PHOTO BY BETTY JOHNSTON
ABBOTSFORD IN
ACTION
Abbotsford is a rapidly growing, young and vibrant city. Agriculture is a nearly $2-billion dynamo at the centre of the city’s economic activity, which is also fuelled by thriving residential and commercial development, as well as growing industrial and technology sectors. A newly renovated airport, top-rated university and state-of-the-art regional hospital are key components of the Abbotsford success stor y. In its second annual edition of Abbotsford in Action, The News examines the city’s economic energy.
2011 EDITION
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Abbotsford News
2 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
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November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
Fifth largest city in British Columbia
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A great place to live N
ow the fifth largest city in British Columbia, services. Abbotsford has been a “growing” community, He said the degree of technology and innovation derived from right from the start. agriculture has a large impact. From its humble beginnings in 1889 as the VilAgriculture-based industrial plants paved the way for other lage of Abbotsford, a 160-acre tract of bush land, the city has industries. The development and recent renovation of Abbotscontinued to see new growth, in many ways. That slow, steady ford’s International Airport opened the door for a new wave of progress boomed in the last two decades as the Lower Main- aviation-based industry. land’s population increased and moved farther out from the As more companies move to the valley, people follow. boundaries of Vancouver and into the Fraser Valley. The number of households in Abbotsford has more than douAs the population increased, so did the demand for housing bled in the past two decades. Residential areas have grown so and family services – which required more schools, recquickly that high-density planning is a major mandate reational opportunities and facilities as well as artistic of council. Areas such as Sumas Mountain have been and cultural experiences. More businesses moved in to developed as homes spread away from the downtown meet the population’s needs. core to fill every corner of the city. The Conference Board of Canada has Abbotsford’s Once the centre of commercial activity, Downtown 2010 Gross Domestic Product pegged at $5.48 billion, Abbotsford has become a “destination” for visitors and compared to $5.27 billion in 2009, with a projected GDP locals alike. growth of more than three per cent in 2011. Abbotsford’s retail sector changed forever in 1975 Despite all of the changes, one thing has remained the when the Sevenoaks Shopping Centre was built. It has same – agriculture is still the biggest economic force in grown to 562,328 square feet and more than 100 shops. TEICHROEB The construction of West Oaks Mall and its 30 stores the city. The Fraser Valley produces over 70 per cent of B.C.’s dairy products, berries, vegetables, poultry, eggs, furthered the retail trend. pork, greenhouse vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture and nursThe construction of the 44-acre Fraser Valley Auto Mall in ery products. 1992 pushed expansion even farther west. Now, a $200-million The chicken, turkey and egg business generates about $247 shopping centre, adjacent to the auto mall, is being created by million annually, while 73 per cent of B.C.’s $500-million dairy Shape Properties, creating yet another retail destination. The industry is produced in the Fraser Valley. huge new development, called High Street, is expected to open In fact, berries, dairy and poultry are the big three resources, in spring 2013. and the high yield creates major industrial opportunities. The Abbotsford Regional Hospital, and a host of civic ameAbbotsford is known to have Canada’s most productive farm- nities prove that the infrastructure is in place to attract more land and is blessed with three factors – climate, quality of soil families, professionals and businesses. and farmers. The result is $1.8 billion worth of economic activ“It’s got the blessings of geography, it’s got an entrepreneurity in the community. ial spirit and the greatest strength is its people. The people of “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. It has a signifi- Abbotsford are proud to call Abbotsford home. They believe pascant economic spin off through all sectors of the economy. So sionately in the community and they are leaders in all sectors, much of the wealth that’s created through agriculture finds whether it’s the arts, whether it’s athletics, education, business its way into all of the other sectors,” said Jay Teichroeb, the ... it’s a community to be very proud of and to be associated with. city’s general manager of economic development and planning It’s a great place to live,” said Teichroeb.
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Abbotsford in Action Contributors: Kevin Mills Neil Corbett Vikki Hopes Melissa Welsh Editor: Andrew Holota Publisher: Andrew Franklin Published by The Abbotsford News November 2011 © Copyright
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Pioneers carved a town out of bush land Gold rush The first wave of European settlers in the Fraser Valley arrived in the mid-1800s, drawn by the discovery of gold in the Fraser River.
Downtown Abbotsford was featuring strong development and retail activity by the 1950s.
Industrial start The first major industrial presence in the new village was the Abbotsford Lumber Company, owned by the Trethewey family. Photo courtesy MSA Museum
Abbotsford began as a small cluster of buildings surrounded by dense forests, which provided the resources for the town’s lumber company.
Simple beginnings O
nce a small, humble village, Abbotsford has grown to become the fifth-largest city in B.C. Originally inhabited by the Sto:lo people – their territory covered most of the lower Fraser River, from Richmond to Yale – Abbotsford owes its creation to the gold rush. The first wave of European settlers in the Fraser Valley arrived in the mid-1800s, drawn by the discovery of gold just south of Yale. By December of 1858, an estimated 30,000 people – including many miners travelling north from San Francisco – had made their way up the river. The gold fever paved the way for the establishment of many Fraser Valley towns. The 160-acre tract of bush land that became
the Village of Abbotsford was originally obtained in 1889 by John Cunningham Maclure, a former Royal Engineer who had helped to survey the territory for Britain during the gold rush. The origin of the name “Abbotsford,” accord-
ing to a 1924 letter from J.C. Maclure Jr. to the Abbotsford Board of Trade, is a combination of two ideas. The name commemorates a friend of the Maclure family, Harry Braithwaite Abbott. It is also a reference to Sir Walter Scott’s home,
Abbotsford Castle in Scotland. The first, major industrial presence of the new village was the Abbotsford Lumber Company, owned by the Trethewey family. The company fuelled the growth and ethnic diversity of Abbotsford, attracting workers from China, Japan, Europe and India. The first immigrants from India’s Punjab province arrived in the early 1900s. In Abbotsford, the first gurdwara (temple) was constructed in 1911 on South Fraser Way. The Trethewey family, the city’s largest employer of Sikhs at that time, donated free lumber to build the temple. That temple, now a national historic site, celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. Today, Abbotsford is the third most ethnically di-
Photo courtesy MSA Museum
Today, the city of Abbotsford encompasses the founding communities of Bradner, Clayburn, Clearbrook, Huntingdon, Matsqui, Mt. Lehman, Straiton and Sumas.
Continued on P6
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Spawned by a river From P5
tion of a new dike system to limit the
flood threat, but in 1948, the region verse city in Canada, after Toronto and Vancouver, and has the highest pro- was inundated with water once again. portion of people of South Asian origin The numbers associated with the flood of ’48 are staggering. More than 200 per capita of any Canadian city. square kilometres of territory was Abbotsford also has a strong under water at the height of the flood; Mennonite presence that dates back to 16,000 people were evacuated; and damthe 1920s. Many members of Christian ages were estimated at $20 million. Anabaptist denominations migrated to Today, the communities spawned by Abbotsford from Russia and the Prairie the Fraser are provinces, protected from and the first the river’s wrath Mennonite by over 300 kilochurch was metres of dikes built in the between Agassiz 1930s using and Delta. lumber from The political the dismancareer of one tled mill at of Abbotsford’s Mill Lake. most influenAgriculture tial citizens has long began in 1969, been a drivwhen George ing force in The Reach p1708 Ferguson was Abbotsford’s The flood of 1948 put more than 200 square kilometres of elected as an economy. The land underwater in the Valley. alderman for region’s agrithe District cultural potential was expanded in 1924, of Sumas. Ferguson went on to bewhen drainage of Sumas Lake was come one of Canada’s longest-serving completed to reclaim more than 30,000 civic leaders. His tenure as mayor of acres of fertile land on the Canadian Abbotsford (1972-2002, 2005-08) spanned side of the border. four decades. While being an important transportaFerguson was mayor through two tion corridor, and major salmon-bearamalgamations. In 1972, the Village ing waterway, the Fraser River has been of Abbotsford and the District of an intermittent threat to Abbotsford. Sumas joined to form the District of The first major flood after European Abbotsford. settlement occurred in 1894, as rising In 1995, the neighbouring districts of water spilled into communities from Abbotsford and Matsqui amalgamated Chilliwack downstream. to form the City of Abbotsford. That disaster prompted the construc-
Abbotsford News
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
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8 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
Abbotsford News
Major mall projects lead wave of development High numbers The High Street shopping mall project on Mt. Lehman Road covers 560,000 square feet, and is slated for completion in 2013.
Cross Developments has just completed 90,000 square feet of retail space anchored by Save-On Foods in Sumas Mountain Village in east Abbotsford.
Dedicated space During the past decade, Abbotsford has annually added between 800,000 and two million square feet in commercial, industrial and institutional space.
