Living in Maple Ridge

Stephen Ellis: Managing Broker, eCo Realty Inc., Metro Vancouver, British Columbia

Maple Ridge has affordable real estate in a community noted for its mild climate, idyllic surroundings, and urban amenities. Recent expansion in transit options have made living and commuting to other urban centres efficient; future transit plans promise even easier access. Maple Ridge attracts active and curious people who appreciate good value. It is 40 minutes from Downtown Vancouver by train and just over an hour by car.

History

First People
Maple Ridge’s first people are the Katzie Nation, of the Sto:Lo people. They fished, farmed and gathered bivalves, but are distinctive for their use of agriculture. They grew cranberries and Wapato, a potato-like tuber, which they traded for saltwater resources with coastal people when live game was scarcer in their region. They are also notable for having developed their own system of cartography, and have a written record of their entire history.

Early Settlement
In the 1820s, when Queensborough (New Westminster) was the western headquarters of the British empire in North America, the Hudson’s Bay Company set up a post in the in the Haney area, on the north bank of the Fraser River. Maple Ridge’s first resident, farmer John McIver bought his land parcel in 1859, naming it for a stand of maple trees that grew on the ridge between what is now Hammond and Haney. Over time, more settlers came to farm and harvest timber. Early ethnic groups that settled here include Finnish, Japanese and Dutch.

Industry and Development
In 1861, Semiahoo Road was built, and in 1874, the district was incorporated, originally with the floodplain that is now Pitt Meadows. Less than a decade later, Port Haney’s town site was established as the Canadian Pacific Railway began its Maple Ridge building phase. The years between 1900 and 1912 were a busy time for the town; the postal service was established, Dewdney Trunk Road built, the community’s first newspaper, “The Gazette” was published and electricity first reached Haney. Construction of the Lougheed Highway in 1928 opened up the region to the rest of the developing Lower Mainland.

Geography

Maple Ridge is comprised of a few communities, including its namesake and core, then Haney, Hammond and several others. It is located north of the Fraser River opposite Fort Langley and beyond Coquitlam, with the City of Pitt Meadows to its west. The vast natural reserve of Golden Ears Provincial Park encompasses its northern boundary. The next major town upstream is Mission, following the Fraser River in a southwest direction.

Zoning and Architecture

Through careful civic planning, Maple Ridge strives to achieve an economic and ecological balance, working to attract investors while retaining the natural beauty of the region.

Most existing homes in this bedroom community are detached ranchers and split-level houses, but an emergent condominium industry is working to meet the increasing growth.

Local farming produces berries and root vegetables, but timber was the staple industry and continues to be so, with Interfor being one of the main employers. As a major equestrian center in BC, breeding is another heritage industry that has persisted here.

Shops and Services

Maple Ridge and neighbouring Pitt Meadows are served by Haney Place Mall and Valley Fair Mall, offering all-in-one shops and services. For the farm-fresh organic experience, Haney Farmers’ Market and the Circle Farm Tour are fun and sociable alternatives, which also have the benefit of supporting local producers.

Parks and Recreation

Public Parkland & Trails
Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadow have seriously invested in making the area cycle-friendly. Excellent low-traffic bikeways and multi-use trails, including the CPR Walkway and several dyke trails, are safe, efficient and comprehensive in their coverage. For those who prefer four-hoofed rides, there are over 100 kilometers of equestrian trail.

Nature Parks
With 33 parks in the Ridge-Meadows area, there are enough to accommodate a lifetime of exploration and relaxation. Notables include Golden Ears Provincial Park, with hiking, backcountry skiing and camping, and Kanaka Creek Trail with its ethereal falls and fish hatchery.

Recreation
Extensive recreation facilities include the Leisure Centre, with four multipurpose pools and several training rooms. The Greg Moore Youth Center provides training, sports, health and other programs for youth aged 13-18 years. The Seniors Centre has a pool room, banquets, carpet bowling, activity rooms and support groups. There are two ice arenas, one of which switches to cement for summer sports. Six local golf courses abundantly meet the needs of those who swing the irons.

Culture and Events

Arts
The community has an impressive wealth of organizations and facilities for arts and heritage. The scene’s hub is the Arts Centre & Theatre at Haney Place, a facility which enables public participation in crafts, fine arts, and darkroom photography through the provision of lessons, workshops and open studios.

Tours, receptions and an artist-in-residence make Maple Ridge Art Gallery a vibrant and relevant community fixture. There is also a 500-seat theatre which is home to contemporary theatre and presentations.

Events
Maple Ridge manages an active social calendar, with events such as the Ridge Meadows Home Show, Celebration of the Arts, Jazz and Blues Festival and Agricultural Fair celebrating the community’s historical and contemporary culture.

Schools, Services and Sustainability Links

The well ranked School District 42 has a highly progressive approach to programming. Operating concurrently with te regular curriculum are specialized programs as wide ranging as the Digital Arts, and Equestrian Studies, and Hockey Specialization, the latter having produced such luminaries as Brendan Morrison and Andrew Ladd.

Post-Secondary institutions include Ridge Meadows College and the University of the Fraser Valley.

A comprehensive set of helpful links to community resources is under construction, so please check back soon.

Transportation

Bikeways
Numerous low-traffic bikeways and trails make bike riding throughout the towns of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows safe, enjoyable and realistic transportation options.

Transit
Translink has increased alternatives to the automobile travel through a combination of public transit programs over the years, including suburban express buses and the West Coast Express providing rapid service between town and outlying areas. Regular buses and community shuttles serve commuters within the district.

Roadways
Presently, the municipality’s main link with its neighbours is the Lougheed Highway. Upgrades are coming soon, with plans for the Golden Ears and Pitt River Bridges set for opening in 2009. Golden Ears Bridge will link Langley and Surrey across the river with the north bank communities, providing support to the Albion Ferry. The cyclist and pedestrian friendly Pitt River Bridge will replace existing swing bridges, as well as the Lougheed Highway and Mary Hill Bypass.