UFV Retirement Brochure 2022

RETIREMENT CELEBRATION

2022

CONGRATULATIONS!

2022 RETIREES

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

Anderson, Robin 4 Block, Deborah . . 4 Borrows, Gloria . . 5 Charlie, Josephine 5 Coombes, Margaret 6 Coupland, Brad . 6 Dalton, Christine . . 7 Davis, Janet 7 Dyck, Debbie 8 Gin, Henry . . 8 Harrison, Pat . . 9 Joakim, Christopher 9 Johannessen, Joan . . 10

Kirkley, Bruce . . 10 LaFever, Marcella 11

Leach, Chris 11 Lee, Hélène 12 MacDougall, Mary-Anne . 12 Melder-Crozier, Maple . 13 Neetz, Sherry 13 Nichols, Rowena . . 14 Offroy, Marcel . . 14 Olsen, Leslie 15 Russell, Dawn 15 Slabicki, Margaret . . 15 Styles, Rhonda . . 16 Sutherland, Mark 16 Toews, Craig 17 Weinberg, Noham . . 17 Wilson, Patti . . . 18

Zitron, Ron 18

ANDERSON, ROBIN

History

Robin Anderson joined UFV in the fall of 1994 and has been part of the UFV community for almost 30 years. As Robin noted: “teaching has been the most defining feature of my time.” Energized and energizing in the classroom, Robin is acknowledged to be a terrific instructor by students and colleagues alike. He created significant history courses over the years, among them History of Education in Canada, Canadian Sport History, Public History, and Local History for the Web, which still exist today. These courses helped to grow and develop the History program, giving students both an important understanding of the past and a practical way to incorporate historical skills into their professional lives after graduation. Robin was the chair of the department from 2007 to 2012 and served as an important mentor for those who succeeded him in the role. He was a stalwart participant in, and leader of, committees across the university too numerous to count. Robin also contributed to a wide range of public events at UFV, including the Fraser Valley Regional Historica Fair and the “Retro Abby” public history conference in 2019. He and his colleague Chris Leach joined UFV and retired at the same time – their abiding friendship over the years has been the cornerstone of the History department’s collegial culture for decades.

BLOCK, DEBORAH

Office of the AVP, Research, Engagement and Graduate Studies

Deborah Block’s 30-year career spanned over many different departments at UFV, but most notably she spent the last 17 years in the Research Office as the Assistant to the AVP, Research and Graduate Studies and then eventually Manager of the office.

Over the years, Debi became a pioneer in every role in the Research Office and played a significant role in the creation and promotion of the Student Presentation Grant, the Undergraduate Research Excellence Awards night, and Student Research Day — most of which she produced on her own to celebrate student achievements in research.

Debi modeled compassion, dedication, and a constant quest to learn. She inspired excellence in all who had the privilege of working with her and we are all forever grateful. Debi was the heart of the Research Office.

Debi is enjoying her retirement, travelling and being with family and friends as much as possible. We miss her passion for the Christmas season, her peanut butter Rice Krispie squares, and her wonderful hugs.

BORROWS, GLORIA Communications

Gloria Borrows joined the Communications department in 2015 after a long career as a faculty member in the UFV Writing Centre. As an area expert in writing studies and practice, Gloria helped shape the department’s approach, adapting writing practices to the needs of applied communications. As a co-editor of the Canadian Journal for the Study of Discourse and Writing from 2000 to 2012, she has made a significant contribution to the field of writing research. She represented the department and the university at a number of top-tier conferences, presenting and moderating discussions in the areas of faculty wellbeing, student learning, writing assessment, faculty development, and academic discourse. As a member or a chair of several key departmental and institutional committees, Gloria served UFV in helping define strategic goals and vision for years to come.

