Canada Education Park - Chilliwack, B.C. (Former Location of CFB Chilliwack)

How times they are a changing! I recently posted a blog giving an overview of the history of Garrison and Vedder Crossing Crossing and and the former location of the Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack.

One of the areas that has been newly developed on the Former CFB grounds is the Canada Education Park. Who would have thought ALL those years ago how much this area was going to be transformed! And since its happening practically outside my front door Ihave a birdseye view!

So this is what they done so far. The City has joined with the University College of the Fraser Valley, the Justice Institute of BC and the provincial government to redevelop lands at the former Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack into an education and research park.

The project arose as a result of the successful purchase of 200 acres of the former Base from the federal government.

The closure of the forces base in 1995 was a blow to the local economy. Chilliwack residents welcomed the establishment in 2001 of an RCMP training academy in the old officers' training buildings. On July 21, 2003, City Council agreed to a federal proposal to re-zone 150 acres of the base lands for residential use.

On July 25, 2003, the City signed a memorandum of understanding with UCFV, the Justice Institute and the province on the joint creation of an education and research park. On the same day, the City signed an MOU with the Canada Lands Company, a federal crown corporation, to move towards negotiating a land purchase.

The Education Park will serve up to 13,000 post-secondary students plus academic staff and research industry employees. It will include:

• A new campus for UCFV;
• New facilities for the Justice Institute;
• A new Chinese Cultural University, to be developed by UCFV and two affiliated post-secondary institutions based in Beijing;
• A new research and development centre, operated by UCFV, to focus on gaining value from B.C. wood products; and,
• Space for research- or education-related industries.

Isn't that amazing? Those are incredible resources to have in a community of our size..........and that would be about 75,000! The educational opportunites will be endless not to mention the multicultural aspect! I'll be waiting with baited breath to see how this unfolds.

With the influx of student from all over the world, many will be looking to purchase either rentalor room and board accomodation. If you have suites or a can accomodate a student please contant: UCFV Homestay program.