PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Stable residential and commercial growth, a robust industrial sector, key transportation services, and a thriving agricultural sector contribute to Abbotsford’s economic vitality. The city is not only the geographic and economic hub of the Fraser Valley, it features a major university, an innovative and dynamic public school district, and a wide range of private school choices. The News focuses on the importance of education in this 6th annual edition of Abbotsford in Action 2015.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
As we soon enter our 50th year in family business in this great community, we reflect Phil Davies upon the MANAGER journey and appreciate the support from our loyal customer base and suppliers! Year after year, your votes as favourite flooring store is inspiring and motivates us to continually improve every day!
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OTSFORD N
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finish. No store can match our buying power, expertise and commitment to being here down the road while providing exceptional service. Only Tip Top offers the best free in-home services and we offer the Beautiful Guarantee which is unmatched in the industry. We have been advising, premeasuring, consulting, and installing virtually every kind of floor on the market and we continue to keep up-to-date with new products. Tip Top offers a full product lineup, starting from entry level and simple renovation to new construction and high quality upscale decor.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Abbotsford - Tomorrow’s Thinking Today A message from the mayor
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bbotsford is a modern city with a vibrant economy that combines the hospitality of a small town with the services of a large urban centre and an all-important diversified business base.
In fact, The Conference Board of Canada has identified the local economy of Abbotsford as one of the most diverse in the country. Why is that?
Braun
Abbotsford is regionally and geographically positioned as a hub city for the Fraser Valley and boasts many compelling economic attractors including: • Abbotsford International Airport • Pre-serviced industrial lands; University of the Fraser Valley; border access • Corridor to the Interior • Rail access • Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, as well as the Campus of Care In July of 2015, Abbotsford city council en-
dorsed our new City of Abbotsford 2015-2018 strategic plan, establishing an exciting vision for the city and providing direction and guidance as our city develops. At the core of the strategic plan is council’s overall vision for the city: Abbotsford is the Hub of the Fraser Valley. As hub of the Fraser Valley, the City of Abbotsford will reside as the regional centre for communities in the Fraser Valley. This vision sees Abbotsford as home to regionally centralized services and agencies including health care, courts, transportation, the university, airport, provincial and federal government, entertainment and cultural facilities, and commerce. The need for cities to engage in robust, comprehensive economic strategies has never been so imperative as it is today. Economic development of human capital, critical infrastructure, regional competitiveness, social inclusion, health, safety and literacy are recognized as vital components for towns and cities to reach their maximum potential. As the City of Abbotsford continues to grow, city council looks forward to continuing to work with businesses and residents alike to ensure that the Abbotsford of tomorrow remains an exciting and exceptional place to live, work, learn and play.
Read about History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Residential. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Commercial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Industrial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Airport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Campus of Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Helping Home Owners 604.853.6471 33050 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford
Giving Hope Today
SERVING OUR GROWING COMMUNITY
The Salvation Army offers a wide and unique range of vital services and programs to the community. For more information about these services and about opportunities to help, please call The Centre of Hope at 604-852-9305 or visit out website at www.careandshare.ca.
Michael de Jong, MLA Abbotsford West 604.870.4586
• EMERGENCY SHELTER • MEAL CENTRE • SUPPORT • OUTREACH TEAM • ADVOCACY • PANTRY 34 • SUPPORTIVE INDEPENDENT LIVING SUITES
Together we can make a difference.
www.mikedejongmla.bc.ca mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca
www.careandshare.ca
Publisher: Andrew Franklin Editor: Andrew Holota Contributors: Vikki Hopes Tyler Olsen Ben Lypka Laura Rodgers John Morrow Design: Susan McMurchy
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Village of Abbotsford had its roots in the quest for gold A
bbotsford’s history was driven by the gold rush. In the mid-1800s, fortune-seeking European settlers arrived here after gold was discovered along the banks of the Fraser River, just south of Yale. The Sto:lo people were the area’s original inhabitants, whose traditional territory spanned the lower Fraser River, from Richmond to Yale. By 1858, gold-rush fever had attracted nearly 30,000 new inhabitants, which included the early European pioneers and a contingent of miners who had migrated north from San Francisco. That population boom would spur the development of towns in the Fraser Valley – including one dubbed the Village of Abbotsford. The new town would be situated on a 160-acre swath of land that was purchased in 1889 by John Cunningham Maclure, a former Royal Engineer who’d survey the area for Britain during the early days of the gold rush. In a letter written with a dateline of 1924, Maclure explained to the Abbotsford Board of Trade how the name “Abbotsford” was decided upon. It was combination of a pair of ideas: Partly an homage to a longtime friend of the Maclure family, Harry Braithwaite Abbott and partly a nod to the Scotland home of Sir Walter Scott – Abbotsford Castle. While gold started the rush to Abbotsford, the logging and sawmill industry enabled the growth spurt to continue.
The Abbotsford Lumber Company, owned by the Trethewey family, was the new village’s first major industry, and it would have a significant influence on the burgeoning town – both in terms of its economic growth and ethnic diversity because it attracted workers from China, Japan, Europe and India. Immigrants from India’s Punjab province first arrived in Abbotsford in the early 1900s and the first gurdwara (temple) was constructed in 1911 on South Fraser Way. The temple was built with lumber donated by the Trethewey family – the largest employer of Sikhs in the city at that time. Today, Abbotsford is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Canada with one of the highest proportion of people of South Asian origin per capita of any city in Canada. It also has a significant Mennonite population, which dates back to the early 1920s when members of Christian Anabaptist denominations migrated to Abbotsford from the Prairies and Russia. The first Mennonite church was built in the 1930s using lumber from the dismantled mill at Mill Lake. Abbotsford’s rich soil, mild climate and enviable water resources have made it one of Canada’s agricultural capitals. That agricultural might was helped along in mid-1920s when the Sumas Lake drainage project was completed to reclaim more than 30,000 acres of fertile land on the Canadian side of the border.
Steamships offered an early form of mass transit in the 1890s. Pictured here: Orange Lodge, local 1450, picnic THE REACH P200 aboard the river boat “Transfer” at Mt. Lehman landing.
But in 1948 disaster struck. Although a new dike system had been started to limit any potential threat posed by the mighty Fraser River, a major flood occurred with more than 200 square kilometres of territory being submerged during the height of the flood. More than 16,000 residents had to be evacuated and $20 million in damages were suffered during the flood.
George Ferguson, who began his political career in 1969. That year he was elected as an alderman for the District of Sumas. Ferguson would become of the longest-serving civic leaders in Canada, with his tenure as Abbotsford mayor spanning four decades (1972-2002 and 2005-08).
To prevent a similar disaster, there are now over 300 kilometres of dikes between Agassiz and Delta to protect the surrounding cities.
During his time as mayor, Ferguson went through a pair of amalgamations: In 1972, the Village of Abbotsford and the District of Sumas joined to form the District of Abbotsford.
Of course, Abbotsford’s historical narrative is also filled with a large cast of community-minded leaders, none of them more influential than
Then in 1995, the neighbouring districts of Abbotsford and Matsqui amalgamated to form the City of Abbotsford.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
House prices climb. Single-family home prices increased in Abbotsford in 2014. Benchmark prices were up 10 per cent between October of 2014 and October of 2015, with an average home now costing $488,000. The benchmark price of a townhouse rose two per cent to $227,900, while the benchmark apartment unit increased in value by one per cent to $150,000.
Residential growth in Abbotsford has shifted from single-family homes towards multi-family developments like La Galleria on Trethewey Street.
JOHN MORROW
Density is the key as city growth continues Availability of land, affordability of apartments and townhouses spurs multi-family projects
T
he face of Abbotsford is changing, and so are the homes people are building and buying in the city.
Mill Lake, a 26-storey mixed use project still in the marketing phase. When built, the tower will be the tallest building in Abbotsford.
As the city’s population continues to grow, a shrinking land base has seen a trend towards denser developments and more urban projects in recent years.
There are also several other apartment
Most of the apartment buildings that are proposed or under construction are in Abbotsford’s core, although there have also been apartments built in both west Abbotsford near Aldergrove, and on Sumas Mountain. Many of the city’s townhouse and single-family projects currently proposed or under development are located in the east Abbotsford area on Sumas Mountain.
“There’s been a shift in the number of multi-family units compared to years past,” said Mark Neill, the city’s director of community planning. He added that “there’s a trend moving to more multi-family housing,” which he attributes to the dwindling supply of land and the affordability of townhouses and apartments.
Another large condo project is Mahogany at
In the third quarter of 2015, Abbotsford had 874 apartment units and 296 townhouse units under review or approved in principle. That compares to 128 single family lots under review or approved. With 54 new apartment units constructed in the third quarter, a total of 165 had been constructed in 2015. It was projected the nine-year average of 224 units would be surpassed by the end of the year. The city also projected it would surpass the nine-year average of 98 townhouse units built by the end of 2015.
In what planners believe is a sign of things to come, more and more homes that are proposed or approved for building are in the multi-family housing sector, which includes townhomes and apartments. And many of those are in developments with a commercial component.
There are several mixed-use condo projects currently under construction. They include La Galleria on Trethewey Street, which will include more than 200 units; and the Hudson’s Loft project on Gladwin Road, the first phase of which will have 67 units. Both are mixed-use developments with retail space at street level.
according to the city.
buildings under development which, when complete, are slated to be rental buildings,
They include Vicarro Ranch, a Sumas Mountain development that involves a 383-acre footprint. The project would allow for single-family and duplex lots, townhouses and apartments, with a total combined potential density of 1,400 residential units – 580 single-family, 120 duplexes, 260 townhouses and 440 apartment units. CONTINUED ON 6
Multi-family housing In the third quarter of 2015, 874 apartment units and 296 townhouse units were under review or approved in principle. The city expected to surpass its nine-year average of townhouse and apartment units built by 2015. Multifamily developments are being built across the city, including in the city’s core, on Sumas Mountain, and in West Abbotsford.
The boomers are downsizing and the millenials are looking for a housing choice that doesn’t tie them down...” Mark Neill
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Average home values on the rise Another development, called Highline, would see up to 550 townhomes off of Lower Sumas Mountain Road. The first phase of the project, which is still in the development permit stage, will see 81 units built.
the third-quarter. That total – which includes 58 building permits for a West Abbotsford subdivision – is already above the nine-year average of 258 units. There is also a 60-unit single-famly home subdivision under development on Townline Road.
Increased mixed-use developments reflect changes in the city’s demographics. There are two large age cohorts among residents: baby boomers, and their millenial children.
Another stage of the Auguston development on Sumas Mountain is currently being marketed to buyers, and homes are being built on infill lots throughout the city.
“The boomers are downsizing and the millenials are looking for a housing choice that doesn’t tie them down to a large mortgage,” Neill said.
The price of houses is also increasing quickly.
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The city’s new Official Community Plan, which is currently under development, and subsequent neighbourhood plans will shape where and how new homes are built in Abbotsford, with the focus on higher-density developments near amenities and transit. Development needs to be focused in the city’s established neighbourhoods, both to build a more cohesive community, and to provide services at a regional cost, Mayor Henry Braun said. “It has to make sense. We can’t drag our services all around the largest geographic footprint in B.C.” Although mixed-use buildings are seen as the future, single-family homes continue to be built in Abbotsford. A total of 374 single-family homes went up in 2015, through the end of
The benchmark price of a single-family home in Abbotsford increased 10 per cent over the past year, from $443,100 in October of 2014, to $488,800 in October of 2015, according to the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. Meanwhile, the price of townhouses and apartments has remained mostly level over that same time period. The benchmark price of a townhouse in Abbotsford rose just two per cent from $221,600 to $227,900, and the benchmark price of apartment units rose one per cent from $148,500 to $150,000. Compared to cities to the west, Abbotsford remains much more affordable, with benchmark prices of single-family homes more than $150,000 lower here than in Langley, Surrey and North Delta. Townhomes and apartments are also substantially less expensive.
