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Good morning, Langley!
Today we spotlight a handful of local news stories, including the stark contrast between how the Township and the City handle their relationships with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, public consultation from the Township surrounding the Little Campbell River (also known as Tatalu), and potential parking changes coming to Langley City.
Also, be sure to check out Dead Frog Brewing's "Lord of the Rings" Trivia Night tonight at 7pm!
From grassroots organizing against austerity cuts to local entrepreneurs making their mark, we're covering the stories that connect personal struggles to systemic change, always through the lens of collective action and community solidarity.
Local Langley News
Langley City shows true allyship after Township considers moving Pride crosswalk to appease vandals
Mayor Nathan Pachal raised the rainbow flag at Langley City Hall for the ninth consecutive year, delivering a powerful message about defending 2SLGBTQIA+ rights against organized erasure campaigns.
Pachal's defiant stance that "we're not going away" contrasts sharply with neighboring Langley Township's Councillor Tim Baillie's proposal to move the Township's rainbow crosswalk away from public view, a move critics argue amounts to appeasing vandals and bigots rather than confronting hate.
The City's celebration featured the Langley Pride Society and Friends of Dorothy youth group, emphasizing year-round commitment to queer visibility, while the Township's consideration of relocating their Pride symbol suggests a troubling willingness to let vandals dictate public policy.
This stark difference highlights how genuine allyship requires standing firm against hatred rather than offering "compromise" solutions that ultimately serve developer interests and anti-2SLGBTQIA+ agendas at the expense of community members who need visible representation most.
New Parking Strategy Could Transform Downtown Langley Experience
Langley City is proposing significant changes to its parking management strategy that could revolutionize how residents and visitors navigate downtown areas.
The comprehensive plan includes introducing varied parking time limits, with 2-hour street parking and 4-hour limits in public lots, plus expanded monthly parking spaces for downtown workers.
The city also plans to implement better wayfinding systems to help people locate public parking lots more easily, and is exploring residential permit parking for high-demand areas north of the Nicomekl River.
Consultation with the community regarding these changes is scheduled for this fall, with modernized enforcement including automated license plate readers also on the horizon.
Township seeks resident input on Little Campbell Riverr (Tatalu) environmental planning
Langley residents have a chance to shape how development affects their local watershed through a new survey on the Little Campbell River Integrated Stormwater Management Plan.
The Township's public engagement initiative reflects growing recognition that community voices must guide environmental planning decisions, particularly as climate change intensifies flooding risks and threatens biodiversity.
This participatory approach to watershed management offers residents direct input into policies that will determine whether future development prioritizes ecological health and community resilience over profit-driven sprawl.
Visit www.tol.ca/lcr-ismp to participate in this important community planning process.
Township promotes sustainable building practices through free educational workshops
Langley is advancing community knowledge about high-performance, climate-friendly construction through a series of free educational events targeting builders, realtors, and residents.
The upcoming Builder Forum on July 30 will focus on small-scale multi-unit housing and energy efficiency standards, offering practical guidance for creating affordable, sustainable housing that serves working families rather than luxury developers.
This initiative represents a shift toward community-controlled development that prioritizes environmental responsibility and housing accessibility over profit margins.
The Township's commitment to free, accredited education empowers local builders and residents to challenge car-dependent sprawl by promoting dense, energy-efficient housing that reduces both environmental impact and living costs for ordinary people.
Little Entrepreneurs Make Big Splash at Aldergrove Lemonade Competition
The Aldergrove Business Association's third annual lemonade stand competition brought out the entrepreneurial spirit in local kids this weekend.
Young participants set up creative lemonade stands throughout the community, competing for prizes while learning valuable business skills. The event has become a beloved summer tradition that combines fun with education, giving children hands-on experience in customer service, money management, and marketing.
Winners were celebrated for their creativity, presentation, and of course, the quality of their lemonade.
Langley Arts Council Unveils New Support Program for BC Artists
The Aldergrove-based Langley Arts Council has launched an ambitious new initiative designed to create fresh opportunities for artists throughout British Columbia.
The program aims to provide enhanced support, resources, and networking opportunities for creative professionals in the region. Council organizers are working to address gaps in artist support services, recognizing the vital role that arts and culture play in community development.
The initiative comes at a time when many artists are still recovering from pandemic-related challenges and seeking new avenues for professional growth and artistic expression.
