Shape the Regional Growth Strategy

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What We Heard

From August 3rd to October 8th 2021, the FVRD heard from almost 400 residents, employees, business owners, and visitors as part of the public engagement for Phase 2 of the Regional Growth Strategy update, Fraser Valley Future 2050. Check out the public engagement results in this report.

Engagement for this project on Have Your Say has now concluded. However, additional comments, feedback, or ideas related to the draft RGS can be sent by email to stratplan@fvrd.ca


About the Project

The Fraser Valley is growing fast and we need an updated strategy that works for everyone. The FVRD is updating its Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) to reflect new legislation, growing relationships with Indigenous communities, and new challenges facing the region.

Fraser Valley Future 2050 is a high-level policy plan to help guide long-term growth in the region. It covers a wide range of topics, all of which are interconnected, and considers transit, housing, parks, and natural areas, economic development, and environmental issues from a regional perspective.

Regional districts use monitoring programs as part of RGS implementation. The 2023 RGS Monitoring Report provides important information and context through the evaluation of over thirty indicators based on RGS goals and policies.


What’s Next?

Staff will be sharing the updated draft RGS with the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC - senior staff from local governments, the Province, other agencies, and Indigenous community/agency representatives) in the new year, re-engaging Indigenous communities and agencies, and meeting with affected local governments to seek informal agreement on accepting the RGS. Work on the RGS is nearing conclusion and it is expected to be formally adopted in 2023, pending acceptance from affected local governments.


Want to Learn More?


Do you have comments, feedback, or ideas related to the draft RGS? We would love to hear them. Send us an email at stratplan@fvrd.ca.

What We Heard

From August 3rd to October 8th 2021, the FVRD heard from almost 400 residents, employees, business owners, and visitors as part of the public engagement for Phase 2 of the Regional Growth Strategy update, Fraser Valley Future 2050. Check out the public engagement results in this report.

Engagement for this project on Have Your Say has now concluded. However, additional comments, feedback, or ideas related to the draft RGS can be sent by email to stratplan@fvrd.ca


About the Project

The Fraser Valley is growing fast and we need an updated strategy that works for everyone. The FVRD is updating its Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) to reflect new legislation, growing relationships with Indigenous communities, and new challenges facing the region.

Fraser Valley Future 2050 is a high-level policy plan to help guide long-term growth in the region. It covers a wide range of topics, all of which are interconnected, and considers transit, housing, parks, and natural areas, economic development, and environmental issues from a regional perspective.

Regional districts use monitoring programs as part of RGS implementation. The 2023 RGS Monitoring Report provides important information and context through the evaluation of over thirty indicators based on RGS goals and policies.


What’s Next?

Staff will be sharing the updated draft RGS with the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC - senior staff from local governments, the Province, other agencies, and Indigenous community/agency representatives) in the new year, re-engaging Indigenous communities and agencies, and meeting with affected local governments to seek informal agreement on accepting the RGS. Work on the RGS is nearing conclusion and it is expected to be formally adopted in 2023, pending acceptance from affected local governments.


Want to Learn More?


Do you have comments, feedback, or ideas related to the draft RGS? We would love to hear them. Send us an email at stratplan@fvrd.ca.

Tell us your story

Whether you grew up in the Fraser Valley or you moved here as an adult, you have a story to tell and we want to hear it! Why do you or your family live in the Fraser Valley? What makes this region a great place to live, work, and play?



Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Consultation has concluded
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    No Choice But to Buy a House

    by Lillian Martin, over 1 year ago
    My daughter and I arrived in Chilliwack in 1989 as a result of my having secured a teaching position at Fraser Valley College. With a bit of help from the bank of mom and some further help from a mortgage loan I purchased a home. The house was very affordable. My daughter and I settled into Sardis and began to make friends through work and school. Fast forward four years; my husband-to-be and I began dating. We moved in together about two years later. My husband's health issues meant we had to give up our home on Rockwell Drive and... Continue reading
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    No Choice But to Buy a House

