30 Years of Serving the Community

Immigrant Integration, Staff, Stories

“I started as a lot of people do here – for 10 hours per week,” shares Manpreet Grewal, the director of the Multicultural and Immigrant Integration Department at Abbotsford Community Services (ACS). At that time, 30 years ago, there was no Multicultural Department....

Leslie’s Story – Adjusting to a New Reality

Diverse Abilities, Stories

Until 2014, Leslie was a busy fisherman and painter in the northern BC community of Prince Rupert. He was often found on one of his boats, until an accident changed his life. Suddenly, his profession and even his home were no longer accessible to him, and his small...

Three Friends Join Forces To Make A Difference

Stories, Volunteers

​This week I had the pleasure of meeting three volunteers who are working as Friendship-Based Mentors for newcomers through the Community Connections program. Maureen, Janice and Connie, jointly mentor a family who is new to Canada and now living here in Abbotsford....

A Mother’s Struggle to Save Her Son from Gang Life

In It Together, Stories

“That Could Have Been My Son” She was a newcomer to Canada who arrived as a young bride and moved in with her large, multi-generational family. But her “new life” has had its share of challenges for Surjit*. * Real name withheld Her husband struggled with substance...

Danielle Miller shares Brave Story

Stories

We are incredibly grateful that Danielle Miller of The HABIT Project shared her story of post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety with This Is Brave, and allowed us to share it with you. We encourage you to read her recount of living in fear and feeling brave again...

Claudia – From a Mexican Circus to Living in Canada

Food Security, Stories

Claudia’s life has been full of challenges. At age 12 she was kicked out of her home in Mexico and lived on the streets for over a year before finding a welcoming family in a traveling circus. At the circus, Claudia did everything from selling popcorn and cleaning...