Announcements

April 24, 2008
SUMAS FIRST NATION and the ABBOTSFORD/CHILLIWACK SPIRIT OF BC welcome the Cowichan Spirit Pole “Victory Of Spirit: A Story In Wood”.
On Friday, May 16, 2008 the Sumas First Nation (Sema:th) and Abbotsford/Chilliwack Spirit of BC (ASBC) will welcome the Cowichan Spirit Pole at the Sumas Community Hall, 2800 Sumas Mountain Road, Abbotsford, BC. The Ceremony will begin at 11:00 AM with activities featuring carving opportunities, interpretation centre and past and future North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) athletes and an Elders area. The activities will continue until 3:00 PM. In keeping with the spirit of the Indigenous Games this event is all about children and youth and in particular those of Aboriginal Heritage.

The Cowichan 2008 Spirit Pole tour will take place over 13 weeks, beginning in May 2008. A 20-foot red cedar log will be transformed into a ceremonial Spirit Pole as it tours the province. Under the guidance of carver Carey Newman, born of Kwagiulth, Salish and British descent, people in over 45 communities will be invited to carve a section of the pole. Participants will also learn about traditional carving methods and First Nation history.

On July 28, the NAIG Tribal Journeys Canoe participants will deliver the completed Spirit Pole to the Cowichan Band. The pole will be presented to Aboriginal Team BC at the opening ceremonies on August 3 and will remain in the Cowican Valley after the Games are completed.

Sumas First Nation looks forward to welcoming First Nation, other Aboriginal peoples and all people local to Abbotsford, Chilliwack and neighbouring communities.

Sumas First Nation and Abbotsford/Chilliwack Spirit of BC look forward to welcoming the Cowichan Spirit Pole and many youth, Elders, leaders and dignitaries to this momentous event.

Sumas First Nation Media Spokesperson: Jennette Silver, 604-852-4040
ASBC Media Spokespeople: Christine Wiebe, 604-309-1180 or Dianne Garner 604-795-1585.
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April 22, 2008
University status for UCFV ushers in new era for Fraser Valley 
Premier Campbell’s surprise announcement today that the University College of the Fraser Valley will become University of the Fraser Valley was welcomed with jubilation and relief throughout the Fraser Valley.

Valley citizens and civic officials, along with UCFV students, faculty, staff, and administration, have been lobbying and hoping for this announcement for years. Hundreds were present at the announcement on campus Monday afternoon.

UCFV President Skip Bassford is delighted. “This announcement is wonderful news for our students and for all of us who live in the Fraser Valley,” he says. “It recognizes all of the work that everyone at UCFV has done to ensure that we’re fully prepared, academically and otherwise, for university status. It recognizes the expression of need by all the people in our valley who have been supporting university status for UCFV so strongly for so long.”

He and many others have been working toward university status for many years.
UCFV, the former Fraser Valley College, became a university college in 1991, first offering bachelor’s degrees in partnership with other B.C.
universities.

By the mid-1990s, it was issuing degrees under its own name. Since the start of this century, it has passed several milestones that helped build the case for university status, including acceptance to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, widespread acceptance of UCFV graduates into graduate and professional schools, acceptance of UCFV into the Canada Inter-university Sport athletic league, development of its first master’s degree, and excellent grades in the Globe and Mail’s 2007 University Report Card.

Bassford expressed gratitude to the provincial government for recognizing that UCFV has earned its university status.

“I want to extend a sincere thank you to Premier Gordon Campbell and his government, who have been dedicated to making B.C. the most literate, best educated province in Canada. They truly understand that progress in this century requires a highly educated population.

“This foresight on their part is now clearly being realized in the Fraser Valley. We thank them for their vision and know that our university and the valley that we serve will play a major role in helping B.C. forge a successful future.”

Chair of the UCFV Board of Governors Rob Nicklom is equally exuberant.
“The Board is ecstatic about this announcement. We made a great case for university status and the provincial government has got the message and listened to our communities. They've given us the go ahead to keep doing what we've been doing -- building a university that's responsive to the needs of the Fraser Valley. Now we'll have the name and credibility to go with our accomplishments. ”

Bassford notes that university status will bring many benefits to UCFV and its communities.

“Our students’ degrees will be gain more credibility, and our ability to recruit faculty will be strengthened significantly. As we recruit students locally, nationally, and internationally, we won’t be weighed down by the millstone of a confusing name,” he said. “Our ability to seek charitable gifts will be enhanced, which will allow us to offer more scholarships and bursaries, and to develop the buildings and other capital investments that we need to grow as a university.

“The economic spin-offs to the Fraser Valley will be enormous,” he added. “As our mayors have been saying all along, one of the first questions companies and professionals ask when thinking about moving here is whether there is a university. Now we can answer with an emphatic yes!”

Amendments to B.C.’s University Act will be required to enable the establishment of special purpose, teaching universities and officially activate UCFV’s new status. While the date of these amendments is not yet known, UCFV is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for students.

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April 23, 2008
Valley Airporter to serve entire Fraser Valley with on-demand service.
Valley Airporter Ltd. has begun an on-demand airport shuttle service for visitors and residents to and from the Abbotsford International Airport (YXX).

Malkeet Gill, who has been providing a similar service in Prince George since 1992, has expanded his operations to include a shuttle service in Abbotsford. While limited to begin with, Gill will be operating seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“Our aim is to provide service to the whole Fraser Valley, from Chilliwack, to Mission, to Langley and part of Surrey” says Gill.

“This will give both visitors and residents all the more reason to use YXX,” says Dan Stefanson, executive director of the Tourism Abbotsford Society, whch has committed resources and support for the shuttle’s initial development.

The comfortable 10 passenger plus luggage vans, currently service a 60 road kilometre radius of YXX, Sunday to Friday. Rates are based on kilometers travelled and range from $8 - $40 for an adult one-way.

To make a reservation, please contact, Valley Airporter at 604-857-7171 or toll free at 1-866-837-7167. Bookings are taken a minimum of 10 hours before departure to ensure apickup time. The Valley Airporter website, valleyairporter.ca, is under construction and will be available soon.