Friday - July 19, 2024 - Abbotsford ponders its cultural future

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Good morning!

I’ve got a week before I have some time off which means I’m looking at the mountain of work on my desk and trying to figure out how to get it all done. It would be less frustrating if I, myself, wasn’t the one who keeps adding things to the pile. But here we are. So I’m going to do something that comes really hard for me: I’m going to stop writing and get to work finishing the various things I’ve started. Have a great weekend.

– Tyler

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NEWS

UFV’s big new plan for its Chilliwack campus

The University of the Fraser Valley has a new long-term plan for its Chilliwack campus. And turning those plans into reality may no longer depend solely on officials in Victoria.

Having broken off one-third of its Chilliwack lands to eventually be leased out to developers, the university has also reshaped its plans for its existing properties near the Vedder River.

• Today, Tyler writes about UFV’s vision for the future on its second-largest campus, and looks back at a 14-year-old plan that has seen little progress since it was first created.

Related

Need to Know

🤦‍♂️ Another trucking company has had its licence pulled after one of its vehicles hit an overpass in Langley on Tuesday [CityNews]

📚 An Abbotsford teacher has published a children’s book celebrating the love of moms [Abbotsford News]

👉 A Mission homeless shelter will stay open until September [Mission Record]

🔎 Police are asking for help finding a missing man last seen at Langley’s hospital [Langley Advance Times]

✅ Chilliwack council approved the redevelopment of a downtown church torn down this week [Chilliwack Progress]

🚨 A senior reportedly fell 200 metres down a trail near Bridal Veil Falls [Chilliwack Progress]

🏍 A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Mission [Mission Record]

🚔 Mounties in Chilliwack arrested an Ontario man wanted on gun charges [Fraser Valley Today]

👉 Improvements are coming soon at Spring Park in Harrison Hot Springs [Agassiz-Harrison Observer]

🎭 It's not too late to visit the Harrison Festival of the Arts. There is one more weekend of great entertainment left!*

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The Agenda

Abbotsford eyes creating more cultural spaces—eventually

Abbotsford’s new cultural strategy will suggest the city work to create new indoor performance and cultural facilities to address a dire lack of such spaces. But don’t expect any building to start soon.

The second stage of work to create a new overarching strategy has led staff to suggest the city set itself a “transformative” target of creating new arts facilities in Abbotsford. But staff are suggesting a two-phase approach, with the first simply focusing on improving existing facilities, building partnerships with the operators of existing facilities, and designating outdoor cultural sites. Over a “long-term time frame,” staff say the city should move toward actually building new facilities.

The original work on the strategizing involved assessing the city’s current facilities. That found that performing arts amenities in the city were “basic,” with the city uninvolved in delivering performing arts programs. The preliminary strategy work found that the largest barrier is a lack of affordable space, with major facilities too large for many organizations.

Coun. Dave Loewen said he hoped the new strategy would help the city “deliver this essential part of community living.”

“We’ve heard that some employers have difficulty attracting people here because there’s nothing to do,” Loewen said. “I’m hopeful we can deliver what it is our residents want and what they need.”

Coun. Simon Gibson, on the other hand, said he is “supportive of culture” but that “we should be cautious of a funding trajectory that may crate expectations and draw us away from our core municipal services.”

He said “it would be prudent to resist an increase in funding for culture that would best be addressed by the province and the federal governments.”

Coun. Kelly Chahal, though, noted that earlier this month Gibson had himself suggested the city work to create a cultural attraction—he cited a US car museum—to attract tourists and visitors to Abbotsford.

Council voted to move the strategy forward, with Gibson opposed.

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🗓 Things to do

Hope concerts: Hope's Concerts in the Park return Friday, July 19 with Krystal Dos Santos. The R&B singer will be in Memorial Park's bandshell starting at 6:30pm. Details online.

Free movie in Chilliwack: Chilliwack's Cedarbrook Park hosts an outdoor movie night on Saturday, July 20. Bring your chair and watch Monsters Inc. starting at 8pm. Details online.

Roller derby pride: NWO Roller Derby is hosting its second annual Roll with Pride at the Chilliwack Landing Sport Centre on Saturday, July 20. The event will include games, contests, and of course roller skating. Bring your own skates and safety gear, or come early and borrow some. Entry by donation. Details online.

Mission history tour: The Mission Museum hosts the first of its Historic Downtown walking tours on Saturday, July 20. Each tour is about an hour, and takes participants on a tour of historic landmarks, architectural gems, and hidden stories. Tours begin at 11am at the Mission Museum and are $10 per person. Details online.

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