The Chilliwack
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Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T U E S D AY, M AY 7 , 2 0 1 3
Warm, dry weather sets new record
■ S ARDIS L IBRARY N OW O PEN
Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
More records might be broken. Monday was expected to see more hotter than usual temperatures recorded across Chilliwack. The sudden heat wave is making some folks look toward Chilliwack’s spray parks and fountains for relief. Someone tweeted City of Chilliwack officials to ask them to “please turn the spray parks on early! My kids need a place to go!” City of Chilliwack staff responded to say they were looking for a way to turn the spray parks on a few weeks early. Typically they don’t become operational before the May long weekend, and the spray park equipment in front of the Landing Leisure Centre has to undergo repairs first, said staff. But they’re actively investigating it. Environment Canada’s volunteer weather watcher, Roger Pannett says the “unusually dry and warm” conditions were expected to continue this week. Sunday hit a high of 31.5 degrees Celsius, beating its previous record of 29.4 C set on that day back in 1954. That’s a whopping 14 degrees above normal. Only Lilooet was warmer as the B.C. hotspot on May 6 with 32.8 as a high for the day. There were actually two temperature records broken on Sunday. “Beneath clear, sunny skies and moderate dry outflow winds reducing the humidity to 18 per cent on May 5, two high temperature records were recorded,” Pannett wrote in an email. The first was the maximum high, and the second was the high mean temperature record of 22.15 C breaking the previous record of 21.1 C set in 1966. “May 6 will probably be another record breaking day,” he said.
Abigail Brodeur, 17 months old, picks out a book at the Sardis Library during opening day on Monday. The new library opened its doors yesterday with a soft opening. Hours are: Mondays to Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 1-5 p.m. The official grand opening will be in June. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Chilliwack economy a standout: Report Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
Chilliwack saw above-average economic growth in the years since the global recession hit in 2008, according to the first Conference Board of Canada’s Mid-Sized Cities Outlook 2013. That kind of impressive economic performance bucks a downward trend seen by many mid-sized Canadian cities. Chilliwack was named among one of the fastest growing mid-
sized economies in the entire country between 2005 and 2012, and it was one of only two B.C. communities aside from Duncan, to make the job-growth list. “I think it’s fabulous,” said Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “I’m grinning from ear to ear.” That kind of news on the economic front, immediately put the Chilliwack mayor in a great mood on Monday. The average annual GDP increases for Chilliwack were 6.2 per cent during that specific time-
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frame of 2005-12, according to the numbers. The employment data used in the report came from Statistics Canada and the economic data, like GDP, or gross domestic product, came from CBoC. “My heart is going to burst out of my chest with pride,” said Gaetz. “It’s really exciting to see that some of our strategies are working, and that growing jobs at home is working.” She points to the synergy 650 between the city’s economic devel-
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opment corporation, CEPCO, and Tourism Chilliwack, as well as University of the Fraser Valley and the Chilliwack school district. Also noted was the fact that taxes and fees are kept purposefully low, by Chilliwack, especially the business tax multiplier tamed at 2.2 per cent. Chilliwack officials will often cite the fact that only 13 per cent of the community leaves Chilliwack on a daily basis to work, play or shop. Continued: GROWTH/ pW4
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