CHARLIE, JOSEPHINE

Indigenous Student Centre

Josephine began working at University College of the Fraser Valley in 2003 after attending as a College and Career Prep student and then a student in the Social Work diploma program. Josephine was not on campus long before she started working as a student volunteer. She loved being on campus and engaging with her peers, so she became a work-study student in the brand-new Aboriginal Resource Centre (S’olh Shxwlèlí) and later was hired on contract. Eventually, Josephine became a full-time employee for the Aboriginal Access Services department, known today as the Indigenous Student Centre. She dedicated 15 years to serving students and the community, sharing her knowledge and gifts with many. Josephine understood Indigenous student experiences intimately, often predicting their needs before they surfaced.

Josephine kept the coffee pot on and the cookie plate full, often preparing meals for students under the guise of “potluck” wherein Josephine was chief cook and bottle washer— though she never complained. Josephine started the National Indigenous Peoples Day Mini Pow Wow on campus, created Metis Day celebrations, and started the Indigenous Student completion celebrations. In 2019, she received the UFV Staff Excellence award in recognition of her many contributions.

Josephine encouraged students to become involved in the university and its governance, supporting students to form an Indigenous Student Governance Committee and to become involved in the Student Union Society (in 2002 the majority of the Student Union Society board, including the SUS president, were Indigenous). She will always be remembered for her friendly face, offering to share her craft-making skills and for the many si’wes (cultural teachings) she shared. She walked tirelessly up and down the halls looking for students and inviting them to the ISC.

The students already miss her encouragement and uplifting spirit that always nurtured them on their educational journey. In the new Chilliwack campus, she was also known for having soup on to share with the students and Elders/Knowledge Keepers. For many, Josephine is just a stone’s throw away as she carries on in our Stó:lō way of life being an auntie and a grandmother and helping those who need it.

COOMBES, MARGARET

Social Work and Human Services

Margaret joined the School of Social Work and Human Services in 2013 after a 30-year career as a social worker and social work leader. She started as a Child Protection Worker and held increasingly responsible leadership positions in child and family services. Margaret completed a PhD at the University at Buffalo. A Registered Clinical Social Worker and licensed private pilot in New York, Margaret requalified for both when she moved to British Columbia.

Margaret was Director of the School of Social Work and Human Services from 2016 to 2021. This year, she announced her decision to return to the Maritimes to be closer to her family.

Margaret’s work ethic, abundance of energy, dedication to the school, and promotion of the social work profession are legendary. Her sense of humour, fondness for sweet confections, and fashion sense will be missed by those of us who knew and worked with her these past nine years.

COUPLAND, BRAD Automotive

Brad first joined UFV in 2015 after many years at the AirCare Research Centre, and then accepted a full-time faculty position in 2017.

Brad’s students appreciate his in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the Automotive Service Technician trade and frequently comment on his ability to explain complex material in a meaningful way.

Brad is known for providing real-world scenarios that help apprentices make essential connections between the technical education provided at UFV with the on-the-job experiences found in the workplace.

Brad’s students and colleagues recognize and appreciate his dedication to the automotive service trades. Students appreciate his willingness to go the extra mile to ensure their success and other faculty members are grateful for his collegial approach to sharing information related to the trade and teaching.

Brad is looking forward to enjoying some classic rock music and potentially increasing his collection of guitars in retirement.

DALTON, CHRISTINE Biology

Over her 22 years at UFV as Laboratory Instructor, Christine Dalton was instrumental in developing an incredibly positive learning environment for biology students. It is no coincidence that the first-year hands-on lab experiences rate so highly with UFV students. Her passion for teaching laboratory science has inspired students and faculty members alike. Christine has been a great ambassador promoting science and biology at UFV. Besides teaching labs, Christine developed new ecology-based courses and lectures for biology majors and non-majors. Christine’s interests went far beyond the classroom. She has been a great science advocate in our community through research and outreach. Christine served as a science advisor. She received a service award for her Science Rocks involvement. She collaborated with a field school taking 24 UFV students to Ecuador for two weeks in the summer of 2016. She remains very involved at UFV as a professor emeritus and is currently continuing her work of many years on research projects related to painted turtles and invasive bullfrogs in the Fraser Valley.

