Downtown-Chilliwack-(7)RCMP have said a number of times that the overall crime rate is down in Chilliwack (property crime is up, violent crime is down), but a recent quality of life survey in Chilliwack shows that anywhere from 38 to 59% of residents, depending on the neighborhood surveyed, believe crime is increasing.
Councilor Sam Waddington says it’s interesting that the differing perception of public safety across different neighborhoods isn’t tied to fact.

“The levels of safety among our entire community are very similar in terms of break and enters, and all sorts of different statistics.  It’s an interesting point, that the perception of the safety is different, but the reality truly is not.”

According to the survey, residents in Garrison Crossing were much more likely to feel safe than residents in the rest of Chilliwack, especially downtown.

Another interesting part of the survey shows that 22.3% of respondents had a “weak sense of community” in Chilliwack, which is way up from the last survey in 2009.

Transit was another issue, with a majority of respondents saying that more transit was needed, but Waddington notes that the survey was conducted before the rollout of the Fraser Valley Express service to Abbotsford and Langley.

Overall, people felt there was still a high quality of life in Chilliwack.  Areas where the city scored well were affordability and access to recreation.  Most people said they use the local sporting facilities, although a surprising number (85.1%) had not been golfing in at least a six month span.

The survey was conducted by the Chilliwack Social Research and Planning Council.  They also conducted surveys in 2004 and 2009. To view the report, you find find it on Page 8 of the city council agenda HERE