Abbotsford (49°03′16.6″N, 122°19′40.8″W) is a Canadian city, in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 115,463 people in 2001. The population for the Census Metropolitan Area was 147,370 (2001). The city is located in the Fraser Valley, where 253,844 people (2001) live. Abbotsford is situated immediately north of the Canada-US border, across from Sumas, Washington. Most of the city has dramatic views of Mount Baker, a large glacier-clad volcano just across the border.
The village of Abbotsford was incorporated in 1892. The village was named for a Maclure family friend, Harry Abbott, who was Western Superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The city was incorporated in 1995, through the merging of the District of Abbotsford with the District of Matsqui. The City of Abbotsford is 359.18 square kilometres in size, with a population density of 321.5 persons per square kilometre.
Government
The City of Abbotsford uses the current Council-Manager system of local government. The present Mayor and Council were elected on November 19, 2005. The current mayor is George Ferguson.
Police
The City of Abbotsford has its own municipal police force. The Abbotsford Police Department is one of eleven other municipal police forces in British Columbia. It was officially formed in 1995 when Matsqui and Abbotsford amalgamated to become The City of Abbotsford. Prior to the amalgamation, Matsqui was patrolled by the Matsqui Police and Abbotsford the RCMP. During the referendum citizens elected to keep a municipal police force.
As of 2006, the Abbotsford Police Department employs nearly 200 officers and 80 civilian employees. It is the third largest municipal police force in British Columbia (behind Vancouver and Victoria).
As of July 20, 2006, the Abbotsford metropolitan area (including Mission and points to the east) has the highest property crime rate and the sixth highest violent crime rate for cities with a population of 100,000 to 500,000 in Canada. [1]. Its been ranked the murder capital of Canada by per capita.
Living
Housing prices in Abbotsford are some of the highest in the Fraser Valley. In 2003, the average price of a single-family house was $309,267 CAD, a single detached home was $255,152 CAD, a townhouse was $196,503 CAD, and an apartment was $121,985 CAD. There are 41,352 dwellings in the city.
Demographics
Abbotsford is the third most ethnically diverse city in Canada, after Toronto and Vancouver. Abbotsford now leads the country with the highest proportion of people of South Asian origin per capita, according to results from the 2001 census.
Abbotsford's largest religious group is Christian at 61.4%, of which the largest denomination is Protestant. The second largest religious group is Sikh, comprising 13.4% of the population. The city contains one of the first Sikh temples built in North America, the oldest in Canada.
The largest ethnic group is Caucasian, comprising approximately 79.6% of the population. The largest ethnic minority group in Abbotsford is South Asian (countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) comprising 14.9% of the population. In third place are Aboriginals, at 2.2% of the population.
English is the primary language spoken, with 71.2% of the population having it as their first language. Punjabi is the second most spoken language.
23.8% of the city's population was born outside of Canada. Of that percentage, a majority is from South Asia, followed by groups from Southeast Asia, China, Korea and Latin America. Immigrants from Europe include those of English, German, Dutch, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, Icelandic and Swedish backgrounds.
Quick Facts:
- Population (2004 Estimate): 130,000
- % Change (1996-2001): 9.5
- Resident labour force (2001): 58,140
- Dwellings (2001): 41,352
- Area (km²): 359.18
- Density (persons per km²) (2001): 321.5
- Gross income of population (2002): $2,337,376,686
- Average household income (2001): $56,165
- Average individual income (2001): $26,794
Industry
Approximately 92% of employed residents work in the city or in neighboring communities. Agriculture is Abbotsford's main industry, followed closely by transportation, manufacturing and retail. There is also a small, but growing aerospace industry led by Conair Aviation, and Cascade Aerospace.
Education
Public elementary, middle, and secondary schools are administered by School District 34 Abbotsford.
Post Secondary institutions in the city include the University College of the Fraser Valley and two religious institutions, Columbia Bible College and Summit Pacific College, as well as career colleges like Sprott Shaw Community College, Vancouver Community College, CDI College of Business, Technology and Health Care.
There is also a virtual school called 'Abbotsford Virtual School' that offers more than 30 semestered online courses. This school offers a unique Animation and Modeling program that teaches students all aspects of the video gaming industry.
Sports
Abbotsford is home to the Valley Royals Track & Field Club. Among the club's members are Canadian Olympian Stephanie McCann (pole vault) and 2004 World Junior Champion high jumper Michael Mason. The Valley Royals are led by their longtime head coach Gerry Swan - a legendary coach of national fame - and are based at the Jane and Gerry Swan Track at Rotary Stadium.
Abbotsford Minor Hockey is one of the largest associations in British Columbia with more than 1000 players registered from the ages of 5 through 18 years old. This association is recognized by many as a model and a leader in the development of minor hockey programs, and several Abbotsford raised players have gone on to the highest levels of this sport. In the hockey season, Abbotsford's Bantam AAA team were ultimately the Western Canadian Bantam Champions, and eight individual players from this team (the most ever) were selected in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft. ( http://www.abbotsfordminorhockey.com/ )
Abbotsford is the home of the Abbotsford Pilots of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League (Junior B level). Abbotsford was also considered as one of possible homes for the Chilliwack Chiefs (who were forced to move due to a new WHL expansion team, the Chilliwack Bruins. The team required a new facility and were given access to the Prospera Centre (former home of the Chiefs). Abbotsford, would have been home of the Chiefs under one condition - a new arena for them. The current largest arena in Abbotsford is M.S.A arena (home of the Pilots) which currently seats just over 400. Failing to build a new rink, Abbotsford lost the opportunity, and the Chiefs moved to Langley.
Abbotsford has a superior Youth soccer program, winning 2 national titles, and numerous provincial titles. It is also home of soccer all stars Sophie Schmidt and Brad Petoom.
Abbotsford is also home to high school sports, with W.J. Mouat Secondary and Rick Hansen Secondary, among others, doing very well in track & field, volleyball, basketball, and football. These schools have consistently ranked among the highest in the province in at least one major sport.
Abbotsford has a great rugby club supporting three men's teams, two women's teams, U19 men's and women's, U15 U16 and U17 men's, and a great mini rugby program, many of Abbotsford's players have gone on to play for Canada, such as Erin Lockwood, Ryan McWhinney, Scott Hunter, Bryn Keys, Brodie Henderson. http://www.abbotsfordrugby.com/
Transportation
Abbotsford is served by a regional transit system (ValleyMAX) operated by Township Transit Inc., with funding from the City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission. Transportation infrastructure includes the Trans-Canada Highway (#1), Abbotsford-Mission Highway (#11), and the Fraser Highway (#1A). Access to the United States is via the Huntington border crossing.
Abbotsford is served by the Abbotsford International Airport, located in the southern part of the municipality. It is one of the fastest growing commercial airports in western Canada, and acts as a reliever airport for Vancouver International Airport. Several major airlines now provide regular scheduled service from the airport, due to its close proximity to Vancouver's rapidly expanding eastern suburbs. The airport is also the home of the annual Abbotsford International Airshow.
Communities
- Abbotsford
- Aberdeen
- Arnold
- Bradner
- Clayburn
- Clearbrook
- Gifford
- Huntingdon
- Kilgard
- Matsqui
- Mount Lehman
- North Poplar
- Peardonville
- South Poplar
- Straiton
Neighboring cities and towns
Sister cities
