Newsroom Archive
Women from near and far find success through UFV’s ESS
Nine women from around the world gathered one last time, sculpting bright chunks of Play-Doh into physical representations of their time in UFV’s Employment Services and Support Family Child Care program. They’d come from as far as Ethiopia, Iraq, and India. One molded a sailboat, saying, “The sea isn’t always smooth, but my ship…Dave Pinton joins UFV as Director of Communications
Dave Pinton is the new Director of Communications at the University of the Fraser Valley, leading the team responsible for media relations, events, internal and external communication, and issues management. Pinton brings a results-oriented approach with 15 years of broadcast media, public relations, and media relations experience. He also has expertise in crisis and emergency communications, having faced situations such…Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson visits Chilliwack campus
Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson toured the Chilliwack campus at Canada Education Park on Fri, Feb 20. After visiting the Agriculture Centre of Excellence, Health Sciences labs, and the Aboriginal Gathering Place, he toured the Trades and Technology Centre, and announced funding of $325,274 to buy new trades training equipment that supports students entering in-demand…Women’s basketball: Cascades host Cougars in first round best-of-3
As the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades and the Regina Cougars prepare to duel in the first round of the Canada West playoffs, it’s fascinating to take stock of the striking similarities between the two squads.It’s fair to refer to the Cascades and Cougars as two of the most decorated programs in recent Canada…Inaugural Finance Career Networking Breakfast proves successful
The UFV School of Business enjoyed a successful inaugural Finance Career Networking Breakfast on Friday, Feb. 6. Working with School of Business director Frank Ulbrich, students Jennifer Trithardt-Tufts and Arzoo Sandhu coordinated and hosted the event at the Phoenix Lounge in Abbotsford. Twenty-nine students participated in the networking breakfast, which included roundtable discussions with the…UFV Writing Centre to expand into Academic Success Centre
UFV is expanding its Writing Centre into an Academic Success Centre to increase support for students. The new centre will expand the support available to students across all disciplines, in addition to continuing to offer writing support. The change to a cross-disciplinary, faculty-led, student-peer driven Academic Success Centre model is in line with best practices across…Roger Sasaki’s legacy continues with endowed award for Social Work
Roger Sasaki cared. Even in the final days of his fight against cancer, the proud husband, father, friend, and social worker still wrote extensively in a journal, where words like ‘gratefulness’ and ‘hope’ kept arising despite his grim prognosis. He knew the doctors, nurses, and cleaning staff by name. All his life he was…UFV Theatre’s Julius Caesar takes a futuristic twist
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” UFV Theatre’s contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, playing March 4 to 15, imagines a future in which history repeats itself. What if the events surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar were to occur in the digital age? Are there forces already be…UFV installs Gwen Point as Chancellor
Dr. Gwen Point was installed as Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley at a ceremony at its Chilliwack campus at Canada Education Park on February 4, 2015. The installation ceremony was attended by more than 400 dignitaries and special guests, including the Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Dr. Point takes…Free tour, portfolio workshop offered by UFV Graphic + Digital
Interested in working in a creative field? Artists of all stripes are encouraged to enjoy professional feedback, portfolio advice, and even the chance to win a free iPad mini at UFV’s Graphic and Digital Design info session and portfolio workshop in Mission (33700 Prentis Avenue) on Tues, Feb 3. Graphic design includes designing logos, books, websites,…UFV named one of B.C.’s Top Employers
With notes from stories featured in BC’s Top Employers publication and the Eluta.ca site The University of the Fraser Valley is well known for excellence in post-secondary education. Now it’s also being formally recognized for being a great place to work. UFV was named as one of British Columbia’s Top Employers for 2015, joining 60…Act fast: latest Pecha Kucha Abbotsford set for Feb 12
The next installment of the popular Pecha Kucha Night Abbotsford running Feb. 12 has a lot going for it: 16 exciting topics, engaging exhibits by UFV Graphic and Digital Design students — even a fundraising Instagram contest. What it doesn’t have is a lot of tickets left. Heading into its fifth installment, this season’s must-see…George Siemens looks to the future in his President’s Leadership
UFV honorary degree recipient George Siemens is known as an extremely intelligent, affable forecaster of education’s evolution throughout the world. It turns out his timing is impeccable, too. Siemens will deliver his UFV President’s Leadership Lecture on Monday, Feb 2, less than two weeks after UFV Provost and Vice-President, Academic Eric Davis launched the UFV…MLA Plecas and UFV hosting free workshop for non-profits —
