Commemorate pavers to be unveiled at revitalized entrance to Abbotsford campus

Workers installing the pavers for UFV’s new commemorative paver project.

A plaza featuring custom-engraved paving stones will greet visitors to UFV’s Abbotsford campus, thanks to the support of generous UFV donors.

These commemorative pavers are the heart of a project that revitalized the entranceway between Buildings A and B, one of the busiest spots on campus.

The project raised more than $50,000 for the UFV Alumni Association Bursary Endowment, which supports students in financial need.

“We know that UFV holds a special connection for many members of our community. UFV is woven into the everyday experience of Fraser Valley life. Our alumni operate businesses we depend on, deliver our health care, teach our children, and much more,” said Anita Nielsen, Executive Director, Advancement & Alumni Relations at UFV. “We are very grateful to the individuals, families, and organizations that supported this initiative and ‘left their mark’ on UFV.”

The commemorative pavers, which were installed last month, will be officially unveiled on Valentine’s Day 2022. President Joanne MacLean will welcome guests and donors to view and take photographs with their paving stones.

Former UFV presidents Larry Blake, Barry Moore, Peter Jones, Skip Bassford, Mark Evered and interim president Jackie Hogan along with UFV’s first and second chancellors, Brian Minter and Gwen Point, were each honored with their own paver.

Other inscriptions feature messages from alumni, proud parents, UFV employees, local supporters, and others whose lives have been touched by the university.

Some are humorous, such as the inscription by Ashley and Derek Ward-Hall, alumni who met at UFV and now work for the university. “We came and never left.”

Some are cryptic, such as “smells like home”, by former Alumni Association chair Nik Venema and UFV counsellor Marnie Venema.

Some offer advice or inspiration to current students, such as “you are our future”, by Stantec, a firm that has worked on UFV capital projects.

Others are touching tributes to a loved one who has passed, or a long-time and well admired employee who has retired.

Colleagues of Kim Isaac, who recently retired as University Librarian and was one of UFV’s early students in the 1970s during its Fraser Valley College era, chipped in to honour her 32 years as a UFV employee.

If you would like to add your name to the wait list for future paving stone projects, please email Deanna.McIntyre@ufv.ca.

Time lapse photography of installation: https://youtu.be/z50FIGpnxSs

Photos of the paving stones:

Timelapse video of the paving stone project: