Retirement Celebration 2021 - UFV by University of the Fraser Valley

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION

2021

CONGRATULATIONS! On behalf of the University of the Fraser Valley and the many students you have served throughout your career, congratulations on your retirement. This event is a long-standing tradition at UFV, one that is about recognizing the unique contributions made by each member of the UFV team. As you read the summaries of each remarkable person in this program, it will become clear how deeply the people at this university care about students and each other. The image to the right is the University of the Fraser Valley Coat of Arms. The symbol in the middle is a Halq’eméylem word which means “house of transformation”. Your career has had a transformative impact on our students’ intellectual development and professional career. I hope you enjoy a long and happy retirement!

Marnie Wright

Associate Vice President, Human Resources

2021 RETIREES Ball, Doris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Gumprich, Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Baumann, Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Gutteridge, Andrew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Bolan, Vicki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Harcott, Robyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Bos-Chan, Maria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Hayes, Shelley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Brigden, Sue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Hernandez, Celeste-tina . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Cooper, Edward (Tim) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Heron, Colleen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Davies, Karen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Hicks, Dianne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Dirksen, Cecelia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Hill, Sandy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Dirksen, Lorin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Hope, Judi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Dragani, Noreen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Hughes, Myra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Elsey, Janet (Christine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Isaac, Kim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

English, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Jabbal, Satwinder (Julie) .

Freschi, Dea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Jensen, Corry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Gingerich, Colleen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Kroeker, Philip (Paul) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Griffin, Kathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

McGregor, Robert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

. . . . . . . . 11

McQuarrie, Fiona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Schlitt, Greg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Merritt, Nancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Talvila, Erik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Miller, Kathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Taylor, Norman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Paulin, Susana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Thomson, Shelaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Power, Karen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Trowse, Nadeane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Puszka, Philip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Wang, Betty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Raabe, Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Watson, Katherine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Rempel, Sherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Wauthy, Anna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Richardson, Corinne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Wiebe, Laura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Rickaby, Michelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Santiago, Sylvia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

BALL, DORIS

BOLAN, VICKI

Doris Ball is retiring after 30+ years with the Child, Youth, and Family Studies department. A steady presence for students and faculty, she has offered direction and guidance to so many over the years. Faculty will remember that Doris always took time to put people first and then get to the business of tasks. A chair was always available to sit and converse in her various offices. Doris was often the first point of contact for new students and new faculty, and they remember her as making them feel comfortable and that they would be helped, like they were in the right place! She supported the department through many changes with a smile and patience. We wish Doris all the best as she enters this next chapter of her life.

Vicki Bolan started working at Fraser Valley College as a Fine Arts (fashion design) sessional instructor in Winter 1989. In December 2003, Vicki accepted a part-time position as wardrobe assistant and in 2005 accepted another temporary position as the Department assistant for Fashion Design and Visual Arts. In 2006 the Department assistant position was made permanent, and Vicki continued in the department assistant position supporting, VA, Graphic and Digital Design and English departments until her retirement. Faculty who worked with Vicki mentioned how great a collaborator she was and someone who could not only highlight problems but who could contribute insight towards solutions. We would like to thank Vicki for her 32 years of dedication in ensuring that operations ran smoothly for students, faculty, and staff and we wish her all the best in her retirement years.

Child, Youth & Famiy Studies

BAUMANN, TOM Agriculture

Tom Baumann retired from UFV in May of 2021, following a three-decade long career in the Agriculture department. Tom’s expertise was in the field of horticulture, with a specialization in berries, which was well suited to the Fraser Valley. Tom came to UFV with an MSc from the University of British Columbia and undergraduate and degrees in Plant Science from Justus Liebeg University, Giessen, Germany.

Visual Arts

BOS-CHA N, MARIA English Language Studies

Tom developed and taught many of the courses in the Agriculture Technology diploma program, a number of which he transferred to an online environment. This was a great benefit when the Agriculture program moved to remote delivery during the pandemic. Tom was also proud to be part of the development of UFV’s Bachelor of Agriculture Science degree, which saw the first student graduate in 2017.

Maria began as a sessional instructor with the English as a Second Language (ESL) (now English Language Studies [ELS]) department in 1989 when UFV was still Fraser Valley College. She was the ELS department head from 2007-2017 and helped navigate the exciting transition from a university-college into a university. Maria also worked during times when the university faced a diverse range of global and domestic challenges. For example, Maria found ways to ensure domestic students had access to courses after provincial and federal funding had been cut. She facilitated the creation of the ELS Help Centre, a Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Placement Test Centre at UFV, and English support courses in Chandigarh, India.

An important focus of Tom’s teaching was to directly connect students with the agriculture industry and introduce students to agriculture research. Field tours to farms and agriculture research facilities were an integral part of his courses, resulting in dynamic interactions with farmers, extension specialists and researchers. As Tom notes: “I find it crucial that we educate and instill excitement so there is a longing for a better future for these up and coming young farmers. These will not be farmers who push a broom and wield a pitchfork; they will be farmers with GPS-guided tractors, with modern liquid feed fertilizers and more sustainable farming.”

In addition to teaching ELS courses from the beginner to bridge level, Maria also taught Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) courses for Continuing Education at UFV and supervised TESL practicum students. She has been a long-time member of numerous UFV and external committees such as Senate, UEC, the Academic Planning and Priorities Committee, the FACE Curriculum Committee, and the BC ESL Articulation Committee. She was also an active member of BC Teachers of English as an Additional Language (TEAL), Abbotsford Literacy Matters, and the Community Adult Literacy Program.

Tom’s students have gone on to successful careers in Agriculture and are now mentoring the current crop of Agriculture students. For example, four former students started Modern Agriculture magazine — Tom wrote a regular column for the magazine in addition to his more scholarly publications.

This year, Maria was honoured with Professor Emeritus status for her valuable contributions to students, the University, and wider community for over 30 years. In her retirement, Maria is looking forward to enjoying her new home in Prince Edward Island, travelling, and spending time with her family.

We wish Professor Emeritus Tom Baumann all the best in his retirement!

BRIGDEN, SUE

Faculty of Access & Continuing Education Dr. Sue Brigden had a long and distinguished career at the University of the Fraser Valley. Since 1999, she worked in a variety of roles — she designed, implemented, and coordinated several UFV-based research projects including the Accuplacer, Provincial Prior Learning Assessment for Adult Basic Education (ABE), Computers for Elder Learning, Adult Basic Education in the Fraser Valley, Services for Youth and Adults with Disabilities, and the Flexible Assessment for Post-Secondary Access projects, was Acting Director and Director of Assessment Services, Instructor and Department Head of Upgrading and University Preparation, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Access and Open Studies and, since November 2012, Dean of the Faulty of Access of Continuing Education. Sue was an active member on numerous UFV, regional, and provincial committees, and professional associations. She conducted program reviews and implemented their recommendations within her Faculty and negotiated dual-credit opportunities for students in the Fraser Valley school districts. Sue was committed to ensuring UFV continues to provide access to education for people from diverse backgrounds, especially to those not viewed as traditional post-secondary students. Her continued advocacy and support for student access ensures UFV’s roots are firmly planted in our access mandate, which is critical for the short and long-term success of UFV in the Fraser Valley. Sue will use her extra time to upgrade her house by laying floors, tiling, installing cabinets, and painting walls. She also plans to enjoy more time with her family, especially her three granddaughters: Taya, Vayda, and Zoe.

