Abbotsford Police Board Members
The current members of the Abbotsford Police Board are: Mayor George W. Peary (Chair), Jon Eaton, Deborah Lehmann, Jatinder Sidhu, Ted Strocel, Karen Matty and Michael McWhinney.
MAYOR GEORGE W. PEARY
Mayor Peary has spent his life in public service, first as an educator which took him from Saskatoon to Whitehorse and finally to Abbotsford in 1973. During his 28 years in the Abbotsford School District, he worked with many local families and continually feels a sense of pride in the accomplishments of the young people he has met. While a school administrator in School District #34, he was given an opportunity to develop a new model for education at the Career Technical Centre. His concept of seamless transition from high school to post secondary education has now been adopted throughout the province, and enables students to begin post-secondary programs leading to employment credentials while still in high school. This innovation saves time and money for the students and the government.
He entered public office with an appointment to the Matsqui Police Board in 1980. After completing his full six years in that position, he earned a seat on Matsqui Council in the municipal by-election of 1987. George served continuously for 18 years first with Matsqui and then with the amalgamated City of Abbotsford. In the elections of 2005, he chose to experience a term as a School Trustee before being elected Mayor of Abbotsford in 2008.
JON EATON
Jon Eaton was appointed to the APB, June 30 2008. Mr. Eaton is a Portfolio Manager at Eaton Elliott Wealth Management, a portfolio and wealth management partnership at RBC Dominion Securities. Jon has over 20 years of business, financial and investment management experience, ranging from private business to becoming a portfolio manager with one of Canada’s largest banks.
Jon has volunteered with Ducks Unlimited Canada, and most recently served as Treasurer of Abbotsford Minor Hockey Association. Jon, his wife and their 3 children have made their home in Abbotsford since 1997. They are all actively involved in sports and music and spend their spare time tending to their family farm.
DEBORAH LEHMANN
Deborah was appointed to the Abbotsford Police Board in October 2009. Specializing in the field of human resources, Deborah has focused on organizational effectiveness and employee development and training. Educational background includes human resources, adult education and legal administration. She has also received more specific training in group facilitation, peer counselling, advanced bereavement support, not-for-profit governance, and risk management.
In 2004 Deborah joined the Abbotsford Hospice Society and served as Vice-Chair. In 2006 she was elected to the Chair position and in January 2007 Deborah accepted the position of Executive Director for the society. While maintaining quality service and the grass roots approach she promotes creative program planning, community collaboration and innovative marketing.
Deborah is a Rotarian, Board Member of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and is part of the BC Human Resources Management Association Professional Mentoring Program (PMP) for the Fraser Valley region.
Personal interests include travel, learning from and experiencing other cultures and facilitating community connection.
JATINDER SIDHU
Jatinder Sidhu is a long time resident of Abbotsford and a successful businessman of 30 years. He settled in Mission after immigrating to Canada in 1974, and then started his career in farming in Abbotsford in 1977. In 1987, Jatinder started building single family homes and then later got into development of land and is currently pursuing this trade.
Jatinder is very involved in the community. He has served as a Director of the Abbotsford Agri-fair Board, as commissioner of the B.C. Vegetable Marketing Board, President of Pacific Raspberry Co-op, Board of Director with Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, and a Board of Director of the New Cultural Center of Abbotsford.
Sidhu is very passionate about serving the community at all levels. Jatinder has been married 34 years and has three wonderful children and two grandchildren
TED STROCEL
Ted was appointed to the Abbotsford Police Board in October 2009. Ted has been a lawyer for 31 years and has developed a predominately corporate and commercial practice for the last 20 years. He is currently a member of Cascade Law Corporation, a firm with offices in Aldergrove, Abbotsford and Agassiz.
Ted is a Member of the Board for the Schmidt Family Foundation, a charitable organization which has built orphanages in Ukraine, India, and Philippines.
Ted is a Member of the Board for The Reach, Abbotsford’s Cultural Centre.
Ted is interested in books, history, museums and has participated in many sports. He and his wife live in Abbotsford. They have three children and two grandchildren.
KAREN MATTY
Karen Matty was appointed to the Abbotsford Police Board on June 22, 1010. She has been involved in construction, property management and development for 38 years. She is the president of her family group of companies and continues to be active in the growth and management of the business.
Mrs. Matty enjoys community planning and promotes good stewardship along the way. She has served for 5 years on Abbotsford's Economic Development commission, and is currently serving on Abbotsford's Affordable Housing Committee and Technical Advisory Committee. Karen served eight years on Abbotsford's Airport Authority. Other volunteer positions have included: Abbotsford Downtown Business Association, Abbotsford Foundation, and Honorary Board Member UFV.
She is a proud mother, grandmother and wife. She enjoys gourmet cooking, organic gardening, and traveling.
MIKE McWHINNEY
Mike McWhinney was appointed to the Abbotsford Police Board on June 30, 2010, and has lived in Abbotsford with his wife, Kathleen, and their 2 children since 1997. Mike has over 34 years of management experience in operations and human resources management in the federal public sector, with more than 20 of these years in senior executive positions. His most recent senior appointments include Executive Director General, Human Resources (Infrastructure) with the Canada Border Services Agency; Director, Surrey Tax Centre, Canada Revenue Agency; Regional Director, Human Resources, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency; Director, Canada Customs, Metro Vancouver District. Mike has been recognized for his leadership and innovation in public service and since retiring in 2008 has provided executive consulting services on a contract basis.
Mr. McWhinney is a graduate of Simon Fraser University and the National Defence College of Canada and is an alumni of the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. Mike was a volunteer Team Leader for the Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 and has been an active volunteer backstage crew member in productions of Fraser Valley Stage over the past 10 years.
Mike is an active old car restoration enthusiast, a rugby fan, and likes to try to golf.
