Happy Thursday, Langley!
As spring blossoms across the Fraser Valley, our communities are coming alive with events, initiatives, and important developments that reflect both local pride and broader societal conversations.
From family-friendly gatherings and water park fun to senior celebrations and public safety updates, today's headlines capture the heart of what matters most to residents.
Local Langley News
TONIGHT: Meet Langley City Firefighters at Free Community Open House
The Langley City Fire Rescue Service invites residents to a free, family-friendly open house tonight (Thursday, May 8) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fire Hall on 203 Street
The event will feature opportunities to meet local firefighters, take photos with Sparky the Fire Dog, and learn crucial fire safety information.
With this year's theme "Smoke Alarms Save Lives," the event aims to educate families about the importance of working smoke alarms as the first line of defense in home safety.
The fully accessible fire hall welcomes all community members, though attendees are encouraged to use alternative transportation due to limited parking.
Aldergrove Waterpark Season Begins May 16 with Priority Access for Township Residents
The Outdoor Experience waterpark at Aldergrove Community Centre will open for its 2025 season on May 16, initially operating weekends only until switching to daily operations from June 27 through September.
Township of Langley residents receive priority registration privileges, with booking available 10 days in advance compared to 7 days for non-residents, and all visitors must register online in advance as drop-ins are not permitted.
Despite the 25-meter pool, diving boards, and rope swing being unavailable due to resurfacing work, guests can still enjoy numerous attractions including the Roller Soakers slides, Breaker Bay tidal pool, Canyon Creek river channel, and various water play features in what's promoted as "the Lower Mainland's most affordable waterpark".
Free Seniors Week Activity Pass Available for Langley City Residents 60+
Langley City is partnering with local organizations to celebrate BC Seniors Week (June 2-8, 2025) with a range of free activities for residents aged 60 and over.
Beginning May 5, seniors can register for a free Seniors Week Activity Pass that provides access to workshops, lawn bowling and pickleball lessons, step-by-step painting classes, a mobile hearing clinic, and various sports and fitness activities throughout the city.
The initiative, organized in collaboration with the Langley Lawn Bowling Club, Fraser Valley Regional Library, Langley Arts Council, and Ears to You, aims to honor seniors' valuable contributions to the community while promoting active living and social connection.
Cloverdale Awarded New Junior Hockey Team
Hockey fans in Cloverdale have reason to celebrate as the community has been awarded a new Junior 'A' franchise in the Pacific Junior Hockey League. The team is scheduled to take to the ice for the 2025-2026 season, bringing exciting junior hockey action to the area. This development marks a significant boost to local sports culture and provides new opportunities for young hockey players in the region.
Regional Vancouver / Fraser Valley News
BC Launches Major Clean Energy Initiative Despite Concerns Over Fossil Fuel Expansion
Premier David Eby has announced an ambitious clean power action plan that will see BC Hydro purchasing up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of energy annually from renewable projects with mandated 25% First Nations ownership.
While First Nations leaders and environmental groups have welcomed the initiative, critics express concern that new clean power could ultimately support expansion of the province's fossil fuel industry rather than focusing exclusively on reducing emissions.
Energy Minister Adrian Dix acknowledged the province won't discriminate in how the energy will be used, stating "our energy position allows us to drive the economy" for everything from electrifying buildings to powering LNG projects.
Critics like Clean Energy Canada's Evan Pivnick argue BC still lacks a comprehensive integrated energy framework to guide the province's clean energy transition.
Planned Burn to Combat 2023 B.C. Wildfire Put Firefighters at Risk
WorkSafeBC has revealed that a planned ignition intended to combat a 2023 wildfire in the Shuswap region led to a dangerous entrapment situation for firefighters on the ground. The investigation found serious safety planning deficiencies, noting "no consideration towards ground resource co-ordination was part of the planning process." This report highlights critical gaps in wildfire response protocols that endangered first responders and emphasizes the need for improved safety measures in future operations.
New Water Meter Program to Help Small Communities Across B.C.
A provincial initiative is set to bring significant relief to small communities across British Columbia through a new water meter program. The funding will help residents save money on water bills while providing crucial infrastructure support to rural municipalities that often struggle with water management costs. This program represents an important step toward more sustainable water usage in smaller B.C. towns.
Billionaire Whitecaps Owner's Stadium Plans Raise Questions About Public Land Use
The Vancouver Whitecaps and city officials are in talks about building a team-owned stadium on public park land at the PNE fairgrounds, raising concerns about potential privatization of public space and taxpayer subsidies.
Team owner Greg Kerfoot, who bought the Whitecaps for $30 million in 2002 and has seen their value increase to $470 million, is simultaneously working with Goldman Sachs to sell the team while pursuing this stadium deal that could significantly increase the franchise's value.