The benchmark price of a single-family home in Abbotsford increased about 10 per cent to $488,000 as of October 2015, while the price of townhouses has remained stable in the range of approximately $228,000. JOHN MORROW
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Cabela’s development City council approved a major shopping complex on McCallum Road that will include a 6,500-sq.m. Cabela’s outdoor outfitters store as its anchor tenant. Construction on the 12,077-sq.m centre is already underway. Mayor Henry Braun says the Cabela’s outlet will draw shoppers from around the region.
A variety of commercial spaces continue to be built in Abbotsford as developers and businesses cater to a growing population and customer-base. Pictured is the future home of The Honda Way in the Fraser Valley Auto Mall. JOHN MORROW
Official Community Plan to shape future of commercial development Focus is to shape places where people live and work Commerical development Abbotsford has a range of shopping options, and the number of retail businesses in the city continues to grow. Through the third quarter of 2015, the City of Abbotsford had issued building permits for 41,815 sq. m of commercial floor space.
D
emand for commercial space in Abbotsford has rarely been higher, as the city’s growing population means more customers for new and existing businesses.
“Everybody wants commercial everywhere,” Braun said said. “But that’s where the OCP can help us a lot to focus that.”
Harnessing that demand – and the desire of businessmen and women to set up shop in Abbotsford – in a way that benefits the entire city is the challenge. That’s where the city’s new Official Community Plan (OCP) will come in.
Even though the OCP hasn’t been adopted, much of the commercial development in Abbotsford is already reflecting new ways of thinking. Mixed-use developments that combine commercial and residential spaces in the same building are now the norm.
The OCP, alongside subsequent neighbourhood plans, will help plot the city’s growth for decades to come. It will apply to all land use in the city, but planners say it will be particularly useful in shaping the future of Abbotsford’s commercial spaces.
Everybody wants commercial...” Darren Braun
Of the hundreds of apartment units now under consideration by the city, twothirds are in developments that also include some commercial space. Of the 14,320 sq.m of commercial floor space under review or approved in principle during the third quarter of 2015, nearly three-quarters of that is in mixed-use developments in Clearbrook Centre, the U-District, Mill Lake, and west Abbotsford.
The OCP is like the foundation of a new house or a map for a road trip, says director of development Darren Braun. It will shape the places residents live, work and shop. And for developers, it lays out where they can and can’t build. “It will provide a lot of direction and certainty,” Braun said. That is especially helpful when it comes to the retail sector, as haphazard development that may be good for individual business owners can hamstring the community as a whole. The OCP and related neighbourhood plans aim to create a more organized, livable community.
neighbourhood plan, the U-District – a 365-acre plot of land that includes the University of the Fraser Valley and surrounding land – that could see its population grow from 3,200 people to around 5,650 people by 2040. The vision is that the area will become a commercial and research and development hub. The Abbotsford Centre – a sports and entertainment facility – is also located in the vicinity.
So far this year, building permits for 41,815 sq.m of commercial floor space have been issued. The total is expected to reach the nine-year average of 67,572 sq.m. The idea is to build places where people both live and work. The city is already creating its first
Similarly, when the city looks to improve retail conditions in existing commercial areas, like the CONTINUED ON 9
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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A regional shopping hub FROM 8
historic downtown, part of that includes building residential spaces nearby so that people can shop near where they live, and live near where they work. The biggest commercial development approved recently in Abbotsford was a 12,077-sq.m shopping complex on McCallum Road that will feature a 6,500-sq.m Cabela’s outdoor outfitters store as the anchor tenant. Mayor Henry Braun said the store is a regional retailer that will draw consumers to Abbotsford from across the Lower Mainland. Beyond the Cabela’s development, which will also include some residential units, much of the commercial development taking place in Abbotsford involves businesses upgrading and modernizing their current locations. Tradex, a major trade and exhibition centre at Abbotsford International Airport, is also a major commercial draw in the region. Thousands of people attend a range of commercial and trade shows in the facility’s 11,000-sq.m building. Meanwhile, the city’s established businesses continue to draw consumers from across Abbotsford and beyond. Shape Properties’ Highstreet shopping centre is a key example. The facility, which boasts main-street-syle shopping on top of covered parking, includes tenants like Walmart, London Drugs, Marshalls and Cineplex.
The largest commercial development approved recently in Abbotsford is a 12,077-sq. m shopping complex on McCallum Road featuring a Cabela’s store.
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ATTRACTING PATRONS FROM THROUGHOUT THE FRASER VALLEY, Historic Downtown Abbotsford is a pedestrian-friendly people place offering free parking. A thriving neighbourhood alive with unique and eclectic shops: vintage, sporting goods, arts, gifts and clothing. Events and Festivals: Downtown Abbotsford is home to many local events including the Saturday Farmer’s Market, Berrybeat Festival, Christmas Tree Lighting, Wine & Art Walk, a huge Car Show and so much more! Food: You won’t find a more diverse selection of eateries as Downtown Abbotsford boasts . . . tea and coffee shops, 50s diners, pubs, seafood bakeries, delis, dishes from all corners of the world, and the best “just like mom made it” you will ever taste. Historic Downtown Abbotsford is a picturesque and engaging residential and shopping district that is the preferred location for retail, professional and service businesses. Our Downtown is a source of community pride and a desired destination for residents and visitors alike.
www.downtownabbotsford.com
JOHN MORROW
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Building on the rise Abbotsford was on pace to approve development of the largest amount of industrial space in the last decade. Through the first three quarters of 2015, the city had 13,050 sq. m of proposed industrial floor space under review, and had approved in principle 38,045 sq. m.
The Aerospace, Defence & Security Expo draws businesspeople from across North America and underscores the importance of aviation-related industries to Abbotsford’s JOHN MORROW economy.
Industrial land Abbotsford has seven main industrial areas, all of which are located near the city’s major transportation corridors, featuring key highway, railway and airport access. Much of that development is near the airport, near Clearbrook Road just south of Highway 1, and in the Peardonville and Mt. Lehman Road areas. There is also industrial land in several locations near Highway 11.
Expanding businesses attracted to city Abbotsford boasts one of country’s most diverse economies
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bbotsford has seen a major increase in the amount of industrial floor spaces under development in 2015, according to city staff.
years ago, the city ran services out to industrial lands in the city’s west. Landowners were given a three-year grace period from paying for those
With approved floor space figures through the third quarter of 2015 already exceeding the 10-year average, the city may approve more industrial space for development in 2015 than at any time in the past decade. That reflects increasing demand by businesses.
Abbotsford has one of the most diverse industry sectors in the country.” Wendy Dupley
Abbotsford International Airport is an industrial hub and is home to some of the city’s largest employers, including Cascade Aerospace, which employs more than 650 workers at its maintenance facility. The airport is also home to Marshall Aerospace, Chinook Helicopters and Conair Aerial Firefighting.
Wendy Dupley, the city’s director of economic development, said Abbotsford has seen more inquiries over the past year from companies looking to set up shop. “There’s certainly a lot more interest in industrial lands that have been vacant for some time around the city,” she said. “Some of those lands are getting multiple inquiries on them.”
But the city doesn’t rely on a single sector for growth in jobs. “Abbotsford has one of the most diverse industry sectors in the country,” Dupley said. “The city has evolved in a very diverse way and that’s what’s really going to stand us in good stead. We need to maintain that diversity because that’s what’s going to help you outride economic downturns in different sectors.”
Dupley says she has received many queries from Metro Vancouver businesses that are looking to expand, but which don’t have suitable land at, or near, their current location. She said that scarcity of land has convinced business owners to act sooner, rather than later, to find locations where their enterprises can thrive. “I think businesses are feeling there is going to be a shortage of industrial lands in the Lower Mainland,” she said. Abbotsford, though, has no such shortage. Several
Abbotsford also has a wealth of transportation options that increases its appeal, including its own international airport, the Abbotsford-Huntingdon border crossing, and the Trans-Canada Highway, which bisects the city and connects it to the natural resource industries in the British Columbia Interior. The city also boasts connections to major rail lines in both Canada and the United States through the Southern Railway of BC, which also operates a rail yard in Abbotsford.
services, but with that time now up, that land is being placed on the market and developed by new owners.
And more businesses are being started here every day in a range of industries, from high tech and medical services to manufacturing and construction. CONTINUED ON 12
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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With available industrial land in several locations throughout the city, Abbotsford has been luring businesses that are looking to expand from other parts of the Lower Mainland.
JOHN MORROW
Growing businesses look east FROM 10
“We have an entrepreneur pool here that I think is second to none,” Mayor Henry Braun said. Workers are increasingly in demand in the Abbotsford-Mission area, with the census metropolitan area’s unemployment rate dipping well below six per cent for much of 2015, its lowest rate in years. As of the end of the third quarter of 2015, Abbotsford had 13,050 sq. m of proposed industrial floor space under review. It has already approved in principle more than triple that amount: 38,405 sq. m. Those developments are found in seven main in-
dustrial areas, all of which have ready access to the city’s transportation corridors. The Clearbrook area just south of Highway 1, along with the airport, and the Peardonville and Mt. Lehman Road areas include the bulk of Abbotsford’s industrial land ready for development. There is also industrial land along and near Highway 11 near the Canada/U.S. border and McCallum Road. Other large industrial employers include Vedder Transportation Group, which specializes in food transportation and serves many local farms; and Dynamic Windows & Doors, which is North America’s largest manufacturer of custom wood windows and doors. In July, Dynamic received a $900,000
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federal government investment to build and market German-designed wood window systems for ultra-low energy structures. The investment was expected to create 60 new jobs. With Abbotsford boasting some of the most productive farmland in Canada, the city is also home to hundreds of farms and related agri-businesses, with Sunwest Food Processors and Lilydale ranking among the top employers. The city’s natural resources are also an economic generator, with large sand and gravel deposits providing the base for some of the largest quarries in the region.
Industrial development also has a trickle-down effect for other areas of Abbotsford. As more industrial land brings more people to work in Abbotsford, they look to live and shop in the region, creating demand for more homes, and more things to do locally. Construction is also a major industry, and earlier this year, a Fraser Institute survey of 10 Lower Mainland cities named Abbotsford the least regulated place to build a home. The survey found that while Abbotsford’s average approval timeline of 11.1 months for proposed homes was similar to other cities, developers ranked the city as the least obstructionist of the 10 municipalities with the most responses.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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Airport gearing up for more passengers New flights and employers as YXX’s impact on economy continues to grow
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key economic engine for the city and its surrounding area, Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) continues to grow along with the region it serves.
tre at YXX; Chinook Helicopters, which trains helicopter pilots; Conair, which supplies forest firefighting aircraft; Alpine Aerotech, a helicopter maintenance company; Westview Aviation, which provides aircraft storage hangars; Coastal Pacific Aviation, which partners with the University of the Fraser Valley to offer pilot training; and Marshall Aerospace, an international company that selected YXX in 2014 to be home to its Canadian head office. Other companies that call the airport home include Shell Aerocenter, Campbell Helicopters, Bakerview Aviation and Sequoia Helicopters.
