 Mission
In the heart of the Fraser Valley is Mission, named after St. Mary's Mission, founded in 1861 to spread Christianity to the local natives and control rowdy miners on their way to the gold fields. But the area's history goes back much farther than that.
For thousands of years people have been stopping along the shores of the Fraser River to build homes and take advantage of the abundant salmon , towering cedars and bountiful berries and game.
The area was so rich, that visitors soon brought trade goods from hundreds of miles away; visitors have been coming ever since but now to experience the amenities, the history and wonderful recreational opportunities that await them. Bird watchers will be entranced by the bald eagles and trumpeter swans that frequent the area in winter. The surrounding lakes and mountains provide fishing, hiking, camping and skiing for the outdoor enthusiast
At one time the railway line at Mission Junction was the only rail link between B.C. and the U.S.; the original station is in the process of being restored to keep alive that part of Mission's history. In nearby Harrison Mills, visitors can browse through the Kilby Historic Store and Farm. There is also a map of historic buildings throughout Mission that is available through the Tourist InfoCentre.
Whether you want to traipse through a series of scenic waterfalls, hike or ski the nearby trails or fish in the many lakes, the outstanding mountain, river, lake and valley views with their accompanying year round recreational opportunities, the town's many events and the preservation if its history makes Mission a place for all.
Population: 29,225.
Elevation: 12 m. (39 ft.).
Access: Access from Vancouver is either along the TransCanada Highway and turning north at Abbotsford or following Highway 7 (71 km/44 mi.). The area is serviced by bus and rail lines.
Recreation Facilities & Activities: Golf course, raceway, walking trails, baseball diamonds, horse shows, parks, beaches, boating, fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, downhill and cross country skiing.
Local Attractions: Fraser River Heritage Park, Museum & Fire Museum, Mission Raceway, Cascade Falls Regional Park, Hatzik Rock (archaeological site), Heritage Park evening concerts, Rolley Lake Provincial Park, Ruskin Dam Recreation Site (spawning channel), Cascade Falls, Matsqui Trail Regional Park, Hayward Park Conservation Area, community theater, Westminster Abbey, Inch Creek Fish Hatchery, Hemlock Valley ski resort, Stave Falls Dam
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