DAVIS, JANET

Nursing

Janet’s journey with UFV’s Faculty of Health Sciences began in 2005 as a sessional nursing instructor. As an alumnus of UFV’s BSN program, this was akin to coming full circle for Janet. Subsequently, Janet’s career scholarship included a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University and a certification in nursing education.

During her career at UFV, Janet has been a valued faculty member in the Health Care Assistant, Practical Nursing and BSN programs. Always ready to take on new challenges, Janet taught in all program settings: classroom, lab, simulation, and clinical.

Furthermore, Janet was involved in UFV Practical Nursing program accreditation processes as well as a contributor to the BC Practical Nursing provincial curriculum revision in 2017.

Janet’s curiosity and passion for new adventures is evident to anyone who spends time with her. Janet has traveled to many countries and will continue to do so in her retirement. Early in her nursing career, Janet spent time in the USA with her husband and small children. At that time, her nursing practice was focused on maternal-child care. Janet would often share stories of these experiences, which also included dealing with snakes and hurricanes! Once back in the Fraser Valley, Janet’s nursing focus switched to gerontology.

Students would be quick to identify the characteristics of patience, compassion, consistency, and creativity regarding Janet’s teaching style and clinical practice presence. Janet was highly regarded by her faculty colleagues for her collaborative and generous nature. Janet was quick to laugh and offer encouragement to all; her office door was always open, and the Keurig machine stocked.

In her retirement, colleagues know that Janet will have more time for her passion towards all things pottery related and expect that she will be spending much-deserved time at her pottery wheel and experimenting with new glazing techniques. We are very fortunate to have had Janet as part of the health sciences team at UFV and wish her all the best.

DYCK, DEBBIE

Human Resources

Debbie joined the University College of the Fraser Valley on November 24, 1997, as an IBT Analyst. Over the next several years she utilized her skills in many areas: Technical Learning Assistant in the Disability Resource Centre, Student Services Assistant, and IBT Access Assistant until May 2000 when she began her first type “A” permanent position as Special Projects Assistant in the Continuing Education department. Unfortunately for Debbie, CE underwent several layoffs in 2002 and her position was eliminated. But that was very fortunate for what was then called the Employee Relations department as she bumped into the vacant position of Health Spending Account Administrator and never looked back!

Debbie moved around a bit within the Human Resources department, first as the Pensions & Benefits Assistant, then as Advisor, Compensation & Benefits and finally, Labour Relations Assistant.

Debbie was incredibly involved in the UFV community. For most of her years here, she led employee aerobics classes on her lunch hour and was the key organizer of the very popular employee golf tournament. But more importantly, Debbie was an employee favorite and was loved by all — she just had that warm, caring, fun personality that everyone was drawn to. She was everyone’s “goto” person in HR and is missed incredibly by us all.

We all wish Debbie a wonderful, happy, healthy retirement spent with her husband, daughters, and granddaughters, full of golf and sunshine in her new home in the Okanagan. Don’t be a stranger Deb — we love you!

GIN, HENRY Information Technology Services

Henry Gin joined IT Services as Team Lead, IT Service Desk in March of 2020. As that date reflects, UFV and the rest of the world were experiencing very tumultuous times. Henry had two weeks onsite before both UFV and subsequently IT Services transitioned to remote work. With IT Services’ heavy involvement with that transition, Henry had anything but a traditional onboarding. Despite that, Henry rose to the challenge and was able to help support a smooth transition for the IT Service Desk team, while continuing to provide service delivery excellence to the university.

Once the transition to remote work had stabilized, Henry took on a continuous service improvement leadership role for the IT Service Desk and team. These efforts, coupled with the smooth transition to remote work, led Henry and the IT Service Desk team to receive the UFV Service Excellent Award for Teamwork in 2021. Although Henry’s time with UFV was short, his impact will be long.

