Good News

Sasha Wessels, an Abbotsford graduate, cancer survivor, and a recipient of the 2023 Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. (Submitted photo) Right: The statue of Terry Fox in Victoria near Beacon Hill Park overlooks the Pacific Ocean at Mile Zero. (Jessica Peters/Black Press Media)

Abbotsford youth named 2023 Terry Fox Humanitarian following cancer treatment

Sasha Wessels stayed committed to studies, volunteering and leadership

 

Jim Lawrence, 84, starts most mornings with a walk/ run, often meeting up with a group of friends well before most of the world is awake. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

‘Clinically dead’: Kelowna senior comes back to lead the pack by example

Jim Lawrence, 84, has not let a cardiac arrest stop him from walk/running races

 

Jonathan Neufeld (right) and the mobility scooter he donated to Wayne Pavich on March 31, 2023 after finding out Pavich’s scooter was stolen from a shed at his home. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Chilliwack man donates mobility scooter to senior who had his stolen

Chilliwack Progress story last week prompted 2 offers to help Wayne Pavich

 

Nixen Baidwan celebrated his own birthday by donating pizza to the homeless at Seasons House. (Bindy Baidwan photo)

Quesnel boy uses birthday to donate pizzas to those in need

Boy turns nine, donates pizza to Seasons House

Nixen Baidwan celebrated his own birthday by donating pizza to the homeless at Seasons House. (Bindy Baidwan photo)
Abbotsford Police Chief Mike Serr (left) donated his liver to his brother DJ. The two are now recovering after the transplant surgery in Toronto.

Abbotsford Police chief donates 67% of liver to his brother

Mike Serr and brother DJ undergo transplant surgery in Toronto

Abbotsford Police Chief Mike Serr (left) donated his liver to his brother DJ. The two are now recovering after the transplant surgery in Toronto.
Nicole Longpre is one of the Abbotsford News Heroes in Education for 2023. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

HEROES IN EDUCATION: Abbotsford teacher Nicole Longpre believes in connections with students

Friend who nominated her said the Centennial educator’s heart is fully invested in her work

Nicole Longpre is one of the Abbotsford News Heroes in Education for 2023. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Chief Dan George middle school band teacher Jason Hawkins has been named one of the community’s Heroes in Education. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

HEROES IN EDUCATION: Abbotsford band teacher runs barrier-free program

Jason Hawkins of Chief Dan George middle school believes music is for everyone

Chief Dan George middle school band teacher Jason Hawkins has been named one of the community’s Heroes in Education. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Evangeline Stewart, a Grade 3 teacher at Abbotsford Christian School, has been named one of the community’s Heroes in Education. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)

HEROES IN EDUCATION: Abbotsford Christian School teacher makes classroom ‘place of community’

Evangeline Stewart wants every student to feel special

Evangeline Stewart, a Grade 3 teacher at Abbotsford Christian School, has been named one of the community’s Heroes in Education. (John Morrow/Abbotsford News)
Suhaandeep Gill spent last week delivering special treat bags to shelters in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Mission. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)

Kid Cupid: Young Abbotsford boy delivers love to the streets with Valentine’s Day bags

Suhaandeep Gill, 7, created thoughtful bags of much-needed items to give to three city shelters

Suhaandeep Gill spent last week delivering special treat bags to shelters in Abbotsford, Maple Ridge and Mission. (Jessica Peters/Abbotsford News)
A Kelowna woman is cloning her cat Bear after he was killed at only five years old (Kris Stewart/ Facebook)

Kelowna woman to soon receive kittens cloned after her beloved late cat

A Kelowna woman is replicating her beloved cat Bear

A Kelowna woman is cloning her cat Bear after he was killed at only five years old (Kris Stewart/ Facebook)
Autumn Lott at Gilman’s point, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. At seven years old, she’s the youngest Canadian to have ever summitted the infamous peak. (Francesca Lott photo)

