Awards and recognition Archive
UFV recognized again as a top international university
Even with all the operating challenges that accompanied a pandemic year, UFV was recently recognized as a top-tier International post secondary institution by Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (QS), a global higher education research company behind one of the most respected university rankings systems in the world. QS Stars is a university rating system that helps prospective…Pahladsingh wins BMO 1st Art! award
When Shannon Pahladsingh (stylized as “shannon pahladsingh”) (BFA ’21), reclaimed her experiences of racism into philosophy and political science research essays, she never expected the ordeal to transform into an award-winning, and nationally recognized spoken word poem. Performed by shannon pahladsingh for her capstone Bachelor of Fine Arts project, her spoken word poem oh, thank…2021 Betty Urquhart award winner: PEARL offers network of support
Joan Goosen believes that everyone deserves the chance to live a life of dignity. And she knows that when a woman wants to leave a life on the streets and/or as a sex-trade worker, it can be very difficult. So she helped found an organization, PEARL (which stands for prostituted women exiting and renewing life),…2021 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Jason Beck turned a chance
Jason Beck thought farming was his destiny. An Abbotsford boy born and bred, as a teenager he assumed that his future was literally in his backyard, working on his family’s farm. “That was my plan,” Beck, 39, says before quickly clarifying. “Well, it wasn’t even a plan, it’s just what I thought was going to…2021 Young Distinguished Alumni recipient Sheetal Deo leveraging a career
Sheetal Deo (BA ’12) was the kind of undergraduate student who would take electives in the summertime as a way to relax and hang out with friends. That’s a good thing, because it helped her discover her love for philosophy, political science, and social justice. Deo, who earned her Bachelor of Arts at the University…Telling her truth — Pursuing her passion leads to success
Jasmin Kaur’s imagination is taking her places. From her bedroom office in Abbotsford she is living the life of a twice-published author and worldwide influencer. Her novel If I Tell You The Truth, is interspersed with poetry and tells the story of Kiran, an international student who stays illegally in Canada to raise a baby…History grad turns passion into a prestigious international essay award
Michaela Sapielak always had an affinity for buildings. Not just any buildings, but heritage ones in particular. When she looked up at the ceiling of her grade school, Dunach Elementary in Abbotsford, as a 9-year-old, she marvelled at the towering ceilings and craftsmanship of the now-defunct 19th century structure. “There’s just something about old buildings…Lieutenant Governor’s Medal: Faria Firoz uses art to advocate for
Faria Firoz has only lived in Canada for five years, but she is already making a difference by using her art to communicate about social issues. As she graduates with her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UFV, she is one of four artists featured in the Black Lives Matter Social Justice art project that…Governor General’s Silver Medal: Numbers add up to award for
It’s somewhat fitting, at least this year, that the decision of who receives the Governor General’s Silver Medal comes down to numbers. This prestigious academic medal goes to the student graduating from a bachelor’s degree program at UFV with the highest grade-point average. And for 2021, that status goes to Tanner Boos, who is graduating…Governor General’s gold medal 2021: Ryan Buhrig expands his understanding
Even as a child, the intricacies of law have always appealed to Ryan Buhrig. So, when it was time to pinpoint a career, it was no surprise which field he would pursue. The only question left was: which direction of law would serve his greatest purpose? As an undergraduate student at the University of British…Governor General’s bronze medal 2021: Through trial and error, Alona
Late last month, Alona Gurieva was at home in Langley when she received an unexpected email. It was from Christina Slavik, the department head of Child, Youth, and Family Studies at UFV, letting Gurieva know that she was the recipient of the 2021 Governor General’s Bronze Medal at the University of the Fraser Valley, awarded…Honorary degreee 2021: Cathy Press’s success proves the sky’s no
Some kids spend their days on the playgrounds or sports fields, but Cathy Press grew up in the skies. Her childhood memories in the Lower Mainland consist of her being in a floatplane, side by side with her father, a retired commercial pilot. Together, they would take impromptu expeditions to remote places like Garibaldi Lake…Honorary degree 2021: Andrée Cazabon uses film to turn pain
It began in the basement of her childhood home. For Andrée Cazabon, the magic of film and the world of visual storytelling bloomed in a makeshift cinema. Cazabon was seven years old living on the outskirts of Ottawa when her father put on the classic French Canadian animated short The Hockey Sweater on the 16mm…Honorary degree 2021 — Roméo Dallaire: a courageous champion for
