The current population of the City is estimated at 70,000. Over eighty-two percent of the population lives in urban communities or suburban neighbourhoods, and the balance in the rural hillsides and farming areas.

The City of Chilliwack experienced rapid growth in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its population growth peaked in 1992 at 6.4% p.a., and the current slower pace (1.9%) suggests a still recovering BC economy. From 1981 to 2001, the City expanded at an average rate of 2.5% p.a. By the early 2010s its population should reach 85,000, the City’s Official Community Plan target.¹

See Also:

Table 1 - Population - Historic and Projected (OCP Trends) Table 2 - Households - Historic and Projected (OCP Trends)

The City of Chilliwack is a community of communities, and the largest of which are Chilliwack Proper, Sardis and Vedder. Over the years, these communities have merged into a contiguous "urban corridor"; still, each retains its respective commercial centre. The largest community is Chilliwack Proper, which has a population of over 33,000, or about 46% of the total inhabitants of the City.

Just south of the Trans Canada Highway, Sardis-Vedder was once the "suburbs" of Chilliwack Proper, and is now a major residential and commercial centre. In fact, it is home to the City’s largest shopping centres and single detached neighbourhoods. For over three decades, it has been the centre of growth. Today, its population has reached 21,000 (30% of the City total), including most of the major subdivision developments on First Nation reserves.²

Within the Chilliwack Proper-Sardis-Vedder urban corridor live 53,000 people - approximately 76% of the City’s total population.

Pushing the urban envelope is a hillside community of 2,800 called Promontory. This community is situated near the southern end of Sardis-Vedder and is still in an active phase of development.  It could attain a population of 6,000 or more upon completion: it represents a new direction of urban expansion in the City.

Hillside development has spread to the Eastern Hillsides, a 3,300-acre area adjoining the City’s eastern boundary. Suburban subdivision development began in the Eighties and it is now a neighbourhood of nearly 900 residents. According to the Eastern Hillsides Comprehensive Development Plan (reviewed in 2000), it could have a build-out population of 8,000. As major infrastructure capital works are needed, full-scale development might still be several years away. Nevertheless, some subdivision projects that are serviced by the existing systems have already proceeded and new development proposals are in the works.

Another suburban hillside community is Chilliwack Mountain, just a short distance west of Chilliwack proper. It consists of both fully serviced subdivisions and semi-serviced residential estates, while offering some "town homes" (duplexes and triplexes). As much of the mountain remains under a forest cover, the area shows a strong rural estate character. The present population is about 1,000, approximately one-third of its ultimate development capacity.

By comparison, the traditional rural communities appear to be large. In the east is Rosedale (about 2,100), which, in conjunction with the East Chilliwack farming area north of the Trans Canada Highway, has a total population of 4,200. In the west is Yarrow, the largest rural settlement on the valley floor well-known for its pottery and home to 3,000 residents. When Yarrow, Greendale (a rural settlement steeped in Mennonite heritage) and their surrounding farming areas are grouped together, their combined population is 5,700.  And if all of the valley floor rural settlements and farming areas are put together, their total population approaches 11,000 or 15% of the City total.

In summary, Chilliwack has both a strong urban sector and a substantial rural presence. Its varied communities and landscapes offer diverse life style choices. Through densification and redevelopment, its valley floor urban communities will continue to grow and consolidate within the Urban Corridor. Although they will become more urban with the anticipated population growth, their vision of "a city within a sea of green" will continue. On the hillsides where new communities are being developed or planned, their footprints and impact will be minimized through careful environmental design. Chilliwack intends to preserve its green environment in an increasingly urban world.

The average age of Chilliwack’s population is 36.4, which is about the same as BC (36.9). However, the child and youth population (0-19) of Chilliwack is noticeably higher (28%) than the provincial average (26%). At 16% of the total population, Chilliwack’s senior population (65 and over) also exceeds the provincial senior percentage (12%). Naturally, the 20 - 64 population is somewhat under-represented in Chilliwack when compared with the provincial average.

The projections in Table 5 and Table 6 suggest the aging trend will surpass the youth population growth - unless there is a substantial shift in in-migration trends. In the next two decades, the seniors’ number could go up to 17% of the City’s total population, whereas the child and youth generation might contract to 25%. The increase in the senior population reflects the trend of baby-boomers’ moving up the age ladder, as well as the fact that seniors are living longer. Among the seniors, the elderly (80+) cohort has been the fastest growing group. In terms of labour force, the working-age population (20 - 64) in Chilliwack will continue to grow, thus ensuring a strong economic future.

See Also:

Table 5 - Population Cohort Projections (OCP Trends)  Table 6 - Population Cohort Projections -% (OCP Trends) Table 7 - Population Projections by Age Group (OCP Trends) Table 8 - Population Projections by Age Group - % (OCP Trends)