Events

Tricia Schmuland is the Program Director for the Care For Women Foundation.  Tricia has over 15 years of Marketing experience in the Real Estate industry and turned her passion to supporting her community.  Care For Women started in 2020 and supports mothers in the complex and challenging first weeks of postpartum to bridge the gap of support to at-risk mothers who have no village or support around them.

The Honourable Ed Fast, PC, KC is a lawyer (University of British Columbia 1982) and spent 24 years practicing corporate and commercial law in Abbotsford, with a particular focus on real estate development.

In 2006, Ed was elected to Canada’s House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Abbotsford. He was re-elected in 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2021. He had previously served two terms as an Abbotsford School Trustee and three terms as a member of Abbotsford City Council, three of those years as Deputy Mayor. In 2011, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) in recognition of his distinguished service and leadership in the legal profession. He has also been awarded both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and King’s Coronation Medal for service to his community and country.

 Among other responsibilities in Parliament, Ed served for 3 years as Chair of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights.

On May 18, 2011, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Ed to his cabinet to serve as Minister of International Trade and for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. For almost 5 years he led Canada’s most ambitious trade agenda ever, leading negotiations on free trade agreements with the European Union (CETA), South Korea, Ukraine and the original Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries.

Ed was also in the room with Prime Minister Harper when he travelled abroad and met with world leaders like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shinzo Abe, Narendra Modi, Angela Merkel and David Cameron. Over his many years in public office, Ed has developed an extensive network of contacts within the global trade and investment community and within Canada’s community of political and business decision-makers.

Since the 2015 federal election, Ed has served variously as the Conservative Shadow Minister for Environment, Industry and Finance. He recently retired from federal politics and is committed to sharing his knowledge and experience with trade-oriented organizations.

Ed and his wife Annette have lived in Abbotsford, BC for 43 years. They have four daughters and their spouses, and fifteen lively grandchildren.

The Board of Directors will meet over Zoom. The link will be shared via email from Secretary Deanna McIntyre.

Carolynn is an Environmental Services Coordinator at the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD), where she specializes in solid waste project management, public education and policy analysis. She has been with the FVRD for over a decade and holds a degree in Environmental Studies from the from the University of Northern British Columbia.

Jamie Austin is the Director of Utility Operations overseeing the water, sewer and drainage systems for the City of Abbotsford. He has worked in municipal water and sewer operations for 25 years, with the last 8 for the City of Abbotsford and prior 17 in Ontario working for the Region of Waterloo and City of Cambridge. As a public servant, he enjoys the challenges and personal satisfaction that come with field operations and customer service and is thankful for the opportunity to share what he does with you.

Casey will share his experiences from his trip to Rwanda with Columbia Bible College earlier this year. 

The Board of Directors will meet over Zoom. The link will be shared via email from Secretary Deanna McIntyre.

Susanne Bossley is the newly appointed Group Event and Fundraiser Coordinator at our very own Castle Fun Park.

Castle Fun Park is evolving and is now offering some dynamic and engaging fundraising packages. These initiatives are designed to empower our local organizations with fun and creative avenues to support their vital programs!

Beyond fundraising opportunities, Susanne will also be presenting Castle Fun Park's group packages. These offer an excellent opportunity for team-building, client appreciation events, or simply a fun outing for larger groups, providing both an enjoyable experience and cost-effective benefits.

For those who may associate Castle Fun Park solely with children's activities, Susanne will also highlight its broader appeal as a destination where individuals of all ages can connect and enjoy themselves.

Gideon is a third-year UFV student, completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a Pre-Med concentration. His career goal is to attend medical school to study neuroscience and engage in the research surrounding neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. His academic journey and professional experiences, including research with BirdLife International and supervisory roles in food manufacturing, have strengthened his analytical and leadership abilities. Aside from academics, Gideon enjoys volunteering at various local organizations to give back to the community. 

Doris will share some learnings, insights and ideas from the Rotary International Convention that was held at the end of June in Calgary.

During this meeting, we will be working on our Rotary stories- answering questions such as why we joined Rotary, what keeps you coming to Rotary and what causes you are passionate about?

James Roe is the search manager and the president of Central Fraser Valley Search and Rescue Society. 

He has been a member of CFVSAR for over 20 years and have been involved in searches, rescues and disaster situations across the lower mainland. 

His position with CFV is completely volunteer and his full time job is a security manager for Great Canadian Entertainment. 

His presentation will be about CFVSAR. How our team operates, what we are capable of, how our membership works, and what we do for the communities we are a part of. 