Regional Vancouver / Fraser Valley News
Evacuation Alerts Issued as Fraser Canyon Wildfire Continues to Grow
The Cantilever Bar wildfire, located 12 kilometres south of Lytton near the famous Cisco train bridges, has grown to 150 hectares and triggered evacuation alerts for area residents.
The fire is burning on the west side of the Fraser River in the scenic Fraser Canyon region, an area still recovering from the devastating 2021 wildfire and flooding events. Firefighting crews are actively working to contain the blaze, but challenging terrain and weather conditions are complicating suppression efforts.
The proximity to critical transportation infrastructure, including the historic railway bridges, adds urgency to containment efforts as authorities monitor the situation closely.
Indigenous Community Celebrates Cultural Connections Through Canoe Journey
Surrey participants have joined the annual Pulling Together Canoe Journey, a powerful event that bridges Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities through traditional practices.
The journey brings together Indigenous Peoples, youth, police officers, and public service personnel in a shared cultural experience that promotes understanding and reconciliation. Participants paddle traditional canoes while learning about Indigenous history, traditions, and the significance of these waterways to First Nations communities.
The event serves as both a cultural education opportunity and a team-building exercise that strengthens relationships between Indigenous communities and public institutions.
National Canadian News
Carney's austerity agenda threatens over 50,000 federal jobs, hitting working families hardest
New research indicates that proposed federal government cuts under Prime Minister Mark Carney could result in the loss of more than 50,000 jobs across Canada's public service.
The analysis suggests that agencies including the Canada Revenue Agency, Employment and Social Development Canada, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada would likely see the largest reductions.
Public Service Alliance of Canada representatives have been meeting with Treasury Board officials to discuss the potential impacts of these cuts.
The job losses would represent one of the most significant reductions to the federal workforce in recent Canadian history, potentially affecting service delivery across multiple government departments and programs that millions of Canadians rely upon.
Military veteran Bonnie Critchley challenges Poilievre's opportunistic seat-shopping in Alberta
Afghanistan war veteran Bonnie Critchley is mounting an independent challenge against Pierre Poilievre in Battle River-Crowfoot, calling out the Conservative leader's cynical decision to parachute into rural Alberta after losing his Ontario seat to working-class voters who rejected his anti-public service agenda.
The fifth-generation military veteran, who made history as one of the first women in Canadian combat arms and now advocates for veterans struggling with PTSD, represents the kind of authentic grassroots leadership that corporate politicians fear most.
Critchley's campaign exposes how establishment parties treat rural communities as disposable political commodities, forcing out locally-elected representatives to accommodate failed national leaders who prioritize partisan ambition over genuine community representation.
Her challenge threatens to reveal the hollowness of Poilievre's populist rhetoric when confronted by a real working-class hero with actual ties to the community.
Sports News
🏉 BC Bears U-19 Rugby Team Makes History at National Championships
British Columbia's youth rugby teams delivered outstanding performances at the Canadian Rugby Championships, with the U-19 squad achieving a historic victory that puts BC rugby on the national map.
The young athletes competed against teams from across Canada, showcasing the strength and depth of rugby talent being developed in the province.
Their success represents years of training, dedication, and the growing popularity of rugby among BC youth. The championship victory not only brings recognition to the individual players but also highlights the quality of coaching and development programs available in British Columbia's rugby community.
🏃♂️ Vancouver's First-Ever "Costco Marathon" Brings Community Together in Unique Challenge
Vancouver witnessed its inaugural "Costco Marathon" over the weekend, a grassroots event that transformed the concept of big-box shopping into an unconventional long-distance running experience.
The DIY marathon took participants on a unique route that incorporated multiple Costco locations, creating a community-driven running event that was as quirky as it was challenging.
Organizers and participants embraced the absurdity of the concept while building genuine camaraderie among runners who were looking for something different from traditional road races.
The event showcased Vancouver's creative running community and their willingness to turn everyday locations into venues for athletic achievement and social connection.
Events Happening Today
LORD OF THE RINGS TRIVIA AT DEAD FROG
- Time: 7:00pm
- Location: Dead Frog Brewery, 8860 201 St #105, Langley, BC V2Y 0C8
- Description: A wise wizard once said “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
We have the answer! Spend that time drinking fresh craft beer while competing in Lord of the Rings Trivia at Dead Frog Brewery & Tasting Room! 🧙🍺
*Prizes to be won!
*Must be 19+ - Email tastingroom@deadfrog.ca for reservations.
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