UFV welcomes partners to campus for St’elt’elawtexw community celebration 

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) welcomed guests to its Abbotsford campus on September 23 for St’elt’elawtexw: a Celebration of Community. The annual event highlights community connections, many of which are featured in UFV’s community report, which was distributed at the event.  

UFV President James Mandigo greeted visitors in the reception hall in Lá:léms Ye EverGreen, the new student housing building, and noted how the stories shared in the community report illustrate how connected the university is to its communities. 

“One of the things I have appreciated most since becoming president is seeing firsthand just how deeply UFV is woven into the fabric of the Fraser Valley,” Mandigo noted. “Our students are connected to the communities around them. Our research is connected to real challenges. Our learning extends beyond our classrooms and laboratories. This report gives us an opportunity to pause and look at what we have accomplished together over the past year. More importantly, it gives us an opportunity to recognize the people whose ideas, care and commitment make that work possible.”

He also noted that UFV’s decision to embrace changemaking as an institutional identity is infused in many of the successes celebrated at the event.  

“Changemaking happens when a faculty member creates a learning experience that changes how a student sees their future. It happens when a staff member notices that a student needs help and takes the time to make a connection. It happens when a researcher sits down with a community organization and asks, ‘What can we work on together?’ And it happens when we rethink something we’ve always done because we know there is a better way.” 

Susan Mide Kiss, Vice President of Community Engagement at UFV, guided the evening’s presentations, with help from student Arthur K. Atlas, who served as emcee.

Mide Kiss emphasized UFV’s commitment to learning, accountability, and building respectful relationships grounded in care. She noted that St’elt’elawtexw, the name for UFV’s community report and its celebration evening, means community in Halq’eméylem, the language of the Stó:lō people.

“At UFV, community takes many forms. It’s shared values, a sense of belonging, and a vision for a better tomorrow. It is the understanding that we are stronger together — and that the heart of every community is its people.”

Mide Kiss also updated guests on the development of a Community Engagement Framework at UFV.  

“Community engagement has always been part of UFV. It is embedded in our history and in our mission to engage learners, transform lives, and build community,” she noted. 

“But meaningful engagement is more than being present in community. It means listening. It means building relationships over time. It means reciprocity — recognizing that knowledge, expertise, and learning move in both directions. Our Community Engagement Framework gives us a shared way to think about that work. At its heart is the idea of community weaving: strengthening the connections between people, organizations, ideas, and opportunities, and recognizing that strong relationships are built through trust, consistency, shared agency, and a willingness for UFV itself to listen, learn, and change.” 

In addition to highlighting the numerous successes included in the community report, the evening provided an opportunity to honour the recipients of several awards that exemplify community connection at UFV.
Dean Duthie, Chief Constable of the Saanich Police Department, received UFV’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award, in recognition of his decades of leadership and community service in policing. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from UFV in 1995, part of the second graduating class for that program.

Dr. Ethan Wiens, a dentist based in Mission, B.C., was recognized as the 2026 Young Distinguished Alumni Award winner. Beyond his dental practice, he volunteers extensively in the community, and supports scholarships for future dental professionals. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at UFV in 2016.

Angelina Joseph received the Outstanding Student Leader Award. After arriving at UFV as an international student, she became a leader across campus, serving students through mentorship, student government, club leadership, and representation on the UFV Board of Governors and Senate. Angelina graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2026.

One of UFV’s most long-standing awards is the Betty Urquhart Community Service Award, named for one of UFV’s founding employees.

Pavi Toor, founder of the Young Guns Weightlifting Club in Mission, is the 2026 recipient of the Betty Urquhart Award. His group provides mentorship to young people in the areas of fitness training, sports, and financial literacy.

UFV also recognized individuals and organizations who have supported the university over the years through the presentation of Ripple Maker paddles. Former UFV board chair John Pankratz and his wife Crystal received a loyalty paddle, in honour of more than 15 years of giving to UFV. Abbotsford’s Aird and Sheila Flavelle, who have supported UFV in many ways over the years, received a legacy paddle for including UFV in their estate plans. Envision Financial received a lifetime paddle, presented to donors whose cumulative giving to UFV has reached more than $100,000.

New gifts to UFV were also announced at the celebration.

The RBC Foundation, a long-time supporter  of UFV, is providing a $250,000 contribution to UFV’s Food and Agriculture Institute. The gift will support an Agricultural Technology Foundry, connecting students and faculty with industry and community partners, giving students hands-on opportunities to address real-world food and agriculture challenges.

Jason Warmerdam, a UFV alumnus who recently took on the role of Vice President, Agriculture and Agribusiness at RBC, announced the gift.

Coast Capital, a three-decade partner of UFV, has recently expanded opportunities for students in the Faculty of Applied and Technical Studies, supporting student leadership, reducing financial barriers, and helping more people discover the possibilities of careers in the skilled trades and technologies. Coast Capital’s renewed investment of $75,000 will help expand access to education, advancing equitable employment outcomes for underrepresented students.  

This brings Coast Capital’s cumulative support of UFV to over $1 million, marking a significant milestone in a partnership rooted in shared impact and long-term commitment to student success.

Tara Walter, Manager of Social Purpose Ecosystem at Coast Capital, was on hand to celebrate the million-dollar milestone.

At the end of the evening, Mide Kiss thanked guests for their ongoing support of UFV.

“Tonight, you have heard just a few examples of what becomes possible when students, faculty, staff, and community come together—to learn, discover, innovate, and build a better future. I am deeply grateful to our community partners, supporters, sponsors, and the entire UFV community. Your care, generosity, and belief in this university make this work possible.

“We are grateful to the organizations whose partnership, creativity, and support helped us create an evening that reflects the relationships at the heart of UFV — Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures North Fraser, South Fraser and Sto:lo — who co-sponsored the networking reception, as well as other valued partners, including the UFV Alumni Association, Globe Printers and Wild Coast Productions. 

“UFV is a gathering place for learners, leaders, and seekers. Together, we will continue weaving the vibrant tapestry of this community — and I am excited to see where that shared work takes us next.”