GERRY PALMER
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faculty service excellence award

5/13/2020

 
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by Darren McDonald
​The only thing quicker than Gerry Palmer’s wit is his willingness to help improve the lives of others.
An Abbotsford lawyer and long-serving UFV professor with decades of volunteer work throughout the Fraser Valley, Palmer is the recipient of this year’s UFV Faculty Service Excellence Award.
“Gerry epitomizes service beyond the classroom or the courtroom,” says former Abbotsford mayor George Peary, one of many community leaders behind Palmer’s nomination.
“Our community is better because of his tireless efforts. To my mind, Gerry Palmer personifies this award.”
Only two years after being called to the bar, Palmer’s journey as a highly respected business administration instructor began at Fraser Valley College (later UFV) in 1983. Sessional work paved the way to permanent instructor status in 1998.
As vice-chair of UFV’s Senate since its inception in 2009, his thoughtful, collaborative qualities helped shape UFV’s governance process as the institution transitioned into university status, and beyond.
“I can’t think of another member of UFV who has been so engaged, so dedicated, and so effective in their contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of our region,” says former UFV President Mark Evered, who nominated Palmer.
“Gerry understands better than most, I believe, that the responsibilities of a university and its faculty extend well beyond the campus. And he has delivered.”
While Palmer cherishes his experience with UFV’s Senate, he has also served on other boards, often as chair, including Trinity Memorial United Church and Abbotsford Community Services (now Archway).  As 20-year chair for Kinghaven Peardonville House Society, he has overseen an organization that has assisted more than 30,000 men, women and children as BC’s largest intensive residential addiction treatment centre.
It all began when as a young lawyer Palmer joined the Lions Club of Abbotsford around 1983.
“They were big supporters of Kinghaven so they wanted a representative on the board. I’ve been with Kinghaven ever since,” he explains.
“Then one thing leads to another, and here we are.”
He’s been a director of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association for 17 years and is its current president. As if that wasn’t enough, Palmer is also an elected councillor for the Village of Harrison, has received the Order of Abbotsford, and was listed among the Abbotsford News’ 100 Most Influential People.
“He is without question one of the community’s most prolific and effective volunteers,” says Milt Walker, chair of The Reach Gallery Museum.
“As someone who has sat on many boards I am always impressed when new members say ‘I learned how to be a board member in one of Gerry Palmer’s classes.’”
With home life with wife, Pamela, and children (Andrew, Lauren, Jordan, and Adam) split 70-30 between Abbotsford and Harrison, most people might shy away from constantly volunteering their time — but Palmer sees a bigger picture.
“It’s not selfless, its selfish,” he says.
“You get to fill gaps that other people aren’t able to fill and make a difference for those who wouldn’t otherwise have better lives. I’ve found that I can have huge impact on the community by being on non-profit boards. It allows you to make a greater community impact that you can with your own time and money.”
“The best thing I can do if I want my kids to get out and be involved in the community is to get out in the community myself.”
His daughter Lauren has attended at least one meeting from every board Palmer sits on, and is involved in supporting her own interests, including Climate Strike Fridays.
Palmer also invested in Abbotsford’s downtown core, helping spearhead its remarkable redevelopment.
“For a long time the municipal government wasn’t a big fan of the downtown. They wanted the new shiny baubles of shopping centres and malls,” he recalls.
“But now they love downtown.”
And then there’s his impact at UFV.
“I’ve been able to be involved in decisions I would have never have had the opportunity for as strictly a member of faculty. I think people have a tendency to think of the time commitments, not the impact,” he says.
“It’s been fine being a lawyer but I don’t sit there thinking I conveyed a thousand houses efficiently so I must be some kind of special, but when you have former students come up to you 15 years later and say ‘your lessons helped my businesses succeed in ways it wouldn’t have otherwise,’ that makes you feel pretty good.

