Events

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.

Ross Craddock was born in Kitchener Ontario on March 23, 1943.  Prior to graduating from high school in 1962, he was an active member in the Army cadets and militia.   Ross joined the military under the Officer Candidate Programme in 1962, receiving his commission in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in 1962.  In 1964, he completed his pilot training receiving the Army Wings. Ross served with distinction for 26 years in the Canadian Forces in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.   Upon retirement, this dedication to the Canadian Forces saw him donate time and finances to the military activity of serving members at bases close to where he lived. Since joining the Legion over 25 years ago he has focused on the issue of Veterans and their ability to obtain the disability benefits they were entitled to. Since joining Branch 15 as Services and Veterans Officer his tireless efforts have successfully assisted numerous Veterans by getting homeless veterans off the street, obtaining essential benefits for WW2 and Korean Veterans.   Ross has assisted veterans with health issues due to frailty, as well as spouses at the loss of their husband and all the issues arising from that. He has also taken an active part in the community organizations to ensure the public at large is aware of the issue that veteran's and their families as well as seniors encounter when it comes to housing, financial support and dealing with health services.  He has also taken on the responsibility as Branch President to help keep the Branch functioning and to ensure the support it provides to the Veterans and their families is there in future. He has also volunteered to be a speaker for the Memory Project to more broadly inform and promote what it means to have served and be a Veteran.   Ross is married to his wife of 58 years Diane and has two children and three grandchildren residing in Abbotsford.