Events

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.

Parm Sidhu is an ambitious, driven and an humble executive, who has worked for the City of Abbotsford Airport for 30 plus years, and is passionate about making air travel more affordable and accessible for all Canadians. His high energy and entrepreneurial  mind set, along with his charismatic approach to solving problems, makes him a natural leader. Throughout his 25 plus years in the aviation industry, Parm has successfully held senior roles at YXX. His visionary approach in the aviation and airports was written in the book “21st century Airlines – Connecting the Dots, Nawal K. Taneja’s”. In the book, Parm describes how digital disruptions could impact airports and airlines.

YXX is a key economic enabler for our City/Region/Province and Nation, Parm will provide a business development update on the Airport.

We will provide an overview of the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre and our impact in the lives of children and youth with disabilities and their families. This will be followed by an overview of the Mother Goose program including an exciting new development in Abbotsford, Intergenerational Mother Goose! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-R_hmxscOY

Karen Dickenson Smith is the CEO of the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre (FVCDC).  The FVCDC’s dedicated team of 120 professionals provides vital services to young people with disabilities and their families throughout BC’s Fraser Valley.  Karen serves on the board of directors of the Federation of Community Social Services of BC and the BC Association for Child Development and Intervention.  With master’s degrees in public health (MPH) and business (MBA), she is drawn to partnering across networks and leading teams to find innovative solutions to complex community needs, remove barriers, and inspire lasting impact.  She is inspired by the FVCDC team, the families we support in collaboration with our partners, and our generous communities.

Leona Fountain has a Bachelor of Arts in child and youth care from UFV.  She has worked both at UFV and at the FVCDC for a total of 30 years.  Her passion is children; they are our future and most important natural resource.  Leona is also passionate about the FVCDC and the work we do.  We recognize that each child has unique abilities and can contribute to our society as they grow.  We want to set kids up for success which looks different for each child.  Leona also wants to come alongside parents, listening and working collaboratively to help realize the potential of their children. 

Margarett Lange is the Outreach and Events Manager for Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, where she plays a role in promoting public safety and community engagement. She works closely with law enforcement and community partners to advance public safety, promote anonymous crime reporting, and support crime prevention efforts across the region.

Margarett is responsible for coordinating various community outreach programs, including educational presentations and awareness campaigns. She actively engages with local schools, businesses, and community groups to educate the public about the importance of anonymous reporting and the impact it has on reducing crime.

With over 30 years in the hospitality, tourism and film industry sectors, Margarett brings valuable expertise and a unique perspective to her role. She has also had the opportunity to work across a variety of committees and boards that directly impact our communities including the South Surrey White Rock Chamber of Commerce, and Surrey Destination Association.

With a passion for crime prevention and a commitment to making Metro Vancouver a safer place, Margarett works tirelessly to support the organization’s mission.She is committed to continuing her work with Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, striving to create a safer and more informed community for all.

Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers www.solvecrime.ca is committed to fostering a safer environment for all residents by providing a secure platform for individuals to report criminal activity anonymously. This anonymity is essential in encouraging reluctant witnesses to come forward with vital information, leading to the swift resolution of cases and the apprehension of offenders. Tipsters are also eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $5,000 if their tip leads to a charge or arrest. Since its inception, tips to Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers have led to more than 8,400 successful arrests and more than a half-a-billion dollars in the seizure of drugs and property.
 

Dan Comrie is the Community Partnerships Coordinator for The Salvation Army in Abbotsford, and he oversees the Kettle and Angel Tree campaigns at Christmas – these are the organizations largest fundraisers of the year.