JOHN MORROW Abbotsford News
Construction is well underway on the High Street shopping mall project, one of the largest developments of its kind in the province for the past three decades. It’s just one of several mall projects either underway or recently completed in the city.
Commercial success
Shape Properties completed work last year on the first phase of Parallel Marketplace in the Whatcom Road area.
Building value As of October 2011, building permit values sat at $238 million for 2011, well surpassing the 2010 total of $207 million and the 2009 total of $156 million.
...these “developments
mean fewer retail dollars will be leaking out of our community, which in turn means a more vibrant local economy... Ken Baerg
”
E
ven by conservative projections, Abbotsford’s in Abbotsford. population is expected to grow by 40 per cent in Last year, the Vancouver-based company, which also the next 20 years. purchased the Brentwood and Loughheed malls, completed It’s not a question of if – significant growth is work on Parallel Marketplace in the area of Whatcom Road. an inevitable reality. That 135,000-sq.-ft project on the south side of Sumas MounThe critical question is how that growth will be managed. tain is anchored by Thrifty Foods. Now, conceptual plans are Issues such as land use planning, transit, densification in place for phase two of Parallel Marketplace, which would and affordability all become increasingly important as the include up to 35,000 square feet of space. population expands. In the fall of 2011, Cross Developments completed another Many people don’t realize that Abbotsford, by land area, commercial development in this area – more than 90,000 is the largest municipality in B.C. This too has a range of square feet of retail space anchored by Save-On-Foods. implications, including the way residents identify with their Such groupings of development are happening across the local community and neighbourhood; the planning around community. commercial and residential expansion; and the forethought Improvements in the historic downtown core and the that must go into the creation of city infrastructure. “expansion of the railway district along Gladys create “Ten years ago, if you were to ask people on another node with its own character and identhe street where downtown Abbotsford is, tity,” said Baerg. you would have likely been told by a The long-term vision for the majority that it is South Fraser Way university-district will ultimately in and around Gladwin,” said Ken create a commercial, residential Baerg, Abbotsford’s director of and institutional hub around economic development. the University of the Fraser While there remains a plan Valley and the Abbotsford to establish this particular Entertainment and Sports area as “City Centre,” Baerg Centre, near the McCalsaid Abbotsford’s growth is lum Road Highway 1 “nodal.” interchange. Clusters of commercial This trend of commerand residential developcial growth has been ment are redefining the occurring for years. In landscape. the last few decades, Last year, Abbotsford much of Abbotsford’s attracted one of the retail began spreading largest shopping mall west from the original developments to take place downtown. When the big in B.C. for more than three box phenomenon took decades. And it happened in hold, many such stores the aftermath of a world-wide were built along South economic slowdown. Fraser Way, and the sector Shape Properties’ 560,000-sq.continues to grow south along ft. mall project, called High Street, Sumas Way. is being constructed on Mt. Lehman During the past decade, AbbotsRoad. ford has annually added between While the grand opening is not 800,000 and two million square feet in anticipated until the spring of 2013, the commercial, industrial and institutional The Fraser Valley Auto Mall, situated space. project, combined with Polygon’s 460-unit along Highway 1 in west Abbotsford, townhouse development in the same area, In the future, these nodal ‘communities covers approximately 44 acres and within the community’ will become even has created a commercial and residential includes eight auto dealers. anchor on the west end of town. Continued on A9 High Street is not Shape’s only investment
Abbotsford News
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
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Robust economy From A8
more established. Baerg said all of the aforementioned commercial developments are good news for the residents of Abbotsford. “Not only do these commercial amenities provide for convenience and accessibility; these developments mean fewer retail dollars will be leaking out of our community, which in turn means a more vibrant local economy with more jobs being created.” Other indicators the city keeps a watchful eye on include: Q Gross domestic product (GDP) – The total value of the goods and services produced within Abbotsford continues to have a positive trajectory. The Confer-
ence Board of Canada anticipates that Abbotsford will have one of the most robust economies in the nation with a projected real GDP growth rate of 3.2 per cent. “Given the global economic climate, this is a testament to the resilience, innovation and diversity that exists within our economy,” Baerg said. Q Building permits – The construction value associated with building permits also continues to increase. As of October 2011, building permit values sat at $238 million for 2011, well surpassing the 2010 total of $207 million and the 2009 total of $156 million. Of that $238 million, $121 million was for new commercial permits.
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Abbotsford News
10 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
New residents streaming into the city Doubled in size Abbotsford has more than doubled in size since 1981, and remains above the provincial average of growth, with 7.2 per cent between 2001 and 2006, compared to 5.3 per cent province-wide.
It is anticipated Abbotsford could be home to 60,000 to 70,000 more people in the next 25 years, with an increasing number living in high-density towers.
Secondary suites Legal secondary suites make up approximately 10 per cent of Abbotsford’s urban housing stock. Estimates of unregistered units reported by the city in 2009 ranged from 900 to more than 2,000.
JOHN MORROW
Abbotsford News
Development on Eagle Mountain in east Abbotsford has been among the major housing projects in the city in the past several years.
The core of growth The number of households in Abbotsford currently stands at approximately 47,000.
Affordable prices The median price for an Abbotsford home is about 56 per cent lower than a house in Greater Vancouver, which averages close to $792,000, as of August 2011.
... our “future is going to require building up and not out.
”
Ken Baerg
A
s more people look to Abbotsford as a viable place to live, developers are faced with the challenge of finding new residential space. With three-quarters of the city’s 39,000 hectares of land protected by the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), builders are increasingly looking skyward. Densification is becoming a reality. “In a community that has over 70 per cent of its land in the ALR, our future is going to require building up and not out,” said Ken Baerg, the city’s director of economic development. Construction of a new 26-storey residential complex – Mahogany at Mill Lake – began last year. When completed, the tower will be the tallest structure in the city, and is a prime example of the residential initiatives beginning to take place. It is estimated that the city could see a wave of 60,000 to 70,000 additional people in the next 25 to 30 years. The increasing interest in the area may be due to the lower cost of owning a home here, compared to living in the Greater Vancouver area. The average Vancouverarea home carries an asking price of close to $792,000, while the median price for an
Abbotsford home is about 56 per cent lower, at $424,000, as reported in August 2011. The affordability factor has attracted newcomers and helped increase the number of local homes to 47,000, more than double the amount from just 20 years ago. With residential developments largely accomplished in areas like Sumas Mountain and the western border, the focus is to strengthen the city’s core. When land is available, it’s expensive, therefore developers and homebuyers are interested
in high-density projects. “The number of singlefamily lots available in Abbotsford is finite. Our OCP (Official Community Plan) certainly contemplates densification, which ties into transit and creating commercial and residential nodes that will definitely be the future of the city,” said Baerg. The Mahogany is a prime example. Before the sales office was opened in 2010, one-third of the planned 185 units had already been purchased, even though the building is
JOHN MORROW
Abbotsford News
Multi-family housing in Abbotsford has grown from about one-third of the total housing stock in 1981 to more than 40 per cent by 2006. Construction continues on this development by Quantum Properties at Gladwin Road and Maclure.
not projected to be finished until 2013. The developer will then start on the second phase of the project, which includes another 87 low-rise units on the property. A number of other towers are in the approval process, but are awaiting final consent from surrounding neighbourhoods. Densification is a reflection of Abbotsford’s continuing efforts to live within a smaller footprint. In 1981, multi-family housing made up 30 per cent of housing stock. By 2006 it was 41 per cent. General manager of economic development Jay Teichroeb said legal secondary suites make up approximately 10 per cent of Abbotsford’s urban housing stock. Estimates of unregistered units reported by the city in 2009 ranged from 900 to more than 2,000. The city is dotted with developments that will expand the living room for residents but still preserve the city’s land. In the east, Vicarro Ranch on Sumas Mountain is a planned residential development that will include 1,700 units of townhouses and apartments. Its six clusters of single-family, duplex, townhomes and condominium Continued on P11
Abbotsford News
Love
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
Expanding west From A10
JOHN MORROW
Abbotsford News
Polygon’s recent Westerleigh project is among a wave of development in the west Abbotsford area. The collection of townhomes and apartments is now nearly sold out.
units will be separated by open space and park land, and will encompass 395 acres. The project is one of the largest planned in Abbotsford since the Auguston development created in 1999, and will start construction within the next few years. In the west, Blueridge Drive has had major development around surrounding amenities like Rick Hansen Secondary and the Centre Ice complex. Polygon developers are the masterminds behind the Westerleigh, a selection of townhouses and apartments which went on sale in March and now have only six of 69 left for purchase. Farther west, Pepin Brook Vineyard Estates is another housing initiative, located along the Aldergrove border. By the end of October 2011, the city had processed $36.7 million worth of new residential building permits. In 2010, the city recorded a total of $55.8 million in building permit value.
