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GOAL 2
STRENGTHEN
AGRICULTURE
Protect the urban-farmland interface, and
ensure the economic viability of agriculture.
Agriculture has a strong presence in Chilliwack with
the Agricultural Land Reserve (Map 4). The ALR oc-
cupies two-thirds of the municipality’s land base and
farmland surrounds our city and provides it with an
idyllic setting; it shapes Chilliwack’s landscape, identi-
ty and livability.
As an industry, farming in Chilliwack produces 10% of
BC’s agricultural production while the City only has
0.55% of the Provincial farmland (17,000 ha plus in
total). These facts underline the significance of agri-
culture not only to Chilliwack, but also to BC and Can-
ada as a whole. The industry’s local benefit is par-
ticularly evident in economic down times, helping to
sustain Chilliwack’s economy and employment
level.
6.7% of Chilliwack’s labour force is directly engaged in
agriculture, where the comparative figures for BC and
Metro Vancouver are 5% and 1%, respectively.
Since the establishment of the provincial Agricultur-
al Land Reserve, Chilliwack has been supportive of
farmland protection and the ALR through its various
Official Community Plans and economic development
strategies. In 2005 a dedicated agriculture- oriented
industrial park was established to revitalize Chilli-
wack’s food processing sector. In 2012 the City took
an important step in agricultural promotion by col-
laborating with Chilliwack Agricultural Commission/
Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) in
the preparation of an Agricultural Area Plan, which
was subsequently adopted. To monitor the plan’s
effectiveness, Council has appointed an Agricultural
Advisory Committee, which is also tasked to provide
feedback on development applications that might im-
pact agriculture.
Public discussions on Vancouver’s gateway economy
highlight the need of the Lower Mainland to move
beyond being a transit hub and embrace wealth-cre-
ating activities that build on our unique location. Ag-
riculture in Chilliwack is a wealth-creating enterprise
and this Plan continues to support it, aiming to re-
solve differences that arise from time to time with ur-
ban growth and the pursuit of an effective urban form
and structure. Farmland protection and agricultural
promotion are a process and all stakeholders must be
engaged.
OBJECTIVES
1. Protect viable, high quality, productive farm-
lands and the integrity of the Agricultural
Land Reserve, especially on the Fraser Valley
floor.
2. Minimize conflicts between urban and agricultur-
al uses.
3. Create an investment climate that recognizes
Chilliwack’s primary role in agriculture at both
the provincial and national levels.
4. Support food processing and other agri-business-
es that are essential to the sustainability of agri-
culture.
POLICIES
1.
Implement the Agricultural Area Plan
Work with the ALC (Agricultural Land Com-
mission), Provincial agencies, the University
of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack Economic Part-
ners Corporation and industry stakeholders to
implement and monitor the Agricultural Area
Plan and to address issues facing the agricul-
tural community.
Goal 2 - Strengthen Agriculture