Around half a million passengers are expected to pass through YXX in 2015, and the airport is also home to some of the city’s largest employers and most prominent businesses. In 2015, Air Canada Rouge launched a seasonal non-stop daily service to Toronto, while WestJet introduced twice-weekly non-stop flights to Las Vegas beginning in late October. Combine those additions with WestJet flights departing for Calgary five times a day and Edmonton three times a day, and YXX – which also offers seasonal service to Puerto Vallarta – is predicting one of its busiest years ever for 2016, according to Parm Sidhu, the airport’s general manager.
YXX is also known as home to one of the world’s top airshows – the Abbotsford International Airshow. The annual event draws tens of thousands of people to the airport each year. Its success has paved the way for other major events, including the Aerospace, Defence and Security Exposition, an industry trade show held at the same time as the airshow. The airport is also home to the Girls Fly Too! event, which looks to bring 15,000 people to YXX in March 2016 with the aim of increasing female participation in the aviation industry.
He said the additional flights reflect YXX’s success at creating a streamlined model that results in low operating costs for airlines. “We’re creating a platform that’s really competitive and that can compete on a local level and an international level,” he said. “We’re doing this by empowering the airlines; we’re building our brand through the airlines and giving them a cost-structure that’s very favourable.”
Abbotsford International Airport serves flights to a variety of destinations around North America.
JOHN MORROW
Smaller operators also run regular flights to and from Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
requiring substantial education and technical expertise, are employed at the airport.
their kids go to school here. This is what keeps the economy going.”
The airport has also seen its status as a major industrial hub for the region grow.
“It’s an asset that is integral to the south of the Fraser,” Sidhu said. “These people live and work in the Fraser Valley. They buy groceries here,
YXX is home to a diverse variety of companies, including: Cascade Aerospace, which services C-130 aircraft, and operates a maintenance cen-
Around 1,500 workers, many in well-paying jobs
And in October, it was announced that YXX would host the Canadian Business Aviation Association’s annual Convention and Exhibit in 2017 and 2019. The event is expected to attract as many as 1,000 delegates and features a roster of international and Canadian speakers, exhibitors, and Canada’s largest static display of private and corporate aircraft.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
A growing city About 70 per cent of the land in Abbotsford is included in the Agriculture Land Reserve. The city also has about 700,000 square metres of growing space in local greenhouses. That figure represents about 13 per cent of the provincial total.
Abbotsford farmers grow a range of products, from a variety of vegetables, to berries and feed crops.
JOHN MORROW
Agriculture at the heart of Abby’s economy F
rom its early days into the 21st century, agriculture has always been a vital part of Abbotsford’s economy.
The Fraser Valley boasts some of the richest land in the province, and Abbotsford farms produce a dizzying array of food and other goods for consumers in B.C. and beyond.
The Fraser Valley once produced more than 40 million pounds of raspberries – most of it from Abbotsford. However, that is slowly being replaced by more lucrative blueberry production, and has been reduced to about 25 million pounds – 20 million from Abbotsford.
Dairy production
The Valley produces more than 70 per cent of B.C.’s dairy products, berries, vegetables, poultry, eggs, pork, mushrooms, floriculture and nursery products.
Major exports Berry crops are among Abbotsford’s largest exports, with around 20 million pounds of raspberries and close to 50 million pounds of blueberries grown here every year. Local farmers also produce the bulk of the province’s dairy products, vegetables, poultry, eggs, pork, mushrooms, floriculture and nursery products.
Agriculture is one of the economic pillars of the city.” City of Abbotsford
Dairy is not just an important component of many people’s diet, it’s a key economic generator in Abbotsford’s agricultural production. There are about 100 dairy producers in Abbotsford, who ship approximately 145 million litres of milk per year – or 21 per cent of the province’s production. They are part of a strong Fraser Valley milk business. The province as a whole has about 70,000 cows that produce almost 700 million litres of milk, and the Fraser Valley produces approximately three-quarters of that.
The basis of Abbotsford’s productivity is its fertile soil found on Matsqui Prairie in the historic Fraser River flood plain, and Sumas Prairie – which was mostly a lake bottom before Sumas Lake was drained in 1924 to create more farmland. Modern producers continue to work hard to build on and preserve the city’s agricultural foundation while developing new ways to keep Abbotsford as the most productive farm community in the country.
On the grow
A 2008 study by the Chamber of Commerce pegged the earnings at $7,410 per acre. It found that farming supports more than 11,000 jobs and generates $1.8 billion in annual economic activity. One in four private-sector jobs in the city relies on agriculture. Proximity to such agricultural resources has developed Abbotsford into a hub for B.C. agriculture’s office jobs. There are 25 different producer associations, which concern themselves with the promotion and marketing of these food products, located in Abbotsford. The provincial government also houses a Ministry of Agriculture office in the community, which employs more of this sector’s experts.
Berries A drive through Abbotsford’s beautiful farmland illustrates the dramatic rise in blueberry crops. Consumer demand has spiked after researchers found they have anti-cancer, anti-aging and heart-health properties. There are now 25,000 acres of blueberry plants in the Fraser Valley. The B.C. Blueberry Council says B.C. produces around 120 million pounds and rising. An estimated 40 per cent of that is grown in Abbotsford – with a local farm gate value of about $91 million.
The city is home to hatcheries and supply businesses and companies that provide services such as hauling and cleaning. The net result is the poultry business makes up more than 40 per cent of the agricultural job market.
Poultry Some of Abbotsford’s most important agricultural endeavours don’t begin in the ground – they are found in barns and hatcheries stretched along Sumas and Matsqui prairies. Abbotsford’s poultry industry supplies onethird of the province’s poultry business, and chicken, turkey and egg production generate about a quarter billion dollars every year. According to government statistics, the Fraser Valley provides 87 per cent of the province’s broilers (chicken meat), 98 per cent of the turkeys, 100 per cent of the broiler breeders (hatching eggs) and 79 per cent of the eggs – and about half of that is coming directly out of Abbotsford. This is due in part to Abbotsford’s central location and the producers’ close proximity to local processing plants and markets.
Abbotsford, which enjoys a mild climate by Canadian standards, gives farmers an opportunity to grow a rich variety of field crops. There are significant quantities of broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflower. Heppell’s Potato Corp. plants 650 acres of potatoes on Sumas Prairie. Almost half of the province’s mushroom crop is grown in Abbotsford, with 106,000 square metres in production here. There has also been a recent boom in the greenhouse industry, producing cucumbers and peppers. Greenhouses contain about 700,000 square metres of growing space in Abbotsford, which represents about 13 per cent of B.C.’s greenhouses. Few crops in Abbotsford share the eye-catching beauty of its famous daffodils. The Bradner area has a rich heritage in the bulb-growing industry. Abbotsford’s daffodils alone are estimated at being worth $3.5 million per year, and the total bulb industry a blooming $6.5 million. Poultry and livestock have to eat, and the feed business in Abbotsford is worth between $250 and $350 million per year, led by Ritchie Smith Feeds, the largest local supplier.
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
There’s no place like home!
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What does Habitat for Humanity do? Habitats for Humanity does much more than just build houses. Working towards a world where every person has access to adequate housing, we:
For a single mother of two working three jobs while putting herself through school, finding out that the apartment she rented was being sold was not welcome news. Finding a place where her daughter, Emily, who was born with Down syndrome, could live wasn’t easy. “There just weren’t a lot of options for a single mom with two kids, one who is in a wheelchair,” says Christina Ryan. Financially stressed in one of Canada’s most unaffordable housing markets, Christina turned to Habitat for Humanity Calgary. She attended a family information session, applying for a home with a zero interest mortgage that would be geared to her income. Several months later, Christina received the news that she’d been hoping for — Habitat for Humanity Calgary had matched her with a home they were planning to build. In 2008, Habitat for Humanity Calgary had completed a fully accessible home for the Ryan family in the community of Evanston in Northwest Calgary. Now, Christina no longer has to carry her daughter and wheelchair up and down stairs as she had to at their apartment building, a task she says she wouldn’t be able to do now that Emily is almost 12 years old. And the affordable mortgage payments allowed Christina to purchase a vehicle with a wheelchair lift. “We can now do more things and go more places as a family,” she says. Christina has also found professional success, opening her own photography business and regularly lends her skills to her local Habitat for Humanity affiliate that made it all possible. You can help families like Christina by volunteering, donating and advocating. For more information please call Alan Wilson –Business Development Manager at 604.557.1020 ext. 114.
Upper Fraser Valley
Offer housing-related technical assistance… by training families to build, maintain and pay for adequate housing. This includes financial training, budgeting, home repairs, and building community.
Advocate for adequate housing for all… by organizing public activities and influencing policies that result in easier access to adequate housing. Over 25% of British Columbians pay 50% or more of their income on rent alone. Many times they are making choices between rent or food — a choice we believe that no one should have to make.
Habitat for Humanity home under construction.
Who does Habitat for Humanity help? Potential Habitat for Humanity partner families are lower income, working families living in inadequate housing, often paying 40-50%+ of their income for rent and who are willing to put
in 500 hours of “sweat equity.” The Habitat model has homeowners making monthly payments on interest-free mortgages, which are approximately 25-30% of their family income
and includes taxes and insurance. Habitat believes that homeownership will help break the cycle of poverty facing many low-income working families. Habitat for Humanity does not
compete with other builders as Habitat services a clientele who could never afford to buy a house or qualify for a conventional mortgage.
Habitat for Humanity Upper Fraser Valley provides “a hand up, not a hand out.”
Did you know?
Who can qualify for a Habitat home? We will be announcing our Partner Family Application criteria early in 2016! Check in at the ReStore, visit our website www.habitatufv.ca or our Facebook page for information on how and when to apply.
What does the Restore do? The ReStores is stocked with new and environmentally friendly as most of the gently used renovation supplies, house- goods we sell would have gone into our local landfills. hold items, and lots of furniture. Everything is available to the public at deeplyy discounted prices. New inventory is always arrivingg from a variety of generous supporters, so every trip to the ReStore offers a unique opportunity to discover a fantastic deal, a one-of-a-kind item, or the missing piece in your design inspiration. Shopping and/or donating goods Management, Sta ff and Volunteers is a valuable way to help others and is at Restore.
• Habitat had over 63,000 volunteers across Canada this past year • That 60,000 tonnes of waste was saved from landfills this year • That the ReStore concept was made by a 15 year old boy in Winnipeg • That Canada’s ReStores sold over $58 million in goods this year • That worldwide, ReStores sold over $590 million US in goods • That Habitat for Humanity is one of the largest home builders in North America • That Habitat has built or significantly renovated over 1 million homes and counting • That a family moves into a Habitat home approximately every 1 minute and 45 seconds
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The impact of a safe, secure place to live
Provide low-cost house production… by building and rehabilitating houses, mostly using volunteer labor. Habitat obtains donations from businesses, and individuals to reduce the costs of building
Promote innovative housing finance opportunities… by promoting accessible financial solutions for low-income families to improve their housing situations. Habitat believes that homeownership will help break the cycle of poverty facing many low-income working families.
WHAT CAN YOU FIND AT THE RESTORE: Kitchens | Windows | Hardware | Doors | Paint | Home Décor | Tiles Light Fixtures | Appliances | Furniture | Bathrooms | Tools | Plumbing | Tables
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre State-of-the art facility serves the region’s health-care needs
T
expanded nursing roles enhance the quality of care provided.
he Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre (ARHCC) serves a growing, vibrant community with a state-ofthe-art health care facility.
“The expanding role of ARH has made it part of the three largest centres for acute care service delivery in Fraser Health, next to Royal Columbian Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital,” said Valerie Spurrell, executive director for ARH at Fraser Health.
