Community

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)
Entertainment aplenty at the Brigade Days parade back in 2018. (Emelie Peacock/Hope Standard)

Day two of Hope Brigade Days includes Hope Hustle and Grand Parade

Special Indigenous carving event takes place Saturday only in park

Entertainment aplenty at the Brigade Days parade back in 2018. (Emelie Peacock/Hope Standard)
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)
Tim Horton’s smile cookie campaign starts Sept. 13, when the $1 purchase price of every fresh-baked chocolate-chunk smile cookie sold in Chilliwack and Hope will support the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation. (Black Press file photo)

Smile Cookie campaign is back at Chilliwack and Hope Tim Hortons

Last year’s fundraiser earned $17,000 for Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation

  • Sep 8, 2021
Tim Horton’s smile cookie campaign starts Sept. 13, when the $1 purchase price of every fresh-baked chocolate-chunk smile cookie sold in Chilliwack and Hope will support the Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation. (Black Press file photo)
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)
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)
Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl with a supporter on election night, Oct. 21, 2019. (Paul Henderson/ Progress file)

MP Strahl named one of the best MPs to work for in annual Hill Times survey

Strahl has been serving as a Conservative MP since first being elected in 2011

Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl with a supporter on election night, Oct. 21, 2019. (Paul Henderson/ Progress file)
People packed Ryder Lake Hall for the annual Ryder Lake Handmade Christmas Craft Fair on Nov. 30, 2019. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)

Fundraiser to save Ryder Lake Hall blows past initial GoFundMe goal

An online fundraiser that originally hoped for $11,000 is now targeting $20,000

People packed Ryder Lake Hall for the annual Ryder Lake Handmade Christmas Craft Fair on Nov. 30, 2019. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress)
Chris Perez completes a mural downtown Chilliwack on May 23, 2021. (Jessica Peters/ Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack’s newest mural is a part of this year’s festival offerings

Mural artist Chris Perez makes connections with community as he works

Chris Perez completes a mural downtown Chilliwack on May 23, 2021. (Jessica Peters/ Chilliwack Progress)
The Agassiz Community Garage Sale spans 18 sales with two multi-family events. (Contributed graphic)

Agassiz Community Garage sale on tap for June 5

More than a dozen stops to explore, plus a scavenger hunt

The Agassiz Community Garage Sale spans 18 sales with two multi-family events. (Contributed graphic)
A bee weighed down with pollen moves blossom to blossom in a display of hyacinths on Easter Sunday, 2019. (Jessica Peters/ Chilliwack Progress file)

UPDATE: Easter events popping up across Chilliwack

Easter services cancelled in person, but some events still may be taking place

A bee weighed down with pollen moves blossom to blossom in a display of hyacinths on Easter Sunday, 2019. (Jessica Peters/ Chilliwack Progress file)
Cousins Lisa Ellis and Brian Nimmo spend time together on March 9, 2021 before their surgery. On March 12, Nimmo donated one of his kidneys to Ellis. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

‘Guardian angel’ gives kidney to cousin

Chilliwack woman knew 21 years ago she would need a transplant one day, and that day has come

Cousins Lisa Ellis and Brian Nimmo spend time together on March 9, 2021 before their surgery. On March 12, Nimmo donated one of his kidneys to Ellis. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)
Joe Sommer of Chilliwack reaches toward a killdeer on its nest on his property, in March 2021. The red marking is to alert the neighbouring farm to avoid the area. (Submitted photo)

Chilliwack man has close encounter with killdeer after marking nest

Killdeer nest near farm fields and other high danger areas, but man is intent on saving birds

Joe Sommer of Chilliwack reaches toward a killdeer on its nest on his property, in March 2021. The red marking is to alert the neighbouring farm to avoid the area. (Submitted photo)
Dr. Iris Lesser exercises on Vedder Rotary Trail in January with her infant daughter. Lesser is a researcher with the University of the Fraser Valley, currently on maternity leave. She will be taking part in a research study soon for postpartum women. (Anne Russell/ UFV)

Postpartum moms invited to group fitness class for UFV research

Program’s goal is to explore the impact of group fitness of anxiety in postpartum women

Dr. Iris Lesser exercises on Vedder Rotary Trail in January with her infant daughter. Lesser is a researcher with the University of the Fraser Valley, currently on maternity leave. She will be taking part in a research study soon for postpartum women. (Anne Russell/ UFV)