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Good morning, Langley!
Welcome to today's edition of the Langley Roundup, your daily update of news that matters to working folks in our community (and beyond).
Today we're diving into some encouraging transit news from our own backyard, mourning losses on our dangerous roads, and celebrating the grassroots events that make our community special.
We've also got some troubling developments on the environmental front and inspiring sports stories featuring local talent.
Let's dive in!
Local Langley News
Langley City and Township Lead Metro Vancouver in Transit Growth as Car-Free Trips Surge
Residents of both Langley City and the Township of Langley are ditching their cars at unprecedented rates, with both municipalities recording Metro Vancouver's largest increases in transit ridership and doubled walking trips between 2017 and 2023.
TransLink's comprehensive trip diary reveals that 14% of all trips starting in Langley City are now made on foot, with nearly one-third of intra-city trips being walking trips.
The shift represents a meaningful challenge to car-centric development patterns that have long prioritized parking minimums over people-friendly communities, suggesting residents are embracing the kind of dense, walkable urbanism that makes sustainable transportation viable.
Langley's Spiciest Community Event Returns This Saturday
The Tears of Joy Hot Sauce Expo brings together BC's award-winning hot sauce producers, local punk bands, and spice lovers of all tolerance levels this Saturday at Langley Riders Society from 10 AM to 3:30 PM.
The free community event features hot pepper eating contests, beer tastings, food trucks, and family-friendly activities that celebrate local artisans and small businesses rather than corporate food chains.
With free parking at George Preston and something for everyone from spice newbies to scoville masters, the expo represents the kind of grassroots community organizing that builds solidarity and supports working-class entrepreneurs over bland corporate alternatives.
Tragic Loss on Langley Roads: Second Fatal Motorcycle Crash This Month
A motorcyclist died Wednesday evening after being hit by a vehicle at 200th Street and 80th Avenue near the Langley Events Centre, marking the second fatal motorcycle crash in the city within a week.
Police closed part of the intersection for several hours as investigators worked the scene, with Langley RCMP asking witnesses to come forward with information.
The tragedy follows Sunday's deadly motorcycle crash on Highway 1 westbound, highlighting dangerous road conditions for vulnerable users in a region where car-centric infrastructure continues to prioritize vehicle speed over safety for all road users.
Historic Hilltop Cafe Gets Second Life as Car Dealership Office
Diverse Auto Group has converted the beloved Hilltop Cafe into a car dealership office, preserving the exterior of the 1946 heritage building that served truckers, travelers, and locals for nearly eight decades on Fraser Highway.
While the dealership kept the structure intact and maintained its roadside charm, they had to remove the iconic "Home of Famous Pies" sign after customers kept arriving expecting the shuttered restaurant to still be open.
The conversion marks the end of an era for a community landmark that once provided an affordable gathering place for working folks, though the building's preservation ensures this piece of Langley's roadside history won't be demolished for another strip mall.
Regional Vancouver / Fraser Valley News
Tragedy Strikes Golden Ears: Dive Team Recovers Drowning Victim
A water recreation outing at Golden Ears Park's Alouette Lake turned tragic when a man fell off his paddleboard and failed to resurface, prompting a police dive team recovery operation.
The incident highlights the ongoing water safety concerns at popular recreational lakes throughout the Fraser Valley, where paddleboarding and other water activities attract thousands of visitors during summer months.
Despite the man's initial ability to enjoy the water activity, the sudden fall from his paddleboard proved fatal, serving as a sobering reminder of how quickly water recreation can turn dangerous.
The police dive team's successful recovery operation demonstrates the specialized resources available for such emergencies, though it underscores the importance of water safety measures and proper flotation devices for all water activities.
HUB Cycling Needs Your Help to Keep Fighting for Safe Streets
HUB Cycling, the grassroots organization that has won protected bike lanes and safer intersections across Metro Vancouver, is calling on supporters to register as fundraisers for their Bike the Night campaign to sustain the fight for car-free infrastructure.
With prizes ranging from HUB t-shirts to refurbished bikes and DoorDash gift cards, the fundraising drive aims to build resources for continued advocacy that makes transportation more affordable for working families while reducing climate pollution through cycling infrastructure.
As funding challenges threaten many community organizations, HUB's campaign represents a critical moment for residents who believe our streets should prioritize people over cars to step up and support the organization that has consistently challenged car-centric development and won real victories for vulnerable road users across the region.
Learn More / Start Fundraising
National Canadian News
Indigenous Voices Rise: Métis Federation Boycotts Prime Minister's Summit Over Broken Promises
The Manitoba Métis Federation has delivered a powerful message to Ottawa by refusing to participate in Prime Minister Mark Carney's summit on major projects legislation.
The boycott represents growing frustration among Indigenous leaders over the federal government's approach to consultation and meaningful participation in decisions affecting their communities and traditional territories.
The Manitoba Métis Federation's absence from the high-profile summit sends a clear signal that Indigenous peoples will not be tokenized or sidelined in processes that fundamentally impact their rights and sovereignty.
This move highlights the ongoing tension between federal promises of reconciliation and the actual implementation of Indigenous-led decision-making in resource development and infrastructure projects.
The boycott could inspire other Indigenous organizations to take similar stands, potentially forcing a fundamental rethink of how Canada engages with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples on major policy decisions.
When the Heat Rises, So Does the Danger: Climate Change Fueling Domestic Violence Crisis
A disturbing pattern is emerging across Canada as rising temperatures correlate with increased reports of domestic violence, revealing an unexpected consequence of climate change.