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The Abbotsford Downtown Business Association Formed in 1989, Abbotsford Downtown Business Association members consist of property owners, merchants and community leaders. The ADBA Board of Directors works to identify the key factors that lead to successful heritage-led urban renewal and to translate these into clear guidelines that preserve history, while realizing the full potential of heritage as a catalyst for the wider regeneration of the Downtown. This rejuvenation has led to an environment in the downtown area which fosters economic growth, prosperity and a sense of community. Through the rejuvenation of Historic Downtown Abbotsford, the community as a whole benefits through:
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Abbotsford News
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YXX was the 19th busiest airport in Canada in 2010 in terms of passenger trafÄ c (463,763), with 101,950 aircraft movements.
WestJet Airlines flies out of Abbotsford Airport, taking its inaugural flight on June 18, 1997.
Provincial accolades The airport has received the William Templeton Trophy by the British Columbia Aviation Council, awarded for outstanding initiative and achievement in the successful development of a community airport facility.
Abbotsford Airport Authority photo
An aircraft taxis out to the runway at Abbotsford International Airport, with the new parallel taxiway seen at the left. A $30-million upgrade project at the airport included the taxiway, expansion of the west apron and renovation of the terminal.
Airborne at YXX The annual Abbotsford International Airshow is the largest event of its kind in Canada.
Military history A b b o t s f o r d ’s a i r p o r t w a s constructed in 1943 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, a joint World War II Åight training program
will be “anIt exciting time for us in the next 18 to 24 months.
”
Dave Holmberg
T
h e A bb o t s fo rd Inter national Airport (YXX) has thrived in the past decade, and now that a $30-million renovation project is complete, it stands ready to take the next step as a major economic generator for the Fraser Valley. Renovations began in May 2010 and included a new 9,600-foot parallel taxiway, expansion of the west apron and various electrical, lighting and surface rehabilitation projects. It also featured a major renovation of the terminal, including an improved departure lounge, security area, guest check-in counters, new washrooms, a new tourist information centre, and new flooring and finishes. It was a joint project, paid for by the federal, provincial and local governments. The improvements open more opportunity for the airport to attract new customers and tenants. “There is no question we are set up well for the future,” said Dave Holmberg, chair of the Abbotsford Airport Authority. “We are working with the city and certainly they are being very cooperative with any efforts that we come up with ... We have the necessary lands, we have anything that anybody who is in the business would want. It will be an exciting time for us in the next 18 to 24 months.”
It is expected that the upgrades will double the airport’s passenger capacity and allow YXX to attract more major aerospace companies and additional commercial air service. The renovations have already received provincial accolades. In October, the airport was given the Wil-
nesses from Surrey, Mission, Chilliwack, Hope and Maple Ridge are all potential customers and word is spreading fast. “People are so overwhelmed with what we have done to the airport, with the terminal building and so on, and the ease of parking and the access ... it’s made a
Abbotsford Airport Authority photo
Renovations at the Abbotsford Airport included an improved departure lounge, security area, and check-in counters. liam Templeton Trophy big difference and they are by the British Columbia talking about it and offering Aviation Council, which referrals.” is awarded annually for Holmberg said the posioutstanding initiative and tive reaction has already achievement in the increased traffic at successful developthe airport, which is ment of a commuup by two per cent so nity airport facility. far in 2011. Holmberg said it Much has changed may be Abbotsford’s in 68 years. airport, but its sucAbbotsford’s aircess is a benefit to port was constructed the entire Fraser in 1943 as part of the Valley. British CommonPeople and busi- HOLMBERG wealth Air Training
Plan, a joint World War II flight training prog ram with the principal partners being the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The No. 24 Elementary Flying Training School in Abbotsford was one of the largest of 100 schools built across Canada at that time. An avera g e of 3,000 trained personnel graduated each month. Following the war, the Royal Canadian Air Force closed its station in Abbotsford, but maintained the facility on a caretaker basis. The air port was closed from 1952 to 1958, until the Department of Transport took over the site. In 1997, ownership of the airport was transferred to the City of Abbotsford for the sum of $10, and YXX became a jet passenger airport when WestJet Airlines took its inaugural flight on June 18 of that year. Today, Abbotsford’s airport is a bustling facility. According to Statistics Canada, YXX was the 19th busiest airport in Canada in 2010 in terms of passenger traffic (463,763), with 101,950 aircraft movements. But it isn’t just about flights. Cascade Aerospace, a company that specializes in aviation maintenance, overhaul, repair and product engineering, operates Continued on P15
Abbotsford News
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
Abbotsford Airport Authority photo
New check-in counters at YXX were part of major renovations.
Aviation training From P14
a 250,000-square-foot facility on the airport property, while Conair Aviation occupies more than 100,000 sq.ft. of hangar space to house its fleet of firefighting water bombers. The airport hosts several flight schools, including Coastal Pacific Aviation and Chinook Helicopters, and issued approximately one-third of the helicopter licences in Canada in 2009. The University of the Fraser Valley is also in the aviation training business, partnering with Coastal Pacifi c on a variety of diploma and degree
programs. The airport is renowned for hosting its annual Abbotsford International Airshow, the largest event of its kind in Canada. “For most of the residents in this community it’s still a little city in the country ... but when people see what we have and see what we can do, they get a little excited about it,” said Holmberg. Q Approximately five per cent of Abbotsford’s aircraft movements in 2010 were passenger jets. The majority of local flights were associated with private aircraft and flight schools.
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Abbotsford News
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
17
Berries are an economic dynamo Billion-dollar business Agriculture in the Abbotsford area generates about $1.8 billion in economic activity, according to a survey conducted by the City of Abbotsford and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture.
The Fraser Valley produced over 40 million pounds of raspberries at one time, most of it in Abbotsford, but that has now dropped to about 20-25 million pounds. Blueberries have taken over.
Berry big The province produces about 6.5 million pounds of strawberries in an average year, worth approximately $13 million. There are about 38 strawberry producers in the Fraser Valley. NEIL CORBETT Abbotsford News
Mike Makara, chairman of the Blueberry Council of B.C., has been a blueberry farmer for 35 years, and has seen the industry boom.
Sweet success Major berry processing facilities are located in Abbotsford, along with berry producer associations.
Fresh fruit About 60 per cent of the local blueberry crop is sold fresh in supermarkets, with much of it exported to the U.S. The remaining 40 per cent is frozen and sold for manufacturing, used in yogurt, jam and other food products.
are “aWe major player. ” Mike Makara
Abbotsford is B.C.’s bread basket. The Fraser Valley produces over 70 per cent of B.C.’s dairy products, berries, vegetables, poultry, eggs, pork, greenhouse vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture and nursery products. Farming is big business in Abbotsford, which is home to some of the most productive farms in Canada, and where more dollars are earned per acre than anywhere else in the country. A 2008 Chamber of
W
hen researchers found that blueberries have strong anti-cancer, anti-aging and heart-health properties, demand for the tasty berries took off, the price rocketed up, and ever since blueberry bushes have continued to sprout in fields across Abbotsford. Blueberries have always been an important crop in the area, but with the assistance of a health food campaign and opportunistic farmers, they have become number one. Mike Makara grew up on a blueberry farm on Matsqui Prairie. He’s been a blueberry farmer for 35 years, and is the chairman of the Blueberry Council of B.C. Makara has watched the industry take off. “Three or four years ago the price went through the roof, and everyone jumped on the bandwagon.” The amount of acreage devoted to blueberries has doubled twice in the past 10 years, and there are now approximately 4,000 acres of blueberries in Abbotsford. Makara said the Fraser Valley produced more than 40 million pounds of raspberries at one time, most of it in Abbotsford, but that has now decreased to about 20-25 million pounds, as blueberries have taken over. B.C. produced 95 million pounds of blueberries last year – the best year ever – and almost all of it came from the Fraser Valley. About 40 million pounds were from Abbotsford
Commerce study pegged that productivity at $7,410 per acre. Farming supports 11,300 jobs – one in four private sector jobs in the city – and generates $1.8 billion in annual economic activity. Abbotsford is also the administrative hub of agriculture. There are 25 different producer associations headquartered in the city, as well as a large Ministry of Agriculture office. farms. About 30 per cent of all blueberries in North America are grown in the Valley. “We are a major player,” said Makara. Still, he expects to see production increase further yet. The past summer’s weather was actually hard on blueberry farmers, and Makara estimates that optimum conditions would have resulted in up to 110 million pounds. As well, many of the plants are not yet mature, and therefore not producing at peak efficiency. It takes blueberry plants about seven years to reach maturity. Some farmers are removing the flowers from their plants, sacrificing harvest this year to promote growth. “Thirty per cent of the acreage is nowhere near maturity,” Makara estimates. “B.C.’s going to continue advancing.” There is plenty of competition from farmers in the U.S., Europe, and particularly Argentina and Chile. Mark Sweeney, berry industry specialist with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, said blueberry producers still face high costs of manual picking, and it’s a labour-intensive business. “The good news about blueberries is that they’re so strongly linked to health benefits. The challenging news is – it’s a very competitive world.” The key to maintaining healthy prices, which have been in the range of $1.40 to $1.50 per pound this year, will be opening Continued on P18
Abbotsford News
18 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
From the field to the market
Berry resource center
File photo
A field worker checks a ripening crop of strawberries. While B.C. produces about 6.5 million pounds of strawberries annually, with 38 producers in Abbotsford, the province is a net importer of the popular berry.