COOPER, EDWARD (TIM) Physics

Tim Cooper joined the University College of the Fraser Valley Physics Department in 1992. Tim came to UFV with a PhD in Nuclear Physics (1981) from the University of Alberta, and prior teaching and research roles at Ohio State University, Surrey University in the UK, McGill University, and Indiana University. Tim made significant contributions to the Physics program at UFV, as Department Head on several occasions; co-chair of the Engineering Physics program; and member of numerous search committees. He helped lead Physics from a small department offering inroductory courses to offering an Honours, a Major and a Minor in the Bachelor of Science degree and an Engineering Physics diploma in Mechatronics. Tim was well known throughout UFV, serving on many Faculty committees; as Contract Chair and President of the Faculty and Staff Association; and as a member of UFV’s two senior governing bodies, the Board of Governors and Senate. A constant throughout Tim’s 28 years at UFV was his commitment to students. He was known as a dedicated teacher,

exhibiting patience and good cheer with his students, and in 2014 was awarded the Faculty of Science Terrific Teaching Award. He was active in recruiting UFV students into the Physics program, as well as many guest presentations to the high schools in the Fraser Valley. Tim’s teaching was not confined to the classroom, as he is a knowledgeable and effective communicator concerning the perils of climate change. He began presenting talks on global warming in 2003 and has given over 180 talks to groups such as Rotary Clubs, environmental groups, UFV classes, churches and more. Following his retirement, Dr. Copper was awarded the designation of Professor Emeritus, recognizing his longstanding and distinguished service to the university.

DAVIES, K AREN UFV International

Every now and then, a department has an employee leave but, before they go, you wish that you could simply plug in a hard drive to their head and download their knowledge for future use. Karen Davies is one of those people. She began in the ESL department and very quickly became an asset in working with UFV International. Her role evolved to become one that dealt with registration and all varieties of student data. This is where Karen achieved nextlevel success. Her ability to spot patterns and dive into data to test hypotheses (and test incorrect assumptions) was unmatched. But Karen was not some emotionless robot. On the contrary, she consistently tried to solve problems so that the “end user” — in this case, the students — would benefit. Her passion for her work to support international students and her wealth of knowledge were truly admirable. Some current staff members at UFV are still fortunate to connect with Karen on long walks over the lunch break. Others may be able to corner her and pick her brain about the BC craft beer scene. Karen is an absolute gem, and we miss her dearly.

DIRKSEN, CECELIA

Economics/Philosophy/Political Science Cecelia started working at the University of the Fraser Valley in June 2007 as Clerk, University House. In July 2009 Cecelia transferred to the Administrative Assistant position for the Office of the Provost and VP, Academic. In January 2012, Cecelia accepted another position as Assistant to the Dean, College of Arts. In September 2017 Cecelia was seconded to the Administrative Assistant position in the President’s Office. In March 2019 Cecelia transferred to a department assistant position within the College of Arts. Cecelia continued in this department assistant position until her retirement. Cecelia is a ray of sunshine. Her colleagues would credit her best for her genuine heart, willingness to assist, and her enthusiastic nature. We would like to thank Cecelia for her 15 years of dedication, and we wish her all the best in her retirement years.

DIRKSEN, LORIN

ELSEY, JANET (CHRISTINE)

Lorin started working for the University College of the Fraser Valley in 2002 where he started in Facilities as a janitor before moving on to become a Building Maintenance Worker. Lorin then transitioned to Logistics as a Material Handler under the leadership of Bob Peters where he was soon put in charge of the daily support runs to UFV’s many campuses.

We want to wish Lorin all the best in the next chapter of his life.

Christine Elsey began teaching at UFV in the Department of Social, Cultural and Media Studies in 1995. When she first began life at UFV, she taught both Sociology and Anthropology courses. Over the years, her teaching focus shifted to being primarily in Anthropology. While teaching for UFV, Christine completed her interdisciplinary PhD at SFU in 2001. Her dissertation specialized on BC First Nations ethnography and on the phenomenology of storied landscapes and the Indigenous meaning of land. Throughout her teaching career, Christine remained actively involved in research, scholarship, publishing, annual conferences, and editorial work. Christine remains a strong advocate for the necessity of regular participation in scholarship, describing it as the recipe for vibrant and informed teaching. Throughout her 26-year career at UFV, Christine was also continually active in university service, departmentally and university-wide. This included serving on numerous standing committees of Senate and being a member of the UFV Senate. She also found special enjoyment when working with students outside of the classroom, like when she served as the coordinator of the Sociology, Anthropology Undergraduate Society, the originator and coordinator of the popular Anthropology Book Club, and as a member of the SCMS Research Ethics Committee. Christine looks forward to continuing her connection with the University in her capacity as Professor Emeritus, serving the university as a resource for however we can benefit from her extensive experience and expertise.

DR AGANI, NOREEN

ENGLISH, JOHN

Noreen Dragani has been with the various iterations of UFV since 1986 when she was enrolled as a student in the Library and Information Technology program and worked as a workstudy student in that time. Graduating in 1988 with her diploma, she began working full-time for the Library and Information Technology Department in 1989 and has been an essential member of the department for 32 years. Often described by her department colleagues as the “living archives” of the department, Noreen has supported students in their academic journey with empathy, dedication, and kindness. When graduates reflect on their experiences at UFV, they often mention Noreen as a central figure in their experience. Noreen’s organizational skills, navigation of registration systems, and ability to anticipate student and faculty needs are widely known and respected. She will be deeply missed.

During the eight+ years John English was Dean of Applied and Technical Studies, UFV saw growth in trades programs, innovation in new advanced programs in automation and robotics and digital manufacturing, the development of industry services, and many partnerships throughout the Fraser Valley. He also led the establishment of international programs and overseas teaching opportunities in trades and technical areas and supported applied research activities. John was a strong advocate for the role of trades and technical programs within the University.

Procurement Services

It was evident from the start Lorin possessed a great attitude and work ethic to go along with his sense of humor. He enjoyed making people laugh ensuring his work pace remained the same or on overdrive. He might even stop and talk sports with you. Lorin was known as a very quiet and friendly person; he was very hard working, knowledgeable and always willing to lend a hand. His co-workers noted that “Lorin has been a solid man to work with. He is an exceptionally hard worker and he always did a great job”. His manager is extremely grateful to him for coordinating most the duties in Logistics Services and said “He is knowledgeable in his field and attentive in everything he does. It has been great to work with him.” Lorin is one of the most dependable and hard-working people that you could ever hope to work with. Lorin has been the face of Logistics around UFV and was a key member to the department’s growth, popularity, and success.

Information Studies

Social, Cultural & Media Studies

Dean’s Office

In recent years, John promoted the idea of establishing a school of engineering at UFV to support local needs and industries, and to take a new approach in educating engineers that builds on UFV’s breadth and talents. John, a professional engineer with considerable experience in engineering practice and post-secondary education in BC, was ideally positioned to help advise UFV on how to best move forward in this important area. Between January and May 21, John was appointed to the role of Special Advisor to the Provost in Engineering to prepare an education blueprint and explore the details and potential for engineering programs at UFV.

