppliers.
                          LOW COSTS: Chilliwack enjoys significantly lower costs of living and
                          doing business than Vancouver and other major centres along the
                                                                                                                                              STRONG GROWTH: Chilliwack has enjoyed a population growth of
                          West Coast of North America. In addition to federal and provincial tax
                                                                                                                                              nearly 13% over the last census period, which is significantly stronger
                          cuts and incentives, Chilliwack has the lowest tax burden of all other
                                                                                                                                              than neighbouring communities. This growth can also be seen in
                          Lower Mainland communities. As well as no municipal tax on fuel,
                                                                                                                                              major developments in the area, adding an average of $121 million to
                          Chilliwack has the lowest mill rates, one of the lowest municipal fees,
                                                                                                                                              the local economy each year.
                          and one of the lowest commercial to residential taxes in the region.
                          (2014 NAIOP Municipal Report Card).

                                                                  “Top BC Investment Town”                                                          “Rated tops. Lowest tax burden. Best timing.”
                                                                — 2013 REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT NETWORK LTD.                                                                        — NAIOP 2014 MUNICIPAL REPORT CARD

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS      |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |   ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT    |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                   ADVANTAGES   |    LOCATION   |   CLIMATE   |   QUALITY OF LIFE

                                                                                                               Located in Western Canada, Chilliwack is the gateway to
                                                                                                               North American and Asian markets.

                                                                                                                                                                         OVERVIEW
LOCATION
Chilliwack is located in the Lower Mainland area of the Pacific Coast of Canada in south west
British Columbia (BC). This area includes Metro Vancouver (population: 2.5 million) and the
Fraser Valley Regional District (population: 280,000).

Chilliwack is about 100 kms (60 miles) from the city of Vancouver. It is bordered by the city
of Abbotsford to the west, the community of Agassiz next to the Fraser River to the north, the
community of Popkum to the east, and the United States to the south.

The City of Chilliwack is distinct from Greater Chilliwack or the Chilliwack Census Metropolitan
Area (CMA) which includes the district of Kent, Harrison Hot Springs, several Indian Reserves
and Fraser Valley East, which includes Cultus Lake and Chilliwack Lake.

 DISTANCE AND TRAVEL TIME FROM CHILLIWACK
 DESTINATION                                         HOURS             KM             MILES
 US Border (at Sumas)                                  0.5              34              21
 Abbotsford Airport                                    0.5              34              21
 Seattle                                               2.3             214             133
 Kelowna                                               3.3             286             178
 Vancouver                                              1.1            108              60
 Surrey                                                0.75             78              48

                                   Located along the TransCanada Highway
                                   near four US border crossings, Chilliwack
                              provides easy access to markets and supplies.
                                                                                                                                            CLICK TO VIEW CHILLIWACK ON GOOGLE MAPS

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW   |    DEMOGRAPHICS     |   AMENITIES    |     INFRASTRUCTURE              |     LABOUR & INDUSTRY               |       ECONOMICS           |    DEVELOPMENT          |    CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                                         ADVANTAGES             |    LOCATION           |    CLIMATE      |   QUALITY OF LIFE

                                                                                                               With a mild climate, Chilliwack enjoys a long growing
                                                                                                               season and year-round outdoor activities.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                OVERVIEW
CLIMATE                                                                                                            ANNUAL TEMPERATURE
The Lower Mainland of British Columbia (BC) has one of the mildest climates in Canada.
Winters are not too cold and summers are not too hot. With fresh air, comfortable tempera-                                       30                  Daily Maximum (°C)

tures, and vibrant greenery, Chilliwack is a popular choice for visitors, residents and growers.                                 25
                                                                                                                                                     Daily Minimum (°C)

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
                                                                                                                                 20

The average daily maximum temperature in January is 6.1 degrees Celsius, with a low of 0.8                                       15

degrees Celsius in the middle of the night.                                                                                      10

Warmer temperatures start in April and extend through October. The summer time high in July                                        5
is 24.5 degrees Celsius, with a refreshing night time temperature of 13 degrees Celsius.
                                                                                                                                   0

PRECIPITATION                                                                                                                    -5      Jan       Feb       Mar        Apr      May        Jun           Jul     Aug       Sep     Oct     Nov       Dec

Lower Mainland BC is known for its rain. Average January rainfall is 275 mm, while rainfall in
September is a low 28.6 mm. As winter temperatures along the Pacific Coast are mild, snow fall
                                                                                                                   ANNUAL PRECIPITATION
is limited to only about 20 mm of January’s precipitation. And when it does fall, it generally only
stays a few days as warmer rains typically wash the snow away.                                                                   300
                                                                                                                                                Rainfall (mm)
                                                                                                                                                Snowfall (cm)

                                                                                                                                 250
SUNLIGHT
Chilliwack enjoys approximately 1,500 hours of sunlight per year. Sunlight is most abundant in                                   200

the spring and summer months, with an average of eight hours per day in the summer.
                                                                                                                                 150

FROST PERIOD                                                                                                                     100

In the Chilliwack area, the frost-free period is approximately 207 days (106 year average). The
frost season typically starts in November and ends by March.                                                                      50

                                                                                                                                    0
                                                                                                                                         Jan       Feb      Mar       Apr      May        Jun       Jul         Aug   Sep     Oct     Nov     Dec

                           Chilliwack is the warmest city in Canada —                                          SOURCE: Environment Canada, Climate Normals 1981 to 2010 (accessed 2014)

               with the highest average annual temperature at 10.5°C.                                                 FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: CLIMATE.WEATHEROFFICE.EC.GC.CA/CLIMATE_NORMALS

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS       |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |    ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT     |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                    ADVANTAGES   |     LOCATION   |   CLIMATE   |   QUALITY OF LIFE

                                                                                                                Residents of Chilliwack enjoy a superb quality of life from
                                                                                                                abundant outdoor activities to world-class amenities.

                                                                                                                                                                           OVERVIEW
QUALITY OF LIFE
Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada is one of the best places in the world to live and work.
Quality of life factors that consistently rank the area tops in the world include a temperate
climate, beautiful and clean environment, stable and secure governing system, world-class
infrastructure, education, healthcare and availability of consumer goods.
Chilliwack, with its wide, fertile river valley surrounded by endless mountains, miles of crystal
clear lakes, and acres of untamed wilderness, exudes an iconic vision of “Beautiful British
Columbia.”
Urban growth throughout Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley has brought much prosperity
to Chilliwack. Business development and residential growth has blossomed over the last 20
years, creating a prosperous community with a superb quality of life.
While housing affordability remains one of the most frequent reasons for people to move
to Chilliwack, other key factors that draw people to Chilliwack include a world-class educa-
tion system (including Canada Education Park), state-of-the-art healthcare system, excellent
shopping opportunities, diverse recreation and leisure destinations, significant growth and
development, and burgeoning business and employment opportunities.
Already, many businesses have moved to Chilliwack, not only because of its pool of skilled
workers, but also because it offers its employees a great quality of life, lower costs, and a                             EDUCATION                          SAFETY                             CULTURE
higher disposable income.
From fishing in the great outdoors to an evening at the symphony orchestra, Chilliwack has
everything a major urban centre has — and more! Enjoy all the advantages of doing business
in BC’s Lower Mainland at a much more affordable rate and with a more rejuvenating quality
of life.