    by Lillian Martin, over 1 year ago
    My daughter and I arrived in Chilliwack in 1989 as a result of my having secured a teaching position at Fraser Valley College. With a bit of help from the bank of mom and some further help from a mortgage loan I purchased a home. The house was very affordable. My daughter and I settled into Sardis and began to make friends through work and school. Fast forward four years; my husband-to-be and I began dating. We moved in together about two years later. My husband's health issues meant we had to give up our home on Rockwell Drive and... Continue reading
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    Longtime resident of Popkum BC

    by AudM, over 1 year ago
    Long time resident 70 + years

    A Gray

    Seen a lot of changes over the years. Our family had a small sawmill my folks run for years. We did selective logging and had beef cattle over the years. Its great to live and work here with my sons, making it a 4 generation homestead. We love the nature and untouched beauty of the mountains and area. Each day has its own beauty, even the rainy ones, wouldn't live anywhere else.

    It's our home.

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    Long term Agassiz resident

    by Sue Gadsby , over 1 year ago
    I have lived in Agassiz for close to 50 years and love it. My husband and I have raised 3 sons here and we hope to stay long past our retirements.

    We love the scenery, the hiking, the people, the community spirit, the Rec. Centre and more. This is home.

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    20 years later...

    by Scott Medlock, over 1 year ago

    I grew up in North Delta in the lower mainland. It was a great place to grow up. 19 years ago I moved to Hope with my wife and 1 year old son for a Employment promotion opportunity. At first we thought we would stay for a couple of years and then move back to a larger community in the lower mainland since that is what we were used to.

    Now, my son is in his 3rd year of university at UFV Abbotsford but still lives in Hope and my daughter is in grade 12. I thought North Delta was... Continue reading

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    30 year Valley girl

    by Kcdragonfly11, over 1 year ago
    I moved from the Tri-cities to Chilliwack in 1991, and moved to Abbotsford and Mission. Living in the Fraser valley to me means less crowds, more nature. However, at the current rate of growth - this is already rapidly disappearing. Growth is putting more pressure on our back country industries like forestry, is taking away ALR (how did Molsons get to build that monstrosity on farm land), mega homes not paying their fair share of property value using farm status loop holes, and favorite natural spacing are just overrun, while everyone grabs Instagram shots.

    I feel like I will soon... Continue reading

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    where are the ranchers in abbotsford?

    by marion, over 1 year ago
    we currently are in our early 60's and live in a very large 3 story home on a very large city lot. it had served us well while our children were young. we have been looking for a rancher or single family home - not in a strata - for at least 5 years. chilliwack is full of the right type of homes, but our grown children live here and our home is abbotsford. stratas have many appropriate homes, but the roads are so narrow that i question the safety of an ambulance or fire truck navigating it's way to... Continue reading
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    Country life

    by Sonogirl , over 1 year ago
    I moved to chilliwack from Coquitlam in the early 80’s. the idea of a quiet country life is what drew me here. I’ve worked in healthcare my whole career. I’ve seen chilliwack change from a beautiful country town to an extension of Vancouver. It is no longer the gem it once was. Safety has become a prime concern and crime has spiked.

    the farmland is disappearing, replaced by large mansions and non ALR land use . What will we do when we have to import all of our food because we paved over our crops

    I miss the quiet life... Continue reading

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    Looking for quiet country

    by German lady, almost 2 years ago

    We settled in the eastern Fraser Valley in 1989, as we were looking for an acreage to raise kids and have a garden in a quiet country community. After my husband passed away I raised my daughter as a single parent and continued planting many , many flowers and creating a botanical garden with around 150 rhododendrons and azaleas. I grow most of our food and have a few chickens. The yard and garden definitely became a retreat for all kinds of wildlife as latest developments have robbed them from their habitats . Over time I have seen a lot... Continue reading

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    Retiree Heaven

    by KLG, almost 2 years ago
    After living in Port Coquitlam for over 30 years, my husband and I decided to move into a single level home. We were retired and were tired of up and own stairs, inside and out. During many travels through the Fraser Valley and the Okanagan, we decided Chilliwack was someplace we would like to live in. The qualifications were:

    lots of single level homes, NOT ANYMORE.

    close to the freeway for travel to the interior and the U.S.

    near an airport and Costco - in Abbotsford.

    a decent number of grocery stores, drug stores, clothing stores, etc.

    and last but... Continue reading

Page last updated: 04 May 2023, 11:56 AM