Archway News
Stay up to date on news about Archway programs, events and partnerships with other community organizations.
Archway Golf Tournament Host Statement
In light of current allegations, Jake Virtanen has voluntarily stepped down as the host of the Archway Charity Golf Tournament to allow the focus to be on raising funds for community programs and services Archway Community Service’s mission is to foster community...
National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Photo of The REDress Project at Acadia University in 2015 by Christine Rondeau. May 5th marks National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Assembly of First Nations Alberta Regional Chief Marlene Poitras shared, “When we talk about...
Archway celebrates Volunteers during National Volunteer Week 2021
“I want to thank you volunteers for who you are for us here at Archway, and to our community. What you do provides opportunities for others. Especially during a time of COVID when people are more isolated. I want to say from the bottom of my heart, thank you for how...
Registration Now Open for 8th Annual Environmental Mind Grind
Virtual Trivia Competition on April 22nd invites Abbotsford and Mission students. Registration for the 2021 Environmental Mind Grind on April 22nd is now open. The trivia-based competition is open to middle and high school students in Grades 6 - 12 from Abbotsford...
How Archway Continues to Pivot to Meet Community Needs
Article by Jody Paterson, Executive Director of Board VoiceWalter Paetkau was a young Mennonite on a mission when he first arrived in Abbotsford in the 1960s with a passion for community development. More than half a century later, those seeds that Paetkau nurtured...
Champions of Diversity Recognized at Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards
Over 250 households tuned in to watch the first virtual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards on Wednesday, March 10th. Six organizations received Cultural Diversity Awards in the categories of innovative initiatives, marketing, human resources and inclusive...
ACAT Raises Awareness in Local Schools About Sexual Exploitation
The Abbotsford Community Action Team (ACAT) is raising awareness in Abbotsford middle and high schools about sexual exploitation through posters, stickers and online information. The posters feature four of the possible warning signs of sexual exploitation which...
Virtual Cultural Diversity Awards to Feature Speaker Jam Gamble
The 18th annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards on March 10th will be a virtual event for the first time. Although the event will look different, organizers felt it was important to continue recognizing individuals and organizations who celebrate and champion...
Auto Mall Food Drive Shifts Gears to Deliver Donation
Over the last 14 years, the annual Fraser Valley Auto Mall Food Bank Drive has helped provide food to local people in need throughout the holiday season. This year marks the first time the organizers needed to pivot and modify the fundraising activities, and we are...
1,800 Gifts Donated for Toys for Tots Despite Event Cancellation
Ann Gardner, Anne Laury and Kathy Cook sorting donated toys. (left to right) Organizers for the cancelled Toys for Tots event have been astonished by the generosity of the community. The event had to be cancelled just three days before the planned drive-thru on...
Youth Angel Tree Project Underway at Prospera Credit Union
2019 Prospera Youth Angel Tree. Prospera Credit Union is collecting gifts for disadvantaged youth in their ninth annual Youth Angel Tree Project. At Prospera’s two Abbotsford branches, tags for almost 70 youth are hung on trees, and community members can take a tag....
Sutton Realty Announced as Title Sponsor of Archway Jake Virtanen Charity Golf Tournament
Professional hockey player Jake Virtanen (second from left) with Sutton Group West Coast Realty - Abbotsford realtors Rob Koslowsky, Amelia Parkin, Mike Gibson and Rod Poole (left to right.) Sutton Group West Coast Realty Abbotsford has secured the title sponsor spot...
Cultural Diversity Awards Seek Nominations
Nominations are now open for the 18th annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards. “While we aren't quite sure what format the 2021 awards will be in, we do want to keep recognizing champions of diversity and inclusion,” said event organizer Patricia...
Archway’s Toys for Tots Event to Continue in New Format
Like so many community events, Toys for Tots which raises toys and financial donations for the Christmas Bureau program of the Archway Food Bank, has had to readjust their plans due to COVID-19. The fundraiser has transitioned to a drive-thru event in the parking lot...
Archway Launches Community Van Pilot with Multiple Partners
A pilot Community Van project aims to fill the gap for non-transit transportation in Abbotsford. Volunteers will drive vulnerable and low-income individuals and families to appointments, services and community or work participation activities. Archway Community...
New Beginnings: Expanded Supports for Young Parents
The Archway New Beginnings program, which offers young parents the opportunity to complete their secondary school education while accessing parenting supports and quality childcare, has expanded their offering and is reaching out further into the community. We are...
CN Grant to Fund Domestic Violence Prevention Program at Archway
A $10,000 grant from CN will fund a domestic violence prevention program specifically geared towards Punjabi-speaking immigrant men. Courtyard for Men offers eight psychoeducational therapy group sessions in Punjabi with licensed counsellors who teach effective...