We will miss the mentorship that Henry provided the team, his quick wit, and excellent Photoshop skills. Henry plans to continue globetrotting adventures with his wife in retirement. We wish Henry all the best. Congratulations!

HARRISON, PAT Biology

Pat is an outdoor enthusiast and environmental advocate, and in 2003 he moved from UBC to the then UCFV as Laboratory Instructor. Pat inspired students and influenced many to become outdoor activists. An American by birth, he lived in California, Wisconsin, and Montana before moving to BC. He served in the US Army and was a Vietnam veteran before becoming a US Park Ranger where he developed a love for nature and became fascinated by the mysteries of fungi. He completed a master’s degree from the University of Montana and was a biology Instructor at UBC for over 25 years before coming to UFV. Pat had a distinguished career not only as an academic but also as an environmentalist, having established the Centre for Environmental Sustainability at UFV and having been involved in many community projects including the Federation of Mountain Clubs in BC, Hike BC, Hike Canada, National Hiking Trail, Save Our Parklands Association, Surrey Organic Farmers Association, etc. Pat served on many committees and his service to the UFV community was recognized with the Superb Service Award from the Faculty of Science in 2014

JOAKIM, CHRISTOPHER

Print Services

After spending seven years at UFV and over 40 years in the printing industry, Chris continues his nomadic journey in retirement to Pictou, Nova Scotia. Originally from Toronto, Chris again traverses the country in retirement with his partner, Cecilia, and his trusted co-traveler, Rugby.

Since August, Chris has been enjoying and exploring the laid-back lifestyle of East Coast living, which includes fishing, hiking, cycling, and cheering for his beloved Maple Leafs!

We thank Chris for his extensive professional contribution to UFV but mostly for his engaging and humorous personality in the workplace.

We are so happy that Chris now enjoys the fruits of his years of hard work and contribution to UFV. We wish him all the best in a deserved retirement

JOHANNESSEN, JOAN

Office of the Registrar

Joan has been a long-serving employee, having started here in the University College of the Fraser Valley era in 1992. In her initial appointments, she worked at the switchboard and spent time in the print shop. She then found her true calling when she joined the Registrar’s Office at the Mission campus and has been there ever since. Joan has had tremendous influence over the comings and goings in Mission.

Throughout her service in the Registrar’s Office, Joan enjoyed connecting with faculty, staff and of course the students, often going above and beyond to make all feel welcome, cared for, and important. One campus legend has her tracking down a wayward snake in the staff room and keeping it trapped until help arrived.

As part of her anchoring position, Joan served on the UFV Health and Safety Committee for many years and was also the Mission campus first aid attendant.

In retirement, Joan plans to travel. She has already taken one trip to a sunny destination and has plans to visit Australia in the new year. Her colleagues wish her well as she sets off on her new adventures

KIRKLEY, BRUCE Theatre

Dr. Bruce Kirkley was hired as a theatre instructor at what was then UCFV in 1994. Bruce’s accomplishments in the theatre department include directing over 20 productions, designing lighting and sets, teaching nearly every course the program offered, and exploring the use of intermedial and digital media technologies in performance long before those became common practices. As theatre department head from 2000-03 and 2010-17, Bruce steered the theatre ship through changing waters and led through challenging times. His innovative approach and commitment to media arts led to the development of the Bachelor of Media Arts degree.

Bruce was also the key figure in the development of the Theatre major, from conceptualization through Ministry approval. A passionate instructor, Bruce is beloved by theatre alumni, who will never forget his commitment to teaching voice, movement, and Shakespeare. In 2016, Bruce undertook the role of Associate Director of Program Development and Quality Assurance, bringing his leadership, collaboration skills, and creativity to this new position

LAFEVER, MARCELLA

Communications

Dr. Marcella LaFever joined the faculty of the Communications department at the University of the Fraser Valley in January 2010. Her doctoral dissertation work focused on the meaning of relationship-building in the British Columbia treaty process and within the context of intercultural communication.

