Mayors Message

About Chilliwack

The City of Chilliwack, as it is today, is made up of several smaller communities, each with their own unique history. The very first political establishment was the Township of Chilliwhack, spelled with an "h", in 1873, which is now the boundary of today's city center. It was one of the first organized municipalities in the province. This form of government remained active until 1908 when differences between urban and rural areas of the township began to rise. Urban residents wanted better fire protection while rural residents wanted a better roads and drainage system. Around this time, the City of Chilliwack, the small geographic area covering the downtown business district, was formed. For the following 72 years, two separate municipal bodies governed alongside one another. They merged back together in the 1980s, creating the District of Chilliwack, and in 1999 the District changed its name and became known as the City of Chilliwack. Chilliwack is now home to over 80,000 residents. With its mild climate, the area 100 kilometers from Vancouver bound by the Fraser River to the north and the Canada-United States border to the south is ideal for an array of crops. The average temperature in January is 1.6 degrees Celsius and in July it rises to 18 degrees Celsius. From the years 1971 through to the year 2000, Chilliwack was home to the highest average all-day temperature in all of Canada in addition to the warmest springtime temperatures! Precipitation falls mainly in the form of rain due to the surrounding mountains. But although rain clouds are pushed up and over the mountains to dispense their moisture, the majority of the rain falls in the winter months. The summer months are generally pleasant with sunshine, warm daily temperatures and refreshing nights. With over a dozen trails and as many parks, in Chilliwack you don't have to go far to enjoy the outdoors! And if you yearn to experience more natural beauty, you're only 15 minutes from Canada's 6th tallest waterfall at Bridal Veil Falls. If you're more inclined to spend your time shielded from the elements, Chilliwack boasts a host of recreation and cultural centres. From ice surfaces at Prospera Centre and Twin Rinks; to the multi-surface centres of Heritage Park and the Landing Sports Centre; and of course the family YMCA along with the Cheam and Landing Leisure Centres. Chilliwack has something for everyone's recreational preference!

Just as there is a wide range of leisure activities in Chilliwack both inside and outside, there are just as many affordable real estate options in the area. From mountainside to mountain view, valley view to waterfront, there are many affordable housing options in our beautifully natural surroundings. And once you're inside your home, you can feel safe about the water flowing through your taps. Chilliwack received the "best drinking water in Canada" award in both 1997 and 1999. In 1998 the city placed second. After winning the first award, the City of Chilliwack implemented the Groundwater Protection Plan to preserve the quality of the water. The City does extensive water sampling and monitoring to ensure Chilliwack's drinking water remains safe and healthy. On average, the residents of Chilliwack use 25 million litres of water per day. About 85 percent of the total populations are serviced by the City's production wells.