Excessive heat doesn't just stress the body—it significantly impacts mental health and leads to heightened aggression, with women, girls, and vulnerable communities bearing the brunt of this dangerous trend.
The connection between extreme weather events and domestic violence represents a critical intersection of climate science and social justice that demands immediate attention from policymakers and support organizations.
As Canada experiences more frequent and intense heat waves due to climate change, understanding and addressing this link becomes essential for protecting the most vulnerable members of society.
The research highlights how environmental stressors can amplify existing social problems, creating a cascade of harm that extends far beyond the immediate effects of hot weather.
Swiss Mining Giant Pushes Forward with Coal Expansion in BC Despite International Water Crisis
Elk Valley Resources has submitted a revised plan for the Fording River Extension Project, a massive mountaintop-removal coal mining operation that would destroy Castle Mountain in southeast B.C. and threaten already-polluted waterways.
The Glencore-backed expansion would strip-mine over 2,000 hectares of irreplaceable high-elevation grasslands while adding more selenium-contaminated waste rock to a region where pollution levels already exceed safety guidelines by 20 times, poisoning fish habitat across the Canada-U.S. border.
Despite scaling back the proposal after fierce resistance from the Ktunaxa Nation, the project epitomizes how extractive capitalism prioritizes corporate profits over Indigenous sovereignty and environmental protection, pushing forward even as an international inquiry examines the devastating transboundary water crisis caused by existing coal operations.
David Suzuki Warns Against Corporate Deregulation Disguised as Economic Progress
Renowned scientist David Suzuki exposes how politicians are using economic fear-mongering to dismantle environmental protections.
Bills like Ontario's "Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act" grant unprecedented power to bypass Indigenous rights and ecological safeguards in favor of extractive industries.
The narrative that environmental regulations hinder progress has become so successful that Alberta and Ontario premiers are demanding the federal government repeal key environmental laws under the guise of countering U.S. trade policy.
Suzuki argues that these corporate-friendly stories prioritize short-term resource extraction profits over long-term ecological health.
Indigenous nations continue leading the resistance against deregulation that threatens both constitutional rights and the foundational ecosystems that make any economy possible.
Sports News
🏒 Vancouver Giants Welcome Home a Memorial Cup Hero
The Vancouver Giants are bringing back a piece of their championship history as they hire Wacey Rabbit, a key player from their 2007 Memorial Cup victory, as their new assistant coach.
Rabbit, who is from the Kainai First Nation in Alberta, spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, where the team achieved remarkable success with two 100-point regular seasons and back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances in 2023 and 2024.
His playing career included 259 regular season WHL games and a pivotal role in the Giants' 2007 playoff run, where he recorded 11 goals and 20 points, plus two goals and three points in five Memorial Cup games. The hiring represents both a homecoming and a strategic move to bring championship experience to the Giants' coaching staff for the 2025-26 season.
🎾 Canadian Tennis Sensation Victoria Mboko Storms Into National Bank Open Final
Victoria Mboko is continuing her incredible Cinderella story at the National Bank Open, as the 18-year-old Canadian tennis phenom secured her spot in tonight's final with a dramatic victory.
The young sensation faces four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in what promises to be an electrifying championship match, capping off a tournament run that has captured the imagination of tennis fans across the country.
Mboko's journey to the final represents a breakthrough moment for Canadian tennis, as she has defeated seasoned professionals and higher-ranked opponents with a combination of fearless play and clutch performance under pressure.
Her appearance in the final not only showcases the depth of Canadian tennis talent but also provides inspiration for young athletes across the country who dream of competing at the highest levels of international sport.
⚽ German Legend Thomas Müller Shocks Soccer World with Vancouver Whitecaps Move
In one of the most stunning transfers in Major League Soccer history, Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller is bringing his World Cup-winning experience to Vancouver.
The 35-year-old German superstar, who has won numerous Bundesliga titles and played in multiple World Cups, announced his move to the Whitecaps in a social media video where he holds up his new #13 jersey and declares "Let's make history."
Müller's signing represents an unprecedented coup for the Vancouver franchise and MLS as a whole, bringing a player of genuine global stature to the league.
The move could transform the Whitecaps both on and off the pitch, potentially attracting new fans, sponsors, and international attention to the Vancouver soccer scene while providing invaluable leadership and experience to younger players.
🏀 Basketball Dreams Realized: Indigenous Player Signs Professional Contract in Thailand
Seth McKenzie from Ebb and Flow First Nation is taking his basketball talents international after securing a professional contract to play in Thailand following his successful college career.
The young athlete's journey from his Manitoba First Nation community to the professional courts of Southeast Asia represents both personal achievement and inspiration for Indigenous youth across Canada.
McKenzie's success demonstrates the global opportunities available to talented athletes who combine skill, determination, and educational achievement through college basketball programs.
His professional contract in Thailand not only fulfills his own athletic dreams but also serves as a powerful example for other Indigenous athletes that international professional sports careers are achievable goals with proper preparation and perseverance.
Events Happening Today
KatMoon Band Concert
- Time: 5:30 pm
- Location: Douglas Park Spirit Square - 20550 Douglas Crescent,
- Description: KatMoon invites the community out to enjoy an evening of live music in Douglas Park. This is the fifth in a series of free concerts the band will be performing this summer at the Spirit Square.
- About the Band: KatMoon is a 4 piece band from Langley, BC. Our group was formed in 2022, with decades of performing experience between us. Our style is best described as Indie, with a strong focus on vocal harmony. While we cut our teeth on cover tunes, we are now performing a variety of original material. We love what we do and enjoy sharing it with the community!
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