FRESCHI, DEA

GRIFFIN, K ATHY

If there was a potluck in the international office, chances are Dea Freschi had a hand in its preparation. She began in 1997 after stints teaching English in Japan and Montreal. To quote one of UFV’s long-serving staff members, Leah Carr: “I could write a book about how great she is.” Dea was always available to listen and was always supportive. She treated others as a colleague and conducted herself with grace…unless it was behind the locked door of the Executive Director/AVP Office. There, during the occasional early morning rant, her perpetually polished façade would give way to a version of Dea that could make even a pirate blush. Despite this, Dea had a fantastic sense of humour and a laugh that was infectious. Her love of the arts made its way into our office where “tacky” attempts at decoration and sloppy care of our Global Lounge weren’t tolerated. But this, too, came from her heart because she knew that we had to portray a sense of belonging in our area. She was an incredible advocate for international students but also an extremely charitable person in many other ways. While her decades of experience have certainly been missed, most of all, we miss the person.

Kathy joined the Financial Services team in a newly created role, the Accounts Payable Supervisor, in December 2013. This was a much-needed role within the department, and as this was a new position, Kathy was instrumental in defining the demands and responsibilities of the role.

UFV International

GINGERICH, COLLEEN School of Computing

Colleen’s career at UFV spanned many different roles across multiple areas, and we were always thankful to have her breadth of knowledge to guide us. Colleen joined UFV as a sessional in the department of Computer Information Systems in the Fall of 1999, having previously served as a secondary school teacher. She went on to teach as a sessional faculty member in Applied Business Technology in 2001, followed by a part time appointment in Computer Information Systems in 2002, a full-time lab instructor appointment in 2003, and a regular faculty member in September of 2011. Colleen also served as a relief instructor for Hospitality and Event Planning, and as a sessional instructor for UUP. Colleen was very well known for her extensive committee work across the institution, and especially in coordinating CIS 100 and CIS 110 integration with other programs. We admire her wisdom and have appreciated her constructive input. Her thoughtful and genuine guiding comments have served to shape the future of teaching in her area. Colleen was a valued mentor, serving as a key influence for teaching excellence, and as a source of wisdom and perspective when pivotal decisions presented themselves. Colleagues both within the department and across areas enjoy fond memories of collaborating with Colleen on committee work. Colleen’s dedication to teaching excellence was appreciated in her roles on Teaching and Learning as well as curriculum committees, as well as her long running service as a volunteer instructor for Elder College. We will miss you dearly!

Finance

The department benefited from Kathy’s education and experience. During her time with us she successfully implemented process and procedure improvements and ensured that UFV’s employees and vendors continued to be paid in a timely manner. Kathy was extremely supportive of her accounts payable team, reviewing workload and ensuring they had what they needed to perform their duties. She would step in and help whenever needed. Part of Kathy’s role was point of contact for inquiries or assistance for employees and external vendors related to accounts payable. Kathy was appreciated for providing knowledgeable and prompt support, resolving issues, and determining solutions for the university community. We are grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Kathy and thank her for her contribution to the university and the Financial Services department over the past eight years. We wish her all the best on her retirement. We hope it is filled with good health, relaxation, and gardening.

GUMPRICH, PAUL Agriculture

Prior arriving at UFV (then Fraser Valley College) in 1993, Paul was a lecturer/researcher at New Liskeard College of Agricultural Technology between 1984 and 1993. Paul earned a BSc Ag in Animal Science from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981. Paul’s expertise was sought internationally. He was a visiting lecturer to TresdeMarzo Agriculture College in Quito, Ecuador in 1990, and an exchange Agriculture Instructor to Takashoku University in Fukagawa, Hokkaido Japan. During Paul’s time at UFV he developed and taught more than 24 different courses in the Agriculture programs sharing his knowledge of and experience in the agriculture industry with a vast number of students. Paul believed that learning activities need to be enhanced with hands-on practical experience, field workshops, seminars, and farm/field tours. Paul ensured his knowledge remained current and relevant through membership and involvement in numerous professional committees such as the BC Forage Producers Association, the District of Chilliwack Agriculture Advisory Committee, and many more. His active involvement in the industry with many community connections served to benefit his students. Paul’s practical approach to both teaching and animal husbandry were appreciated by his students and it is clear the respect is

mutual. Paul always had the best interests of students and the university at heart. Paul served on a wide variety of institutional committees, which were always well served by Paul’s presence and pragmatic approach. All the best to Paul in his retirement!

GUTTERIDGE, ANDREW English

Andrew’s thirty-year career in the English department has been a perfect illustration of the interconnectedness of most (if not all) literary periods, genres, and approaches. His range as a teacher and scholar was extraordinary: from Homer to the contemporary novel; from high fantasy to the literature of war; from Beowulf to Virginia Woolf. As a teacher of writing, he was legendary. Students to whom he had taught “Academic Writing” were easy to identify, as they moved through their undergraduate years, by their scrupulous scholarship and well-organized thinking. Many continue to acknowledge a debt to Andrew for having clarified what it is we do at university. He applied this knowledge to his own considerable body of work as a scholar, writer, editor, and consultant. Andrew would probably choose to be remembered, however, for his humane interest in students and their needs. He willingly spent many hours listening and giving support to those who had stumbled into personal quagmires. He understood that getting an education is not just a matter of the intellect, but of the whole person. And he extended the same empathy to his colleagues (and to the wider community), often working behind the scenes to bring about mutual understanding. His dry sense of humour and his delight in absurdity made Andrew a welcome member of any committee or gathering. And yet his habitual modesty leaves many of Andrew’s most lasting contributions to the university community off the record, fully known only to the immediate recipients of his kindness.

HARCOTT, ROBYN

Information Technology Services Robyn Harcott joined UFV in 2005 and has worked in IT Services for 16 years in various roles culminating in her leading the IT Applications Services teams. She was a significant contributor to the institution in terms of moving technology forward and growing the department over the last few years. Robyn’s primary focus was always on improving the technology experience or students, faculty and staff while also maintaining a positive and encouraging team environment for her staff and coworkers. Her leadership helped guide the IT Services teams through a challenging year as we worked through our pandemic response. She now hopes to spend much more time living life 2.0 filled with golf and time with family and friends. She will be dearly missed and we wish her all the best as she transitions into retirement!

HAYES, SHELLEY Agriculture

Shelley Hayes has a long history working as a department assistant in Agriculture for Fraser Valley College, University College of the Fraser Valley and University of the Fraser Valley. She graduated from Office Careers (now ABT) and began her department assistant position in 1987 which she held until her retirement in 2021. Shelley is an authentic country girl, having spent time on her grandparent’s dairy farm on Fairfield Island and she has always had horses herself. Due to her own agriculture interests, Shelley was able to combine her education and background with her love of agriculture into what she describes as her “dream job”. Over the years, Shelley was the point person for Agriculture students and loved every minute of helping them solve problems and assist them to obtain their educational goals. Shelley commented how much she enjoyed seeing a new group of students each year and this is why she stayed for so long. Shelley’s dedication to students and the local community earned her the 2021 Staff Excellence Award. Her colleagues and past students supported this nomination indicating that Shelley “is an integral part of their transformative UFV journey”. Shelley has been one of the calm, reassuring voices that goes about getting the job done in a thorough, efficient, professional way which has a positive impact and influence on all those around her. Shelley enjoys spending time with her children, four grandchildren and of course her horses! We wish Shelley a very relaxing, much deserved retirement!

