Community

Archway Community Services staff member Vicki is surrounded by the toy donations that were dropped off at the 2021 Toys for Tots event at Abbotsford Centre. This year’s event moves back to the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre. (Submitted photo)

10th annual Toys for Tots breakfast planned in Abbotsford

Event on Sunday, Nov. 27 collects toys and cash for Christmas Bureau

Archway Community Services staff member Vicki is surrounded by the toy donations that were dropped off at the 2021 Toys for Tots event at Abbotsford Centre. This year’s event moves back to the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre. (Submitted photo)
Katrina Kadoski is B.C.’s ‘Cougar Annie’. (submitted)

PODCAST.: Katrina Kadoski is B.C.’s ‘Cougar Annie’

TODAY IN B.C.: Singer-songwriter tells story of legendary pioneer in one-woman show

Katrina Kadoski is B.C.’s ‘Cougar Annie’. (submitted)
Lights by the Lake opened Saturday evening along the shores of Harrison Lake. (Adam Louis/Observer)

VIDEO: Lights by the Lake officially kicks off Harrison holiday season

Hundreds gathered to watch holiday lights brighten up the night

Lights by the Lake opened Saturday evening along the shores of Harrison Lake. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Actor/bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno with local filmmaker/promotor Norm Coyne. (Natasha Haldane-Anderson/Submitted)

A chance to get smashed with The Hulk’s Lou Ferrigno at West Kelowna winery

Actor will be at Crown and Thieves

Actor/bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno with local filmmaker/promotor Norm Coyne. (Natasha Haldane-Anderson/Submitted)
The actual Five Corners in Abbotsford is the intersection of Essendene Avenue, Montvue Avenue and West Railway Street (top photo). But the intersection of South Fraser Way and McCallum (bottom photo) is often referred to by that name. (Google Street View)

Five Corners in Abbotsford might not be where you think it is

Local historian says people commonly reference the wrong intersection

The actual Five Corners in Abbotsford is the intersection of Essendene Avenue, Montvue Avenue and West Railway Street (top photo). But the intersection of South Fraser Way and McCallum (bottom photo) is often referred to by that name. (Google Street View)
The winner of the 2021 design for the Abbotsford mayor’s Christmas card was Grade 4 student Seher. Entries are now being accepted until Nov. 30 for this year’s card.

Kids invited to submit entries for Abbotsford mayor’s Christmas card

Contest open to students in kindergarten to Grade 5; winner receives prize package

The winner of the 2021 design for the Abbotsford mayor’s Christmas card was Grade 4 student Seher. Entries are now being accepted until Nov. 30 for this year’s card.
The annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards will be presented in March in Abbotsford. Nominations are now being accepted. (Urban Fig Photography)

Nominations open for 2023 Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards

Recipients from Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack and Langley to be honoured in March

The annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards will be presented in March in Abbotsford. Nominations are now being accepted. (Urban Fig Photography)
Millionaire Lottery spokesperson Todd Talbot at one of this year’s Grand Prize homes – a 5,180 sq. ft. prize home worth over $3.2 million. Photo courtesy VGH+UBC Hospital Foundation

You could live like a multi-Millionaire – in the lottery home of your choice!

Millionaire Lottery winner to choose 1 of 10 prize options; proceeds support life-saving care at VGH

  • Nov 21, 2022
Millionaire Lottery spokesperson Todd Talbot at one of this year’s Grand Prize homes – a 5,180 sq. ft. prize home worth over $3.2 million. Photo courtesy VGH+UBC Hospital Foundation
A screening of the film Love in the Time of Fentanyl takes place in Abbotsford on Thursday, Nov. 24. (Screenshot from film)

Screening of overdose-crisis documentary takes place in Abbotsford

Love in the Time of Fentanyl followed by panel discussion on Nov. 24

A screening of the film Love in the Time of Fentanyl takes place in Abbotsford on Thursday, Nov. 24. (Screenshot from film)
Vasyl Davydenko and Dmytro Borovyk were able to come to Canada as immigrants under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. (Contributed)

Ukraine couple find safe harbour in Salmon Arm

‘Thus it was dangerous for us, a same sex couple, to be there and be ourselves’

  • Nov 21, 2022
Vasyl Davydenko and Dmytro Borovyk were able to come to Canada as immigrants under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. (Contributed)
Bald eagles congregate on the Harrison River every year to get their fill of spawning salmon. (Adam Louis/Observer)

PHOTOS: Dry conditions don’t hinder massive bald eagle gathering along Harrison River

Thousands of bald eagles congregate in the Harrison Mills area annually in mid-November

Bald eagles congregate on the Harrison River every year to get their fill of spawning salmon. (Adam Louis/Observer)
The Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund is continuing to help flood-impacted farmers and others with their recovery efforts. (Submitted photo)

Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund raises $4.4 million

Donations help farmers, businesses and organizations in recovery work

The Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund is continuing to help flood-impacted farmers and others with their recovery efforts. (Submitted photo)
Pictured are (from left) Doris McGill and Bill McGill of the Abbotsford Lodge of the Freemasons; Carol Lyle, Worthy Matron and Margaret Garnier of the Order of the Eastern Star; Chantelle Bowles of Dave Lede House; and Percy Gantz and Karl Ellingsen of the Pacific Lodge.

Abbotsford organizations donate to Canuck Place Children’s Hospice

More than $1,000 donated by Freemasons and the Order of the Eastern Star

Pictured are (from left) Doris McGill and Bill McGill of the Abbotsford Lodge of the Freemasons; Carol Lyle, Worthy Matron and Margaret Garnier of the Order of the Eastern Star; Chantelle Bowles of Dave Lede House; and Percy Gantz and Karl Ellingsen of the Pacific Lodge.
University of the Fraser Valley held its Town & Gown event on Nov. 10 at its Abbotsford campus. (UFV photo)

UFV’s Town and Gown event in Abbotsford raises $210K for scholarships

University of the Fraser Valley more than doubles its goal at gala on Nov. 10

University of the Fraser Valley held its Town & Gown event on Nov. 10 at its Abbotsford campus. (UFV photo)
Jen Maxwell has won a Governor General’s History Award for excellence in teaching, for a project she undertook with her Grade 12 students at W.J. Mouat secondary in Abbotsford. (Submitted photo)

Abbotsford teacher to receive Governor General’s history award

School project that explored progress on 94 Calls to Action earns Canada’s top history prize

Jen Maxwell has won a Governor General’s History Award for excellence in teaching, for a project she undertook with her Grade 12 students at W.J. Mouat secondary in Abbotsford. (Submitted photo)
Eleven Abbotsford Police officers have been named to Alexa’s Team for the number of impaired-driving investigations they completed in 2021. Missing from the photos is Const. Jenni Richter.

11 Abbotsford Police officers honoured for impaired-driving investigations

Officers named to Alexa’s Team for completing at least 12 investigations in 2021

Eleven Abbotsford Police officers have been named to Alexa’s Team for the number of impaired-driving investigations they completed in 2021. Missing from the photos is Const. Jenni Richter.
Author and columnist Jack Knox. (Submitted photo.)

PODCAST: Author and columnist Jack Knox releases ‘Fortune Knox Once’

TODAY IN B.C.: Fourth book for the B.C. humour writer

Author and columnist Jack Knox. (Submitted photo.)
Abbotsford Police Chief Mike Serr with Sandy Blue, vice-president of the Abbotsford Police Foundation, at the annual Crime is Toast event on Oct. 5 at Tradex.

2022 Crime is Toast breakfast raises $40K for Abbotsford Police initiatives

Event hosted each year by the Abbotsford Police Foundation

Abbotsford Police Chief Mike Serr with Sandy Blue, vice-president of the Abbotsford Police Foundation, at the annual Crime is Toast event on Oct. 5 at Tradex.
Laurie Brooks shares her story of using psilocybin (magic mushrooms) during her cancer journey in the documentary Dosed 2: The Trip of a Lifetime. (Screenshot from film)

Abbotsford woman featured in film about psilocybin use in cancer treatment

Laurie Brooks shares her story in Dosed 2: The Trip of a Lifetime

Laurie Brooks shares her story of using psilocybin (magic mushrooms) during her cancer journey in the documentary Dosed 2: The Trip of a Lifetime. (Screenshot from film)
The Mercado Latino Society holds regular events throughout the Fraser Valley, bringing together Latino merchants and businesses in one place, to help create community while supporting each other. (Mercado Latino Society Facebook)

Fraser Valley Latino community growing stronger with new society

Mercada Latino Society started in one woman’s driveway and now has 60 vendors

The Mercado Latino Society holds regular events throughout the Fraser Valley, bringing together Latino merchants and businesses in one place, to help create community while supporting each other. (Mercado Latino Society Facebook)