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…

Recent labour market projections for British Columbia highlight that 77 per cent of more than 1 million job openings over the next 10 years will require some level of post-secondary education, specialized training, or equivalent experience, according to the B.C. Labour Market Outlook 2025–2035. To help ensure that they have the skills and credentials to…

When Dr. Síyamíyatelíyót (Elizabeth Phillips) received an Indspire Award recognizing her lifelong dedication to Halq’eméylem language revitalization, she chose to turn the honour outward. Instead of keeping the award for herself, Dr. Síyamíyatelíyót gifted it to Halq’eméylem language students at the University of the Fraser Valley, encouraging them to carry the language forward. The gesture…

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…

With the highly anticipated directorial return of Emeritus Associate Professor Bruce Kirkley, UFV Theatre brings Macbeth to the stage on March 20 - 29. This will be the second production of their 2024-2025 season. In addition to its run at UFV Abbotsford's Blackbox Theatre, it will also be performed in Chilliwack at the Chilliwack Cultural…

Tara-Lynn Kozma-Perrin is an artist. She’s also a community builder. And an experienced public servant.   Combine those three superpowers and you have all the necessary ingredients for bringing communities to life. And UFV helped her develop those skillsets. Twice.  Her first degree was a Bachelor of Fine Arts, completed in 2008.   “I started out…

“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…

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…

 Some artists struggle for years in obscurity. A few find fame and glory young, their talents celebrated, their work snapped up by collectors who pay top dollar to acquire a piece or two. Chris Woods falls into that latter category; his extraordinary talent gained attention just as he was beginning his career.    Having exhibited in…

In 1988, when Rebecca Anderson started her post-secondary education at Fraser Valley College at the age of 27, she developed a personal mantra: one course at a time.  Fifteen years later, she had completed a diploma at what had become the University College of the Fraser Valley, a bachelor’s degree at Simon Fraser, and a…

UFV gave Terry-Lynn Stone a springboard into a meaningful career in her 40s. Three decades later, she continues to contribute to her community through volunteerism. Terry-Lynn served two terms on the UFV Board of Governors, one in the 1990s and again in the 2010s. She was also founding chair of the UCFV Alumni Association in…

Content warning: This post relates to residential schools. A reminder that the Indian Residential School Survivors Society has a 24 hour Crisis Line available at 1-866-925-4419. Dr. Sarah Beaulieu, an anthropologist and assistant professor in the UFV School of Culture, Media, and Society, has been celebrated with a prestigious Governor General’s Innovation Award along with…