Community

Members of the M2/W2 Association in Abbotsford recently prepared and delivered 75 gift bags to Alouette Correctional Centre for Women. (Submitted photo)

Abbotsford organization donates 75 Christmas gift bags to women’s prison

M2/W2 Association donates to Alouette Correctional Centre for Women

Members of the M2/W2 Association in Abbotsford recently prepared and delivered 75 gift bags to Alouette Correctional Centre for Women. (Submitted photo)
Pacho, a 7.5-year-old Shih Tzu, is with his four-year-old bunny brother Efron.

SLIDESHOW: Abbotsford’s 2020 holiday pets

Fur babies are all decked out for the holidays

Pacho, a 7.5-year-old Shih Tzu, is with his four-year-old bunny brother Efron.
From left are Joe Fauchon, representing Save-On-Foods stores in Abbotsford; Roy Ferraro, retired Abbotsford firefighter; Dave Murray of the Archway Food Bank; Brent Murdoch, district chief POC Abbotsford firefighters; Steve Magown, manager of the Fraser Valley Auto Mall; Mike McDonald, president of the Fraser Valley Auto Mall Association; Don Barbeau from Black Press; and Ron Hall, assistant fire chief. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

Fraser Valley Auto Mall food bank drive raises more than $27K in Abbotsford

Annual event had to be adapted due to COVID-19 pandemic

From left are Joe Fauchon, representing Save-On-Foods stores in Abbotsford; Roy Ferraro, retired Abbotsford firefighter; Dave Murray of the Archway Food Bank; Brent Murdoch, district chief POC Abbotsford firefighters; Steve Magown, manager of the Fraser Valley Auto Mall; Mike McDonald, president of the Fraser Valley Auto Mall Association; Don Barbeau from Black Press; and Ron Hall, assistant fire chief. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
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Last year’s Realtors Care Blanket Drive collected 192 bags of warm clothing and blankets for the Abbotsford-Mission area. The 2020 version collected only cash donations. (File photo)

Realtors Care campaign raises $50K, including for charities in Abbotsford and Mission

Annual Blanket Drive switches to online fundraiser in 2020 due to pandemic

Last year’s Realtors Care Blanket Drive collected 192 bags of warm clothing and blankets for the Abbotsford-Mission area. The 2020 version collected only cash donations. (File photo)
Santa and his helpers at Communitas are ensuring that the annual Christmas Dinner at Communitas will be a virtual success this year. (Communitas photo: Krista Petrie)

Communitas Supportive Care Society celebrates a virtual Christmas

Abbotsford-based charity normally holds a festive luncheon every year

  • Dec 20, 2020
Santa and his helpers at Communitas are ensuring that the annual Christmas Dinner at Communitas will be a virtual success this year. (Communitas photo: Krista Petrie)
Annalu Murphy wants to donate gift baskets from her business The Homegrown Basket to local families.

Abbotsford mom plans to donate gift baskets to local families

Annalu Murphy makes baskets from locally sourced products

Annalu Murphy wants to donate gift baskets from her business The Homegrown Basket to local families.
Archway Food Bank

Drive-thru event in Abbotsford supports Archway Food Bank

Event takes place Saturday, Dec. 19 at Hub Motors

Archway Food Bank
Ron Nicolaye and the pole on the Island Highway at the Campbell River bridge that a drunk driver crashed into in 1983, changing his life forever. Photo by Marc Kitteringham – Campbell River Mirror

Impaired driving survivor implores people to not drink and drive this holiday season

Campbell River man looks back on 37th anniversary of life-changing incident

Ron Nicolaye and the pole on the Island Highway at the Campbell River bridge that a drunk driver crashed into in 1983, changing his life forever. Photo by Marc Kitteringham – Campbell River Mirror
Now retired fire Capt. Gary Proznick received a kiss from a dalmatian puppy during a public education event earlier this year. It seemed a fitting goodbye for the retiring firefighter, the dalmatian being the iconic firehouse dog. He's featured in this year’s firefighter fundraising calendar. (Natalie Amoore/Special to Langley Advance Times)

Firefighter calendar boasts super cute factor

Langley Township fire crew return with a popular, and ideal last-minute gift idea

Now retired fire Capt. Gary Proznick received a kiss from a dalmatian puppy during a public education event earlier this year. It seemed a fitting goodbye for the retiring firefighter, the dalmatian being the iconic firehouse dog. He's featured in this year’s firefighter fundraising calendar. (Natalie Amoore/Special to Langley Advance Times)
Johan Dekker shocked not just his girlfriend, Mallie Moore, when he proposed atop Mount Woodside, but also photographer Emily Peter who happened to be in the right place at the right time on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (Emily Peter Photography)