      Many businesses have chosen Chilliwack for its pool of skilled
         workers, low overhead costs, and fabulous quality of life.                                                       HEALTHCARE                         SPORTS                             ATTRACTIONS

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |    LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |   ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT     |   CONTACTS

                                                                             POPULATION   |   HOUSEHOLDS   |   LANGUAGE & ETHNICITY   |   RELIGION

DEMOGRAPHICS
                                                    With a superb quality of life, Chilliwack is growing at a
                                                    much faster rate than neighbouring communities.

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS     |   AMENITIES     |        INFRASTRUCTURE              |      LABOUR & INDUSTRY                      |    ECONOMICS           |   DEVELOPMENT               |     CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                            POPULATION               |      HOUSEHOLDS            |     LANGUAGE & ETHNICITY                 |      RELIGION

                                                                                                            Having grown 7.5% over the last census period, Chilliwack
                                                                                                            remains one of the country’s fastest growing communities.

                                                                                                                                                                                 DEMOGRAPHICS
POPULATION                                                                                                   POPULATION GROWTH ESTIMATES
While British Columbia has a much younger history than the rest of Canada, it has grown to                   120,000

be Canada’s third largest province with a population of 4.65 million people. Growth in the
province remains strong at 5.6% compared to the national average of 5.0% between 2011 and                    100,000

2016.
                                                                                                                 80,000
Within BC, the southwest Lower Mainland comprises about 2.8 million or 60% of the province’s
population and is the most densely populated region in the country.
                                                                                                                 60,000
As part of the southwest Lower Mainland, the City of Chilliwack has a population of 83,788,
with a five year growth rate of 7.5% (2016 Census), which is greater than the growth rate of                     40,000
neighbouring communities (Abbotsford: 5.9%, Mission: 6.6%; Hope: 3.6%). Population density
in the Chilliwack is 320.2 people per km². With continued steady growth, the city’s projected                    20,000
population is expected to surpass 100,000 by 2021.
                                                                                                                        0
POPULATION BY AGE                                                                                                            2005                               2010                                  2015                            2020 f                            2025 f

The median age in the City of Chilliwack is 39.8, with almost 80% of people under the age of                SOURCE: City of Chilliwack, Population Estimates. NOTE: “F” = “Forecast” (updated 2016)

59. Chilliwack also has a significantly higher percentage of children up to 19 years at 26.5%                                                                                         Population by Age

compared to 22% in BC. The City of Chilliwack’s population of seniors aged 65 and over is                    POPULATION
                                                                                                             7000
                                                                                                                        BY AGE
comparable to the BC average at 16%.                                                                             6000

  POPULATION                                                                                                     5000

  City of Chilliwack ESTIMATES FROM THE CITY OF CHILLIWACK                              89,000
                                                                                                                 4000
  City of Chilliwack (CY) 2016 CENSUS                                                   83,788
                                                                                                                 3000
  Greater Chilliwack (Census Agglomeration (CA))                                       101,512
  Fraser Valley Regional District                                                      295,934                   2000

  Metro Vancouver Regional District                                                  2,463,431                   1000

  Lower Mainland / Southwest BC                                                      2,832,000
                                                                                                                    0
  British Columbia                                                                   4,648,055                              0-4     5 - 9 10 - 14 15 -
                                                                                                                                                  19
                                                                                                                                                             20 -
                                                                                                                                                             24
                                                                                                                                                                      25 -
                                                                                                                                                                      29
                                                                                                                                                                              30 -
                                                                                                                                                                              34
                                                                                                                                                                                         35 -
                                                                                                                                                                                         39
                                                                                                                                                                                                40 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                44
                                                                                                                                                                                                          45 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                          49
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 50 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 54
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        55 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        59
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               60 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               64
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        65 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        69
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               70 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               74
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      75 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      79
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 80 -
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 84
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         85 +

SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2016 Census of Population
                                                                                                            SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census (accessed 2014)

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BETTER FOR BUSINESS BETTER FOR LIFE - Business in Chilliwack
OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS     |   AMENITIES     |     INFRASTRUCTURE               |     LABOUR & INDUSTRY           |   ECONOMICS           |      DEVELOPMENT              |     CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                            POPULATION        |     HOUSEHOLDS        |     LANGUAGE & ETHNICITY                  |     RELIGION

                                                                                                              With housing significantly more affordable than Vancouver,
                                                                                                              more Chilliwack families are able to own their homes.

                                                                                                                                                                                   DEMOGRAPHICS
HOUSEHOLDS & HOUSING                                                                                               CHILLIWACK HOUSEHOLDS BY TYPE                                               HOUSEHOLDS BY TENURE
About 80% of Chilliwack households are located in urban or suburban areas. Housing develop-                        Total private households                       30,435                       Total                                                   30,460
ment originated in Chilliwack proper, on the north side of the highway. Then growth spread
                                                                                                                   Single-detached house                           17,820         59%           Owner                                                  22,760
south through the Sardis-Vedder corridor and up the hillsides, south of the highway. As much
                                                                                                                                                                                                 Renter                                                 7,695
of Chilliwack’s land is protected and reserved for agricultural land, growth across the valley floor               Semi-detached house                              1,015          3%
remains limited.                                                                                                                                                                                 Band housing                                             0
                                                                                                                   Row house                                       4,100          13%
There are about 31,000 households in Chilliwack with an average household size of 2.5                              Duplex                                          1,005           3%          HOUSEHOLD INCOME
persons. About 68% of households are one-family only households. About 61% have one to two
                                                                                                                   Apartment 5 or less storeys                     5,920          19%          Chilliwack                                              $79,891
persons, and the remaining 39% have three or more persons. About 36% of households have
children at home.                                                                                                  Apartment 5+ storeys                                 235        1%          AVERAGE SALARY
About 75% of all properties in Chilliwack are owned, which is higher than the BC average at                        Movable dwelling                                     310        1%          Management (per hour)                                    $37.52
70%. Of the existing housing stock, 59% are single family detached, 20% are apartments, and                        Other single-attached house                          30         0%          Trades                                                   $25.78
about 19% are semi-detached houses, townhouses, or duplexes.                                                   SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census (accessed 2014)                         SEE PAGE 34 FOR MORE INFORMATION ON INCOMES

RENTAL HOUSING
There are about 7,690 rented dwellings. Average monthly shelter cost for a rental unit is $856                  FAMILY STRUCTURE                                                               MARITAL STATUS
per month compared to $1,089 in Vancouver. Vacancy rates vary with the last Rental Market
                                                                                                                Total private households                                      30,430           Total population 15+ years                               62,850
Report at 3.8%, which is comparable to neighbouring communities. (CMHC 2014).
                                                                                                                One-family-only households                                    20,930           Married (and not separated)                              32,160
SENIORS & LOW INCOME HOUSING                                                                                    Couple-family without children                                8,800            Living common law                                         5,435
There are about 10 subsidized developments for seniors or low income families in Chilliwack.
                                                                                                                Couple-family with children                                   8,845            Single (never legally married)                           15,250
As demand for subsidized housing always surpasses the supply, a provincial program called
S.A.F.E.R. (Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters) supports the placement of seniors in standard market               Lone-parent-family households                                 3,285            Separated                                                 2,120
rental apartments. There are also a number of private housing facilities for seniors. Contact the               Two-or-more-family households                                     555          Divorced                                                  4,045
Seniors Resource Society.
                                                                                                                Non-census-family households                                      8,950        Widowed                                                   3,840
SPECIAL HOUSING                                                                                                SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census (accessed 2014)                         SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census (accessed 2014)

Group homes for physically or mentally challenged people are also available in Chilliwack.
Contact the Chilliwack Society for Community Living.

