Fraser Valley
Regional Overview
Fraser Valley school districts are large employers in the region. Over three years, the region's population has grown, and so has student enrollment. In the 2020/21 school year, Fraser Valley public schools enrolled over 64,000 students.
Five public school district employers make up BC's Fraser Valley region: Abbotsford School District, Langley School District, Chilliwack School District, Fraser Cascade School District, and Mission School District. There are also nine independent schools that operate in the region including the Catholic Independent Schools, Archdiocese of Vancouver and Langley Christian School.
Bordered by Metro Vancouver to the west and the Okanagan region to the east, the Fraser Valley has a total population of approximately 296,000. people, which is almost 1/8 smaller than the population of Metro Vancouver communities.
The West Coast Express rail line connects the communities of Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Mission to each other, and to the city of Vancouver, while the Trans Canada Highway provides a short trip into Vancouver if travelling by car.
Featured Employers
Abbotsford 34
46 Schools | 20,000 Students | 2,500 Employees
Chilliwack 33
30 Schools | 14,000 Students | 1,800 Employees
Fraser Cascade 78
10 Schools | 1,815 Students | 275 Employees
K-12 Employers
Public School Employers
Francophone School Board
Culture
The Fraser Valley region is home to a very active arts community and many artists and artisans open their studios to the public on weekends. Culture is highly valued here, a sentiment that is being reflected with Cultural Centre performance venue in the city of Chilliwack, which houses a 500-seat performance theatre, an art gallery, and a 150-seat recital hall.
Lifestyle
The Fraser Valley offers a unique combination of country living and city style. Located just a short distance from the city of Vancouver, inhabitants of the Fraser Valley often travel into the city for a day of shopping or night of entertainment and then return to their more quiet surroundings. Fruit lovers will enjoy the berry picking opportunities in summer at various farms and orchards throughout the region. As an added bonus, the valley floor has the mildest climate in Canada and some very affordable housing compared to nearby Vancouver. Recently, the area has undergone significant development with the addition of new housing and facilities, which has created more opportunities for arts, culture, and recreation.
Select a school district to learn more about teaching careers and other employment opportunities in the Fraser Valley.