3. Pitt Meadows - Description
City incorporated in 1914
Population: 18,200
Size: 8825 hectares of land and water
86% of land in Agricultural Land Reserve
85% of residents live in the 404 hectare urban core
Located in the Lower Fraser Valley, east of Vancouver,
situated on the north side of the Fraser River at its junction
with the Pitt River
40 km of dikes protect community from flooding and
provide a multi-use trail system
Contains some of Canada’s most productive, lush farmland
crops, particularly blueberries and cranberries
4. Pitt Meadows – Community Profile
Age demographics (% of population)
0 – 19 years 26%
20 – 39 years 26%
40 – 59 years 32%
60 + years 16%
Aboriginal Identity Population: 385 (300 live on reserve)
Private Households: 6718
Language spoken most often at home
English 89%
Other 11%
Visible minority 15%
Median Income $ 32,830
8.4% of people in low income bracket
9.3% of total income for community comes from government
transfers
5. Needs Map
Traffic &
Affordable
Poverty Transportation
Housing
Issues
Social service Many resources
Partnerships with
offices not shared with
Katzie First
located in neighbouring
Nation
community community
More revenues
Environmental Broad range of to pay for
Sensitivity income levels services
6. First inhabitants of Pitt Meadows
Coast Salish People
Halkomelem Dialect
460 members
300 members reside on 150 acre reserve located
in Pitt Meadows
Developing partnerships with City of Pitt Meadows
for various services and programs
8. Traffic issues
The worst intersection for motorcycle crashes locally is Lougheed
Highway and Harris Road, where 588 crashes have taken place
since 2007. The New/Files
Published: July 26, 2012 4:00 PM
9. Strengths & Capacity Map
Individuals Primary
Gifts, Skills, Capacity and Knowledge of City Hall
residents, including youth, adults, and Two community centres
seniors Recreation centre, arts and rec programs for
all ages
Racial and Ethnic diversity Seniors Centre
Economic diversity Events and festivals
Equipment and resources Pitt Meadows Community Foundation and
Association
Preschools
Secondary
Daycares
Youth lounge and skate park
Community Policing office Churches
Fire department Chamber of Commerce
Heritage and Museum Society
Schools – 4 elementary, 1 high school Agricultural Land
Library Playgrounds, Sports fields
Social Services delivered by Maple Ridge Local business
Pitt Meadows Community Services
Transportation – roads, bus, commuter Potential
train, airport
Parks, diking system, trails & bike paths, Metro Vancouver Parks Board
golf courses BC Housing – more subsidized units
Housing co-ops, low income and seniors Capital improvements for infrastructure
housing Generating revenue through non-tax
Commercial businesses, banks revenues such as fees for filming, highway
Doctors, lawyers, dentists, specialists use, signs and permits
10. Aboriginal Services
Fraser River All Nations Aboriginal Society
Support / Volunteer program – connects adults with
developmental disabilities with volunteer opportunities
in community
Legal resources
Child, youth and family services
Seniors
Mental Health
11. New Westbrooke Seniors Living Community
Includes a 9500 sq. ft. Seniors Centre which contains
facilities for social events, a large hall with stage, arts
and crafts room and lounge
Designed in cooperation with the Ridge Meadows
Seniors Society and will be run by a non profit, in
partnership with Parks and Leisure Services.
12. Bringing People Together for a Better Pitt Meadows
Goal
To join hands with community partners, offering
public events that capture a community
atmosphere, a sense of neighbourhood, advance
knowledge through community lectures and to
facilitate effective dialogue and interaction
between all interested parties.
13. Events & Festivals
o Pitt Meadows Day
o Osprey Days
o Summer Serenade
o Bard in the Square
o Heritage days
o Osprey Village Tree lighting
o Terry Fox Run
o Canada Day celebration
o Sports Tournaments
14. Thousands of people lined the streets in Pitt Meadows on Saturday
to cheer on the 75 entries in the annual parade.
Photograph by: Sylver McLaren and Tracy Boyd , Special to The
TIMES
15. Spirit of Wood
Community Carving
Project
o Designed by a local artist to
celebrate the rich history
and traditions of the Katzie
First Nations, as well as sports
and recreation partnerships,
festivals, community
volunteers, Pitt Meadows
airport and Golden Ears
bridge
o 1060 residents of Pitt
Meadows and Maple Ridge
participated at over 40
carving sessions
o Carvings are located in the
new Pitt Meadows library
I have listed the Katzie First Nation on the Needs Map, but they are also part of the Strengths Map under racial diversity. Although the Katzie people have many needs, I believe they are also one of the biggest strengths of the community.
One of the biggest challenges mentioned by City Councillors was protecting the environmental sensitive land of the community.
Both a City Councillor and a RCMP Constable told me that traffic issues were one of the biggest challenges faced by the community.
MRPM Community Services is a definite strength within the community. Some programs are run in Pitt Meadows, although some are in Maple Ridge, as the offices are located there. Many resources are shared with Maple Ridge, which can be both positive and negative. Because Maple Ridge is the bigger city, Pitt Meadows residents often have to go there for services.
Currently under construction, it will be finished in the Fall of this year.
This is a relatively new association. I went to one of their community events and found it met their goals of capturing a community atmosphere and sense of neighbourhood.
This is just a sample of some of the events and festivals in Pitt Meadows. For the most part, they really build a sense of community, as they are open to everyone and are usually free.
Pitt Meadows Day is the biggest event of the year in the community. It is a full day event with activities for all ages, ending with fireworks at night. As the news article mentions, thousands of people participate.
I was unable to get a picture of the carvings, but I have seen them in the library and they are really quite amazing when you consider how many “unskilled” people worked on them. I think it is another good example of community building.