Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / The federal government announced Friday (Mar. 10) that it will provide over $635,000 to the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) to restore Skelton block, two significant historical buildings in downtown Chilliwack, and create a pedestrian-friendly area with patio seating. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Downtown Skelton Building

Federal govt. to fund historic restoration of Skelton block in downtown Chilliwack

Mar 14, 2023 | 2:00 PM

CHILLIWACK — The federal government announced Friday (Mar. 10) that it will provide over $635,000 to the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) to restore an historic area of downtown Chilliwack and construct a pedestrian-friendly area with patio seating.

Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and the government representative responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced over $2.5 million in PacifiCan funding for 10 projects throughout the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon. This includes $1,243,887 for four projects funded through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund and $1,271,818 for six projects funded through the Tourism Relief Fund.

Among these projects, the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation will receive $637,500 to restore Skelton block, two significant historical buildings in the community, and create a pedestrian-friendly area with patio seating. The federal government says these renovations will preserve two important landmarks and draw more visitors into the downtown core in an effort to bring together people of all ages and abilities, support businesses, and boost economic vitality.

CEPCO welcomed the news as a means of improving downtown Chilliwack.

“The Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) is very pleased to receive support from the Government of Canada through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund,” said Brian Coombes, president of CEPCO. “The revitalization of two historically significant buildings and the creation of a pedestrian-oriented public space on an historic main street will enable CEPCO to continue to attract new development activities, businesses and investment to downtown Chilliwack. This will provide both social and economic benefits for our community.”

B.C. LEADERSHIP RACE

Langley-Abbotsford MLA considers run for BC Conservative leadership

7h ago

Traffic alert Friday

B.C. govt. urges people not to travel if at all possible, citing heavy traffic on Hwy. 7

8h ago

RETAIL THEFT

Police arrest four alleged shoplifters in one hour in Maple Ridge store

8h ago

According to a 2015 Facebook post from Chilliwack History Perspectives, a Facebook group, the Skelton Building was one of the more familiar buildings about three doors down from the northwest corner of Young Road. It was the home of Gord-Ray Men’s Wear, a destination for many Chilliwack men and boys who found clothing to meet their needs.

The Skelton Building was constructed in 1930 by Robert Skelton as a result of a watershed event in the history of downtown Chilliwack. In the early morning hours of Thursday, March 20, 1930, a devastating fire on the north side of Wellington Avenue, between Young Road North and Mill Street, destroyed six wood-frame buildings, along with a number of businesses, including R. G. Skelton & Son Men’s Wear, Chilliwack History Perspectives said in its Facebook post.

At the time of the 1930 fire, there were still several wood-frame buildings in downtown Chilliwack. However, the widespread damage sustained by the blaze brought about a new building code and a marked shift away from wood. The replacement buildings that were soon built were largely constructed from non-combustible construction materials, like brick and steel. This became the standard for construction in downtown Chilliwack in the years thereafter, Chilliwack History Perspectives said.

Immediately after the fire, Robert Skelton proclaimed that he would be erecting, as soon as possible, a new building for his business. Construction of a structure which could essentially withstand a similar fire was expedited, and in less than four months, the new home of R.G. Skelton & Son Men’s Wear was ready to open. The new building accommodating the Skelton family business was the first replacement structure to be completed and finished after the fire, and it would be built to last for decades.

While Skelton’s had suffered substantial losses in the fire, there was still a significant portion of its inventory that had been salvaged, and the company rented space above Copp’s Shoeteria on the south side of Yale Road East (across from Barber Drugs), and held several fire sales prior to its new building being completed, according to Chilliwack History Perspectives.

On Saturday, June 28, 1930, R. G. Skelton & Son Men’s Wear again opened its doors for business, this time in a new, state-of-the-art home, which was named the Skelton Building. Considerable attention to detail had gone into the design of the building’s entrance and facade; the front of the store featured a deeply recessed entrance, which allowed for broad, extensive window displays.

Chilliwack History Perspectives says Robert Skelton passed away in 1935 at age 73, and his son Clifford Skelton took over the business. In 1957, the business changed its name to Skelton’s Men’s Wear. In 1961, two long-time Chilliwack residents, Gordon Wiltshire and Raymond Nelson, bought and acquired the Skelton’s apparel business. As part of the deal, they were allowed to capitalize on the goodwill of the Skelton name for five years. In 1966, they bought the Skelton Building, and in February of that year, the name of the esteemed men’s clothing business on Wellington Avenue changed to Gord-Ray Men’s Wear.

Gord-Ray Men’s Wear closed in June 2021, according to reporter Eric Welsh from the Chilliwack Progress.

Other organizations receiving government funding include:

* As part of the Tourism Relief Fund, the federal government will allocate $454,320 to Tourism Chilliwack to help construct kiosks and wayfinding signs that celebrate the history, culture and language of both the Sto:lo Nation and the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe in Chilliwack.

* River Wrangler Sportfishing will receive $99,999 from the Tourism Relief Fund to support the purchase of a boat and expand river fishing service capacity in Chilliwack.

* Tourism Abbotsford Society will receive $66,500 towards the formation of a nine-day local food festival in Abbotsford.

* Sts’ailes west of Agassiz will receive $500,000 as the First Nation works to bolster itself as an Indigenous-led tourism destination through trail upgrades and the construction of an eagle-viewing tower over the Harrison River Valley.