Member Groups of the Abbotsford Arts Council

LITERARY ARTS  

Abby Writers
Betty Funk 604-853-7029    Meetings:  2nd and 4th Wed monthly Sept-June at Legal Grounds Coffee House. 
Running since 1989, with a current membership of nine, the group encourages members to write their family stories, to do creative writing, and to try different writing techniques.  

MSA Poets Potpourri Society
Jaye Low 604-309-4070    Meetings:  Open Mike Poetry and Prose Readings are held every 4th Wednesday of the month from 7-9 pm at the Kariton Gallery, 2387 Ware Street, Abbotsford, BC. 
All readers are welcome, as are those people who just want to come to listen.   The MSA Poets Potpourri Society has existed in the Fraser Valley since  the early 1970's.  In this small band of writers, some are published, some are aspiring to be published, and all feel the urge to write and the desire to communicate their thoughts and emotions through the printed word.  

PERFORMING ARTS - THEATRE  

Abbotsford Children's Theatre
Freddy Latham 604-853-5065    Meetings: Saturday 9-12 am at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. 
This group produces children's plays, giving young actors an opportunity to perform on a community stage.  Kids ages 10 and up are encouraged to come out to audition for parts.   

Art Matters
Gwynne Hunt, Artistic Director, 604-859-2407  
We have produced the Fringe for 14 years and for the last two years (since 2007) have produced the Festival of Artisitc and Creative Expression.  We sponsor the Memory March, a walk/vigil to honour 3,000 missing and murdered women and children.  

Eadoin Productions
Michael Wipf - President.  

First Light Theatre
Bill de Jager 604-859-3664  

Fraser Valley Stage Production Society
Julia Happer 604-853-5584   Meetings: 7:30 pm at Robert Bateman Sec., Sept.-June. 
Running since 1970, the Society has approx. 100 members.   For a schedule of upcoming performances check:  www.fraservalleystage.com.  

Gallery 7 Theatre
Ken Hildebrandt , Executive Director 604-504-5940
A full-time theatre company in Abbotsford, Gallery 7 Theatre produces a season of theatre consisting of four mainstage productions, a guest performance and a summer drama camp program for children and teens.  Gallery 7 is a faith-based performing arts society impacting our community with excellent theatre and events that encourage growth and creativity. For a season brochure and more information, call 604-504-5940 or go to www.gallery7theatre.com.  Ticket sales are at House of James, 604-852-3701. Rehearsals and performances at MEI between Sept. and June.    

PERFORMING ARTS - MUSICAL  

Abbotsford Concert Band Association
Stephen Campbell 604-466-0728, 604-412-3151 (wk).    Rehearsals take place in the Abby Senior Sec. Band room at 7:30 pm Thursdays.     The Abbotsford Concert Band has been a part of the music community in the Fraser Valley for over 40 years, playing a wide assortment of music from marches to dance music to symphonic festival pieces.  It is a community-based music organization that focuses on rehearsing and improving their musical skills, performing locally and abroad, contributing to community spirit through music, and having fun. Contact:  abbyband@hotmail.com or www.abbyband.com.  

Abbotsford Symphony
ASO office 604-853-6700    

Abbotsford Voices of Harmony
Lorne Downton 604-793-4902, Singing at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays at Abby Senior Sec. Music Room, Abbotsford's "Voices" is a 20+ member men's barbershop chorus.  Their musical repertoire includes barbershop harmony, popular, sacred, and patriotic songs.  The group performs at weddings, birthdays, conventions, meetings, and other special occasions.  

Central Valley Academy of Music Society
Les Tendel 604-852-3242 Abbotsford Youth Orchestra (Jr. & Sr.) directed by Dr. Calvin Dyck 604-852-3242.   Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers Norma Popescul, ndp2000@shaw.ca or 604-855-6949.    Practices are on the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Wed. each month at Hallmark Assisted Living at 3055 Princess Street.  

The Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers are available to play in the community. 
Please contact our Bookings Director, Myrna Wing at myrnawing@telus.net.   For more information check www.cfvfiddlers.com  

Fraser Valley Symphony Society
Kathy Klassen 854-2024    Practices:  7:15 pm Monday at Rick Hansen Sec.  The FV Symphony is an auditioned community orchestra with 35 volunteer players and many more non-playing members.    Green Heart Chorus of Sweet Adelines Contact:   Tina Gensen 604-556-7069 tinajensensingin@yahoo.ca.  Rehearsals:  Tues. 7:00 pm in Legacy Building at Rotary Stadium. Women from Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, and Surrey come together to sing modern music as well as traditional barbershop, all in 4-part acapella harmony.   

JC Celebration Band
Dennis Shepit 604-850-2682, email thejcband@gmail.com   We are inviting local emerging musical talent and arts people - actors, mimes, dancers, fiddlers, clowns and jugglers, cowboy action shooters, etc. to be featured as special guests on our "Tribute to Johnny Cash Show".  We are impressed with the number of talent people we have in this immediate Abbotsford area and we want to support and promote you.   For Bookings:  We are available for hire to do special events:  Concerts, Dinner & Theatre, Coffee Shops, Retreats, Kids' Camp Promotions, Dances, Weddings, Anniversaries, BBQ's, Fundraising, Birthdays and other special events.  

Jean's Academy of Music Contact
Jean Ritter 604-850-9224  jam@shawcable.com  

Pacific Mennonite Children's Choir Society
Sonja Fast 604-302-3695 or sonjafast@hotmail.com for updated information.   Songs, Strings & Steps Songs Strings and Steps is a multi-dimensional performance involving dancers, musicians and singers with costuming, multi-media and innovative arts expression.  For more information contact Director Calvin Dyck at 604-855-9696.  Check www.calvindyck.com.  

Stepping Stone Music Co.
Lisa Nessim 604-826-9614.  The place where musical adventures begin.  Private lessons are offered in piano, voice, or guitar.  Joy Vox Adult Community Choir sings 7 pm-9 pm Mondays.  Classes are offered in beginner adult guitar, teen/adult solo voice, djembe drums, and rhythm ensemble.  

Valley Concert Society
Lorna 604-854-3318, 604-839-5192.   For more information, check www.valleyconcertsociety.com.   Valley Festival Singers Contact Katherine Wight 604-850-5957 or through website www.valleyfestivalsingers.com.  Meetings:  weekly Sept.-April at Bakerview MB Church.  Under the direction of Tony Funk, the 50 member group performs a variety of choral music.    Interested singers may audition by contacting Marilyn at valleytheatre@hotmail.com or phone 604-826-4670.  

PERFORMING ARTS - DANCE  

Aerial Dance & Acro Academy
Hannah Strong 604-855-6132.  Classes run 2:30-9:30 pm Mon-Sat, Sept-June.  Competitive and recreational dance lessons are offered in this jazz and acrobatics studio.  Students perform at local events as well as in the Santa Claus Parade and pageants in Vancouver.  

Dance in Motion
Leigh Lee 604-852-8780  

Fraser Valley Irish Dance Association
Virginia Reneaud 604-820-2645  This parent group provides opportunities for Irish Dancers who already take lessons with accredited Irish Dance Instructors in the Fraser Valley to perform for the publich thereby increasing public awareness and promoting good sportsmanship.  They sponsor an annual Year-End Show called the "Call to Dance:  A Celtic Celebration"  They had their 5th show on May 25th at the Clarke Theatre.   Each dancer participates in whatever competitions he or she qualifies for, but as a group, the FVIDA hold fundraisers such as the Call to Dance, Annual Winter Ceili (winter dance party), dance-out performances and other events to support these young, dedicated athletes.  The FVIDA has a dress pool which provides traditional dresses to qualifying dancers.   Registration is $15/family.   

Freestyle Dance Centre
Val Hamilton or Bernadette Braun 604-855-7433  Classes run Mon.-Sat. at 202-2121 Clearbrook Road.  With nine teachers instructing 300 students, the Centre's goal is to have a high standard of dance in a fun atmosphere.  

Inverglen Scottish Dancers
Sandra Crossley 604-850-1605   

Classes of Highland Dancing, Scottish Country Dancing, and Step Dancing run Mon-Fri, 3 pm-9 pm.  Dancers perform at charity events, hospitals, and senior citizens homes.  The dancers have travelled and performed in the USA, England, Scotland, Australia, and Singapore.  

Joanne's Dance Academy
Joanne Gibson Menzies 604-853-6385  

VISUAL ARTS - 2 DIMENSIONAL  

Abbotsford Photo Arts Club
Glenn Fulton 853-4340    Meetings: 7:00 pm on  the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at the Alderbrook Community Church located on the second floor of "Centre Ice", 3600 Townline Road (corner of Townline Road and Blue Ridge Drive).   Running for about 30 years, the Club has approx. 100 members.  Annual Photographic Seminar is in Oct. at MEI.  For info see:  http://www.apac.bc.ca  

Central Fraser Valley Graphic Guild
Neil Loewen 604-859-3696   Formed in 1977 with a vision of promoting and informing the public about printmaking and providing opportunities for its members to display their art work within the community.  The club has expanded from its printmaking origins to include painting, drawing and 3 dimensional work.  Meetings:  7:30 p.m. 1st Monday of each month at Kariton Gallery.   Drop in Life Drawing evenings are on the 4th Tues. of each month at 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Kartion Gallery ($5) (but suspended July-August and December-January).  Approximately 20-30 members with various levels of expertise, working in a variety of mediums.  New members welcome.  Membership is $15 a year.  More information at the web site:  graphicguild.org.  Email:  graphicguild@yahoo.ca.  