Gerry Palmer-isms:

On his accomplishments:
“None of my children have done federal time. I mean they haven’t done provincial time either, even though those carry a much lighter sentence. Still, I think they’re all quite aware that committing a federal crime would be a major disappointment for me.”
On submitting a horizontal photo for publication:
“I had a heart attack last year so I guess you could say I took a good run at it.”
On using a professionally edited photo from the Village of Harrison:
“I think we’ll use the one where they filled in some hair, removed my third eye, and plucked the unibrow”
On legacy:
“When you look at those things as you’re getting older, and I apparently am, you realize you’ve made a bit of a difference.”

COVID-19

5/3/2020

 
A Journal of the Covid 19 year. I have just returned from one of my many daily walks along the the lakeside street of Harrison Hot Springs. It is so surreal to walk along the lake and by empty closed businesses that you usually see bustling with visitors this time of year.
Perhaps because tomorrow would have been my 65th birthday if I had not decided to cancel and delay it for five years because of the virus, or perhaps because of the much greater time that we are all spending in our homes now, I find myself much more reflective and thinking about growing up in Levack, Ontario, a town of 3,100  just a little bigger than Harrison Hot Springs). I hope that being reflective of your past is not a sign of impending death. In any event, my walks today remind me of every Sunday in the small town that I grew up in . At that time there was a provincial statute in Ontario requiring Sunday closure. Although I always recognized the problem with imposing a day of rest based on on one faith on citizens of many faiths and often no faith, I did lament the change in the law allowing Sunday openings. Sunday closures created a day when family members would generally be together, rather than individually racing around to jobs and other commitments like all of the other days of the week.
The Covid 19 virus shutdown of most businesses has created that situation every day of the week and reminded me of the closed Sundays of my youth. Don’t misunderstand, I like shopping and being busy on Sundays. The extra day of work has probably improved our collective material wealth. I am a much wealthier consumer because of it. And yet if there is one positive result of this gloomy virus pandemic, it is the forced creation of time for family and reflection. Maybe one day per week of that wouldn’t be so bad.

making the best of family isolation

4/30/2020

 
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I promise this is my last doting Daddy post. While I lament social distancing (unbeknownst to me I really like being around people) and lament that my major isolation time project is slowly and pitifully marking my UFV final exams (I now am officially late in turning in marks), my daughter Lauren is making the best of the family isolation, with the positive attitude that I aspire to have.

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Lauren Palmer
April 30 at 7:07 PMI passed some time yesterday drawing this. I’ve found that this is a great time to work on developing different skills and interests. I’ve started drawing, practicing calligraphy and hand lettering, learning new dance/acro skills, hiking, relearning how to play the piano, learning ASL, and much more. I hope to come out of self isolation with all sorts of new skills and hobbies that I otherwise wouldn’t have had time to learn. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this time.


64 and holding

4/27/2020

 
A Journal of the COVID 19 year. One of the realities of the pandemic is the cancellation of all of the spring and summer events to which we usually look forward. Recognizing this reality of cancellation I have decided to cancel my May 4th birthday. I mean the birthday itself. Not any party. I could easily proceed with a party of all my friends and family and not have numbers that would cause provincial health chief Bonnie Henry any concern. And I could manage appropriate social distancing and still hold the party in a broom closet. My decision to cancel my birthday is not for distance compliance but out of solidarity with all of the other cancelled events. My next birthday will be delayed for five years, out of principle. As a result I will not hit 65 until May 4, 2025 rather than next week. I recognize this is a sacrifice, but this pandemic calls for sacrifice.
The five year delay in celebrating my birthday is in fact very little sacrifice for me. Why should I celebrate my birthday? What accomplishment is attaining 65. It’s not like I found a cure for cancer or a new vaccine for Covid 19. All I had to do was breath for 65 years, and I almost messed that up. So, in summary, I will not be having a birthday next week, no matter what the Facebook birthday reminder says. And yes, I continue to post on Facebook while avoiding marking my final exams.

welcoming 2020

12/31/2019

 
Like Queen Elizabeth, I may view 2019 as having been a little bumpy, but I look forward to 2020 with resolutions galore and a loving family that continue to make me one of the most hugged people in Canada and two irritating dogs that make me one of the most licked.
I wish all of my friends a Happy New Year in which I hope you experience much love, both given and received .
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