Ideal conditions for berries From A17
new markets – particularly in Asian countries. Sweeney said China in particular is a key market. Chinese blueberry growers were once viewed as challengers to the B.C. industry, but are now seen as an ally as they introduce the fruit to their massive consumer population. “They cannot grow to meet their demand,” said Sweeney. “That’s a real good market for us.” About 60 per cent of the local crop is sold fresh in supermarkets, with much of it exported to the U.S. The remaining 40 per cent is frozen and sold for manufacturing, used in yogurt, jam
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and other food products. Raspberries were the traditional crop of Abbotsford, along with strawberries and some cranberries. Raspberries require the right combination of soils to be their most productive, and ideal conditions are found in Abbotsford, particularly south of Highway 1, where there is sandy soil on top of gravel. Of the 3,500 acres of raspberries in the Fraser Valley, 3,000 are here. Local raspberry farms account for 80 per cent of the supply for North America, generating 20 million pounds in a good year. That would be enough to load about 600 semitrailer trucks. The price has ranged from 45 cents to $1.85
per pound. Meanwhile, B.C. is a net importer of strawberries. The province produces about 6.5 million pounds of strawberries in an average year, worth approximately $13 million. There are about 38 strawberry producers in the Fraser Valley. However, exact numbers are harder to pin down, because most strawberry producers are also growing other crops. Companies such as Lucerne and Berry Hill have their berry processing facilities here, and the raspberry, blueberry and strawberry producers’ associations all run their organizations out of Abbotsford, creating more employment.
A “centre for excellence” is in the works at the University of the Fraser Valley, in the form of a Pacific Berry Resource Centre partnership. This fall, representatives of UFV’s agriculture and technology department signed a memorandum of understanding with a number of partners in the berry industry to move forward with the Pacific Berry Resource Centre. The goal of the centre is to move the berry industry to the leading edge of research and education. UFV is collaborating with the British Columbia Blueberry Council, Raspberry Industry Development Council and the Fraser Valley Strawberry Growers Association to launch the centre. The centre partnership has received $30,000 from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, and approximately $80,000 in “innovations funding “ from the federal Growing Forward program. The Pacific Berry Resource Centre will aim to develop the most environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable industry in North America. Joining forces and creating a network will help researchers at UFV tackle problems associated with topics such as variety development, plant husbandry, postharvest management, and marketing. Major co-operators will be the growers, the processing industry, the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, private consultants, the Pacific Northwest berry groups, and the Sustainable Horticulture Institute in Langley. The centre will be based in both Chilliwack and Abbotsford.
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Abbotsford News
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
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Abbotsford News
20 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
A Healthy, Diverse Economy While agriculture is one of the foundations of our city, Abbotsford has a healthy blend of economic drivers supporting the local economy from manufacturing and logistics to construction and health care. Recently named “Most Business Friendlyâ€? municipality by NAIOP, (National Association for Industrial and OfďŹ ce Properties). Abbotsford has made many strides to ensure that the business sector is well supported for growth and stability for years to come. Abbotsford’s OfďŹ cial Community Plan (OCP) supports and guides development within the City. It ensures Abbotsford continues to support a compact urban area, complete with high density, diverse, distinctive and pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods and a range of housing options along with ample employment opportunities. AGRICULTURE
BUILDING PERMITS
Abbotsford is one of the most intensely and diversely farmed areas in Canada supporting a wide range of crop and livestock enterprises. Abbotsford farms generate more dollars per acre than any other municipality in Canada totalling 21 per cent of all agricultural revenues in the province of British Columbia. In fact, Abbotsford’s output is almost three times higher than the Niagara Region, Canada’s next most productive agricultural area.
Abbotsford has seen a steady increase in the number of building permits issued each year – a clear sign that Abbotsford’s business base is strong, and is continuing to grow. Business development in Abbotsford remained consistent throughout the economic slowdown of the past few years, and investment in our community continues to ourish. Some of the more recent developments in our City include: High Street, Cactus Club, Polygon’s Westerleigh, and the newly opened Sandman Hotel.
Source: Abbotsford Agricultural ProďŹ le, Zbeetnoff Agro-Environmental Consulting and Serecon Management Consultants, 2009.
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It would be difďŹ cult to over-emphasize the economic impact of agriculture in Abbotsford. The local agricultural sector is the economic mainstay of the community, generating gross annual farm receipts of $558 million (est). Recent research has estimated that the indirect and induced expenditures from farming operations in Abbotsford create a further $1.35 billion, adding up to $1.8 billion of agriculturally-related economic activity.
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Source: City of Abbotsford, Planning Services, November 2011. High Street is a 600,000 square foot regional shopping centre located in the Mt. Lehman area, and is currently the largest retail development in BC in more than 30 years. Anchor tenants include a Walmart Super Centre, London Drugs and Cineplex Odeon.
Abbotsford is the largest municipality by area in BC with approximately 74% of the land in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), a provincial designation of land reserved for farming.
Abbotsford News
REAL GDP GROWTH FORECASTED TO BE AMONG TOP IN CANADA
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
U DISTRICT
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can be defined as the total value of goods and services produced by a region in a given year. Real GDP uses “constant dollars” and provides a more accurate look at the rate of economic growth in a region as it is not impacted by inflation. The following chart shows the forecasted growth in Abbotsford’s economy in the coming years and underscores the resilience and innovation that exists within our business community.
The City of Abbotsford is creating a long-term development vision for the area around the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), known as the U District. The U District is a strategic location for the City and supports a vibrant community of UFV students and staff, as well as local residents and businesses, and this vision will support the future growth , economic development, and diversification of UFV and the surrounding area. For further information and updates on the visioning process, visit www.udistrict.ca.
Real GDP growth (per cent) 2011 Forecast - 2014 Forecast
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
Source: Conference Board of Canada, 2009.
The Clearbrook and Peardonville industrial areas are primed and ready for business development. These new areas are an important catalyst for future business and industrial development and have the potential to support an estimated 5,000 jobs. Features include more than 200 acres of strategically located pre-serviced industrial lands with key access and proximity to: • • • • • •
Metro Vancouver (45 minutes away via Hwy #1) two US international border crossings new high-flow traffic interchanges off Hwy #1 the newly upgraded Abbotsford International Airport with connecting flights worldwide CP and Southern railway access BC Interior corridor (3-4 hours) Tra n
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Oshawa ..................................................................3.7 Kitchener ................................................................3.7 Abbotsford....................................................3.2 London ...................................................................3.2 St. Catharines–Niagara ..........................................2.7 Windsor...................................................................2.6 Kingston .................................................................2.6 St. John’s.................................................................2.5 Sherbrooke ............................................................2.5 Greater Sudbury ....................................................2.4 . Saint John ..............................................................2.2 Trois-Rivières .........................................................2.1 Thunder Bay ..........................................................1.9 Saguenay................................................................1.9
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Sustainable economies are characterized by diversity, and while agriculture is without question foundational to Abbotsford’s economy, a deeper look reveals a healthy mix of economic drivers. This diversity helps the community to weather global or sectoral slowdowns and also positions Abbotsford to take advantage of economic opportunities as they arise.
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Peardonville Road Clearbrook Interchange McCallum Interchange
Abbotsford International Airport
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Serving as a great example of agricultural innovation, Mt. Lehman Winery in Abbotsford recently won a BC Lieutenant Governor Award of Excellence for their wine. The local winery was started in 1991 with a 3 acre vineyard, which has now grown to be 16 acres.
Local landowners in both the Peardonville and Clearbrook Industrial Areas voted in resounding favour of an area tax which will provide the funding necessary for the servicing of the land in these zones.
