BC Minor Markets

MARKET PROFILE

REGION DESCRIPTION

Fraser Valley

Only an hour east of Vancouver lies The Fraser Valley Regional District which is made up of seven electoral areas and six member municipalities. The main municipalities are Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack.

The Fraser Valley region is an awe-inspiring place carved by a mighty river and long-loved by the people who live here. On its way to the sea, the Fraser River cuts through the Coast Mountains and the fertile Fraser Valley it created.

The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) covers approximately 115,000 hectares (twice the size of PEI) along the south-central banks of the Fraser River and stretches deep into its watersheds. More than 200,000 people live within the FVRD’s boundaries, and many thousands more visit every year.

Abbotsford

Dubbed the Raspberry Capital of Canada, Abbotsford is one of the most beautiful and productive agricultural areas in British Columbia.
Tucked perfectly between majestic mountain ranges on the wide plain of the Lower Fraser Valley, the fertility of the soil and the gentle pastoral beauty have made the Abbotsford area a popular place to homestead.

Abbotsford was established just before the turn of the nineteenth century and named after Henry Abbot, a General Superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway and brother of Sir. J. Abbot, Prime Minister of Canada.

Abbotsford Regional Map

Mission

Nestled in the rugged Coast Mountains across the Fraser River north of Abbotsford lies Mission, so named after the first and largest mission in the Pacific Northwest, the Roman Catholic St. Mary’s Indian
Mission, founded in 1861.

Dubbed the Gateway to the Fraser River, Mission was a popular stopping place for trappers, settlers, and other river travellers, and remains an important junction to this day. When the original site became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway right of way in 1895, the mission was moved, and the school, convent and church were constructed at what is now the Fraser River Heritage Park.

Mission Regional Map

Chilliwack

Lying on an ancient flood plain in the beautiful Fraser Valley, amongst some of Canada’s richest farmland, is the town of Chilliwack, The City of Festivals and the starting point for Rainbow Country.
Only an hour east of Vancouver, Chilliwack is one of the largest communities in the Fraser Valley, serving as one of the main economic, educational and cultural hubs of the area.

The history of Chilliwack stretches back thousands of years, beginning with the First Nations community who lived in this beautiful area and gave it the name Chilliwack, meaning “quieter water at the head”. As the last ice sheets retreated around 10,000 years ago, the Sto:lo people came to inhabit the Lower Fraser Valley around Chilliwack. The importance of the river for these people is reflected in the meaning of Sto:lo; People of the River.

Chilliwack Regional Map

TRANSIT DISTRICT FACTS

FLEET SIZE

Abbotsford/Mission = 42 Buses, Chilliwack = 7 buses

RIDERSHIP STATISTICS

Abbotsford/Mission = 1,455,257 Annual Boardings

Chilliwack = 363,182 Annual Boardings

AREAS SERVED

Abbotsford/Mission, Chilliwack,/Agassiz/Harrison

SHOPPING CENTER/RESTAURANT COVERAGE

Seven Oaks Shooping Centre, Cottonwood Mall, Clearbrook Town Centre, West Oaks Mall, all major restaurants

INDUSTRIAL/BUSINESS COVERAGE

Agriculture, Abbotsford International Airport

RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE

Abbotsford Sports & Entertainment Centre home of the Abbotsford Heat AHL Hockey Team, Prospera Centre home of the Chilliwack Bruins WHL Hockey Team, Greater Vancouver Zoo, Abbotsford International Air Show

COLLEGES/UNIVERSITY COVERAGE

University of the Fraser Valley

HOSPITAL COVERAGE

Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, MSA General Hospital, Mission Memorial Hospital, Chilliwack General Hospital

AREA LIFESTYLES

Camping/Hiking, Recreational Vehicles

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE (Population, Avg Household Income, avg age etc)

Population: 237,550
Median Age: 36.8
Median Household Income: $58,913
Residential Properties: 85,215
Area: 13,905.56 sq. km

Permitted Products

All bus products are allowed

Restrictions

No restrictions