The vision of Big Brothers Big Sisters is for children to”…have the opportunity to maximize their potential, have confidence in themselves, achieve a fulfilling lifestyle and grow into productive, contributing members of their community”.  The Fraser Valley chapter is responsible for matches and mentoring programs from Pitt Meadows through to Boston Bar, including Mission, Abbotsford and Chilliwack.

Rhonda joined Waterstone in 2002 as legal assistant in our personal injury practice, working alongside Shelley Henshaw in our Langley office.  It didn’t take us long to realize that Rhonda is just the kind of person you want in your corner:  smart, conscientious, knowledgeable and super organized.  She’s also the resident expert on all things related to dogs, shoes and Starbucks. 

Thank you, Rhonda, for 10 great years!  We appreciate you and your enthusiasm for your work and for life.  We look forward to many more years (and lattes) together.

April 16 is National Advance Care Planning Day – a day for Canadians to speak with family members and friends about their wishes for end-of-life care.

As health care technologies and life saving interventions continue to improve and people live longer – many with complex medical conditions – advance care planning becomes increasingly important…. We need to communicate our feelings around the use of certain procedures at the end of life, and what we believe gives our life meaning. April 16th – National Advance Care Planning Day – is the perfect time to start that conversation.

~ Sharon Baxter,
Executive Director of the Canadian Hospice
Palliative Care Association (CHPCA)

We encourage every Canadian to take the time and have the discussion.

Visit www.advancecareplanning.ca for tools and resources to get yourself started, and when you’re ready, the lawyers at Waterstone Law Group can assist in preparing Advance Directives, Representation Agreements, Enduring Powers of Attorney, or other estate and care planning documents that you may require.

The fourth annual Pathway to Hope Gala, “An Evening of Magic”, featured Kim Pemberton, of the Vancouver Sun, as speaker and Ryan Walter, President of the Abbotsford Heat Hockey Club, as Master of Ceremonies.  There was dining, dancing, a rousing live auction and further entertainment by Shawn Farquhar, two time world magic champion.  Waterstone was pleased to be able to participate as a sponsor for this great event.

The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association provides services, support and information to brain injury survivors and their families  through a variety of avenues including case management services, support groups, drop-in centers and community-based recreation programs.

Kathleen has been working as a legal assistant in the Chilliwack area for over 35 years, and has been a valued member of our Chilliwack staff since 2003.  Kathleen is a part of our Chilliwack litigation team, currently working alongside Daniel Sorensen, serving clients in the areas of employment law and general civil litigation.

For the past 3 years, Kathleen has shared of herself as a volunteer with the Chilliwack Hospice Society, serving weekly at Cascade Hospice.  In addition, Kathleen has become part of the Vigil Team, providing bedside support to individuals and their families during the final 72 hours of a person’s life.  It takes kindness, sensitivity and a caring nature to be with someone during their final moments of life, and Kathleen is well suited to the task.

We’re proud of you, Kathleen!  Proud to have you as part of our team, and proud of your care and concern for the community around you!

The conference, offered in conjunction with KPMG and Sto:lo Community Futures, was designed to assist aboriginals with issues around economic development.  It featured presentations on fundamentals of business ventures, business financing, business governance, understanding the regulatory framework, accounting and taxation.

Led by associate, Janette Kovacs, our team of contributing lawyers also includes Shelley Henshaw and Kim Briscoe.

Through this blog we hope dispel many of the myths and common misconceptions regarding family law matters, as well as to provide a better understanding of the processes and laws relating to the expansion or breakdown of a family unit, including:

• adoption
• separation
• divorce
• spousal support (alimony)
• child support
• child custody
• child access
• child guardianship
• child protection/removal
• division of family assets
• marriage agreements (“prenuptial agreements”)
• cohabitation (common-law) agreements
• separation agreements (“legal separations”)
• spousal abuse, rights and remedies
• variations or changes to orders or agreements
• cancellation of arrears
• tax issues

We hope that you will find our blog interesting, educational and perhaps even a bit entertaining. We encourage you to check it out and share it with your friends!

Ed has been a member of the Rotary club since 1992.  This is the second time that he has been the recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.

A special congratulations goes to Grade 8 Vedder Middle School student, Kaelyn Burns, who won the tournament.

Waterstone is a strong supporter of literacy, education and our communities, and as such has proudly supported this event for the past number of years.  This year was no exception, and we were pleased to be the lead sponsor of this year’s competition.  Our own Ed Kaye was once again in attendance, this year in the role of lead judge.

For more photographs and to read more about this event, we encourage you to visit The Chilliwack Times.

Throughout all the changes that Jacquie has witnessed and been a part of over the years, her positive attitude, eager willingness to learn and take on new challenges has been a constant.  She is kind, thoughtful and generous to all she meets, and she has the most amazing telephone voice!

Jacquie shares her commitment to fitness and a healthy lifestyle with the rest of us, spending time organizing bike tours and other athletic endeavors to get the rest of us moving.

Thank you, Jacquie, for 15 great years!  We appreciate you and your many contributions to our firm, and look forward to sharing many more years together.