Federation of Canadian Artists
Loreena Lee 604-875-1722.   Meetings:  10:00 am on the 2nd Saturday of the month at Trethewey House.  Members of the Fraser Valley Chapter of the Federation meet to see demonstrations and to give each other encouragement.  Two formal shows are planned each year.   

Fraser Valley Watercolour Society
Carol Portree 604-850-9694    Meetings: 7:00-9:00 pm on Thurs., Sept.-June at Abby Senior Sec.  The group meets to paint and support each other.  They have one major show of new paintings each year at the Clearbrook Library.   

VISUAL ARTS - 3 DIMENSIONAL  

Fraser Valley Potters Guild
Pat Schendel 604-594-0470  Monthly meetings at Kwantlen College Ceramics Room, Sept. to May on 2nd Thursdays, at 7:15 pm The Fraser Valley Potters Guild is a guild for anyone interested in all aspects of pottery, be you hobbyist, student, professional, teacher or collector.  Throughout the year many events take place.  Some of these events include monthly meeting workshops, a Raku fundraiser that is held at Campbell Valley Regional Park, a guild sponsored juried show in rotating communities, occasional weekend workshops, and sales and an annual Woodfire &/or Raku with potluck lunch held in June for members and friends. www.members.shaw.ca/fraservalleypotters/index.htm  

Abbotsford Rock & Gem Club
Kathy 604-864-4155 or Terry Bacon 604-859-5554    Meetings: 7 pm, 3rd Tues. monthly Sept-June, not Dec. at Kariton House.  Members include a geologist, talented silversmiths, and people interested in rocks, gems & minerals.  The Club has monthly fieldtrips, scheduled classes, and a workshop that has equipment for making cabochons.  

Central Fraser Valley Woodcarvers
Dan Causton 604-556-7655 Email dcauston@telus.net  Web Site www.3telus.net/carver   Business meeting 10:00 am -12:00 pm, 1st Saturday of each month at Abbotsford Seniors Building.  The group also meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at Yale Secondary School from 6:30-9:00 pm to carve together.  The annual  "Art of the Carver" woodcarving and wood sculpture show and competition is planned for May.  

Fraser Valley Model Club
Drew Hatch  604-626-0437, email drew@ipmsfraservalley.ca.  Meetings: 7:30 pm - 9 pm on the 2nd Thur. of each month from Sept.-Jun. at Kariton House Gallery.  Members meet to discuss building and painting model kits of aircraft, military, auto, and science fiction subjects.  Check www.ipmsfraservalley.ca  

Fraser Valley Woodturners
Wayne Cunningham 604-853-9034  Meetings:  6:30 pm, 2nd Thurs. of the month, Sept.-June in the Woodwork shop at Yale Secondary.  With a membership of 85, woodturners meet to share information and experience, as well as 'hands on' time with woodturning equipment.  Members participate in the Woodworking Show in Cloverdale in October and in "Art of the Carver" in May.  

Jewelry Club
Rejina Hong 604-504-7591  Meets at Kariton House every first and third Thursday of the month, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.  Led by jeweler, Regina Hong, members work on creating their own pieces of beaded jewelry.  Free instruction; materials will be $ to $15 per project.  

VISUAL ARTS - FIBRE  

Abbotsford Quilters Guild
Lois Brown quiltsfromyourheart@shaw.ca    Meetings: 10:00 am and 7:00 pm, 2nd Tuesday of each month from Sept-June at Bethel Church.  The Guild participates in Agrifair, at the Arts Council Library Event, and at the Menno Home annual picnic.  The Guild donates quilts to the Preemie Ward at MSA Hospital, Victim Services Transition House, and New Beginnings at Abbotsford Senior Sec.  They also donate a bursary to a New Beginnings grad and to a student going into 2nd year of Fabric Arts at UCFV.  A Bi-Annual Quilt show is hosted every second year at Tradex.  

Abbotsford Spinners and Weavers
Joanne Beukema 604-854-1583    Business meeting/workshops are held at 9:30 am, 1st Tues of each month Sept-June.  Running since the early 70's, this group has approx. 18 members who do demonstrations in the community, in schools, at the Malls, at Agrifair, and at Kariton.  The members also meet for spin-ins and fibre mornings on the 3rd Tues. of each month.  Meetings take place at the members' homes.  The group does spinning, weaving, felting and carding.  

