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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Maple Ridge: How to capitalize on a best-kept secret
Population: 75,051 How do you find the best place to live and work? Start with a prosperous province with an international reputation for its beauty, lifestyle and industries and find a municipality that reflects these values. And that's not hard to do with all the signs pointing to Maple Ridge. Over the past few years, one of British Columbia's best-kept secrets has been making its way into the spotlight. But now, with a vibrant town centre, cutting-edge residential developments and new transportation routes, the secret won't stay secret for very long. Cultivating connections The challenges of connecting to Maple Ridge are a thing of the past as the new Golden Ears and Pitt River bridges create transportation routes that cut time and cost. With $1 billion worth of bridges open in the last year, there is now access to and from Langley in minutes. That shorter commute time translates into lower costs for goods coming into and leaving Maple Ridge; and with Abbotsford Airport and the U.S. border now only 30 minutes away, there's no end to business and travel opportunities. "The new infrastructure makes Maple Ridge very attractive," says Mike Shardlow, chair, Maple Ridge Economic Advisory Commission. "We have very affordable and, now, very accessible land. It's perfect for indus-trial and business parks, as well as small-sector manufacturing." Investment planning The Real Estate Investment Network named Maple Ridge the No. 2 location in which to invest in B.C. "When people call us about this, they discover a whole world of information about us," says Sandy Blue, manager economic development. In addition to established industries of agriculture and forestry, Maple Ridge plans growth in high tech, multimedia, education and tourism. "We're a prime location for investment in hotels, attractions and amenities," says Blue. Adds Mayor Ernie Daykin: "Maple Ridge is actively engaged in attracting and supporting higher-paying jobs, where young professionals can support a family and mortgage. The interest in Maple Ridge is constant." A town with a heart Growth of the city means opportunity in the downtown core and a vibrant heart of office towers, residential towers, lots of amenities, a vibrant heart of office towers, residential towers, lots of amenities, a fibre-optic network, access to transit, an arts centre and a library. The city's economic strategies include increasing the density in the downtown core by filling underused commercial areas and attracting more residential development. Included in this are some bright ideas in the area of sustainable construction. "I'm very optimistic for the future of Maple Ridge," says Shardlow. "There's going to be tremendous opportunity for growth." Creative class Positioning itself strategically for the future, Maple Ridge has identified the importance of a community formed of advanced-technology companies and professionals such as those in digital media. "Advanced technology is a strategic growth area for Maple Ridge," says Rochelle Grayson, board member and acting president of New Media BC. "This includes a lot of small companies that are virtual, agile and mobile. A lot of them are flexible but they want a hub where they can connect with other people with similar ideas." This "creative class" likes being involved in sports and being active but wants a small-town feel with a strong centre. Maple Ridge stands primed to be that hub, says Grayson. "I was impressed with the strong sense of community in Maple Ridge. These people want work-life balance and they don't want to wait until they're retired to get it. They want to live the image of young tech professional who has everything in their life." Living the lifestyle As Maple Ridge grows, nothing is lost from its fabulous lifestyle that includes thousands of acres of land where people can go out and play. "There's something to be said about living in your own private park," says Shardlow. But if you're going to be a part of it, "Get in while the getting's good," says Blue. Contact Sandy Blue, Manager Economic Development District of Maple Ridge 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 6A9 Phone: 604-467-7319; E-mail: invest@mapleridge.ca Website: www.investmapleridge.ca |
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