#WeAreMapleRidge

How long have you lived in Maple Ridge?
13 years. We moved to be closer to our daughter and her family.

Why are you proud to call it home?
We live in the country, but are 5 minutes away from the city. It is quiet and peaceful. We love our acreage but have access to all the amenities we could ask for.

What inspires you to give?
I’m a hands-on person who likes to help the community and do something that is important.

What do you do to keep yourself happy and healthy?
I walk every morning, keep my mind active. I’m a designer by trade, President of my Train Club, design telescopes, do pottery and graphic design.

Do you have a favourite local hangout?
Memorial Peace Park, and the Haney Farmers Market which we have been a part of for 12 years now.

How long have you lived in Maple Ridge?
Five and a half years, since 2010.

Why are you proud to call it home?
The people make Maple Ridge for me. There’s always someone doing something interesting in the community, and people are passionate about what’s important to them.

What inspires you to give?
I love getting around people who are doing something to make a difference. Those people are always good for your soul.

What do you do to keep yourself happy and healthy?
I run and do hot yoga. Spend time with family and friends. I also write, and enjoy music and art.

Do you have a favourite local hangout?
I love the Chameleon Cafe, the Maple Ridge Library, and my daughter and I sometimes go to the Billy Miner on Friday nights in the summer for pizza on the patio.

Who is your hero, and why?
My hero is anyone who is compassionate and kind to others and lives in a way that is true to who you are. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but life is too short to keep living in a way that doesn’t feed who you are and what you love!

What’s the nicest thing someone has done for you lately?
My son cooked the most delicious burgers for dinner when I was exhausted after a long day.

How long have you lived in Maple Ridge?
23 years.

Why are you proud to call it home?
I really like it. It is close to lots to do outdoors, close to town, and affordable.

Do you have any favourite local hangouts?
Emmeline Mohun Park is a favourite of mine.

What do you do to keep yourself happy and healthy?
I don’t sweat the small stuff and choose to be happy.

Name: Christian Cowley

How long have you lived in Maple Ridge?
15 years. The strongest reason we moved here was to be with family.

Why are you proud to call it home?
This city is remarkably cohesive and friendly. I have lived in Tokyo and Vancouver; there you never meet someone you know in the streets. In Maple Ridge, I walk downtown and expect/look forward to seeing people I know.

The CEED Centre received a grant from MRCF in November 2015. How will those funds help you reach your goals in 2016?
This is the third grant we have received from the Maple Ridge Community Foundation. The grants allow us to move ahead with projects that benefit Maple Ridge residents. This particular grant money will help with a few different initiatives, including a senior’s planting bed, creating a kitchen space and new chairs for our meeting room.

What inspires you to give back to this community?
One reason is that are so many engaged, community-minded individuals in Maple Ridge. It’s fulfilling and fun to work with them!

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To read more #WeAreMapleRidge stories, please click here.

Name: Ronda Payne

How long have you called Maple Ridge home?
Cumulatively, I’ve lived here almost 20 years. I choose Maple Ridge because I love it. It’s beautiful, and it’s central. I find it very comfortable. People are welcome and open here. I know I feel a real sense of community here, and that other residents also want that community feeling.

Do you have a favourite local business or hangout? Kanaka Coffee is close to my home; I love it there. Bosley’s – I’m there a lot! I love them. Their staff and customer service is caring and locally-centered.

What inspires you to give? The knowledge that my life rocks, I have an awesome family, a car that works, a roof over my head, pets, the ability to buy food. Compared to the world’s majority, we are so far ahead. I am living well, compared to many even in my own community. It’s just important to give back.

What do you do to keep yourself happy and healthy? I am learning how to meditate. As a recovering type A perfectionist, it doesn’t come easy. Walking outdoors with my dogs is hugely important for my soul. I remind myself to be grateful, and to move my body as much as possible.

Who is your hero? My Dad is amazing; he’s so awesome. I don’t know anyone else who has gone through radiation with the eyes of a child. Most people would head for bed after a radiation treatment. Instead, Dad would call me to tell me how cool the machines were. It’s how he approaches life. I am really inspired by so many people; so, so many.

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To read more #WeAreMapleRidge stories, please click here.

Name: Val Patenaude

How long have you called Maple Ridge home? Since 1989. We were living in Richmond and decided we wanted to be more involved parents. We moved out here with our two kids and bought acreage, a hobby farm.

The Maple Ridge Historical Society received a grant from MRCF this year. What project will this grant benefit? The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times has given us a very large collection of mostly negatives, some prints. It covers all of the MRPM Times photography from 1985 to 2002. It’s a huge organizational project! This grant money will fund a better quality, faster negative to digital scanner.

What makes you proud to call Maple Ridge home? This community has a lot of spirit. On Facebook there are active neighbourhood groups, such as We Call It Haney, where thousands of people gather and reminisce about growing up in the area. I really like that.

How do you like to give back to your community? I belong to a quilting guild that makes quilts for the hospice, for veterans, etc. We make placemats for all of the Meals on Wheels recipients at Christmas. It’s a nice thing to receive.

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To read more #WeAreMapleRidge stories, please click here.