HERNA NDEZ, CELESTE-TINA English Language Studies

In 1997, Celeste-tina started working part-time at UCFV teaching for the English as a Second Language (ESL) and Adult Basic Education (now Upgrading and University Preparation) departments. She also worked for International Education (now UFV International) teaching ESL in its summer and fall “Holiday Immersion” program. In 2000, she began teaching full-time in the ESL department, but she also found time to teach courses for the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate program. She is proud to say that she has been a teacher for most of her life whether it be teaching English, music, drama, swimming, or life-skills. Celeste-tina’s life experiences have brought a wealth of knowledge that has been invaluable during her time at UFV. Her impressive list of abilities includes speaking Spanish and French, having a pilot’s licence, and being a talented musician. Over the many years that Celeste-tina has been with the department, she has taught all the courses the program offers from beginner to bridge level English. Some of her memorable experiences include teaching in Niger, West Africa; in Chandigarh (India); and in Mexico.

In her retirement, Celeste-tina plans to devote most of her time to her music studio in Chilliwack, where she teaches piano, voice, and guitar. We were not surprised to hear that she hopes to keep teaching until she is well in her 80s.

enjoying the company of her husband, son and two grandchildren.

HERON, COLLEEN

HILL, SANDY

Facilities

Colleen has been a pleasure to work with. is not one to hold back and, in many ways, ensured that matters that “mattered” got addressed. Colleen’s contribution to the team and her work at UFV are varied and have all been meaningful up until the day she left for retirement. Colleen is known for getting right to the point. She has a way of handling her tasks with efficiency and organization that seemed to come naturally to her, and as with many people who are exceptional at what they do, Colleen’s abilities were lived out in her character of honesty and respect for all people and showed up in a “let’s get this done” attitude. She is also an effective problem solver and a great person to bounce around ideas with. Colleen is super practical and passionate about anything she set out to accomplish. She was always an integral and important part of the team and has an abundance of energy. Colleen always seemed to know, whatever task she set out to do, what was needed to complete it with full commitment. Her attention to detail was unique and she would leave no stone unturned to ensure work was completed successfully and on time. Colleen’s skills and personality will be missed at UFV, and those of us that know her, are proud to have had the opportunity to work with her.

HICKS, DIANNE Human Resources

Dianne Hicks started her career with UFV in 1989, working with the University Bursar, Doug Thorpe, as an Administrative Assistant. She made the move to Human Resources as Employee Relations Officer on August 23, 1999. On January 1, 2006 she took on the role of Associate Director, Employee Services and on November 16, 2009 she became the Director of Human Resources. In addition to her HR work with UFV, Dianne has served on several committees including the Joint Labour and Management Committee, the Joint Professional Development Committee, the Job Classification Audit Committee and numerous selection advisory committees just to name a few. She represented UFV externally on the Joint Committee on Benefits Administration and several Provincial HR committees. Dianne also played a significant role in Collective Bargaining over her many years in Human Resources. Dianne will spend retirement in her new home in the Okanagan

Thank you Dianne for your countless hours of work. Often the last person to leave in the evening, Dianne’s tremendous dedication to HR and knowledge about UFV in general will be greatly missed.

Teacher Education

James Alexander (Sandy) Hill began working at UFV in 2006, after a lengthy career as a secondary science teacher for Coquitlam school district and then as a PDP program coordinator at SFU. Sandy’s career was built on a legacy of relationships. He was instrumental in the development and approval processes for UFV’s Teacher Education program, establishing and solidifying connections between UFV and Fraser Valley school districts. As the first TEP/Bed program coordinator, Sandy fostered trusting partnerships with school administrators, secured strong practicum placements for the TEP students, and recruited and mentored faculty mentors to observe and support the TEP students. Sandy is curious, creative, and kind, with a penchant for deep thinking and critical reflection; he has an extraordinary depth and breadth of interests, all centered around education. Sandy challenged his colleagues and his students to be ethical dreamers that worked for good, creating a world built on integrity and community; his wisdom and insights prompting personal reflection and professional growth. As a consummate leader and learner, his contributions to UFV are truly immeasurable. It is rare to find an educator in the Valley who has not been positively impacted by Sandy. Thus, it is of no surprise that in 2017 the Association of BC Deans of Education awarded the Teacher Educator Award to Sandy for “his exceptional teaching and devoted work to build programs and establish good relations with school districts and education partner groups.” Sandy made a difference.

HOPE, JUDI

Information Technology Services Judi Hope moved into retirement after joining UFV on December 20, 2013. She started at UFV in the position of Help Desk Analyst in the IT Services department. For a brief time, July 6, 2015 – May 14, 2016, Judi moved into the potion of Human Resources Assistant, but returned to her previous position in ITS on May 15, 2016 where she providing technology support for students, faculty, and staff as a Service Desk Analyst. We wish her all the best in her retirement!

HUGHES, MYR A Kinesiology

Myra started working in the FSA office in 2007. In 2010 she joined UFV’s auxiliary pool where she worked briefly as an auxiliary staff member before obtaining her first permanent position in 2011 as Department assistant (Chemistry and Physics), in the Faculty of Science. Myra enjoyed her work as department assistant and continued this work when seconded to the Department of Geography in 2013, and finally in the School of Kinesiology in 2019 where she continued until her retirement. Myra enjoyed being a member of the UFV community and was involved in different ways - as a member of the Sustainability Group, as an SAC member and as a student. She completed a Communications certificate and General Studies diploma at UFV, which complemented the Career Development diploma and her experience. One of Myra’s favorite activities was being involved with the ABT program. Over the years, she supervised several practicum students. She considered it a great opportunity and a real privilege to share knowledge and experience, and see the students thrive. Myra is looking forward to travelling as much as possible in retirement and relaxing and gardening in between. Her excitable five-year-old puppy will love the extra attentions she deserves! We would like to thank Myra for her many years of dedication and we wish her all the best in her retirement years.

ISA AC, KIM Library

Kim Isaac had a long and distinguished career at the University of the Fraser Valley. Kim was a student from 1976 to 1980 and then transferred to UBC to complete her degrees, before joining then Fraser Valley College as an employee. Since 1988, she worked in a variety of roles — librarian, instructor and program head in the Library and Information Technology department. Beginning in 2000, she provided leadership as the University Librarian. During her time as the University Librarian, she guided the library in its transition from university college to full university status, managed the library’s growth in budget, staffing and services, oversaw the building of the new library at the Canada Education Park and, in subsequent years, the renovations to the Abbotsford and Chilliwack libraries. She served for 20 years as Convocation Marshall and then Head Marshall, was an executive member and then President of the Faculty and Staff Association, and was co-founder of the Supported Learning Groups (for which she received an Outstanding Initiatives Award in 2009.) Kim’s many service contributions demonstrate her strong commitment to the UFV community, and she was awarded the title of Librarian Emeritus upon her retirement. Kim’s strengths as a cooperative, collegial, and communicative professional allowed her to excel in her roles. She is a

compassionate and caring person, a mentor to staff and colleagues, a strong supporter of the library’s indigenization activities, and used her fundamental concern for the best interests of students and faculty to guide her policies and decision-making.

