INSIDE: Local grads have one final thing to say before they go Pg. 25 T H U R S D A Y
May 31, 2012
Zachary Clay country’s best 11 Gymnast N E W S ,
SPORTS,
WEATHER
&
E N T E R T A I N M E N T chilliwacktimes.com
We’re getting bigger . . . and older BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
C
hilliwack’s working-aged population grew faster than the national average from 2006 to 2011 but not as fast as the 65-and-over set. According to 2011 census data released by Statistics Canada on Tuesday, the population of the Chilliwack census agglomeration
City planners taking note as building livable communities for aging baby boomers a priority
(CA)—which includes Fraser Valley Regional District Area E, the District of Kent, Harrison Hot Springs and 15 Indian Reserves—was 92,308 in 2011, an increase of 11.9 per cent from 82,465 in 2006. That growth was faster than
Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Abbotsford-Mission, Kamloops or Nanaimo, the six census metropolitan areas (CMA) or CAs immediately larger in size. The growth was also larger than all but one of the 21 CAs in the
province. Only Squamish grew faster at 14.6 per cent. The City of Chilliwack’s population hit 77,936 in 2011, an increase of 12.6 per cent from 69,217 in 2006. Of the nearly 10,000 more people
in the local area, 655 are aged 14 or under, an increase of just four per cent over five years. To contrast, the rise in the 65-and-over population was 16.2 per cent, or 2,255 individuals. The working-age 15-to-64 population rose 13.3 per cent, or 6,935 individuals. But while the 18.5 per cent of the population under the age of 15 in See CENSUS, Page 3
Still four unsolved murders from 2010
SPORTS DAY HOLE LOTTA’ HOOPLA
the time that he believed his son may have crossed criminals or been owed money by someone. When contacted by the Times ore than two years after M i c h a e l C o u t i n h o’s last week, Solm’s said he’s trying to b u r n e d o u t c a r w a s move past the unsolved disappearfound, police still don’t know what ance of his son. “He’s gone the way of all things,” happened to the 61-year-old Chillhe said. iwack man. “I’ve spoken with [police] a couCoutinho was last seen May 8, ple of times and they 2010. His burning car had no leads or nothwas found that day in ing whatsoever,” he the Majuba Hill area said. “Unfortunately, near the Abbotsford/ my son, he got into the Chilliwack border. wrong stuff and so on. A month after “I think it’s a chapter Coutinho’s disappearI would love to forget.” ance, his case was takPrior to his disapen over by members of p e a ra n c e, Mi c h a e l the RCMP’s Integrated Coutinho had been Homicide Investigacharged in connection tion Team (IHIT). IHIT spokesperson Submitted photo with an illegal tobacco scheme in Williams Jennifer Pound told the Michael Coutinho has Times Wednesday that been missing since May Lake. Coutinho had been police are still looking 8, 2010. charged with three into the file. counts of possession “The investigation remains open and active and the of a controlled substance, and a investigative team continue to range of other offences under the follow up on leads associated to Tobacco Tax Amendment Act that Michael’s disappearance,” said regulates the sale of tobacco. The next day, a friend was in the Pound. “The IHIT team investigating his disappearance are still in area looking for Coutinho when he contact with his family.” See UNSOLVED, Page 4 Coutinho’s father, Solms, said at
BY TYLER OLSEN tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com
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Tyler Olsen/TIMES
McCammon elementary student Adam Sims sends a Frisbee sailing through the air towards a hoop during Vedder middle school’s annual sports day for local special needs students held recently.
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