Council Blogs

Mayor Siemens announcing the award winners at the 17th CityStudio Hubbub on April 9.

Today’s solutions from tomorrow’s leaders



CityStudio is a partnership program between the City of Abbotsford and the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) that challenges university students to tackle civic issues and provide prototype solutions.

CityStudio supports the launch of…

Encampment at Whatcom Road

Addressing encampments on provincial land



Homelessness continues to be one of the most complex and challenging issues facing the City of Abbotsford, as well as communities across Canada. Over the past decade, the City has been working closely with BC Housing and other provincial government…

Springtime is the perfect time to enjoy our parks and playgrounds.

Spring brings greenery to Abbotsford scenery



At last spring is upon us. And as we prepare for rainclouds to give way to sunshine, it’s time to celebrate the season of growth and renewal.

In Abbotsford we’re proud of our beautiful parks and trails, especially at this time of year when they…

Housing highlights blog graphic

Making progress on housing in Abbotsford



Abbotsford is a growing city, and as our population increases, we’re doing our part to make sure all our residents have a place to call home.

Throughout City Council’s 2022-2026 term, we have been working with our Planning and Development…

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service crews rescued a hiker on the Sumas Mountain trails on Feb. 21, 2026.

Supporting our fearless firefighters



Every day, members of the Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service (AFRS) respond to emergencies to protect public safety and property in our city.

Community safety is embedded into one of City Council’s four guiding principles, and AFRS is one of our…

Mayor Siemens and Councillors Barkman, Driessen, Gibson, Loewen and Ross met with the Abbotsford Youth Commission Youth Council on March 3 at City Hall.

Council hears about youth issues straight from the source



It’s always inspiring when we get to interact with young people who are passionate about our community and want to help make it a better place for everybody.

On March 3, Mayor and Council met with the Abbotsford Youth Commission (AYC) Youth…

Castle Fun Park co-owners Brian Wiebe and Colleen Miller take City Council and staff inside the rotunda during their Business Spotlight tour on Feb. 18.

Council tour puts Castle Fun Park in the spotlight



This week City Council visited a beloved Abbotsford landmark that has been bringing joy to local families (including ours) for generations.

On Feb. 18, Mayor Siemens and Councillors Chahal, Driessen, Gibson, Loewen and Ross visited Castle Fun…

Abbotsford City Council deliberating on the City’s 2026 budget during their Feb. 10 meeting.

City Council endorses 2026 budget



This week City Council endorsed the City’s 2026-2030 Financial Plan, with an emphasis on the 2026 budget. The Financial Plan outlines how we will be allocating the City’s financial resources for the coming year and the years to come.

This year…

Mayor Siemens, Minister Greene and Chief Silver meet with Ministers Olszewski and Robertson to discuss flood mitigation in Sumas Prairie

Feds and Province commit to partnering on Sumas Prairie flood mitigation



We are pleased to report that this week, the significance of our Sumas Prairie region was recognized by the Government of Canada, and the federal government has now pledged to work alongside the City and the Province of BC on flood mitigation and…

Mayor Siemens and BC Minister of Agriculture and Food Lana Popham (on the Mayor’s left) at a BC Dairy and BC Poultry post-flood animal producers’ roundtable event in Abbotsford in January 2026. Also in attendance was BC Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene (not pictured).

Considering flood impacts as we continue to advocate for funding



As a City Council, listening to our residents and businesses is fundamentally important when it comes to our decision making and planning for the future.

And as we head into the first few months of 2026, we’ve once again begun hearing from…

Abbotsford Canucks Chief Operating Officer Jim Kozak leads City staff and Councillors on a tour of Rogers Forum as part of the City’s Business Spotlight series while Councillors Gibson and Loewen look on.

Council gets a scouting report on the Abbotsford Canucks



The Abbotsford Canucks aren’t just champions on the ice. They’re also champions in our community.

On Jan. 14, Councillors Barkman, Driessen, Loewen and Gibson visited the City-owned and Canucks-managed Rogers Forum (formerly Abbotsford Centre)…

The City's online mapping service has been enhanced and updated

Enhancing service through innovation: introducing the new generation of WebMap



As Abbotsford continues to grow, Council remains committed to modernizing and streamlining City services so we can better support our residents, businesses and development community. A key part of this work is ensuring that interacting with the City…