Events

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.

Rick was born and raised here in Abbotsford, graduating from Abbotsford Senior. From his time on a small hobby farm in Bradner as a boy, to raising his own children, he has been proud to call Abbotsford home.

Rick started with the AHGSS team in 2021. He brings his lifetime of customer-oriented service to the Society to ensure that the goals of AHGSS are matched with the care of community donors. He believes in the mission of AHGSS to help people who are dying and support individuals and families who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

He has experienced firsthand how hospice helps individuals in their care and felt that now was his time to help in this cause. Rick is a Past President of the Abbotsford-Sumas Rotary Club. He also served on the Board of Abbotsford Minor Hockey in many roles including Vice President.

Rick spent many years as a Financial Advisor, which he uses in his role to aid in estate planning for Legacy Giving.

Rick’s current role includes a capital campaign for Holmberg House renovations to start by 2027.

Presentation topics:

• Brief history of Abbotsford Hospice
• Holmberg Family Legacy
• Updates on Abbotsford Hospice and our goals going forward including expansion of services and care.

From Deadlock to Agreement: A Simulated Global Climate Negotiation

At this week’s meeting, Rotarian Ernest Thiessen will present a short video exploring a hopeful and practical approach to one of the world’s toughest challenges: global climate cooperation. Using Smartsettle collaboration technology, the simulation demonstrates how diverse stakeholders can move beyond deadlock to reach fair, workable agreements through structured, multi-issue decision-making and mutual understanding.

The presentation reflects Rotary’s commitment to peacebuilding, Service Above Self, and evidence-based solutions, highlighting how improved decision processes can support cooperation on climate change, conflict prevention, and other global challenges that affect future generations.

If you are unable to attend, the video may also be viewed on the Smartsettle eNegotiation YouTube channel:

• From Deadlock to Agreement: A Simulated Global Climate Negotiation (20 min)
  • demonstrating optimized consensus reached by six stakeholder groups using a structured, multi-issue negotiation framework

For those who wish to explore the ideas in more depth, a companion article is available:

• Escaping.the.Multipolar.Trap.in.Global.Climate.Negotiations.25f.pdf
  • publication anticipated by the Toda Peace Institute

Together, these materials complete a proof-of-concept phase. The next step is to scale up the work by engaging climate scientists and policy experts to participate directly in future simulations, helping test and refine this approach under increasingly realistic conditions.

Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A) is an international non-profit that exists to empower abused children to not be afraid of the world in which they live. 

B.A.C.A. started in 1995 in Provo, Utah. We have since expanded to 22 countries and are still growing.

Anshu Chandra has 16 years of experience providing eye care in Haiti. She leads a permanent clinic in Fond-des-Blancs, supports mobile clinics, and helps train local eye care professionals, including the Haitian ophthalmology residency program in Port-au-Prince. She holds a Doctor of Optometry degree and completed her residency at SUNY College of Optometry. She has provided care in Nepal, Haiti, Peru, Lebanon, Tanzania, Honduras, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Indonesia, and India.