History
The completion of the Yale-New Westminster Wagon Road in 1873/1874 led directly to the settlement of Rosedale. J.C. Henderson and T.H. Henderson acquired land near the present town site in the early 1880s. A host of others followed. By 1890, there were enough families in the area to warrant building a school. This original one-room school, with fifteen students, was located at the corner of Yale and McGrath Roads. This corner became the commercial centre of the community. There have been a variety of businesses located at this busy corner since the turn of the century, including a bank, stores, restaurants, garages, rooming house and post office. The corner remains the centre for the community.
The area's population boomed beginning in the 1890s. This boom lasted for more than thirty years, fuelled by the logging, railway and farming industries. It was a transition period that saw farms replace sawmills.
During this period the Methodist (now United, 1908) and Anglican (1912) churches were built and a hotel (1910), a new four room school (1914), community hall (1925) and some of the community’s outstanding heritage farmhouses were built. Many of these links to this period can still be found in Rosedale.
Location
Rosedale is a farming-based community a short distance east of Chilliwack. It is considered a neighbourhood within the City of Chilliwack.
Places to See
- Minter Gardens
A 32 acre world-class show garden designed to dazzle the senses: 11 themed gardens, 2 fabulous restaurants, and a wonderful gift & plant shop.
- Dinotown
A Jurassic family adventure with rides and stage shows that are fun for the whole family.
- Trans-Canada Waterslides
Wet fun for all ages from June to September! Featuring the 125-metre (400-foot) Black Hole, tubing, and a giant hot tub.
Things to Do
- Fishing
The Chilliwack area offers a wide variety of fishing challenges. The Fraser River is one of the most productive rivers in North America for salmon, steelhead, and world record sized sturgeon. If the Fraser is too high for bar fishing, you can fish tributary creeks for prized chinook. These tough fighting fish can weigh up to 60 lbs! In 1993 a new sockeye fishery opened, providing some of the best fishing you'll find anywhere.
Over the summer months, the river level drops daily and numerous gravel bars are exposed where anglers drop in a line for the day. The chinook and sockeye run through until the fall. Steelhead and coho begin to enter the river in early September, so there is a chance at catching a variety of fish in the same day.
- Boating
Cultus Lake is an ideal location for swimming, sailing, or boating.
- Hiking
Mountains of adventure await you in Chilliwack. Whether you're a serious or a novice outdoors enthusiast, your quest for outdoor thrills begins and ends on and around the mountains. Chilliwack Hiking Trail brochures are available from the Tourism Chilliwack Visitor Centre and include detailed information on 26 of the most popular trails in the eastern Fraser Valley. All trails are colour coded for degree of difficulty.
Events
- Chilliwack Exhibition
The Chilliwack Exhibition consists of many different events and competitions, such as livestock shows, crafts, floral, hobbies, and many other exciting types of entertainment for everyone.
- Hope River Classic
A 5 and 8 kilometre run/walk/wheel event for the Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of BC. A picturesque, rural route through Fraser Valley farmland. Pets are welcome! Join 200+ participants in a relaxed "finishing is winning" atmosphere.
- Chilliwack Bluegrass Festival
Bluegrass music workshops and shows all weekend long. Fun for the whole family!
Contact Information
Tourism Chilliwack
Tourism Chilliwack Visitor Centre
44150 Luckakuck Way
Chilliwack, BC V2R 4A7
Telephone: 604-858-8121
Toll-Free: 1-800-567-9535
Fax: 604-858-0157
Email: info@tourismchilliwack.com
Website: www.tourismchilliwack.com
