ABBOTSFORD

Abbotsford Location: Centre of the Fraser Valley about 70 km from downtown Vancouver

Who Knew? Abbotsford was named for Henry Abbott, brother of former Canadian prime minister John Abbott and the man responsible for letting the initial contract to clear the townsite of Vancouver in the 1800's.

Abbotsford Fast Facts:

Population: July 1, 2005, estimate 124,956

                     Average annual growth rate 2001-05 0.96

                    2010 projected population 131,992

                    Daytime working population 54,510

Climate: West-coast moderate with summers slightly warmer and winters a little cooler than Vancouver.

Economy: BC's newest city, incorporated January 1, 1995 is comprised of the former Districts of Matsqui and Abbotsford. Overall growth continues at a steady, but reduced pace compared with previous years. Most of the new developments are residential but the community has seen a rapid growth in its retail/commercial, as well as industrial, development. The city is the main retail hub for the Fraser Valley, offering a wide variety of stores and services from large shopping malls and large scale retail operations ot smaller specialty stores. The goal of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association is to revitalize the historical shopping district. New retail developments such as Zellers, Revy, The Brick, Costco and Staples have recently opened in the community. Several additional shopping centres are under construction or planned. The economy is diverse. Agriculture, industry, business, government services, and retailing play a part. Tradex, located at the Abbotsford Airport , is a 120,000 sq.ft. Exhibition space that plays host to trade shows and major events year round.

Housing: Owned 31,213 70.1%

                 Rented 13,331 29.9%

A variety of housing styles is available from single to townhouses and high-rise apartments. New developments continue in the Townline Hill area and other areas; major development work in the Straiton Bowl area, which will eventually house 10,000-15,000 residents, is well underway. This area is located on the slopes of Sumas Mountain and will provide hillside view lots in a village atmosphere, only minutes from the urban core. High-rises in the Abbotsford core offer spectacular views of the mountains to the north and east, as well as an up-town style of living. Abbotsford has a large urban core of neighborhoods like Clearbrook, Glenn Mountain, and Townline Hill. In the surrounding farming areas are rural communities such as Bradner, Matsqui Village, Clayburn, Barrowtown and Huntingdon. Average price for a detached home is $193,821.

Top Three Home Languages: English - 78.1% Punjabi - 7.9% German - 0.5%

Top Three Occupations: Sales and Services - 15,934 - 25.1%

                                            Trades, transportation and equipment operator - 10,651 - 16.8%                                 Buisness, Finance, and administration - 9,571 - 15.1%

Income: Average household income - $60,350

               Average full-time employment income - Male $47,230 Female $33,575

Education: Facilities encompasses preschool to post-secondary levels, with full degree programs offered by the University of the Fraser Valley from its Abbotsford Campus. Elementary and secondary education is provided by both public and privatley-operated institutions. The Francophone program is offered at l'Ecole-des Deux-Rives in Mission and WJ Mouat Secondary. The unique Career Technical Center offers a combination of public secondary schooling, college level courses and skilled trade development.

Transportation: Primary road access is provided by the Trans Canada Hwy which runs west to Vancouver and east to Hope, by 1A which connects west to Langley and Surrey to the west; and by Hwy11 which is the north-south link to Mission and the US border at Sumas, Washington. Rail service is provided by CP Rail, CN and Southern BC Rail with direct connections to Burlington North at Sumas. Abbotsford Airport offers superb flying facilities and is currently active with pilot training and aircraft building. Abbotsford has become Canada's newest airline destination with the arrival of Westjet Airlines. Local and regional residents now have daily jet passengers service to Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg and Saskatoon with new destinations likely in the near future. Recreation: Residents enjoy extensive recreation facilities including two indoor and two outdoor pools. A major track and field complex, which has hosted the Canadian Track and Field Championships and the Western Canada Summer Games, contains facilities for a wide range of sports. Abbotsford also has three city-operated arenas, numerous parks, playing fields and an extensive trail system. Cultural facilities include a museum, the 700-seat Abby Arts Centre, 400-seat Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, Centennial Library and the new Clearbrook main-branch library, the largest in the Fraser Valley Regional Library system. Health Care: The major medical facility is MSA General Hospital which has 200 acute care beds. Construction os a new 300 bed hospital has been approved. There are also a number of intermediate and extended care facilities.

Click the links for more information:

City Hall

City Directory

Community Information City Hall...............................(604) 853-2281

Abbotsford Economic Development Center.............(604) 864-5505

Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce..........................(604) 859-9651

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