Abbotsford News I Thursday, July 30, 2009
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Abbotsford News I Thursday, July 30, 2009
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TH E N EWS A SKE D ITS R E ADE RS TO E YI TF SE LRT E A D H EL INSETWWS HAOS T KH ED W E R E T H E M O S T I N F L U E N T I A L P EWOEPRLEE TI H N EOM UO R SCTI TI N Y .F. L. U E N
Whether it be politicians, coaches, business profession
we wanted to know their names. The readers h
THE NAMES Patricia Ross
Mike de Jong
Councillor and Volunteer
Attorney General, Community Supporter
George W. Peary
Shirley Wilson
Mayor of Abbotsford
BBBS,
Lane Sweeting
Community Volunteer
Ramada Hotel, The Abbotsford Heat
Lynne Harris
Mitch Borrows
Councillor and Volunteer
Abbotsford Christian Assembly
Judy Whyte
Dave Holmberg
Executive Director Abby Arts Council
Bobcat Country
Liz Harris
Moe Gill
BC Cancer Foundation
Councillor and Volunteer
Helen Secco
Gerald Palmer
Woman of the Year Awards Coordinator
Lawyer and Community Services,
Dan Stefanson
Volunteer
Executive Director Tourism Abbotsford
Ron Sargeant
Musleh Hakki
Scouts Canada, Search & Rescue
Multicultural Festival
David D Hull
Alan Asaph
Chamber of Commerce
SunLife Financial,
Ingrid Epp
Chamber of Commerce
Abbotsford Downtown
Angela Weibe
Business Association
King Traditional School
Brad Styba
Jeremy Ellis
Agrifair
Soccer Coach
John Van Dongen
Const. Adam Klaver
Liberal Party
APD
Barb Schimmonowsky
Chief Bob Rich
WestView Executive Search
APD
Paul Esposito Esposito Group James Barlow President Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Janet Barrie Community Volunteer
Gord Huston CEO Envision, Community Supporter Christine Lane Ramada Hotel, Community Supporter Ken Funk
Gerry Charles
Abbotsford Rotary Club,
Champagne & Lace
Volunteer
Barb Roberts
Trey Bell
Special Events Coordinator
Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre
Dan Ratzlaff
Tanya Curtis
Builder and Community Supporter
Prospera Credit Union,
Bernie Saywell
Volunteer
MSA Ford/Abby Training Rink
Debbie Lehmann
Brian Lee
Abbotsford Hospice
Lee’s Fine Jewellery, Volunteer
Dave Robinson
Karen Matty Developer
Abbotsford Rotary Club
Jay Teichroeb
Kat Wahamaa
Economic Development Manager
The Reach,
Ron Price Abbotsford Airshow Gord Holloway
Community Volunteer Dr. Skip Bassford UFV Past President
Managing Partner KPMG,
Joanne Field
Community Supporter
Abbotsford School Board, Volunteer
top 100 most influential people as chose
G E R RY PA L M E R Gerry Palmer is a well-known Abbotsford lawyer and businessman who is willing to tackle almost any community cause. For 11 of the last 14 years, Palmer has served as president of Abbotsford Community Services. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Palmer is also the vice-president of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association, president of Kinghaven-Peardonville House, a full-time instructor at the University of the Fraser Valley and the board chair of Trinity
Memorial United Church. He also serves on numerous other boards and committees. Palmer, who is known for his sense of humour, said that he enjoys working on community projects. “If it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t do it,” he said.
MANPREET GREWAL Manpreet Grewal has been the manager of multicultural and immigrant integration services at Abbotsford Community Services for almost two decades. As such, she has been at the forefront of helping immigrants settle and adapt to life in a new country and advocating on issues such as farm workers’ rights. Grewal has also worked as a freelance journalist, produced and hosted the show Cross Cultural for Rogers/Shaw TV for nine years, and hosted an open-line show for chan-
nel M for two years. She has a master’s degree in political science from the University of Delhi and a diploma in print journalism from the London School of Journalism.
D A N R AT Z L A F F Dan Ratzlaff played a huge role in the creation of a new office for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Abbotsford, Mission and Maple Ridge. He saw a need, offered $35,000 as a cash donation, and took on the job of general contractor for the new location on West Railway Street. He volunteered a further $40,000 worth of contract services, and his oft-repeated message to “come alongside” brought many other generous contractors into the project.
Ratzlaff has always played a huge role in charitable endeavours, but prefers to remain behind the scenes. He helped form the Thailand Development Team that helps provide homes for orphans.
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Abbotsford News I Thursday, July 30, 2009
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D E RWhether S T O itL IbeS politicians, T W H O Tcoaches, H E Y Fbusiness E L T professionals, teachers, or just someone you feel T I A L P Emakes O P L aE difference, I N O U Rwe Cwanted I T Y . .to . know their names. The readers have spoken.
The following is a list of Abbotsford’s top 100 most influential people as chosen by you. nals, teachers or just someone you feel makes a difference, The list is in no particular order. have spoken. The following is a list of Abbotsford’s
en by you. The list is in no particular order.
CHRISTINE WIEBE Christine Wiebe has been a happy and proud volunteer in Abbotsford for the past 35 years. Presently the president of the Abbotsford Spirit of BC Community Committee, Wiebe has almost four decades of community experience in Abbotsford. She has lent her energy and expertise to such organizations as the MSA Museum, the Abbotsford International Airshow and the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. She also played a vital role in the Clayburn Church restoration project back in the late
1970s. Other projects that have benefitted from Wiebe’s help include the Western Canada Summer Games, Heritage Fair, the Disability Games, the Crystal Gala Committee and Abbotsford Spirit of BC.