Marcella continues to publish in refereed academic journals in investigating ways that North American dominant-culture individuals, groups, and institutions need to change and improve public dialogue and consultation processes to be culturally responsive and socially inclusive to all members of a multicultural society. One of her current projects investigates Indigenous storytelling as a communicative practice in public dialogue.

Marcella’s efforts in promoting intercultural communication and Indigenization of post-secondary education have had a tremendous effect on the teaching practices of faculty of both the Communications department and across the university

LEACH, CHRIS History

Chris Leach joined UFV in the fall of 1994. As Chris acknowledges, the most meaningful aspect of his almost 30 years at UFV has been the impact he has had on students. As one student wrote to him: “I view history and the world differently than before walked into your class; you’ve changed the way I see humanity...” Chris was pivotal in important revisions made to the history program over the last decade as chair of the departmental curriculum committee. He was instrumental in establishing a connection between UFV and the Shifting Tides Graduate Student Conference, at which a number of our undergrads have presented highly praised papers, giving them a real sense of what it’s like to “do” history, and inspiring quite a few to consider academic history as a career. Chris served as chair of the department, and on many on-going and ad hoc committees across the institution. He organized Great War Day (2014) and the highly successful Professional Development Day for Secondary School Teachers, called “History Matters” (2016), both of which contributed to a deepening connection between the History department and the wider community. He and his colleague Robin Anderson joined UFV and retired at the same time — their abiding friendship over the years has been the cornerstone of the History department’s collegial culture for decades.

LEE, HÉLÈNE

Modern Languages Institute

Hélène Lee came to UFV in 2005 and worked as MOLA’s French Seminar Assistant until taking her retirement in 2022. She was extraordinary. It seems easy enough, but the Seminar Assistant position requires a really special person to do the job effectively by gaining the students’ confidence and trust. People are naturally a little shy to speak aloud but speaking aloud in a second language is another challenge entirely. Hélène brought understanding, empathy and compassion to the job and succeeded in helping people to overcome their hesitancy and express themselves in a second language. Hélène served our students exceptionally well, always treating students with respect and kindness, yet somehow getting them to actually try out their French. Hélène was an ideal colleague who always helped create the best possible learning environment for our students to develop their skills. Our students mentioned her dedication in our last program review, saying the seminars were the ‘best’ part of our languages program

MACDOUGALL, MARY-ANNE Library

Mary-Anne came from Vancouver Public Library as Head of Special Collections in 2001, and began working with the Heritage Collection, UCFV’s local history collection. She taught library instruction classes, worked on the reference desk and was liaison librarian to the History, Political Science, Philosophy, and Communications departments. She later assumed coordination of the library’s reference and Askaway services, where she worked with the part-time librarians and technicians, a real highlight for her.

Mary-Anne has coordinated the digitization efforts of UFV library. In 2007, work began on the digitization of the Abbotsford Sumas Matsqui News, which the library had acquired from Tretheway House. In her late teens, before libraries called, Mary-Anne moved to London, England and became a chef, which was no doubt the inspiration to establish the Newman Western Canadian Cookbook Collection, one of the largest cookbook collections in Western Canada. In 2015, in preparation of the launch of the Newman Collection, Mary-Anne compiled the UFV Library cookbook, Good Food Tells a Story. Work has started on the digitization of the Newman Collection, supported by external grants and matching funds from private donors.

Mary-Anne is a Faculty Associate with SASI and member of the Gur Sikh Temple’s Sikh Heritage Museum Advisory Board. She has been a member of the Senate, Senate Governance Committee, Academic Planning and Priorities Committee, Senate Committee for Student Appeals, and Honorary Doctorate Awards Committee between 2014-2018.