Good news stories from 2022 to reflect on in 2023

These British Columbians were lifting spirits across the province

Autumn Lott at Gilman’s point, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. At seven years old, she’s the youngest Canadian to have ever summitted the infamous peak. (Francesca Lott photo)
Justin Eveline and his wife, Amy Bracken. The couple, known for their generosity, redirected GoFundMe donations given to Eveline after he broke his leg to fund a Christmas dinner for the homeless in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)

After breaking leg, B.C. man to pay kindness forward to people in greater need

Justin Eveline to host Christmas Eve dinner for those living rough

Justin Eveline and his wife, Amy Bracken. The couple, known for their generosity, redirected GoFundMe donations given to Eveline after he broke his leg to fund a Christmas dinner for the homeless in Salmon Arm. (Contributed)
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)
The Vimy Ridge Foundation sends groups of students to Belgium and France to learn more about Canada’s role in the First and Second World Wars, in a fully funded program. Abbotsford’s Prabhpreet Gill has been chosen for the award. (Vimy Ridge Foundation photo)

Abbotsford student to explore France, Belgium with Vimy Foundation

Prabhpreet Gill one of 22 students selected for Vimy Pilgrimage Award

The Vimy Ridge Foundation sends groups of students to Belgium and France to learn more about Canada’s role in the First and Second World Wars, in a fully funded program. Abbotsford’s Prabhpreet Gill has been chosen for the award. (Vimy Ridge Foundation photo)
Bennett Goetrzen has created a newspaper carrier system he calls the Newser Cruiser that keeps his routes dry for his customers, and gets his Abbotsford News paper route done quicker. (Submitted photo)

Young Abbotsford News carrier creates Newser Cruiser to improve delivery

New way to transport newspapers is easier and keeps them safe from Abbotsford’s wet and windy weather

Bennett Goetrzen has created a newspaper carrier system he calls the Newser Cruiser that keeps his routes dry for his customers, and gets his Abbotsford News paper route done quicker. (Submitted photo)
Cornerstone Christian School now has therapy bunnies to help students with difficult times. (Submitted image)

Therapy bunnies melting worries away for Abbotsford students

Cornerstone Christian School has introduced lop-eared rabbits as newest members of staff

Cornerstone Christian School now has therapy bunnies to help students with difficult times. (Submitted image)
A 'monster spray' prescription filled by a Sooke pharmacy is catching attention on social media. Black Press Media has altered this image to remove the name of a child. (The Dad/Instagram)

B.C. pharmacy has a prescription for banishing the monsters under the bed

‘Monster spray’ in the Greater Victoria area delighting social media users

A 'monster spray' prescription filled by a Sooke pharmacy is catching attention on social media. Black Press Media has altered this image to remove the name of a child. (The Dad/Instagram)
A group of 34 teachers were awarded for excellence in education recently at the Government House in Victoria, including two educators from Abbotsford. (Province of B.C. image)

Premier’s ‘excellence in education’ awards given to two Abbotsford educators

Excellence in education awards given to teacher and principal at Eugene Reimer middle

A group of 34 teachers were awarded for excellence in education recently at the Government House in Victoria, including two educators from Abbotsford. (Province of B.C. image)
An Abbotsford police officer got an assist from a resident when he ran out of gas in a residential neighbourhood recently. (Facebook/Tara Lee MacLeod)

One good turn: Good Samaritan voluntarily fills Abbotsford police officer’s gas tank

Woman offers up gas to stranded officer even as prices at the pump stay high

An Abbotsford police officer got an assist from a resident when he ran out of gas in a residential neighbourhood recently. (Facebook/Tara Lee MacLeod)
Saanich resident Mary Gresham, left, and husband Ray received a random act of kindness May 24 when Gresham fell ill in a Mount Douglas Park washroom and her husband couldn’t drive the car. (Courtesy of Gwen Patterson)

‘Angel in disguise’: Saanich woman looks for mystery Good Samaritan after medical incident

The woman not only called 911 but also drove Mary Gresham’s husband home from Mount Douglas Park

Saanich resident Mary Gresham, left, and husband Ray received a random act of kindness May 24 when Gresham fell ill in a Mount Douglas Park washroom and her husband couldn’t drive the car. (Courtesy of Gwen Patterson)