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As typical December rain dampens Langley this Thursday, today's roundup brings significant updates from across our community and beyond.
BC Conservative leader John Rustad has resigned after a dramatic caucus revolt, Canadian defense contractor Roshel continues supplying armoured vehicles to Trump's ICE deportation machine, and a massive old-growth cedar has been felled despite provincial protection laws.
Closer to home, Langley City advances its tree protection bylaw, the Santa Shuffle moves venues due to wet conditions, and the Vancouver Goldeneyes continue their road struggles.
Plus, brace yourselves for another grocery price hike in 2026 as food costs climb yet again.
Langley City Moves Forward with Tree Protection Bylaw Requiring Permits for Significant Trees
Langley City Council gave first and second reading to a new tree protection bylaw that will require permits to remove significant trees (75cm trunk diameter or larger), trees in environmentally sensitive areas, and trees on city property.
Permits will only be granted if trees are dead, causing structural damage, pose safety risks, or violate other bylaws, with violators facing $3,000 fines per tree and requirements to plant two to six replacement trees.
The bylaw cannot prevent development at permitted densities, so it won't apply to trees within building footprints during redevelopment.
The City is hosting an open house on the proposed bylaw from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to gather community feedback before final adoption.
Judge Strikes Down Langley Township Council Vote on West Creek Farms, Orders New Decision
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has delivered a significant rebuke to Langley Township Council, overturning their vote on the controversial West Creek Farms rezoning application and ordering them to reconsider their decision.
While the judge found no conflict of interest in the matter, the ruling determined that the council's vote was "unreasonable" based on the evidence and considerations before them. The decision marks a rare judicial intervention into municipal decision-making processes.
The West Creek Farms rezoning has been one of the most contentious development issues in the Township, with community members expressing strong opinions on both sides. The judge's ruling now sends the matter back to council for fresh deliberation.
This outcome could have implications for how council approaches future land-use decisions, particularly those involving significant community interest and debate.
Langley's Hells Angels Chapters Dodge Civil Forfeiture Attempts
Two Hells Angels chapters in Langley and one in Coquitlam have successfully avoided government attempts to seize their clubhouses through civil forfeiture proceedings.
The civil forfeiture office, which typically targets properties allegedly used for criminal activity, did not pursue legal action against these three Lower Mainland locations. This stands in contrast to other jurisdictions where authorities have successfully seized motorcycle club properties.
The decision not to target these clubhouses raises questions about the evidence available and the strategic choices made by provincial authorities. Civil forfeiture cases require proving on a balance of probabilities that properties have been used for unlawful activity.
The three clubhouses continue to operate as they have for years, maintaining their presence in the communities despite ongoing concerns from some residents about organized crime activity.
Bailey's Law Advances Through Parliament with Emotional Standing Ovation
In a powerful moment in the House of Commons, Bill C-225, known as Bailey's Law, passed second reading with MPs rising in a standing ovation to support the landmark legislation.
The proposed law would fundamentally change how Canada's justice system handles domestic violence killings by automatically treating all such murders as first-degree offenses. This would eliminate the current practice where some domestic violence killings are charged as second-degree murder, carrying lesser minimum sentences.
The bill is named in memory of a domestic violence victim and represents years of advocacy by families and women's rights organizations who argue that the current system fails to recognize the premeditated and calculated nature of intimate partner violence.
If passed into law, Bailey's Law would ensure that those who kill their intimate partners face mandatory life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years. The bill now moves to committee for detailed study before potentially becoming law across Canada.
Santa Shuffle Relocates to New Venue Due to Wet Weather Concerns
Langley's beloved annual Santa Shuffle has announced a change of location for this year's festive fun run.
The popular holiday event is moving from its traditional home at Blacklock to Noel Booth Park, with organizers citing damp field conditions as the primary reason for the switch. The decision comes after concerns about participant safety and course quality in potentially muddy conditions.
The Santa Shuffle attracts hundreds of participants each year who don their best Santa suits and holiday attire to run or walk through the course while supporting local charities. The event has become a cherished seasonal tradition for many Langley families.
Organizers assure participants that the new location will provide an excellent venue with proper facilities and a festive atmosphere, while the better drainage at Noel Booth Park should ensure ideal conditions regardless of December's typically wet weather.
"Dad Powers" Fuel Goalie Nikita Tolopilo's Standout Performance for Abbotsford Canucks
New father Nikita Tolopilo credited his recently acquired "dad powers" after delivering a stellar performance in the Abbotsford Canucks' 2-1 shootout victory over the Calgary Wranglers on Wednesday night.