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OVERVIEW   |    DEMOGRAPHICS       |   AMENITIES     |      INFRASTRUCTURE              |      LABOUR & INDUSTRY             |      ECONOMICS            |      DEVELOPMENT              |      CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                              POPULATION         |     HOUSEHOLDS             |      LANGUAGE & ETHNICITY                     |   RELIGION

                                                                                                                Welcoming multi-culturalism, Chilliwack has a diverse and
                                                                                                                growing ethnic population.

                                                                                                                                                                                 DEMOGRAPHICS
LANGUAGE & ETHNICITY                                                                                              IMMIGRANT POPULATION
                                                                                                                                                            NON-IMMIGRANTS                             IMMIGRANTS                              NON-PERMANENT
LANGUAGES                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        RESIDENTS
Canada is a bilingual country with English and French as the official languages. However, the                     Canada                                              78.3                                   20.6                                        1.1
primary language of the province of British Columbia is English. In Chilliwack, 96.4% of the
                                                                                                                  British Columbia                                    70.9                                   27.6                                        1.5
population speak English at home.
                                                                                                                  Chilliwack                                          87.1                                   12.5                                        0.4
ETHNIC ORIGINS                                                                                                  SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census (accessed 2014)
Most people in Chilliwack (49%) have an ethnic origin from the British Isles, followed by
Western Europeans (32%) which are predominantly German (18,415 people) and Dutch                                     LANGUAGES SPOKEN AT HOME                                         ETHNIC ORIGINS
(11,085 people). In comparison, the top countries of birth of immigrants living in British                                                  POPULATION                   %                                                                                #          %
Columbia were China and India. Chilliwack also maintains a strong aboriginal population of                           English                  73,500*               96.4%             Total PRIVATE HOUSEHOLDS                                       76,925
8,535 people.                                                                                                        German                       365                0.5%             North American Aboriginal origins                               6,220          8%
IMMIGRANT POPULATION                                                                                                 Punjabi                      315                0.4%             Other North American origins                                   25,045         33%
The immigrant population in Chilliwack is estimated at 9,650 people (12.5%). While this                              Korean                       300                0.4%             European origins                                               62,110         81%
percentage is lower than BC and Canada as a whole, in recent years there is a growing trend                          Chinese (All)                280                0.4%                British Isles origins                                        38,025        49%
for immigrants to locate outside of BC’s major cities. In fact, as of the last census, 9.7% of
                                                                                                                     Spanish                      255                0.3%                French origins                                                7,760        10%
Chilliwack’s immigrants came here between 2006-2011.
                                                                                                                     Dutch                        210                0.3%                Western European origins (except French)                     25,190        33%
MIGRATION                                                                                                            French                       205                0.3%                 Dutch                                                        9,580        12%
BC’s mild climate, superb quality of life and progressive culture keeps it as one of the most
                                                                                                                     Vietnamese                   105                0.1%                 German                                                      16,370        21%
desirable immigrant locations in the country. While a boom in the resource industries, primar-
                                                                                                                     Romanian                      95                0.1%                Northern European            (except British)                 6,545         9%
ily in Alberta, are attracting a higher net migration than other provinces, BC maintains a strong,
competitive economy.                                                                                                 Filipino                      75                0.1%                Eastern European origins                                     11,465        15%
                                                                                                                     Farsi                         65                0.1%                Southern European origins                                     3,645         5%
Migration to Chilliwack remains strong, with a population growth of 12.6%, as compared to 5%
to 7% in neighbouring communities. Chilliwack’s superb lifestyle, gorgeous scenery, low cost                         Hindi                         55                0.1%              Latin; Central and South American                                870          1%
land, prosperous economy, and easy access to markets make it a more attractive migration                             Polish                        50                0.1%              African origins                                                  325          0%
destination.                                                                                                         Afrikaans                     45                0.1%              Asian origins                                                  3,325          4%
WELCOMING MULTI-CULTURALISM                                                                                          Russian                       35                0.0%              Oceania origins                                                  495          1%
Chilliwack welcomes and supports immigrant migration. For support and resources, see                             *NOTE: Population of Census Families. Many respondents listed       SOURCE: 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada (accessed 2014)
                                                                                                                 speak more than one language.
Contacts in this document (page 45).                                                                             SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census (accessed 2014)
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OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS       |   AMENITIES    |     INFRASTRUCTURE              |      LABOUR & INDUSTRY                  |   ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT     |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                             POPULATION            |     HOUSEHOLDS        |    LANGUAGE & ETHNICITY   |   RELIGION

                                                                                                                 While predominantly Christian, Chilliwack has a growing
                                                                                                                 population of Sikh, Muslim, Jewish and other religions.

                                                                                                                                                                                DEMOGRAPHICS
RELIGION                                                                                                          RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS
According to Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), 58.3% of the population                                                                                     CHILLIWACK                %              BC              %
in Chilliwack reported a religious affiliation, while 41.7% said they had no religious affiliation.               Total Population (PRIVATE HOUSEHOLDS)                              76,925                             4,324,455          100
For British Columbia as a whole, 55.9% of the population reported a religious affiliation, while                      Buddhist                                                         300                 0.4%          90,620            2%
44.1% had no religion.
                                                                                                                      Christian                                                     43,200                56.2%         1,930,415          45%
The most frequently reported religious affiliation in Chilliwack was Christian, reported by                            Anglican                                                      2,885                 3.8%          213,975           5%
43,200 (56.2%) of the population, of which 12.3% were Catholic and 26.3% were other                                    Baptist                                                         1,560               2.0%          91,575            2%
Christian. Other non-christian religions, including Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu, comprised
                                                                                                                       Catholic                                                        9,500              12.3%          650,360           15%
2.1% of Chilliwack’s population. In comparison, about 45% of the population in British
                                                                                                                       Christian Orthodox                                              290                 0.4%          39,845            1%
Columbia reported following a Christian religion, while 12% of BC’s population reported follow-
ing a non-christian religion.                                                                                          Lutheran                                                        1,610               2.1%          71,470            2%
                                                                                                                       Pentecostal                                                     1,880               2.4%          58,300            1%
RELIGION AND MULTI-CULTURALISM                                                                                         Presbyterian                                                    1,040               1.4%          44,635            1%
Canada supports and promotes cultural and religious diversities. As such, Statistics Canada                            United Church                                                   4,245               5.5%          222,230           5%
reports that there is substantial growth in diverse religions.                                                         Other Christian                                               20,195               26.3%          538,030           12%
Public schools in Canada are secular, although there are some private schools that operate                            Hindu                                                             30                 0.0%          45,795            1%
under a particular faith. In public schools and other public facilities, Christian holidays, such                     Jewish                                                           110                 0.1%          23,130            1%
as Christmas and Easter, are still regularly observed. Supporting multi-culturalism, public                           Muslim                                                           240                 0.3%          79,310            2%
institutions and community organizations often also recognize celebrations such as Hanukkah,
                                                                                                                      Sikh                                                             445                 0.6%          201,110           5%
Chinese New Year, Diwali, Baisakhi, Vaisakhi, Robbie Burns Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Ramadan and
                                                                                                                      Traditional (Aboriginal) Spirituality                            170                 0.2%          10,295            0%
many others.
                                                                                                                      Other religions                                                  355                 0.5%          35,500            1%
                                                                                                                      No religious affiliation                                      32,080                41.7%         1,908,285          44%
                                                                                                                 SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) (accessed 2014)

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OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |    AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |   ECONOMICS    |    DEVELOPMENT      |   CONTACTS

                          EDUCATION    |   HEALTHCARE   |   SAFETY & SECURITY   |   SPORTS & RECREATION   |   LEISURE & CULTURE   |   ATTRACTIONS

AMENITIES
                                                  From a symphony orchestra to first-rate attractions,
                                                  Chilliwack’s amenities make it a regional destination.