The 300-bed facility, opened Aug. 24, 2008 on Marshall Road, replaced the 55-year-old MSA Hospital and was the first integrated hospital and cancer centre in Canada. ARHCC serves more than 150,000 residents in the immediate area and a regional population of around 330,000. At about 660,000 sq.ft., ARHCC includes MRI services, general surgery, nuclear medicine, renal dialysis, specialized obstetrics, a special care nursery area, pediatric services, critical care and cardiac care, regionalized psychiatry in- and out-patient care, and other services. The Abbotsford Cancer Centre is the fifth full-service cancer centre to be built by the BC Cancer Agency. It provides treatment and care for the region, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, patient and family counselling, nutrition, genetic counselling, and pain and symptom management. The project was the first acute-care hospital built in B.C. using a public-private partnership model (P3), at a cost of $447 million for construction and equipment, including $71 million provided by the Fraser Valley Regional Hospital District. Today, the hospital has a $200-million operating budget. ARHCC is owned by the Fraser Health Authority and the BC Cancer Agency, but many of the support services are provided under a 30-year P3 agreement with AHA Access Health Abbots-
Abbotsford residents and hospital staff have access to the latest in health-care technology. When the hospital was built, 11,000 new pieces of equipment were added, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), two computed tomography (CT) scanners that were better and faster than earlier models, and updated computer technology to enable more efficient access to patient records.
Abbotsford Regional Hospital serves a population of 330,000 in the region and provides the latest in health-care JOHN MORROW technology.
ford. Those services include the help desk, plant maintenance, logistics, housekeeping, food services, portering, laundry/linen, security and parking. The underlying debt of the P3 project is held by John Laing Infrastructure Fund (JLIF), a publicly held company that specializes in P3 projects and is traded on the London Stock Exchange. This year, JLIF donated space previously allocated for its use at ARHCC back to Fraser Health where the JLIF Clinic was constructed and opened this past September. The donation
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was worth $1.85 million and is home to the Abbotsford Breast Health Centre. Renal services at ARH include a kidney care clinic, a peritoneal dialysis unit and a hemodialysis unit. In September 2015, a nocturnal hemodialysis program was introduced to offer patients hemodialysis at night while they are sleeping. Patients on this program no longer have to plan their daily activities around a daytime dialysis appointment, and they report an overall improvement in wellness. ARH recently added clinical nurse specialists to the team, as well as nurse practitioners. These
In total, about 3,000 people are employed at the hospital, including 150 at the cancer centre and 400 under the P3 agreement with Sodexo, Johnson Controls, K-Bro Linen, GardaWorld and Impark. Abbotsford is one of three communities in Fraser Health which are creating a new and improved system of care for frail seniors living in the community. Design work is underway with the expectation that staff will be hired early in 2016. Families and patients will see an enhanced level and quality of service to help them live confidently at home and reduce the need for hospitalization. At ARHCC, executive director Valerie Spurrell and site medical director Dr. Michael Newton provide leadership for Fraser Health services, while regional director Tammy Currie provides leadership for BC Cancer Agency services.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Campus of care
Bereaved parents Greg and Karen with son Kairo and daughter Stella Marie
One of the nation’s most innovative health projects brings together three dynamic health-care partners on one site. The Dave Lede Campus of Care – named for the project’s biggest donor – is located on Marshall Road adjacent to Abbotsford Regional Hospital. It includes Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, the Abbotsford Hospice Society’s Holmberg House, and Matthew’s House, a respite facility for kids with complex health-care needs. The City of Abbotsford contributed the land, and all three facilities have conducted extensive fundraising campaigns for capital and operating costs. Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, which also has a location in Vancouver, completed construction in December 2013 and began offering community-centred services in spring 2014. The 20,000-sq.ft. $13-million facility is slated to have all its services fully operational – including 10 beds for children under the age of 19 who have life-threatening illnesses – by 2017. The facility provides specialized pediatric palliative care and support for families, backed by a diverse group of health-care professionals, support staff and volunteers. An individual program is designed for each child to best meet the needs of the family. Services include 24/7 doctor and nursing support; end-of-life care; pain and symptom management; respite care; school, music and play therapy; counselling services, and more. For information, visit canuckplace.org. The Abbotsford Hospice Society (AHS) is building a 20,000-sq.ft. resource centre and adult hospice and is currently in the midst of a campaign to raise the funds needed to complete the facility. The home-like facility will offer programs and ser-
Gratitude
The Campus of Care includes Matthew’s House (left), Canuck Place Children’s Hospice (right) and Holmberg House (not pictured).
vices to people 19 years and older who are dying, and to their families. It is named for David Holmberg Jr., who passed away in March 2011 at the age of 48. For more information, visit abbotsfordhospice.org.
For investing in BC’s children with life-threatening illnesses and the families who love them.
Matthew’s House, a program of Communitas Supportive Care Society, opened in November 2013. The 4,000-sq.ft. state-of-the-art residence provides a home away from home for up to five kids at a time who have complex physical needs.
Make a Legacy Gift to Canuck Place by calling Linda Ashton at 604.646.0611.
Medical necessities such as overhead tracking systems for transferring and full wheelchair accessibility are complemented by a multi-sensory playroom and an outdoor playground. Overnight guest suites allow family members to remain close while taking a step back to rest.
www.canuckplace.org
The home is funded completely through the generous support of individuals and community. Matthew’s House is named in memory of Matthew Froese, who had severe disabilities and died in August 2010 at the age of nine.
@CanuckPlace
For more information, visit www.mattshouse.ca.
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Highway 1 - Mt Lehman Exit - Fraser Valley Auto Mall
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
The Vamps performed at Abbosford Centre in August as part of Family Channel’s Big Ticket Summer Concert.
JOHN MORROW
Music, visual arts and more Plenty to see and do in the arts and culture scene
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ith Abbotsford’s high-calibre music and art venues, the long list of local, national and international talents that have performed in the city just keeps getting longer. As the Abbotsford Centre continues to grow its reputation as a first-class facility, more big-name acts are adding this city to their concert tour schedule. Ten years ago, the idea that Abbotsford could host country stars like Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood or rock legends KISS and ZZ Top seemed next to impossible. But now the centre located on King Road has hosted those stars and more. Capable of seating up to 8,500 for concerts, top show business names can be attracted. Since opening in 2009, the venue has hosted the Tragically Hip, Maroon 5, Megadeth, Alan Jackson and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, as well as family-oriented shows such as the Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street Live and Disney on Ice. Abbotsford Centre was also picked as one of only two Canadian stops on the latest tour of Cirque Musica – a circus accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra. While the performing arts have a top-notch local facility, Abbotsford also has an artistic gem in the community. The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford opened its doors in the fall of 2008. Located on Veterans Way, The Reach is a 20,000-sq.ft. building containing an exhibition hall, archives, two multi-purpose studios, two community exhibition spaces, art collection storage and museum artifact collection storage. It is capable of hosting world-class travelling exhibits.
Abbotsford Centre regularly hosts top musical acts, such as top country group Emerson Drive, who visited the Valley in 2015. JOHN MORROW
Another important cultural organization is the MSA Museum Society, which helps to preserve Abbotsford’s fascinating heritage. Based in the historic Trethewey House on Mill Lake, the museum’s archives include local history documents and an extensive reference
library. The museum offers a wide array of programs and educational presentations, both on-site and in the classroom. The Reach and MSA Museum Society will merge into one arts and heritage organization, expected to take place in January 2016. For years, the Kariton Art Gallery has displayed the region’s many talented artists. The Ware Street gallery is operated by the Abbotsford Arts Council and hosts as many as a dozen shows a year. Other local venues include the Abbotsford Arts Centre and the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, which have showcased community theatre and concerts for years. Fraser Valley Stage, a non-profit theatre group with a membership of more than 60 performers, has been presenting musical theatre for almost four decades. Another local theatrical group, Gallery 7 Theatre, has spent 25 years presenting thought-provoking plays and workshops for local actors at the Abbotsford Arts Centre. The Valley Concert Society brings classical music to life with a series of shows at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, a site that also hosts the Fraser Valley Symphony performances. For those looking for outdoor performances in the summer, the Envision Financial Concert in the Park Series hosts a variety of musical acts at Mill Lake Park. For intimate fall/winter performances, the Envision Financial Coffee House Concert Series brings the audience and performers together at local coffee shops. Jam in Jubilee is another popular outdoor concert series, running in July and August at Jubilee Park. Violinist Calvin Dyck’s popular Songs Strings and Steps concert series combines music and the visual arts, and the Valley Festival Singers present concerts in the fall, at Christmas and in the spring.
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
The Hub of the Fraser Valley
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT City of Abbotsford
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604.864.5596 econdev@abbotsford.ca caed.abbotsford.ca @AbbotsfordEcDev
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Economic Development: Tomorrow’s Thinking Today. Since its beginnings just over a year ago, the City of Abbotsford Economic Development Department (CAED) has been developing innovative programs and gathering vital information in order to attract new businesses and industries to Abbotsford as well as support the needs of existing businesses. A creative, energetic Economic Development team provides one-on-one support to businesses, connecting them with the contacts, resources and information they need to thrive and grow in Abbotsford. “As ambassadors for economic growth, we’ve had a busy first year of establishing some forwardthinking and engaging tools, driven by 21st Century technology.” - Wendy Dupley, Economic Development, Director
Abbotsford: A Global Destination
“As Hub of the Fraser Valley, the City of Abbotsford will reside as the regional centre for communities in the Fraser Valley. This vision sees Abbotsford as home to regionally centralized services and agencies including health care, courts, transportation, the university, airport, provincial and federal government, entertainment & cultural facilities, and commerce.” - Mayor Henry Braun
International investment is one of the keys to building a vibrant economy for Abbotsford. It provides jobs, creates economic growth and development and stimulates business growth.
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Key International Assets
Airport
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HospitalK
University
Why Abbotsford attracts global business: •
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Abbotsford is the most strategically positioned community within Greater Vancouver Abbotsford’s transportation network provides affordable, highly efficient access to the whole of Canada, the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Asia Pacific Abbotsford is a diverse, livable community within one of the most desired global hubs in the world
Just recently, Economic Development launched the City of Abbotsford’s first ever International Business Attraction Strategy. The plan focuses on how to share Abbotsford’s story with the international community as the city positions itself to be a global destination in years to come. By leveraging Abbotsford’s key international assets and building on the strengths of three core industry sectors, the strategy defines Abbotsford’s competitive advantage for investment and doing business. The plan also identifies markets and recommends new ways to bring investment into our growing city. Entitled “Flying Higher in Abbotsford,” the strategy document is available at http://caed.abbotsford.ca/locatehere/caed-resource-library/
KEY INDUSTRY SECTORS • Manufacturing • Agriculture • Aviation/Aerospace
YOUNG, EDUCATED WORKFORCE Total population aged 15 years and over in the Labour Force:
70, 535 Total population aged 15 years and over with a University certificate, diploma or degree at bachelor level or above:
15,165 LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Access and proximity to: • Hwy 1 and Interchanges • Metro Vancouver • US border crossings • Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) • Railway (CN, CP and Southern)
Smart Tools A new stand-alone website featuring Economic Development has gone live. Fresh, inviting and easy to use, the website is uniquely designed for businesses to access information, find resources and connect with Economic Development staff for any kind of support they may need. A key feature is the site’s live chat capability – the first of its kind for Economic Development departments in Canada – which connects clients directly to a team member for an immediate response. Integrated into the website is an innovative Geographic Information System (GIS) planning tool that provides up-to-date real estate, demographic, and industry data to help businesses and site selection professionals choose optimal geographic locations through powerful online mapping analysis. With all of the critical data that is easily accessed, this interactive site simplifies the process of relocating or expanding a business. Abbotsford is the first city in BC to offer this resource to businesses looking to grow and expand. Visit the new Economic Development website at www.caed.abbotsford.ca.