In retirement, Mary-Anne will continue her current service as a volunteer board member for King Haven and Peardonville Recovery Society. She is looking forward to spending time with her husband and daughters. Her love for cooking and baking will also continue, to the delight of her friends and family

MELDER-CROZIER, MAPLE

Child, Youth & Family Studies

Colleague, friend, and fashionista! Maple first arrived at UCFV in 1993 and has been a strong presence and accomplished leader. She was instrumental in the development of the BA in CYC program as well as the Teacher Education program. Maple’s influence resonates in many of our unique courses in the Child, Youth & Family Studies department, which includes Play & Expressive Therapies, Developing Healthy Relationships, Understanding Diverse Populations in CYC, and Transitions: Working with Grief and Loss. Maple authored a textbook, Journeys of Grief and Loss, which was published in November 2021. She gave her time generously to the community and was often called upon as a guest speaker.

Maple also shared her time and talent to a myriad UFV initiatives and committees including the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Divisional Chair of Rank and Tenure for Professional Studies, Race and Antiracism Network, and Teaching and Learning Advisory Council. We will miss her energy, ideas, and shoes

NEETZ, SHERRY

School of Health Studies

Sherry began her career in the UFV Health Sciences area in 1992 when she was hired by the University College of the Fraser Valley. Since then, Sherry has been a warm and welcoming presence on the Chilliwack campus, well known for being an excellent resource for faculty and staff.

Sherry’s smile and consistent support for Health Sciences was second to none and she regularly went above and beyond for students, faculty, and colleagues. She was known for her great sense of humor, and for her love for shopping and all things Disney, as well as enjoying travel, including to Las Vegas.

We know that Sherry will enjoy spending more time with her loving family and two grandchildren and will continue to travel. Congratulations on a very well-deserved retirement and heartfelt thank you for all your contributions to Health Sciences and UFV!

NICHOLS, ROWENA

Office of the Registrar

It all started for Rowena as a temp stuffing envelopes, evidently at the pleading of her sister Jackie. However, she settled in quickly as a valued employee and after a short stint in the bookstore she landed at the Mission campus where she got her first experience in supporting students. She momentarily strayed from her true calling by filling in gaps at the bookstore and switchboard but returned to the Registrar’s Office in 2003 and has been on an upward trajectory ever since. Rowena quickly made her presence felt in the registration unit and in the admissions group as well as taking a turn in the arcane world of transfer credit articulation. However, her greatest achievements have been in her roles as the Enrolment Services Coordinator and then Manager. In this role, she leads a talented staff and ensures we provide a supportive and caring environment for the many, diverse campus communities we serve. Her extensive contributions will be felt for some time to come, and her quiet, yet commanding, presence will be missed. In retirement, Rowena and Bill have bought a ranch in the BC interior, so rest and relaxation are not in her future. We wish her every success in her new endeavors.

OFFROY, MARCEL Facilities

Marcel joined the UFV Facilities department in 2012 after retiring from BC Ferries. He started as a Lead Hand in Janitorial and then moved over to the Building Maintenance side of the Facilities house. Marcel brought a “get ‘er done!” mentality to every task he was assigned and was considered an ‘Energizer Bunny’ by many who worked alongside him. His quick response, reliability, and dedication to getting the job done was top notch and it never went unnoticed amongst UFV faculty, staff, and students. Marcel was always a dedicated, easy-going, and excellent team player. Known for his enjoyment of outdoor activities, we hope that he will be able to spend more time on these activities in his retirement. He and his wife will also enjoy the extra time they have to spend with their grandchildren. Marcel was truly a pleasure to be around, and we thank him for his 10 years of service

OLSEN, LESLIE Library

Leslie Olsen was with UFV Library for 30 years. This is a reflection from Leslie on her time here.