Rod Santiago Marks 10 Years as Archway Executive Director
Our Executive Director, Rod Santiago, recently marked 10 years at the helm of Archway Community Services. This past decade has been filled with tremendous growth and change for us as an organization, with much for him to reflect on. Some changes were public,...
Black Lives Matter
Archway Community Services stands by its June 15th statement of support on the Black Lives Matter movement. The statement that “all lives matter” suggests or assumes that equality has already happened. This ideal is still very far from the reality for people...
Gang Prevention Work Continues Amid COVID
Anti-gang youth workers have continued to support at-risk youth with modified services to meet the unique challenges that have emerged during the COVID pandemic. The In It Together program, which is part of Archway Community Services, seeks to disrupt the flow of...
Hoon Park Natural Playground Now Open
Abbotsford residents can now enjoy enhanced outdoor recreation opportunities with the completion of several park improvement projects, announced Mayor Henry Braun. These improvements include the natural park playground at Hoon Park, a legacy of Archway's 50th...
Foundry Health Centre Celebrates 2nd Year of Helping Youth
Foundry Abbotsford celebrated its second year in operation with a virtual bingo event on June 19th. Foundry Abbotsford provides local youth between 12 and 24 and their families with integrated wellness services, such as physical and mental health care, substance use...
Black Lives Matter Statement – What Our Rights Allow and What Our Conscience Compels
Photo Credit: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash A message from our Executive Director, Rod Santiago Greetings friends of Archway, I, like you, have been disturbed and angered by ongoing acts of racism and injustice including acts of hate during COVID perpetrated...
Anti-Racism Coalition Welcomes New Members
The Fraser Valley Human Dignity Coalition (FVHDC), a local group addressing issues of racism, is holding its quarterly meeting on June 18th. The group meets to discuss reported cases of racism and discrimination, hear presentations and discuss community issues,...
Benefits for Employers Connecting with STRIDE
The Archway STRIDE for Older Workers program has an exciting new initiative to help match local employers with great candidates who have completed STRIDE. Can your business lend a hand? Participating can help efficiently match employers with qualified, pre-screened...
55+ Senior Employment Program Moves Online
The Archway Skills Training Results in Directed Education and Employment (STRIDE) program has moved their program to an effective combination of online/tele-consults and in person to keep supporting clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. STRIDE helps unemployed or...
Prospera Secures $10K Grant for Archway Mental Wellness Programs
Thank you to Prospera Credit Union who recently secured a grant from Concentra for $10,000, on behalf of Archway Community Services. The funds will support mental health programs at Archway including counselling for youth and families. “The Prospera community team...
Social Justice in the Time of COVID-19
By Megan Capp, Manager of Social Justice, Seniors and Housing at Archway Community ServicesWe are living in unprecedented times. Globally, COVID-19 swiftly and drastically impacted all of our lives. We worry about our economic livelihood. We struggle with the...
Expanded Services for Seniors Available Amidst COVID-19
As the seriousness of COVID-19 was becoming rapidly apparent, Archway Community Services saw an opportunity to act. With a longstanding history of supporting our community in times of crisis, existing resources in the Seniors Department were quickly deployed...
Mental Health Supports and Resources
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented situation that is challenging the mental health of virtually everyone. Even if you're not concerned about the health of a loved one or loss of employment, changes to your daily routines and inability to socialize and conduct...
COVID-19 Information for Kids
Many of us are experiencing uncertainty right now in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. People with children are also noting their increased worry and confusion over school closures, cancellation of plans and other changes and restrictions on daily routines. There...
Archway Income Tax Program Suspended
To help keep our staff and clients safe during COVID-19, we have suspended the Volunteer Income Tax Program for 2020. The due date for filing individual tax returns has been extended to June 1, 2020. Taxpayers will have until September 1, 2020 to pay any 2019 income...
COVID-19 Update
Archway is currently open but running limited or modified services during the COVID-19 outbreak. We have some staff in the office and we also have staff working remotely to assist clients online or via phone to limit in-person interactions. We are doing our part to...
Newcomers Gather to Celebrate International Women’s Day
Art, music and dance highlight the cultures of many women who now call Abbotsford home. The Archway Community Connections program hosted its 8th annual Ladies’ Night on March 6th, bringing together 200 immigrant and refugee women from dozens of countries to celebrate...
Archway’s Response to COVID-19
Please click here for our March 18th, 2020 update on Archway programs and services during COVID-19. Last Updated: March 16th While the risk of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Canada remains low, Archway is keeping a close eye on the developing situation. At this point,...
