Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media /

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Housing complex

Chilliwack housing complex OK’s sidewalk chalk on its grounds again, after banning it previously

Jul 4, 2025 | 11:04 AM

CHILLIWACK — From driveways to streets, kids from all walks of life have likely done sidewalk chalk at some point in their childhood.

But an affordable housing complex on Yale Road is back to allowing sidewalk chalk on its grounds, after previously banning it due to what it says were foul language and inappropriate messages.

The Waterstone housing complex at 45603 Yale Road, near the Canton Garden Chinese restaurant, has been posting notices on a bulletin board over the past month about the use of sidewalk chalk. A tenant with young children at the building sent the pictures to Fraser Valley Today.

The first notice, before July 1, 2025, banned the use of sidewalk chalk at The Waterstone.

“Unfortunately for the children in our community, the use of sidewalk chalk is prohibited, as MQHS (Mamele’awt Qweesome Housing Society & To’o Housing Society) can not condone the slander and fowl (sic) language being graffitied on the sidewalks and building walls,” the note stated. “We ask that our community members remember that we have many children living here as well as a Daycare on site. Be mindful of your actions and its consequences.”

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The note said anyone found defacing the property with chalk or any other material, spray paint etc. will be fined for the cleaning of the property/building.

Image: Submitted / A note at The Waterstone at 45603 Yale Road in Chilliwack, pertaining to sidewalk chalk.

The tenant who contacted Fraser Valley Today said the sidewalk chalk did not contain foul language.

After feedback from residents, The Waterstone decided to revisit its previous decision banning sidewalk chalk in a second note posted to a bulletin board.

“Thank you for your feedback on the recent decision to restrict sidewalk chalk on MQHS properties. This was not an easy decision. While most chalk art is fun and positive, there have been incidents of inappropriate messages–including on building surfaces.”

MQHS decided to pause sidewalk chalk use in order to keep shared spaces respectful for all, especially in family buildings, and said chalk on buildings is hard to clean and strains maintenance resources. Moving forward, MQHS said it would introduce designated chalk zones, community chalk events and content guidelines.

“Thank you for your understanding as we work to create welcoming communities for everyone,” MQHS said.

Image: Contributed / A second follow-up note.

Not long after, in a third note posted to a bulletin board, MQHS notified residents it would allow sidewalk chalk again, but under tighter restrictions. It said as of July 1, 2025, tenants at the Waterstone building could use chalk on the property so long as it had absolutely no profanity, hate speech or intended adult content; was only used in a designated area (mapped out in an image); and was not done on building walls, railings, fences, benches, or any non-ground surfaces.

Image: Contributed / A third note about allowing sidewalk chalk at The Waterstone affordable housing complex in Chilliwack.