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50 years of vibrant community connections

50 years of vibrant community connections

Explore the stories of resilience, transformation, and connection that make UFV a unique and inclusive gathering place for learners, leaders, and seekers.

St’elt’elawtexw | Community

Long before Canada was formed, the Stó:lō (People of the River) lived and thrived on the land on which UFV is located. UFV gratefully recognizes and honours the contributions that Indigenous people have made — and continue to make — to our community.

Celebrating community across the Fraser Valley

Community engagement is at the heart of UFV's mission as it embodies our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve. Whether it's through partnerships like CityStudio, tackling pressing civic challenges, or contributing to initiatives like accessible tourism in collaboration with local organizations, we seek to bridge the gap between education and community connection.

We believe that learning should extend beyond the classroom, and by working closely with our communities, we can address real-world issues and drive positive change.

Together, we shape UFV's identity and a brighter future for all.

 
Engaging Learners
Yoystexw Ye Totilthet

 
Transforming Lives
Ayeqet Kw’e Shxwaylexws

 
Building Community
Thayt Kw’e St’elt’elawtexw

Welcome to St’elt’elawtexw

The language spoken by the Stó:lō people is Halq’eméylem, the “Upriver dialect” of Halkomelem. Halq’eméylem is primarily spoken in the upper and central Fraser Valley, the Lower Fraser Canyon, and in communities near Harrison Lake. St’elt’elawtexw means “community” in Halq’eméylem.

At UFV, St’elt’elawtexw is woven into our fabric, and we are grateful for the connections we have with the individuals and organizations who contribute to our collective impact.

Watch the video to learn the proper pronunciation of St’elt’elawtexw.

Susan Mide-Kiss headshot

 

On our 50th anniversary, we celebrate through reflection and by honouring the people and places who came before and made us who we are today.

Susan Mide Kiss | Vice-President, Community Engagement

Honouring our community

UFV 2024 Community Report

Spotlight

Featured community stories

Stories from the community

UFV welcomes Matthew Grant as new Associate Vice President, Community Engagement 

Matthew Grant recently joined UFV’s Community Engagement team as Associate Vice-President, Community Engagement. He brings over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in community engagement, strategic partnerships, marketing, communications, public affairs, and enrollment planning within t ...

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Drafting students dream up possibilities to liven up campus bus stop

  How do you make an unremarkable space interesting? How do you bring life to something people pass by every day without thought?  Those are questions Jesse Reimer posed to UFV’s Architectural Drafting Technician students when he presented Activating Spaces, a concept created by Jesse and hi ...

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Teamwork Excellence 2025: UFV Athletics assembled a dream team to host Canada West basketball championships 

Organizing a major sporting event is no minor task. When UFV hosted the Canada West Women’s basketball championships in February 2024, a small army of passionate people worked together to make it happen.  They successfully organized the largest sporting event ever hosted by UFV, drawing more than ...

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Whether you are a student, an alum, a staff, a faculty member, an organization or group in the Fraser Valley community, or someone eager to make a positive impact, there are countless ways for you to get involved.

 

 

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Submit a story for the 2025 Community Report

Share your UFV-Fraser Valley community initiatives. Submissions may be featured on the UFV blog or the next edition of the St’elt’elawtexw | Community Report.

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We would love to hear from you. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, comments, or wish to explore partnership opportunities.

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