Rally to Mark Sexual Exploitation Awareness Week
On Tuesday March 10th, the Abbotsford Community Action Team (ACAT) will host their annual public rally against the sexual exploitation of children and youth. “The rally is an opportunity to raise continued awareness that exploitation of youth is happening right...
Rick Hansen Secondary Team Wins First Place at Environmental Mind Grind 2020
Rick Hansen Secondary returned as the champion of the seventh annual Environmental Mind Grind competition on February 26th. The Environment Mind Grind is an academic trivia-based competition with a focus on environmental awareness, hosted by the Abbotsford Mission...
STRIDE Employment Forum
Please join our STRIDE (Skills Training Results in Directed Education / Employment) for Older Workers program in their first Employment Forum on March 2, 2020! This forum will be an opportunity for people 55+ (existing clients, potential STRIDE participants and anyone...
Archway to Host Recruitment Fair
Curious to know more about working at Archway? We're hosting a recruitment fair on February 24th from 11am to 3pm at the High Street Community Room (room G135). Archway is one of the biggest non-profit organizations in BC and currently employs over 400 people in more...
Football champion JR Larose announced as guest speaker at Cultural Diversity Awards
JR Larose, a former BC Lions player and Grey Cup winner, will speak at the 17th annual Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards on March 12. Tickets for the awards dinner are now on sale; the event recognizes organizations and individuals that embrace the diversity and...
Prospera Gifts Essential Items to the Youth Angel Tree Project
Prospera Credit Union has collected and organized gifts for youth and families who struggle financially through the Youth Angel Tree Project throughout the past month. Now in its eighth year, the Youth Angel Tree Project makes wishes come true for local youth who are...
Reduce Waste this Holiday Season
Christmas is wonderful, but it also creates a surprising amount of waste. Did you know that the holiday season is the busiest time of year for our Abbotsford Mission Recycling Program? This Christmas, we have a few tips if you’re looking for simple ways to reduce...
New Program Offers Employment Support for Older Adults 55+
The Skills Training Results in Directed Education and Employment (STRIDE) program supports adults over 55 to find sustainable employment. The new program is offered here at Archway and is open to residents of the Fraser Valley who are unemployed or under-employed. ...
How The Home Depot Canada Foundation is Helping Prevent and Put an End to Youth Homelessness
One Door Can Change Everything! The Home Depot Canada Foundation is committed to preventing and helping to end youth homelessness, pledging to invest $50 million by 2022 through The Orange Door Project. This initiative will give homeless youth the housing, support and...
Help Wrap Up Some Christmas Cheer and Support Archway Programs
Volunteers are needed again this 2019 holiday season to help wrap some Christmas cheer at Sevenoaks Shopping Centre! If you like wrapping presents and have some time to spare, gift wrapping shifts are open: Mondays to Saturdays December 1st to 15th 12:00pm to 9:00pm...
Registration Now Open for the 7th Annual Environmental Mind Grind Competition
Registration has opened for the 2020 Environmental Mind Grind competition for high school students hosted by the Abbotsford Mission Recycling program. The event will feature high school teams from Abbotsford and Mission secondary schools competing against each other...
Toys for Tots Raises over $42,000 and 1780 Toys
The seventh annual Toys for Tots Breakfast on November 22nd raised over $42,000 and 1780 toys for the Christmas Bureau program of the Archway Food Bank. It’s such an incredible feeling seeing the community band together to make Christmas magical by bringing gifts...
Anti-Gang Program Awarded BC Youth Leadership Award
The South Asian Community Resource Office (SACRO) was awarded the 2019 Province of BC Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award for Youth Leadership last Friday. SACRO is a program of Archway Community Services (formerly known as Abbotsford Community Services)...
Immigrant Advisory Table Looking for New Volunteers
The Abbotsford Local Immigration Partnership (ALIP) is seeking volunteers for the Immigrant Advisory Table (IAT) to help guide policies and strategies for inclusion in Abbotsford. ALIP is a collective initiative designed to strengthen our ability to welcome...
Prospera Donates $25,000 towards Mental Wellness at Archway
(L-R: Steve Lang, Prospera Regional Director, Fraser Valley; Anastasia Aubert, Prospera Branch Manager West Oaks; Eileen Evans, Prospera Branch Manager Abbotsford Branch; Serge Léger, Prospera VP Marketing & Member Innovation; Rod Santiago, Archway Executive...
Coalition Seeking Reports of Discrimination and Racism
When Lia Bishop’s pride flag was cut up, she knew exactly what to do. She reported the incident to police, contacted local news stations, and notified the Fraser Valley Human Dignity Coalition (FVHDC) program. As a former FVHDC employee, she was aware of her options,...