George Epp

1928 – 1993

April 22, 2002, Chilliwack Progress.

George Epp was a teacher at Rosedale Junior Secondary School, Chilliwack, BC, from 1973-1990, where he aided in facilitating numerous extracurricular activities. Among these was a two-way exchange between Rosedale Students and students of L'Ecole Polyvalente Massey-Vanier, in Cowansville, Quebec, where Epp organized the exchange itinerary.

In 1989 Epp became the Coordinator of the Chilliwack School Gardening Program, which also saw him judge numerous student gardening competitions. Epp was also involved in student fitness, being a member of the Rosedale 100-mile club, and participating yearly in the annual Rosedale four-mile cross-country race. Furthermore, Epp, acting as a student counselor, aided a student in gaining work experience placements with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 1984.

Outside of his teaching career Epp was an active member of Chilliwack's local Mennonite community. In 1974 he sat as the Chairman of Christian Education at Broadway Mennonite Brethren Church, and participated in the Mennonite World Conference in 1978.

Garry De Last wants George Epp to have some public recognition program, “because Mr. Epp has, for some time, been using his retirement to better his community."



“This man raises money to help other people,” Mr. De Laat writes to the PFYT. “He’s 73 years old and he rides his bicycle hundreds of miles a year to raise money for a number of camps and for several causes.”

He also cleans roads.

In fact, Mr. Epp was on the first proponents and supports of the City’s Adopt a Road program.

“If you see Mr. Epp on the road, please honk and wave,” asked Mr. de Laat “Let him know that you appreciate what he is doing.”

Mr. De Laat believes we all should follow Mr. Epp’s example by keeping our roads clean and by helping other people.

“I see Mr. Epp out there all the time,” concludes Mr. De Laat. “And I want to tell him: “God be with you.”.

NOTE: A story about Mr. Epp and the Adopt-a-Road Program appeared in the April 12th Progress. As I prepared that story, Mr. Epp told me he likes to take the Adopt-A-Road one step further.

“As I clean my ‘adopted’ road, any beer or pop cans I pick up, I cash in and give the refund to charity," Mr. Epp told me. “So it’s clear that being a part of the “Adopt -A-Road program not only keeps the city clean, but can earn the participating group a little cash too.”