Events

Bio: Barb is a long-time member of the Abbotsford community and has recently joined the Tourism Abbotsford team. You may know Barb from her work with the City of Abbotsford. In her capacity with the City, Barb worked collaboratively with the community on their event plans as well as with film location managers, always striving to find innovative and creative solutions to challenges that support success and happiness. She is well known for not only leading and coordinating special events, but for developing strong partnerships and fostering long-lasting relationships throughout the whole community.

Tourism Abbotsford is a Destination Marketing Organization that delivers tourism marketing on behalf of over 300 marketing partners. Tourism Abbotsford also leads the delivery of Visitor services. As we look out at the local, regional, national and global tourism landscape, we see there is pent-up demand to get out and experience things and to rebuild connections we’ve all be missing the past two years.

"Vineetha is the Education Coordinator at The Center for Epilepsy & Seizure Education in BC, a non-profit organization and a member of the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance. The center provides direct and indirect support for those living with seizure disorders and seek to educate and raise awareness about seizures through interactive presentations to groups. Vineetha has experience working with special needs individuals over the years and now brings her passion to support those with seizures and epilepsy by raising awareness through education."

Bruce Shaw is a barrister, living in the city of Yarra, Victoria, Australia, who practises mainly in employment/discrimination law.  Prior to his career in Law, Bruce worked directly in industrial relations in the building and construction and public transport industries. Bruce has been a Rotarian since 1997.

Bruce will share about how a small Rotary Club on the other side of the world conducts its activities, and how it involves itself in serving the needs of its community.

Karen has worked at Archway Community Services in the Senior Services Department for 25+ years.  She has been the coordinator of the ‘Better at Home’ program for the past 9 years since it began in Abbotsford.

Karen will share about the history of the program, the kinds of services provided, funding sources, and how one would apply for the Better at Home program.

Rhonda Davison is Western Canada Partner Engagement Lead for Food for the Hungry (FH) Canada.

Malnutrition rates across Guatemala are shockingly high. Fifty percent of Guatemalan children under the age of five suffer from delayed growth. Among the indigenous population specifically, 58 percent of children are stunted. Access to clean water is limited. Over 90 percent of Guatemala’s indigenous survive on an income well below the poverty line. Children struggle in school, and parents struggle to see the point of an education when the needs at home are so great. 

FH started operating in Guatemala in 1976. FH Canada was formed in 1994 and very quickly joined in the fight to end poverty for families in Guatemala, especially for those suffering the consequences of civil war and political oppression.

Today, FH Canada is walking with 12 communities in the Quiché region—8 within San Juan Cotzal and 4 within Nebaj.  It has been a joy to see communities move out of stuck and into thriving. To date we have celebrated the graduation of 10 communities since 1994.