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Abbotsford, British Columbia

 
Wikipedia: Abbotsford, British Columbia
City of Abbotsford
Partial Abbotsford skyline from Mill Lake

Flag

Coat of arms
Nickname(s): City in the Country, Raspberry Capital of Canada
Motto: "Unus Cum Viribus Duorum"  (Latin)
"One with the strength of two"
Coordinates: 49°2′30″N 122°14′41″W / 49.04167°N 122.24472°W / 49.04167; -122.24472
Country  Canada
Province  British Columbia
Region Fraser Valley/Lower Mainland
Regional District Fraser Valley Regional District
Founded 1892
Incorporated 1945
Government
 - Mayor George W. Peary
Area
 - City 359.36 km2 (138.7 sq mi)
Elevation 38 m (124 ft)
Population (2006)
 - City 123,864
 - Density 344.7/km2 (892.8/sq mi)
 - Metro 159,020 (Census Metropolitan Area)
 - Demonym Abbotsfordian
Time zone PST (UTC-8)
 - Summer (DST) PDT (UTC-7)
Area code(s) 604, 778
Website http://www.abbotsford.ca/

Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, adjacent to Metro Vancouver. It is the 5th largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people (2006).[1] Its Census Metropolitan Area is the 23rd largest in Canada, with 159,020 people (2006).[1] It has the 3rd highest proportion of visible minorities of all Census Metropolitan Areas in Canada, after the Greater Toronto Area and Metro Vancouver.[2]

Abbotsford is the largest municipality by area in British Columbia.[3] It is home to the University of the Fraser Valley, TRADEX and Abbotsford International Airport, which hosts the Abbotsford International Airshow.

The municipality's southern boundary is the Canada-US border, across which is Whatcom County in the state of Washington. In Canada, it is bordered by Langley to the west, the Fraser River and Mission to the north, and Chilliwack to the east. Much of Abbotsford has dramatic views of Mount Baker (to the southeast) and the Coast Mountains (to the north).

Contents

History

Flag of the District of Abbotsford (1992-1995)

The first stage in Abbotsford's colonial development occurred when the Royal Engineers surveyed the area in response to the Gold Rush along the Fraser River in 1858. This led to the building of Yale Road (today Old Yale Road), the first transportation route to link the Fraser Valley. Settlement grew and the production of butter, milk and tobacco began by the late 1860s. In 1889 former Royal Engineer John Cunningham Maclure applied for a crown grant to obtain the 160 acres (0.65 km2) that would become Abbotsford.

The Maclures named the land Abbotsford after family friend Harry Abbott, the Western Superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway.[4] The title passed hands to Robert Ward, who filed a town site subdivision on July 9, 1891. Also in 1891, the CPR built a railway line through the area that connected Mission with Sumas. This route was the only rail connection between Vancouver and Seattle until 1904.

The Village of Abbotsford was incorporated in 1892. At that time Robert Ward sold many of the lots to private investors, but also sold off a significant portion to the Great Northern Railway’s subsidiary company the Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway. The British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) arrived in 1910. The Interurban, as the BCER tram linking Abbotsford with Vancouver and Chilliwack was called, was discontinued in 1950, but BCER's successor BC Hydro retains the right to re-introduce passenger rail service. Service to Vancouver currently runs from neighbouring Mission by way of the West Coast Express.

The most notable natural disaster to hit Abbotsford was a major flood in 1948.

1972 saw the amalgamation of the Village of Abbotsford and the District of Sumas into the District of Abbotsford. The District of Abbotsford amalgamated with the District of Matsqui in 1995 to become the City of Abbotsford.

Government

Abbotsford City Hall

The City of Abbotsford uses a Council-Manager system of local government. The current Mayor and Council were elected on November 15, 2008. The current mayor is George W. Peary. Councillors elected in 2008 are: Patricia Ross (9% of popular vote), Lynne Harris (8%), Moe Gill (8%), John Smith (7%), Simon Gibson (6%), Les Barkman (6%), Dave Loewen (6%), and Bill MacGregor (6%). School trustees elected are: Joanne Field, Korky Neufeld, Shirley Wilson, Cindy Schafer, John R. Sutherland, Uultsje DeJong, and Preet S. Rai.[5]

The Abbotsford flag and coat of arms are the same, featuring straight, diagonal crosses representing Abbotsford as at a "crossroads". At the centre is a strawberry blossom to symbolize the local berry industry. The flag of Abbotsford was originally blue in colour. The change to green was initiated in 1995 when the District of Abbotsford and the District of Matsqui amalgamated to create the City of Abbotsford.