                                                                                                                                                     13
OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS    |    AMENITIES      |    INFRASTRUCTURE                 |        LABOUR & INDUSTRY                |      ECONOMICS             |       DEVELOPMENT                 |     CONTACTS

                                                                                           EDUCATION    |   HEALTHCARE          |      SAFETY & SECURITY                |      SPORTS & RECREATION                   |      LEISURE & CULTURE                |       ATTRACTIONS

                                                                                                               Home to Canada Education Park, Chilliwack offers
                                                                                                               world-class education and workplace training.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   AMENITIES
EDUCATION                                                                                                          ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY EDUCATION WITHIN CHILLIWACK
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION                                                                                                                                   ELEMENTARY
                                                                                                                                                        SCHOOLS
                                                                                                                                                                                    MIDDLE/SECONDARY
                                                                                                                                                                                        SCHOOLS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ADDITIONAL
                                                                                                                                                                                                                             PROGRAMS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ENROLLMENT

The Chilliwack School District #33 is part of BC’s public school system and services more than                     PUBLIC                                     20                                  6                                  4                               14,000+
14,000 school-age children with 1,800 teachers and staff. Chilliwack is home to 20 public
                                                                                                                   School District              In addition to basic curriculum, programming includes Computer (Java
elementary schools, six middle schools, three secondary schools, and four alternative schools                      #33 Programs:                Programming, Microsoft Engineering; University Level Programming; Cisco
(including a distance learning school and First Nations school). The district also offers a continu-                                            Systems; Information Technology; Computer Animation; CAD; 3-D Animation;
ing education program.                                                                                                                          Graphic Arts); Office Management; Robotics; French Immersion; Fine Arts; Career
                                                                                                                                                Preparation, etc.
All schools offer a standard liberal education, such as reading, writing, mathematics, social
studies, science, literature, language, art and physical education. Secondary level education also                 INDEPENDANT                                 9                                 5*                                N/A                                1,940
includes technology, trades, arts, french immersion and other programs. Visit sd33.bc.ca.                          Programs:                    In addition to basic curriculum, education is tailored to particular school format:
                                                                                                                                                Christian, Catholic, or Specialty school.
Chilliwack is also home to 9 independant schools. These schools generally provide the standard
                                                                                                                                                * This number is not in addition to the number of elementary schools. There are four schools which provide
curriculum plus a special area of focus (such as a Christian education).                                                                        programming from K-12 and one school which provides programming from K-9.

HIGHER EDUCATION
The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is a fully accredited, public post secondary institution
that enrolls over 15,000 students per year at all campuses. Consistently ranked as one of the                      HIGHER EDUCATION
top universities in the country by the Globe and Mail’s Canadian University Report, UFV offers more                  NAME OF INSTITUTION                           LOCATION                  DISTANCE                ACADEMIC
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     PROGRAMS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               TRADE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             PROGRAMS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ENROLLMENT

than 80 programs, including master and bachelor degrees, with majors, minors, and extended                         UNIVERSITY OF THE                          CHILLIWACK                     0 MILES                      YES                      YES                   15,788**
minors in more than 30 subject areas, and more than a dozen trades and technology programs.                        FRASER VALLEY                                   + 4 OTHERS

Chilliwack is home to several private training facilities, including the accredited MTI Community                  Types of Programs:                         80 programs. Programs include: Master of Arts (Crim Justice), Bachelor of
                                                                                                                                                              Arts (BA), Bsc, BACrim, BBA, BSocWork, BChild/Youth, B Computer Info,
College, which provides technical and trades training, including Business and Healthcare.                          * Other Locations: Abbotsford,
                                                                                                                   Mission, Hope, Agassiz.                    BA Adult Educ., BBA Aviation, Bnursing, and PDP, Associate of Arts, and
CANADA EDUCATION PARK                                                                                              ** Enrollment: This amount                 more; and multiple vocational diplomas and certificates in fashion design,
Chilliwack’s Canada Education park includes such training facilities as the RCMP Pacific Region                    includes enrollment from all               visual arts, social services, theatre, dental assisting, mechanics, trades (ie:
                                                                                                                   locations                                  electrical, plumbing), early childhood education, and more.
Training Centre (PRTC), Canadian Police College, Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), Canada Border
                                                                                                                   MTI COMMUNITY                              CHILLIWACK                     0 MILES                      NO                       YES                    75-100
Services Agency (CBSA), University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), and the Agriculture Centre of                       COLLEGE
Excellence (ACE).
                                                                                                                   Types of Programs:                         Business Management, Administration, Tourism and Hospitality, Health
CHILLIWACK ACADEMY OF MUSIC                                                                                                                                   Care, Internships, Early Childhood Education, payroll certification, etc.
The Chilliwack Academy of Music is a non-profit society that provides year-round lessons.                      SOURCE: websites for various institutions: University of the Fraser Valley (www.ufv.ca), MTI Community College, 2014 (www.mticc.com) (updated 2014)

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OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS    |     AMENITIES   |    INFRASTRUCTURE        |    LABOUR & INDUSTRY        |    ECONOMICS       |    DEVELOPMENT        |    CONTACTS

                                                                                            EDUCATION    |   HEALTHCARE      |    SAFETY & SECURITY      |    SPORTS & RECREATION        |    LEISURE & CULTURE       |    ATTRACTIONS

                                                                                                               Chilliwack has recently made $35 million in improvements
                                                                                                               to Chilliwack General Hospital.

                                                                                                                                                                                       AMENITIES
HEALTHCARE
Mandated by BC’s Ministry of Health, Fraser Health Authority is responsible for providing a wide
range of integrated health care services to more than 1.6 million people living in communities
stretching from Burnaby to Hope. Fraser Health Authority operates a number of health services
in Chilliwack, including Chilliwack General Hospital as well as community-based residential,
home health, mental health and public health services.
Recently improved, Chilliwack General Hospital (CGH) has about 1,400 employees and
approximately 50 general practitioners and 45 specialists. The hospital has 137 beds, plus 10
more beds in the Cedar Ridge Extended Care facility and 90 more in the Bradley Extended Care
facility. Inpatient services include intensive care, coronary care, maternity, medicine, palliative
care, psychiatry, surgical, sub-acute and transitional care. Outpatient services include ambula-
tory day care, critical care unit, diagnostic imaging, emergency 24/7, gynecology/urology,
healthy heart, diabetes program, IV therapy, laboratory services, medical and surgical day care,
nutrition counseling, cancer care, physiotherapy, pre-admission clinic, respiratory clinic and
speech/language pathology. See CGH Hospital Services Directory (PDF).
The Chilliwack Public Health Unit provides several services and programs, including infant/
maternal health, child health, immunization, adult flu clinics, hearing, sexual disease clinic,
youth clinic, adult health information and education and communicable disease control. Fraser
Health also provides multiple other professional support for individuals with acute, rehabilita-
tion, chronic, persistent or palliative care needs. Services include in-home health care, assisted
living, residential care, mental health and addictions, as well as laboratory and pharmaceutical
services.

