For Evan Wiens, dentistry goes beyond perfecting smiles — it’s about giving back through mentorship and community service. A 2006 graduate of UFV’s Bachelor of Science program and recipient of the 2013 Young Distinguished Alumni Award, Evan balances his dentistry practice, leadership roles in dental organizations, and his family of four. As president of the…

Dr. Bonnie Reilly Schmidt has been a pioneer, not once, but twice.  As part of the first generation of women to serve as members of the RCMP and later as a scholar documenting their experiences through her doctoral research, Bonnie first discovered her passions as a mature student at what was then the University College…

Tracey Vanderaegen-Jones credits UFV with giving her the foundational skills for a successful 30-year nursing career. Now, she has taken the expertise she gained through her education and experience and uses it to save lives in organ recovery.  After graduation in 1994, Tracey worked as an on-call, casual nurse at a local hospital, and then…

“I’m one of those forever students,” says UFV alumna Shana Smith (BA ’16). “I just love learning.”  So much so that she didn’t want to leave — after graduating with a major in English and a minor in Media and Communication, she continued on as an employee. Shana now brings her creativity to UFV’s Information…

It’s a long journey from refugee to Federal Court judge, and UFV was an important step along the way for Justice Shirzad Ahmed.   At the age of 18 Shirzad was a political exile from Kurdistan. He gained temporary refuge in Italy and a permanent home in Canada.  Launching his post-secondary studies at UFV (then UCFV)…

With over 40 years in the financial sector, Gus Hartl has seen significant changes in the industry, but his core principles of leadership and community involvement have remained constant.  Graduating from UFV’s business administration program in the early 1980s, Gus was part of only the second class to complete the diploma program. “At the time,…

November is Career Month, a Canada-wide initiative that celebrates and supports professional development. By making career services and education more accessible, Career Month aims to prepare Canadians for the job market. At UFV, the Centre for Experiential and Career Education and the Alumni Engagement team have partnered up to help students, employees and alumni get…

Dr. Lisa Kelly teaches her law students at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario with confidence and compassion, qualities instilled in her as an undergraduate at UFV (then the University College of the Fraser Valley) in the early 2000s.  Completing a two-year Associate of Arts degree at UFV before embarking on a multi-institution academic journey, Lisa…

From his days as a business student at UFV to becoming the founder of one of Canada’s fastest-growing accounting firms, Alex McAulay’s journey is a true testament to entrepreneurial spirit and community connection. His career, marked by both impressive successes and significant challenges, serves as an inspiring story to highlight how hard work and strong…

“You’ve got to have some skin in the game,” said Jasmit Singh Phulka’s high school wrestling coach. It wasn’t enough to just show up for practice. Being part of a team meant being part of a community -- taking care of your space, taking care of each other, and investing in the things that you…

It isn’t the life she envisioned when she chose a soldier as her partner, but Debbie Greene has embraced the life she shares with husband Trevor.  Debbie and Trevor had already welcomed baby Grace when he deployed to Afghanistan in 2006. Trevor was well-suited for his assignment as an emissary, travelling to remote Afghan villages…

Through careers spanning from IT to agriculture, one constant runs through Jason Lum’s professional life -- his absolutely unwavering commitment to community.  As a four-term councillor with the City of Chilliwack, Jason has dedicated his political career to grassroots advocacy, striving to make positive changes for the people of the Fraser Valley.    A UCFV student…

For many people, earning a PhD means they have plans for a career in academia, pursuing their research interests and teaching the next generation of scholars.   Dr. Tanya Jonker had other ideas. While she loved her university studies, she was intrigued by opportunities and revolutionary developments in the private sector.   Tanya, who earned a BA…

Walking into Longhouse Branding and Marketing, the values instilled by founder Keenan Beavis are immediately evident. The office buzzes with a team of nearly 15 people, working collaboratively in one large open space – reflecting the long-standing traditions of the Stó:lō People, who have done so for generations in their longhouses. Keenan is an up-and-coming…

From his humble beginnings in Abbotsford to his current role in Brussels, Shawn Neumann’s journey from the UCFV classrooms of the 1990s to the global stage is a testament to lifelong learning. Today, Shawn is a key player on the executive team of Collaboration Betters The World (CBTW), a global leader in digital transformation based…