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Abbotsford News
22 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
Message from Abbotsford Council The City of Abbotsford has led the way in growth and development in Western Canada since 1995 and is home to a diverse and vibrant business community. Abbotsford’s robust economy is fuelled primarily by the manufacturing, aerospace and agriculture sectors, all of which continue to exceed industry expectations. City Council is committed to supporting the ongoing development of business in our community. To ensure that agriculture remains a strong and prosperous industry in Abbotsford, an overarching Agriculture Strategy was developed to promote growth over the long-term. The Agriculture Strategy, which is essentially an ‘economic development plan’ for agriculture, aims to enhance the health and viability of the agricultural economy and respond to issues and challenges facing agriculture in Abbotsford. The Abbotsford International Airport just recently completed more than $30 million in infrastructure and terminal improvements. These improvements will now pave the way for the next phase in the airport’s plan to become a major economic generator for the Fraser Valley, British Columbia and western Canada. In support of the airport expansion, a revitalization tax exemption for industrial development at the Abbotsford International Airport was approved. The Revitalization Tax Exemption is one of the few economic stimulus tools available to local governments in BC and by supporting this initiative we are ensuring that our airport continues to be one of the primary economic drivers within the City. These investments, along with our City’s close proximity to Vancouver, affordable real estate, healthy economy and our unique blend of urban amenities and rural comfort continue to make it attractive to young families and working professionals. We invite you to take a close look at Abbotsford and see what our City has to offer. Sincerely, Abbotsford City Council
Abbotsford News
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
Abby dairy farms account for 21% of B.C.’s milk
23
142 million litres The 101 dairy producers in Abbotsford shipped 142 million litres of milk last year.
An average Holstein dairy cow produces 30 litres of milk daily.
Half a billion dollars The province produces about 700 million litres of milk, from some 70,000 cows. The dairy industry is worth $500 million in farm gate sales.
NEIL CORBETT
Abbotsford News
D.R. Vaandrager’s family has been farming in Abbotsford for 54 years. His farm is among the most efficient dairy operations in the Valley.
Country business D
airy farming is big business in Abbotsford. The 101 producers in the city shipped 142 million litres of milk last year, which is more than 21 per cent of the total production in the province. But it also represents small family enterprise. Dutch immigrants were the key players in the industry, and that continues to this day. D.R. Vaandrager’s family has been farming here for 54 years. His grandfather, Daniel, wanted to farm, but the eldest brother inherited the family farm in Holland, so his best opportunity was to come to Canada. He established an Abbotsford farm that is providing for generations of his family. Almost four years ago, D.R. modernized. He put up a bright, airy, 20,000-sq.ft. barn. “We took down eight old barns and lean-tos that were here,” he recalls. He priced a new milking parlour, and decided robotic milking would be less expensive. With the state-of-the-art system, the cows head into the milker when they feel ready. The motivation is a serving of grain. The laser-guided robot cleans their teats with brushes, clamps on, and milks them, while analyzing the milk for contaminants. “It’ll even phone me if there’s a problem, and tell me what the problem is,” he said. Advances in this technology have seen the equipment appearing in more barns in the Fraser Valley. This is a prime place for them to be. The province produces approximately 700 million litres of milk, from some 70,000 cows. The dairy industry is worth $500 million in farm gate sales. Seventy-three per cent of the dairy production for B.C. comes from the Fraser Valley, which has 362 farmers producing 478 million litres of milk. Lely is the Dutch company that sold him the robotic milker. But they couldn’t initially sell him a robotic feed pusher – which pushes food back in front of cows as they spread it out of their reach. He didn’t think he could justify the cost for such a mundane task. Using his barn for milker demonstrations, Lely set up the feed robot for a month for potential customers to view. The cows were curious, but the robot has a sensor to stop it before it runs into anything, and will even give the cows a slight shock if their persistent curiosity keeps the ’bot from doing its job. Every hour it drives down the left side of the aisle in the barn, spinning and pushing hay back in front of the cows street-sweeper style. It moves back up the other side of the
aisle, then scoots outside to do the second barn. Soon Vaandrager noticed his cows on their feet more, and eating more. More feeding means more milk. So now he has a dairy farmer’s version of Star Wars’ R2D2. Combined with the robotic milker, which lets the animals eat and milk at their own pace, his production is up about 20 per cent. He fills his milk quota with 100 cows. The typical family farm in Abbotsford keeps 130 to 140. Canadian dairy farmers operate on a supply management system, and each farmer has a designated quota they can produce. How much they spend to fill the quota defines profit margins. “I’m driven a lot more by efficiency and performance than I am by size (of herd),” he said. His farm turns out 3,600 litres per day. Most Holsteins produce an average of 30 litres of milk per day, but that can vary depending on the age of the animal, nutrition and other factors. About ninety per cent of the dairy cattle in Canada are Holsteins, because of their food conversion ratio – their ability to turn food into milk. Technology is rapidly changing the dairy business. “The efficiency now – there’s no comparison,” he said. Abbotsford is home to a unique farm that is an example of innovation and advancement in the dairy industry. The Bakerview EcoDairy is the first demonstration farm of its kind in Canada, designed to showcase for consumers progressive and sustainable dairy practices while inviting them to share in the experience in a fun and educational way. Operated by the Nutriva Group, the EcoDairy offers an interactive learning centre and theatre, and an animal exhibit where visitors can get up close and personal with a variety of farm animals. They can visit the Vitala cows and see a robotic milker at work. The Vitala cows produce milk that has been enriched with Omega-3, a fatty acid which is considered to be important in human health. There are even mattresses for the cows – illustrating the belief that happier cows are more productive animals. And there are innovations such as the anaerobic digester – which uses the cow manure produced on the farm to create electricity – and a collection and storage system for rain water. The farm is located at 1356 Sumas Way. – Statistics provided by the BC Milk Marketing Board.
One Abbotsford dairy farm turns out 3,600 litres of milk daily, with the aid of automated milking machines.
Leading suppliers Seventy-three per cent of the dairy production for B.C. comes from the Fraser Valley, which has 362 farmers producing 478 million litres of milk.
Some dairy farms are now using robotic feed-pushers, which sweep food back to the cows as they eat.
I’m driven a lot “more by efficiency and performance than I am by size. The efficiency now – there’s no comparison.
”
D.R. Vaandrager
Abbotsford News
24 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
A third of B.C. poultry industry in Abbotsford Top producers There are 272 poultry farms in the Fraser Valley, each producing about 110,000 kilograms of meat every two months. Abbotsford’s poultry business makes up 42 per cent of the agricultural job market, providing 728 jobs out of 1,739 overall.
JOHN MORROW
Abbotsford News
Golden Valley employee Resham Singh uses a special lift to move eggs in the Abbotsford plant, which grades and sells more than 44 million dozen eggs per year. Abbotsford is home to a major portion of the poultry producers in the Fraser Valley.
Poultry power
T
he poultry industry has grown exponentially in the last 70 years, since its humble beginnings by Mennonite immigrants in the 1940s. The chicken, turkey and egg business is a major component of agricultural economic activity in Abbotsford, accounting for approximately 35 per cent of the gross market, generating $247 million annually. The industry includes hatcheries, egg producers, poultry farms, processing plants, and graders. Among those divisions, Abbotsford’s production and processing numbers reflect the city’s substantial role in the poultry business. Government statistics indicate the Fraser Valley produces 87 per cent of broilers (chicken meat) in the province, 98 per cent of the turkeys, 100 per cent of the broiler breeders (hatching eggs) and 79 per cent of the eggs. Abbotsford accounts for about 50 per cent of those numbers, with 44 per cent of the broilers, 53 per cent of turkeys, and 53 per cent of eggs being produced here. It’s the city’s central location that makes it so well suited to this agricultural sector. “When you’ve got a product, the less distance the better – for production to getting seed and chick and then to the processing plant,” said Katie Lowe, operations co-ordinator for the BC Chicken Marketing Board. The processing stage of those products forms the bulk of Abbotsford’s poultry revenue.
About 80 per cent of B.C.’s registered egg producers are located in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
Millions of eggs
According to a report conducted by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture in 2008, the processing business employs approximately 440 FTEs (full-time employees), and generates close to $193 million a year. There are 272 poultry farms in the Fraser Valley, each producing about 110,000 kilograms of meat every two months. Each year, more than two million fresh and frozen turkeys are packaged at the Lilydale turkey plant on Marshall Road in west Abbotsford. The facility also processes chicken, along with Sun West Food Processors. About 80 per cent of B.C.’s registered egg producers are located in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, and collectively produce close to 52 million dozen eggs per year, which are then sent to three separate grading stations – Frontier Farms Ltd., Golden Valley Foods Ltd. and Pinegrove Farms Ltd. The largest of the three, Golden Valley Foods, grades more than 44 million dozen eggs per year. The facility sells those eggs – including free-range, free-run, omegaenhanced, organic and regular – to major retailers and wholesale restaurant suppliers within the province. Frank Curtis, plant manager of Golden Valley Foods, estimates that between 60 to 70 per cent of those eggs stay within the Fraser Valley. Continued on P25
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Fraser Valley farms produce close to 52 million dozen eggs per year, which supply major retailers and restaurant suppliers throughout B.C. and abroad.
Abbotsford is home to seven of the 10 hatcheries in the province.
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Rossdown Farms and Natural Foods, based on Bradner Road, is among the largest turkey producers in the Fraser Valley, which accounts for 98 per cent of the turkeys in the province. Abbotsford contributes about half of the total.
