Chilliwack

Chilliwack sits in the eastern [Fraser Valley](https://www.chilliwack.com/) on the traditional territory of the Stó:lō — the Halq'eméylem-speaking River People whose word *ts'elxwéyeqw*, meaning roughly "valley of many streams," gives the city its name. The Fraser River runs along the northern boundary and the Vedder River cuts through the southern flank, while Mt. Cheam rises 2,107 metres above the southern horizon as one of the most-photographed peaks in the valley. Across roughly 261 square kilometres, the city stretches from farmland and dike trails in the north to forested hillsides and lake country in the south. With a population of about 93,200 at the [2021 census](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/), Chilliwack is among British Columbia's fastest-growing cities — adding roughly 10% in population between 2016 and 2021. The economy still leans on agriculture (dairy, berries, corn, hazelnuts), but the University of the Fraser Valley campus at Canada Education Park, a busy Trans-Canada Highway 1 corridor, and steady demand for valley housing have broadened the picture considerably. Long-time multi-generational families, established Mennonite and Stó:lō communities, and newer arrivals from Metro Vancouver now share the same school catchments and farmers' markets. What shows up in the neighbourhood guides that follow is a city that doesn't read as one place. Historic downtown around Five Corners feels different from the family-oriented streets of Sardis and Vedder Crossing, which in turn feel different from the hillside subdivisions of Promontory or the rural quiet of Rosedale and Yarrow. The guides break down each pocket on its own terms — walkability, schools, parks, transit, and the texture of daily life — so you can find the part of Chilliwack that fits.