Alvin Epp - President
Owner/Operator
Kelrek Services Inc.
604-308-5393 | Alvin is owner and president of Kelrek Services Inc., Construction Specialists. His company is involved in home renovations, custom building, and multi family building repairs. Alvin was born and raised in the Abbotsford area. After high school he lived for 12 years in the prairies, and in 1989 returned to his roots. Alvin, along with his wife Connie, and their four children have made Abbotsford their home. His pastime enjoyment is playing hockey in the winter, golfing and water-skiing in the summer. |
James Barlow
1st Vice President
Bell
604-504-2412 | James, born in the UK, now lives in Abbotsford with his wife, Sylvia. His career includes Welding Engineering, Hotels and Restaurant management, Teaching, Corporate sales with IBM and now Bell Canada. He is VP of the Galapagos Islands Conservation Trust and vice chair of his Church Board of trustees. |
Patricia Sapielak
2nd Vice-President
Bank of Nova Scotia
604-870-3224 | An Abbotsford resident during her entire 26 year career with Scotiabank, Patricia was pleased to be posted to a local branch in 1996 as Account Manager - Small Business and Professional. Pat has been actively involved with the Chamber for five years and is our current Chamber representative on Restorative Justice. She is a founding member of the Abbotsford Hike for Hospice committee and a member of the Abbotsford Curling Club. In her spare time Pat enjoys working out, golfing, gardening and long walks with her dog. |
Melanie Miller ~ Treasurer
Innotech Windows & Doors Inc.
604-854-1111 | Melanie is a Chartered Accountant working with Innotech Windows & Doors Inc. in Abbotsford. She has worked in public accounting, specializing in tax planning and financial reporting for privately held corporations since 1989. She received her CA designation in 1996. She has been a resident of Abbotsford since 1994. Previously she resided in Campbell River on Vancouver Island. She is an active member of the Valley Women's Network and the Business and Professional Women's Network. She is married with two children and one grandson. She enjoys people, the outdoors, camping, skiing and spending time with family and friends. |
Fiona Brett
Immediate Past President
Globe Printers
604-864-2349 | Fiona has lived and worked in the City of Abbotsford for more than 15 years. Fiona is Design and Print Manager for Globe Printers and is also involved in a variety of community organizations on a volunteer basis. She has been actively involved in the Chamber for 10 years. Married to Terry, with one son Tristan, Fiona enjoys home decorating and gardening and her new passion of chasing a little white ball around a grassy area with the hope of it ending up in a small hole.... |
Allan Asaph
SunLife Financial
604-607-3970 Ext 223 | Allan Asaph is the Associate Manager, of SunLife in Abbotsford. He is a Past President of the Chamber and is the present Chair of the Business Excellence Task Force. He also Chair�s the International Service Committee for the Abbotsford-Sumas Rotary Club and is Corporate Chair of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 2005 Walk to Cure Diabetes - Fraser Valley. In addition, Allan is a member of the UCFV Planned Giving Task Force.
Allan has been actively involved with the Chamber for the past 10 years as a member, Director and Past President. He believes that the Chamber plays a strong role representing business in our city, particularly addressing the needs and concerns of the small business person. Alan feels that it is important to give back to the community and to the organizations that contribute to making Abbotsford a great place to live and do business. Alan lives in Abbotsford with his wife, Susan and their daughter, Katey. |
 Manny Dhillon | Manny moved to Abbotsford in 1996 from the frosty city of Winnipeg, where he lived for 22 years. He is an entrepreneur in the true sense. He has owned and managed many different businesses from a motel to developing land and building a gas station. He had 5 gas stations in Winnipeg, one in Toronto and he built 2 in Abbotsford. Currently he with his partners is involved in a number of developments in Abbotsford and he currently owns and runs Lefeuvre Esso. Manny is also quite involved in the community; he currently Chairs the Transportation Committee for the Chamber, he is a past president of the FV Indo Canadian Business Association, was a member of the Integrated Services Team and also sat on various committees for a number of different organizations. He is married and has three boys, all presently attending university. |
Doug Edgar
Chair, Ag Committee
Chamber Rep on ASADC
604-864-0022 | Upon joining the Chamber in 2002 Doug became active on the Agriculture and Government Affairs committees. He was elected as a Chamber director in 2005. Doug represents the Chamber on the city Ag Advisory Committee (Alt Chair) and the city Social Development Advisory Committee. Doug has international experience in the food industry and believes Abbotsford is one of the most dynamic agricultural communities in the world. |
 Patrick Giesbrecht
Pacific North Marketing Ltd.
778-552-5006 | Patrick was born and raised in Abbotsford and is currently building his business here and raising a family along with his wife Ellie. Owner of Pacific North Advertising, the winner of Business Excellence- New business of the year in 2005, Patrick sits as a member of the Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman riding association for the BC Liberals. He has been active in the local Chamber for a number of years and currently sits on the Government Affairs and the Transportation committees. As a candidate for Abbotsford City Council in November 2005 Patrick fell short of a council seat by just over 100 votes. |
Dave Holmberg Sr.
