Feature Destinations
Abbotsford , British Columbia
British Columbia | Canada | North America
Abbotsford, located in the Central Fraser Valley, is about 75 km (47 miles) east of Vancouver. Its nicknames - City in the Country and Raspberry Capital of Canada - are a fairly accurate description of the character of this attractive and thriving community. Greater Abbotsford is now approaching a population of 160,000 and is ethnically very diverse.
Well known for its thriving agriculture and dairy as well as chicken industry, Abbotsford is also developing a strong reputation for its conveniently located International Airport, currently served primarily by WestJet. Flights to Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and other parts of Canada are frequent. Some flights connect to destinations in the USA. Internationally it is known as the hub for the Abbotsford Annual International Airshow. It is one of the most important airshows in the world. Benefited by the adjoining Tradex Convention Centre with a capacity for 3,000 people and ample exhibition space, Abbotsford can truly roll out the carpet for major functions.
Abbotsford citizen’s have the good fortune of many parks for recreation. Mill Lake Park, a gem in the heart of the city, with a 2 km walkway around the lake as well as children’s playgrounds, swimming pools and space for those summer barbecues, would have to be ranked as one of the best in British Columbia, if not in the whole of Canada.
Abbotsford is also endowed with many churches and other places of worship to serve its very ethnically diverse community. Modern shopping plazas, dominated by Seven Oaks and West Oaks alongside Abbotsford’s major thoroughfare, South Fraser Way, ensure money is kept in circulation for the good of the economy.
Housing development has been brisk in line with the rapid growth and has worked its way up Sumas Mountain. From there you can enjoy stunning vistas across the Fraser Valley. Depending on the location on Sumas Mountain you can either view the mighty Fraser River and the City of Mission with the Northshore Mountains in the background, or from the western vantage point, the 3,000 m high colossus of Mount Baker, covered year round by a glacier. Mount Baker is a dormant volcano and in the winter you can witness steam venting from its top, a sign of the activities within the belly of the Giant. Looking more to the East one can view the high mountains of the Cascade range and, along with it Chilliwack, another prosperous community nearby.
The US/Canada border crossing at Sumas facilitates crossborder traffic. Depending on the currency, many Canadians from here go shopping in Bellingham and Seattle or Americans travel north as tourists or to take in British Columbia’s golfing, skiing and many other recreational activities.
Abbotsford boasts a growing hospitality industry, including a wide range of restaurants and significant hotel capacity.
Another major event every summer is the Agrifair and Trade Show, held at the Abbotsford Exhibition Park. It displays it’s great pastoral heritage by showing off the bounty of fruits, vegetables, dairy products etc.
Abbotsford is named after Henry Abbot, a General Superintendent of the Canadian Pacific Railway as well as being the brother of Sir J. Abbot, Prime Minister of Canada. The motto “Unus Cum Viribus Duorum” (Latin) translates into “One with the strength of two”. The District of Abbotsford and the District of Matsqui amalgamated in 1995 to form today’s City of Abbotsford.