Demographics

Demographics of Abbotsford, British Columbia describe the population characteristics of the city, which has the fourth highest proportion of visible minorities in Canada, after the Greater Toronto Area, Metro Vancouver, and Montreal.[6]

The largest racial group is European Caucasian, comprising approximately 79.6% of the population. This group includes German, Dutch, Scandinavian, English, Scottish, Irish, Hungarian, Russian and Polish ethnic origins (see table below).[7]

The next largest racial group in Abbotsford is South Asian (countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) comprising 14.9% of the population. This is followed by East and Southeast Asian at 4.71% and Aboriginals at 3.4% of the population (which includes indigenous peoples from other parts of Canada and the United States).

23.8% of the city's population was born outside of Canada. Of that percentage, a majority is from South Asia, followed by groups from South Korea, Southeast Asia, China and Latin America. English is the primary language spoken, with 71.2% of the population having it as their first language. Punjabi is the second most-spoken language. Abbotsford's largest religious group is Christian at 61.4% of the population. The Lutheran and Anabaptist (Mennonite Brethren and Mennonite Church) denominations make up the largest congregations. The next largest religious group is Sikh comprising 13.4% of the population. The city contains the first Sikh Gurdwara (place of worship, usually translated into Englishi as "temple") built in Canada (in 1911), which is also one of the oldest in North America.

Quick facts

  • Population (2007): 131,827
  • % Change (2001-2006): 7.2
  • Resident labour force (2001): 58,140
  • Dwellings (2006): 45,286
  • Area (km2): 359.36
  • Density (persons per km2) (2006): 344.7
  • Gross income of population (2002): $2,337,376,686
  • Average household income (2001): $56,165
  • Average individual income (2001): $26,794

