Stats Canada recently dropped some fresh data on where people are coming from—and going to—when it comes to Chilliwack. Turns out, we're playing a pretty interesting game of musical chairs with the rest of Canada. Some of the trends are expected, but there are definitely a few surprises worth noting.
Here are the top 10 census regions that sent people to Chilliwack. But don't celebrate just yet—we still lost more people than we gained to six of these regions.
| Area | Province | Incoming | Outgoing | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver (CMA) | BC | 3,316 | 1,375 | 1,941 |
| Abbotsford - Mission (CMA) | BC | 1,766 | 931 | 835 |
| Rest of British Columbia | BC | 517 | 903 | -386 |
| Edmonton (CMA) | AB | 162 | 290 | -128 |
| Calgary (CMA) | AB | 122 | 266 | -144 |
| Kelowna (CMA) | BC | 113 | 187 | -74 |
| Toronto (CMA) | ON | 112 | 63 | 49 |
| Kamloops (CMA) | BC | 111 | 178 | -67 |
| Victoria (CMA) | BC | 88 | 98 | -10 |
| Winnipeg (CMA) | MB | 84 | 26 | 58 |
Biggest Surprise? Despite being top sources, Calgary and Edmonton still pulled more people away from Chilliwack than they sent here. Meanwhile, Toronto and Winnipeg—cities nowhere near BC—actually gave us a population boost.
Chilliwack experienced a net population loss to nearly every province and territory in Canada, except for Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and the Yukon. Central Canada—specifically Manitoba (+31), Ontario (+157), and Quebec (+24)—contributed positively to Chilliwack's population, along with a small gain from the Yukon (+2).
However, these gains were overshadowed by a significant outflow to Alberta, which saw 622 more people leave Chilliwack than move in. This strong pull toward Alberta effectively erased the population growth from Central Canada and highlights the ongoing trend of British Columbians seeking opportunities in Alberta.
When it comes to population shifts between cities, some places are sending far more people to Chilliwack than they’re getting back. Oshawa, Ontario, stands out with a perfect 100% incoming rate—every person moving between the two cities chose Chilliwack, with no one heading the other way. Squamish isn’t far behind, with 96% of movers making Chilliwack their new home.
With 15 people arriving from Barrie, Ontario, you have to wonder—do they all know each other, or did they just happen to pack up at the same time?
| Area | Province | Incoming | Outgoing | % Incoming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshawa (CMA) | ON | 11 | 0 | 100% |
| Squamish (CA) | BC | 24 | 1 | 95.8% |
| Barrie (CMA) | ON | 15 | 1 | 93.3% |
| Lloydminster (CA) | AB/SK | 12 | 2 | 83.3% |
| Rest of Quebec | QC | 28 | 8 | 71.4% |
| Winnipeg (CMA) | MB | 84 | 26 | 69.1% |
| Windsor (CMA) | BC | 16 | 5 | 68.8% |
| Brantford (CMA) | BC | 22 | 8 | 63.6% |
| Regina (CMA) | SK | 42 | 16 | 61.9% |
| Dawson Creek (CA) | BC | 28 | 11 | 60.7% |
Some places seem to be getting a lot more of Chilliwack than they’re giving back. Saint John, New Brunswick, saw 25 people move there from Chilliwack without a single person moving the other way. Cranbrook, B.C., pulled 59 people east to the Kootenays, while only four moved back this way.
Alberta cities tell a similar story. Lethbridge gained 75 people from Chilliwack but only sent 16 back. Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, and Medicine Hat all saw more people leave Chilliwack than come in return. Even closer to home, Vancouver Island communities like Campbell River and Port Alberni have drawn dozens away, with only a handful moving back. Whether it’s for jobs, family, or lifestyle, the numbers show a steady flow outward without much coming back our way.
Looking at the numbers, it seems that more people are moving to Chilliwack from larger cities than leaving for them. Between 2022 and 2023, 6,255 people relocated to Chilliwack from census areas larger than the city, while only 3,804 people left for bigger urban centres. On the flip side, 1,158 people moved here from smaller communities, compared to 2,242 who left Chilliwack for something even smaller.
Much of this incoming growth is driven by people relocating from nearby Abbotsford-Mission and Metro Vancouver, with some also coming from major cities like Toronto and Winnipeg. This suggests that many newcomers are seeking a step down from the pace and costs of bigger cities without giving up the convenience of urban living. Meanwhile, those leaving for smaller towns may be looking for even more space or a quieter lifestyle beyond Chilliwack's growing footprint.
So, are people escaping Chilliwack’s growth? Not exactly. The numbers show that Chilliwack is still a desirable middle ground—offering more breathing room than the big city but still connected enough to avoid feeling isolated.
