District of Matsqui
Encyclopedia
Matsqui is a former District Municipality in British Columbia
, Canada
. It was incorporated in 1892, and merged with the District Municipality of Abbotsford in 1995 to create the new City of Abbotsford
. Matsqui used to be the west part of what is now Abbotsford. It had commercial growth in the Clearbrook area which then spilled over to Abbotsford.
The name Matsqui can also be used to refer to a small historic village located on Matsqui Prairie, known as Matsqui Village, which was also formerly part of the District Municipality of Matsqui. It can be found to the immediate northwest of the present day junction of Harris Road and British Columbia Highway 11 (just south of the Fraser River
) in what is now the City of Abbotsford. A branch line of the Canadian Pacific Railway
also runs from Mission, British Columbia
to the US border through the eastern boundary of the village. The Matsqui station of the Canadian National Railway
line is northeast of the village, on the far side of Highway 11.
The word Matsqui derives from the local First Nation language Halkomelem and means a "stretch of higher ground." The Matsqui people, who are part of the Sto:lo
group historically known as the Fraser River Salish, remain resident in the area to the west of Matsqui Village, to the south of Matsqui Island
(which is included in their reserve and is one of the larger islands in the lower Fraser River). Their government is the Matsqui First Nation
, which is a member band of the Sto:lo Nation
, one of two Sto:lo tribal councils.
Matsqui Prairie refers to the floodplain
surrounding the village, which lies between the bulk of Sumas Mountain to the west, and the Mount Lehman-Bradner upland to the west, and the upland containing Clearbrook
and downtown Abbotsford to the south. Matsqui Prairie was inundated in both of the great Fraser River Floods of 1894 and 1948, with Matsqui Village and surrounding farms devastated by flooding.
A communications station of the Canadian Forces, CFS Matsqui, is located on the northeastern edge of Matsqui Prairie adjacent to the foot of Sumas Mountain.
prior to the expansion of Metro Vancouver, and now are part of the Fraser Valley Regional District
which includes Mission, British Columbia
and unincorporated areas to its east on the north side of the Fraser, and which formerly had been part of the Dewdney-Alouette Regional District
with Maple Ridge
and Pitt Meadows, which are now in Metro Vancouver.
Prior to 1995 Matsqui encompassed McCallum Road west to Station Rd (276 St) and from the Sumas Border to the Fraser River. Abbotsford encompassed McCallum Road east to the Vedder River and also from the Sumas Border to the Fraser River.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was incorporated in 1892, and merged with the District Municipality of Abbotsford in 1995 to create the new City of Abbotsford
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
. Matsqui used to be the west part of what is now Abbotsford. It had commercial growth in the Clearbrook area which then spilled over to Abbotsford.
The name Matsqui can also be used to refer to a small historic village located on Matsqui Prairie, known as Matsqui Village, which was also formerly part of the District Municipality of Matsqui. It can be found to the immediate northwest of the present day junction of Harris Road and British Columbia Highway 11 (just south of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
) in what is now the City of Abbotsford. A branch line of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
also runs from Mission, British Columbia
Mission, British Columbia
Mission, the core of which was formerly known as Mission City, is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated on the north bank of the Fraser River overlooking the City of Abbotsford and with that city is part of the Central Fraser Valley. Mission is the...
to the US border through the eastern boundary of the village. The Matsqui station of the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
line is northeast of the village, on the far side of Highway 11.
The word Matsqui derives from the local First Nation language Halkomelem and means a "stretch of higher ground." The Matsqui people, who are part of the Sto:lo
Stó:lo
The Sto:lo , alternately written as Stó:lō, Stó:lô or Stó:lõ and historically as Staulo or Stahlo, and historically known and commonly referred to in ethnographic literature as the Fraser River Indians or Lower Fraser Salish, are a group of First Nations peoples inhabiting the Fraser Valley of...
group historically known as the Fraser River Salish, remain resident in the area to the west of Matsqui Village, to the south of Matsqui Island
Matsqui Island
Matsqui Island is a large island in the Fraser River in the Central Fraser Valley region of British Columbia, Canada, located between the City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission and about a mile downstream from the Mission Bridge...
