5 years – 2,100 Guests – $621,000 Thank You for Helping Improve Students' Lives
We thank you, we miss you, and we remind you of the ways you’ve helped dozens of UFV students achieve their goals while transforming lives and building community.
While saddened by not being able to gather together this year, know you're in our thoughts as students carry on — carving out new educational paths through mostly remote learning. We offer this short reminder of the great moments we've shared, and the incredible times still ahead.
Together at Town & Gown events we've heard the inspirational stories of our students, to remind us of the purpose of the event. Sophie Smit and Thomas Davies were the speakers at our inaugural event. The following year Sahil Chawla and Randi Seguin shared their stories. In 2017, Roshan Gosal and Kiya Posthumus touched our hearts. Gina Dhinsa (above) and Becky Smith taught us about strength and resiliency in 2018. And last year Aziz Ghafoor and Christine Drew gave us a glimpse into the challenges our students overcome to succeed.
Inspiring dozens of student awards to be established since its inaugural event in 2015, Town & Gown funds established the UFV/Community Annual Bursary, which has disbursed 51 bursaries between January and September 2020. The UFV/Community Endowment Entrance Scholarship will distribute $5,000 per year for 4 years to an exceptional student coming to UFV directly from high school. It will demonstrate to the best and brightest that UFV recognizes their hard work and achievements.
Each year, the UFV Alumni Association honours a Distinguished Alumni and a Young Distinguished Alumni from amongst their growing ranks. Dr. Mike Hildebrand and Alex Reimer were the first to receive these awards during a Town & Gown event. They were followed by Gary Bass and Shannon Thiesen in 2016. We honoured Emily Henry (above, now an Alumni Association Board member) and Alexis Warmerdam the following year. In 2018 we celebrated Liz Harris and Andrew Alexander. And last year, awards were given to Jesse Wegenast and Sonya Sangster. These incredible people shared their stories with us all and showed us how valuable an education at UFV has been on their careers and lives.
Last year we bestowed an iconic UFV Ripple Makers paddle upon the following people for their donations to UFV:
Paul Esposito Sr. (right) received the first Lifetime paddle in recognition of a cumulative lifetime of giving. Last year, Esposito donated $1.125 million to UFV.
Parm and Satwinder Bains received the inaugural Loyalty paddle for donating to UFV for more than 15 years.
Nik and Marnie Venema received the inaugural Legacy paddle in recognition of their including of UFV in their estate plans.
And RBC, represented by Doug Turner and Jodi O’Hara, received the Donor of the Year paddle in recognition of a $300,000 donation to establish the Centre for Experiential and Career Education at UFV.
And, of course, a huge thanks to our sponsors
Prospera Credit Union, Esposito Group, Chernoff Thompson Architects, Abbotsford International Airport, MNP LLP, West X/Xerox, Quantum Properties
Impark, Minter Country Garden Store, The Co-operators, Emil Anderson Construction, Aldergrove Credit Union, Manulife Financial, Stantec Architecture Ltd, BMO, Dana Hospitality, Algra Bros. Developments Ltd, Securigard, Colliers Project Leaders
RDM Lawyers LLP, UFV School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Molson Coors, Chaberton Estate Winery, Taneane Twele Photography, Leaders International Executive Search, Honeywell Ltd., Coca-Cola Refreshments
Leader Frames, Save On Foods, Abbotsford News, The Patrika, Chilliwack Progress
Thank You
Thank you for being a generous donor in the past.
Thank you for improving the lives of UFV students.
Thank you for staying safe and continuing to make a difference in these trying times. If you wish to contribute to this year's fundraising efforts as we move forward together, please click the link below.
We hope to see you soon.
"While we are unable to come together for Town & Gown this November, I would like to sincerely thank our many sponsors and attendees for your participation and support over the past five years. In lieu of purchasing a ticket this year, please consider a donation to the UFV Student Emergency Fund to help students impacted by COVID-19 continue to pursue an education at UFV."
— Anita Nielsen, Executive Director, Advancement & Alumni Relations
Please enjoy the slideshow below looking back on many great years of Town & Gown memories.