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
58%
Economic Development Business Walks Program During 2015, Economic Development created the City of Abbotsford Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program, which focuses on building relationships with the existing 6000 licensed businesses in the community. As part of the program, staff led an inaugural business walk across three locations in Abbotsford to “take the temperature” of businesses in the community. Thirty-eight volunteers – from elected officials to representatives from business organizations – participated and connected with 143 businesses located in Historic Downtown, Clearbrook/South Fraser Way, and Peardonville Industrial area. The purpose of Abbotsford Business Walks is to connect support agencies to business, share key challenges and opportunities with local decision makers, and identify businesses requiring more comprehensive follow up from Economic Development – all with the goal of fostering business growth in the community.
of businesses rate ‘Location’ as #1 reason for doing business in Abbotsford
Business Walk Program finds
93%
of Abbotsford Businesses indicated ‘Steady’ or ’Increasing’ business growth
25%
of businesses rate ‘Clientele’ as #2 reason for doing business in Abbotsford
71%
of businesses interviewed do NOT have a succession plan
27%
OVER 70 BUSINESSES have been identified for follow up support
“Feedback and participation from local businesses has been fantastic,” says Wendy Dupley. “We look forward to future walks in 2016 and the opportunity to discover new ways to serve Abbotsford businesses.”
of businesses seek support with Hiring/HR and are challenged with finding skilled workers
53%
of businesses interviewed are looking to hire 1/+ new employee(s)
Current Development in Abbotsford Over the last 20 years, the City of Abbotsford has grown by more than 50 percent, and we are planning for a population of 200,000. With a significant number of improvements (84 and counting) regarding how development applications are processed, we are ready for this growth and the opportunities it will bring. Below is a snapshot of current development.
Hudson’s Loft This project by Canterra Developments (134 apartments) on Gladwin Road is a part of the larger Central Park Village mixed-use development (townhouses, low-rise and high-rise apartments and office/retail) and comprises the first phase of the development.
LaGalleria Phase one of a 312 unit mixed-use project by Quadra Homes is currently under construction within the City Centre on Trethewey Street.
Matsqui Prairie
Bradner-Mt Lehman
Sumas Mountain
Fairfield
Old Clayburn
East West Townline Townline West Clearbrook
Aberdeen
The Mark Recent winner of a Fraser Valley Commercial Building Award, this 68,000 ft2 office/retail development by Diverse Properties is located within the City Centre; phase one of two is now complete.
Clearbrook Centre
South Clearbrook
Babich
Mill Lake
Abbotsford McMillan Centre
Whatcom
Sumas Prairie South Poplar
Industrial Growth Industrial Development Permit (DP) applications currently in-stream (black dots) with a total proposed floor space of 545,000 ft2 are shown to the left. DP approvals to-date in 2015 total 96,000 ft2 of industrial floor space. However, based upon the quantity of in-stream applications we anticipate 2015 will likely be a banner year for Industrial Development Permit approvals in Abbotsford. (Statistics are from January 2015 to end of September 2015)
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Abbotsforward: The City’s Official Community Plan Update The City of Abbotsford is undertaking a once in a generation opportunity to shape the community through the Abbotsforward project, an update to the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP). The completion of the OCP will help shape the community as it grows and provides the certainty that investors are looking for.
A Four Stage Process Abbotsforward was launched in the summer of 2014. In Stage 1, staff and a consultant, Dialog, began to study Abbotsford’s current conditions, because to create a vision for tomorrow, we had to understand how our city functions today. In early 2015, Stage 2 focused on reaching out to all community members and hearing their vision for Abbotsford’s future. With various engagement activities, including an online survey, road show events and neighbourhood walks, we received over 4,000 interactions. These helped us create 7 Big Ideas that we showcased at a Big Ideas Fair in Historic Downtown on June 12 and 13. Today, in Stage 3, we’re preparing a draft OCP and are back out in the community seeking input from residents and other stakeholders. Stage 4, the final stage, will refine the draft OCP, obtain the necessary approvals from external government agencies and have it adopted as a bylaw by Council.
7 Big Ideas CREATE A CITY CENTRE
When asked where the heart of the city is located, all residents will point to the same recognizable place that is the centre of civic, public, economic, and cultural life. This City Centre will have a clear identity and sense of arrival, and will evolve into Abbotsford’s most vibrant area, scaled to pedestrians and rich with diverse destinations and activities.
FOSTER NATURAL BEAUTY
Abbotsford will become both more “city” and more “country”, where the city becomes more urban and the integrity of the country becomes stronger. In the country, Abbotsford’s cherished natural areas will remain intact. Nature will also find its way into the city, with a growing tree canopy and other green and naturalized open spaces.
MAKE WALKING, BIKING AND TRANSIT DELIGHTFUL Residents will choose to get around by foot, bike, and transit because they will be convenient and enjoyable options in Abbotsford. Along with wheelchair use, walking will be safe, accessible, interesting, and enriching, and it will be the first choice for residents for short trips.
ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL INTEGRITY DESIGN PLACES FOR PEOPLE Abbotsford’s agricultural areas – which comprise a long-standing pillar of the local economy and form a vital part of Abbotsford’s character – will be protected as places for agricultural production and processing, and of thriving livelihoods.
MAKE IT WORK This Plan will reflect a turning point for Abbotsford and will not sit on a shelf collecting dust. Much energy and passion will go into making the Plan real in the face of challenges and tough choices. Implementation, follow-through, consistent commitment, culture change, and capacitybuilding will all be necessary.
ESTABLISH DISTINCT NEIGHBOURHOODS Abbotsford will be a city where neighbourhoods and smaller districts will be as complete and mixed use as possible, while also having their own diverse and distinct character and sense of place. Residents can work, and enjoy amenities and services such as cafés, shops, schools and parks, within walking distance of home.
Abbotsford will have attractive and interesting public spaces. While pedestrianfriendly buildings will provide the frame for public life, streets and other open spaces such as parks and plazas will provide the stage. Many sidewalks will be filled with people going about their daily lives, walking, lounging, socializing, playing, eating, kissing, shopping, creating, dancing, exploring, and people-watching.
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
A complex organization The Abbotsford school district operates on a $193-million budget, most of which comes from the provincial government through per-student grants. More than three-quarters of the budget is spent on instruction. The district employs 1,141 teachers, 400 educational assistants and youth care workers, and 74 administrators.
Education in Abbotsford: early entry to career launch From preschool to post-secondary, Abbotsford has many options
F
rom a tiny schoolhouse to a thriving system serving thousands, education in Abbotsford has seen a great deal of change over the past century. One of the first schools in the region was the Clayburn Village schoolhouse on Wright Street, which was built in 1908, and is now recognized as a British Columbia heritage site. Built for residents of the province’s first company town, the one-room building provided education for children of workers at the then-remote brick plant. Area schools grew as settlement did, to eventually create today’s thriving education system. Abbotsford has a public school district featuring numerous specialized programs, a panoply of independent schools offering faith-based instruction, and the largest campus of the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). It also has some of the most extensive public early childhood programs in the province, plus numerous private preschool options. The area also has multiple theological schools and a wide variety of career training institutions.
Thousands of students The Abbotsford school district has 19,563 students in 46 schools, including 30 elementary, seven middle, two middle-secondary schools, and seven secondary schools.
school, with programs tailored to teach students jobready skills. The school has received an Innovation Partnership grant from the province, with funding for hands-on science projects and new program development. The district also has the Explozone, which will help teachers explore how to create a classroom community that engages students in authentic, real-world inquiry and discovery which connects directly to the new B.C. curriculum. District superintendent Kevin Godden says enrolment growth over the past few years has been a challenge, as it can be difficult to predict where in the city new students will come from. “They don’t always move into neighbourhoods where we have space,” he said. He said it
can at times be a tough
Abbotsford’s public school district has an extensive range of specialized options for elementary and secondary students – uniform-wearing traditional schools, an integrated arts academy, trades training programs, dedicated sports streams and even aviation and heavy equipment operator courses. Altogether, current enrolment is 19,563 students at 46 schools (30 elementary, seven middle, two secondary-middle and seven secondary) _ and that number is growing, unlike many other districts in the province.
To shape the next generation of kids ... is a privilege that we shouldn’t take lightly.” Kevin Godden
More than 50 per cent of local public school students attend a high school of their choice, rather than the school in their catchment area. It’s a system that gives parents plenty of options, but has also created more challenges for the district to organize and place all the classes and programs, administrators say. The district has a $193-million budget for 20152016, primarily provided by the province via per-student grants. Of that, $155M is spent on instruction, $4M on district administration, $29M for operations and maintenance and $3.5M on transportation and housing. The district employs 1,141 teachers, 400 educational assistants and youth care workers, and 74 administrators – and runs 43 school buses to take students where they need to go. The local Board of Education is chaired by Cindy Schafer, and the trustees currently in office are Phil Anderson, Freddy Latham, Rhonda Pauls, Stan Petersen, Preet Rai and Shirley Wilson. They’re serving four-year terms which began in the fall of 2014. Among the city’s leading-edge education initiatives, Rick Hansen Secondary in west Abbotsford is becoming a specialized science and business
process to match school capacity to enrolment needs in a city as geographically large as Abbotsford. “It would be easy for me to … ask the government, ‘Give us more money to build new schools,’ but I think the public has some expectation that we find creative ways to find space in our existing schools for the kids,” he said. The district also offers the Abbotsford Virtual School program, where students can take either online or paper-based classes on their own time, anywhere. Abbotsford Virtaul School provides course materials, resources, reports, and support for parents. Participating students can opt to access clubs, events and class presentations at district schools, and face-to-face tutoring is also available. Education doesn’t just start at kindergarten and finish at graduation – it’s a lifelong process, and Abbotsford reflects that. Early childhood programs are increasingly being recognized as important preparation for school and life, and the public school district runs parent-participation StrongStart
programs for kids up to five years old at 12 different sites. These popular programs are highly demanded by parents, and district data shows StrongStart participants do better than non-attendees once they start kindergarten. A public BC Early Years Centre, which provides parents of young children with educational resources, opened at the Sweeney Neighbourhood Centre this year. Abbotsford also has many private preschool programs available, including Montessori schools and arts-focused programs, throughout the city. There’s also choice when it comes to private education. Abbotsford is a hub for faith-based independent schools. Christian options include multiple large and academically rigorous programs: Mennonite Educational Institute; Abbotsford Christian School, which is non-denominational; and the Catholic schools of St. James and St. Ann’s elementary and St. John Brebeuf secondary. There are also smaller, more specialized Christian choices at Cornerstone Christian School, affiliated with HillCity church, and Sterling Education North’s Abbotsford campus, affiliated with the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. The highly-ranked Dasmesh Punjabi School provides instruction in English, grounded in the Sikh faith, along with an accelerated Punjabi language program. The University of the Fraser Valley, the area’s public university, currently has 15,000 students (including 900 international students from 45 countries), 34,000 alumni and 1,500 employees. Between Abbotsford, its other campuses in the Fraser Valley, and a satellite campus in Chandigarh, India, it offers 100 programs, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees, diplomas and certificates, trades training and apprenticeships, plus many continuing studies courses. The university’s major research strengths lie in agriculture, where it has many partnerships with the local agriculture industry, and in criminal justice, where UFV works with police across B.C. to improve their work and find innovative ways to reduce crime. As with other public universities in B.C., UFV is working to become a destination of choice for international students. Currently, there are 900, from 45 different countries. The university also has nationally ranked varsity sports and plenty of community events and cultural programming. While UFV is the largest, it’s not the only post-secondary option in the region. The city is also home to Columbia Bible College, a Mennonite-affiliated theological institution which offers bachelor’s degrees in fields such as Bible studies, counselling and intercultural studies, plus a wide variety of diploma and certificate options. There’s also Summit Pacific College, a Pentecostal-affiliated school with a popular one-year overseas missionary program as well as bachelor’s degrees in various topics. There are also a number of private career training colleges in Abbotsford, which offer training in fields like legal and medical administration, practical nursing, and esthetics.
