Character Abbotsford Society Honors Exceptional Citizens with Character in Action Awards

The Character Abbotsford Society proudly recognized three outstanding individuals with the esteemed CHARACTER IN ACTION Awards. Harpreet Jhinjar, Yobdee Marazzi, and Raymonde Tickner were honored for their remarkable contributions to the community.

Harpreet Jhinjar’s exemplary work with the Pathways Program, aimed at fostering grassroots community engagement and supporting at-risk youths and their families, earned him well-deserved recognition. Chief Serr highlighted the tremendous progress Abbotsford has made, stating, “12 years ago our city was known for being the homicide capital in Canada. For the past two years, we have not had any gang-related homicides in Abbotsford. This is in part due to the good work of Harpreet Jhinjar.”

Yobdee Marazzi, a compassionate grade 10 student at MEI Schools, was nominated by Jory Smallenberg for her inspiring volunteerism, particu-

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larly within the healthcare profession. Smallenberg emphasized the significance of Marazzi’s efforts, stating, “Yodbee’s volunteerism is especially remarkable since the healthcare system is currently experiencing staffing shortages. Yobdee is an example of how Abbotsford youth are stepping up to support.”

Raymonde Tickner, the third award recipient, received accolades from Kim Riddell, Executive Director of Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association (ARJAA).

Riddell acknowledged Tickner’s profound ability to see the big picture and her calm and caring demeanor, which greatly contribute to creating the safe spaces necessary for restorative processes. Tickner’s remarkable dedication to volunteerism, with over 1000 volunteer hours, earned her the title of “a leader among volunteers.”

Vijay Manuel, Board Chair of Character Abbotsford, opened the event by sharing the organization’s mission: to Inspire Character, Enable Leaders, and Influence Community. Manuel expressed his hope, stating, “Our hope is that by recognizing these inspiring individuals, we are really honoring the many citizens that they represent in the service-rich community of Abbotsford.” He further added, “We hope this will inspire even more heart-centered decisions and actions in our community.”

In recognition of their outstanding contributions, each recipient was presented with a formal letter of recognition and a $500 gift card.

The Character Council, a group of dedicated leaders committed to practicing and promoting good character in the city, organized this remarkable event. For more information about Character Abbotsford and its initiatives, please visit CharacterAbbotsford.com and follow them on Instagram and Twitter @characterabby.