Following a distinguished 34-year career with the Abbotsford Police Department, Kelly Pater retired in 2022. Her dedication to public service continued through seven years of volunteer work with the Emergency Support Services (ESS) Team, which ultimately led to her current role with Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service as the Emergency Program Advisor.

In this capacity, Kelly oversees the ESS Team and the Amateur Emergency Radio Team, provides administrative support to Search and Rescue (SAR), coordinates the City’s Emergency Operations Centre, and leads the development, review, and implementation of emergency policies for the City of Abbotsford.

A proud resident of Abbotsford since 1980, Kelly and her husband remain deeply rooted in the community where they live, work, volunteer, and enjoy life. She is especially delighted to spend time with her three grandchildren, sharing with them the joy of discovery and the many adventures life has to offer.

Colin Watson was appointed the Chief Constable of the Abbotsford Police in November 2023, and brings 29 years of policing experience to the AbbyPD. Chief Watson has an impressive background of policing expertise, including a comprehensive and unique range of leadership, management, and supervisory experiences, both operationally and administratively. He has committed to the community of Abbotsford to work tirelessly, supporting the incredible work being done by our members, civilian staff and volunteers to make Abbotsford a safe place to call home. Prior to joining the AbbyPD, Chief Watson served the Victoria Police Department, starting as a Constable and progressing through the ranks to Deputy Chief Constable having spent time in both Operations and Administration. Chief Watson is honoured to be selected to lead the highly reputable AbbyPD and serve the City of Abbotsford.

A team member from Opex Abbotsford Fitness will share some general health and wellness education as well as provide an overview of the services that they provide.

Christine Petkau is the Executive Director for the Centre for Epilepsy and Seizure Education BC, a charitable society based in Abbotsford. She has worked in the public and private sectors and for the past 12 years she has worked in non-profit leadership.

Following a move to Abbotsford in 2018, she worked for a community living organization before joining ESEBC in 2023. She loves being part of the ESEBC team and shares that it’s an honour to serve the community through this organization.

Christine holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Winnipeg and an MA in Leadership from Trinity Western University. 

Presentation Description: Did you know that more than 55,000 people in British Columbia live with Epilepsy? Many of us know someone whose life is affected by epilepsy but when it comes to understanding the condition, we’re in the dark.  This presentation is meant to shed some light on living with epilepsy; what this condition is (challenging!) and isn’t (contagious!) and share with you how the Centre for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in BC is working to educate, advocate and reduce the stigma of epilepsy.
Information about ESEBC is at www.esebc.ca. Our 3rd annual Bid For Hope online auction is live right now!

Rachel is a nurse practitioner with Canuck Place Children’s hospice for 7 years now with 20 years of palliative care experience. She is also a volunteer with Two Worlds since 2015, with focus now on pediatric palliative care. Rachel a world traveller and outdoor enthusiast.

Twoworldscancer.ca

We strive to build resilient healthcare that enables every person with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses to have access to compassionate care and live with dignity, hope and the highest quality of life.

Our mission is to develop and support equitable access to compassionate care for people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses by empowering healthcare providers through transformative education, mentorship and innovation.

Join us in Abbotsford, BC for Lasting Moments – a photography exhibit, reception and fundraising event celebrating Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration's support of palliative care

Four photographers – Fabeha Monir (Bangladesh), Harsha Vadlamani (India), Narendra Shrestha (Nepal), and Chuck Russell (Canada) – have documented the compassionate care supported by our initiatives in South Asia since 2010.

The exhibit – marking our 15th anniversary –  includes images donated by the photographers celebrating the life and landscape of their respective countries. These images will be available via our online, Square-Print Sale raising funds to further Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration's vision

Ernest with share an updated presentation about a proposed peacebuilding initaitive in Myanmar which is seeking the support of a Global Grant through Rotary International.

Ryan Leonhard brings nearly a decade of leadership in business associations and community development to his role as Executive Director of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA). A native of Abbotsford, he grew up in a family-run restaurant and saw firsthand how vital community support is for small businesses - a lesson that has guided his career.

He has led the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and served as Director of Workforce Initiatives with the Burnaby Board of Trade, launching programs that supported workforce development, built strong partnerships, and created new opportunities for local businesses.

Known for bringing people together across sectors and turning ideas into practical results, Ryan is committed to fostering a vibrant, resilient downtown. At the ADBA, he is proud to champion local businesses and position downtown Abbotsford as a destination where commerce, culture, and community thrive.