JABBAL, SATWINDER (JULIE) Finance

Julie began working at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in 1993 as an auxiliary personnel department clerk, providing support for the Business Administration and ESL departments. In November 1994 Julie was successful in gaining a full-time position at UFV with Faculty Reception. Shortly after she transferred to a position in Payroll where she remained until her retirement 28 years later. Julie was an integral part of the Financial Services department. She took her job and responsibilities seriously and was committed to supporting the UFV community, ensuring employees were paid and meeting the payroll deadlines. Her dedication and willingness to put in extra time, if necessary, with no hesitation made Julie such an asset to the department. Employees who had the pleasure of interacting with Julie found her to be knowledgeable and professional and always friendly and warm-hearted. Julie enjoyed connecting with people and always made time to help an employee. In addition to her payroll responsibilities Julie enjoyed assisting with organizing department functions, Christmas potlucks and ensured that special occasions of Financial Services employees were recognized and celebrated. Julie was a valued employee of UFV and she will be deeply missed. We wish her all the best in her retirement and this new chapter of her life.

JENSEN, CORRY Kinesiology

Corry started working at Fraser Valley College in the Adult Basic Education department in 1990. She moved into the position of word processor operator in 1993 and then to the Development Office in 1993. She was seconded to the Employee Relations and to the College and Career Preparation departments in 1997–1998. Corry moved into the Kinesiology department in 2002, where she continued until her retirement. Corry is a kind, caring person who was very dedicated to students. Over the years there are many examples of distraught students meeting with Corry and leaving feeling calm with a sense of direction in their degree. Corry maintained good communication with people by being calm and professional. In Kinesiology, Corry supported many department heads over the years and continually went above and beyond. She helped faculty

and the department head on a moment’s notice to take care of issues as they came up. As with students, Corry also supported her colleagues. Many have turned to Corry for a shoulder to lean in their time of need.

a wide variety of department activities including literacy fairs, culture festivals, and student video contests. He is also well known for his great eye for detail and love of photography and could often be seen taking photographs at various UFV events.

Corry is also very clearly committed to her family and is looking forward to spending more time with her grandkids in her retirement. She is also looking forward to gardening and travelling. We would like to thank Corry for her 31 years of dedication, and we wish her all best in her retirement years.

In his retirement, Bob is looking forward to spending time in the beautiful outdoors, participating in the Vancouver Marathon, and travelling to Spain to do the historic Camino de Santiago. Whether through golf, running, hiking, or photography, we are sure that Bob will meet his retirement goal of being happy, healthy, and engaged.

KROEKER, PHILIP (PAUL)

MCQUARRIE, FIONA

Paul joined UFV to teach as a sessional faculty member in the department of Computer Information systems in Fall of 1997, bringing with him a rich diversity of experience, and a dedication to teaching excellence. Paul was appointed to a part time instructor role in 1999, and to a permanent full time in August 2000.

Fiona McQuarrie joined UFV’s School of Business as a faculty member in 1995, after graduating from SFU and the University of Alberta, and working at the University of Prince Edward Island. During more than 20 years at UFV, she was co-chair of the School of Business, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Professional Studies, and acting Program Development Coordinator. When rank and tenure for faculty were introduced at UFV, she became the first faculty member in the School of Business and the Faculty of Professional Studies and the first woman at UFV to be promoted to the rank of Professor.

School of Computing

He will be remembered for his excellence in teaching. Paul is a colorful instructor and taught many of our programming courses with passion and kindness. He had a reputation for always acting professionally among colleagues, and as an alumnus of the same program, served as an inspiration to students. Paul taught a diverse array of courses including introductory courses in Accounting and Computer Information Systems, as well as more advanced topics in Data Structures and Algorithms, Project Management, and Human Computer Interaction. He served on numerous committees, including several program review and development committees, as well as department and universitywide ethics committees. Paul was known to ride his motorcycle in his off time, and we wish him happy trails on his Harley.

MCGREGOR, ROBERT English Language Studies

Bob began teaching for the English as a Second Language (ESL) department in 2001. Prior to teaching at UFV, Bob taught in Japan for several years. The experience of living in another country and learning another language as an adult was invaluable. Bob taught many courses for the ESL department over the years including advanced writing/grammar and pre-business courses at UFV Abbotsford and in Chandigarh, India. Bob believes in an interactive learning environment where students actively participate in the learning process. His desire to facilitate student success could clearly be seen as he patiently helped students through the ELS Help Centre and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) partnership with Professional Studies. Bob sought new ways to help students better engage in learning by incorporating new technology and providing online support. In addition to teaching, Bob actively participated in

School of Business

She is the author of the textbook Industrial Relations in Canada, which is used at more than 30 universities and colleges across Canada, and she served on the executive board of national and international academic societies for business administration faculty. She was also involved for many years with the provincial business administration articulation committee. Among her favourite memories from her time at UFV are representing UFV at the annual UFV India awards ceremony in Chandigarh, the view of Mount Baker from the Abbotsford campus on clear sunny days, and dodging ceiling leaks in the Chilliwack campus “old motel” building.

MERRITT, NANCY UFV International

Nancy Merritt gets stuff done. Her level of expertise and accuracy allowed UFV International to innovatively lead thousands of students down the path toward admission to their program of choice. When asked about Nancy’s early contributions to the department, UFV International’s longest-serving employee, Leah Carr, stated: “She took a somewhat inconsistent and occasionally dysfunctional admissions process and turned it into something that was efficient, concise, and ran like a machine.” Even when international admissions processes migrated next door to the office of the Registrar, Nancy continued to be an incredible resource for those within our department and to those external to our department. Her methodical approach to work was always admirable but behind the layers of expertise was a person with a kind heart, a willingness to help others, and a smile that

would light up the room. Another one of those people who are irreplaceable, Nancy will be missed.

MILLER, K ATHY

Upgrading & University Preparation From 2008 to 2012, Kathy Miller worked in UFV’s Certified Dental Assistant program. She then worked for the Faculty of Applied and Technical Studies from 2012 until she became the Upgrading and University Preparation (UUP) Department assistant in 2018 and an Instructional Assistant (IA) in 2019. When she joined UUP, she amazed everyone with her ability to handle just about anything. Not only is Kathy a fast learner, she is innovative and always found ways to make things run more efficiently. With her great smile, Kathy made sure everything in her department was organized and running smoothly. Kathy was a dedicated and committed member of the University, department, and community. She served on numerous committees and worked with community agencies to ensure upgrading students were given the support they needed to be successful. Her colleagues were inspired by the quality of her work and the high standards she applied to all her responsibilities and tasks. A word that has been used to describe her contributions to UFV, work ethic, and attitude was “awesome”. Kathy enjoys her family and will now be able to spend time with a new grandchild. She also will have more time for various community activities and, perhaps in the near future, a trip to Hawaii. The UUP department misses Kathy and wishes her many wonderful years of a well-deserved retirement.

PAULIN, SUSANA Office of the Registrar

Susana has been a constant at UFV since 2007, spending much of her time shaping the lives of international students by supporting applications initially within the International Education and then Admissions (with a short stint in Credential Evaluation). Susana is remembered for her calm, warm and kind presence in the office, her commitment to students, her love of classical music and her fitness regimen. A compassionate and positive co-worker, she was generous with her wisdom and insights into the world of Admissions and exuded a feeling of “everything is okay”; her familiar response of “Uh huh” is not forgotten. Susana’s conscientious mentality and love of a quiet space paired well with the focused work in Admissions. Her reliability and consistency were also evidenced with a regular lunch that always featured hot sauce, long walks daily, and gifts for her colleagues from her travels to Mexico. And when she along with her colleagues shifted to a remote environment, this consistency remained, and she was caught on camera a couple of times lifting weights and doing jumping jacks.