(which is included in their reserve and is one of the larger islands in the lower Fraser River). Their government is the Matsqui First Nation
Matsqui First Nation
The Popkum First Nation or Popkum Indian Band is a band government of the Sto:lo people located in the Central Fraser Valley region, at Matsqui, in the northern part of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. They are a member government of the Sto:lo Nation tribal council.-References:...
, which is a member band of the Sto:lo Nation
Stó:lo Nation
The Sto:lo Nation is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Fraser Valley region of the Canadian province of British Columbia that is the tribal council for First Nations band governments in the area of Chilliwack, Abbotsford and at NIcomen Island. This tribal council should not be confused with...
, one of two Sto:lo tribal councils.
Matsqui Prairie refers to the floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
surrounding the village, which lies between the bulk of Sumas Mountain to the west, and the Mount Lehman-Bradner upland to the west, and the upland containing Clearbrook
Clearbrook, British Columbia
Clearbrook is a neighbourhood of the City of Abbotsford, British Columbia, located in the western portion of the city in the vicinity of Clearbrook Road. The area was originally known as Sandy Flats or West Abbotsford, and was located in the Poplar district of the Matsqui Municipality...
and downtown Abbotsford to the south. Matsqui Prairie was inundated in both of the great Fraser River Floods of 1894 and 1948, with Matsqui Village and surrounding farms devastated by flooding.
A communications station of the Canadian Forces, CFS Matsqui, is located on the northeastern edge of Matsqui Prairie adjacent to the foot of Sumas Mountain.
Regional district
Matsqui municipality, the original Village of Abbotsford and the former District of Sumas and adjoining unincorporated areas, mostly Sumas Mountain, formed the Central Fraser Valley Regional DistrictCentral Fraser Valley Regional District
The Central Fraser Valley Regional District was a regional district in the province of British Columbia, Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region, south of the Fraser River and west of Chilliwack...
prior to the expansion of Metro Vancouver, and now are part of the Fraser Valley Regional District
Fraser Valley Regional District
The Fraser Valley Regional District is a regional district in British Columbia, Canada. The FVRD covers an area of 13,361.74 km²...
which includes Mission, British Columbia
Mission, British Columbia
Mission, the core of which was formerly known as Mission City, is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated on the north bank of the Fraser River overlooking the City of Abbotsford and with that city is part of the Central Fraser Valley. Mission is the...
and unincorporated areas to its east on the north side of the Fraser, and which formerly had been part of the Dewdney-Alouette Regional District
Dewdney-Alouette Regional District
The Dewdney-Alouette Regional District was a regional district in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, comprising the district municipalities of Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and Mission and uncincorporated areas east to the Harrison River and north to the southern end of Lillooet Lake...
with Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Maple Ridge is a District Municipality in British Columbia, located in the northeastern section of Metro Vancouver. Maple Ridge has a population of approximately 68,949.-History:...
and Pitt Meadows, which are now in Metro Vancouver.
Prior to 1995 Matsqui encompassed McCallum Road west to Station Rd (276 St) and from the Sumas Border to the Fraser River. Abbotsford encompassed McCallum Road east to the Vedder River and also from the Sumas Border to the Fraser River.
See also
- Abbotsford, British ColumbiaAbbotsford, British ColumbiaAbbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
- Fraser ValleyFraser ValleyThe Fraser Valley is the section of the Fraser River basin in southwestern British Columbia downstream of the Fraser Canyon. The term is sometimes used to refer to the Fraser Canyon and stretches upstream from there, but in general British Columbian usage of the term refers to the stretch of the...
- Fraser Valley Regional DistrictFraser Valley Regional DistrictThe Fraser Valley Regional District is a regional district in British Columbia, Canada. The FVRD covers an area of 13,361.74 km²...