featured Archive
UFV artist’s painting inspired by tragic murder takes on life
Rodrigo Kelton, a Brazilian street child, was mercilessly shot and killed by drug traffickers while travelling to visit his home city of Fortaleza. On his 14th birthday, and within feet of his mother’s home, his bright future was instantly hijacked. A half a world away, his death would soon inspire a UFV visual arts student.…UFV Lens of Empowerment project returns with focus on women’s
The University of the Fraser Valley is once again offering students the opportunity to learn more about Stó:lō territory and culture through the Lens of Empowerment Project. This time around (the second offering of this project), the Lens Project will be comprised of a focused five-course learning experience that culminates with students producing their own…Images and Land Claims — a weekend of films, maps,
Images and Land Claims Hosted by the Stó:lō Nation and supported by the University of the Fraser Valley. Fri, July 11–Sun, July 13 The Resource Centre Stó:lō Nation Chilliwack, B.C. July 11 program begins at 6 pm, followed by a reception. From the Kalahari desert to the Fraser Valley, indigenous peoples fight for their lands,…UFV Theatre heads to Harrison Festival
The Harrison Festival of the Arts has been part of the Fraser Valley’s cultural landscape for thirty-six years, and the University of the Fraser Valley has been involved from the beginning. The popular annual summer festival is back this year from July 12 to 20, and UFV is contributing several productions from its highly successful…Internet’s a-buzz with UFV graduate’s beer bottle résumé
A different kind of beer buzz just hit UFV graduate Brennan Gleason. Well ahead of graduating with UFV’s first Graphic and Digital Design class earlier this month, Gleason sent out a very unique résumé: his own home-brewed beer beautifully packaged as Résum-Ale. Holding four handsome bottles of 6.9-percent-alcohol beer, the packaging reads: “Visually pleasing, smooth…Thousands graduate in 40th anniversary year at UFV Convocation
Convocation refers to a gathering together, and thousands did so on June 12 and 13 as the University of the Fraser Valley celebrated its graduates at three ceremonies at the Abbotsford Centre. Watch a video of our Convocation ceremonies here. More than 2,100 individuals graduated with more than 2,700 credentials this year, over the two…Kusum Soni named UFV’s 2014 Betty Urquhart community service award
It’s Kusum Soni’s inclusive embrace that earned her this year’s Betty Urquhart community service award from the University of the Fraser Valley. In 1995, UFV renamed its community service award in honour of Betty Urquhart, who passed away that year. One of UFV’s first employees, Urquhart was commitment to building a strong relationship between UFV…Dr. Michael Gaetz recognized for community-based health research excellence
2014 UFV Research Excellence award winner Healthy bodies make for healthy minds and healthy communities. There are many opportunities in Fraser Valley communities to do scientific research focused on keeping the population healthy, raising healthier kids, and helping the elderly stay healthy longer through well-planned physical activity. That’s what Dr. Michael Gaetz of Chilliwack has…Teaching Excellence winner Andrea Hughes makes learning memorable for psych
For a teacher committed to studying seniors, psychology instructor Dr. Andrea Hughes sure has a way with today’s youth. As the 2014 recipient of the Teaching Excellence award at the University of the Fraser Valley, Hughes’ success is a product of her interminable fascination with studying memory, especially in older generations. “I think students feed…Governor General’s gold medal winner Torhjelm finds reconnecting with learning
Like most students enrolled in master’s level programming at the University of the Fraser Valley, Shannon Torhjelm had to balance the demands of a professional career with the busy life of a graduate student. By day, Torhjelm is social work practice leader for Abbotsford and Mission hospitals, supervising the clinical practice of social workers in…A colourful commitment to craft leads to UFV honorary degree
When the colours of traditional ajrakh cloth, the legendary blockprint of the desert, were once again true, Charllotte Kwon knew she’d made a difference. Her Maiwa Foundation had finally secured land in India’s Kutch region, obtaining a pure water source vital to naturally dyeing ajrak. Without this, Ismail the craftsman, his family, and the extended…Governor General’s silver medal winner Nicole Wierks works magic in
Nicole Wierks may be the most well-known student graduating from the University of the Fraser Valley this year. She earned that fame as a leader of the UFV Cascades women’s basketball team that stormed its way to a third-place finish at the national championships in March 2014. But did you know Wierks is also an…Jumping 400 years of history paves the way for MOOCs
Whether lit by flickering oil lamps in bucolic Mexican farmsteads or glowing computer screens tied wirelessly across the world, quests for education and connection remain the same in the eyes of University of the Fraser Valley 2014 honorary degree recipient George Siemens. Siemens will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree at UFV’s morning Convocation…Following her passion leads Angela Lebedovich to Lieutenant Governor’s award
