Events

The Special Olympics B.C. Summer Games come to Abbotsford July 9-12. Events are scheduled at various venues, including Exhibition Park, Abbotsford Collegiate, Centennial Pool, Fraser Glen Golf course, Galaxy Bowl and Dogwood Bowling. Visit specialolympics.bc.ca for the full schedule.

MSA Museum celebrates its 40th birthday at Trethewey House Heritage Site, 2313 Ware St., from noon to 3 p.m. on July 25. Entertainment and birthday cake are included. RSVP at 604-853-0313.

A free breakfast drop-in takes place every Saturday for dads and their children up to six years old. My Daddy and Me runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at New Beginnings daycare (behind Abbotsford Collegiate at 2329 Crescent Way). For more information, visit www.abbydads.ca or call Ed at 604-850-7303 (local 3404).

Clubs & Groups

The Brit Club meets at 11:30 a.m. three times a month for lunch. The group meets the first Tuesday of every month at the Abbotsford Legion, the third Wednesday at various restaurants, and the last Saturday of every month at Apple Betty’s. For more information, call Ivy or Roy at 604-854-5941.

The Golden K Kiwanis Club meets every Wednesday at 10 a.m. The group gets together at the Sports Legacy Building at Exhibition Park. For more information, call 604-853-5157 or 604-859-8236.

The Matsqui Old Age Pensioners Organization holds several programs at Matsqui Recreation Centre (3106 Clearbrook Rd.) each week. The schedule is as follows:

– Mondays – shuffle board (9 a.m.) and bridge (1 p.m.);

– Tuesdays – carpet bowling (9 a.m.) and bingo (1 p.m.);

– Wednesdays – whist (1 p.m.);

– Thursdays – health alert (9 a.m.) and carpet bowling (1:30 p.m.);

– Fridays – shuffle board (9 a.m.) and cribbage (1 p.m.)

The Abbotsford Sundown Toastmasters Club meets every Thursday at the Legal Grounds Coffee Shop, 33775 Essendene Ave. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call Donna Ringham at 604-853-9599.

Toast of the City Toastmasters Club meets every Wednesday at noon. The group gets together at city hall to help people improve their public-speaking skills. For more information, call Don Davis at 604-302-2475 or e-mail healthymale@gmail.com.

The Abbotsford Seniors’ Association at 33889 Essendene Ave. offers a variety of daily and weekly activities. These activities include carpet bowling, bridge, crafts, line dancing, ballroom dancing, exercise classes and more. For more information, call Jody at 604-850-2465.

The Abbotsford Mission Aldergrove (AMA) Singles Club meets the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. The group also gets together for social outings such as coffee, dinner, movies, badminton and more. For location and other details, e-mail amasingles@shaw.ca or call Erwin at 604-308-3837 or Lillian at 604-855-5913.

The Probus Club of Abbotsford meets the third Monday of every month at 9:15 a.m. The club is for retired professional and business people to meet others of similar interests. It is not a service club. Contact Don at 604-853-0418 for more information, including location.

La Leche League meets the second Thursday of each month at Northview Community Church. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and is for pregnant and new moms looking for information about breastfeeding. For more information, call Catherine at 604-859-1797.

The Abbotsford Blind and Visually Impaired Society meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month at 12:30 p.m. The group gets together at Abbotsford Community Services, 2420 Montrose Ave. For more details, call Bruce at 604-309-8496 or Mae at 604-626-0643.

The Medical Transcription Association meets the second Sunday of each month. For more information, including time and location, call 604-864-1960 or e-mail bmrbabe@shaw.ca.

Volunteers

Abbotsford Community Services is always looking for volunteers for the Host Program. The friendship-based matching program is designed to help new immigrants practise English and learn about Canadian culture, local resources and recreation in the community. For more information about volunteering, call program co-ordinator Christina Moreno at 604-217-3055 or e-mail cmoreno@paralynx.com.

Volunteer opportunities are available for Meals on Wheels. Drivers are needed for one or two hours per week. A criminal-record check is required. For more information, call Nancy at 604-870-3764 or apply at Abbotsford Community Services, 2420 Montrose Ave.

Volunteers are always needed for the Friendly Visiting program. Men and women of all ages are paired with a senior to provide friendship. The two meet one or two hours a week. For more information, call Sherry at 604-854-1733.

Classes

Exercise classes for seniors are held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Abbotsford Seniors’ Association hall, 33889 Essendene Ave. The sessions run from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For more details, call Pat at 604-850-6615 or Donna at 604-853-5541.

Free English as a Second Language classes for landed immigrants and Canadian citizens take place at Gladwin Language Centre (3145 Gladwin Rd.). For more information, call Joan at 604-854-8160 or Carla at Abbotsford Community Services, 604-859-7681.

Self-Help

Mission Alcoholics Anonymous has 17 meetings a week in the Mission area. For locations, days and times, call 604-864-1552.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a non-profit weight-loss support group, meets every week. For information about chapters in Abbotsford, call Lynda at 604-856-8014.

Gamblers Anonymous meets every Monday at Legal Grounds Coffeehouse, #2 33775 Essendene Ave. The meeting runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Call 604-859-7333 for more information.

Support

A support group for family and friends of people with drug addictions meets weekly in Abbotsford. Nar-Anon Caring and Sharing Family Group is a 12-step program that meets Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Location is #103 2790 Gladwin Rd. For more information, call 604-859-0867.

The monthly support group for the B.C. Schizophrenia Society meets the last Tuesday of every month, except in August, at 7:30 p.m. Location is the BCSS office at 2615 Montrose Ave. For more details, call 604-859-0105.

The Mood Disorders Association support group in Abbotsford meets the first and third Thursday of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The group gets together at Abbotsford Community Services (2420 Montrose Ave.) and is open to those who have mood disorders such as depression, manic depression, anxiety and panic attacks. Friends and family are also invited. Call Christine at 604-854-9404 for more details.

The Alzheimer Society’s support and information group for caregivers meets twice next week. The group gets together Tuesday, Jul. 20 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Abbotsford. It also meets Wednesday, Jul. 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Mission. For more information, including locations, call 604-859-3889 and leave a message.

The Abbotsford Breast Cancer Support Group meets the third Thursday of each month. The meeting runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, including location, call 604-852-1410.