As a highly decorated veteran, courageous champion for mental health, and passionate advocate against exposing children to the horrors of war, Roméo Dallaire is an inspiration to multiple generations across the world. For this and much more, Dallaire is being awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from the University of the Fraser Valley in…UFV honorary degree 2021: Chamberlain honoured for advocacy for LGBTQ+
When James Chamberlain was a youth attending school in Abbotsford, he didn’t see himself reflected. Not in the books he was assigned to read, the teachers who guided his education, or in his interactions with his fellow students. “School was difficult and a lonely place for me,” he recalls. “I was targeted with homophobic bullying by my peers…2022 long-service employees celebrated
Employees who have been around for a decade or more had the chance to be celebrated in person on May 16 at a dinner event at the Clarion Inn. President Joanne MacLean was delighted to greet the long-service employees and retiring faculty members who are receiving professor emeritus status in person after…Staff Excellence 2022: Carol Dickson’s dedication to Indigenization earns honour
When Carol Dickson started working as Executive Assistant to the Vice Provost in 2012, she had no idea that the new job was going to take her on a journey of transformation. She was aware that as part of the role she would be working with Shirley Hardman, UFV’s Senior Advisor on Indigenous Affairs, but…Teaching Excellence 2022: Judy Larsen places communication at the heart
Dr. Judy Larsen of UFV’s Upgrading and University Preparation department has always taken the atypical route when it came to teaching mathematics and mathematics education courses. Guided by principles of the ‘Building Thinking Classrooms’ framework, her classes are known to be a little loud, messy, and full of students out of their seats and at…Inspirational Leadership 2022: Goudsblom leads from student-centred approach
A lifetime of forward-thinking leadership and commitment to improving the lives of those around him has led Mark Goudsblom to receive UFV’s 2022 Inspirational Leadership Award. Now Associate Vice President, Campus Planning and Facilities Management, Goudsblom was originally a nurse by profession, coming to Canada from his native Holland on a honeymoon with wife Mirjam.…Teamwork Excellence 2022: Teaching and Learning Centre trained faculty with
Pivoting to a full-scale, remote online learning environment within a few days does not just happen. Software and licensing have to be purchased and approved by university leaders. There has to be IT capacity to roll out and maintain the technologies. But possibly most important of all, there has to be a knowledgeable and passionate…Research Excellence 2022: UFV the perfect fit for professor seeking
For Dr. James Bedard, the 2022 winner of the Research Excellence award at UFV, a faculty posting in the biology department turned out to be the perfect fit. His mentor during his undergraduate and graduate years studying microbiology in Manitoba had told him that he’d make a good teaching-focused professor with a minor focus on…Faculty Service Excellence 2022: Karin Jager fuses design education with
From building UFV’s Graphic and Digital Design program from the ground up, to instilling a deep understanding of community and the power of design to generations of students, Karin Jager’s contribution to creative work in the Fraser Valley and beyond is immeasurable. For this and much more, Jager has been named UFV’s 2022 Faculty Service…Awneet Sivia receives prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship
A University of the Fraser Valley professor who prepares the next generation of teachers to enter the field has been honoured for her own teaching skills with a 3M National Teaching Fellowship. Dr. Awneet Sivia, who has taught and provided leadership in UFV’s Teacher Education department since 2011, is one of 10 Canadian post-secondary educators…UFV named one of BC’s Top Employers for eighth year
The University of the Fraser Valley has once again been named one of BC’s Top Employers. This marks the eighth straight year that UFV has been selected. BC’s Top Employers is a competition that recognizes employers in British Columbia that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Mark Pearson, UFV’s Manager, Recruitment Services,…UFV recognized again as a top international university
Even with all the operating challenges that accompanied a pandemic year, UFV was recently recognized as a top-tier International post secondary institution by Quacquarelli Symonds Limited (QS), a global higher education research company behind one of the most respected university rankings systems in the world. QS Stars is a university rating system that helps prospective…Pahladsingh wins BMO 1st Art! award
When Shannon Pahladsingh (stylized as “shannon pahladsingh”) (BFA ’21), reclaimed her experiences of racism into philosophy and political science research essays, she never expected the ordeal to transform into an award-winning, and nationally recognized spoken word poem. Performed by shannon pahladsingh for her capstone Bachelor of Fine Arts project, her spoken word poem oh, thank…2021 Betty Urquhart award winner: PEARL offers network of support
Joan Goosen believes that everyone deserves the chance to live a life of dignity. And she knows that when a woman wants to leave a life on the streets and/or as a sex-trade worker, it can be very difficult. So she helped found an organization, PEARL (which stands for prostituted women exiting and renewing life),…