The University of the Fraser Valley welcomed the community to campus from June 10 to June 12 to celebrate Convocation over six ceremonies in its Athletic Centre. A total of 3,152 students earned credentials to graduate from UFV this academic year, and 1,601 attended Convocation and crossed the stage. Almost 6,000 guests attended Convocation over…

Jael Penner is a problem solver. Give her a computer and a challenge to overcome and watch her go. With a smile on her face and her fingers dancing across the keyboard, she’ll have a solution worked out in no time at all.  “It’s super rewarding and I kind of get a rush of adrenaline…

Roxy Granikovas has spent eight years at UFV building spaces where everyone can feel included. Now that they’re graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy (Honours), their efforts are being recognized with the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal. Each year, this award honours a student who’s made outstanding contributions in support of inclusion, democracy, or…

Thea Bramer of Mission had never heard of the Governor General’s Silver Medal award until she got the phone call telling her she’d be receiving it. After a 20-year break from school, the former administrative assistant came to UFV for a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care — and received the highest academic…

Eleanor Deacon is always looking for the next step, determined to keep learning and developing. In 2023, her quest for knowledge brought her to the University of the Fraser Valley, where she enrolled in the Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Mentorship program.  A teacher at a Chilliwack school, Eleanor graduates from the UFV…

Matthew Grant recently joined UFV’s Community Engagement team as Associate Vice-President, Community Engagement. He brings over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in community engagement, strategic partnerships, marketing, communications, public affairs, and enrollment planning within the post-secondary sector.   He joins UFV from Simon Fraser University, where he served as Executive Director of Community Engagement. There,…

On the surface, TYCROP is a manufacturing company located on the outskirts of Chilliwack in the small farming community of Rosedale. But in the eyes of founder Gary Teichrob, one of UFV’s 2025 honorary degree recipients, it’s so much more. “We’re passionate innovators, designers, engineers, and creators, but we pride ourselves in being more than…

Gwen Point had a thirst for learning from an early age. But like many Indigenous children, she faced barriers that made it difficult for her to thrive in the education system. She persevered, never giving up on her dream. Success followed, but not without struggle. She earned her bachelor’s degree. And her master’s degree. And…

  How do you make an unremarkable space interesting? How do you bring life to something people pass by every day without thought?  Those are questions Jesse Reimer posed to UFV’s Architectural Drafting Technician students when he presented Activating Spaces, a concept created by Jesse and his fellow instructor Wes Macaulay. The competition challenged students…

Christine Jones would be the first to tell you that she would rather you admire the gardens she tends to rather than focus on her, but it’s her turn to be in the spotlight as an outstanding University of the Fraser Valley employee.   As the woman behind the scenery, Christine has spent 24 years…

A decade-long journey of transformative education has made all the difference for one group of UFV faculty members — now, they’re using what they learned to help prepare the next generation of teachers.   With several Calls to Action in 2015’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report directly linked to education, many UFV instructors are rising to…

Organizing a major sporting event is no minor task. When UFV hosted the Canada West Women’s basketball championships in February 2024, a small army of passionate people worked together to make it happen.  They successfully organized the largest sporting event ever hosted by UFV, drawing more than 120 student athletes and 3,000 spectators to the…