Character Abbotsford

We are thrilled to welcome Mayor Ross Siemens to the Character Abbotsford Council! See below to learn more about out newest member! 👇🏽  ~~ Ross Siemens was elected Mayor of the City of Abbotsford on October 15, 2022 after serving on Abbotsford City Council as a Councillor from 2014 – 2022. Ross was born and raised in Abbotsford. His maternal great-great grandparents were the Smith and Adams families who were some of the original settlers of the Ridgedale area of Matsqui Prairie. His grandparents on his father's side were Mennonite immigrants from Russia who came to Canada in the 1920's and eventually settled in Abbotsford in 1951. Ross previously served on the District of Abbotsford Council from 1986 to 1990. While serving on the District Council, he helped initiate the Business Improvement Area legislation that established the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association. He left politics in 1991 to work with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Hong Kong. Along the way he had the opp

  Left - Right: Bev Olfert (ED of AYC), Erick Peterson (Fire Chief), Carla Danielsson (Assistant Superintendent of SD34), Julius Siebenga (ED of ACS), Mike Serr (Police Chief), Wendy Neufeld (ED of ACF), Jory Smallenberg, Henry Braun, Shairose Jinnah (Director at Archway), Ross Siemens (Mayor), Vijay Manuel (HOS of MEI) The Character Council honoured Henry Braun today for his exemplary service to our community as mayor. Each council member shared some words of thanks and encouragement and presented the former mayor with gifts. The final two comments were made by Mayor Ross Siemens and Police Chief Mike Serr after which Chief Serr presented Mr. Braun with a plaque, gift, and card on behalf of Character Abbotsford. For more information on Character Abbotsford, visit characterabbotsford.com and follow @characterabby on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .