Maple Ridge

The British Columbia city of Maple Ridge, sits below Blue Mountain on Fraser River's northern part, and is an idyllic community with a proud First Nations heritage. The city got its name from settler John McIver, who came to the ridge above the Fraser in the year 1860. In the year 1874, his own group of men gathered at his farm in order to discuss about incorporating the whole district of Pitt River and Mission for the road building's taxation. McIver's property had a stretch of wonderful maple trees on his property, that was the source for the name "Maple Ridge." Maple Ridge was incorporated on September 12, 1874, making it the sixth municipality to be formed within British Columbia.

The Arts Centre and Theatre is a fantastic place for artists and art lovers. It also provides creative arts programs and theatre facilities aside from featuring the history of local art. It also consists of a craft theatre, studio theatre, 2D drawing/painting studio, 3D pottery/sculpture studio, gallery gift shop, and conference room and catering kitchen. The Maple Ridge Art Gallery and Gallery Shop is situated within the Maple Ridge Art Centre and Theatre in the downtown center. It shows local and provincial visual artists' works. People who truly love to go to other historic sites and museums can visit the Maple Ridge Museum and the Maple Ridge Historical Society, Pitt Meadows Museum, and Powerhouse at Stave Falls. The city of Maple Ridge is also home to numerous artists and musicians who perform on a regular basis at the Arts Centre and Theatre in downtown Maple Ridge. Theatre and Performing Arts lovers can visit Cineplex Odeon Meadowtown Cinemas and Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council.

The community of Maple Ridge is growing with the necessary resources to attract developers and investors alike. The city is part of the Metro Vancouver Commerce 2010, with other cities such as Port Moody City, the City of Coquitlam, North Vancouver City, City of New Westminster, City of Richmond, District of North Vancouver, City of Surrey, and Vancouver City in helping build their business reputations in the region.