 CHILLIWACK HEALTH CARE
 Hospital Beds (incl. extended care)                                                237
 Outpatient Clinics                                                                  3
                                                                                                                CHILLIWACK GENERAL HOSPITAL (CGH): This $35 million redevelopment project, completed in 2011 included the entire outpatient
 Physicians in area                                                                 146                         care module, which encompasses the emergency department, ambulatory care, diagnostics and laboratory services, as well as
                                                                                                                an improved reception area. There were also $1.2 in upgrades to CGH’s fifth floor sub-acute care beds completed in 2006.
 Dentists in area                                                                   43
SOURCE: Fraser Health (updated 2014)
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OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS    |     AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |   ECONOMICS    |    DEVELOPMENT      |   CONTACTS

                                                                                          EDUCATION    |   HEALTHCARE   |   SAFETY & SECURITY   |   SPORTS & RECREATION   |   LEISURE & CULTURE   |   ATTRACTIONS

                                                                                                              Chilliwack residents enjoy living in one of the safest and
                                                                                                              most secure countries in the world.
                                                                                                                                                                          AMENITIES
SAFETY & SECURITY                                                                                             Reconstructionist/Analyst, and Highway Patrol.
FIRE DEPARTMENT                                                                                               The RCMP Pacific Region Training Centre (PRTC) is located in Chilliwack’s Canada Education
The Chilliwack Fire Department serves the community through six fire halls, located in                        Park. This facility provides provincial, national and international in-service training to RCMP
downtown Chilliwack, Sardis, Rosedale, Greendale, Yarrow and Ryder Lake. The Chilliwack Fire                  members and other police services. The facility also hosts other government agencies for law
Department employs 30 career and 129 paid-on-call firefighters and officers who are managed                   enforcement related training. There are 80 courses offered at this facility, with 6,000 RCMP
and supported by 4 Chief Officers, 2 Training Officers, 2 Public Educatiors/Fire Inspectors and 2             officers and employees trained per year, and 2,500 officers receiving annual qualification.
administrative support staff.
Services include: Fire prevention (public education, code enforcement, fire investigations);
public hazard assessment and mitigation; fire suppression; rescues; motor vehicle incident
mitigation; emergency medical aid; and emergency preparedness programs.
CHILLIWACK RCMP
The community’s police services are provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP),
under contract with the City of Chilliwack. The Chilliwack Community Police Office, which is part
of the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment, includes 107 RCMP members, 8 Provincial
RCMP members, 24 Communication Centre dispatchers, and 34 full-time and 17 part-time
municipal employees, providing services from police enforcement to exhibit control.
In addition to the Community Police Office, Chilliwack is home to the Upper Fraser Valley
Regional Detachment and the RCMP Pacific Region Training Centre. The regional detachment
headquarters oversee administration for all RCMP in the Chilliwack, Agassiz, Hope and Boston
Bar. This office includes 42 RCMP members, 8.5 Public Service employees, and 5.5 Municipal
Employees. Services at this office include, the Integrated Border Enforcement Team, Criminal
Intelligence Section, Forensic Identification Section, Major Crime Unit, Police Dog Services,

In addition to the local police force, Chilliwack is home to the
RCMP’s regional headquarters and their regional training facility.

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OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS     |    AMENITIES   |    INFRASTRUCTURE    |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY     |    ECONOMICS    |    DEVELOPMENT      |   CONTACTS

                                                                                             EDUCATION    |   HEALTHCARE     |   SAFETY & SECURITY   |   SPORTS & RECREATION     |   LEISURE & CULTURE    |   ATTRACTIONS

                                                                                                                Chilliwack has some of the best sports and recreational
                                                                                                                facilities in the region.

                                                                                                                                                                               AMENITIES
SPORTS AND RECREATION
There are approximately 77 sports clubs in the city and multiple sports and recreational
facilities.
• SWIMMING: Swimming facilities include the Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre, Cheam
  Leisure Centre, Rotary Outdoor Pool, and Chilliwack YMCA.
                                                                                                                         CHILLIWACK LANDING                CHEAM LEISURE CENTRE                       THE LANDING
• ICE SPORTS: Prospera Centre Multi-plex Arena with audience seating up to 5,700 (2                                         LEISURE CENTRE                                                           SPORTS CENTRE

  rinks); and Twin Rinks (2 rinks) with seating up to 528.
• INDOOR SPORTS: Landing Sports Centre (indoor tennis, ball hockey, etc.), Cheam
  Leisure Centre has squash courts and double-gymnasium; Chilliwack YMCA has squash and
  racquetball course, and in the summer Twin Rinks has ball hockey, lacrosse, rollerblading
  and more. There are also numerous private facilities.
• OUTDOOR COURTS: Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre has sports courts for basketball,
  street hockey, and sand volleyball, as well as a skateboard park. Many of Chilliwack’s 87                               CHILLIWACK YMCA                  ROTARY OUTDOOR POOL                     TWIN RINKS ARENA
  community parks also have basketball courts, hockey nets or tennis courts.
• FITNESS CENTRES: There are aerobic and weight training equipment available at
  Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre, Cheam Leisure Centre, and Chilliwack YMCA. There are
  also numerous private facilities.
• FIELD SPORTS: Chilliwack has 11 public sports field Complexes, including a 2,500 seat
  stadium at Chilliwack Exhibition Park. School District playing fields are also open to the
  public. This brings the total number of ball fields to 78 and soccer pitches to 62.                                     PROSPERA CENTRE                  CHILLIWACK EXHIBITION                     SPORTS FIELDS
                                                                                                                          MULTIPLEX ARENA                      PARK STADIUM
• OUTDOOR RECREATION: Chilliwack is known as “The Great Outside!”, with mountain
  trails, camping, lakes, rivers and plenty of beaches. Chilliwack is a great place for people
                                                                                                                                        LEARN MORE. VISIT TOURISMCHILLIWACK.COM.
  to engage in such activities as fishing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, sailing, skiing, hiking,
  biking, horseback riding, parasailing, hang gliding and many more activities.
• GOLF: Greater Chilliwack is home to 8 golf courses, country clubs, putting greens, and/or                      NOTE: See more facilities on page 18 of this document. Also visit chilliwack.com for more parks and facilities.
  mini golf facilities.

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OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS       |   AMENITIES   |    INFRASTRUCTURE        |     LABOUR & INDUSTRY         |     ECONOMICS         |     DEVELOPMENT         |     CONTACTS

                                                                                            EDUCATION     |   HEALTHCARE      |    SAFETY & SECURITY       |    SPORTS & RECREATION           |     LEISURE & CULTURE         |     ATTRACTIONS

                                                                                                                 Chilliwack is rich in culture, with its own symphony orchestra,
                                                                                                                 historic treasures, and diverse event destinations.

                                                                                                                                                                                           AMENITIES
LEISURE & CULTURE
Chilliwack offers dance, art galleries, symphony, theatre, museums, cinemas, music festivals,
shopping, and a wide array of dining experiences.

• MUSEUMS & ARCHIVES: The Chilliwack Museum and Archives is located in the former
  City Hall, a national historic building. The facility features information, photos and artifacts
  from the 1860s to present day. For more information, visit chilliwack.museum.bc.ca.