“I was a student in the FVC Library Technician program in the 1980s and have never forgotten what a transformational experience that was. In 1992, was fortunate to return to UCFV, to work at my dream job in an academic library. As reflect upon my career, there are many highlights; however, the most meaningful were the connections with people and the learning opportunities UFV provided. Whether it was helping a student find library resources for an assignment, or asking a colleague for advice, I always learned something new with each interaction and felt grateful for the opportunity to connect. I’d like to say a special thank you to my wonderful library colleagues who supported and encouraged me to take on new roles and responsibilities over the years such as coordinating the library move from the old Chilliwack campus to the new campus at Canada Education Park. It was a pleasure and privilege to be a part of the UFV Library team.”

RUSSELL, DAWN

Advancement

Dawn joined the Advancement department at UFV in October 2015, as a Donor Relations Officer. She loved connecting with donors and building long-lasting relationships with them. She was an experienced fundraiser and came to UFV after many years with the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association.

Dawn grew up in Ontario and developed her love for textiles there. When she and her husband, Mark, relocated to BC, she continued her passion, establishing Della Terra Designs. Always wanting to develop her skills, she enrolled in the Fashion Design program at UFV, which she graduated from in 2012. Dawn laughs that she never really left UFV after that, as she stayed in touch with the instructors of the program, helping with the fashion shows, and volunteering in other capacities.

Dawn and Mark love to sail in tall ships and travel to Barbados. Dawn is looking forward to spending more time with family and playing with her dye pots.

SLABICKI, MARGARET

Facilities

Margaret (or Maggie to her co-workers) started with UFV on April 17, 1989, as a Janitor at the Abbotsford campus. Maggie was a selfdirected, motivated employee who brought a strong and integral work ethic to the department. She worked diligently and was not afraid of taking on restorative work like residence housekeeping, a task that many shy away from. Her outgoing charm, wonderful sense of humour, and infectious laugh allowed Maggie to make friends easily with staff, students, and faculty. Her 33 years at UFV has witnessed many changes and growth as she started with UFV when there were only a handful of support staff. She is proud to have been a part of that growth and a member of this community.

She now enjoys spending more time with her family, cooking, and travelling to her home country, Poland, to visit her cherished relatives. She will fondly remember her time at UFV, and we will miss this member of our Facilities family. Congratulations Maggie!

STYLES, RHONDA

School of Business

Rhonda Styles started working at UFV in 1993. While she worked, she completed her bachelor’s degree with a major in history and a minor in English. She also took the first computer program that UFV ever offered in 1982. She would like to thank everyone in the School of Business and the School of Criminology for making her last 12 years at UFV a positive experience. She enjoyed working in the School of Business for the past 10 years.

It was a privilege to work with the Business students, as an advisor, with the support of the faculty and staff who were all fantastic. And it was wonderful to end her career at UFV working with such a terrific director/supervisor, who is now Dean.

She enjoys spending time with her nine grandchildren and travelling as much as she can and looks forward to a great deal more. She wishes “all the best” to everyone

SUTHERLAND, MARK

School of Creative Arts

As Theatre Technician, Mark Sutherland brought his love of live performance and his curiosity about performance technologies and design to his role every day. Mark was a mentor to generations of theatre students, demystifying complex technologies and getting them excited about technical theatre. A true collaborator, Mark was an enthusiastic member of the theatre team and always sought to find creative solutions to practical problems. Mark’s sense of humour, friendliness, and love for a challenge will be greatly missed as he enjoys his retirement.

TOEWS, CRAIG

VP External

For over 34 years, Craig Toews helped UFV grow and develop into the university it is today. Craig joined Fraser Valley College in July of 1988 as a PC Tech in Information Technology (IT), followed by leadership roles such as IT Manager, and Director of Facilities and Campus Planning. He ended his UFV career as Vice-President, External.

Craig gave his entire career to UFV, and his love of the institution and our students was apparent. He was known for his principled, consultative, and kind approach to his work.

