March 26, 2026 Update

We have fantastic news of additional funding support that Coqualeetza Cultural Ed Centre has secured to assist us with our return to home in a new modular build for our Centre on Coqualeetza Grounds.

The 3 piece modular is arriving on April 1st, 2026 – and this isn’t an early April Fools Joke either. It is going to be here early though before 7 am to our new address #3-7201 Vedder Road, Chilliwack, BC.

We hope to have everything installed, deliveries made, furniture unpacked and set up, utilities all operational, and our giftshop and gathering space ready within a the month!

Our phone number will remain 604-858-9431. Our mailing address is still Box 2370 Sardis Mn Stn, Chilliwack, BC V2R 1A7 but our location is back home finally on the Corner of Wells and Vedder Roads  #3-7201 Vedder Road!

We hold our hands high for the local Sto:lo bands, community agencies, national support and our community for supporting us over the past six months! To those who have provided us with the much needed financial support to complete a build and to assist us with a few extras such as future deck and outdoor kitchen for food security, canning and processing wool and cedar for weaving projects and much more!

Funding support was also secured through our national office FNCCEC to assist us with the utility installations which for BC Hydro is over $11,000.00. Waiting for Fortis, Rogers and security bills yet;) Our national office FNCCEC has also provided us with the opportunity to buy a new desk for Julie and Patricia – both of whom have never had new desks – the other three staff have had new desks provided over the past few years now, as well we can purchase new tables, chairs and prep island furniture for our gathering space so that our weekly Coqualeetza Elders group can unite and have space with a fully operational kitchen too and for us to facilitate workshops again! Appliances were purchased through donations from our Coqualeetza Elders Group and a new Elder to the group – they are all mid-grade and will be arriving from Trail appliance in the next few weeks.

Many many hands have assisted us with this move and build!

• Fort Modular – Jordan and Ray have been very accommodating and have been working hard to make sure we get a product that will last CCEC for many decades!
• Rick May – Reno rick construction has provided support and recommendations for trades, for the build and the pad for the foundation – as an individual who has not had to deal with new installations of utilities or foundations his support and guidance is greatly appreciated!
• Sto:lo Service Agency – Sharlene Charlton and her team who have been there to answer questions, to provide needed correspondence and support! And to Sto:lo Service Agency for putting in the original pad and utilities last sept for CCEC!
• Sto:lo Resource Management – Dave Schaepe and his team for providing accommodation to CCEC in their Elders room for not just a few months but for over 6 months! and allowing us to use the main boardroom for our Elders group weekly luncheons!
• TD Trust Michelle Green and Sean Olean who in the end took it upon themselves to get a loan approved for us that we hope we can pay off fairly quickly especially with some of the financial contributions we received we hope to put towards the loan too!

I will be out with Timmie’s coffee, donuts, muffins and homemade chocolate banana bread next Wednesday morning at 6 am to if anyone wants to drop by to see the modulars come in and set up.

On behalf of the CCEC Board of Directors, staff and Coqualeetza Elders Group we look forward to seeing you in the future when we announce our GRAND OPENING! Be ready to see our new layout, have some munchies, shop in our new artist/crafters giftshop and meet the staff, board and Coqualeetza Elders Group.

Regards,
Patricia Raymond