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Happy Friday, friends!
Light rain falls over Langley this evening as temperatures hover around 8°C.
Today's roundup covers critical infrastructure challenges from highway closures stranding the Lower Mainland, receding floodwaters in Abbotsford, major progress on the Langley City Centre SkyTrain station, and a court ruling ordering Metro Vancouver to pay an additional $1.9 million for expropriated Township land.
We also highlight Langley Regional Airport's banner year, rising frustration for the Canucks, and the provincial government's firm stance against mayors requesting housing legislation reversal.
Highway closures strand Lower Mainland
Major highways connecting the Lower Mainland to the Interior were shut down Wednesday night due to flooding, falling rock and avalanche hazards.
The closures on Highways 1, 3, 5, 7, 11 and 99 leave drivers with no timeline for reopening and underscore the vulnerability of infrastructure in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
Ministry staff are on standby to clear debris once conditions are safe, with officials urging people to avoid travel unless necessary.
Abbotsford floodwaters begin to recede as Barrowtown pumps work to drain Sumas Prairie
Floodwaters in Abbotsford peaked this morning and are slowly receding, but hundreds of properties remain impacted.
The Barrowtown Pump Station floodgates are now open, moving water from the Sumas River into the Fraser, while overflow from the Nooksack River across the U.S. border continues to decrease.
City staff are developing Return Home plans for displaced residents while the Emergency Operations Centre monitors river levels and road conditions.
Langley's Airport Wraps Up a Banner Year with High-Flying Achievements
As 2025 comes to a close, the team at Langley Regional Airport (YNJ) is taking a well-deserved bow for what's been a landmark year.
The airport has been celebrating significant growth and achievements throughout the year, marking its position as an important hub for the region.
The entire YNJ team is extending warm holiday wishes and heartfelt thanks to their tenants, partners, and the broader Langley community who've supported them along the way.
It's been quite the journey, with the airport experiencing developments and milestones that have positioned it well for future growth and continued service to the community.
Langley City Centre SkyTrain station rises from the ground, pilings reach 30 metres deep
Construction is underway at the future terminus of the Expo Line in Langley City.
Ironworkers are building support columns even in heavy rain, driving pilings 30 metres down through mucky ground to reach firm bedrock.
This once-in-a-generation project will connect Langley residents to jobs and opportunities across the region, with power ducting work on Fraser Highway wrapping up next summer and the first guideway sections appearing along Industrial Avenue in 2026.
Giants' Rising Star Ryan Lin Selected for Inaugural WHL Prospects Game
The Vancouver Giants have something to crow about – their talented forward Ryan Lin has been selected to participate in the first-ever WHL Prospects Game.
The historic event is scheduled for February 18 and will be hosted right here in Langley at the Langley Events Centre. This marks a significant honour for Lin, who will showcase his skills alongside other top prospects from across the Western Hockey League.
Being chosen for this inaugural game is a testament to Lin's impressive play and potential for future success. For local hockey fans, it's an exciting opportunity to watch future hockey stars compete on home ice, and it puts both Lin and the Langley Events Centre in the spotlight for this groundbreaking WHL event.
Metro Vancouver Ordered to Pay $1.9M More for Expropriated Langley Land
A judge has ruled that Metro Vancouver must fork over an additional $1.9 million for land it expropriated in Langley for a sewage treatment plant.
The court determined that the property was expropriated for less than its fair market value, leading to this significant financial adjustment. This ruling represents a win for the property owners who challenged the original compensation offer, arguing that they deserved more for their land. The case highlights the complexities of expropriation law, where government bodies can take private property for public use but must provide fair compensation. The additional payment reflects what the court believes is a more accurate assessment of the property's true worth at the time it was taken.
Langley Township Council Takes an Extended New Year's Break
Langley Township council members have voted to cancel their January meeting, pushing the first official gathering of 2026 to the end of the month.
The decision means that residents and stakeholders will have to wait a bit longer for council business to resume in the new year. While council cancellations aren't unusual during the holiday season, this particular scheduling change moves the first meeting significantly later than might be typical. The extended break could affect the timeline for various municipal matters that require council approval or discussion. Residents with issues or items they wish to bring before council will need to adjust their expectations accordingly and plan for the late January restart.
B.C. Government Stands Firm Against Metro Vancouver Mayors' Housing Legislation Reversal Request
The provincial government has delivered a firm "no" to Metro Vancouver mayors who requested the elimination of housing legislation, declaring definitively that "we're not going backwards."
A joint letter signed by 16 mayors urged the province to end housing targets and scrap multi-unit development rules that were designed to increase housing density and availability across the region.
The mayors argued these mandates were problematic for their municipalities, but the B.C. government isn't budging on its housing strategy.
This clash highlights the ongoing tension between provincial housing goals and municipal autonomy, with the province prioritizing its efforts to address the housing crisis over local government concerns.
The housing legislation in question was intended to combat affordability issues by encouraging more housing construction, particularly multi-unit developments that can accommodate more residents in already-established neighbourhoods.
Vancouver Canucks Face Growing Frustration as Losing Streak Continues
Frustration is mounting in the Vancouver Canucks locker room as the team finds itself on the wrong side of the win column more often than they'd like.
Winger Brock Boeser candidly acknowledged that this current stretch feels different and particularly challenging for the team.
Professional athletes are no strangers to ups and downs, but this rough patch seems to be testing the Canucks in new ways. The team is struggling to find their rhythm and convert opportunities into victories, leading to increasing tension as they watch games slip away.
For a squad with playoff aspirations, every loss becomes more significant, and the mental challenge of breaking out of a slump can be just as difficult as the physical game itself.
Now the B.C. squad heads out on a five-game road trip before the holiday break, providing both an opportunity to reset and additional pressure to turn things around away from home ice.
People who are actively employed now make up nearly one in five food bank visits across Canada, more than people reporting no income at all.
The Archway Food Bank in Abbotsford serves over 6,200 people each month (including 38% children) and needs to raise $1.3 million before year's end to keep providing nutritious food hampers to neighbours who've exhausted every other option.
Please donate to ensure no family in our community goes hungry this winter.
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