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Good morning, Langley!
It's a pleasant 17°C start to your Monday, September 8th, with partly cloudy skies expected to give way to more sunshine as we head toward a high of 23°C.
It's perfect weather for those library activities happening around town this afternoon, whether you're planning to drop by the City of Langley Library for Babytime or LEGO Club, or heading to Aldergrove for Monday Crafternoon.
We're kicking off the week with some encouraging local news as Langley City continues to exceed provincial housing expectations, though a tragic shooting incident reminds us of ongoing safety concerns in our community.
Beyond Langley, the ripple effects of provincial strikes and controversial federal politics are making headlines, while school districts across the Fraser Valley grapple with transportation challenges that are creating those familiar September traffic jams we all know too well.
From housing wins to ongoing investigations, plus some exciting sports action, here's your comprehensive local and regional news roundup to start the week informed and engaged with what matters most to our community.
Local Langley News
Langley City Exceeds Provincial Housing Targets While Facing Affordability Challenges
Langley City has surpassed its first-year provincial housing target by delivering 533 new units against a required 251, demonstrating that smart planning policies can effectively boost housing production.
The City must maintain this momentum to meet the ambitious five-year goal of 1,844 new units by 2029, though current market headwinds from high financing costs are already slowing new applications.
While the province's guidance calls for more three-bedroom units and below-market housing than the City delivered this year, upcoming BC Builds projects and Lions Housing expansion will help address these gaps.
However, truly solving affordability will require sustained senior government investment alongside local efforts to streamline approvals and reduce car-dependent development patterns that drive up housing costs.
Fatal Shooting in Langley Taxi Under Investigation by Homicide Team
A person was killed in a taxi shooting Friday night near 200 Street and 53 Avenue in Langley, with RCMP responding to the scene just before 10:30 p.m.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has taken over the case and is examining whether the death is connected to ongoing gang conflict in B.C.
Police are investigating a related address in the 20200 block of 53A Avenue and working to identify the victim, though no additional details about motive have been released.
IHIT is asking anyone with information about the fatal shooting to come forward as the investigation continues.
Housing Market Blues Continue Through August
The late-summer slump in Langley's real estate market shows no signs of letting up, with August numbers reflecting continued challenges for both buyers and sellers.
Market analysts are pointing to a combination of high interest rates and economic uncertainty as key factors keeping the housing market in a holding pattern.
Local realtors report that properties are staying on the market longer than expected, while potential buyers remain cautious about making major financial commitments.
Wagner Hills Treatment Facility Unveils New Housing Unit
A significant milestone in addiction treatment has been reached with the opening of Wagner Hills' brand new housing unit in Glen Valley.
The facility distinguishes itself with private rooms for residents, a state-of-the-art gymnasium for physical rehabilitation, and dedicated art spaces for creative therapy programs.
The new unit represents a modern approach to addiction recovery that emphasizes dignity and comprehensive care for those seeking help.
🚴 Provincial BMX Championships Bring High-Speed Action to Langley
The Provincial BMX Championships are underway in Langley, showcasing the province's top young riders competing for titles across multiple age categories.
The event features the debut of a state-of-the-art starting gate that promises to enhance both rider safety and race fairness.
Spectators are being treated to high-speed action as riders navigate challenging jumps and tight turns on the purpose-built track.
⛸️ Aldergrove Synchronized Skaters Launch Creative Fundraising Campaign
The Aldergrove synchronized skating team is working in perfect harmony not just on the ice, but also in their efforts to raise funds for upcoming competition travel.
The team has organized a variety of creative fundraising activities to help offset the significant costs associated with traveling to provincial and potentially national competitions.
Their coordinated approach mirrors the teamwork they display during their routines, with families and community members joining forces to support these talented young athletes.
Regional Vancouver / Fraser Valley News
B.C. Public Service Union to Escalate Strike Action as Job Action Enters Fifth Day
The B.C. General Employees' Union will announce the next phase of its public service strike this morning, with president Paul Finch speaking at a Surrey picket line as the job action enters its fifth consecutive day.
The union representing over 34,000 provincial workers has been picketing government sites across B.C. since Tuesday, including locations in Victoria, Surrey, Prince George, and the Royal BC Museum.
Key union demands include competitive wage increases and fair access to telework arrangements, as the strike continues to disrupt government services across the province.
The escalation comes as negotiations between the union and the provincial government remain at an impasse over worker compensation and flexible work policies.
