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A message from John Lepine
President of FVMA
It is my pleasure once again to serve as president of the Fraser
Valley Métis Association and I would like to thank all who voted for
me. I would also like to thank the people who were on the Board of
Directors last year; they all did a fine job and will be missed.
These include Jackie Bleeker (Treasurer), Louise Adsley (Secretary),
and Léo Nolin (Board Member).
I would like to welcome our new Executive and Board Members.
These include:
Lisa Shepherd - Vice President
Shelley Tegart - Secretary
Marie Carter - Treasurer
Irvine Thorpe - Elder Representative
Chris Kelly - Events Coordinator
Lucille Dunbar - Events Decorator
Earl Cathers - Board Member at large
Ron Pruden - Board Member at large
Amy Langton - Youth Representative
Dustin Neufeld and Don MacDonald have also volunteered to help out
when and where needed.
I would like to mention and thank Wayne Sager for the important job
he does for FVMA. He looks after membership and registration from
his home in Abbotsford.
Also, I would like to thank the many volunteers who attended FVMA
events throughout the year. Some of these events included Earth Day
and Canada Day in Maple Ridge. Canada Day featured our very own Lisa
Shepherd and her Maple Sugar Jiggers on stage. We also attended the
Beat and Berry Festival in Abbotsford. Our kitchen was set up in the
Aboriginal Pavilion where we sold bison burgers and bannock. This
was very successful and the Maple Sugar Jiggers gave a fun
performance. Our Métis Showcase was a successful two day event in
October. We were fortunate to have John Arcand, the famous Métis
fiddler from Saskatchewan, perform during the day and at our dinner
Saturday night.
Our youth have been very active this year, thanks to our Youth Grant
which we share with Chilliwack. Some of the activities include a
Youth Camp in Chilliwack at the Rod and Gun Club, jigging lessons in
Yarrow, fiddle lessons in Abbotsford, and horseback riding.
These kids sound like they have been having lots of fun. Maybe in
the New Year the FVMA can plan some lessons for the rest of the
members.
I would like to mention two events taking place at the newly
purchased school on Simpson in Abbotsford. They are both a Potluck
Dinner and Dance. The first one is an MNBC event on Friday, December
11 and the second is a FVMA event on Friday, January 8. Everyone is
welcome.
Inclosing I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a
prosperous New Year.
Yours truly,
John Lepine
President, FVMA
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