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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Increasing graduation rates top priority for head school administrator Area’s diverse population an opportunity and a challenge, says school board chair
A
bbotsford’s public school district leaders have shaped a vibrant, varied education system, with plenty of choices for students, and that philosophy is reaping dividends.
school board programs.
said. “Some schools are over-enrolled, and some schools are under-enrolled.”
“We are constantly trying to adapt and accommodate everyone,” Schafer said. “It’s a challenge, and an opportunity.”
The district has a six-year completion rate of 89 per cent, as of 2014 – that’s the percentage of students who receive a high school diploma within six years of starting Grade 8. It’s higher than the province-wide average, which is 84 per cent. The local rates have been rising over the years, as have those throughout British Columbia.
Over her 10 years on the board, Schafer said she’s sought out partnerships with a variety of community organizations — from Abbotsford Community Services to the Rotary Club — to help create and refine programs reflecting the area’s varied cultures and backgrounds.
District superintendent Kevin Godden says his number-one goal is to try and raise that number to 100 per cent.
The district is also diverse in the sheer variety of programs offered — something school leaders agree is great for students, though it can pose some logistical challenges.
“There are no throwaway kids,” he said. “Our ambitious goal is to get all of them there.
He and the school district team are working creatively to maximize use of existing school buildings, Godden added, saying that Abbotsford’s large geographical footprint adds to the challenge. But students and parents have responded positively to the variety of choices in Abbotsford – from uniform-wearing traditional schools to dedicated sports academies, integrated arts classes to hands-on trades training. Schafer said having a wide variety of choices is important to keep students interested in their education.
“We have career programs that I think only two other districts can rival,” said Godden. Abbotsford is host to the only K-12 level heavy equipment operator program in the province, where students can obtain high school credit while also working towards job-ready tickets.
“ … that is the ultimate test of the education system. Those kids, you’ve got to be able to find a way to make them successful.” Godden says one of Abbotsford’s key strengths is its diversity: according to a school district survey, over 60 different languages are spoken in students’ homes.
“Part of the logic with that has been ‘how do we engage students, and how do we keep them engaged?’ ” said Schafer. Abbotsford has a reputation as a giving community, and she said that’s often reflected in local schools.
Parents give countless volunteer hours to help school More than 50 per cent of Abbotsford events and fundraisers come together, and local businessSCHAFER GODDEN students don’t attend their neighbourhood “One of the key parts of living in a multicultural society es, organizations and charities frequently contribute to catchment high school; instead they opt is that kids grow up and see their culture and language as enhance local students’ experiences. for a specialized academy, career training program or French part of the program of study,” said Godden. The province’s new “The number of organizations and groups involved in a myriad immersion. curriculum has a strong emphasis on local aboriginal knowledge of different ways in our schools … that’s another factor that’s very and on the contributions of British Columbians of all backIt’s created a wealth of opportunity for local kids to learn as unique in Abbotsford.” grounds, including the South Asian community. they desire, but organizing it all is far from easy. Combined with Along with the board, Schafer is working on a formal recognigrowing enrolment in many areas, juggling students, classrooms “Supporting and encouraging school communities is something tion program for people and groups who give back to schools – and schools to make sure everything fits is a greater challenge we value tremendously,” he said. “We need to ensure the manner something she’s excited to roll out soon. here than in other districts. in which we reach out to families and kids reflects our diversity.” Cindy Schafer, the chair of the Abbotsford school board, said the area’s diverse population has been a strong influence on many
“When you have 50 per cent of your student population on the move, they may not go where you want them to go,” Godden
“We can actually recognize, and just say thank you, to some of these organizations,” she said.
YXX Why Invest at YXX? •
Approximately 87 hectares (215 acres) of land immediately available for airside and groundside development
•
•
Low construction costs – Most available land is fully serviced with excellent granular soil
• •
•
Contact Us
Established aerospace community with Cascade, Conair, University of the Fraser Valley Aerospace Centre and others
Parm Sidhu
•
Daily commercial flights with approximately 500,000 passengers annually
Email: psidhu@abbotsford.ca
Competitive lease rates, flexible lease terms, and City tax incentives
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High public visibility with Airshow, Aerospace EXPO, Tradex, and commercial jet traffic
Abbotsford International Airport
Abbotsford Shell Aerocentre FBO and world class flying schools including Coastal Pacific Aviation and Chinook Helicopters
•
Close proximity to Highway 1, Vancouver, US border, and rail
Abbotsford, BC V2T 6H5
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The Abbotsford/Lower Mainland region has a vibrant economy, growing population, and an established, highly-trained workforce
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Progressive Airport and City management team that is eager to make development happen at the Airport!
Excellent Airport infrastructure, including CAT 1 Instrument Landing System, on-site aircraft rescue and firefighting, and a full service Air Terminal Building with Customs and passenger screening facilities
Airport General Manager Tel: 604-864-5678
30440 Liberator Avenue 604-855-1001
DISTRICT OF NORTH VANCOUVER
COQUITLAM
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VANCOUVER
PORT MOODY
PITT MEADOWS DISTRICT OF MAPLE RIDGE
BRAID STREET SKYTRAIN STATION
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DISTRICT OF MISSION
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ritish Columbia schools are undergoing their largest single curriculum change in recent history.
It’s “out with the old, in with the new” on a grand scale: rather than changing what’s taught in classrooms grade by grade, the usual model, they’re swapping out everything from kindergarten to Grade 9 next year. Major changes include an increased focus on aboriginal knowledge and the immigrant experience, and an increase in lessons that can include technology in the classroom. The focus is also more on “big ideas” and less on memorization and rote practice.
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Teachers throughout the province have been given 10 hours of non-instructional time to learn about the new curriculum, as well as funded local learning sessions. District superintendent Kevin Godden praises the new curriculum for its flexibility and openness to new technology. He said the district is implementing the curriculum with the knowledge that schools, parents and employers all have higher expectations for students than they did the last time
such a major change was adopted, in the 1970s. “Any system that is faced with these kind of changes is going to have some bumps in the road as people need to unlearn and relearn some things,” he said. The provincial teachers’ union has called into question the focus on “individualized” learning, arguing that large class sizes can make it difficult for teachers to tailor the curriculum to each student’s interests and needs. But Godden says a change was long-needed. With so much information available instantly through the Internet, tomorrow’s graduates will need to do more than just memorize facts to be competitive in the job market. Instead, the new material is focusing on higher-level skills like critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative teamwork. The new material reduces the number of “outcomes” asked for each grade, which Godden stresses is not the same as lowering the amount of information students learn. But by not pushing through reams of facts in each lesson, the whys and hows of complex topics can be more deeply explored, he explained.
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THANK YOU ABBOTSFORD! The Honda Way has once again been chosen as the Top Import Store and A-List Recipient for 8 consecutive years. We know this achievement has been the result of dedication, hard work and strong team leadership from every department of our operation. Our 50 PLUS EMPLOYEES are the cornerstone of our business success and try to lead the WAY every day.
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VISIT OUR NEW DEALERSHIP IN 2016! As an eight year A List Finalist and your favourite Import dealership, the staff and management felt the need to expand the dealership and construct a newer building with a larger footprint to meet the needs of our loyal customers. The Honda Way is pleased and excited to announce we have started construction of our new home at the east end of the loop in the Fraser Valley Auto Mall. We continue to perform in our current facility.
The impetus to make this move was the direct result of the popularity and growth of our Honda brand. Further to this, the dedicated team have earned and deserve the opportunity to grow as we prosper, as well as experience the best of the best in our future working environment. When we unveil our new store this spring, customers will experience efficiency, selection and expanded
service bays to meet every facet of their driving needs! It’s our best way to say thanks and we want to keep our customers and shoppers happy! As a locally-owned Honda dealership, we recognize the importance of providing employment to the community and our expansion will increase the need for more employment opportunities. The more sales and service we provide, simply strengthens
the city’s tax base and infrastructure. It is our desire to foster a sense of community with our new facility. Honda owners are some of the most loyal in the auto industry and they deserve a new dealership which will impress Honda owners and shoppers alike. We are proud, thankful and looking forward to spring of 2016! The 50+ staff - The Honda Way
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
University of the Fraser Valley enters its fifth decade T
he University of the Fraser Valley is the go-to source for post-secondary education in the Fraser Valley.
The university has been changing lives and building community for more than 40 years, and UFV is committed to fostering a strong relationship between “town and gown” as it enters its fifth decade. The university is working with the City of Abbotsford to encourage the development of the University District in the area surrounding its Abbotsford campus on King Road. Student life on the Abbotsford campus has grown with the 2015 opening of UFV’s first Student Union Building, a partnership among the Student Union Society, UFV, and Envision Financial. The 46,700-square-foot building features many student services, two eateries, an informal hang-out space, meeting and event rooms, and homes for the campus radio station and newspaper. The community enjoyed the new space when UFV hosted the inaugural “Town and Gown” fundraiser in November, which saw more than $40,000 raised to support student scholarships. With 15,000 students (including 900 international students from 45 countries), 34,000 alumni, 1,500 employees, and countless community supporters, UFV’s greatest strength is its people. The university has campuses in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Hope, and Chandigarh, India, while offering 100 programs spanning master’s and
UFV opened its new Student Union Building in 2015, a partnership among UFV, the Student Union Society and Envision Financial.
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Students find success bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, certificates, apprenticeship and trades training, and continuing studies programs. Research activity has faculty and students working together on partnerships with the local agriculture industry, the Fraser Valley Regional District, the Hakai Institute, the RCMP, and Natural Resources Canada. Faculty research projects attract provincial and federal funding further enhancing the local economy. UFV Cascades athletics teams have won national medals, including gold in CCAA women’s volleyball, silver and bronze in CCAA men’s and women’s golf, and bronze in CIS women’s basketball. UFV recently hosted the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s National Championships in golf, and Cascade Sarah Wierks was named one of just eight national academic all-Canadians in 2015 for her achievements in the classroom and on the basketball hardcourt. The university contributes to the cultural fabric of the Abbotsford community. Last year, UFV produced a play based on the Abbotsford and Indo-Canadian connections to the Komagata Maru incident. UFV also participated in a 12-hour art marathon at The Reach Gallery as part of the CreatiValley initiative, and was a partner in the Abbyfest multicultural celebration. UFV’s workforce is an economic engine in the community. Employees live and spend locally, boosting the real estate and retail sectors. A conservative estimate of UFV’s overall economic impact on the Fraser Valley is half a billion dollars annually. And once UFV’s graduates – more than 2,100 of them last year – hit the employment market, they have additional economic and social impacts. Every day, business people, teachers, nurses, farmers, social workers, tradespeople, childcare workers, and professionals with a UFV background touch the lives of people in Abbotsford and beyond. UFV alumni find success everywhere. This year’s Distinguished Alumni, Dr. Mike Hildebrand, is a tenure-track professor of neuroscience at Ottawa’s Carleton University. The Young Distinguished Alumni, Alex Reimer, is a leader in the electrical trade in the oil and gas industry in Fort St. John. Information on programs can be found at ufv.ca.