   The Atchelitz Threshermen’s Museum is another Chilliwack treasure, giving visitors a real-
   world experience of a working farm around the turn of the century.

• MUSIC: The Chilliwack Symphony Orchestra and Chorus performs regularly at the
  Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Chilliwack is also home to the Chilliwack Academy of Music, a
  non-profit society that provides year-round lessons and classes.

• THEATRE: The Chilliwack Community Arts Council, Chilliwack Player’s Guild and the                              CHILLIWACK CULTURAL CENTRE: This $22 million facility showcases headlining theatre shows, dance shows, musicals, music
                                                                                                                 concerts, and community events. The facility has a 596-seat main theatre and a 160-seat studio theatre. There are three lobbies
  University of the Fraser Valley Theatre Department put on a number of live theatre shows                       with a combined capacity for 1,000 people; an art gallery; a crafting room; board rooms; and several studios suitable for
  and musical events yearly.                                                                                     various uses, including music, fine arts, choral, and fabric arts.

• CINEMA: Chilliwack has two movie theatres: Cottonwood 4 Cinemas and the new Cineplex
  Galaxy Cinemas at Eagle Landing.

• ARTS & CULTURE: The Chilliwack Community Arts Council supports a variety of arts,
  including dance, crafts, drama, painting and weaving.

• EVENTS: Chilliwack is host to a variety of events year-round, attracting upwards of 90,000
  attendees annually. Some of these events include Flight Fest, Party in the Park, First Nations
  Pow Wow, and a variety of trade shows like the Home and Garden trade show. For an up-
  to-date listing of events and activities, please visit the Tourism Chilliwack web site at www.                CHILLIWACK HERITAGE PARK: This 150,000 square foot                  ATCHELITZ THRESHERMEN’S MUSEUM: This outdoor
                                                                                                                recreation and trade show facility, constructed on a 65-acre        historical site gives visitors a real-world experience of
  tourismchilliwack.com.                                                                                        fairground, is used as a trade show and events building, and        a working farm around the turn of the century.
                                                                                                                has a racetrack, rodeo arena, and two show rings for horses.
LEARN MORE. VISIT TOURISMCHILLIWACK.COM.
NOTE: See more facilities on page 17 of this document.

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OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS    |     AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE    |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY   |     ECONOMICS   |    DEVELOPMENT      |   CONTACTS

                                                                                             EDUCATION    |   HEALTHCARE   |    SAFETY & SECURITY   |   SPORTS & RECREATION    |   LEISURE & CULTURE   |   ATTRACTIONS

                                                                                                                Chilliwack offers multiple natural and man-made attractions
                                                                                                                that make it a popular regional destination.

                                                                                                                                                                               AMENITIES
ATTRACTIONS
Surrounded by the vast coastal mountain range, Chilliwack is home to the great outdoors
featuring crystal clear lakes, plenty of beaches, extensive hiking trails, and several rivers.
• LAKES, BEACHES & CAMPGROUNDS: Waterplay abounds at Chilliwack Lake and Cultus
  Lake. Provincial and private campgrounds, as well as public parks and pristine beaches,
  attract visitors from around the Lower Mainland.                                                                                                             FISHING
                                                                                                                         LAKES & BEACHES                                                    WHITE WATER RAFTING
• FISHING: The Chilliwack, Vedder and Fraser Rivers are world-renowned for superb fishing,
  from giant sturgeon to migrating salmon to fresh water trout. Visit fishchilliwack.com.
• WHITE WATER RAFTING AND KAYAKING: People come from all over the world to
  kayak or raft BC’s raging rivers like the Chilliwack River. Several companies offer guided
  rafting tours.
• WATERSLIDES: Two of the region’s best waterslide parks are in the Chilliwack area. Cultus
  Lake Waterpark and Bridal Falls Waterpark offer multiple twisting slides, hot tub, picnic                                WATERSLIDES                     BRIDAL VEIL FALLS                    AGRI-TOURISM
  area, and snack bar.
• BRIDAL FALLS: Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park provides visitors with a short hike to one
  of the Lower Mainland’s most beautiful waterfalls. The Bridal Falls area is also home to a
  family dining restaurant, a motel and RV resorts, and several other attractions including golf
  and waterslides.
• AGRI-TOURISM: From a Circle Farm Tour through working farms and food production
  facilities to seasonal Corn Mazes, Chilliwack is one of the best agri-tourism destinations.
                                                                                                                               GOLF                             TRAILS                         “GREAT OUTSIDE”
• GOLF: Greater Chilliwack has 8 full-sized golf courses plus a driving range — most provide
  18 holes offering a total of 40,000 yards of golfing pleasure. And for fun for the entire
  family, there is Tap-Ins putting course and Cultus Lake Adventure Park.                                                             LEARN MORE. VISIT TOURISMCHILLIWACK.COM.

• TRAILS: There are 33 kms of enjoyable trails in Chilliwack, from challenging hikes up
  Mt. Thom to leisurely strolls, mountain biking, or horseback riding. Visit tourismchilliwack.
  com, vancouvertrails.com or chilliwack.com.

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OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY    |     ECONOMICS     |   DEVELOPMENT   |   CONTACTS

                                                                              TRANSPORTATION   |       UTILITIES   |   TELECOMMUNICATIONS    |   MEDIA

INFRASTRUCTURE
                                                     From a world-class transportation network to plentiful,
                                                     economical energy, Chilliwack’s infrastructure is first rate.

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OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS     |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY    |     ECONOMICS     |   DEVELOPMENT   |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                          TRANSPORTATION   |       UTILITIES   |   TELECOMMUNICATIONS    |   MEDIA

                                                                                                            With no municipal tax on fuel, Chilliwack is the city of choice
                                                                                                            for transportation companies.

                                                                                                                                                    INFRASTRUCTURE
TRANSPORTATION
BY ROAD
Chilliwack is situated along the TransCanada Highway, connecting to Vancouver, the USA and
Pacific Rim markets. Chilliwack is a popular truck stop for long haul trucks, as the city has no
municipal tax on fuel. Chilliwack is home to about 60 national and local trucking firms, including
19 common carriers and 14 local terminals. In addition to a public bus transit system, the city
also has an inter-urban bus service with Greyhound and the Fraser Valley Express.

BY RAIL
Chilliwack has multiple train stops and is a major interchange point between CN Railway and
Southern Railway of BC, where loaded cars are redistributed for US destinations. Chilliwack also
has a passenger railway stop, serviced by Via Rail.

BY AIR
Chilliwack Airport (YCW) services an estimated 60,000 air movements annually. It can
accommodate such heavy aircraft as the RCAF Hercules, but it primarily services pilot training
and recreational flights from all around BC and south of the border.
For regional and international air travel, scheduled flights are available from Abbotsford
International Airport (about 40 kms from Chilliwack) and Vancouver International Airport (about
100 kms from Chilliwack).

BY SEA
Deep sea transportation is handled by Port Metro Vancouver, which offers 28 deep-sea and
domestic marine terminals, servicing containers, bulk, other commercial shipments, and several
passenger cruise lines.
Car and truck transportation to Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands is provided by
BC Ferries, with two main ferry terminals at Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay.
There are also several tug boat companies that offer barge transportation along the Fraser River.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     21
OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS       |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY    |     ECONOMICS     |   DEVELOPMENT   |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                                                  TRANSPORTATION   |       UTILITIES   |   TELECOMMUNICATIONS    |   MEDIA

                                                                                                                                                    Clean and economical energy, combined with some of Canada’s
                                                                                                                                                    highest quality drinking water, gives Chilliwack top marks.

