Community

Bernard elementary in Chilliwack saved for several years to be able to have the First Nations inspired mural hand painted on the side of their school. Artists Disco and Mavik were busy on Jan. 17, 2020 finishing the work. (Jessica Peters/ Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack’s newest school mural speaks to ‘optimism, hope and courage’

Bernard elementary latest school in Chilliwack to include mural art on its exterior

Career Fair

5 reasons your career search just got easier

Black Press Virtual Career and Education Event comes to the Central Mainland

  • Jan 18, 2021
Just one of more than 200 cats and kittens who were adopted through the Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven in 2020, despite the pandemic. (Philip Tingey/ Safe Haven)

More than 200 cats and kittens adopted through Chilliwack Animal Safe Haven in 2020

Successful year took place despite of, or perhaps because of, the COVID-19 pandemic

Alvin (left) and Theodore, seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, are looking for their ‘furever’ home. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Find Me My Furever Home – Theodore and Alvin at the Chilliwack SPCA

Don’t overlook senior pets when wanting to adopt an animal says Chilliwack SPCA branch manager

Alvin (left) and Theodore, seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, are looking for their ‘furever’ home. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
A total of $7,230.85 was raised for Chilliwack Community Services as a result of The Home Depot Canada Foundation’s Orange Door Project in December 2020. (HomeDepot.ca)

Thousands raised from Orange Door Project to help homeless youth in Chilliwack

Home Depot Canada Foundation hands over more than $7,000 to Chilliwack Community Services

A total of $7,230.85 was raised for Chilliwack Community Services as a result of The Home Depot Canada Foundation’s Orange Door Project in December 2020. (HomeDepot.ca)
Agassiz resident Miel Bernstein is collecting sanitary products for locals in need. These products came from her donation drive before Christmas and were delivered to people in need in Chilliwack and Agassiz. (Contributed)

Agassiz resident collecting pads, tampons for women in need

The program will help provide menstrual and incontinence products for people in Chilliwack, Agassiz

Agassiz resident Miel Bernstein is collecting sanitary products for locals in need. These products came from her donation drive before Christmas and were delivered to people in need in Chilliwack and Agassiz. (Contributed)
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Find Me My Furever Home - Theodore and Alvin at the Chilliwack SPCA
Find Me My Furever Home - Julius at the Chilliwack SPCA
Find Me My Furever Home - Sunny at the Chilliwack SPCA
Find Me My Furever Home - Begera at the Chilliwack SPCA
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Connie Stam (bottom left) leads an orientation session for a group of youth who have signed up with the Compassionate Neighbourhood Health Partners Society’s intergenerational programming. (Submitted)

Chilliwack organization seeks seniors for weekly chats with youth

Youth, seniors with common interests matched together for intergenerational program

Connie Stam (bottom left) leads an orientation session for a group of youth who have signed up with the Compassionate Neighbourhood Health Partners Society’s intergenerational programming. (Submitted)
Pete Ryan, known all over the world for his chainsaw carvings, died on Friday, Jan. 8. He was 70 years old. (Contributed Photo/Dignity Memorial)

Iconic Hope chainsaw carver Pete Ryan has passed away

Ryan is a founding member of Hope’s famous chainsaw carving community

Pete Ryan, known all over the world for his chainsaw carvings, died on Friday, Jan. 8. He was 70 years old. (Contributed Photo/Dignity Memorial)
Julius, seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, is looking for his ‘furever’ home. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

VIDEO: Find Me My Furever Home – Julius at the Chilliwack SPCA

Orange tabby cat injured when he arrived at Chilliwack SPCA, now ready for adoption

Julius, seen here at the Chilliwack SPCA on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, is looking for his ‘furever’ home. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Sarah Kimberley, 10, with the gift bags she, her family, and others put together for the residents at Birchwood Retirement Residence. (Mellissa Kimberley)

Chilliwack family brings handmade gift bags to 80 isolated seniors for Christmas

‘Maybe if they have a present that they can open, they can feel a bit of love,’ said 11-year-old kid

Sarah Kimberley, 10, with the gift bags she, her family, and others put together for the residents at Birchwood Retirement Residence. (Mellissa Kimberley)
A video released by Tabor Home in Abbotsford includes staff members holding photos of some of the 25 residents who lost their lives to COVID-19 during an outbreak that began in early November. (Video screengrab)