Surprise mountaintop proposal shocks Abbotsford woman and Chilliwack photographer

‘It was just meant to be that I was on that mountain that morning,’ said photographer Emily Peter

Johan Dekker shocked not just his girlfriend, Mallie Moore, when he proposed atop Mount Woodside, but also photographer Emily Peter who happened to be in the right place at the right time on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (Emily Peter Photography)
A plush stuffie has been made in memory of the late Mac the therapy dog who worked at University of the Fraser Valley. It is a fundraiser for Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS). (Facebook/UFV PADS Canine Counsellor Mac)

Mac the UFV therapy dog now available in stuffie form

Plush toy in the form of popular late dog part of fundraiser for Pacific Assistance Dogs Society

A plush stuffie has been made in memory of the late Mac the therapy dog who worked at University of the Fraser Valley. It is a fundraiser for Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS). (Facebook/UFV PADS Canine Counsellor Mac)
Paul Esposito and UFV president Joanne MacLean at the opening of the Esposito Family Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. (UFV photo)

UFV launches Esposito Family Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Applications now being accepted for Innovation Team Grants

Paul Esposito and UFV president Joanne MacLean at the opening of the Esposito Family Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. (UFV photo)
Addy VanLochlem of Agassiz swims at Ferny Coombe Pool. Her swimathon attracted the attention of the First Lady of Kenya, who matched Addy’s donation to impoverished communities in her country. (File Photo)

Kenyan First Lady matches Agassiz swimathon donations

Addy VanLochlem’s donation helped secure 180,000 meals for needy children in Kenya

Addy VanLochlem of Agassiz swims at Ferny Coombe Pool. Her swimathon attracted the attention of the First Lady of Kenya, who matched Addy’s donation to impoverished communities in her country. (File Photo)
Stock photo from Unsplash.com

New project in Abbotsford addresses seniors’ health and planning

Initiative headed by Division of Family Practice includes website and magazine

Stock photo from Unsplash.com
Archway Community Services in Abbotsford. (Photo courtesy of Archway)

Star of the Season campaign helps Archway Community Services

Abbotsford charity among those supported by Choice Markets fundraiser

Archway Community Services in Abbotsford. (Photo courtesy of Archway)
Ericka Brown, Stenberg grad, now works as a Registered Pharmacy Technician at a hospital in her home community.

A mom’s guide to going back to college

Pharmacy Technician Distance Diploma offered flexible learning option

  • Dec 14, 2020
Ericka Brown, Stenberg grad, now works as a Registered Pharmacy Technician at a hospital in her home community.
(From left) Ann Gardner, Anne Laury and Kathy Cook sort toys that were donated to the Archway Food Bank Christmas Bureau despite the Toys for Tots drive-thru event being cancelled. (Submitted photo)

1,800 gifts donated for Toys for Tots despite event cancellation

Abbotsford also comes through with $41K in cash after drive-thru cancelled

(From left) Ann Gardner, Anne Laury and Kathy Cook sort toys that were donated to the Archway Food Bank Christmas Bureau despite the Toys for Tots drive-thru event being cancelled. (Submitted photo)
(From left) Julie McLean, Kalinda Naismith and Doug Zoric of CUPE Local 774 presents a $15,000 cheque to Dave Murray, manager of the Archway Food Bank. (Submitted photo)

CUPE Local 774 donates $15K to Archway Food Bank of Abbotsford

Members vote unanimously to lend support during ‘extremely challenging year’

(From left) Julie McLean, Kalinda Naismith and Doug Zoric of CUPE Local 774 presents a $15,000 cheque to Dave Murray, manager of the Archway Food Bank. (Submitted photo)
Elizabeth Melnick at Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center in Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center in Abbotsford takes fundraising hit due to pandemic

Centre desperately in need of new outbuildings to house and care for small creatures

Elizabeth Melnick at Elizabeth’s Wildlife Center in Abbotsford. (Abbotsford News file photo)
Jack Knight poses with his number one fan 2-year-old Carter. Though much of the 7 p.m. noise tribute to COVID-19 front line workers has faded out, Knight has never missed an evening since late March. (Adam Louis/Observer)

‘They just have my heart’: Harrison bugler still tributing health care workers each evening

Jack Knight toots his own horn – for all those fighting the pandemic every day

Jack Knight poses with his number one fan 2-year-old Carter. Though much of the 7 p.m. noise tribute to COVID-19 front line workers has faded out, Knight has never missed an evening since late March. (Adam Louis/Observer)