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Missin

Welcome to Mission
Nestled in the rugged Coast Mountains across the Fraser River east of Vancouver lies Mission founded by Father Fouquet,a young oblate Priest from France named after the first and largest mission in the Pacific Northwest, the Roman Catholic St. Mary's Indian Mission, founded in 1861.
Dubbed the Gateway to the Fraser River, Mission was a popular stopping place for trappers, settlers, and other river travellers, and remains an important junction to this day. When the original site became part of the Canadian Pacific Railway right of way in 1895, the mission was moved, and the school, convent and church were constructed at what is now the Fraser River Heritage Park.
Mission is the site of Canada's first robbery, B.C.'s first rail link to the United States, the first bridge across the Fraser River, one of the earliest Hydroelectric dams, and is also the home of the Western Canadian Soap Box Derby.

The first inhabitants of this area were the people of the Sto:lo First Nations. For over 20 years, the Sto:lo people have joined with tribes and bands from both sides of the border for annual powwows. Held each July, these important and dramatic cultural events offer visitors to Mission an excellent opportunity to admire and learn more about some of British Columbia's First Nations people.
Mission is a paradise for anyone who loves the recreational outdoors,surrounded by forests, hills, lakes and streams, boasting two golf courses, 32 parks and dozens of hiking trails. Mission is alive with a community spirit, growing with vision and fiercely proud of its heritage.

Population: 33,418 +

Location: Mission is located on the Lougheed Highway (Highway 7), on the north bank of the Fraser River in the Central Fraser Valley, 44 miles (70 km) east of Vancouver. To the south of Mission, across the Fraser River, is the town of Abottsford. If you want to soak in a nature jacuzzi just an hour drive is Harisson Hot Spring

Mission is very pleased and proud to have established a sister city agreement with Oyama-cho, Japan , located in the Shizuoka Prefecture, near Mount Fuji. The agreement was formally signed by Mayor Randy Hawes of Mission and Mayor Osada of Oyama, in a ceremony conducted at Mission's Municipal Hall on October 9, 1996 following nearly 20 months of discussions.

The sister-city agreement seeks to promote exchanges in educational, cultural and economic fields, while at the same time focusing on the benefits of mutual understanding and friendship for both current and future generations. Terms of the agreement were drafted after the first visit of 6 representatives from Oyama in June, 1996 and formally approved by the Councils of both communities.

"We are very honoured and pleased to have formalised this agreement" stated Mayor Hawes after the signing of the agreement. "We believe that there will be very real long term benefits for both communities as a result of this understanding, most of which will occur based on the goodwill that has been established and which will continue to grow through our planned exchange programs. It's certainly my impression that we accomplished 2 major things today - not only did we complete a formal agreement, but more importantly we also continued the growth of a real friendship with the people of Oyama."

Since the commencement of the agreement, Mission has been honoured by several visits from delegations from Oyama, as well as longer home-stay visits from high school students. In August, 1998 two Mission teachers were sponsored by Oyama to travel Japan and provide English instruction to several of their local schools. They report that they were treated as honoured guests and friends.

In June, 1999 16 visitors traveled to Mission from Oyama, as part of the "Goodwill Visit". The visit included a very successful public display of several aspects of Oyama, and Japanese, culture.

In July, 1999 the student visitor program continued, with 2 teachers and 5 students traveling from Mission to visit Oyama (as well as other parts of Japan) for 3 weeks, and 3 students visiting Mission from Oyama for 2 weeks.

The sister city relationship is now under the stewardship of the Oyama Sister City Advisory Committee.