Chilliwack’s redevelopment of the former Canadian Forces Base was honoured with two awards last week by an international development agency.
The educational successes at Canada Education Park received gold and silver awards. The gold was for “excellence in Economic Development in the category of Partnership with Educational Institutions.” The silver was for “excellence in Economic Development in the category of Real Estate Redevelopment and Reuse.”
The recognition came by way of the Washington, D.C.-based International Economic Development Council (IEDC) at its annual conference in Toronto last week.
Canada Education Park is a multi-agency educational partnership that includes the University of the Fraser Valley, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pacific Regional Training Centre, the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and the Canada Border Services Agency, all representing close to 13,000 students and trainees on campus each year and employing approximately 470 people.
The park is on 200 acres on the former CFB Chilliwack, which was closed by the federal government in 1997.
“The real estate and infrastructure improvements and new commercial and residential developments at both Canada Education Park and Garrison Crossing have resulted in a complete and sustainable neighbourhood that minimizes the impacts of redevelopment, while retaining and celebrating the military legacy,” said CEPCO in a statement announcing the awards.
READ MORE: Six Chilliwack developers finalists for Fraser Valley housing awards
IEDC board chair Michael Langley congratulated CEPCO in a press release issued Monday.
“Not only did they work to provide a necessary service to their community, but also their participation in the awards program sheds light on their stellar projects which other communities can now use as a benchmark,” said Langley who is also CEO of CEPCO’s equivalent organization in Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN.
The IEDC is described as a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers with more than 5,000 members.
@PeeJayAitch
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.