                                                                                                                                                                                      INFRASTRUCTURE
UTILITIES                                                                                                                                            WATER
                                                                                                                                                     Known for having some of the highest water quality in Canada, Chilliwack continues to work to
ENERGY                                                                                                                                               maintain its superb clarity and taste. The City has implemented a comprehensive Groundwater
BC HYDRO serves the electricity needs of 94% of all British Columbia’s residents, including                                                          Protection Plan (GPP), protecting the Sardis-Vedder Aquifer. Through a combination of quality
Chilliwack. In the Lower Mainland, BC Hydro has 11 hydroelectric facilities, generating 4,940                                                        monitoring, wellhead protection, pollution prevention, public education initiatives, as well as
gigawatt-hours (GWh) a year. BC Hydro provides an abundant and reliable source of clean                                                              continuous updating and upgrading, Chilliwack maintains its superior water quality. The City
energy at a lower cost than most major cites. Visit: BChydro.com.                                                                                    has 17 water reservoirs, 8 drinking water production wells, and 13 potable water pumping
                                                                                                                                                     stations. To learn more, visit chilliwack.com.
FORTISBC serves the natural gas needs of Chilliwack, as well as millions of other customers
throughout BC. Fortis owns two liquefied natural gas storage facilities located in the Delta                                                         SEWER
area and on Vancouver Island. Most homes in the area prefer to use gas for home and water                                                            The City of Chilliwack provides sewer services to most of the urban and sub-urban areas. Much
heating as it is significantly less expensive than electricity or oil heating. Visit: FortisBC.com.                                                  of the rural sector currently relies on septic tanks. To service the 18,000 properties within the
                                                                                                                                                     municipal boundaries, the City has a Wastewater Treatment Plant, 47 sanitary pump stations,
   30                                                                                                                                                and 4 drainage pumping stations. To learn more, visit chilliwack.com.
 ELECTRICITY RATE COMPARISON (AVERAGE PRICE IN C/KWH)
                                                                                                                                                     WASTE
   25                   Residential
                                                                                                                                                     Recycling and waste reduction efforts remain a high priority in Chilliwack. To divert garbage
                        Small Power
                                                                                                                                                     from going into the landfill, waste is divided into three parts: recyclable material, compostable
                        Large Power
   20                                                                                                                                                material, and garbage.
                                                                                                                                                     The City provides curbside garbage and recycling collection services to all urban single-family
   15                                                                                                                                                households under a contract with Emterra Environmental. Participating households receive
                                                                                                                                                     a quarterly bill for recycling and garbage collection on their City utility bill. Multi-family
                                                                                                                                                     complexes will have the option to apply for participation. Rural areas are handled by private
   10                                                                                                                                                companies.
                                                                                                                                                     Residents may also deposit items directly at the following facilities:
    5                                                                                                                                                • Bailey Sanitary Landfill Site and Recycling Depot (garbage and recyclable materials)
                                                                                                                                                     • Parr Road Green Depot (compostable yard waste)
                                                                                                                                                     • Emterra Environmental Depot (Yale Road)
    0
                                                                                                                                                     • Bottle Depots
                Chilliwack             Calgary, AB             Ottawa, ON               Seattle, WA     Portland, OR San Francisco, CA
SOURCE: “ 2014 Comparison of Electricity Rates in Major North American Cities,” Hydro-Quebec                                                         To learn more about waste and disposal options, visit: chilliwack.com.
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OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES    |     INFRASTRUCTURE              |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY    |     ECONOMICS     |   DEVELOPMENT   |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                        TRANSPORTATION   |       UTILITIES   |   TELECOMMUNICATIONS    |   MEDIA

                                                                                                            World-class telecommunications infrastructure combined with
                                                                                                            open market competition ensure top quality at a lower price.

                                                                                                                                                             INFRASTRUCTURE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
                                                                                                                 CELL PHONE COVERAGE AREA
British Columbia is one of North America’s leaders in telecommunications infrastructure and
services, with all communities having access to T-1 lines, and medium and large communities
having access to T-3 lines. Businesses have access to a full range of data and Internet services:
available bandwidth up to 100 Mbps using technologies such as fibre optics, ISDN, ADSL, Frame
Relay, and ATM.

TELEPHONE
Historically, telephone service has been provided by Telus, Canada’s second-largest telecom-
munications company. However, now that telephone service can also be provided through
cable lines, companies like Shaw Cable offer competitive digital telephone services. And more
recently, as wireless services improve, home telephone options are available through mobility
service providers.
Long distance and toll free service is provided by these companies as well as multiple other
secondary source providers.

INTERNET AND TV                                                                                             SOURCE: Telus Mobility (updated 2014)
Internet and television service are predominantly available through cable (Shaw Cable) and
ADSL (Telus). For more information, visit: www.shaw.ca and www.telus.com. And as wireless
services improve, internet services are being made available through mobility service providers.
Multiple satellite companies also provide satellite connections.

MOBILITY
The largest providers for mobile telephone service are Telus Mobility, Rogers Canada, and Bell
Canada. Other companies that have gained a strong market share in the area include (but are
not limited to) Fido, Koodo, and Virgin Mobile.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   23
OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS       |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY    |     ECONOMICS     |   DEVELOPMENT   |   CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                            TRANSPORTATION   |       UTILITIES   |   TELECOMMUNICATIONS    |   MEDIA

                                                                                                              In addition to regional media, Chilliwack is home to several
                                                                                                              radio stations and publications.

                                                                                                                                                 INFRASTRUCTURE
MEDIA
Lower Mainland British Columbia is serviced by multiple media outlets, including Global BC,
CTV, CBC, City TV, as well as the Vancouver Sun, the Province, and many other organizations. In
Chilliwack, there are also several Chilliwack-specific media outlets.

PUBLICATIONS
• Chilliwack Progress: This local paper is published twice weekly (Wednesdays and Fridays).
• Real Estate Review: This free local real estate advertiser is published weekly courtesy of the
  Chilliwack Progress.

RADIO
• Star FM 98.3 (Rogers Media)
• Country 107.1 (Rogers Media)
• 89.5 The Drive (CHWK-FM Fabmar Communications)
• Kiss Radio 107.5 (Rogers Media)

A number of FM stations are broadcast over cable service to provide maximum auditory quality.

TELEVISION
Chilliwack provides all the cable television services of a major centre. The community also has
one local broadcasting station (Shaw TV Channel 4), which hosts local community information.
See Telecommunications on page 23 for more information on available services.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       24
OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES   |    INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY    |   ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT    |   CONTACTS

                                                                             KEY SECTORS   |   EMPLOYERS   |   LABOUR FORCE   |   EMPLOYMENT

LABOUR&                                             With a talented labour pool, business and employment

INDUSTRY                                            opportunities abound in Chilliwack.

                                                                                                                                                 25
OVERVIEW   |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE   |   LABOUR & INDUSTRY    |   ECONOMICS   |   DEVELOPMENT    |    CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                       KEY SECTORS   |   EMPLOYERS   |   LABOUR FORCE   |   EMPLOYMENT

                                                                                                       Growth in manufacturing and other industries attest to
                                                                                                       Chilliwack’s desirability as an ideal place to do business.