LANE SWEETING Lane Sweeting is the president and owner of ForSite Developments and ForSite Construction, an industry leader in building and developing resort properties throughout B.C. Sweeting is the co-owner of the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre in Abbotsford, and was the co-founder of the Tourism Abbotsford Society in 2003. Sweeting, who sits on the board of many local organizations, chairs the finance committee for the Abbotsford Airport Authority. He is also a founding member of the
Abbotsford Sports Hall of Fame, and has served for many years as a minor hockey and baseball coach. Sweeting was instrumental in securing the deal for the Abbotsford Heat. He is a part-owner of the new hockey team.
Dr. Skip Bassford was appointed as president and professor of philosophy at the University College of the Fraser Valley (now UFV) on July 1, 1998. During his tenure, he oversaw UCFV’s significant growth and its development, leading to its new status as the University of the Fraser Valley. Bassford was a relentless campaigner for university status. He balanced lobbying the provincial government with community education, giving
THE NAMES Chief Don Beer Abbotsford Fire Dept.
Darryl Horton Abbotsford Development Corporation
Suzanne Greening Executive Director of The Reach Gallery Museum
Barry Marsden - Chairman Cascade Aerospace & Conair, Abb. Heat Owner
Mark Taylor Abbotsford Parks & Recreation Juanita Gosling Tourism Abbotsford, Madeleine Hardin Professor UFV, Community Volunteer Dave Kandal Chair of Abbotsford Airport, Community Supporter Andrew Franklin Publisher, Abbotsford News, Community Volunteer Dorothy Dyck Abb. Printing, Volunteer Police Board Ray Yenkana Remax Realtor Dianne Garner Spirit of BC, Community Volunteer Christine Wiebe President Spirit of BC, Volunteer Milt Walker Chair of The Reach, Volunteer Manpreet Grewal Multicultural Dept. of Abbotsford Community Services
SKIP BASSFORD more than 100 talks to community groups to assure them that even as a university, the institution would still be responsive to its communities and comprehensive in its offerings. This year, Bassford handed over the reins of president to Dr. Mark Evered.
Andy Sidhu Publisher of Punjabi Patraika Henry Braun, Businessman and Community Volunteer Bruce Beck Manulife Securites, Past City Councillor Dave Faulkner Replay Boardshop Leanne Stokes Sunday School Teacher Les Barkman Councillor and Volunteer Hugh Ellis HSBC
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Simon Gibson Councillor and Volunteer Bob Bos President of ADBA Douglas Macadam Lawyer Diane Delves CEO Quantum Properties Harry de Jong Past MP, Community Volunteer
Walt Browne Homelife Glenayre Realty
Gary Dickenson Huntingdon Duty Free
Jack Harris Lawyer, QC
Bruce Howell CEO Prospera Credit Union
Robert Buchan University of the Fraser Valley
Gerda Fandrich 2008 Woman of the Year
Bob Dyck Abbotsford Printing, Comm.Supporter
Donna Bernard Flair
Jatti Sidhu Businessman and Volunteer
Cynthia Higgins PAC President
Herman Driediger Businessman
Andy Holota Editor/Columnist for The News
Carson Noftle Architect
Arlene Krop Pastor, Volunteer
Dr. Sukh Bubra Businessman
Frank Pizzuto City Manager
David Sheach ED Big Brothers, Big Sisters
Abe Konrad Blackwood Building Supplies, Community Supporter
John Smith Councillor and Volunteer
Doug Edgar Businessman and Chamber Volunteer
Cory Wedel Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts
Freddy Latham Abbotsford Children’s Theatre
Alvin Epp Past President Chamber Valley Construction Services
Darryl Plecas UFV Criminologist
Marilyn Hamilton Abbotsford Community Foundation, Airport Authority
Abbotsford News I Thursday, July 30, 2009
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A R O U N D T O W N FAVOU R ITE B U I LDI NG It may be new, but the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre has already found a place in the hearts of local residents. The centre was voted number one in our A-List poll. The Clearbrook Library came in second place while the new Abbotsford Regional Hospital took third.
FAVOU R ITE TH I NG ABOUT DOW NTOW N Visitors to our historic downtown core voted the old heritage buildings as the top attraction. Everyone likes to enjoy the past and the heritage look took in plenty of votes. Second spot was the continuing renovations being
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done to ensure the heritage look remains. Third spot went to the improved, “safer” community.
FAVOU R ITE EYESORE
It seems that more than skateboarders love the look of Replay Board Shop in downtown Abbotsford. The skateboard store is your choice for favourite eyesore. The shop de-throned last year’s champion, Tim Felger’s Da Kine store, which finished second this year. Jubilee Park took third.
FAVOU R ITE COMMUNITY EVENT If you are looking for some old-fashioned community spirit, look no further than Downtown Abbotsford’s Berrybeat Festival. The two-day street party took top spot in this year’s poll. The Berrybeat Festival unseated last year’s winner, the Abbotsford Agrifair, which came in second this time around. Voters showed some patriotism by voting the Canada Day celebrations into third spot.
FAVOU R ITE R E A SON TO LIVE I N ABBOTSFO R D This category was a close one, but when push came to shove our scenic views were your top reason to live here. That was closely followed by our being a “city in the country,” which took second spot. Finally, “families” was the third choice for staying here in Abbotsford.
JOHN MORROW
The Abbotsford Berrybeat Festival has been voted as the Favourite Community Event by our A-List voters.
Congratulations to all our nominees.
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