The city in the country may seem like a contradiction of terms, but in Abbotsford’s case it perfectly describes one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions, one that maintains a balancing act of fostering development while retaining all the elements that make it a desirable place to live.

Consider this: Abbotsford is home to an emerging aerospace industry, its health services are constantly expanding and, at 3.5 per cent, the city’s gross domestic product growth rate is one of Canada’s highest. But for all this activity, Abbotsford’s rural ambience thrives, and not just because of its Fraser Valley scenery or the tranquility that comes with country living: it’s still one of the most productive agricultural areas in the province, boasting almost 1,300 farms and 22,500 hectares of land under active cultivation.