Craig’s contributions have spanned the communities that UFV serves. He has served Chilliwack, Mission, and Abbotsford by contributing to municipal and community committees, furthering UFV’s collaborations and community relationships, fostering economic and property development, and promoting agriculture, innovation, and technology. Craig received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for his service to enriching the lives of his fellow citizens in Abbotsford.

Craig’s plans for retirement include plenty of fishing and time at the cabin with friends and family!

WEINBERG, NOHAM Chemistry

Since 1994 until his retirement this August, Dr. Noham Weinberg was one of UFV’s leading scientists with a productive research program funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). He was the “intellectual conscience” of the Chemistry department, and achieved a distinguished record of teaching, research, and service, being among the first faculty promoted to the rank of full professor at UFV. He was instrumental in developing and teaching the first-year chemistry curriculum as well as several upper-level courses. He served in many important leadership positions including department head, chair of science curriculum committee, and university senator, while also maintaining an active research program, through which scores of UFV students gained valuable experience. Many of those students are now faculty members at various institutions and they attribute their successes to the mentorship they received from Dr. Weinberg. His success in research was recognized with the UFV Faculty Research Excellence Award, the Faculty of Science Research Award, and adjunct professor and visiting scientist appointments at various institutions. Most recently, he received professor emeritus status at UFV. Noham has been a superb example and an inspiration to students and colleagues alike. He was an outspoken leader in many ways and even played matchmaker, having two sets of UFV couples that met in his lab and eventually married.

WILSON, PATTI

Library

Patti started working at UFV in the fall of 1992, as an On-Call Librarian. Patti shared: “this was before the Internet was invented. We had our catalogue on dumb terminals and databases in CD-ROM towers.” Patti moved into a full-time position in 1995 as the Reference and Orientation Librarian. Over the years, Patti worked in many capacities, including Public Services Coordinator, Acting University Librarian, and Collections and Electronic Resources Librarian. Patti has been the liaison librarian for many academic departments such as English, Visual Arts & Art History, Criminology, and Graphic Design. “I have seen so many changes in our institution, growing from a small university college to a university with a wide range of programs and degrees. Many of the faculty members I started with have since retired, but I’ve really enjoyed working with so many dedicated and committed faculty and staff at UFV. As librarians, think we make a real contribution to student success, and I will miss working with students the most.” While we are very sad to say goodbye to such a valued colleague, we wish her well spending more time with her children, grandchildren and grand-puppy, Cedar.

ZITRON, RON

School of Business

Ron Zitron is a smart, humble person with a sharp and brilliant mind for calculations. He is a loyal friend and excellent colleague who is precise, exact, accurate, truthful, and frank.

He taught in the UFV School of Business for 21 years, specializing in quantitative courses such as management science and finance. He was a dedicated instructor with high standards, and he enjoyed teaching and working with students.

Many students have said that Ron has an extraordinary ability to take complex, technical concepts and explain them using real-world examples so that all can understand. Ron has been an exceptional teacher, training students to think analytically and working with them to develop their problem-solving skills. Over the years, Ron has had a wide variety of interests including martial arts, long-distance running, stamp collecting, and wood working.

UFV RETIREES’ ANNUAL BURSARY

The UFV Retirees’ Annual Bursary has granted $25,870 to 29 students since being established by the staff and faculty who had dedicated themselves to making a difference to our students in 2012

Thank you once again to our generous retirees for investing in UFV students. Your support propels the up-and-coming professionals who build our tomorrow — the next generation of nurses, teachers, social workers, tradespeople, artists, and business leaders who will fill much needed roles in the Fraser Valley and beyond.

UFV retirees are truly making a difference. Together, we are engaging learners, transforming lives, and building community.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to be awarded this bursary. Your generous contribution to my education is greatly appreciated. This scholarship will help ease the financial burden of attending university and help me continue my education here at UFV. I’ll be able to focus less on work and more towards school and my extracurricular activities.

— Muhammed; Bachelor of Kinesiology student

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.