Studying at University of the Fraser Valley helped Darren Penner prepare for a career as lawyer. It also helped shape the kind of lawyer he would be: one who puts compassion ahead of compensation.

Like many students, Darren planned to complete only two years at what was then University College of the Fraser Valley before transferring to another post-secondary, but he had such a positive experience, he ended up staying for his whole bachelor’s degree.

“Sylvie Murray (currently Dean of the College of Arts) was a huge inspiration for me,” says Darren. “Having her as a professor is what solidified my decision to do my undergrad in history.”

Another strong influence he cites is honorary UFV alum Eric Davis, who was History department head when Darren was studying at UFV.

As he considered his career options, Darren liked the idea of being a lawyer. After finishing at UFV, he attended law school at UBC.

Through his time in law school, Darren came to recognize and appreciate what he loved about his time at UFV.

“Taking history at UFV was great preparation for law,” he says. “It provided valuable opportunities for learning how to analyze and to become a better writer.”

Darren began his practice as a commercial, real estate, and estate lawyer. But after receiving some files focused on immigration, he truly found his passion.

“It was a very accepting environment. You never left there feeling like the weight of the world was on your shoulders.”

Helping people realize their dreams in Canada gives Darren great professional satisfaction. He finds that he can make a significant positive impact in the lives of others, helping individuals avoid potential missteps or misinformation and providing a clear path towards successful immigration. In 2019 he struck out on his own, founding his firm Quadro Law.

Darren pulls from his experiences at UFV to shape his own corporate culture by ensuring that he practices in an open and accepting place.

“My first classes and my first years (at UFV) really started to shape me as a person,” says Darren. “It was a very accepting environment. You never left there feeling like the weight of the world was on your shoulders. I’ve adopted a lot of the qualities that I learned at UFV, in terms of relating to people.”

Because of his strong positive experiences at UFV, Darren served on the UFV Alumni Association board with Stacey Irwin (BBA ’97) and Tony Luck (BA ’07). He served for seven years and helped celebrate UFV’s transformation into a regional university.

Now marking his 50^th birthday alongside the university he loves, Darren reflects on his own experiences and encourages mindfulness from future students.

“When we’re in that phase of our lives, going to school and headed towards a career that would make us happy on paper, we need to ask a separate question: are we doing this for financial reasons, or are we doing this because it will be fulfilling?”

In 2023 Darren and Quadro Law joined with Boughton Law, where Darren is able to provide more resources to his clients.

Darren’s work in immigration law has been fulfilling for him; his passion for helping others has helped shape him as a person, as a parent to his son, and as a lawyer.

More than 50,000 people have graduated from UFV since 1974. Over the next year, we’ll be introducing you to 50 remarkable alumni.