Mission

The district municipality of Mission is located in the Lower Mainland in the Province of British Columbia. The small city is located 70 km or 44 miles east of Vancouver, on Highway 7, the Lougheed Highway. The core of the city is called Mission City. The city is situated on Fraser River's north bank and overlooks Abbotsford City. Together, Abbotsford and Mission form part of the Central Fraser Valley. With a population during 2006 of roughly 34,500 Mission is the 23rd largest municipality within BC.

The city of Mission sits in between the Coast Mountains and the Fraser River north of Abbotsford City. The name "Mission" comes from the Pacific Northwest's very first and largest mission. Founded in the year 1861, the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Indian Mission is the city's namesake.

Mission City was a popular stopping place for trappers, river travelers and settlers, so much so that it was referred to as the Gateway to the Fraser River. Even today, the city remains an important junction. During 1895, when the initial site became part of the CPR or likewise known as Canadian Pacific Railway, the mission was moved. The convent and church and the school were constructed at what is presently the Fraser River Heritage Park.

Mission is a perfect place for anybody who enjoys the recreational outdoors. The region is surrounded by hills, streams, lakes and forests. It has 32 parks, a couple of golf courses and dozens of biking and hiking trails, making it an outdoor heaven. Mission City is radiant with community spirit and takes much pride it its heritage.

Hydroelectricity, agriculture and forestry are the main resource sectors in the region which provide the foundation for different service and connected retail activities. During the past few years the manufacturing sector has expanded beyond food processing and sawmilling due to transportation improvements.

Manufacturing within the region is dominated by wood and forest related products, with a particular emphasis on red cedar shake and shingle mills. Mission City holds the only municipal tree farm license in BC as well.

Agriculture within Mission City have been focused in small, narrow belt situated on the banks of the Fraser River. The majority of the farms in the region are located east of Mission, in the unincorporated Dewdney-Deroche district. There are approximately 96 commercial and hobby farms in this place. Dairy is the chief agricultural enterprise, while other income sources consist of hogs, vegetables, beef and poultry.

Abbotsford City, lies across the Fraser River south of Mission. This area is among the better agricultural regions within the province. The soil fertility has helped dub Abbotsford as the Raspberry Capital of Canada and it has become a popular place to homestead for people who want to farm.

Maple Ridge is a quiet pastoral community situated west of Mission. This particular community is nestled on the north bank of the Fraser River under the Blue Mountain. Maple Ridge has well preserved much of their First nations and pioneer history.