                                                                                                                                LABOUR&INDUSTRY
KEY SECTORS
Chilliwack’s labour force by industry is diverse.
• Trade (wholesale and retail): 16%
• Manufacturing and construction: 17%
• Services (prof, admin, food serv, FIRE): 27%
• Institutions (health, education and public admin): 26%                                                        AGRICULTURE                  AVIATION & AEROSPACE                   EDUCATION
• Other (transportation, agri, entertainment, etc): 14%

 EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR
 RETAIL TRADE                                         5430                    12%
 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES                           4910                    11%
 CONSTRUCTION                                         4155                     9%
                                                                                                                   FILM                        FOOD PROCESSING                     HEALTHCARE
 MANUFACTURING                                        3435                     8%
 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION                                3565                     8%
 ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES                      3165                     7%
 EDUCATION                                            3170                     7%
 TRANSPORTATION AND WAREHOUSING                       2175                     5%
 AGRICULTURE                                          2265                     5%
 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES                              2265                     5%
                                                                                                               MANUFACTURING                 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES                 REAL ESTATE
 OTHER SERVICES                                       2360                     5%
 WHOLESALE TRADE                                      1585                     4%
 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES                                1830                     4%
 FINANCE AND INSURANCE                                1225                     3%
 ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND REC                           740                     2%
 REAL ESTATE                                           765                     2%
 MINING/QUARRYING                                      250                     1%
                                                                                                           RETAIL/WHOLESALE TRADE                TECHNOLOGY                         TOURISM
 INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY                            445                     1%

                                                                                                                                                                                                            26
OVERVIEW    |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES   |   INFRASTRUCTURE        |    LABOUR & INDUSTRY          |    ECONOMICS       |    DEVELOPMENT        |    CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                 KEY SECTORS        |   EMPLOYERS       |    LABOUR FORCE        |    EMPLOYMENT

                                                                                                          Employers appreciate Chilliwack’s high quality workforce
                                                                                                          with lower overhead costs.

                                                                                                                                       LABOUR&INDUSTRY
EMPLOYERS
Chilliwack continues to undergo significant business growth and urban development. In the last
ten years, Chilliwack business licenses have more than doubled to reach a total of about 4,500
business licenses, with an average of approximately 500 new business licences each year.

LEADING EMPLOYERS
COMPANY                                     SECTOR(S)                                                     CHILLIWACK SCHOOL DISTRICT #33: New Chilliwack                    CHILLIWACK GENERAL HOSPITAL: New outpatient care
                                                                                                          Secondary School pictured.                                        facility pictured.
School District #33                         Public Sector
Chilliwack General Hospital                 Healthcare
Convergys                                   Technology
Overwaitea Food Group                       Food and Grocery
City of Chilliwack                          Public Sector
Chilliwack Society for Community Living     Healthcare
RCMP                                        Public Sector
Tycrop Manufacturing                        Manufacturing and Technology
Clean Energy Compression                    Manufacturing and Technology                                  CONVERGYS CHILLIWACK CALL CENTRE: provides customer               TYCROP MANUFACTURING: Designs, engineers, builds and
                                                                                                          care and technical support in English and in French for           provides technical support of mobile equipment for special-
University of the Fraser Valley             Public Sector
                                                                                                          many of Convergys’ top clients.                                   ized markets around the world.
Westeck Windows                             Manufacturing
Rainbow Greenhouses                         Agriculture
Sto:lo Nations – First Nation Govt.         Public Sector
Canada Safeway                              Food and Grocery
Vantage Foods                               Food Processing
Walmart                                     Retail Trade
Meadow Valley Meats                         Food Processing
Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry             Food Processing
                                                                                                          CLEAN ENERGY COMPRESSION : A global leader                        UNIVERSITY OF THE FRASER VALLEY (UFV): Provides masters
Visscher Group of Companies                 Forestry and Manufacturing                                    manufacturing CNG and LNG fueling systems.                        and bachelor degrees, as well as career diplomas and
Envision Financial                          Financial                                                                                                                       trade and technology certificates.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          27
OVERVIEW      |   DEMOGRAPHICS   |   AMENITIES    |      INFRASTRUCTURE               |      LABOUR & INDUSTRY                  |    ECONOMICS      |    DEVELOPMENT           |      CONTACTS

                                                                                                                                                                                    KEY SECTORS             |     EMPLOYERS     |    LABOUR FORCE           |   EMPLOYMENT

                                                                                                                              With a talented workforce, employers can
                                                                                                                              maintain their competitive edge.

                                                                                                                                                                      LABOUR&INDUSTRY
LABOUR FORCE                                                                                                                  LABOUR QUALITY
Chilliwack’s current labour force is estimated at about 44,725 people. Adding the neighbouring                                More people in Chilliwack (31.2%) have a high school diploma as compared to the rest of BC at
communities, there are about 140,000 people within a 30 minute commute and about 1.5                                          25.1%. More people in Chilliwack also have a post-secondary certificate or college diploma at
million people in the Lower Mainland, aged 15 and over that are actively in the workforce.                                    42.2% as compared to 37.6% in the rest of BC. (Of population aged 24 and over).

LABOUR TYPE                                                                                                                   WORKFORCE TRAINING
Compared to the BC average, Chilliwack has more people working in trades (18.8%) and                                          Chilliwack is home to Canada Education Park, which offers a variety of training facilities, includ-
manufacturing (3.9%). Occupations in healthcare, sales, and service are comparable to the rest                                ing the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), the Agriculture Centre of Excellence (ACE), the
of BC. There is also a notable number of management occupations (10.6% of the workforce), as                                  RCMP Pacific Region Training Centre (PRTC), the Canadian Police College, the Justice Institute
well as workers in business, finance, and administration (13% of the workforce). Interestingly,                               of BC (JIBC), and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Learn more about career training
natural resources like agriculture only account for 3.7% of the workforce.                                                    options on page 14 of this document.

 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BY OCCUPATION                                                                                                POPULATION BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT (15 + YEARS)
 INDUSTRY                                                                   BRITISH COLUMBIA        CHILLIWACK                         35.00%

 Management                                                                     11.44%                10.56%
                                                                                                                                       30.00%                                                                                                  Chilliwack
 Business, Finance, Administration                                              16.01%                13.34%                                                                                                                                   BC
 Natural, Applied Sciences, and Related Occupations                              6.68%                3.56%                            25.00%
 Health                                                                          6.40%                6.19%
 Education, Law, Social Services                                                11.53%                13.94%                           20.00%

 Art, Culture, Recreation, Sport                                                 3.41%                1.77%
                                                                                                                                       15.00%
 Sales, Service                                                                 24.05%                24.40%
 Trades, Transport, Equipment operators,                                        14.62%                18.75%                           10.00%
 and Related Occupations
 Natural Resources, Agriculture,                                                 2.62%                3.66%                             5.00%
 and Related Production Occupations
                                                                                                                                        0.00%
 Manufacturing and Utilities                                                     3.24%                3.89%
                                                                                                                                                   High School Diploma Trade Certificate                   College Diploma     University University (above bachelor)
SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census: Chilliwack and BC (accessed 2014)
                                                                                                                              SOURCE: Statistics Canada, 2011 Census: Chilliwack and BC (accessed 2014)

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