Table of ethnic groups

Ethnic Origin[8] Population Percent of 156,640* Comments
Cornish 10 0.01%
English 42,190 26.93%
Irish 21,430 13.68%
Manx 40 0.03%
Scottish 28,695 18.32%
Welsh 3,665 2.34%
misc. British Isles, n.i.e.** 2,265 1.45%
Acadian 55 0.04%
French 13,725 8.76%
Inuit 50 0.03%
Métis 2,670 1.70%
North American Indian 5,335 3.41% incl. First Nations, Native Americans and Alaska Natives
American 2,320 1.48%
Canadian 30,415 19.42%
Newfoundlander 65 0.04%
Québécois 55 0.04%
Barbadian 15 0.01%
Carib 15 0.01%
Guyanese 20 0.01%
Haitian 135 0.09%
Jamaican 305 0.19%
Kittitian/Nevisian 10 0.01%
Puerto Rican 15 0.01%
St. Lucian 10 0.01%
Trinidadian/Tobagonian 95 0.06%
Vincentian/Grenadinian 15 0.01%
West Indian 35 0.02%
Caribbean, n.i.e.** 15 0.01%
Aboriginal from Central/South America 40 0.03%
Argentinian 35 0.02%
Belizian 20 0.01%
Brazilian 130 0.08%
Chilean 110 0.07%
Colombian 150 0.10%
Costa Rican 55 0.04%
Ecuadorian 10 0.01%
Guatemalan 85 0.05%
Hispanic 10 0.01%
Honduran people 25 0.02%
Maya 30 0.02%
Mexican 475 0.30%
Nicaraguan 35 0.02%
Panamanian 10 0.01%
Paraguayan 195 0.10%
Peruvian 10 0.01%
Salvadoran 540 0.35%
Venezuelan 65 0.04%
misc. Latin, Central or South American, n.i.e.** 160 0.01%
Austrian 1,500 1.00%
Belgian 620 0.40%
Dutch (Netherlands) 16,645 10.63% % not incl. Frisians or Flemish
Flemish 110 0.07%
Frisian 160 0.10%
German 32,580 20.80%
Swiss 1,215 0.78%
Finnish 1,210 0.77%
Danish 1,950 1.24%
Iceland 930 0.59%
Norwegian 4,715 3.01%
Swedish 4,240 2.71%
misc. Scandinavian, n.i.e.** 310 0.20% may include Sami and Kven
Estonian 175 0.11%
Latvian 40 0.03%
Lithuanian 130 0.08%
Byelorussian 70 0.05%
Czech 590 0.38%
Czechoslovakian 230 0.15%
Slovak 190 0.12%
Hungarian (Magyar) 2,150 1.37%
Polish 4,940 3.15%
Romanian 1,065 0.68%
Russian 7,420 4.73%
Ukrainian 8,090 5.16%
Albanian 135 0.09%
Bosnian 10 0.01%
Bulgarian 60 0.04%
Croatian 245 0.16%
Greek 655 0.42%
Italian 3,675 2.35%
Kosovar 25 0.02%
Macedonian 45 0.03%
Maltese 55 0.04%
Portuguese 745 0.48%
Serbian 100 0.08%
Sicilian 10 0.01%
Slovenian 125 0.08%
Spanish 1,600 1.02%
Yugoslav, n.i.e.** 290 0.19%
Basque 10 0.01%
Gypsy (Roma) 35 0.02%
Jewish 510 0.33%
misc. Slav (European) 40 0.03%
misc. European, n.i.e.** 260 0.17%
Afrikaner 25 0.02%
Bantu 10 0.01%
Black 140 0.09%
Congolese (Zairian) 20 0.01%
Congolese, n.o.s.*** 15 0.01%
Dinka 40 0.03%
Ethiopian 10 0.01%
Ghanaian 50 0.03%
Kenyan 35 0.02%
Mauritian 20 0.01%
Nigerian 50 0.03%
South African 415 0.26%
Sudanese 20 0.01%
Tanzanian 15 0.01%
misc. African, n.i.e.** 130 0.08%
Egyptian 25 0.02%
Iraqi 15 0.01%
Lebanese 85 0.05%
Maghrebi origins 10 0.01%
Palestinian 65 0.04%
Syrian 50 0.03%
misc. Arab, n.i.e. 75 0.05%
Afghan 50 0.03%
Iranian 185 0.12%
Israeli 15 0.01%
Kurd 35 0.02%
Tatar 10 0.01%
Turk 120 0.08%
Indian 23,445 16.47%
Goan 15 0.01%
Nepali 45 0.03%
Pakistani 195 0.12%
Punjabi 2,040 1.30%
Sri Lankan 50 0.03%
Tamil 10 0.01%
misc. South Asian, n.i.e.** 820 0.52%
Cambodian 50 0.03%
Chinese 2,585 1.65%
Filipino 740 0.47%
Indonesian 205 0.13%
Japanese 890 0.57%
Korean 1,665 1.06%
Laotian 240 0.15%
Malaysian 50 0.03%
Taiwanese 75 0.05%
Thai 100 0.06%
Vietnamese 1,150 0.73%
East or Southeast Asian, n.i.e.** 85 0.05%
Australian 265 0.17%
New Zealander 145 0.09%
Fijian 100 0.06%
Hawaiian 50 0.03%
Samoan 10 0.01%
*Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses e.g. German-East Indian, Norwegian-Irish-Polish.
**Not included elsewhere.
***Not otherwise specified.
Ethnic Origin by Regional grouping[8] Population Percent of 156,640
British Isles origins 65,495 41.81%
French origins1 13,745 8.77%
Aboriginal origins2 7,860 5.02%
Other North American origins3 31,870 20.34%
Caribbean origins 665 0.43%
Latin, Central and South American origins4 2,070 1.32%
Western European origins5 46,395 29.62%
Northern European origins6 12,140 7.75%
Eastern European origin7 21,765 13.89%
Southern European origins 7,470 4.77%
Other European origins8 840 00.54%
African origins9 990 0.63%
Arab origins10 320 0.20%
West Asian origins11 410 00.26%
South Asian origins 25,800 16.47%
East and Southeast Asian origins 7,375 4.71%
Oceania origins12 565 0.36%
Footnotes to Ethnic Origin by Regional Grouping
1Census Canada does not distinguish between European and North American French origins. This category includes Acadians; Québécois-only (not multiple responses) are in North American origins.
2Métis, First Nations, Inuit, Native Americans, Alaska Natives
3American, Canadian, Québécois, Newfoundlander, does not include aboriginal peoples
4Including aboriginal people of South and Central America
5Germany, Austria, Benelux, Switzerland
6Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland
7Slavic and Baltic countries, plus Hungary and Albania
8Roma (Gypsy), Jewish, Basque, misc. Slav
9Excluding Arab countries of the Maghreb, including Afrikaners and other white South Africans
10Including the Maghreb/North Africa
11Afghan, Iranian, Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Turkish, Georgian, Armenian
12Pacific Islands, Australia, New Zealand

