Abbotsford, neighbouring B.C. municipalities renew pleas for flood mitigation strategy

In the months after British Columbia’s catastrophic 2021 floods, the City of Abbotsford got to work on a plan to ensure it would never happen again.

The city brought in a top engineering consulting firm and drafted long-term flood mitigation options that ranged from basic upgrades to a sweeping multibillion-dollar overhaul of flood protections in B.C.’s agricultural heartland. It engaged with farmers, First Nations and the general public, who highlighted priorities around preserving farmland, protecting buildings and food security.