In retirement, her colleagues wish her more time with her daughters and husband, her family in Mexico, symphony performances, and all the best in her fitness pursuits including a rumoured trip to walk the Camino de Santiago. But maybe a bit less biking – broken arm on the Kettle Valley.

POWER, K AREN Professional Studies

Karen joined UFV in 1990 as an Assistant to the Director of Trades, eventually landing in the Dean’s Assistant role, a role she has excelled at since 2004 both with Applied and Technical Studies and the Faculty of Professional Studies. During that time, Karen has touched the lives of many people here at UFV. Through her leadership, she has reminded us of the important role that our staff play not only in our day to day operations, but in the long-term planning of our University. She was recognized for this commitment as the recipient of the 2018 UFV Staff Excellence Award. She has been integral in the development and growth of FPS including the 2021 restructuring of the Faculty of Professional Studies, managing a very busy office, while ensuring her staff are connected and provided a voice to important plans and decisions. We will miss Karen and not just for her unparalleled ability to plan, organize and problem solve, but her positive approach to all that she says and does. Her smile is genuine and infectious. She projects a warm, cheerful attitude to all she comes in contact with. She believes in the well-being of her colleagues and believes in helping people believe in themselves. We wish you more time in your garden and being creative in ways that you have only dreamed of.

PUSZK A, PHILIP Facilities

Working with Philip was always a pleasure. Philip is always friendly, kind and helpful. You would know when Philip was at work as you could hear his whistling before you would see him. During his time at UFV, Philip was appreciated for his positivity, team spirit and kind demeanor. Philip was always willing to participate in Halloween and holiday celebrations and would have the best costumes to wear each year. Leading up to the Holiday season his whistling would include popular Christmas tunes. His upbeat demeanor around the holiday season might be because he was such a fan of winter and loved to ski. Philip was a pleasure to have on the team. Philip’s specialization was geared toward electrical work and many consultants will miss him for the contributions he made to the daily work. Philip would start early to make sure that contractors could rely on him to help make the work go as smooth as possible and before university life started, for example, to do generator maintenance or fire alarm testing. He was trusted and often

sought out to help with quick turn-around projects. His colleagues in building maintenance and the mechanical team will miss him for his many tireless contributions and willingness to help out where needed. We wish Philip and his family all the best in their future endeavors. We wish him well and lots of success in planning and executing on a great retirement plan. He will be missed.

R A ABE, PETER Philosophy

Peter began teaching at UCFV as sessional in September, 2003 and became a permanent faculty member soon afterwards. Peter completed his PhD at UBC and published his first book in his area of specialization, the role of philosophy in psychotherapy and counselling. Peter has taught many philosophy courses such as reasoning (or critical thinking), metaphysics and epistemology (or knowledge and reality), moral and political philosophy, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of mind. He developed a course on philosophical counselling which soon became very popular. Peter noted that “It’s hard to put into words how gratifying it was, and how grateful he was for Glen Baier, then head of the Philosophy department, the members of the department, and UFV for giving me the opportunity to be the first teacher of a course on philosophy for counsellors in the world.” It led to invitations to travel to 22 cities in various countries to lecture at conferences; speak at a number of seminars; publish essays in peer-reviewed journals, and to help revive the importance of philosophy to mental health. In Peter’s words, “It has been a pleasure to work with all the faculty members in this small department, and to share my knowledge with the energetic students whose curiosity and respectful challenges during my lessons I will never forget”.

REMPEL, SHERRY CECE

Sherry Rempel is retired from her role as Office Assistant in the Centre for Experiential and Career Education (formerly the Career Centre). Some people find their dream job; however, in Sherry’s case, the job (CECE) found its dream person! In 2009, Sherry completed UFV’s Applied Business Technology program and was placed in the Career Centre for her practicum. Her colleagues took notice of her helpful nature, ability to connect with students, and her superpower to “figure it out” and hired Sherry on the spot. Sherry continues to be the friendly face that our students and employers turn to for help with Work-Study, posting jobs, and most all things career related at UFV. Sherry is known for her sense of humour to keep things upbeat in the office. A co-worker recalls finding a printed meme that Sherry planted next to the Xerox of Snow White saying “one day my prints will come.” Her colleagues also appreciate Sherry’s hardworking nature and her willingness to jump in and provide

support without hesitation. Although Sherry may not have chosen her job at UFV, she has chosen to spend her retirement on Mayne Island to enjoy the outdoors and island lifestyle.

RICHARDSON, CORINNE Adult Education

Corinne’s career has been marked by a passion for both fashion and applied education. A designer for with Janzen Canada and Snazzie Design, she began teaching fashion at UFV in 1995 after the department head saw her host a tour for UFV Fashion students. Yet, the fashion industry called and Corinne returned to design, although she again worked as a sessional instructor/departmental assistant at UFV in between. UFV was lucky to have her back in 2014 to work in Fashion and Adult Education, when she went beyond her Fashion diploma from Ryerson to complete VCC’s Online Teaching Certificate and UFV’s BA in Adult Education. Corinne is a pillar of Adult Education, steadfast and tireless in navigating through institutional changes to provide unerring support to students and to provide the wisdom and leadership that has sustained all of us in ADED for many years. ADED’s success is due, in no small part, to Corinne’s hard work, wisdom, people skills, and sense of humour. Students alike know and appreciate Corinne for how she has helped them over the years: Corinne — from all of us in ADED, FPS and UFV — you will be sorely missed! Please come back and see us!

RICK ABY, MICHELLE

Upgrading & University Preparation Michelle Rickaby took on the role of UUP Chilliwack Instructional Assistant (IA) in 2012 with extensive experience and knowledge about the University after working in other departments, including UFV International. In a very short period of time, Michelle became one of the anchors of the UUP department due to her ability to work with her colleagues and adult learners committed to upgrading their skills. She is caring, empathetic and genuinely understands adult learners’ needs; as a result, she helped hundreds of students pursue their personal, educational, and career goals. Michelle has an amazing ability to multi-task and prioritize her work. Her communication skills and ability to build relationships with community groups have left a lasting impression with others. Michelle became well known, appreciated, and respected by the many UFV groups and community agencies she worked with. Through her untiring efforts to reach out and provide information about UUP programming and support to those who needed it, the Chilliwack campus has been able to serve many new students of diverse backgrounds. Michelle is missed by her colleagues, the students she worked with, and the community groups she served, but they know she

will continue to have a positive impact on her community through her service work while also enjoying the wonderful retirement she so deserves.

SANTIAGO, SYLVIA

Information Technology Services Sylvia started with IT Services 22 years ago, as a PC LAN Technician. She used her experience to support staff, faculty, and student technologies. As a PC LAN Technician she worked all across the campus and being such a friendly person she really enjoyed meeting the people she helped. In 2010, she joined the Infrastructure team within IT Services as a junior system administrator. In 2014, Sylvia became a member of the newly formed Server Team within IT Services and started as the first Server Analyst. She has always put the needs of the team above her own, pitching in wherever she could help to make sure the team was successful. Sylvia is known for her reliability and dedication, if she was helping someone with an IT problem she would work through all obstacles until it was solved. Most people familiar to Sylvia know her to be a cheerful person and she always makes others feel welcome. During her time with the Infrastructure team she has committed to keeping systems operating and maintained. Her contributions to data center technologies, backup and server virtualization are critical to the business operations at UFV. Sylvia has a passion for travelling and plans to spend her retirement visiting those places still on her list. She has made friends with many of her colleges here at UFV and they will miss her. Congratulations on a very well deserved retirement and thank you for all your effort and contributions.

