INTRODUCTION This first edition of Major Canadian Cities: Compared and n Where is the economic growth the strongest in Canada? Ranked provides an in-depth comparison and analysis of the 50 most populated cities in Canada. Each 14-page city chapter incor- n Which cities have the most university graduates? porates information from dozens of resources to create the follow- ing major sections: n Which cities have the best labour statistics? n Background: Lively narrative of significant facts covering the A detailed Table of Contents is your guide to not only the city chap- geography, history, industries and culture of a city, emphasizing ters, which are listed in alphabetical order, but also to the specific Canada’s diversity. statistic or ranking table you are interested in. n Study Rankings: A number of study results from sources such as Statistics Canada, Economic Development Offices, fDi Major Canadian Cities is designed for a wide variety of readers: Magazine and Canada Survey of Giving, in a number of private individuals considering relocation; professionals considering categories—smartest, most generous, safest, most visionary— expansion of their business or changing careers; corporations con- marking the city’s place in the spectrum of cities across Canada. sidering relocation, opening up additional offices, or creating new n Statistical Tables: Tables on 28 topics, including age, marital divisions; government agencies; general and market researchers; status, housing, ethnicity, labour force, language, income, real estate consultants; human resource personnel; urban transportation, and more, with city, provincial and national data. planners; and investors. Statistics are taken from the National Household Survey of 2011 and the 2011 Census. If you wish to conduct unique searches and comparisons and make your own analytical tables, sorting by specific characteristics, we anada’s Information Resource Cen- City chapters are followed by Ranking Tables that rank each city recommend you check out C tre (CIRC) and answer such questions as: , where subscribers have full access to this rich data- base. Trial subscriptions are available by calling 866-433-4739. You n Which cities in Canada have the youngest population? can also reach us online at www.greyhouse.ca. MAJOR CANADIAN CITIES: COMPARED AND RANKED xvii Abbotsford, British Columbia Background Abbotsford is located in the centre of the Fraser Valley, 68 kilometres east of the City of Vancouver in British Columbia and approximately five kilometres from the U.S. border. The city is situated on the flatlands between the Coast and Cascade mountain ranges. Abbotsford’s rich agricultural lands have served the Sto:lo First Nations, the Gold Rush settlers and later, the Canadian Pacific Railway workers who built Abbotsford’s train station in 1891. By 1910, Abbotsford was providing nearby New Westminster and Vancouver with crops of tobacco, farm produce and dairy products. Abbotsford has been a breadbasket to Vancouver ever since and is known as a “City in the Country.” The Fraser Valley’s high-quality soils, moderate climate and water accessibility produce a range of vegetables, nursery products, field and cereal crops, sod and pasture. Throughout the year, Abbotsford hosts more than 200 festivals and events, such as the Abbotsford AgriFair and Rodeo, the Abbotsford International Airshow and the Abbotsford Multicultural Festival. The city’s vibrant agri-tourism industry offers dairy farm tours, u-pick apple orchards and pumpkin farms, gold honey and meadery (honey) wines, and a trout hatchery run by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC. The main campus of the University of the Fraser Valley is located in Abbotsford. Two Christian colleges, Columbia Bible College and Summit Pacific College, are also located in the city. Abbotsford has one of the largest South Asian populations in British Columbia and is considered the third most culturally diverse city in the province. Abbotsford has summer highs of plus 22.5 degrees Celsius, winter lows of minus 0.03 degrees Celsius, and an average rainfall just over 1507 mm per year. Rankings • In 2011, Abbotsford was ranked Canada’s most generous community in terms of charitable donations. The Abbotsford-Mission census metropolitan area (CMA) has ranked #1 across Canada for nine consecutive years. Statistics Canada reported that in 2010 