Chilliwack Agricultural Commission

"My family and I immigrated to Canada in 1990. Within a few weeks of completing our immigration forms and closing our floriculture business in Holland, we were enroute to British Columbia. Once in BC, we decided on Chilliwack. It offered the lowest costs and the greatest scenery - plus all the people were so friendly and helpful.”

- William & Heleen Stolze
Owners, Techni-Gro Greenhouses

Chilliwack Agricultural Commission

The Chilliwack Agricultural Commission is a subsidiary of the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO). CEPCO is a unique, community-based economic development organization within the City of Chilliwack.

CEPCO's Strategic Plan fully recognizes the significance of agriculture to the economic base of Chilliwack, where agriculture currently represents approximately 30% of Chilliwack's economic activity and agriculture occupies approximately 65% of the land.

In recognition of the significance of agriculture in the Chilliwack economy, CEPCO established the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission with its own Board of Directors, consisting of a large group of stakeholders representing a broad, diverse cross-section of agricultural interests in the community.

The Mandate
The Chilliwack Agricultural Commission's mandate is to encourage the establishment of Chilliwack as a center of excellence in agriculture by means of implementing an agricultural strategy that facilitates a diverse and sustainable agricultural sector.

The Objectives
The Chilliwack Agricultural Commission's objectives are as follows:

to educate and raise awareness as to the importance of agriculture to the community and economy;
to work with existing businesses through business retention and expansion programs;
to attract agricultural related businesses to the community;
to enhance agricultural education opportunities by working with community stakeholders;
to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector.

Committees

Public Awareness
Education
Projects

2008 Chilliwack Agricultural Commission Board of Directors

Walter Dyck, Chair
Sprucewood Farms Ltd.

Peter Awram
Honeyview Farm Ltd.

Chris Byra
Greenbelt SWINE Veterinary Services Ltd.

Tony Degroot
Tonesa Holsteins Ltd.

Reg Ens
Meyers Norris Penny LLP

Walter Esau
Royal Lepage Wheeler Cheam Realty

Sharon Gaetz
Mayor, City of Chilliwack

Paul Goerzen
Unifeed Ltd.

Ken Huttema
Councillor, City of Chilliwack

Diane Janzen
Councillor, City of Chilliwack

Tim Loewen
Pine Meadows Tree Farms Ltd.

Rose Morrison
University of the Fraser Valley

Kelly O'Brien
Rogers Foods Ltd.

Steve Saccomano
BMO - Bank of Montreal

Stan Vander Waal
Rainbow Greenhouses

Chris Zabek
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands