Anderson, Val

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Anderson, Val

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        1929-2006

        History

        The Reverend Valentine Jackson Anderson (known also as Val Anderson) was a United Church Minister, professor of Pastoral Theology at Union College (now Vancouver School of Theology), avid community volunteer and a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

        Val Anderson was born on February 14, 1929 in Saskatchewan. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1950, a Diploma in Theology from St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon in 1953, and a Bachelor of Divinity in 1963, also from St. Andrew’s College. Val also did post-graduate work in Princeton and Boston (1963-1964).

        Val married Joyce, who is also from Saskatchewan, on July 16, 1952 when they were both student ministers at St. Andrew’s College.

        Valentine Anderson was ordained in 1953 in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. As a minister, he served in three United Church pastorates in Saskatchewan – Smeaton (1953-1955), Gravelbourg (1956-1958) and Regina (1959-1962). He was also a weekend supply minister while attending graduate school in Princeton and Boston (1963-1964). He was also a part-time associate minister at Japanese Nisei UC, at South Arm UC in Richmond and at Knox UC in Kerrisdale. Val served as Minister of Grace United Church and Marpole United Church, the latter being his final pastorate and where he became Minister Emeritus of Marpole United Church.

        Val started the first Conference insert in the UC Observer and chaired the Vancouver South Presbytery, where he was a member for 40 years.

        He spent seven years at Union College as professor of Pastoral Theology (1965-1971). During his time there, Union College amalgamated with Anglican Theological College to form Vancouver School of Theology (VST).

        Val sat on and chaired numerous committees, both lay and as a UC Minister.

        Val was involved in numerous ecumenical and inter-faith activities. He was the first coordinator of P.O.E.M. (People’s Opportunities in Ecumenical Action). He helped to found the Vancouver Inner-City Service Project, the Airport Interfaith Ministry, the Pacific Interfaith Citizenship Association, edited the Canadian Ecumenical News for eight years. Val also helped to found Canadian Ecumenical Action (now Multi-faith Action) of which he was the Coordinator from 1997-1980. He was also the first Executive Secretary of the Vancouver Council of Churches (1972-1976) and served on The Ecumenical Forum of Canada.

        Val was also involved in numerous community service projects. He was the founding chair of the Vancouver Food Bank, chaired the Pacific Youth and Addiction Services Society, and was a founding Board member of Brock House, Elders House and the South Granville Seniors Centre. He helped to organize the BC and Vancouver Council for the Family. He served on the Federated Anti-poverty Group, The United Way of Vancouver, the Pacific Youth and Family Addiction Society and the Vancouver City Council Youth Committee. He also chaired the Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood Association, the Marpole Citizens Planning Committee and the Marpole Historical Society.

        Val received many awards and honours in recognition of his contributions to his community. Among them was an award from the Social Justice Foundation of BC as well the Good Neighbour Award from the Greater Vancouver Association of Neighbourhood Houses.

        Val was elected to the British Columbia Legislature in 1991 and served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for 13 ½ years.

        Valentine Anderson died on March 30, 2006 in Vancouver, B.C.

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        United Church of Canada British Columbia Conference Archives

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        Created January 8, 2010

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