Tabor Home in Abbotsford releases video in memory of lives lost to COVID-19

Long-term care home pays tribute to 25 residents who died in outbreak

A video released by Tabor Home in Abbotsford includes staff members holding photos of some of the 25 residents who lost their lives to COVID-19 during an outbreak that began in early November. (Video screengrab)
Jim Rissling gets a funny hat placed on his head during a surprise 80th birthday parade for him on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Birthday surprise comes with parade, silly hat, sweets for 80-year-old Chilliwack man

Retired conservation officer, Jim Rissling, got quite the surprise when he stepped outside his house

Jim Rissling gets a funny hat placed on his head during a surprise 80th birthday parade for him on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Sue Knudsen (left) and Trisha Mercer stand in the back of a pickup truck with the appliances that were delivered to a family in need on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2020. (Submitted)

Community steps up again, this time to bring belated Christmas gifts to two teen boys in Chilliwack

Chilliwack residents took to social media to help family in need, community responds instantly

Sue Knudsen (left) and Trisha Mercer stand in the back of a pickup truck with the appliances that were delivered to a family in need on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2020. (Submitted)
Canadian company Endy recently donated several mattresses to Abbotsford Regional Hospital for the call room for front-line workers. (Submitted photo)

New mattresses donated for front-line workers at Abbotsford Regional Hospital

Contribution from Canadian company Endy allows for call-room overhaul

Canadian company Endy recently donated several mattresses to Abbotsford Regional Hospital for the call room for front-line workers. (Submitted photo)
The Rotary Club of Chilliwack After Hours (represented here by member Kathy Funk) have been raising money and performing random acts of kindness around town, like donating treats to the RCMP’s Chilliwack Community Response Team. (Submitted)

Newest Rotary Club in Chilliwack performing good deeds throughout town

Rotary Club of Chilliwack After Hours members raising money, performing acts of kindness

The Rotary Club of Chilliwack After Hours (represented here by member Kathy Funk) have been raising money and performing random acts of kindness around town, like donating treats to the RCMP’s Chilliwack Community Response Team. (Submitted)
Cora the cat enjoys some Christmas comfort after spending the last four months outdoors, surviving in Promontory while trying to find her lost owners. (Facebook photo)

Cora the Chilliwack cat reunited with family after four months on the loose

Cora’s owners moved to the Interior and had lost all hope of seeing her again

Cora the cat enjoys some Christmas comfort after spending the last four months outdoors, surviving in Promontory while trying to find her lost owners. (Facebook photo)
People check out the items for sale during the Chilliwack Rotary One-Day Book Sale on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

TOP STORIES 2020: How Chilliwack events pivoted in the time of COVID-19

Cancelled, virtual, drive-thru: people adapted to new ways of socializing in the midst of a pandemic

People check out the items for sale during the Chilliwack Rotary One-Day Book Sale on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
BJ Meeker and Helena Tetteroo with Mount Cheam Lions Club present a cheque for $1,671 to Chantelle Bowles from Canuck Place in Abbotsford on Dec. 22, 2020. (Submitted)

Chilliwack Lions donate $1,671 to Canuck Place in Abbotsford through raffle

Raffle prizes were all handmade wooden items by Mount Cheam Lions Club member Al Cain

BJ Meeker and Helena Tetteroo with Mount Cheam Lions Club present a cheque for $1,671 to Chantelle Bowles from Canuck Place in Abbotsford on Dec. 22, 2020. (Submitted)
City of Chilliwack councillor Jason Lum, seen at his home on March 28, 2020 with his wife Sheila and their newborn son, Cedar, shared a message on social media about finding hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “I realize there’s much more than fear and worry. There is hope, there is persistence, there is new life, and new growth, and there is community,” Lum wrote on Facebook on March 21, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

PHOTOS OF 2020: Heartwarming and heartbreaking images by Chilliwack Progress photojournalist

‘Instead of selecting just my best images, I also chose photos that remind me of how things were different in 2020’

City of Chilliwack councillor Jason Lum, seen at his home on March 28, 2020 with his wife Sheila and their newborn son, Cedar, shared a message on social media about finding hope amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “I realize there’s much more than fear and worry. There is hope, there is persistence, there is new life, and new growth, and there is community,” Lum wrote on Facebook on March 21, 2020. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
K.J. Clare started Do Good Recklessly, a project where she delivered bouquets of flowers, anonymously and free, to people who could use a smile. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

TOP STORIES 2020: Pandemic brought out the best in many throughout the community

From free flowers to massive mask-making efforts, Chilliwack stepped up to support its own

K.J. Clare started Do Good Recklessly, a project where she delivered bouquets of flowers, anonymously and free, to people who could use a smile. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)