Abbotsford-South MLA Dr. Darryl Plecas, in partnership with the University of the Fraser Valley, will host a free, half-day workshop for Abbotsford non‐profit organizations. The event will take place on Fri, Feb 6, from 1–4:30 pm. The day will feature keynotes addresses from Kevin McCord, president & CEO of the The Vancouver Foundation, who will…UFV launches exhibit on Canadian Sikhs in First World War
Many Canadians fought in the First World War, and many were killed or injured. But it is often forgotten that those Canadians included ethnic minorities such as Indo-Canadians. The year 2014 marked the beginning of the centennial of World War I (also known as the ‘Great War’), which resulted in an estimated loss of 16…The great midlife leap
It takes courage to dream big when you’re the only wage earner and your family depends on you. Ask Gaylene deGroot. For more than 20 years, she had been working long and irregular hours as a care aide. It paid the bills, but there was little to no potential for career development. “I had enough,”…UFV honours past and present while celebrating 10 years in
UFV’s decade of success in Chandigarh, India was celebrated with a 10th anniversary gala inside the Student Union Building at the university’s Abbotsford campus recently. Staff, students, and supporters joined President Mark Evered in honouring Chandigarh’s continued success as the only Canadian university campus in India. Evered welcomed UFV professors DJ Sandhu and Lorne Mackenzie,…UFV Inspirational Leadership Award: Samantha Pattridge leads by example
Samantha Pattridge is the kind of leader who is admired by her students, the members of the department she leads, and her colleagues at large. She’s a UFV alumna who spread her wings on an academic and career journey that made several stops before she returned to her alma mater to teach in 2007, and…Medical Office Assistant grows in skills and passion
When her supervising physicians asked Kristin Candy to enrol in a newly developed Advanced Medical Office Assistant (AMOA) program, she did not know that her career was about to take an unexpected twist. An esthetician by trade, Kristin had completed her Medical Office Assistant (MOA) training in 2013 while at home caring for her two…Support available in wake of Florida shooting
After the horrific event of the Orlando Florida nightclub shooting, some students may experience a traumatic stress reaction. If you are a UFV student and feel distress over this event and need support, please visit Student Services in Abbotsford or Chilliwack (locations and contact information). UFV Counselling services are also available to help (locations and…Green UFV wins inaugural UFV Teamwork award
The best teams are made up of groups of individuals who bring a diversity of strengths to the table. Such is the case with UFV’s Green UFV team, inaugural winner of the UFV Teamwork award, presented at the UFV Excellence Awards ceremony on June 8. GreenUFV is a cross-functional team that works on sustainability…Thousands graduate and celebrate at UFV Convocation 2016
Families cheered and friends applauded as graduates crossed the stage during four University of the Fraser Valley Convocation ceremonies, held June 2 and 3 at the Abbotsford Centre. More than 2,300 students earned more than 2,800 credentials at UFV this year, and many of them gathered to formally celebrate and bask in their moment of…Governor General’s Silver Medal: Alyssa Zucchet excels from start to
Alyssa Zucchet came to UFV as a stand-out student, and she’s leaving the same way. Recruited out of Chilliwack Secondary in 2012 with a $16,000 President’s Entrance Scholarship, she maintained excellent grades for the full four years, and is leaving with the Governor General’s Silver Medal as the top graduate from a bachelor’s degree program.…Lieutenant Governor’s medal: hospitality grad Rebecca Noort puts skills to
UFV’s Hospitality Event Planning certificate program is known for its practical focus. In Rebecca Noort’s case, the skills she picked up have an immediate application. Roughly one week after she crosses the stage here at UFV Convocation, she’ll be walking down the aisle to marry her fiancé Phil. That means that while she was completing…Commitment and creative consciousness leads Courtney Verbeek to UFV’s Governor
Blending beautiful design with commercial and community consciousness led Abbotsford’s Courtney Verbeek to the top of her class. And artfully beyond. With a 4.19 GPA, Verbeek is this year’s recipient of the UFV Governor General’s Bronze Medal as the student with the highest GPA over the last 15 credits in any two-year diploma program. A…Honorary degree recipient Luigi Aquilini built an empire by example
Rags-to-riches stories often offer a glimpse into the highest level of human achievement. But Luigi Aquilini’s tale might top them all. Emigrating from his small Italian hometown, Luigi arrived in Canada penniless. Speaking little to no English and armed with nothing but a fifth-grade education, a strong back, and a determination to succeed, he set…George Peary receives honorary degree in recognition of decades of
Decades of public service behind him, George Peary has a quip for every occasion, a story for every situation, and now an honorary degree from UFV recognizing a lifetime of community commitment. “I’m an ordinary fellow who’s been given an extraordinary opportunity to serve,” he says. “You make a living by what you get, but…