Community Engagement Perspectives, by Susan Mide Kiss, Vice-President, UFV Community Engagement Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to participate in a number of conversations across British Columbia, including UFV's Grounded Innovation 3.0 Summit, the RBC Community Partner Event in Vancouver, and the Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade's Education for…

It started small. As in, selling Entertainment coupon books to keep afloat financially. It started with heart. As in, a small group of proud graduates from UFV (in its Fraser Valley College and University College of the Fraser Valley incarnations) assembled and worked together to achieve the goal of giving back and formalizing a relationship…

If you want a deep dive into the history of Black Vancouver, Shayla Bird is the guide for you. Recently designated as an experiences host by Airbnb , Shayla specializes in tours of Hogan’s Alley, the original Black community in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood where she now lives. Much of the Hogan’s Alley neighbourhood, was destroyed…

Conversations flowed across the room. Alumni shared insights, students took notes, and ideas moved quickly in all directions. This wasn’t a lecture or a panel. It was something different.  The Afternoon Exchange, hosted by UFV Alumni Engagement, brought accomplished  alumni back to campus for an informal event designed to put students and recent grads face-to-face with people who had once been in their shoes. The format resembled speed mentoring with short, rotating…

Tempted by the promise of a trade in which he’d always be inside and dry, UFV alumnus Martin Mwariga (Cert ’16) set his sights on being an electrician after high school. While that promise didn’t always hold true (he’s found himself working outside in the rain more than once), he found a rewarding career path.…

At the heart of UFV’s Abbotsford campus, the S’eliyemetaxwtexw Art Gallery (pronounced S-uh-lee-uh-mut-out-ook) stands as a creative and cultural hub: a space where students, faculty, and alumni artists come together to explore ideas through art, is run by the UFV School of Creative Arts (SoCA). The Upriver Halq’eméylem name, S’eliyemetaxwtexw, means a place that holds…

The first of November marks the start of Career Month for Canadians — from coast to coast, professionals of every stripe are levelling up their resumes and skills to supercharge their careers. If you’re looking for professional development opportunities, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is hosting numerous events to help bring your future…

A trailblazer in the legal and business communities, Sam Varing has shown a deep commitment to equity and youth empowerment, and the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) has played a significant role in her journey.  Sam, the recipient of UFV’s 2025 Young Distinguished Alumni Award (YDAA), graduated from UFV in 2014.  “I had the…

Kamaldeep (Kam) Singh Sandhu is using his talent for business development, improving the economic outlook for BC Indigenous communities.    The 2025 recipient of the University of the Fraser Valley’s Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) is a graduate of UFV’s Bachelor of Business Administration program (2012). A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and a Certified Aboriginal Finance Manager…

A University of the Fraser Valley alumna is blazing a trail in a traditionally male-dominated field  and helping other women find their way.  Cassandra Shewchuk (BSc Honours Physical Geography, 2020) graduated from UFV just five years ago but is already viewed as a leader and role model. She was recently elected to the board of…

When Christine Seymour crossed the stage as the first-ever Indigenous graduate of UFV’s Bachelor of Science program in 2000, she planned for a future in science.  But her culture and language came calling.  She worked for a couple of years at the federal agricultural research facility in Agassiz before entering the teacher education program at…

"All that we are is story," Indigenous author Richard Wagamese once wrote. For Nerlap Kaur Sidhu, Vice Principal at William A. Fraser Middle School and one of UFV's 50 Remarkable Alumni, these words serve as both inspiration and blueprint for an educational philosophy centred on connecting students with their communities through powerful storytelling projects.  Since…