SI of Chilliwack

Charter Year: 1936

SI of Chilliwack members have a rich Soroptimist history stretching back over 70 years. SI of New Westminster chartered this club in 1936. SI Chilliwack in turn charted SI of White Rock, SI of Abbotsford/Mission, and SI of Courtenay. We were involved with SI of Anacortes but no one knows how involved.

How many members -- 24 members

Business Meeting Information

Program Meeting Information

Women's Opportunity Award

2006 Recipient - Diane Coutu

Violet Richardson Award

Sarah Peterson. 17 years old with incredible commitment and enthusiasm towards her community, school and family. Her volunteer work includes:

• Organizing Penny Drive for Rosedale Elementary School which is now a permanent event;
• Car wash for BC Children's Hospital;
• Tutoring children at school and in their homes;
• Salvation Army Kettle worker;
• Past Board of Directors for three years for the Chilliwack Youth Commission;
• Terry Fox run;
• Promontory Heights School - multiple activities with children;
• YMCA volunteer;
• Volunteer at the Heritage Village Nursing home assisting patients.

Sarah is an inspiration to other girls demonstrating initiative and commitment in everything she does.

Woman of the Year Banquet

Our Woman of the Year 2006 is Doreen Hampton known as "one person service club." Doreen is well known for pioneering the Early Childhood Education with a focus on children with special needs. She is a retired schoolteacher who builds her life around service to her family, her church, her community and the needs of families nationally and internationally. Doreen started the Chilliwack Developmental Preschool then went on to the Fraser Cheam Home Support. She volunteers with Open Door at (parenting skills), Heritage Village Nursing home, Child Care at Sardis Baptist Church, babysits for a working mom, Gleaners, Bible Vacation School teacher, Summer Camp for First Nations and Summer Camp with children of homeless women - this year in Bolivia.

Annual Fundraiser/Service Project

Members staff the gates/booths with volunteers at the Chilliwack Exhibition. We usually receive $3,700.00 or more for the event and involves most of the club members.

Annual Breast Health Breakfast Conference

The Soroptimist International of Chilliwack holds an nnnual Breast Health Breakfast Conference which their community supports wholeheartedly.

History of Chilliwack

The Township of Chilliwack was incorporated in 1873, the third oldest municipality in British Columbia. Since the small community had little room for expansion along the river, the main commercial area of the town moved up the road to the junction of the New Westminster-Yale Wagon Road, Wellington Avenue and Young Road. The centre came to be called Five Corners.

We are a city of 70,000 people at the "Green Heart" of British Columbia - just a short drive from the busy port city of Vancouver, but nestled among the fertile fields and pastures of the Fraser Valley at the foot of the majestic Cascade Mountains. Chilliwack offers city life, career and business opportunities and a strong sense of community. While agriculture continues to be an obvious contributor to the area, small businesses and industries as well as government services add to the area's diversity.

Outdoor activities include fishing on the local rivers, water sports at Cultus Lake in the Cascades, camping and hiking, and golfing in beautiful surroundings for all skill and fitness levels. Back in the city, you can visit our historic downtown core, dine at great restaurants, attend a concert or take in a show at our new exhibition hall.

The Fraser Valley is B.C.'s richest agricultural region, and our farming tradition stretches back 150 years. More recently, our excellent climate, location and work force have helped to create a robust and diversified local economy, from manufacturing to business services and high technologies.

Chilliwack is open for business. We welcome visitors and new arrivals. We are proud of what we have built in the Green Heart of B.C. Our constant challenge is to continue to find new ways to maximize the potential of this growing community.