SCHLITT, GREG Math & Stats

Dr. Greg Schlitt has retired after 29 years of exemplary teaching, service and scholarship in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Faculty of Science at UFV. Among the first new faculty members hired in after Fraser Valley College became UCFV in 1992, Greg served several terms as Department Head, travelling internationally to develop partnerships and explore alternate approaches to science education. Greg’s more recent roles included Acting Dean of Science, Acting Director of Research, and Acting Director of the School of Land Use and Environmental Change. Greg was the recipient of the Faculty of Science Superb Service award in 2015/16, and the Outstanding Outreach award in 2018/2019.

into what it is today, as he played a key role in the development of many courses and programs, and guided the department through its first program review. Meanwhile, Greg’s commitment to excellence as a mathematics educator – in courses from upgrading level to fourth year – served as inspiration to his departmental colleagues. Students benefitted from his innovative use of technology in the classroom and from his guidance as they worked in teams to develop solutions to creative, realistic design challenges. A leader and ambassador for the department and the university, Greg’s intelligence, wisdom and diplomacy will be missed by the many faculty, staff, and administrators who worked with him at UFV.

TALVILA, ERIK Math & Stats

After 18 years at UFV, Dr. Erik Talvila began retirement on September 1, 2021. An engaging educator and accomplished researcher, Erik expertly and generously integrated these strengths to the enjoyment and benefit of his students, providing many with their first taste of mathematics research. Erik completed his PhD in Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo in 1997. He joined the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UFV following two years as an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign and three years as a Visiting Assistant Professor at University of Alberta. During his tenure at UFV, Erik produced many publications, including over twenty in refereed journals, and gave more than 60 talks at international conferences, colloquia, and seminars, to audiences of university faculty, graduate and undergraduate university students, and high school students. Erik was the recipient of the Faculty of Science Remarkable Research award in 2016/17. He taught seventeen distinct courses at UFV, and supervised an impressive eighteen student research positions, with the help of an NSERC Discovery grant held from 2001-2010 and Research Option awards from UFV. He played a key role in developing the core Mathematics major courses and developed and taught the innovative and popular selected topics course Reading and Writing in Mathematics. Erik’s wit, energy, and brilliance in mathematics will be missed by all who interacted with him at UFV, in and out of the classroom.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics benefitted enormously from Greg’s passion for innovative reform of curriculum and pedagogy. His visioning, leadership, and collaborative skills have helped greatly to shape the department

TAYLOR, NORMAN Physics

Norm Taylor began his teaching career as a Physics Lab Teaching Assistant during his studies at the University of British Columbia, and then spent four years at Kwantlen College as a Lab Supervisor. He then came to UFV in 1993 as a Physics Lab Instructor during the transition from a two-year college offering university transfer courses (Fraser Valley College) to a four-year degree-granting university college (University College of the Fraser Valley), eventually awarding its own Bachelor of Science degree. It was an exciting time of expansion. Norm was instrumental in bringing the provincially articulated Engineering Transfer Program to UCFV, then spent time on the FSA Executive during some turbulent years, including over 20 years of service to the union on the College Institute Educators’ Association (CIEA) and subsequently the Federation of Post Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) Pension Advisory Committee. He was very involved in the design of the new Physics labs in both Abbotsford and Chilliwack (twice, in the case of Chilliwack). He also assisted in the introduction of Astronomy and Medical Physics courses as well as developing new labs for new and existing Physics courses. His other service at UFV included several terms as a Senator and three terms as Physics Department Head, as well as many, many sub-committees. However, the achievement he valued most highly was the time spent teaching students and working with his departmental colleagues.

THOMSON, SHELAUGH Office of the Registrar

Shelaugh began as an Agriculture student at UCFV following her deep passion for gardening. Her next stop was the Registrar’s Office starting in Admissions then as an Enrolment Services Assistant before completing her career as a Records and Graduation Officer. While a working mother of three, she completed her BA, Adult Education at UCFV. In her many years in the Office of Registrar Shelaugh was always committed to helping students, faculty, and staff with her great wealth of UFV knowledge and often had answers to difficult questions. Whether dealing with grades, courses, or graduation one could often hear “Cool, cool, cool” and “It’s a thing of beauty” radiating from the “grad pit!” Her energy, collaboration, and student advocacy will be missed. She was known to always be laughing, wearing flip-flops, and displaying bright nail polish and using her lunch break to go to yoga. She has a love of seafood and spicy food often bringing her creations to work. One-time Shelaugh let coworkers know that she acquired some bright neon leg warmers from “our deans” for an OReg Spirit Day. Some coworkers were confused and thought they would also ask “our deans” for some gear. But it soon became apparent that “our deans” was at the Cottonwood Mall and was the store “Ardenes!”

Shelaugh has made the move from her little town of Hope to the big city of Edmonton where she downsized to a condo. In her new location she is enjoying city life, and spending quality time with her family.

TROWSE, NADEANE English

Long before Google, there was Ask Nadeane. Want to know about that obscure plant in the corner of your garden? Ask Nadeane. Ask Nadeane. Wondering about the adventures of Margery Kempe or how to encourage the shyest of students into brilliance? Ask Nadeane. Looking for a witty New Yorker cartoon to spice up your lecture? You know who to call, and she’ll also parse the grammar in the cartoon for you like nobody’s business. Nadeane has shared her brilliance, curiosity, and generosity at UFV since 1994, when she joined the Writing Centre; sessional work followed in the Communications and English departments; and, since 2015, Nadeane has been an associate professor in English, teaching Writing Studies, Rhetoric and Composition, and Medieval Literature. Nadeane is admired by her colleagues and students for her celebration of the process of learning and discovery; she sees quickly and clearly the potential in students’ ideas, invariably finding that kernel of meaning and connection worth fostering in anyone’s work and has been an incomparable mentor to her students and colleagues. Intellectually, she stands tall, seeing things in ways others may not until she points out ways to see them. Nadeane has made important contributions to genre scholarship on the writings of Margery Kempe and on 21st century Writing Centre theory and practice. Nadeane’s colleagues, friends, and students wish her the same energy and joy in her retirement she has brought to so many of us.

WANG, BETTY UFV International

Betty Wang, quite literally, put UFV on the map in China. In fact, she put UFV on many maps in China. Her work in international student recruitment and partnership development in Mainland China was truly exceptional. She projected a calm, professional demeanour here on campus but, for any who had the wonderful opportunity to see her in action in China, it seemed like she commanded the respect you would witness while observing royalty. This approach allowed UFV to gain an audience with highranking officials of both government and academia. But Betty was equally adept at conveying the benefits of UFV to prospective students, parents, and education consultants. Her work in this area provided the foundation for early success in that region. Betty provided an exceptional level of expertise on China to senior administrators at UFV and was an incredible contributor to the international office. She will certainly be missed.

