The Fraser Valley Regional District’s (FVRD) Electoral Area D and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for a Community Benefit Agreement that will see a $75,000 contribution toward funding improvements to the Thompson Community Park development and upgrades to the Mount Cheam trailhead parking lot. Trans Mountain has been pursuing Community Benefit Agreements with those along the pipeline corridor to provide direct benefits to communities if the proposed expansion project is approved and constructed. This is the fourth agreement the company has signed within the FVRD, including one with the City of Chilliwack last month.

  • Hope – October 27, 2014 - $500,000, improvements to community spaces
  • Abbotsford – February, 15, 2016 - $1.3 million, revitalization of Ledgeview golf course
  • Chilliwack – August 17, 2016 - $1.2 million, Vedder Greenway pedestrian trail bridge
  • FVRD - Electoral Area D – September 8, 2016 - $75,000 for community park development and upgrades to Mount Cheam trailhead parking lot

“Mount Cheam is an icon in our community and improvements to the trailhead parking lot will provide outdoor enthusiasts with better access to the spectacular views of our region,” said Bill Dickey, Director of Electoral Area D. “We are also very grateful for the opportunity to be able to improve Thompson Community Park as it will provide the Popkum community with playground amenities for children and adults alike.”

“We are committed to providing local and direct benefits in communities the Project may impact during construction,,” said Ian Anderson, President of Kinder Morgan Canada. “We share the love of the outdoors and we are proud to provide funding toward improving access to trails at Mount Cheam so Fraser Valley residents will have more places to explore their community.”

Kinder Morgan Canada values the relationships it has with the communities along its existing pipeline system and the proposed pipeline project; these span over more than 60 years of history. This agreement was signed as part of an overall effort underway by Kinder Morgan Canada to work with pipeline-affected communities to identify local opportunities to give something back in recognition of the public inconveniences and temporary disruption created by construction of the proposed expansion. Trans Mountain has 18 Community Benefit Agreements in 22 communities, along 95 per cent of the pipeline corridor. Additional agreements with municipalities and communities along the pipeline corridor are expected as project planning continues.