Dates in Mission History

1861: The O.M.I. (Oblates of Mary Immaculate) establish a mission
1863: The O.M.I. opens school for native boys.
1868: The O.M.I. opens school for native girls.
1875: The first post office opens (at Chapuy's store at the mission)
1882: The first school is built (at Burton's Prairie, now Hatzic)
1891: The railway bridge over the Fraser is built.
1891: The townsite of Mission is laid out. Sale of town lots.
1892: Corporation of the District of Mission is formed.
1892: The O.M.I. build the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
1894: The first Mission Agricultural Fair is held.
1900: A condensed milk factory opens.
1907: Telephone service from Mission to Hatzic is established.
1911: Kootenay Jam Factory (later King-Beach) opens.
1912: Stave Falls Dam is completed.
1912: Mission's first movie theater was opened.
1922: Mission town site becomes a Village Municipality.
1925: Mission Memorial Hospital opens.
1927: The railway bridge is planked for road traffic.
1929: Municipal Hall on 1st Avenue built.
1930: Ruskin Dam completed.
1946: First Strawberry Festival held.
1946: First Soap-Box Derby held.
1947: Eddy Match factory opens.
1947: Mission Library moves into it's own building on 2nd Ave.
1953: Benedictines establish their monastary. (Westminster  Abbey)
1958: Mission Village changes to a town.
1958: Mission Tree Farm established.
1959: Mission Plaza Shopping Centre opens.
1961: Federal Government builds new Indian residential school.
1962: Historic O.M.I. school buildings demolished.
1965: Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes demolished.
1965: New Mission Hospital built on Hurd Street.
1965: Mission Raceways open.
1968: Skating arena opens.
1969: Mission City and District amalgamated.
1972: New Mission Library built on James Street.
1973: Highway bridge across the Fraser River constructed.
1974: New Municipal Hall built on Stave Lake Road.
1977: Leisure Centre built.
1979: Mission Hills Shopping Centre built.
1986: Fraser River Heritage Park opens.
1988: First annual Folk Festival held in Heritage Park.
1989: Mission Community Archives comes into existence.
1992: Mission celebrates 100 years.
1994: New Mission Library and Community Archives building built on 2nd           Ave.
1995: West Coast Express train begins running.
1996: Heritage Park Centre, with a secondary school, community college, and           a performing arts theater opens.
1997: The Our Lady of Lourdes grotto is rebuilt.
1999: CPR Station burns down, due to foul play.
2001: New Chamber of Commerce building is being built.