residents gave a median donation of $620 to charities. There were 25,650 donors in Abbotsford (tax filers who claimed a donation) who gave a total of almost $74 million, a 5.1% increase from 2009. Tied for second place were Calgary and Victoria with median donations of $390. Statistics Canada, Charitable Donors, 2010 with files from Abbotsford News, December 5, 2011 • Community involvement and a police crackdown on gang violence decreased the Abbotsford-Mission CMA homicide rate to 0.56 per 100,000 population in 2011, a drop of 930% from the 5.21 rate of 2009. Statistics Canada, Crime Severity Index, 2008-2011 • The Abbotsford-Mission CMA ranked #4 out of 25 BC CMAs for population growth. Between 2006 and 2011, the area grew by 7.4% compared to the national growth of 5.9%. The City of Abbotsford has more than doubled since 1981, growing at a rate of 126% between 1981 and 2006. Statistics Canada. 2012. Focus on Geography Series, 2011 Census with files from Abbotsford Community Profile 2010, City of Abbotsford Economic Development and Planning Services, January 2010 MAJOR CANADIAN CITIES: COMPARED AND RANKED 1 PROFILES / Abbotsford, British Columbia Age Characteristics: 0 to 49 Years 0to4 5to9 10 to 14 15 to 19 20 to 24 25 to 29 30 to 34 35 to 39 40 to 44 45 to 49 Area Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Number Total Abbotsford 8,530 8,245 8,550 9,475 9,175 9,280 8,720 8,435 9,045 9,390 British Columbia 219,665 218,915 238,780 275,165 279,825 288,780 275,985 280,870 313,765 350,600 Canada 1,877,095 1,809,895 1,920,355 2,178,135 2,187,450 2,169,590 2,162,905 2,173,930 2,324,875 2,675,130 Males Abbotsford 4,380 4,310 4,465 4,810 4,655 4,670 4,265 4,155 4,465 4,785 British Columbia 112,885 112,200 122,465 141,670 142,290 143,475 135,220 135,455 151,430 170,580 Canada 961,150 925,965 983,995 1,115,845 1,108,775 1,077,275 1,058,810 1,064,200 1,141,720 1,318,715 Females Abbotsford 4,150 3,930 4,090 4,665 4,520 4,610 4,455 4,280 4,580 4,605 British Columbia 106,775 106,715 116,315 133,500 137,535 145,305 140,755 145,415 162,335 180,020 Canada 915,945 883,935 936,360 1,062,295 1,078,670 1,092,315 1,104,095 1,109,735 1,183,155 1,356,420 Percent of Population Total Abbotsford 6.4 6.2 6.4 7.1 6.9 7.0 6.5 6.3 6.8 7.0 British Columbia 5.0 5.0 5.4 6.3 6.4 6.6 6.3 6.4 7.1 8.0 Canada 5.6 5.4 5.7 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.9 8.0 Males Abbotsford 6.6 6.5 6.8 7.3 7.1 7.1 6.5 6.3 6.8 7.3 British Columbia 5.2 5.2 5.7 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.3 6.3 7.0 7.9 Canada 5.9 5.6 6.0 6.8 6.8 6.6 6.5 6.5 7.0 8.0 Females Abbotsford 6.1 5.8 6.0 6.9 6.7 6.8 6.6 6.3 6.8 6.8 British Columbia 4.8 4.8 5.2 6.0 6.1 6.5 6.3 6.5 7.2 8.0 Canada 5.4 5.2 5.5 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.5 6.9 7.9 Source: Statistics Canada. 2012. Census Profile. 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-XWE. Ottawa. Released October 24 2012. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E Age Characteristics: 50 Years and Over, and Median Age 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 to 64 65 to 69 70 to 74 75 to 79 80 to 84 85 Years Median Area Years Years Years Years Years Years Years and Over Age Number Total Abbotsford 9,285 8,180 7,485 5,700 4,430 3,635 2,960 2,975 37.9 British Columbia 354,610 323,335 291,040 210,900 160,715 127,480 96,945 92,675 41.9 Canada 2,658,965 2,340,635 2,052,670 1,521,715 1,153,065 922,700 702,070 645,515 40.6 Males Abbotsford 4,610 3,935 3,540 2,790 2,055 1,685 1,265 1,025 36.7 British Columbia 172,060 157,455 142,645 103,785 77,350 60,720 42,745 32,150 41.1 Canada 1,309,030 1,147,300 1,002,690 738,010 543,435 417,945 291,085 208,300 39.6 Females Abbotsford 4,680 4,245 3,945 2,910 2,370 1,950 1,700 1,950 38.9 British Columbia 182,550 165,880 148,395 107,115 83,360 66,760 54,200 60,520 42.7 Canada 1,349,940 1,193,335 1,049,985 783,705 609,630 504,755 410,985 437,215 41.5 Percent of Population Total Abbotsford 7.0 6.1 5.6 4.3 3.3 2.7 2.2 2.2 – British Columbia 8.1 7.3 6.6 4.8 3.7 2.9 2.2 2.1 – Canada 7.9 7.0 6.1 4.5 3.4 2.8 2.1 1.9 – Males Abbotsford 7.0 6.0 5.4 4.2 3.1 2.6 1.9 1.6 – British Columbia 8.0 7.3 6.6 4.8 3.6 2.8 2.0 1.5 – Canada 8.0 7.0 6.1 4.5 3.3 2.5 1.8 1.3 – Females Abbotsford 6.9 6.3 5.8 4.3 3.5 2.9 2.5 2.9 – British Columbia 8.1 7.4 6.6 4.8 3.7 3.0 2.4 2.7 – Canada 7.9 7.0 6.2 4.6 3.6 3.0 2.4 2.6 – Source: Statistics Canada.