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Abbotsford is also home to seven of the 10 hatcheries in the province, including Pacific Pride Chicks and Western Hatchery. The birds raised in Abbotsford are among the best in food conversion rates – the amount that a bird is fed compared to how much meat it produces – in all of North America. The poultry hatcheries and supply
business adds approximately $54 million to gross revenue per year, and staffs nearly 288 FTEs. Companies that provide services such as hauling, cleaning and disinfecting are another significant part of the industry. In total, Abbotsford’s poultry business makes up 42 per cent of the agricultural job market, providing 728 jobs out of 1,739 overall.
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26 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011 |
Farming livestock has changed, but shipping and feeding stay strong
Staying in stock I
n the early 1900s, beef and dairy cattle production were common in the Fraser Valley. Ample land, rich soil and the new addition of the Canadian Pacific Railway made it easy for farmers to transport their livestock to markets across the country. While the dairy sector has continued to thrive, the number of farmers raising cattle has decreased significantly. The decline can be seen across the province, with a 29 per cent decrease in cattle on farms in British Columbia, from 915,000 to 650,000 since 2005. Beef production has slowed due to multiple factors, including low and fluctuating market prices, the rise in the Canadian dollar versus the U.S., incidents of mad cow disease and rising feed prices. The Fraser Valley is more conducive to horticulture commodity groups, while beef producers are better to relocate to areas with lower land prices and greater range land for cattle. Nonetheless, in the last year, a key local stockyard had 27,000 head of cattle come through its holding lot off Sumas Way near the border. Jono Rushton, who runs McClary Stockyards along with brother Dave and mother Sheila, says that 80 per cent of their direct export cattle are sourced from outside the Fraser Valley, from areas such as Alberta and northern
MELISSA WELSH
Abbotsford News
Jono Rushton of McClary Stockyards helps run an important local hub for the livestock industry. parts of British Columbia. The stockyard is key to the livestock hauling industry, trading and exporting livestock since it started operation 60 years ago. The facility is the largest of its kind within the surrounding area. Beef sales form the core of the business’s revenue. The cattle are auctioned weekly to buyers in B.C., Alberta and the U.S. Roughly 90 per cent of mature cattle is exported across the border, with most young stock
going to Alberta. Dairy cows are largely traded within the area, with 90 per cent of dairy replacement from the Fraser Valley. While the number of dairy farms in the area has declined in the last 25 years, the Fraser Valley supplies more milk to the province now, given larger herds at existing establishments. The 2001 Agricultural Census detailed the Fraser Valley as having the highest number of large farms with 146 (300 or more animals), up 88 from 1991 – the
largest increase in the 1991-2001 period. The Fraser Valley was also listed as having the highest concentration of very large farms, with 30 for every 100 square kilometres of farmland. Supplying those farms and poultry producers with quality feed is a multimillion dollar industry. The feed business is estimated to be worth anywhere between $250 million and $350 million. One of the largest local supplier is Abbotsford’s Ritchie Smith Feeds, which has been serving the area for more than 40 years. In 1997 it became the first local feed company to have two mills on one site. A second mill was constructed to ensure isolation of ruminant (cattle) and nonruminant bulk feeds. Raw material to create the feed is brought in from the Prairies by truck and rail. The equivalent of 75 to 80 rail cars roll in weekly. Clearbrook Grain and Milling is another long-time local feed company supplying local farms, along with Otter Co-op and others. Organic feed companies are also becoming more in demand, carving out a niche in the Fraser Valley. Feed companies have to follow strict provincial guidelines when creating product to ensure quality and animal health.
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Pork production
In 2010, hogs were ranked 19th on the list of B.C.’s top 25 commodities. In previous years, that ranking might have been closer to the top, with the market for pork peaking around 25 years ago. The industry has since declined to 24 licensed producers within B.C., whereas a year and a half ago, there were 32. Within the Fraser Valley, there are 18 registered hog farmers. Tom Droppo, a dairy
and pork specialist with Abbotsford’s Ministry of Agriculture, said production has slowed due to market conditions, citing fluctuating profits in addition to soft sale prices and high feed costs. But the hog market still generates a substantial amount for the Fraser Valley and B.C.’s agricultural economic activity. Hogs generated just over $30 million in revenue in B.C. in 2010. Government statistics
indicate that nearly 80 per cent of market hogs are produced in the Fraser Valley, with the remainder produced in the North Okanagan (15 per cent), on Vancouver Island and the Peace River area. Within the Fraser Valley, hog production was valued at close to $24 million in 2010. Even with the slight decline over the years, the Fraser Valley will continue to raise a variety of pork products.
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28 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
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Rich harvest ranges from broccoli to bulbs
Field crops a thriving sector Crop production has emerged as a competitive and successful sector in Abbotford’s agriculture economy. The city has one of the mildest climates in the country, which is characterized by the longest frost-free period and growing season, intense summer sunshine, and temperatures to support a wide range of crops. With its productive soils, the area has the capability to produce well over 200 different types of field crops. The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in Abbotsford consists of 27,700 hectares, which makes up approximately 74 per cent of the municipal land base. The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture estimates that field vegetables and flowers account for about seven per cent of the city’s primary land use. Local consumption of produce is increasing, although most of the demand is located regionally in Metro Vancouver. While berries remain the dominant crop in Abbotsford, the city is also producing significant quantities of cole vegetables such as broccoli, brussels sprouts and cauliflower. Corn is also grown throughout the area, but used mostly for silage. Yellow Barn Country Produce located at No. 3 Road between Abbotsford and Chilliwack is one of two parsnips producers in the Lower Mainland.
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Abbotsford News
Greenhouses produce a significant amount of the area’s peppers and cucumbers. The region’s largest potato producer is Heppell’s Potato Corp, which plants 650 acres of potatoes on Sumas Prairie. Greenhouse operations typically engage about 25 per cent of their land base for the production of field crops, according to a recent study conducted by the City of Abbotsford and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture. Large-scale growers like Mt. Lehman Greenhouses produce a significant amount of peppers and cucumbers, while
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smaller operations cater to flowers. Mark Robbins, the ministry’s regional agrologist, said many of these flowers are sold at a growers’ auction in Burnaby. Abbotsford, and Bradner in particular, are also home to large bulb-growing enterprises, including the Van Noort Bulb Company and Flora Farms. One estimate last year pegs Abbotsford’s daffodils alone as being worth an estimated $3.5 million annually, and the overall bulb industry at $6.5 million.
Van Belle Nursery is a wholesale business that grows more than 500 varieties of shrubs, vines, evergreens, broadleaves and perennials on 80 acres in Abbotsford. The company shipped more than three million plants throughout North America in the last year and currently employs about 100 people. Abbotsford has also developed a natural/organic sector, which includes the production of everything from field vegetables and cut flowers to fruit and herbs. The city’s most recent count shows about 30 farms producing organic fruits, vegetables and greenhouse crops in the area. The Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture in 2006 revealed what a prominent crop producer Abbotsford is on the provincial scene. Local farmers have 448 hectares of sweet corn, which is 32 per cent of the crop in the province. Similarly, producers have 65 per cent of the brussels sprouts (179 ha), 40 per cent of the green peas (294 ha), 35 per cent of the peppers (45 ha) and 26 per cent of the cucumbers (32 ha). Abbotsford producers have 106,000 square metres of mushrooms in production, which is 47 per cent of the province’s crop, and greenhouse products amount to 704,000 square metres, which is 13 per cent of the province’s 5.3 million.
