I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Canada Day. I love this Country and no matter what some will say it is still one of the best Countries in the world. I know some will say things look bleak right now. Things have looked bleak before yet, we are here still.
Stay positive and look to the beauty this Country has to offer.
🗓️ What’s Happening in Abbotsford This Week
🎨 Create With Us (Thursday, July 2 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM): Kick off the week by bringing your current creative project or utilizing on-site materials at the OPEN Space cultural hub in Downtown Abbotsford for a relaxed, collaborative community crafting session.
🎶 Jam in Jubilee (Thursday, July 2 | Evening): The popular summer concert series returns to Jubilee Park for its weekly run throughout July. Expect an evening filled with fantastic live music from local performers and a vibrant community art market.
🍻 Official Jam After-Party (Thursday, July 2 | 10:00 PM – Late): When the park stage wraps up, the party moves indoors. There is an official 19+ after-party happening immediately following the headliners at The Tipsy Barrel.
🏒 Canucks Prospect 3-on-3 Tournament (Thursday, July 2 | Daytime): If you want some high-energy action before the music starts, the Vancouver Canucks' annual development camp at the Abbotsford Centre wraps up today with a live, public three-on-three prospect tournament.
🧵 Beginner Sewing Workshop (Saturday, July 4 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM): Head back to OPEN Space in Downtown Abbotsford for a hands-on introductory sewing class. Instructors will guide beginners through machine setup, basic seams, and troubleshooting while you create a custom accessory (machines and fabric provided).
🚨 Save the Date: Coming Up Next Week!
🍓 Downtown Berry Fest (Saturday, July 11 | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM): Mark your calendars for Abbotsford’s massive annual street festival celebrating our status as the Berry Capital of Canada! Enjoy main stage entertainment, magic shows, local vendors, and the legendary pie-eating contests.
🤠 Koe Wetzel: The Night Champion World Tour (Saturday, July 11 | 7:30 PM): Looking a bit further ahead, country-rocker Koe Wetzel is bringing his massive world tour to the Rogers Forum (Abbotsford Centre) next weekend, featuring special guests Bayker Blankenship and Pecos & the Rooftops.
📜 Abbotsford History Moment: The Great 1924 Lake Disappearance
historic Sumas Lake draining BC. Source: abbynews.com
Did you know that one of Abbotsford’s most productive agricultural areas used to be completely underwater?
Until the 1920s, Sumas Lake dominated the landscape between Abbotsford and Chilliwack. It was a massive, shallow body of water spanning over 10,000 acres that was a vital resource for the indigenous Stó:lō people. However, it also flooded the surrounding valley every spring, bringing massive swarms of mosquitoes.
In 1920, a massive engineering project was launched to completely drain the lake to create more usable farmland. Engineers constructed:
The Vedder Canal to divert the roaring river water.
A massive network of drainage ditches.
The Barrowtown Pump Station, which at the time was one of the largest pumping operations in the British Empire.
By 1924, the lake was officially gone, exposing a completely flat, nutrient-rich lakebed of incredibly fertile soil. This massive engineering feat instantly transformed the region's economy, laying the literal groundwork for Abbotsford to grow into a dairy farming hub and the "Raspberry Capital of Canada."
Archival collections, such as those held by The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford and the Chilliwack Museum and Archives, preserve remarkable images from this era. These include photographs of the original vast lakebed, the construction crews digging the diversion canals, and the early days of the Barrowtown Pump Station as it worked to reshape the geography of the valley.
🏙️ Around Town: Abbotsford News & Updates
🎭 West Railway Plaza Comes to Life in Historic Downtown
The historic core is getting a vibrant cultural boost. The City of Abbotsford has officially partnered with the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA) to activate the newly constructed West Railway Plaza.
Designed to serve as a dynamic new downtown art and community hub, the plaza will showcase local artists, host pop-up vendors, and bring fresh weekend energy to the neighborhood. Whether you are grabbing a coffee downtown or out for a weekend stroll, keep an eye on this space over the coming weeks as public installations and local markets begin to set up shop.
💧 Good Neighbor Reminder: Stage 1 Water Restrictions Now in Effect
As the summer heat begins to roll into the valley, the City of Abbotsford has officially initiated Stage 1 water restrictions to help conserve our collective seasonal supply.
Under Stage 1 guidelines, residents are asked to limit lawn sprinkling to designated mornings only (even-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays; odd-numbered addresses on Thursdays and Sundays). Taking a few small steps to mind the tap ensures our reservoirs stay healthy and our community remains fire-safe all summer long.
💼 The Abby Opportunity Board
Looking for a new gig, a summer role, or a meaningful way to give back to the community? Here are a few immediate openings right here in Abbotsford:
📢 Now Hiring: Paid Positions
The Role: If you love working with the public, the city is hiring for auxiliary customer service roles to help manage community groups and general public inquiries. It features a flexible schedule with potential for up to 40 hours a week over the summer.
Pay: $27.75 – $32.65 per hour.
🤝 Now Needed: Volunteer Opportunities
The Impact: Fraser Health is looking for friendly faces (ages 16+) to help patients and families navigate their hospital visits. Roles range from greeting people at wayfinding stations to handling cashier duties at the Auxiliary Gift Shop. It requires a regular commitment of one 3-to-4 hour shift per week.
The Impact: With one of Abbotsford's favorite summer traditions approaching fast, the Agrifair team is actively recruiting volunteers. They need help with everything from taking tickets at the gate to assisting back in the barns. It’s a fantastic way for students or families to get involved in local agricultural history.
Have a local job opening or volunteer drive you want featured next week? Reply directly to this email to let us know!
I still have some openings next week before I leave for a week’s holidays for Laptop or Computer Repair, Data Extraction etc.
Before you recycle that older, slow laptop why not see if it can be brought back to life. My goal is to see as many of these machines kept out of landfill as I can.
If I can’t fix it, you don’t pay.
Check out my blog at W. James Wright
Hope everyone has a great week. My blog has a post about available online Transcriptionist work and is a work in progress.
Remember do good and be kind!