Climate

Weather data for Abbotsford
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 17.7
(64)
20.6
(69)
24.9
(77)
29.8
(86)
36
(97)
34.7
(94)
37.8
(100)
36.3
(97)
37.5
(100)
29.3
(85)
20.6
(69)
18.2
(65)
Average high °C (°F) 5.8
(42)
8.5
(47)
11.3
(52)
14.5
(58)
17.8
(64)
20.3
(69)
23.4
(74)
23.8
(75)
21
(70)
15
(59)
9.1
(48)
5.9
(43)
14.7
(58)
Average low °C (°F) -0.6
(31)
0.8
(33)
2.3
(36)
4.4
(40)
7.2
(45)
9.9
(50)
11.5
(53)
11.5
(53)
8.8
(48)
5.4
(42)
2.3
(36)
-0.3
(31)
5.3
(42)
Record low °C (°F) -21.1
(-6)
-18.9
(-2)
-12.8
(9)
-4.4
(24)
-2.2
(28)
1.1
(34)
2.2
(36)
3.3
(38)
-1.7
(29)
-7.5
(19)
-16.7
(2)
-20
(-4)
Precipitation mm (inches) 198.1
(7.8)
160.3
(6.31)
146.4
(5.76)
120.2
(4.73)
99.1
(3.9)
78.9
(3.11)
50.2
(1.98)
49.3
(1.94)
75.9
(2.99)
145.3
(5.72)
240.9
(9.48)
208.6
(8.21)
1,573.2
(61.94)
Sunshine hours 67.2 89.9 126 168.5 210.2 215.4 282.6 256 193.7 127 66.6 62.8
Source: Environment Canada[9] 2009-07-11

Economy

62% of employed Abbotsford residents work in the city of Abbotsford itself. Most of the remaining 38% commutes to Vancouver and its suburbs (primarily Surrey and Langley), or to Mission and Chilliwack.[10]

More than 25% of Abbotsford's work force commutes to Abbotsford from other municipalities.[10]

The Conference Board of Canada has identified the local economy as one of the most diverse in the country.[11] Abbotsford's main industries are agriculture, transportation, manufacturing and retail. The city earns the highest dollar per acre of agricultural land in the country, greater than the Niagara Region and the North Okanagan.[11] The city is home to three federal prisons, each of which employs between 200 and 500 officers and support staff. There is also a growing aerospace industry led by Cascade Aerospace and Conair Group Inc.

Education

Public elementary, middle, and secondary schools are administered by School District 34 Abbotsford. Private schools include St. John Brebeuf Regional Secondary, Mennonite Educational Institute, Abbotsford Christian School and the Dasmesh Punjabi School.

Post Secondary institutions in the city include the University of the Fraser Valley, religious institutions such as Columbia Bible College and Summit Pacific College, as well as career colleges such as Career Gate Community College, Sprott Shaw Community College, Vancouver Career College, Metis Skills & Employment Centre, and CDI College.

There is also a virtual school called "Abbotsford Virtual School" that offers more than 30 semestered online courses. This school offers a unique Animation and Modeling program that teaches students aspects of the video gaming industry.

Transportation

Public bus transportation is provided by the regional transit system ValleyMAX. Passenger rail service to Vancouver currently runs from nearby Mission by way of the West Coast Express.

Air links are provided by the Abbotsford International Airport. The airport is one of the fastest growing commercial airports in western Canada, and acts as a reliever airport for Vancouver International Airport.[citation needed] WestJet provides regular scheduled service from the airport, due to its close proximity to Vancouver's eastern suburbs. The airport is also the home of the annual Abbotsford International Airshow.

Major transportation routes leading into Abbotsford are the Trans-Canada Highway (#1), Abbotsford-Mission Highway (#11) and the Fraser Highway (#1A). Access to the United States is via the Huntingdon border crossing.

Media

Sports

The NHL's Calgary Flames have relocated their AHL affiliate to Abbotsford.[12] The American Hockey League approved the franchise relocation on April 28, 2009[1], and on May 14 of that year, the team name was announced to be the Abbotsford Heat.[13]

Abbotsford's Jane and Gerry Swan Track at Rotary Stadium is home to the Valley Royals Track & Field Club, who have produced numerous Olympians including two for the 2008 Olympics. Rotary Stadium is also home to the Canadian Junior Football League's Abbotsford Air Force; however, the Air Force fell into non-playing status for the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

The Abbotsford Pilots of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League (Junior B level) play at MSA Arena, which is Abbotsford's 2nd largest arena at just over 400 seats. Abbotsford was considered as a possible home for the Chilliwack Chiefs (Junior A), who were forced to move in 2006 when the Chilliwack Bruins (a WHL expansion team) took over their arena, Prospera Centre. Abbotsford would have become the home of the Chiefs if the city had supported them in building a new arena; instead, the Chiefs moved to Langley. Ironically, construction has now been completed in Abbotsford on a far bigger sports & entertainment centre (with 7,500 seats).[14]

Abbotsford Minor Hockey is one of the largest associations in British Columbia with more than 1000 players registered from the ages of 5 through 18 years old. This association is recognized by many as a model and a leader in the development of minor hockey programs, and several Abbotsford-raised players have gone on to the highest levels of this sport. In the 2005-2006 hockey season, Abbotsford's Bantam AAA team were ultimately the Western Canadian Bantam Champions, and eight individual players from this team (the most ever) were selected in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft. ( http://www.abbotsfordminorhockey.com/ )

Abbotsford has a superior Youth soccer program, winning 2 national titles, and numerous provincial titles. It is also home of soccer all stars Sophie Schmidt, Brad Petoom and Adam Lang. Abbotsford is home to the Abbotsford Mariners of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League, the highest level of amateur soccer in North America.