Fraser Valley Needlearts Guild
Diane Mugford 604-814-3562    Meetings:  6:30 to 9:30 pm on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at Real Canadian Superstore, Gladwin Road, Abbotsford.  Day meetings:  Fourth Wednesday of the month, 10 am to 12 pm at Kingsway Arms/Cedarbrook Chateau, Mission.  We are a chapter of the Embroiderer's Association of Canada (www.eac.ca).  Our aim is fellowship and education in all areas of stitching.  Here are a few examples:  Blackwork, Canvas work, Crewel, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Hardanger, Needlepoint, Samplers, Stumpwork, Surface Embroidery.  Join us or for more info:  tygarth@shaw.ca, 604-814-3562.  

MULTI-MEDIA GROUPS  

Arts are for Everyone
Contact John Skorupa @ abbotsfordculturalcentre@yahoo.ca  

UFV Visual Arts
Explore art with classes and programs at every level.  We offer Art History, Studio, Film Studies and Graphic Design courses with no pre-requisites.  If you are looking for a formal art education, we offer a two-year Visual Arts Diploma and a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.  For more information, contact the Visual Arts department assistant at 604-854-4543.  

CULTURAL GROUPS  

Abbotsford Genealogical Society
Fay 604-853-5672, Marg. 604-853-9119, Christine 604-852-5882 Website:  www.abbygs.ca AGS Library is located in the Clearbrook Library.  Its hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, & Saturday:  2 pm - 4 pm First, third, & fourth Tuesday:  7 pm - 9 pm Every Wednesday:  7 pm - 9 pm Every Thursday:  7 pm - 9 pm  

Fraser Valley Ukrainian Culture Society
Susan Trithardt 604-853-9412.  Meetings:  2nd Tues. of each month at Trinity Memorial Church, Sept.-June.  Sponsors Yevshan Dancers (ages 5-14) who dance at community cultural events.  The society hosts a Malanka Ukrainian New Years celebration.  

MSA Museum Society
Dorothy Van der Ree 604-853-0313.  The MSA Museum Society at Trethewey House Heritage Site offers a unique part of Abbotsford's heritage with guided tours of a 1920's upper middle-class home.  Reasonable rates for Heritage Gallery rental and site use.  Special events & educational programming all year long. Visit:  www.msamuseum.ca Monday-Friday:  9 am-12 pm and 1 pm-5 pm Additional hours from Victoria Day to Labour Day - Saturday & Sunday:  1 pm-5 pm.  

COMMUNITY GROUPS  
Abbotsford Downtown Business Association
Ingrid Epp 604-850-6547  

Abbotsford Elks Lodge #594
Robert Turnbull 604-556-7877  

Abbotsford Learning Plus Society
Lorene Lyle, 604-302-1685     abbylearnplus@gmail.com, www.learningplus.ca A volunteer organization offering daytime leisure and learning programs to seniors, retirees, and enquiring minds of all ages. Classes take place in the Senior Activity Centre of the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, 2499 McMillan Road.  Unless stated otherwise, all classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to noon.  Check website (above) for list of classes.  

Abbotsford Mission Alpen Club
Hugo Dietterle 604-854-1051    Meetings are held as the need arises.  Most members are German speaking as meetings are conducted in German.  The Club hosts Ballroom Dances six times a year at the McCallum Activity Centre.  It also celebrates Octoberfest, Christmas, and New Years with a big party at the Abby Annex (next to the Abby Arts Centre).   Members meet to play Scot (a card game) and families get together for picnics.  

Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts
Dr. Jill Brownlee 604-859-3101  

Friends of the Abbotsford Library
Jenny Matthews 604-853-2262    Meetings: 1:00 pm 1st Tues. of each month Sept.-June.  Contact the Library staff for venue.  Started in 1993, the Friends currently have 30 members who fundraise for the Clearbrook, Abbotsford, and Mt. Lehman Libraries.  

Tourism Abbotsford
Yvonne Hayden 604-853-1721  

Windebank Elementary School PAC
Nikki L'Heureux 604-820-5254  

BUSINESS & CORPORATE MEMBERS  

Columbia National Investments Ltd.
Mr. R.S. Dunton 604-852-8439  

CUPE Local 774
Joe Rodrigue 604-864-7024  

John Hambley - Chartered Accountant
301-29955 Gladwin Road Contact John at 604-854-1213 or email at john@jbhambley.bc.ca  

House of Fine Art
2536 Montrose Ave Contact Lee Murray at 604-853-2400  

Innovative Craft Xpresssions
Sandi Loeppky 604556-9652, 33735B Essendene Avenue, Abbotsford, BC, V2S 2G7.  

Rock-It-Boy Entertainment
Contact Rob at 604-720-2256.  This group promotes concerts throughout the Fraser Valley with a goal of bringing national and international recording artists to Abbotsford.  Concerts take place at Abbey Arts Centre, City Limits Cabaret and other venues.  For more information, check www.rockitboy.com   

For further information, please call the Abbotsford Arts Council at 604-852-9358. You can also email us at abbotsfordartscouncil@telus.net