More than 2,100 UFV students graduated last year, entering the employment market in dozens of different professions and trades.
How Are Your Dentures? For your denture needs, come and see your denturist!
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Manigeh Ghorbanali graduated in Europe as a dental technician and then continued her education in Canada to become a registered denturist. She uses a combination of different techniques and past experiences in the process of fabricating a personalized denture for each patient.
Our Services Include: • Fabricating removable denture over implant. • Complete and partial dentures.
Magdalena Nodzykowska has been a member of our team since 2011 and became a registered denturist in 2014. She enjoys the detail and customizing aspects involved in the Denturism scope of practice. She likes to bring joy to patients by fabricating comfortable, proper fitting, durable dentures. Magda is also BPS certified.
• Repair and Reline. • Denture Lab on Site. • Home & Institutional Visits Available. • We provide FIBER FORCE Dentures.
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Adam Wejkszner successfully learned the newest techniques about the fabrication of dentures at Vancouver Community College, and obtained his denturist license in 2014. He is also a member of the Denturist Association of British Columbia. Adam joined our team in 2015. He is always willing to listen and pay attention to details.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
TRUST YOUR VEHICLE SERVICE TO THE EXPERTS.
The Fraser Valley Auto Mall Dealers are your best source for analyzing the performance and drivability to keep you safe and happy on the road. Our Factory Trained Technicians are in communication first hand with manufacturers and have the availability of OEM parts (Original Equipment Manufacturer) which protects your investment!
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Helping the next generation of learners District increases pre-K programs
T
he Abbotsford school district has ventured beyond its traditional kindergarten-to-Grade 12 mandate in recent years to help give younger children some of the tools and skills they’ll need when they enter the classroom.
And the results have already been impressive, with enrolment at the district’s 12 StrongStart sites growing substantially in recent years. StrongStart is a free program for kids up to five years of age accompanied by a caregiver. Last year, a total of 1,212 children attended the programs. That’s a 15 per cent jump from the 2013-14 school year and a three-fold increase from just six years prior. Funding for 10 of the sites comes from the provincial government, with the two other sites funded by the district. With the program’s increasing success comes some challenges. Attendance at some sites has forced staffers to turn parents and children away some days because of occupancy regulations. That has officials hoping that the province will increase funding to allow for more of the popular programs. Officials say much of the success is attributed to increasing awareness and word-ofmouth among parents. The school district has also collected data showing StrongStart is helping children. Students who were part of a 2009 StrongStart cohort have outperformed their peers in numeracy, reading and writing, according to the district. More Abbotsford students are facing challenges, however, when they enter school. Just over one-third of students enter school with what the district deems to be some sort of “vulnerability.” Those can range from a lack of emotional maturity, to reading and comprehension difficulties, to physical health issues. A major issue has been social competencies and the ability for children to learn how to regulate their emotions in a controlled setting like a school. To help incoming children learn such skills, teachers have been using “calm kits” – developed with assistance from the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre – to teach young students skills and tricks to calm themselves and maintain their composure. Abbotsford also has an Early Years Centre, which is located at a StrongStart site and aims to connect parents with resources that promote health, well-being and development of young children. For more information, visit sd34.bc.ca and look under the programs tab.
Young children in the Abbotsford school district can benefit from the free StrongStart program, which prepares them for kindergarten and beyond.
Valley Gravel Sales Ltd. YOUR SUPPLIER OF 700 Lefeuvre Road Abbotsford 604-856-3315 valleygravel.ca A FAMILY BUSINESS PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE
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Now in our 50th year
2 FLOORS OF GREAT STYLE & SELECTION Now in our 50th year of business serving the Fraser Valley, Unger’s offers a great selection of major home appliances and home furnishings that meet all budgets and needs. Customer custom orders are always welcome, as we offer a great selection of locally built living room, dining room and bedroom furniture available in a large selection of fabrics and finishes. With a number of people downsizing and moving into condos and senior housing, we offer smaller sofas and chairs to meet all your needs. Drop by and check out our showroom located on 2 floors across from London Drugs on South Fraser Way in Abbotsford. We also carry Whirlpool and Danby Major Home Appliances. FREEZERS | REFRIGERATORS | RANGES LAUNDRY | DISHWASHERS
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s the general school population in Abbotsford grows, so does the number of students with special needs. There were over 1,750 students in the Abbotsford public school system who needed extra support in 2014-2015, up from just over 1,600 in 2011-12. The increase is largely driven by a growing number of students evaluated with physical disabilities, chronic health issues, hearing impairments and on the autism spectrum. The six-year completion rates for students with learning disabilities, behaviour or mental health disabilities are rising in Abbotsford – from 53 per cent in 2009-2010 to 67 per cent in 2013-2014 – as they are throughout the province. The province continues to move its programs toward an inclusion-based model, where students with special needs are placed in regular classrooms with extra support when possible. This model is touted as beneficial to designated students’ social development, and to their preparedness for the world post-graduation. The district employs 400 permanent educational assistants and youth care workers, as well as 150 in on-call casual positions.
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Special needs education: serving students who face unique challenges
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students needing support are learning disabilities, like dyslexia, which don’t impact students’ overall intelligence but can reduce their success in school if they aren’t given specialized treatment. Other reasons for support include intellectual disabilities, mental illness, physical disability, visual or hearing impairment, and chronic health issues. In all cases, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution – instead, parents and educators consult to create an Individual Education Plan outlining each student’s unique challenges and goals for learning. Possible responses include scheduled time in a learning-resource classroom, extra classroom assistance, adapted or modified course work (i.e. substituting out a drawing unit for a student with visual impairment, or offering a low-distraction testing room for students with attention issues). It’s an approach that lets students, parents and teachers work together and continually re-evaluate what’s working and what isn’t. The district also employs helping teachers, who are specially tasked with assisting students needing particular supports. For example, the hearing-helping teachers help deaf and hard of hearing students adapt course material to suit their unique needs.
Home of the
TIMBERWOLVES
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Range of private school options in Abbotsford Faith-based schools provide specialized instruction
A
bbotsford has a wide variety of private schools available for parents who want to opt for religious or culturally based instruction.
While there are many different programs offered, the area’s independent schools have much in common – all are faith-based day schools, most wear uniforms and all place strong emphasis on academic achievement and community involvement. Parents choose private schools for a variety of reasons – some prefer their children attend a school that reinforces their religious beliefs, others choose them for their small class sizes compared to public schools, and some want their children to grow up in an environment with a strong sense of cultural identity. In B.C., private schools receive half of the per-student grants given to public schools, and parents pay tuition costs for their children’s education, though many schools offer scholarship programs or tuition assistance for high-achieving students with financial need. The largest private school in Abbotsford is Mennonite Educational Institute, with 1,362 students across elementary, middle and secondary schools. MEI offers instruction with a “Christian foundation as understood from an evangelical Anabaptist perspective.” The day school is highly ranked academically, placing in the top 15 per cent of B.C. high schools and the top 10 per cent of elementary schools, according to the Fraser Institute. Families attending one of the school’s supporting Mennonite or Mennonite Brethren churches receive a tuition discount and are given priority in admissions. MEI students wear uniforms, and the school also contains a Hockey Canada-accredited hockey academy. The MEI elementary, middle and high schools share a campus in the North Clearbrook area. The second-largest is Abbotsford Christian School, which has 947 students across its elementary, middle and secondary campuses. Students at Abby Christian can take Advance Placement courses, and the school has special education services and options for English language learners. The school is nondenominational and affiliated with a variety of Christian churches throughout the Abbotsford area. Students applying to ACS are given priority if they attend a Christian church and submit a reference from their pastor, but the school does not require students to be members
Local independent schools such as MEI combine rigorous academics, arts and cultural learning within faith-based programming.
of any specific congregation. Abby Christian is in the province’s top 15 per cent of high schools and the top 20 per cent of elementary schools, according to the Fraser Institute. The campus is in the Sumas Mountain area. The third-largest private school in Abbotsford is Dasmesh Punjabi School, which combines highly ranked English-language instruction with Punjabi language lessons and classes on Sikh scripture, culture and heritage. The K-12 day school has 778 students. Students learn Indian classical music and tabla drumming, and the school’s accelerated Punjabi program allows them to take a Grade 12-level exam in Grade 10. Dasmesh Punjabi does not require students to attend any
JOHN MORROW
specific place of worship, and is ranked within the top 15 per cent of high schools and elementary schools province-wide. The school is on Matsqui Prairie. The city’s Catholic independent school system has a combined 627 students between St. John Brebeuf high school and St. James and St. Ann’s elementaries, which are both on the same West Abbotsford campus. James and St. Ann’s are in the top 10 per cent of elementary schools province-wide. Students whose families are practicing Catholics and members of local parishes are given priority in admissions. There are also several smaller private schools in Abbotsford that offer specialized faith-based instruction.
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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Learning with an accent on sports Abbotsford offers high-calibre academies
C
ombining learning with sports is a strong option in Abbotsford, with five different sports being offered as academy programs.
Abbotsford Middle School can get soccer players ready early, offering extra time on the pitch for students in Grades 6 to 8. The skill development program works on individual skills, and works with players’ understanding of the game. High-level coaches such as Rob Giesbrecht from the UFV Cascades, work with the children twice a week all year long during regularly scheduled PE blocks. Past coaches of the academy include former Olympian Alan Errington, UNBC coach Alan Alderson, and Canadian men’s team coach Colin Miller. Students from Grades 6 to 8 also have the chance to hit the ice at the Fraser Middle Hockey Academy. Students practise at least twice a week, and train out of the Abbotsford Recreation Centre. The academy specializes in high-performance training and elite skill development, and in-class work occurs at Willam A. Fraser Middle School. It runs from September to May, with 70 on-ice sessions lasting about 75 minutes each. The next logical step for FMHA students is the Yale Hockey Academy at Yale Secondary. The academy runs from September to June and houses three teams: Bantam Prep, Elite 15 and U18 Prep. All three teams compete in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League for their regular season games.
Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen is one of the highest-profile VANCOUVER CANUCKS PHOTO graduates of the Yale Hockey Academy.
Players can also sign up for the Skill Development program, which focuses on individual rather than team
Anahiem Ducks first round NHL pick Shea Theodore is another local alumni of the Yale Hockey Academy.
CONTINUED ON 37
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
OPENING MID-DECEMBER 2015
Whatcom Road Veterinary Hospital & Abbotsford Veterinary Hospital are merging to create a 5000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art Veterinary Hospital specifically designed to provide all levels of treatment in a stress-reduced environment. Most of us are well aware that pets have become important family members. Approximately 65% of households have pets and 65% of those households view their pets as family members. And it is not surprising why! Study upon study has shown that people who own pets have reduced blood pressure, reduced anxiety, decreased risk of depression, improved immunity and less heart disease. If pets can improve your health, how do you protect your pet’s health and how important is their health care to you?
