Wayne Wiebe (2010-11)
Wayne & Arlene Wiebe
(bio from 2010)
(bio from 2010)
Wayne Wiebe was born December 25, 1944 in Brixham, South Devon, England. His father, a Canadian soldier, returned to Canada after WW II , and in 1946 Wayne and his mother joined him. Wayne is the eldest of eight children and was raised on a dairy farm on Sumas Prairie. He graduated from Abbotsford High School and then attended U.B.C. where he served a year on the AMS Council as president of the Education Undergraduate Society. After graduating with his BEd in 1967, he and Arlene married on August 12, 1967.
Wayne and Arlene moved to Endako, B.C. and both taught at Fraser Lake for a year, before returning to the Fraser Valley and settling in Langley, where Wayne was appointed as a head teacher. Both completed another year of university training through summer sessions and a once-a-week trip to U.B.C. from Langley during one winter. While teaching full time, Wayne undertook graduate studies in Education Administration and earned his MA (Educ. Admin.) from S.F.U. in 1975. Wayne served on the executive of the Langley Teachers' Association, including the position of president, and also served as chairman of his church board for many years.
In 1976 Wayne was assigned as principal of an elementary school, a position he held for 25 years until he retired from teaching in 2001. In Langley Wayne served as a head teacher in two schools, and as principal (while continuing to teach) at four schools. His teaching career spanned five decades, and he touched many lives in a positive way as he thoroughly enjoyed working with the young children.
Wayne joined the Rotary Club of Langley in 1988 and was quickly elected to the executive board. He has held almost every position in the club, including serving as president in 1994- 1995, the year he sponsored the first woman to join the Langley club.
After he retired from his day job, Wayne accepted the position of Assistant Governor for Area B, and his three year term lasted four years. He took on additional District duties, and has served as District Grants Subcommittee Chair and World Community Service Chair for two years, and as a member of the Scholarship Committee. In 2007 Wayne chaired the District Conference, and enjoyed working with a planning committee whose members came from many Rotary clubs.
Wayne and Arlene are proud of their children. Michael (and his wife Lisa) and Alison and new granddaughter, Katrina, live locally, and all three children are Paul Harris Fellows.
Wayne and Arlene enjoy travelling and have visited many parts of our world, with more places "on the list" to be seen. Cruising has replaced camping as a comfortable way of holidaying . With Wayne's increased Rotary involvement, future trips are being planned around Rotary functions, and continue to be a high priority.