Abbotsford is home to many high school sports, with Abbotsford Collegiate, W.J. Mouat Secondary, Rick Hansen Secondary, Robert Bateman Secondary, Yale Secondary, and the Mennonite Educational Institute, among others, doing very well in track and field, volleyball, basketball, and football. These schools have consistently ranked among the highest in the province. The Yale Secondary Senior Boys Basketball Team, under Coach Al Friesen, won the 2008 ‘AAA’ provincial boys' basketball championship.[15]

Abbotsford's rugby club supports three men's teams, two women's teams, U19 men's and women's, U15 U16 and U17 men's, and a great mini rugby program. Many of Abbotsford's players have gone on to play for Canada, such as Erin Lockwood, Ryan McWhinney, Scott Hunter, Bryn Keys, and Brodie Henderson.[16]

In Olympic sports, Abbotsford's Alana Kraus has won medals in short-track speed skating.

Police

As of July 20, 2006, the Abbotsford metropolitan area as defined by Census Canada (which includes Mission) had the highest property crime rate and the second highest violent crime rate for cities with a population of 100,000 to 500,000 in Canada. [2].

The City of Abbotsford has its own municipal police force, one of eleven municipal police forces in British Columbia. It is the third largest municipal police force in British Columbia (behind Vancouver and Victoria). As of 2006, the Abbotsford Police Department employed nearly 200 officers and 80 civilian employees.

The Abbotsford Police Department was officially formed in 1995 when the District of Matsqui and the District of Abbotsford amalgamated to become the City of Abbotsford. Prior to the amalgamation, the District of Matsqui was patrolled by the Matsqui Police and the District of Abbotsford by the RCMP. During the referendum citizens elected to keep a municipal police force.

The Abbotsford Police Department were involved in the investigation and arrest of the "Abbotsford killer" Terry Driver.[17]

Areas

These places represent parts of the city that have more than one neighbourhood in them.

  • Abbotsford East
  • Abbotsford West
  • Aberdeen
  • Bradner
  • Central Abbotsford
  • Matsqui
  • Poplar
  • Sumas Mountain
  • Sumas Prairie

Neighbourhoods

Neighbouring communities

Sister cities

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ a b http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=203&CMA=932&S=0&O=A&RPP=25
  2. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/04/02/bc-most-diverse-province.html
  3. ^ List of the 100 largest cities and towns in Canada by area
  4. ^ History of Abbotsford
  5. ^ 2008 Election Results
  6. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbi /story/2008/04/02/bc-most-diverse-province.html
  7. ^ Profile of Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities for Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census, Census Canada/Statistics Canada
  8. ^ a b Profile of Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities for Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census
  9. ^ Environment CanadaCanadian Climate Normals 1971–2000, accessed 11 July 2009
  10. ^ a b http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/43202727.html
  11. ^ a b http://www.bclocalnews.com/fraser_valley/abbynews/news/44619297.html
  12. ^ Hall, Vicki (2009-03-12). "Flames' farm team set to move to Abbotsford". Vancouver Province. http://www.theprovince.com/sports/soccer/Flames+farm+team+move+Abbotsford/1382018/story.html. Retrieved 2009-03-16. 
  13. ^ "The HEAT is on for 2009-10 AHL season". Fraser Valley Sports & Entertainment Ltd.. 2009-05-14. http://www.fraservalleyahl.com/2009-05-14-news.pdf. Retrieved 2009-05-14. 
  14. ^ Abbotsford sports website
  15. ^ http://hsboys.bchoops.ca/AAA08/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=1 2008 AAA Boys Provincials
  16. ^ http://www.abbotsfordrugby.com/ Abbotsford Rugby website
  17. ^ Scott Steele (May 20, 1996), "Abbotsford Killer Arrested", Maclean's (The Canadian Encyclopedia), http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0010672, retrieved 2009-06-28 

External links


Coordinates: 49°03′16.6″N 122°19′40.8″W / 49.054611°N 122.328°W / 49.054611; -122.328


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