School Bus Cuts Drive September Traffic Chaos
B.C. school districts are slashing bus services and hiking fees, forcing more parents into cars and creating the notorious September traffic jams that clog commutes across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
Surrey has cut its busing budget while Maple Ridge has eliminated routes entirely, with many districts now charging families $300-400 per student as transportation funding gets diverted to classrooms instead of wheels.
The result is a vicious cycle where car-dependent sprawl makes walking dangerous, prompting more driving that creates the very traffic safety concerns parents fear, while school boards face impossible choices between buses and teachers.
Cities promoting transit ridership find themselves undermined by education policies that push families back into vehicles, demonstrating how fragmented government priorities sabotage broader goals of reducing car dependency and building walkable communities.
National Canadian News
Carney Under Fire for Inviting Project 2025 Architect to Cabinet Meeting
Prime Minister Mark Carney faced intense criticism from within his own Liberal caucus after inviting Kevin Roberts, the Heritage Foundation president who architected Trump's far-right Project 2025 blueprint, to address cabinet this week.
Two sitting Liberal MPs called the invitation "mind-boggling" and "an utter disgrace," while a former Trudeau adviser questioned why the government would engage with someone actively undermining democratic norms in the U.S.
Roberts ultimately cancelled his appearance, but Carney's office says they plan to continue engagement with him and other American policy figures despite the backlash.
The controversy highlights growing tensions within the Liberal party over Carney's approach to managing the Canada-U.S. relationship as Trump implements increasingly authoritarian policies drawn directly from Roberts' Project 2025 playbook.
Alberta Set to Release Revised School Library Book Ban After Delay
The Alberta government will unveil its updated school library book ban today after postponing Friday's planned announcement to ensure clarity for school boards across the province.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said officials needed additional time to refine the ministerial order, which originally required school boards to remove books containing sexually explicit images, illustrations, audio, and written content by month's end.
The revised directive comes amid ongoing controversy over the government's approach to regulating educational materials, with school boards seeking clearer guidance on implementation.
The delay suggests the province is responding to concerns about the broad scope and practical challenges of the original order while maintaining its commitment to controlling classroom content.
Sports News
⚽ Vancouver Rise Dominate Calgary Wild 6-0 in Commanding Home Victory
The Vancouver Rise delivered a statement performance at Swangard Stadium, crushing the Calgary Wild 6-0 with goals from six different players including a 2-goal brace from Latifah Abdu.
The home side controlled the match from start to finish, outshooting Calgary 24-11 and maintaining 62% possession while goalkeeper Morgan McAslan earned a clean sheet.
With the victory, the Rise (9-5-5) move four points clear of both Ottawa Rapid and Montreal Roses in the National Soccer League standings, keeping pressure on league-leading AFC Toronto who remain six points ahead.
The comprehensive win showcases the Rise's title ambitions as they continue their strong push toward the NSL championship.
🏒 Vancouver Giants Fine-Tune Roster for Upcoming Season
The Vancouver Giants have trimmed their preseason roster to 30 players following a pair of road exhibition games, as the team shapes up for the 2025-26 WHL season.
Six players have been released from the roster, including forwards Cole Brown, Kaden Hayes, Max Malinousky, and Drew Wilkinson, along with defencemen Crosby Mateychuk and Jordan Murray.
The remaining 16 forwards, 10 defencemen, and four goaltenders will continue to battle for spots as the team prepares for their final two exhibition games at home this week.
Events Happening Today
Babytime (Drop-In)
- Time: 2:00 to 2:30pm
- Location: City of Langley Library
- Description: Make language fun! Start early with Babytime. Help your baby develop speech and language skills.
Enjoy bouncing, singing and rhyming with stories. Babytime is a fun, social bonding activity for babies and caregivers. This program is best suited to children ages 0 to 2.
Monday Crafternoon
- Time: 3:30 to 4:30pm
- Location: Aldergrove Library
- Description: Let your imagination lead the way! Get creative with a new craft project each month.
Projects are suitable for ages 4 to 7, but older kids are welcome to join.
LEGO® Club (Drop-In)
- Time: 4:00 to 5:30pm
- Location: City of Langley Library
- Description: Love LEGO®? We provide the LEGO®, you bring your imagination! Come play, experiment and create. LEGO® Club is a fun afternoon program for all.
Monday Night Game Café (Drop-In)
- Time: 4:30 to 7:00pm
- Location: City of Langley Library
- Description: Welcome to the Game Café, where everything on the menu comes with an extra serving of fun! Choose a game to play on your own, or team up with friends and family for some quality time.
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