Bobcat Country
604-850-7313 | Since 1975, Dave Holmberg Sr. along with his staff of 20 has operated Bobcat Country here in Abbotsford. During the past thirty years Dave has been involved as director or chair of; Ledgeview Golf & Country Club, Crimestoppers, Abbotsford Air Show, Abbotsford Chamber, B.C Liberal Party, Progressive Conservative Party, Correctional Service of Canada, and others. Dave has assisted in fundraising for many other organizations from Ducks unlimited, to the Salvation Army. Dave is 64 years young, is married to wife Lee, and has 4 children and six grand children. |
 Keldie Jamieson
Heritage Valley Resort
604-864-8888 | Keldie is the Property Manager for Heritage Valley Resorts. She has over 20 years experience in business administration, sales, marketing, and event management. Keldie is currently serving on the Chamber�s Training and Development committee and sits on the School Planning Council for Robert Bateman Secondary. She is also a past Membership Coordinator for the Chilliwack chapter of the Fraser Valley Women�s Network. Raised in Chilliwack, she moved away to Winnipeg for six years, but returned home to the Fraser Valley to raise her children. Keldie and her husband, Alan, made Abbotsford their home in 2000 and have enjoyed raising their three children in our wonderful community. She enjoys life by dancing (especially the two-step), trying new things, and spending time with family and friends. |
 Deborah Lehmann | Specializing in the field of human resources, Deborah has focused on organizational effectiveness and employee development and training. Educational background includes human resources, adult education and legal administration. She has also received more specific training in group facilitation, peer counselling, advanced bereavement support, not-for-profit governance, and risk management. In 2004 Deborah joined the Abbotsford Hospice Society and served as Vice-Chair. In 2006 she was elected to the Chair position and in January 2007 Deborah accepted the position of Executive Director for the society. While maintaining quality service and the grass roots approach she promotes creative program planning, community collaboration and innovative marketing. Deborah is a Rotarian and a member of the BC Human Resources Management Association. Personal interests include travel, learning from and experiencing other cultures and facilitating community connection. |
Bote Miedema
Canaccord Capital Inc.
604-557-1632 | Bote is a Certified Financial Planner, is licensed as an Investment Advisor and a Life Insurance Agent, and works for Canaccord Capital Corporation in Abbotsford He is a student of the financial markets and continually tries to stay up to date with the latest investment ideas and opportunities. Bote was born and raised on a dairy farm in the Netherlands and is from a family of nine children. His parents taught him the virtue of hard work and the appreciation of the simple things in life: family, friends and enjoying the outdoors. Bote is married to Barbara and they have a son, Robin, and a daughter, Haley. |
Ron Price
Abbotsford International Airshow
604-852-8511 | In addition to his efforts since 1988 as President and founding Chairman of Airshow Canada, one of North America�s largest aviation tradeshows, Ron has had a long-standing interest in aviation. A licensed private pilot, he is a past President and the current Managing Director of the Abbotsford International Airshow Society.
In addition to his other business activities, he has taken a great interest in continuing the development and survival of the Abbotsford International Airshow. Ron is actively involved in community events, and has held chairman and Director positions for the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, the Matsqui Economics Development Commission and the Abbotsford Airport Authority. Other committee involvement includes the Premier�s Task Force on Aerospace, the Chamber�s Task Force 2000, and the BC Aviation Council Aerospace Committee. Ron continues to be active in the community and is the founding and current President of the annual pacific Agriculture Show, which is the largest agriculture exhibition in BC serving the agriculture industry. |
Christopher Roberts | Christopher joined Firstbase Services in July of 2006 as a Business Consultant and is now their Vice President of Business Development. Christopher was inducted into the Abbotsford Rotary Club in October of 2006, is a Director for the Mission Regional Chamber of Commerce and also serves on the board of the Xa:ytem Interpretive Center's Business Resource Committee. Christopher is the proud recipient of the Abbotsford Chamber’s 2007 Business Excellence Award for Customer Service Excellence – Employee. Happily married to his wife Brenda, Christopher currently lives in Chilliwack having moved to the west coast from Ontario. Christopher enjoys painting, sculpting, print making and drawing. He also grows orchids and enjoys the outdoors for hiking, fishing and cycling. |
Councillor John Smith
City of Abbotsford Representative | - Abbotsford resident for nearly 30 years
- Career Banker for 40 years
- Assistant Vice-President and Bank Manager at HSBC Bank Canada, Abbotsford.
- Past President of the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce (3 years in early 90s)
- Elected to the Abbotsford School Board for 24 years, ended November 2005
- Chairman of the School Board for 12 years plus five years as Vice-Chair
- Past Director of the Career Technical Centre (founding Board)
- Commissioner on the Abbotsford Parks, Recreation and Culture Board for many years.
- Elected as Councillor for the City of Abbotsford, effective December 2005
- Appointed Director of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce (served previous term in 1995/6)
- Appointed Director, F.V. Regional District Board, December 2005
- Awarded the Governor General's Canada 125 Medal for community service
- Recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Medal in recognition of community service
- A Rotarian and recipient of two Paul Harris Awards (Rotary medals) for community service
- Charter member of the Abbotsford Executive Association
- Married to Judy with four adult children and five grandchildren.
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