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Prime location driving factor in attracting business
Modern, diverse industrial base W
hile the chief industry that Department of National Defence exercised its drives Abbotsford’s economy option to have Cascade continue service supis agriculture, the industrial port until 2016. Cascade also has contracts sector of the economy is grow- with world-leading Canadian aerospace maning at a rapid pace. ufacturers such as Bombardier and CAE Inc. The value of building permits the city has and with operators such as WestJet, First Air issued for industries is up through October and Lynden Air Cargo. 2011, to $11.9 million. That compares to $8.2 Chinook Helicopters has offered flight trainmillion through the same period in 2010, and ing at the airport since 1982, and in September $4.7 million in 2009. 2009 underwent a major expansion “Abbotsford remains a place of with a move to a 15,000-sq.ft. training optimism for business,” said Jay Teifacility. chroeb, general manager of economic On the natural resource front, development and planning services. Abbotsford’s geology, with some of Industries are attracted to Abbotsthe best sand and gravel deposits in ford because it sits in a prime locathe Lower Mainland, makes it a prime tion for continued industrial growth, area for gravel extraction. thanks to close proximity to key transBrad Kohl, vice-president of portation infrastructure, including the TEICHROEB Lafarge’s Vancouver Aggregate, says Abbotsford International Airport, the the gravel industry in its entirety U.S. border crossings and new improve(which includes other companies such ments to two major Highway 1 interchanges. as Fraser Valley Aggregate, Mainland Gravel, The airport is an obvious hotbed for indus- and Pan Pacific Aggregates) is worth about try and technology, home to companies such $45 million per year. He also noted there is an as Cascade Aerospace. The specialty aero- estimated one to six ratio of spin-off jobs from space and defence contractor won a contract gravel including mechanics, fuel sales, etc. with Lockheed Martin to support Canada’s “You have to remember that gravel is the incoming fleet of CC-130J Super Hercules foundation for almost everything we build, tactical lift aircraft. Awarded in March 2010, whether it’s concrete or asphalt, everything.” that contract was worth $27 million for the Transportation is also big business in first five years of a 20-year contract. Abbotsford. Cascade already had the Optimized WeapVedder Transport is a trucking firm which ons Systems Management contract for fleet has grown from one cannery truck in 1956 to management of Canada’s legacy fleet of an operation that covers Western Canada, with 32 C130 Hercules aircraft. It received that 300 tractors, 800 trailers and a quarter-million contract in 2005, but in November 2010 the Continued on P32
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Abbotsford News
32 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
Providing land for industry to grow From A31
square feet of warehouse space. Abbotsford’s industrial factories and manufacturing plants are concentrated in several areas. The Riverside industrial area is located between Sumas Way and Riverside Road, and runs northward from the Canada/U.S. border to Highway 1. Two railway lines are located within this industrial area, making it well suited for industries requiring rail access and shipment of goods to and from trucks and railcars. In total, these lands comprise approximately 190 hectares (470 acres). The McCallum industrial area is also suitable for industries requiring rail service. This area offers access to the AbbotsfordMission Highway and the Southern Railway of B.C. The Clearbrook industrial area consists of two separate areas located south of Highway 1. The smaller site is adjacent to the Clearbrook Road interchange on Highway 1. A limited number of parcels remain undeveloped. Industrial sites at the Abbotsford International Airport can be leased for aviationrelated uses. To meet the need for more space, the city is developing a new industrial park. The area west of Clearbrook Road and north of King is currently privately-owned agricultural land. The area consists of 43 hectares. The area could carry up to a million square feet of new industrial floor space, create between 2,000 and 2,500 new jobs, and provide a boost to city coffers, creating about $6 million in industrial taxation each year, helping to lessen the burden on residential taxpayers.
Abbotsford also has its share of players in the technology sector. Examples include Domain 7, a social media and marketing company that hosts and designs websites for companies. Shawn Neumann started the company as a home-based business in 1996, and now it has offices in Abbotsford, Vancouver and Washington, D.C. Neumann has received business awards and accolades, and has done business with MTV, Kon-Tiki Travel, Envision Financial and the YMCA. “They’re on the front edge of some new technologies and they’re growing and serving a very broad audience,” said Teichroeb. Neova Technologies is a local company that grew out of John “Hugh” Wiebe’s egg processing business some 30 years ago, and it has become a leader in the development of “biologically active products that contribute to health and well being.” The company also markets pancreatic enzymes extracted from pork pancreas – trypsin is used in the creation of infant formula in the U.S. and Europe. Unique in Canada, Neova employs about 50 people, including 10 chemists and biologists in research and development. Bill Henderson is a Robert Bateman secondary technology teacher who started Offload Studios three years ago. That technology company uses 3D printers that can take a three-dimensional digital image, and output a solid figure made from a plaster of paris-type compound. His clients are primarily in the video game and motion picture industry, and he has worked with the likes of Disney, Sony and WowWee Toys.
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Gravel and aggregate extraction is a multi-million-dollar industry in Abbotsford, with large quarries located on Sumas Mountain.
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Abbotsford News
34 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
University of the Fraser Valley brings major economic impact
A national reputation A
bbotsford is a university city. While the University of the Fraser Valley has had a presence in the community for more than 35 years since its community college days, and has offered degree programs since 1992, it’s only in the past three years that it has officially been a university. With that status comes an enhanced image for the city. Professionals thinking about where to settle and businesses looking to relocate are drawn to places that can offer the benefits a university can provide. These include a locally educated workforce, ongoing educational opportunities for employees and their families, and the enhanced cultural opportunities that a university brings to a community. UFV annually brings guest speakers, athletic events, forums, workshops, and other special events to the city, and UFV administrators, faculty, students, and alumni work closely with a variety of corporate and public service partners to build and maintain a close relationship with the community. And UFV is gaining a national reputation for excellence in undergraduate education. In the Globe and Mail’s 2012 Canadian University Report, UFV earned A-level grades in class size, quality of teaching and learning, student-faculty interaction, and instructors’ teaching style.
The University of the Fraser Valley generates an estimated overall economic impact on the Fraser Valley of half a billion dollars annually. UFV, along with the University of Northern British Columbia, earned the most A-level grades of any public university of any size in B.C. UFV placed first in B.C. in the categories of quality of teaching and learning, instructors’ teaching style, and academic counselling. And UFV can count itself as among Canada’s best public universities, placing in the top 10 in terms of number of A-level grades out of more than 60 universities rated in this year’s survey. There are also direct economic benefits to having a university in Abbotsford.
A workforce of 1,500 employees, many of whom live and shop locally, means a boost to the real estate and retail sectors. UFV’s annual operating budget for 2011/12 is approximately $100 million. That’s a lot of funding coming into the local economy in the form of wages, supply procurement, and other contracts. Add to that nearly 16,000 students, many of whom are staying home instead of leaving town for university, and others who are drawn to the community for their education. Approximately 800 international stu-
dents study at UFV annually, from more than 50 countries around the world. They provide an additional boost to the local economy and a connection to the global one. Each spend an average of $40,000 a year when they are here – that’s a $30 million boost to Abbotsford’s economy from UFV’s international students alone. All told, 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 1,800 of them every year – hit the employment market, they have an additional impact on the local economy. UFV is now working with the City of Abbotsford to create a university district surrounding the Abbotsford campus. This would encourage the development of university-friendly activities, such as student residences, technology-based businesses, recreation facilities, services and retail outlets in the surrounding area. The placement of the Abbotsford Sports and Entertainment Centre and adjacent entertainment and restaurant facilities is the beginning of the transformation of this former industrial area. Another development is UFV’s new Clearbrook Centre. UFV has leased the bottom floor of the Clearbrook Library building in Abbotsford’s civic square where it will base its Continuing Studies and Applied Business Technology courses and programs.
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State-of-the-art regional hospital serves 150,000 residents
Health care leader A
growing, vibrant community requires a state-of-the-art health-care facility that can keep up with the demand. The Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre (ARHCC) is such a place, serving 150,000 residents in the immediate area and a regional population of 330,000. The 300-bed facility opened just over three years ago on Marshall Road, replacing the 55-year-old MSA Hospital and becoming the first integrated hospital and cancer centre in Canada. At about 660,000 square feet, ARHCC includes MRI services, general surgery, nuclear medicine, renal dialysis, specialized obstetrics and a special care nursery area, pediatric services and other specialized services. The Abbotsford Cancer Centre is the fifth of BC Cancer Agency’s cancer centres and 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 is the first acute-care hospital and cancer centre to be built in B.C. using a public-private partnership model, at a cost of $355 million for construction and equipment and with an annual budget of $171 million. The hospital is owned and operated by Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre Inc., which is jointly owned by
Fraser Health and the BC Cancer Agency – including the emergency program with the an agency of the Provincial Health Services introduction of expanded trauma services, Authority – with facility management pro- and the critical care programs with the vided by Access Health Abbotsford Ltd. introduction of renal replacement therapy Program expansion includes housing treatments for the critically ill and 24/7 the Abbotsford Youth Health Clinic, the intensivists (specialized ICU physicians). Psychiatric Outpatient Day “The expanding role of ARH will Care program, and a promake it one of the three largvincial pilot program est centres of care delivery supporting stroke in Fraser Health, next patients in the to Royal Columbian START (Stroke Hospital and Surrey Assessment, Memorial HospiRehabilitatal,” said Fraser tion and Health site direcTransitor Mark Goudst i o n s ) blom. clinic. Abbotsford A l s o residents and included is hospital staff an expanare fortunate to sion of the have access to the seniors’ latest in health clinic and, care technology. most recently, When the hospital the addition was built, 11,000 new of the Breast pieces of equipment Health Clinic that were added, including opened its doors magnetic resonance imagin June 2011 and has ing (MRI), two computed already seen more tomography (CT) scanthan 800 patients. ners that were better The Abbotsford Regional Hospital and In addition, clinand faster than earlier Cancer Centre is one of the three ical programs are models, and updated largest centres of care delivery in the Valley. also expanding, computer technology
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to enable more efficient access to patient records. The new hospital has also benefited the community from an employment standpoint, including 400 additional nursing jobs and 400 extra support positions. In total, about 1,800 people are employed at the hospital and 120 at the cancer centre. This is in addition to about 300 employees with private partners including Sodexo, Johnson Controls Inc., Intercon and Impark. The hospital and cancer centre is not the only health care facility making an economic impact in the community. Abbotsford’s new Campus of Care – to be located on Marshall Road adjacent to the hospital – begins construction this year. The project consists of three buildings – each offering separate, but related, services – on city-owned land, which is being leased for 99 years at an annual cost of $10. Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, already operating in Vancouver, will be the first of the three projects. The 20,000-sq.ft., $10-million facility will operate 10 beds for children under the age of 19 who have life-threatening illnesses. The Abbotsford Hospice Society will build a 20,000-sq.ft. resource centre and adult hospice and is currently in the midst of a threeyear, $7-million fundraising campaign. At 4,000 sq.ft, Matthew’s House will require an initial $2 million in funds. The agency will provide respite care for children with severe disabilities.
