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A barbecue from Canada Lands to say goodbye to Chilliwack

Canada Lands Company had a ‘love affair’ with Chilliwack for years
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JENNA HAUCK/ THE PROGRESS Grant Walsh, Canada Lands board chair, speaks during an end-of-project celebration at River’s Edge on Saturday afternoon. The event marked the end of Phase 3, the final stage of work completed by Canada Lands (Phase 1 was Garrison Crossing, and Phase 2 Webster Landing). Over the past 13 years, the company has built 2,200 homes totalling $1 billion.

Canada Lands Company said goodbye to Chilliwack over the weekend with a huge celebration marking the end of an impressive development run.

There were speeches, entertainment, a ribbon cutting and a barbecue at the event on Saturday near the Vedder River.

Canada Lands Company is known for neighbourhood transformations and a total of 2,200 new homes have been built on the south side of Chilliwack.

The celebration also marked the opening of the unique “Greenstreet” and parks of River’s Edge.

CLC board chair Grant Walsh noted the many milestones.

“River’s Edge is the first community in Chilliwack designed with a Greenstreet,” he said. “The City of Chilliwack showed great leadership in working with us to realize this unique street concept that connects neighbours in a naturally beautiful environment.”

It makes the community “extremely special,” in his estimation.

“For 16 years, we at Canada Lands have been part of this wonderful place,” Walsh said.

The entire Garrison development serves as one of the “truly foundational projects” completed by CLC.

“Many of Canada Lands’ early planning practices here have continued to inform our work on projects across Canada including our community engagement process, our commemoration program and progressive design efforts that prioritize pedestrian-friendly, sustainable communities.”

Canada Lands received most of the old CFB Chilliwack property in 2001, and the last parcels in 2003. Active planning for re-development started in 2004.

“It’s been a love affair with Chilliwack that started when the former military base closed in 1997,” said Ken Dueck, director of real estate for CLC.

The 2,200-unit total includes 1450 homes at Garrison Crossing, covering a 153-acre site on the former CFB Chilliwack property, plus another 400 to 500 Garrison units which are still under construction or planned.

Garrison, an award-winning community, was one of the first projects in Canada to get LEED certification for its sustainable design.

CLC development projects in Chilliwack have an estimated market value of about $1 billion, said Dueck.

There are only a couple of units left unsold at the River’s Edge 350-home development.

Canada Lands Company is a “self-financing, federal Crown corporation that specializes in real estate, development and attractions management,” according to its website. Its work ensures that former government properties are redeveloped in accordance with “their highest highest and best use, and that they are harmoniously reintegrated into local communities.

“Our goal is to help transform surplus parcels and reshape them to meet the needs of Canadians with inspiring and sustainable new neighbourhoods in which they can live, work and play.”

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JENNA HAUCK/ THE PROGRESS Grant Walsh, Canada Lands Company board chair, speaks during an end-of-project celebration at River’s Edge on Saturday afternoon. The event marked the end of Phase 3, the final stage of work completed by Canada Lands (Phase 1 was Garrison Crossing, and Phase 2 Webster Landing). Over the past 13 years, the company has built 2,200 homes in Chilliwack.
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JENNA HAUCK/ THE PROGRESS Grant Walsh, Canada Lands Company board chair, speaks during an end-of-project celebration at River’s Edge on Saturday afternoon. The event marked the end of Phase 3, the final stage of work completed by Canada Lands (Phase 1 was Garrison Crossing, and Phase 2 Webster Landing). Over the past 13 years, the company has built 2,200 homes in Chilliwack.
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JENNA HAUCK/ THE PROGRESS Residents listen as Grant Walsh, Canada Lands Company board chair, speaks during an end-of-project celebration at River’s Edge on Saturday afternoon. The event marked the end of Phase 3, the final stage of work completed by Canada Lands (Phase 1 was Garrison Crossing, and Phase 2 Webster Landing). Over the past 13 years, CLC has built 2,200 homes in Chilliwack.


Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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