Mayor Ken Sim has publicly declared "we will do whatever we can, within our power, that makes sense for the residents of Vancouver to keep the team in the region," language that critics note resembles what former US Labor Secretary Robert Reich calls "the sports stadium scam playbook" where billionaire owners leverage city fears of losing teams to secure favorable public subsidies.
National Canadian News
Don Davies to Chart a Course for NDP as Interim Leader
Longtime Vancouver politician Don Davies has been appointed as the interim leader of the New Democratic Party following Jagmeet Singh's post-election resignation.
In his new role, Davies emphasized the need to reconnect with working people, stating "We need to take a hard look at how we got to where we are, and we need a clear view of where we're going."
As the MP for Vancouver-Kingsway since 2008, Davies brings extensive experience to guide the party during this transitional period until a permanent leader is selected.
Film Workers on Both Sides of the Border Would Be Hurt by Proposed Trump Movie Tariffs
Canadian and American film industry workers are raising alarm over Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on foreign-produced films.
Industry unions like ACTRA and IATSE warn the tariffs would destabilize cross-border industry collaboration and threaten thousands of jobs on both sides of the border. Economic experts caution that expanding the trade war to digital services risks undermining one of America's unique advantages while further damaging Canada's already struggling economy.
Analysis: How Poilievre Rebranded Conservatives as Workers' Champions While Maintaining Corporate Agenda
Pierre Poilievre has orchestrated a dramatic rebranding of the Conservative Party through carefully calculated rhetoric against "corporate elites" and "billionaires," strategic shop floor visits, and tactical support for select pro-worker legislation like the Fairness for Flight Attendants Act.
Despite his long history of opposing unions and worker protections during his decade in government, Poilievre's messaging shift has yielded significant results with polls showing Conservatives now leading among both private and public sector unionized workers.
Behind this transformation is a deliberate realignment strategy crafted by Conservative intellectuals like Ben Woodfinden and Ginny Roth, who recognized that combining economic populist messaging with culture war politics could build a new working-class coalition while maintaining traditional conservative economic policies that ultimately benefit corporations over workers.
Suzuki: Canada's New Government Must Show Courage on Climate
David Suzuki is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to demonstrate bold climate leadership despite the challenges of working with a climate-skeptic United States.
Suzuki points to Carney's own statements from his days as Bank of England governor, when he warned that "once climate change becomes a defining issue for financial stability, it may already be too late."
With renewable energy now more cost-effective than fossil fuels, Canada has an opportunity to increase energy independence by leveraging abundant clean energy resources while ensuring just transitions for fossil fuel workers.
Sports News
⚽ Vancouver FC Advances in Canadian Championship with Thrilling Penalty Shootout Victory over Rival Pacific FC
Vancouver FC secured a historic first Canadian Championship win Tuesday, defeating Pacific FC 4-2 in penalties after regular time ended 1-1 at Langford.
Goalkeeper Callum Irving delivered a standout performance, stopping two crucial Pacific FC penalties while David Norman Jr. scored the decisive spot kick.
The hard-fought victory advances Langley's team to a quarterfinal rematch against CPL champion Cavalry FC, continuing their pursuit of the prestigious Voyageurs Cup and the $50,000 prize that comes with it.
🥍 Aldergrove's Thunder Open Season with Victory
The Aldergrove Thunder have started their season on a high note with an impressive opening win.
Now operating as part of the Langley Minor Lacrosse Association, the team showcased strong teamwork and determination in their debut performance.
The victory signals a promising season ahead for this newly integrated squad as they establish their presence in the local lacrosse community.
🥍 Del Bianco Trade Fuels Vancouver Warriors' Playoff Run at Rogers Arena
The Vancouver Warriors' acquisition of star goaltender Christian Del Bianco from the Calgary Roughnecks sparked a six-game winning streak to end the regular season.
This winning streak has propelled them to their first playoff appearance since being purchased by the Vancouver Canucks in 2018.
After finishing fourth in the 14-team National Lacrosse League with an 11-7 record, the Warriors defeated the Rochester Knighthawks in the quarterfinals before being eliminated by the two-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits in the semifinals.
Head coach and GM Cory Malawsky, who joined Vancouver from Calgary two summers ago, believes the team is attracting homegrown talent who prefer not having to travel every weekend for games.
🏈 Training Camp 2025: Time for the Philosophical Question - Just Who Are the B.C. Lions Going to Be?
As the B.C. Lions prepare for their upcoming training camp, the team faces fundamental questions about their identity with numerous new faces in prominent positions. Following significant roster changes, coaches and players will need to gel quickly as they determine the team's strategic direction and playing style. The camp represents a critical period of discovery and development as the Lions seek to establish their competitive edge in the upcoming CFL season.
Please let us know what you thought of this article!