The rain held off as over 100 people gathered for the dedication of a 25-acre parcel of the Glen Valley Forest last Tuesday. At the centre of the celebrations was the Blaauw family who were on hand for the ceremony that honoured their beloved husband and father, Thomas.
“My dad loved this green space—the trees and the trails,” said Janet Wiens, who spoke on behalf of her mother Ann and siblings John and Jennifer. “After he passed away last year, we decided to honour his life in a manner that would recognize his love of nature and animals, and his desire to make a difference.”
The donation and land deal was the culmination of a number of groups—including the University, the Township of Langley and environmental advocates Watchers of Langley Forests (WOLF)—working together to preserve Langley’s forested area for future generations—and provided a unique opportunity for the family to make a lasting difference in the community they hold dear. “We felt that with Trinity Western University’s 51-year history as a trusted partner in the community, and track record of commitment to stewardship, that a donation to TWU was the best choice to preserve the land,” Wiens said.
Wiens also expressed gratitude to TWU’s VP Development Paul Weme for his integral contribution in putting the deal together. “It was an honour to work with Ann and her family on this remarkable gift,” said Weme.
The University hopes the gift might inspire other community members to consider similar donations to honour loved ones and to preserve green space.
Over this past summer, fourth-year TWU student Curtis Abney discovered two at-risk species—the Red-Legged Frog and the Pacific Side-Banded Snail—among countless others animal and plant species in the forested area, which is a type of forest that is in decline in the region. “[We] look forward to working on a conservation plan with TWU’s Environmental Studies Department,” said WOLF Chair Kirk Robertson. Read Abney's preliminary report on the Glen Valley Bio-Inventory here.
Langley Township Mayor Jack Froese praised the Blaauw family for their donation, which will see the forest remain available for environmental research, education, and recreational purposes. The area showcases the Fraser Valley’s natural beauty.
A stone at the trail’s 257A Street entrance and the memorial bench, located about 100 metres down the trail, will be inscribed in memory of Thomas, who emigrated from Holland in 1958 and married Ann in 1960. The Langley farmer, who used to pass by the land every day on his drive to and from the family farm, often remarked on what a lovely piece of property it was.
TWU President Bob Kuhn said it was a special gift, one that will allow students to learn there for years to come. “Creating green space like this in our community is a very special thing,” said Kuhn. “We’re very grateful.”