University of the Fraser Valley - UFV

Caps off to the Class of 2026! 🎓 Congratulations to everyone who crossed the stage this week.

Anna Delooff of Chilliwack knew she had done well in her studies at UFV, but she got a pleasant surprise when she found out that her marks had earned her the Governor General’s Silver Medal, awarded annually to the student with the highest grade point average in a bachelor’s degree program. Anna’s final GPA was 4.31, just shy of a perfect 4.33 average.

Anna, who majored in sociology while earning a Bachelor of Arts, isn’t done with UFV yet. In September she will be entering the one-year Bachelor of Education program with a goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.

Congratulations Anna!

Find out more: https://ow.ly/Lo8j50ZagTc

Ryan Caswell spent years building cabinets before deciding it was time to build something new for himself.

The recipient of UFV’s 2026 Governor General’s Bronze Medal, awarded to the diploma student with the highest academic standing, Ryan returned to post-secondary education after more than 20 years. Now completing UFV’s Computer Information Systems diploma, he says receiving the recognition came as a surprise.

Alongside his studies, Ryan also works in IT for Communitas Supportive Care Society in Abbotsford. Through that role and conversations with faculty members such as Cherie Enns, he began to see technology as more than simply corporate work.

“There’s a lot more to IT than just working for big companies,” he says. “It’s easier to go to work every day when you care about what you’re doing and feel like you’re helping make the world a better place.”

Find out more:
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All that hard work has paid off. Congratulations to today’s UFV graduates 🎓

After your ceremony, head to the Alumni Celebration Plaza to celebrate and enjoy the moment. We’ll see you there.

Athlete, Paralympian, tireless advocate, transformational fundraiser, global inspiration, and steadfast champion of accessibility, Rick Hansen is an exemplary Canadian and an outstanding British Columbian. He will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UFV on Wed, June 10.

An all-star in five sports prior to the accident in his mid-teens that left him paralyzed from the waist down, he went on to excel in wheelchair sports, winning 19 wheelchair marathons, three world titles, and 15 medals at the Paralympic Games and Pan American Games. He also graduated from UBC, the first person with a physical disability to obtain a degree in physical education, opening the door for generations of others.

This alone would be remarkable, but he didn’t stop there. Inspired by his friend Terry Fox, fueled by desire to make a difference and driven by his athletic success, he embarked on the Man-in-Motion tour, with a goal of wheeling himself around the world to raise awareness of the potential of people with disabilities. The tour also raised $26 million for research.

He then founded the Rick Hansen Foundation, which has raised more than $350 million to support programs, research and initiatives advancing accessibility and inclusion.

Find out more: https://ow.ly/ZRO750Z8YzZ

Neighbour, friend, donor. Paul Esposito Sr. has been many things to UFV over the years, and on June 10 he’ll add honorary degree recipient to that list.

Paul is being honoured for decades of philanthropy and support of community causes in Abbotsford and around BC. Included in that generosity was the largest family donation that UFV has received to date: $1.125 million in 2018 to advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and scholarships at the university. The funding led to the creation of the UFV Esposito Family Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (EFCIE).

Building K on the Abbotsford campus is another legacy connecting Paul to the university. In 2018, UFV bought the former Phoenix restaurant and Finnegan’s pub from the Esposito family, transforming it into classrooms, a spectacular event space, and home to two research centres, including the one that bears his name.

It was the original Finnegan’s pub that started the friendship between Paul and people at UFV back in 1987.

Find out more here: https://ow.ly/qbcS50Z8WsK

Congratulations to today’s UFV graduates! 🎓

After your ceremony, stop by the Alumni Celebration Plaza to celebrate and take it all in.

Stay connected by following the UFV Alumni Association for updates, events, and alumni perks.

Life is a carnival to Robert Hauser, who’d prefer if we call him Bob. In fact, he grew up on the midway. In the outdoor amusement industry, you’re “in it” if you’re committed to working the carnival circuit, and “for it” if you love the lifestyle that accompanies it.

As the longtime leader of West Coast Amusements, Bob is definitely “for it.” He and his wife Wendy have derived great joy from bringing fun and entertainment to communities across western Canada for more than 60 years.

And he’s a big believer in giving back. Bob and Wendy are quiet supporters of food banks, sports organizations, and local causes in the communities they visit and the ones they call home. And in recent years, they’ve developed a bond with the University of the Fraser Valley through its golf team, supporting student athletes with a scholarship and hosting the annual Nick Taylor Charity Golf Tournament gala that raises funds for several causes, including the UFV golf team.

West Coast Amusements is a local business success story, employing more than 40 people year-round and 400 when its multiple touring units head out across Western Canada each year.

In recognition of his leadership, sustained business success, and philanthropic generosity, UFV will present Bob with an honorary degree on Thurs, June 11.

Find out more: https://ow.ly/vV8u50Z8sxf

Chief David Jimmie, also known by his Indigenous name Lenéx wí:ót, has spent much of his life building bridges: between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, between business and community interests, and between generations working toward a stronger future.

From a young age, he recognized the barriers that often existed between First Nations communities and the broader society around them. Those early observations inspired a lifelong commitment to fostering understanding, creating opportunities, and building meaningful partnerships.

As Chief and CEO of Squiala First Nation for the past 15 years, David has led his community through significant economic growth and development. Guided by a belief that lasting progress is built on trust and collaboration, he has worked to create opportunities that benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike.

UFV will present Chief David Jimmie with an honorary degree on Tues, June 9.

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Honorary degree 2026: Chief David Jimmie’s work focuses on connection and collaboration David Jimmie has spent most of his life building bridges to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and businesses together. David, who will receive an honorary doctorate at UFV’s June 9 convocation ceremony, says that from a very young age he recognized the barriers that often existed between ...

Today’s the big day! 🎓

A huge thank you to our generous partner, the UFV Alumni Association, for making the Alumni Celebration Plaza at Convocation 2026 possible!

After each ceremony, grads and guests are invited to visit the plaza outside the ceremony hall to celebrate, snap photos, and savour the moment together.

💚 New to the UFV alumni community? Follow the UFV Alumni Association to stay connected to your lifelong network of support, events, and opportunities.