Image: Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres / The Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres in Greendale will open for its 25th season next week Thursday, August 10. This year's corn maze design is a celebration of the relationships and memories that have been made on the farm and in the community over the last 25 years. The corn maze will celebrate the opening of its 25th season with a concert by the Tanner Olsen Band on Saturday, August 12. Visit greendaleacres.ca or find them on Facebook. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Corn Maze to mark 25th season

Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres, Canada’s 1st corn maze, to open for 25th season

Aug 3, 2023 | 12:05 AM

CHILLIWACK — The concept of Canada’s first corn maze originated when John Bruinsma happened to read a magazine article about a student in Utah who set up a corn maze to help families experience farm life in a fun way.

This concept appealed to Bruinsma, who, along with his wife Diane, had strong ties to the agricultural community in the Fraser Valley. They recognized that a dwindling number of people had access to family farms and believed in the importance of connecting the broader community with agriculture.

Two years later in 1999, John and Diane, along with partners Lloyd and Wendy Taekema, opened the first corn maze in Canada. Through years of hard work the Bruinsmas and the Taekemas converted the former dairy farm on Cannor Road into the Chilliwack Corn Maze.

Fast forward to next week when the Chilliwack Corn Maze at Greendale Acres, as it is now known, will open for its 25th season with a special design commemorating a quarter century of being Chilliwack’s go-to destination for family gatherings, school field trips and the like.

The roots of the farm have remained largely the same since it first opened. The old barn and bunker and the apple orchard that the Bruinsmas cultivated previously are still there and land was cleared to make room for pumpkin patches. The field that previously rotated crops became dedicated primarily to corn. Agricultural attractions and educational programs were added and new life and energy were brought to the farm. It quickly became a popular destination for families, schools and various community groups to cultivate memories and traditions.

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Today, the farm is operated by John and Diane’s three daughters along with their husbands. Greendale Acres said in a news release this week that it is excited and honoured to have the opportunity to carry on this beautiful legacy in the community. As the Lower Mainland becomes increasingly urbanized, the families behind Greendale Acres strive to reconnect people with nature and agriculture remains a core motivation on the farm.

As for the corn maze design, it changes from year to year and has featured a variety of themes. The first one in 1999 depicted the green heart flag, the official imagery of the City of Chilliwack, while last year’s creative emblem had a T. rex logo.

“Our goal in the creation of each design is to make sure that the message in our field is something positive that helps encourage and spread light throughout our community. It’s a labour of love and we get excited every year to share it with our guests,” Greendale Acres said in a statement sent to Chilliwack media outlets.

This year’s maze design is a celebration of the relationships and memories that have been made on the farm and in the community over the last 25 years. The design itself is simple. A barn sits in a field surrounded by corn and pumpkins with the sun radiating in the background. Leading to the front door of the barn is a winding road.

“For the team at Greendale Acres this is the road back home,” the farm wrote in a statement. “They have all spent time living away from the farm but they have always been brought back. That is their hope for their guests. No matter where you go or how busy life becomes you will always have a family farm to call home.”

Greendale Acres will open for its 25th season starting Thursday, August 10, with a 25-year corn maze kickoff concert featuring the Tanner Olsen Band on Saturday, August 12.