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| Maple Ridge, British Columbia | |
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| Motto: "Rivers of bounty, Peaks of gold" | |
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| Coordinates: 49°13′12″N 122°35′56″W / 49.22°N 122.59889°WCoordinates: 49°13′12″N 122°35′56″W / 49.22°N 122.59889°W | |
| Country | Canada |
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| Province | British Columbia |
| Regional District | Metro Vancouver |
| Incorporated | 1874 |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Ernie Daykin |
| Area | |
| - Total | 265.79 km2 (102.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 68,949 |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| Postal code span | V2X, V2W, V3Z, V4R |
| Area code(s) | 604, 778 |
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| Website | District of Maple Ridge |
Maple Ridge is a District Municipality in British Columbia, located in the northeastern section of Metro Vancouver. Maple Ridge has a population of approximately 68,949.
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History
The District of Maple Ridge was incorporated September 12, 1874, it covered an area of 33,000 acres (130 km²) yet only had approximately 50 families living in the town. Maple Ridge is British Columbia's sixth-oldest municipality (after New Westminster, Victoria, Langley, Lake Cowichan, and Chilliwack). Until the expansion of Metro Vancouver (the GVRD) it was part of the now-defunct Dewdney-Alouette Regional District with the city of Pitt Meadows and District of Mission and other north-side communities east to Chehalis.
Communities
Maple Ridge is made up of several different historical areas, they are;
- Haney
- Albion
- Port Hammond
- Whonnock
- Webster's Corners
- Ruskin
- Iron Mountain
- Yennadon
- Silver Valley
- Thornhill
- Kanaka Creek
These areas are often represented by a cultural group. For instance, Webster's Corner and Albion are represented by the many Finnish families that settled in the area. While Port Hammond is known for its small cottage like mill houses originally built by the local mill to house its workers. Ruskin is the location of a community hall of the Sons of Norway, while Kanaka Creek originally was a village for Kanaka (Hawaiian) employees of Port Langley.
Port Haney, located adjacent to the Fraser River to the southwest of downtown Haney, and the site of the WestCoast Express commuter rail station, is a heritage district craeted to protect some of the remaining buildings from earlier times. In addition to buildings already on-site when this was the steamboat landing as well as the CPR station, other heritage buildings from around the District of Maple Ridge were relocated to Port Haney to preserve them and enhance the heritage flavour of the location.[1]
Recent growth
In the past 20 years, Maple Ridge has grown very rapidly, with a 12.5% population increase between the 1996 and 2001 censuses. The construction of new residential subdivisions has threatened many sensitive wildlife habitats as well as the District's limited agricultural land. About two-thirds of those who work outside the home commute into other suburbs or Downtown Vancouver. Because of burgeoning growth connected to the expansion of the Vancouver metropolitan area, Maple Ridge joined the Greater Vancouver Regional District in 1995 (now renamed Metro Vancouver), having historically been a member of the now-rescinded Dewdney-Alouette Regional District (DARD) (Mission and other eastern parts of that regional district are now in the Fraser Valley Regional District). The recently-started construction of the Golden Ears Bridge and the announced new high level Pitt River bridge span also signal increased growth io coming years.
Industry
The early settlers in Maple Ridge engaged in forestry and agriculture. Forestry companies continue to be the largest private-sector employers in the district. They include Interfor and companies that manufacture building materials, yachts and poles. The soil and climate are not well-suited to the production of traditional food crops, but the Maple Ridge agriculture sector generates upwards of $40 million annually (2001), largely from berry crops, nurseries and horse breeding.[citation needed] The biggest challenge for the district is to attract commercial and industrial investment while trying to preserve the "close to nature" feel that is Maple Ridge's biggest asset.[citation needed]
Demographics
Demographics according to Statistics Canada 2006 census.
- Population: 68,949
- 2001 to 2006 population change (%) : 9.2%
- Area: 265.79 km² (102.62 sq mi)
- Density: 259.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (671.8/sq mi)
Government
Maple Ridge is governed at the municipal level by a seven-member council made up of six councilors and the Mayor. Five of the seven school trustees elected to the School District 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Board of Education are chosen by Maple Ridge voters. School trustees, councilors and the Mayor are elected on the same ballot for three-year terms. The most recent term for both the board of education and council began in December 2008. In addition, residents of Maple Ridge vote for representatives to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia and the Canadian House of Commons.
Ernie Daykin is the current Mayor of Maple Ridge and was elected on November 15, 2008. He served two previous terms as a Maple Ridge councilor.
Maple Ridge has a history of electing Mayors by a landslide vote and then throwing them out of office after one term. Previous Mayors include Gordon Robson, Kathy Morse, Al Hogarth, Bill Hartley, Belle Morse and Carl Durkson.
In the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Maple Ridge has two constituencies: In the 2005 provincial election, the BC Liberal Party and the BC New Democratic Party each won a seat. Liberal MLA Randy Hawes holds the seat to the east and NDP MLA Michael Sather holds the seat to the west. There will be a general provincial election on May 12, 2009.