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36 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
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The Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League are the focal point of the city’s high-action sports scene.
Top calibre teams, from pro to school
Sports action
Abbotsford’s sports scene is second to none among Canadian cities its size. Just 10 cities in the nation can boast a professional hockey team, and Abbotsford is one of them. In the fall of 2009/10, the Abbotsford Heat began play in the American Hockey League, which serves as the primary developmental league for the NHL. The Heat play out of the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, a new rink on King Road that seats 7,000 fans for hockey. The AESC, which opened in the spring of 2009, has hosted a variety of sporting events including the Harlem Globetrotters, motocross, monster trucks, and pre-Olympic hockey games. The AESC is the newest and largest among numerous local sports facilities. Exhibition Park is a 23,000-square-foot recreational area which features the 4,000-seat Rotary Stadium, along with facilities for baseball, football, soccer, rugby, rodeo, cricket and BMX. Rotary Stadium has hosted an abundance of major sporting events, including the B.C. Lions training camp, several national track and field championships, the B.C. Summer Games, and the Abbotsford Rugby Sevens festival. Other key city-operated facilities include MSA Arena, a 900-seat ice rink that hosts the Abbotsford Pilots junior B hockey team; 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. Abbotsford boasts a vibrant university sports scene. The University of the
Fraser Valley’s basketball and soccer teams have been competing in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), the nation’s top post-secondary sports league, since 2006. UFV’s volleyball and golf teams compete in the PACWest collegiate league, while Columbia Bible College provides a crosstown rivalry in volleyball. The CBC Bearcats also have a PACWest basketball program. On the high school scene, Abbotsford is home to perennial powerhouse programs in nearly every sport, including basketball, football, volleyball, wrestling, rugby, and track and field. In 2010/11, the W.J. Mouat girls basketball team and the Rick Hansen boys wrestling team won provincial championships. Ledgeview Golf and Country Club has proven to be fertile soil for golf luminaries, sending forth the likes of former PGA Tour pro Ray Stewart; 2005 NCAA champ James Lepp; Nick Taylor, the world’s No. 1-ranked amateur in 2009; and Adam Hadwin, Canada’s top-ranked male golfer who has been a contender at several PGA Tour events. Among Abbotsford’s elite sports clubs, the Valley Royals track and field program, Magnuson Ford Mariners FC, Matsqui Blades speed skating club and Twisters Gymnastics have all sent athletes to the Olympic Games over the past five years. Other high-calibre associations train athletes in hockey, rugby, baseball, fastpitch, swimming, football, water ski, rope skipping, figure skating, judo, cheerleading and lacrosse – to name a few.
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Abbotsford News
A colourful and diverse community Ethnic mix Abbotsford is home to 58 different ethnic and cultural groups, with one of the largest South Asian populations in the province. Forty-two per cent of Abbotsford’s immigrant population is of South Asian descent.
The Fraser Valley Ukrainian Cultural Society holds an annual New Year’s Eve celebration – just one of many ethnic events in the city.
Young community With a median age of 36.6 years, Abbotsford is one of the youngest and most family-oriented communities in the Lower Mainland.
The 20,000-sq.ft. Reach Gallery Museum is the newest addition to Abbotsford’s art-related facilities.
Fifth in Canada Abbotsford/Mission will have the fifth largest percentage of foreign-born residents in Canada by 2031.
File photo
The flamboyant, famous rock band KISS was among top acts to perform in the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre in 2011.
Concerts and culture T
wenty years ago, the idea that Abbotsford could Calvin Dyck’s popular Songs Strings and Steps concert series host big-name country stars like Reba McEntire or combines music and the visual arts in an annual showcase of rock legends KISS would seem next to impossible. local talent. Today, the impossible has become reality. Meanwhile, the MSA Museum Society/Trethewey House The Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, located on keeps Abbotsford’s rich history and culture alive. King Road, has hosted those stars and others. Capable of seatAbbotsford’s diverse cultural makeup also offers festivals ing up to 8,500 for concerts, almost any show business name and events for all. can be attracted. Since opening in 2009, the venue has hosted One of the biggest is the annual Abbyfest – Abbotsford Multhe Tragically Hip, Burton Cummings and ticultural Festival. Created three years ago Randy Bachman, as well as family-oriented by Musleh Hakki, the festival celebrates shows such as the Harlem Globetrotters, all cultures that make up the community Sesame Street Live and recently, Disney on and features entertainers, ethnic foods and Ice. information booths. Abbotsford doesn’t just host stars, it The fifth annual Abbyfest is scheduled has plenty of its own. Known for producfor Sept. 15, 2012. ing a crop of top-10 finalists on the televiThe annual Sikh parade takes to Abbotssion program Canadian Idol, Abbotsford ford’s streets during the first week of Sepabounds with talent. tember as thousands of people participate Charlene Hart performed on So You in the day-long celebration. Think You Can Dance, and did the city Diwali, also known as the festival of proud by finishing in the top 10. lights, is a five-day festival in Hinduism, Country singer Stacey McKitrick Sikhism and Jainism, occurring between released her first album this year and was mid-October and mid-November. nominated as best new performer at the The Fraser Valley Ukrainian Cultural Canadian Country Music Awards. Society hosts an annual New Year’s Eve Abbotsford also has another top-flight dinner and dance to celebrate the Ukraiartistic facility. The Reach Gallery Museum nian New Year in mid-January. Abbotsford opened its doors in the fall of According to statistics gathered in the 2008. Located on Veterans Way, the Reach is last census (2006), Abbotsford is home to 58 a 20,000-sq.ft. building containing an exhidifferent ethnic and cultural groups, with bition hall, archives, two multi-purpose one of the largest South Asian populations studios, two community exhibition spaces, in the province. art collection storage and museum artifact Forty-two per cent of Abbotsford’s File photo immigrant population is of South Asian collection storage. And it isn’t alone. The Abbotsford Multicultural Festival fea- descent. For years, Kariton Gallery was the main tures a wide variety of ethnic performances. A study, called Projections of the Diveroutlet for artistic expression. The Ware sity of the Canadian Population, compares Street gallery is operated by the Abbots2006 statistics with projections for 2031. It ford Arts Council and hosts as many as a dozen shows a year. found the number of foreign-born residents in the Abbotsford/ Other local venues include the Abbotsford Arts Centre and Mission area will rise from 24 per cent in 2006 to 29 per cent in the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, which has showcased 2031. community theatre and concerts for years. Both stats are higher than the Canadian average of 20 and 26 Fraser Valley Stage, a non-profit theatre group with a mem- per cent respectively. bership of about 65 performers, has been presenting musical That will give Abbotsford/Mission the fifth largest pertheatre for almost four decades. centage of foreign-born residents in Canada, by 2031, behind Another local theatrical group, Gallery 7 Theatre, presents Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary. its shows at the MEI Secondary school. And with a median age of 36.6 years, Abbotsford is one of the The Valley Concert Society brings classical music to life with youngest and most family-oriented communities in the Lower a series of shows at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. Violinist Mainland.
Abbotsford News
November 2011 | ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION
Achieving success is a challenge. Recognizing it is a pleasure. Congratulations!
KPMG is pleased to announce the appointments of Tim Holloway, CA and David Guthrie, CA to Partner in our Fraser Valley practice. These individuals have displayed talent, dedication, and a commitment to excellence – qualities important to us and to the clients we serve. Please join us in congratulating Tim and David. For more information on how KPMG’s professionals can assist your business, contact us at 604-854-2200. kpmg.ca Fraser Valley Partners (l-r): Tim Holloway, CA; Steven Araki, CA; Rudy Paxian, CA; Kurt Bausenhaus, CA; Gordon L. Holloway, FCA; David Guthrie, CA; Sean Reid, CA; Scott Wyper, CA © 2011 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.
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40 ABBOTSFORD IN ACTION | November 2011
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