Community

Actor and singer, Marilyn Monroe, performs at a Democratic Party fundraising dinner and birthday salute to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York on May 19, 1962. (Cecil Stoughton/ White House Photographs, courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston)

Abbotsford woman describes New York the night Marilyn sang to JFK

Infamous pop cultural event took place 60 years ago, months before Marilyn died

 

Sabastien Onyemaobi of Mission, earned the Youth Champion of Diversity award in 2020 (pre-pandemic image). Nominations for awards are being accepted until Jan. 7. (Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award image)

Nominations open for Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards

An in-person event is planned for March 2022 to celebrate winners and nominees

 

A video showing an Abbotsford police officer getting a push down a hill from a giggling child has had more than 11,000 views in less than a day. (Screenshot/ Abbotsford Police Department)

VIDEO: Abbotsford police officer hits the toboggan hill with the kids

As community deals with snow and cold, kids and officers still finding ways to have fun

 

Sisters Jennifer (left) and Brianna Plett get a closer look at a Honda Civic Jennifer was nominated for after her family lost several cars in the flooding in Abbotsford. (Jessica Peters/ Abbotsford News)

Family nominates youngest daughter for free Honda following Abbotsford floods

Family lost four vehicles when deep floodwaters hit their Arnold home

Sisters Jennifer (left) and Brianna Plett get a closer look at a Honda Civic Jennifer was nominated for after her family lost several cars in the flooding in Abbotsford. (Jessica Peters/ Abbotsford News)
Hope Mayor Peter Robb (right) has a look at the Grinch and his dog, Max. The statue is the newest for the town, and will reappear every holiday season. It was created by Ryan Villiers, who also carved the Rambo statue that normally stands in the same spot. (Submitted photo)

The Grinch stealing hearts this Christmas as Hope’s newest carved statue

Chainsaw carver Ryan Villiers known for his work and created well-loved Rambo statue

Hope Mayor Peter Robb (right) has a look at the Grinch and his dog, Max. The statue is the newest for the town, and will reappear every holiday season. It was created by Ryan Villiers, who also carved the Rambo statue that normally stands in the same spot. (Submitted photo)
Books on the shelves of the Fraser Valley Regional Library branch in Langley City. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times file)

Late fines ending at all Fraser Valley library locations

FVRL says those with old fines can take advantage of upcoming promotion

Books on the shelves of the Fraser Valley Regional Library branch in Langley City. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times file)
Catherine Crewe of Fernie with the card that she and Nancy Nester of Invermere have been sending back and forth to each other since 1964. Pictured here in 2021. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)

60 years of good wishes: Two long-time Kootenay penpals keep a Christmas tradition alive

Catherine Crewe of Fernie, and Nancy Nester of Invermere have been sending the same card back and forth to each other since they were both five years old

Catherine Crewe of Fernie with the card that she and Nancy Nester of Invermere have been sending back and forth to each other since 1964. Pictured here in 2021. (Scott Tibballs / The Free Press)
A puppy named Nala became the mascot of the emergency shelter at Hope secondary school, where she was then renamed Hope in honour of the town. Now there is a fundraiser online to thank the school for their hospitality. . (GoFundMe photo)

Puppy re-named Hope at evacuation centre plays part in fundraiser to give back to flood-ravaged town

‘Hope would run all over the school and everyone wanted to pet and hold her’

A puppy named Nala became the mascot of the emergency shelter at Hope secondary school, where she was then renamed Hope in honour of the town. Now there is a fundraiser online to thank the school for their hospitality. . (GoFundMe photo)
Jillian Harris and Team Jilly have joined with Do Some Good to engage the community, support local causes and amplify the many amazing stories that non-profit organizations share. Join her for the 12 Days of Christmas campaign, Dec. 1 to 12.

Jillian Harris joins Do Some Good to drive more community impact

Team Jilly’s 12 Days of Giving campaign runs Dec. 1 to 12

  • Nov 22, 2021
Jillian Harris and Team Jilly have joined with Do Some Good to engage the community, support local causes and amplify the many amazing stories that non-profit organizations share. Join her for the 12 Days of Christmas campaign, Dec. 1 to 12.
Susan Friesen of Hope is the most recent big lottery winner. (BC Lotto photo)

A new Hope: $1 Million Guaranteed Prize for newly minted Hope resident

Lottery winner says big prize will help build up her retirement nest egg

  • Oct 19, 2021
Susan Friesen of Hope is the most recent big lottery winner. (BC Lotto photo)
Mick Trodden, an 11-year employee at the market, said he’d use his bonus to visit his grandchildren. Photo: Laurie Tritschler