In the Canadian House of Commons, Maple Ridge has one constituency: in the 2006 federal elections, the Conservative Party of Canada won the seat. The MP is Randy Kamp.
Education
Public schools are administered by School District 42 Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows. The school district welcomes residents of Maple Ridge and neighbouring Pitt Meadows, along with students transferred in from other British Columbia School Districts and tuition paying international students.
The school district operates 17 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools, 2 adult learning centres, 1 community college, and other educational facilities in Maple Ridge. (Along with more in Pitt Meadows.)[2]
Several of the five secondary schools have 'specialized' in certain areas and/or started 'academy' programs to attract more students and better prepare them for the 'real world'.
Thomas Haney Secondary School operates on a 'self-directed' learning system that is designed to allow students to learn at their own speed. As well, the school operates an Equestrian Academy and other programs.
Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School opened in 2005 and, as the name suggests, was designed to allow students to experience various technologies as well as their traditional education. The school offers various trades programs in partnership with local trade schools and colleges.
Garibaldi Secondary School offers the International Baccalaureate program and Digipen Technology Academy.
Westview Secondary School and Maple Ridge Secondary School are the other two high schools in Maple Ridge.
Several of the elementary schools also offer non-traditional systems. These include: Kanaka Creek Elementary, which operates a 'year-round' schooling system, exchanging a long summer break for shorter breaks throughout the year, and Yennadon Elementary School, which operates a 'cyberschool' program, enabling some students to work from home on a computer on certain days.
Several private schools are located in Maple Ridge. These include Meadowridge School, a K-12 independent school, and St. Patrick's, a Catholic school. These are not operated by the school district, but must still meet British Columbia Ministry of Education standards.
Sports
Maple Ridge is known for being the hometown of several high-profile athletes, such as baseball player Larry Walker, deceased race-car driver Greg Moore, and hockey players Cam Neely, Brendan Morrison and Andrew Ladd. These professional athletes are the product of very well organized youth sports programs, including a baseball program which has produced three Midget AAA Western Canadian Championship teams since 2001, including back-to-back championships in 2001 and 2002.
Arts and Culture
A few venues for performing arts exist in Maple Ridge. These include the Arts Club Theatre (ACT), the bandstand in Memorial Peace Park, and various theatres in local secondary schools.
The ACT contains a main-stage theatre capable of seating 500 for musical and dramatic performances as well as the more versatile Gemstar Studio Theatre used for other performances as well as classes and special events. The ACT is also home to many smaller classrooms for everything from pottery to painting and a conference room. It is a non-profit public resource.
Also inside the ACT building is the Maple Ridge Art Gallery, focusing on local artists and art students.
Maple Ridge also has several large festivals and parades occurring yearly, including the Rogers Santa Clause Parade, the Jazz and Blues Festival, and the Caribbean Festival.
Notable people from Maple Ridge
- Brent Hayden, swimmer, won gold medal at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships[citation needed]
- Andrew Ladd, NHL hockey player for the Chicago Blackhawks, won the Stanley Cup in 2006 With The Carolina Hurricanes[citation needed]
- Greg Moore, race-winning Champ Car driver, formerly of Forsythe Racing[citation needed]
- Robert Mundell, Nobel Prize-winning economist[citation needed]
- Helen Mussallem, nurse, awarded Companion of the Order of Canada[citation needed]
- Cam Neely, NHL hockey player for the Boston Bruins, elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005[citation needed]
- Christopher Paul Neil, accused pedophile, subject of a worldwide manhunt in October 2007[citation needed]
- Molly Parker, Genie Award-winning actress[citation needed]
- Aaron Pritchett, CCMA award-winning country music artist[citation needed]
- Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu, domestic murder victim, subject of documentaries and a made-for-television movie[citation needed]
- Rick Tippe, CCMA award-winning country music artist[3]
- Larry Walker, All-Star Major League Baseball player, formerly of the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Montreal Expos[citation needed]
- Linda Chung, actress in TVB, singer, 2004 Miss Chinese International Pageant winner[citation needed]
- The Latency, a rock band.
- Tyler Labine, Actor in X-files, Reaper, Anti-Trust, Breaker High, Goose Bumps, Control Alt Delete, Get Carter
- Marco Brugman, professional strongman, known for tearing phone books in half with his teeth, and pressing household appliances in access of 300 lbs. (i.e.- stoves) over his head whenever he enters a home. Goes by his street name, "Quad Tuff." He was also a major inspiration to Larry Walker's career as a professional baseball player. He can frequently be found doing "business" around B.C.[citation needed]
Surrounding municipalities
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Pinecone Burke Provincial Park | Golden Ears Provincial Park | Fraser Valley Electoral District F |
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| Pitt Meadows |  |
Mission | |||||
 Maple Ridge  |
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| Barnston Island, Surrey | Langley Township | Abbotsford |
References
External links
- District of Maple Ridge Local government home page
- History of Maple Ridge A variety of information on the history of Maple Ridge, including historical images, information on heritage buildings, and more.
- History of Maple Ridge on the towns website.
- Maple Ridge Museum Community history on the Maple Ridge Museum & Community Archives website.
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