Campbellton, Collingwood, Peterborough, Portage la Prairie, Thompson, and Woodstock each sent exactly one person to Chilliwack between 2022 and 2023, and not a single one went back. Whether they’re starting fresh, running from their past, or just in desperate need of a better corn field, one thing’s for sure—when you move alone from a tiny town, people start to wonder.
Just kidding! Because it turns out Chilliwack isn’t totally innocent either. One brave soul packed up and left for places like Brockville, Brooks, Matane, and North Bay. Someone even moved to the far corners of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon. You’ve got to wonder what the locals are saying about their new neighbour from Chilliwack—probably asking if they brought corn, rain boots, or some insider knowledge about the best dairy farms.
For those who want a closer look, here’s the complete data on how Chilliwack’s population has shifted between other Canadian cities. This breakdown shows where people are moving to and from—highlighting the cities we’re gaining residents from and the places that are drawing people away.
Note: This data only includes interprovincial and intraprovincial movement and does not account for international migration.
| Origin | Province | Incoming | Outgoing | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver (CMA) | BC | 3,316 | 1,375 | 1,941 |
| Abbotsford - Mission (CMA) | BC | 1,766 | 931 | 835 |
| Winnipeg (CMA) | MB | 84 | 26 | 58 |
| Toronto (CMA) | ON | 112 | 63 | 49 |
| Regina (CMA) | SK | 42 | 16 | 26 |
| Rest of Ontario | ON | 42 | 18 | 24 |
| Squamish (CA) | BC | 24 | 1 | 23 |
| Rest of Quebec | QC | 28 | 8 | 20 |
| Hamilton (CMA) | ON | 32 | 13 | 19 |
| Dawson Creek (CA) | BC | 28 | 11 | 17 |
| Barrie (CMA) | ON | 15 | 1 | 14 |
| Brantford (CMA) | ON | 22 | 8 | 14 |
| Montréal (CMA) | QC | 39 | 26 | 13 |
| St. Catharines - Niagara (CMA) | ON | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| Windsor (CMA) | ON | 16 | 5 | 11 |
| Oshawa (CMA) | ON | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Lloydminster (CA) | AB/SK | 12 | 2 | 10 |
| Fort St. John (CA) | BC | 27 | 18 | 9 |
| Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo (CMA) | ON | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| Kingston (CMA) | ON | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Belleville - Quinte West (CMA) | ON | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| Yorkton (CA) | SK | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| London (CMA) | ON | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| Kawartha Lakes (CA) | ON | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Whitehorse (CA) | YK | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Kenora (CA) | ON | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Steinbach (CA) | MB | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Québec (CMA) | QC | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Canmore (CA) | AB | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Midland (CA) | ON | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Petawawa (CA) | ON | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Peterborough (CMA) | ON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brandon (CA) | MB | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Charlottetown (CA) | PE | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Cornwall (CA) | ON | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Timmins (CA) | ON | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Weyburn (CA) | SK | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Campbellton (CA) | QC | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Collingwood (CA) | ON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Portage la Prairie (CA) | MB | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Thompson (CA) | MB | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Woodstock (CA) | ON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Saguenay (CMA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Trois-Rivières (CMA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prince Rupert (CA) | BC | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Chatham-Kent (CA) | ON | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Ingersoll (CA) | ON | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wasaga Beach (CA) | ON | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Alma (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Amos (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Baie-Comeau (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bathurst (CA) | NB | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Centre Wellington (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cobourg (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cowansville (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dolbeau-Mistassini (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Elliot Lake (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Essa (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Falls-Windsor (CA) | NL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hawkesbury (CA)/Quebec | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joliette (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lachute (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orillia (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Owen Sound (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pembroke (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Port Hope (CA) | ON | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rimouski (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rivière-du-Loup (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rouyn-Noranda (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sainte-Marie (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saint-Georges (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Saint-Hyacinthe (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salaberry-de-Valleyfield (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sept-Îles (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shawinigan (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sorel-Tracy (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thetford Mines (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Val-d'Or (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Victoriaville (CA) | QC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sherbrooke (CMA) | QC | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| St. John's (CMA) | NL | 4 | 5 | -1 |
| Guelph (CMA) | ON | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| Estevan (CA) | SK | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Brockville (CA) | ON | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Brooks (CA) | AB | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Matane (CA) | QC | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| North Bay (CA) | ON | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Rest of Northwest Territories | NT | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Rest of Nunavut | NU | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Rest of Yukon | YK | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Stratford (CA) | ON | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Tillsonburg (CA) | ON | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Duncan (CA) | BC | 20 | 22 | -2 |
| Terrace (CA) | BC | 10 | 12 | -2 |
| Fredericton (CMA) | NB | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| Wetaskiwin (CA) | AB | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| Corner Brook (CA) | NL | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| Edmundston (CA) | NB | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| Miramichi (CA) | NB | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| Ottawa - Gatineau (CMA) | ON/QC | 40 | 43 | -3 |
| Norfolk (CA) | ON | 2 | 5 | -3 |
| New Glasgow (CA) | NS | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| Yellowknife (CA) | NT | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| Gander (CA) | NL | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| Granby (CA) | QC | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| Sarnia (CA) | ON | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| Trail (CA) | BC | 3 | 7 | -4 |
| Swift Current (CA) | SK | 2 | 6 | -4 |
| Lacombe (CA) | AB | 1 | 5 | -4 |
| Kentville (CA) | NS | 0 | 4 | -4 |
| North Battleford (CA) | SK | 0 | 4 | -4 |
| Greater Sudbury (CMA) | ON | 0 | 5 | -5 |
| Thunder Bay (CMA) | ON | 1 | 6 | -5 |
| Wood Buffalo (CA) | AB | 7 | 12 | -5 |
| Prince Albert (CA) | SK | 3 | 8 | -5 |
| Truro (CA), Nova Scotia | NS | 2 | 7 | -5 |
| Rest of Prince Edward Island | PE | 1 | 6 | -5 |
| Ladysmith (CA) | BC | 0 | 5 | -5 |
| Strathmore (CA) | AB | 0 | 5 | -5 |
| Summerside (CA) | PE | 0 | 5 | -5 |
| Moncton (CMA) | NB | 2 | 8 | -6 |
| Rest of Newfoundland and Labrador | NL | 3 | 9 | -6 |
| Moose Jaw (CA) | SK | 1 | 7 | -6 |
| Sault Ste. Marie (CA) | ON | 0 | 6 | -6 |
| Nelson (CA) | BC | 3 | 10 | -7 |
| Drummondville (CMA) | QC | 0 | 7 | -7 |
| High River (CA) | AB | 0 | 7 | -7 |
| Nanaimo (CMA) | BC | 49 | 57 | -8 |
| Winkler (CA) | MB | 2 | 10 | -8 |
| Powell River (CA) | BC | 10 | 19 | -9 |
| Halifax (CMA) | NS | 10 | 20 | -10 |
| Victoria (CMA) | BC | 88 | 98 | -10 |
| Courtenay (CA) | BC | 8 | 18 | -10 |
| Rest of New Brunswick | NB | 6 | 17 | -11 |
| Grande Prairie (CA) | AB | 13 | 25 | -12 |
| Cape Breton (CA) | NS | 3 | 15 | -12 |
| Camrose (CA) | AB | 0 | 12 | -12 |
| Port Alberni (CA) | BC | 3 | 17 | -14 |
| Okotoks (CA) | AB | 5 | 20 | -15 |
| Rest of Saskatchewan | SK | 23 | 39 | -16 |
| Saskatoon (CMA) | SK | 22 | 44 | -22 |
| Medicine Hat (CA) | AB | 5 | 27 | -22 |
| Rest of Nova Scotia | NS | 11 | 34 | -23 |
| Salmon Arm (CA) | BC | 7 | 31 | -24 |
| Saint John (CMA) | NB | 0 | 25 | -25 |
| Rest of Manitoba | MB | 18 | 43 | -25 |
| Campbell River (CA) | BC | 5 | 31 | -26 |
| Williams Lake (CA) | BC | 24 | 50 | -26 |
| Sylvan Lake (CA) | AB | 3 | 29 | -26 |
| Penticton (CA) | BC | 22 | 52 | -30 |
| Parksville (CA) | BC | 10 | 40 | -30 |
| Quesnel (CA) | BC | 13 | 44 | -31 |
| Vernon (CA) | BC | 46 | 78 | -32 |
| Red Deer (CMA) | AB | 3 | 42 | -39 |
| Prince George (CA) | BC | 45 | 85 | -40 |
| Cranbrook (CA) | BC | 4 | 59 | -55 |
| Lethbridge (CMA) | AB | 16 | 75 | -59 |
| Kamloops (CMA) | BC | 111 | 178 | -67 |
| Kelowna (CMA) | BC | 113 | 187 | -74 |
| Edmonton (CMA) | AB | 162 | 290 | -128 |
| Calgary (CMA) | AB | 122 | 266 | -144 |
| Rest of Alberta | AB | 66 | 219 | -153 |
| Rest of British Columbia | BC | 517 | 903 | -386 |
