Adam Dizon and Will Alva’s friendship began back in elementary school, but neither could have guessed it would one day take them from the same hometown hallways all the way to Oxford University. This summer, the two recent UFV kinesiology graduates are packing their bags as they prepare to pursue their master’s degrees at one…

For the past two decades, one name has been associated more than any other with the South Asian Studies Institute at the University of the Fraser Valley. When you think of SASI, the institute’s founding director, Dr. Satwinder Bains, comes to mind pretty quickly. That changed on August 15 when Satwinder formally retired. She is…

When the world is in flux, and exams and assignments are adding up, it can be hard to keep yourself afloat. Mental health is important, but how can UFV students take care of it when the bad news never ends, and they can barely make ends meet as it is?   Robbyn Bennett, Executive Director of…

This summer, while most of us are tending gardens or soaking up the sun, UFV’s Dr. Lauren Erland will be heading to a colder climate — the Arctic.  The director of UFV’s Berry Environmental Resilience Research & Innovation (BERRI) Lab is taking a cruise with Adventure Canada. Serving as the ship’s botanist, she’ll help travelers…

For humans, melatonin is useful for getting to sleep. For strawberry plants, it may be a tool for survival in a warming world.  UFV student researcher Emily Foster recently finished a study that found melatonin reduces heat stress in alpine strawberries, increasing the resilience of a native crop. Melatonin is a hormone produced by humans…

For kids in grades 4–7, UFV’s Science Rocks! summer day camp is more than just a week out of the house; it’s a hands-on adventure in discovery. Campers create explosive (but still safe!) reactions in real science labs, explore wildlife and rocks, and measure the world around them like true scientists.  Each week-long camp features…

The world of high-performance sports can push an athlete to the limit, both physically and mentally. But when do the costs outweigh the benefits? When does participation do more harm than good?  A research project led by UFV kinesiology student Meigan Picard examined those questions through the lens of competitive ballet culture. Her paper suggests…

In the right hands, a welding torch is just as useful as a paint brush in creating beautiful art, and proof of that now sits just inside the front door of the UFV Trades and Technology Centre on the Chilliwack campus.  A group of Grade 11-12 students from the Chilliwack School District enrolled in a…

Across our institution, UFV faculty members lead the way in creating change, and Dr. Satwinder Bains is well known as an advocate for progressive causes. Satwinder, director of the South Asian Studies Institute, was recently honoured by the Chetna Association of Canada for her work to end oppression based on caste in BC and across…

Mary Stewart never planned on being a teacher, until she found herself in the first-ever Halq’eméylem class at the Stó:lō Shxwelí Halq’eméylem Language Program through the Stó:lō Nation Agency. She was 36, with a UFV Social Services diploma under her belt and a permanent job lined up. But when the opportunity came to learn Upriver…

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) has a new president who brings a passion for changemaking to his new leadership role. Dr. James Mandigo has championed innovative initiatives such as One Health at UFV over the last six years. His leadership has encouraged UFV faculty, staff and students to make a difference in the…

After more than four decades in post-secondary education, including 13 at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), Dr. Joanne MacLean is ready for the next chapter of her life. Joanne is retiring as UFV president and vice-chancellor, stepping away with a sense of pride and peace. As she passes the torch on to Dr.…