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Chilliwack Search and Rescue logs record year Jennifer Feinberg The Progress One of the busiest Search and Rescue teams in B.C. just completed a record year. Chilliwack SAR members responded to 86 callouts in 2014, which is more than any other previous year, said Doug Fraser, Chilliwack SAR search manager. The total is almost twice as many as they had 20 years ago when the average was more like 40 to 45 per year. “The increase in tasks has been steady, and this rising trend is not likely to change,” he pointed out. Time is critical since these incidents require highly trained volunteer SAR members to drop everything and go. Most incidents take about five or six hours to resolve. “Time is the precious commodity that presents an ever-increasing challenge on several fronts,” Fraser explained to The Progress. When a hiker is missing or a swift water rescue is required, the team could be out for as little as an hour, or as many as several days. SAR volunteers must be physically fit, with some first aid training, and free time to donate. The local SAR team will respond at any time of day or night whether it’s atop a glacier, in a raging river or down a steep mountainside. In addition, SAR members train every Wednesday night at their local headquarters as well as in the back country in a range of rescue disciplines. “Time to attend community events, to present to students, and to gain new skills are just a few of the time commitments that are part of being a member of the team,” Fraser added. Some readers may not be aware that every member of SAR donates their time as a volunteer. They don’t
Three horses run around in the early morning fog on Sumas Prairie Road on Saturday. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Best December in years for Chilliwack home sales Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The Chilliwack real estate market is definitely on the rebound. The Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board just had its best December in eight years for Chilliwack home sales in the MLS system, said Jake Siemens, CADREB president. In terms of units, home sales totalled 163 for December 2014, which represents an increase of just over 50 per cent from levels reported in December 2013. “This was the 11th consecutive year-over-year increase, and marked an eight-year high for activity in the month of
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Siemens. They’re also starting to see prices going up. “After having chipped away at previously elevated levels of supply, the balance of supply and demand has returned to a place where we’re starting to see growth in prices.” With fewer listings available for buyers to peruse, it means less selection and more competition on prices. Another factor in the increase is the steady migration of families as well as retirees moving to Chilliwack from points west. The influx is due in part to lower gas prices, and lower real estate prices in Chilliwack.
“The lower gas prices make the commute that much more affordable all of sudden,” he said. “I definitely think that will have an impact.” So buyers find they’re not only getting a more rural and relaxed lifestyle, but they’re saving at least $100,000 compared to an average home in Abbotsford. The average price of homes sold in December 2014 was $338,919, up 7.2 per cent from last December. The annual average sale price was $308,790, up 2.4 per cent from 2013. New residential listings numbered 187 units in December, up 46.1 per cent from a year Continued: SALES/ p12
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December,” noted Siemens. Sales of all types numbered 178 units in December, up 47.1 per cent on a year-over-year basis. “It has definitely been building, and the market is on the rebound,” said Siemens. Those monitoring the trends haven’t seen numbers like this since before the global financial meltdown of 2008. “It’s great news for us,” he said. On an annual basis, home sales numbered 2,499 in 2014 — a spike of 21.1 per cent from 2013 totals. “So 2014 was the best year for home sales in the region since 2007, and momentum continues to build heading into 2015,” said