Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove says his community needs more social housing, but it’s not up to the city to dictate development. 📷 City of Chilliwack; Diane J. Payne/Shutterstock

This story first appeared in the Sept. 24, 2024 edition of the Fraser Valley Current newsletter. Subscribe for free to get Fraser Valley news in your email every weekday morning.

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City hall dreams won’t shape the future of Chilliwack’s downtown core, where provincial housing targets and heritage properties will be facing off against each other. Instead, Chilliwack Mayor Ken Popove said, it’s the free market that will take control.

Last week, we wrote that Popove says the province needs to take the lead on building social housing in Chilliwack and other places. But Popove spoke about far more than just social housing.

In a wide-ranging mid-term interview with The Current, Popove talked about balancing heritage and density, the need for convention space in the city, how Chilliwack is going to make more park space as the city grows, and what is on the horizon for his next two years on council.

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MARILYN McLEOD2 years ago

Good interview with Mayor Popove...he's not afraid to speak his mind....ask the people what they think...and then make an informed decision....we are lucky to have Mayor Popove..!! For the short time he has been Mayor, he and our Council have steadily moved forward..!!

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Melba Round2 years ago

Good read. Would have loved to see him pressed a bit more about the 15 minute cities....

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Elinor Hanschke2 years ago

Excellent information. I agree with Popoves perspectives. I appreciate that he stands up for the people in his community to have a voice and that he listens and weighs these opinions as decisions are made for Chilliwack. He’s a good mayor.

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Donna L2 years ago

Awesome hearing from Mayor Popove. Thank you FVC for ALL the very informative interviews, articles etc you give us readers.