As the votes were being counted in municipal elections throughout the Fraser Valley Oct 20, there were more than a few candidates with UFV connections holding their breath waiting for results.

Congratulations to the following successful candidates with UFV connections:

Abbotsford

UFV alumna Kelly Chahal (named one of UFV’s Top 40 Alumni) was re-elected as a councillor. She has an MA, BA, and diploma in Criminal Justice from UFV.

UFV alumna and current Bachelor of Adult Education student Shirley Wilson was re-elected as a Board of Education trustee.

UFV alumnus and former mayor of Abbotsford Bruce Banman was elected as a councillor.

Chilliwack

Returning councillor Jason Lum  is a UFV alumnus (Lum is also one of the UFV Top 40 Alumni). Lum took a variety of courses while a student in the early 2000s.

Elected school trustee Dan Coulter has also been a UFV student.

Agassiz/Kent/Harrison

Susan Spaeti (who earned a BCIS degree in 2003)  was elected to Council for the District of Kent (which includes Agassiz).

Harrison Hot Springs

Gerry Palmer, an associate professor in the School of Business and member of Senate, was elected as a councillor.

Mission

Pam Alexis was elected mayor after serving as a councillor. She has served on UFV’s Mission Community Council and was on the UFV Foundation board.

Maple Ridge

Re-elected councillor Kiersten Duncan has been a UFV student.

 

Several other people with UFV connections ran for office in a number of communities, including Chilliwack, Langley City, and Vancouver,  but were unsuccessful in gaining a seat.

(If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know by emailing anne.russell@ufv.ca).