B.C. grocer hands out thousands in employee bonuses amid regional staffing shortages

The extra cash followed a busy summer, says store owner Jean-Marc Pesant

Mick Trodden, an 11-year employee at the market, said he’d use his bonus to visit his grandchildren. Photo: Laurie Tritschler
Mark Anderson, owner of West Coast Driver Training, is planning on defying the rules that prevent him from installing dash cams in his company cars. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

B.C. driving school owner to install dash cams, in spite of prohibition

Mark Anderson said he intends to defy regulations due to better serve his clients

Mark Anderson, owner of West Coast Driver Training, is planning on defying the rules that prevent him from installing dash cams in his company cars. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Charlie Frie stands on his bass while performing alongside Appaloosa band mate Jake Stolz. The group is coming to Hope for the 2021 Brigade Days, Sept. 10-12. (Tobias Frederiksen/Black Press file)

Hope’s Brigade Days offers up three days of entertainment starting today

Music, food trucks, midway and more in Hope’s Sixth Avenue Park

Charlie Frie stands on his bass while performing alongside Appaloosa band mate Jake Stolz. The group is coming to Hope for the 2021 Brigade Days, Sept. 10-12. (Tobias Frederiksen/Black Press file)
Eunice stays busy helping polish the floors in anticipation of the first day of school at Cornerstone Christian in Abbotsford. (Submitted)

Unicorn character eager to welcome back Abbotsford students

Eunice started visiting Cornerstone Christian School as a way to help cheer up students

Eunice stays busy helping polish the floors in anticipation of the first day of school at Cornerstone Christian in Abbotsford. (Submitted)
A video of two RCMP officers dancing outside of 7-Eleven in Vanderhoof by Ada Madam has received more than 10,000 views on Facebook as of Wednesday, September 1. (Facebook image)

Video of dancing cops in Northern B.C. goes viral

“It just lightened all of our moods.”

A video of two RCMP officers dancing outside of 7-Eleven in Vanderhoof by Ada Madam has received more than 10,000 views on Facebook as of Wednesday, September 1. (Facebook image)
Climbers participate in the Climb for Alzheimer’s event in the past. (Alzheimers Society photo)

Abbotsford residents invited to Climb for Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer Society of B.C. climb raises funds to support people living with dementia

Climbers participate in the Climb for Alzheimer’s event in the past. (Alzheimers Society photo)
Glow-in-the-dark golf is happening at Cheam in Chilliwack on Oct. 1, as a fundraiser for the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation. (Submitted photo)

Glow-in-the-dark golf tournament planned in Chilliwack

Evening of play at Cheam will support the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation

Glow-in-the-dark golf is happening at Cheam in Chilliwack on Oct. 1, as a fundraiser for the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation. (Submitted photo)
Hope Motorsports Group was able to hold a small event last year, despite COVID-19 concerns, but Brigade Days was cancelled. This year, the Brigade Days committee and Hope Motorsports are working together to bring a post-COVID-19 event to Hope. (Hope Motorsports Group photo)

Hope’s Brigade Days back on the table for this September

Committee announced Tuesday that the popular community event would go ahead

Hope Motorsports Group was able to hold a small event last year, despite COVID-19 concerns, but Brigade Days was cancelled. This year, the Brigade Days committee and Hope Motorsports are working together to bring a post-COVID-19 event to Hope. (Hope Motorsports Group photo)
A beautiful new kayak was given to Abbotsford mom Nikki Jensen after hers was stolen. She was also given cash to replace it, so she’s sending birthday supplies to a child in Nunavut. (Nikki Jensen photo/ Facebook)

Theft of cherished kayak led to several acts of giving, says Abbotsford mother

Woman sponsoring birthday party for a child in Nunavut after overwhelming community support

A beautiful new kayak was given to Abbotsford mom Nikki Jensen after hers was stolen. She was also given cash to replace it, so she’s sending birthday supplies to a child in Nunavut. (Nikki Jensen photo/ Facebook)
Nanaimo’s Michael Suiker is trying to track down family members who might like 10 photo albums he salvaged at an estate sale in 2018. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

B.C. man who once had personal mementos stolen wants to unite family with old photos

Nanaimo’s Michael Suiker salvaged 10 photo albums at estate sale three years ago

Nanaimo’s Michael Suiker is trying to track down family members who might like 10 photo albums he salvaged at an estate sale in 2018. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)