WATSON, K ATHERINE Social, Cultural & Media Studies

How do we utilize methods and theory to understand our world, gather evidence, reveal inequalities and power, and see the impact of oppression? Questions such as this have framed Katherine Watson’s teaching and research for the past 25 years. Katherine started working at UCFV in 1994. First hired as an LTA and later as a sessional instructor, she taught research methods courses for both Criminology and Social Cultural and Media Studies (SCMS). In 1999, she became a full-time member of SCMS and Criminology. In 2003, Katherine became a full-time Sociology instructor in SCMS; completed her PhD at McMaster University; and was awarded the Teaching Excellence Award at UFV. Katherine enjoys teaching the foundations of Sociology including quantitative methods and theory. Her main research interests are public education, inequality, and power relations. She also engages in Public Sociology and has been principal investigator on numerous community research projects in the Fraser Valley that include Fraser Health, the Chilliwack School District, and the Chilliwack Social Planning and Research Council. She currently is a data consultant to UFV’s Community Health and Social Innovation (CHASI) Hub. Katherine was a strong advocate for the Sociology program and for Sociology students more generally. Among other things, she actively facilitated student participation in conferences, routinely ran directed studies courses in which students completed their own research projects, instigated the creation of the Social Research concentration, and organized info sessions and other events supporting student academic growth. In her retirement, Katherine has begun teaching sessionally for SFU.

WAUTHY, ANNA

Upgrading & University Preparation Anna Wauthy began her career at UFV in 1988 working in the Communications department first as Program Assistant and then as an instructor. From 1991 to 1998, she taught for the Office Careers (now Applied Business Technology) department. Then, in 1998, she started teaching ABE English for what is now the Upgrading and University Preparation department where she was an anchor, mentor, and highly respected colleague. It was common for faculty to seek her for wise advice. Her teaching was always balanced, well organized, and thoughtful.

During her well-deserved retirement, Anna will have more time to spend with her cherished husband, children, and grandchildren. She also will be able to pursue her passion for travel, which, hopefully, will take her to Italy soon. The UUP department is thankful for the many contributions she made and for being such a pleasant and kind person to work with. Anna is wished the very best from all who worked with her.

WIEBE, LAUR A

Faculty of Access & Continuing Education Laura Wiebe began her 32-year journey with the institution when she joined Fraser Valley College as a data entry clerk in 1989. Over the years, she worked in Mission and Abbotsford and took on positions in several departments, including Continuing Education, Community Relations & Development, and Criminal Justice. Laura’s talents, skills, and institutional knowledge helped her secure the position of Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Finance & Employee Services in 2005. In 2006, Laura became the Assistant to the Dean of Community Access, Business & Information Technology. She continued on in this role as the Faculty was renamed and reconfigured over the years until retiring as the Assistant to the Dean of the Faculty of Access & Continuing Education (FACE). Laura’s duties and responsibilities were many; not only did she support the Dean, she also supported FACE faculty and staff. Noted for her discretion and wisdom, it was common to see her supporting others when needed. Because Laura believed in the importance of professional development for FACE employees, she organized an annual PD day for all FACE staff. By bringing staff together, Laura helped them get to know each other, learn new skills, and build a strong FACE team. Laura’s service was so valued by the people she worked with that she was nominated for the 2021 Service Excellence Award. We know Laura will have a wonderful retirement spending time with her children and grandchildren and paddling her kayak throughout BC with her husband, Terry.

Years after taking one of her courses, students would comment about Anna’s excellent English instruction, describing how empowered they felt with their strengthened writing and critical thinking skills. Fellow faculty were impressed with Anna’s ability to command a rigorous, yet calm, classroom with very satisfied learners. Not only was she dedicated to excellent teaching, she also was dedicated to providing service and worked on many department, institution, community, and provincial committees. Anna’s competence, collegiality, strength, and gentle spirit are missed by her all who worked with her.

BETTY URQUHART Community Service Award Betty Urquhart was one of the first employees of the university and believed strongly in volunteering and giving back to the community. While Betty passed away in 1995, UFV keeps her memory alive by honouring a person exemplifying her commitment to lifelong learning and community. This award is part of UFV’s commitment to changing lives and building community.

PEARL has been raising funds for a second-stage restoration home, where six women will be able to live rent-free for two years to heal and prepare for a life outside of the sex trade. The residents will have access to specialized services, such as trauma counseling, job-readiness skills, addictions recovery, and holistic care. It will open in December 2021. “Joan has worked hard to ensure women in the community have support and services, along with hope for their future,” said Craig Toews, VP External at UFV and head of the Betty Urquhart award selection committee. “Her belief is that every woman has intrinsic worth, and this is visible in her work.

PEARL OFFERS NETWORK OF SUPPORT TO WOMEN SEEKING TO LEAVE PROSTITUTION Joan Goosen believes that everyone deserves the chance to live a life of dignity. And she knows that when a woman wants to leave a life on the streets and/or as a sex-trade worker, it can be difficult. So she helped found an organization, PEARL (which stands for prostituted women exiting and renewing life) to help women who want to make the transition. For her dedication to the cause of helping sexually exploited girls and women, Joan is the 2021 recipient of the Betty Urquhart Community Service Award at the University of the Fraser Valley. Joan, a clinical counsellor, leads a team of dedicated individuals and volunteers seeking to improve the wellbeing of sexually exploited girls and women in Chilliwack. PEARL is a non-profit organization that helps women who are sexually exploited, working in the sex trade, or trafficked to gain hope and renewal. In 2017, PEARL opened a drop-in resource centre in downtown Chilliwack. The centre provides a safe and warm environment where women have access to a hot shower, warm meals and take out lunches, legal support, medical care, laundry, new clothes, and the opportunity to attend workshops and classes.

Her dedication to helping vulnerable women experiencing homelessness, sex trade work, sexual exploitation, and addiction has provided hope and help to so many. Her contribution has made a profound difference within the community and in the lives of these women.” Joan says she felt compelled to reach out and help women who want to leave the sex trade, out of a desire to share love and hope inspired by her faith, and that she’s humbled and grateful to be recognized for her dedication.

UFV RETIREES’ ANNUAL BURSARY Thank you! Your Retirees’ Annual Bursary has helped 28 UFV students with a total of $24,420 given out since the bursary was first established in 2012. By supporting the UFV Retirees’ Bursary, you are helping to change lives. CONSIDER HONOURING YOUR UFV COLLEAGUES UFV employees, retirees, friends and family members can honour retiring UFV faculty and staff by donating in their name to the UFV Retirees’ Bursary. By giving a gift to the UFV Retirees’ Bursary, you are celebrating your colleague as well as assisting to make a difference in the life of a student who might not have ongoing access to a university education. To make a one-time or monthly donation, please contact Natalina MacLeod at giving@ufv.ca or visit ufv.ca/giving.

INCOME TAX REDUCTION and ESTATE TAX ELIMINATION EVENT AND SEMINAR We had our first event in October and it was a hit. We are going to be bringing the event back, but virtually this time. Please stay tuned for an email regarding the event dates in the new year. If you have questions regarding this event or other events for Planned Giving, please contact Natalina MacLeod at giving@ufv.ca. 19

No matter how long you worked at UFV (or UCFV or FVC), chances are you attended at least one Convocation ceremony. Students are lauded for their accomplishments and then sent out into the world as alumni in pursuit of their dreams. As you move into retirement, consider yourselves UFV employee alumni. Pursue your dreams, enjoy what life has to offer, and come back to our hallways with stories to tell. You have left a legacy here, through the ideas you have tabled, the processes you have established, the battles you have fought, and the memories you have shared. You have helped to weave the very fabric of this institution and make it the special place that it is today. Those who remain are indebted to you.

THANK YOU & BEST WISHES!