Coastal Rivers Pet Hospital is proud to showcase one of the newest and most exciting animal hospital concepts in the Fraser Valley. The needs of our various pet friends have been carefully considered in the design of this hospital to reduce their stress and anxiety when coming to a hospital for a health examination and possible hospitalization. The need for rapid diagnostics and treatment has also been taken into consideration. Just what does it take to reduce your pet’s stress at the hospital? Different pet species should be kept separate as much as possible so that they do not see, hear or smell each other. Coastal Rivers Pet Hospital has managed to do this by designing two distinct reception areas (one for cats only), designated species exam rooms, separately ventilated cat, dog and exotic wards and spatial separation of dogs from the other pets. Coastal Rivers Pet Hospital is also excited to be able to offer state-of-theart diagnostic tools for all the animal companions – including an in-house chemistry lab, the newest in radiology,
ultrasound, and endoscopy. We are the reference site for the brand new high-definition Logiq R6 NextGen ultrasound. Coastal Rivers Pet Hospital offers a wide range of dental and surgery care – from the basics to the more complicated. It has two operating rooms, one of which is designed for involved orthopedic surgeries such as cruciate TPLOs and bone plating for fractures. And if your pet has injured themselves, or is recovering from surgery, they can benefit from Coastal Rivers Pet Hospital’s physiotherapy room. With class 4 therapeutic laser, an underwater treadmill and various other physiotherapy modalities, your pet is bound to feel better soon! Our staff is committed to ever improving the care your pet receives. All team members – the veterinarians, animal health technologists, veterinary assistants and receptionists – partake in ongoing continuing education programs. That is because your pets are important! And we want to be the best we possibly can be – for both of you. Abbotsford deserves this!
HOURS: Mon-Fri 7am-10:30pm Sat, Sun & Stat 8am-6pm UNIT 2, 1993 RIVERSIDE ROAD (CORNER OF RIVERSIDE & MARSHALL) | 604.425.1900
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
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Schools specialize in hockey, ball and golf girls of summer.
skills. Yale has all the same instructors as the FMHA. The Yale Academy sees students participate in 75 on-ice and 80 off-ice sessions per year. Some of the alumni include: Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen, Anahiem Ducks first-round pick Shea Theodore, and Montreal Canadiens first-round pick Noah Juulsen. Students wanting to join an academy earlier can do so at the MEI Hockey Academy. The academy offers instruction for students from Grades 1 to 12, with age-specific on-ice and dry-land curriculum. The MEI Hockey Academy runs from September to May, and offers about 60 on-ice sessions per year at Centre Ice Arena. Hockey players can also play with the defending BC High School Hockey League Tier 2 champions, the Robert Bateman Timberwolves at the Robert Bateman Hockey Academy.
Yale also offers academies for the boys and
MAGNUSON
The academy is offered for Grade 9 to 12 students, and has classroom sessions on subjects such as sport nutrition, sport psychology, and SAT preparation.
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The Yale Baseball Academy, for Grade 9 to 12 students, operates out of DeLair Park and the ARC, and runs from Sept. 1 to Jan. 20. There are approximately 72 sessions, lasting about two hours apiece. Students train either on field or in the classroom from Monday to Thursday, and have baseball specific dry-land training every Friday.
#1 IN CUSTOMER SERVICE • #1 INVENTORY THE LARGEST INDOOR SHOWROOM #1 IN COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Baseball academy alumni include: Arizona Diamondbacks draft pick Kurtis Kostuk, UBC Thunderbirds product Tyler Dobos and Cloud County Community College players Steven Federau, Matthew Forsythe and Coleton Besse.
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Students also have the chance to learn and hit the links at the Bateman Golf Academy. The program includes about 40 per cent of the time at the Ledgeview Golf Course and Fraserglen Driving Range, and 60 per cent of the time involving golf specific training, mental training, etiquette, anatomy, rules, and nutrition.
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The academy runs out of Centre Ice Arena during the second semester, and students receive approximately 40 on-ice and 40 off-ice sessions per year.
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The academy is made up of Grade 10 to 12 students, and must be registered with a Midget minor hockey team to participate. Alumni for the program include: former Chilliwack Chiefs captain and University of Alaska Anchorage player Eric Roberts and Cameron State college player Chanel Tvergyak.
The Yale Softball Academy runs from Sept. 1 to Jan. 23, and offers 72 training sessions operating out of Exhibition Park and the Abbotsford Recreation Centre.
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DOWNTOWN ABBOTSFORD D#37930
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32562 SOUTH FRASER WAY WAY, IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN ABBOTSFORD!
604 853 FORD
The golf academy is open to students from Grades 9 to 12 and runs in the fall.
District Career Programs
OPEN SUNDAY • MAGNUSONFORD.COM
www.abbotsfordcareerprograms.com
Discover Your Purpose: Create Your Future Now “THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREAT
IT.”
– ABRAHAM LINCOLN
› Who Can Enrol in a District Career Program?
• any student registered in the Abbotsford School District who meets the entrance requirements • students can stay registered in their home high schools and still participate in a District Career Program
› Why enrol in a District Career Program while still in High School?
• participate in supervised work experience in related career area • earn dual credits — courses are reported to both the ministry of education and to the post secondary partner • gain marketable job skills and secure real employment upon completion
Cook (UFV), Welding (UFV) • Technology Programs: Applied Business Technology (UFV), Architectural Drafting (UFV) • University Transition: Health & Human Services (UFV) and Aviation Ground School (Coastal Pacific)
District Career Programs › What are available?
› When to apply?
• Trades Programs: Automotive Service Technician (UFV), Carpenter - Green Building (Abby Sr.), Dairy Production Tech (UBC), Electrical (UFV), Hair Stylist (Abby Sr.), Heavy Equipment Operator (Yale), Horticulture (Kwantlen),
• early admission to post secondary studies • one year of tuition FREE university credit
Need more information? Contact the District Career Programs Office 604-504-4618 ext 1802 2606 Alliance Street , ABBOTSFORD
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Students and parents are encouraged to find out more about these unique and rewarding programs!
• Currently accepting grade 10 and 11 applications for the 2016 / 2017 school year
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
A city of sports T
he options are endless for sports fans in Abbotsford.
The community boasts a rich history of passion and high achievement in athletics, and that continues today. The University of the Fraser Valley hosts the highest level of sport in Abbotsford, with Canadian Interuniversity Studies teams in basketball, soccer, wrestling and rowing. UFV also has volleyball and golf programs in the Pacific Western Athletic Association. The UFV Cascades have proven themselves to be national competitors in a number of arenas, winning CIS bronze medals in women’s basketball (2014) and women’s soccer (2010), as well as earning fourth-place finishes in men’s basketball (2012) and women’s soccer (2014). The men’s soccer and basketball teams also earned Canada West bronze medals in 2015. Directly across the street from the UFV campus is the Abbotsford Centre, which seats 7,000 for hockey and can expand up to 8,500 for other events. The facility opened in spring of 2009, and has hosted a variety of sporting events including the Harlem Globetrotters, AHL hockey, motocross, WWE wrestling, monster trucks and the Masters Grand Slam of Curling. Other local sports facilities include MSA Arena, a 900-seat ice rink that hosts the Abbotsford Pilots PJHL junior B hockey team; the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, which features an Olympic-sized ice sheet, an indoor pool, and two gymnasiums; and Matsqui Recreation Centre, home to a wave pool and ice rink.
W.J. Mouat fans cheer on the Hawks’ football team.
JOHN MORROW
Columbia Bible College and its Bearcats athletic teams provide a crosstown rival for UFV in volleyball. CBC also field a basketball team in the Pacwest. The Bearcats won a CCAA men’s
volleyball title in 2011. In the high school realm, Abbotsford is home to perennial powerhouse programs in nearly every sport, including basketball, football, volleyball, wrestling, rugby and track and field. Local high school teams include the Abbotsford Panthers, the Rick Hansen Hurricanes, the Robert Bateman Timberwolves, the W.J. Mouat Hawks, the Yale Lions, and the MEI Eagles. Ledgeview Golf and Country Club has proven to be a continuous producer of golf excellence, sending forth the likes of former PGA Tour pro Ray Stewart, 2005 NCAA champion James Lepp, and current PGA Tour players Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin. Taylor, the world’s former No. 1-ranked amateur, earned his first PGA Tour win at the Sanderson Farms Championship in November 2014. Among Abbotsford’s elite sports clubs, the Valley Royals track and field program, Abbotsford Magnuson Ford Soccer Club, Matsqui Blades speed skating club and Twisters Gymnastics have all sent athletes to the Olympic Games. Other high-calibre sports associations train athletes in hockey, baseball, fastpitch, swimming, football, rope skipping, figure skating, cheerleading, rugby and lacrosse. Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association product Jake Virtanen made his NHL debut with the Vancouver Canucks in October 2015, and he joins a number of other NHLers such as Calgary Flames forward Derek Grant and Chicago Blackhawks forward Kyle Cumiskey. Abbotsford also offers plenty of choices of recreational leagues for adults, with options ranging from curling to basketball to slo-pitch to touch football.
ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
Butch and staff proudly offer a variety of services CONSUMER ADVICE
Q What kind of auto repairs do you offer at Butchs?
A
We’re your one-stop auto maintenance and auto repair shop. When you need car care, take your car to the total car care experts, Butchs. With over 40 years experience we have the expertise to help keep you and your loved ones safe on the road. Don’t forget, your car is one of your biggest investments. Be sure to protect your investment with total car care at Butchs. Call today to schedule your appointment.
Butch
Butchs Brake & Muffler Ltd. is family-owned and operated. Butchs opened in Surrey in November 1994 and opened their second location in Abbotsford in April 2009. Living in Abbotsford, they thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to show the community that the business of repairing vehicles didn’t have to be a stressful experience. When customers are armed with knowledge
they need to make an informed decision about their repair, the stress disappears! Butchs often supports local churches, agencies and associations that have members requiring help to get their broken vehicles back on the road, allowing them to get their life back to normal. Butch is grateful to have made these friends in the community. Butchs mechanics
are regularly sent for training courses and have some of the most highlytrained professionals in the Lower Mainland. From diagnostic technicians to oil change technicians, all their staff are trained to the highest standards.
A customer once said to us: “I can go anywhere and be treated like a nobody but I come to Butchs because they treat me like a somebody.”
Referrals are always appreciated and are a large part of our success. Thank you to all our customers who have sent a friend or family member to see us.
BUTCHS BRAKE & MUFFLER LTD. Your Complete Auto Care Center Since 1994
up to
Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Call for details Cannot be combined with any other offer.
INSPECTION OR
EXHAUST
INSPECTION Present this Coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
ABBOTSFORD: 604-746-2065
32240 South Fraser Way
OIL CHANGE Up to 5L Standard Oil
Includes Filter and Tire Rotation Present this Coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
BRAKE & MUFFLER LTD. Your Complete Auto Care Center Since 1994
South Fraser Way Court House
50 OFF
$
off a major
Enviro Levy & Taxes Extra
BRAKE
Butchs Brake & Muffler
(Failure to do this repair can result in a major engine failure)
25 $ 50 tuneup
99 City Hall
Ask about when your vehicle manufacturer suggests replacement.
FREE 45 $
Langdon Street
FREE
TUNEUP SPECIAL TIMING BELT with timing belt repair $ off a basic tuneup
• AirCare • Exhaust • Brakes • Timing Belts • Suspension • Tune-Ups • Check Engine • Water Pumps • Transmissions and Alignments • Air Conditioning Services • Oil Changes & Much More!
SURREY: 604-583-0522
13433 King George Blvd.
OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY
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ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION / December 2015
this is home.
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2015
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FAVOURITE FURNITURE STORE
Ashley Furniture HomeStore 20645 Langley Bypass Langley 604-532-1167
1365 United Blvd. Coquitlam 604-777-1365
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