Going above and beyond is nothing unusual for UFV’s 2014 Lieutenant Governor’s award recipient Angela Lebedovich. Students in vocational or career programs less than two years in length who have excelled in their studies and contributed to the life of their post-secondary institution or their community are eligible to be nominated for this award. Lebedovich…Love of design — and beer — leads Brennan Gleason
By combining passions for graphic design and artisanal beer, Brennan Gleason leads UFV’s first Graphic and Digital Design graduating class in style by being named UFV’s 2014 Governor General’s bronze medal recipient. Awarded to the diploma-level student graduating with the highest grade point average over the last 15 credits, the Governor General's bronze medal recognizes…UFV hosts peace expert George Lopez — March 9
Dr. George Lopez will visit UFV on Wed, March 9 as part of the President's Leadership Lecture Series. Lopez is a writer and lecturer who has been a leader in developing the peace studies field for more than 30 years. He is a founding faculty member of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the…Terry O’Reilly to speak on Power of Storytelling at UFV
UFV welcomes Terry O’Reilly to the Fraser Valley on Tues, March 1 as a guest lecturer for the President’s Leadership Lecture Series. This seasoned marketer and personable communicator will speak on The Power of Storytelling. O’Reilly is an award-winning writer, director, marketer, and radio host, well known for his…UFV Theatre presents a new twist on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
UFV Theatre is warming up the winter season with a modernized take on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, a romantic comedy running March 3 to 20 at the UFV Performance Theatre on Yale Road in Chilliwack. Filled with music and dance, Shakespeare’s play about love begins with the unforgettable line: “If the music be the food of…Feed your brain at UFV Faculty Microlectures on Feb 24
Come see UFV faculty take the two-minute challenge at the Faculty Microlectures on Wed, Feb 24 More than two dozen professors from a variety of disciplines will take to the podium at the Road Runner Cafe and Lounge on the Abbotsford campus (Building A). The event starts at 11:30 am. Attendance is free and the…From volcanoes to storytelling, the President’s Leadership Lecture Series presents
If you want to be challenged and stimulated by some sharp minds with enlightening ideas, then plan on attending one or all of the UFV President’s Leadership Lecture Series presentations this semester. “I established this speaker series with the intent to bring to UFV inspirational leaders to share their ideas with us, challenge us, and…UFV presents Climate Change and Eco-Advocacy in the Fraser Valley
Climate change presents unique challenges in the Fraser Valley, and UFV alumni and students tackling them in their careers and volunteer work. UFV's Alumni Expert Speaker Series will highlight some of the action being taken and discuss ways you can make an environmental difference in your community in its latest panel discussion on Feb 18.…From boardrooms to backcountry, Sukhi Brar makes the most of
She ran a marathon on the Great Wall of China after ice-climbing Rocky Mountain glaciers and shaving her head for cancer research, so it might be hard to believe Sukhi Brar started at UFV as a quiet, introspective student. She did. That changed. “I decided I didn’t want to be that quiet person in university…UFV named one of BC’s Top Employers for second year
The University of the Fraser Valley has been recognized for being a great place to work for the second year in a row. UFV was named as one of British Columbia’s Top Employers for 2016, joining 64 other organizations on the list. Serving an annual enrollment of approximately 15,000 students, UFV has more than 1,200…UFV hosts Aboriginal storytelling event on Feb 3
The atrium of the UFV Chilliwack campus will be transformed by the words and songs of Aboriginal storytellers on Wed, Feb 3. The UFV Chilliwack library and the Indigenous Affairs office are co-presenting an Aboriginal storytelling event entitled Sx̱wōx̱wiyám, Stories of Long Ago. The event is free and the public is welcome. Stó:lō storytellers will lead…India’s first Co-Curricular Record program launched by UFV Chandigarh
The University of the Fraser Valley recently launched India’s first post-secondary Co-Curricular Record program in Chandigarh. A Co-Curricular Record (CCR) is an authorized record of students’ relevant and validated experiences outside the classroom. The CCR connects with students’ co-curricular experience and provides an authorized record of activities for employers and educational references. UFV’s CCR successfully…UFV applauds launch of #BCTECH Strategy and continues development of
The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) welcomes the government of British Columba’s recent announcement of the #BCTECH Strategy and the strategy’s greater emphasis on post-secondary learning in technology sectors. “UFV is very pleased to see the government’s continued effort and foresight in strengthening British Columbia’s diverse knowledge-based economy, including a vibrant technology sector,” said…Find out more about Graphic + Digital Design program at
If you are curious, creative and motivated about art in general and graphic design in particular, join UFV's Graphic + Digital Design program at an information night and portfolio session on Tues, Feb 2. At this session you will: Meet GDD students and faculty See innovative student design projects Ask questions of our student panel Receive…