The goaltender made 23 saves during regulation and overtime before shutting the door in the shootout to secure the win for Abbotsford. Tolopilo's composed performance came just days after welcoming his new baby, and he joked that the sleepless nights might actually be helping his focus between the pipes.
His teammates rallied around their netminder, with the shootout victory marking a team effort that showcased the Canucks' ability to grind out wins in tight contests. The win keeps Abbotsford competitive in their division standings.
Tolopilo's journey to professional hockey and now fatherhood has been marked by perseverance, and his ability to maintain elite performance while adjusting to life as a new parent demonstrates the mental fortitude required at this level of the game.
John Rustad Resigns as BC Conservative Leader After Caucus Revolt
John Rustad stepped down Thursday as leader of the BC Conservatives, one day after defiantly declaring he wouldn't quit despite a caucus revolt that saw 20 MLAs call for his resignation.
The party board had cited "professional incapacitation" as grounds for removal, though Rustad warned supporters that the battle over "the soul of this party" continues and urged members to hold the party accountable during the upcoming leadership race.
His resignation caps months of internal turmoil that saw five MLAs leave caucus and the party fall just one seat short of forming government in last year's election.
MLA Trevor Halford has been installed as interim leader while the Conservatives prepare for a leadership contest expected to begin early in the new year.
Canadian Arms Manufacturer Roshel Supplies Armoured Vehicles to Trump's ICE Deportation Force
Brampton-based Roshel is selling over $10 million in armoured vehicles to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement while simultaneously lobbying the Canadian government for domestic contracts.
ICE agents using these vehicles have faced mounting accusations of human rights abuses, including detaining US citizens without legal counsel and committing acts of violence during Trump's mass deportation raids.
Despite campaigning on keeping "elbows up" against Trump, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government refuses to establish moral red lines for companies profiting from the administration's abuses, continuing to grant contracts to firms complicit in deportation operations.
The company registered to lobby Ottawa this spring after its CEO called on Canada to "buy Canadian," revealing the hypocrisy of defense contractors who wrap themselves in patriotic rhetoric while cashing checks from authoritarian regimes.
Massive Old-Growth Cedar Felled Despite B.C.'s Big Tree Protection Laws
Joshua Wright is heartbroken and confused about how an "incredible" giant yellow cedar he photographed last year—the largest he'd seen in a decade of Vancouver Island hiking—was cut down despite provincial laws meant to protect such ancient trees.
The massive specimen represented the kind of old-growth forest that British Columbia has pledged to protect through its Big Tree Protection Program, which is supposed to safeguard exceptionally large and rare trees from logging operations. Wright's photographs documented the tree's impressive girth and towering height before its destruction.
The case has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of B.C.'s old-growth protection policies and whether existing regulations have sufficient teeth to actually prevent the loss of these irreplaceable natural monuments. Environmental advocates argue that loopholes and enforcement gaps allow ecologically significant trees to fall through the cracks.
The provincial government has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for how this particular tree was logged legally, leaving conservationists to wonder how many other giant trees might be at risk despite the ostensible protections that are meant to preserve them for future generations.
Canadian Grocery Bills Set to Jump 4-6% in 2026, Adding Pressure to Household Budgets
Canadian families should brace for another significant increase in their grocery bills next year, with food prices expected to rise between 4 and 6 percent according to the latest annual food price report.
The projected increase means the average Canadian family could pay several hundred dollars more for groceries in 2026 compared to this year, adding to the cumulative impact of food inflation that has strained household budgets since the pandemic. The rise is attributed to multiple factors including climate change impacts on crop yields, transportation costs, and continued supply chain pressures.
Certain food categories are expected to see even steeper price hikes, with vegetables, fruits, and meat products likely to experience above-average increases. The ongoing affordability crisis has forced many families to change their shopping habits, opt for cheaper alternatives, or reduce their food purchases altogether.
The forecast comes as food insecurity rates in Canada remain elevated, with food banks reporting record usage across the country. Consumer advocates are calling for government intervention and increased competition in the grocery sector to help moderate price increases and protect vulnerable Canadians from food poverty.
Vancouver Goldeneyes Fall 2-0 to Boston Fleet in Third Straight Road Loss
The Vancouver Goldeneyes dropped their third consecutive game Wednesday night, losing 2-0 to the undefeated Boston Fleet at Agganis Arena.
Goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer kept Vancouver in the contest with 18 saves in a brutal first period where Boston outshot the Goldeneyes 19-2, but the offense couldn't solve Fleet netminder Aerin Frankel, who recorded her second shutout of the season.
The Goldeneyes showed improvement in the second and third periods but couldn't find the back of the net, with captain Ashton Bell acknowledging the team needs to "find ways to bury it" against elite goaltending.
Vancouver returns home Friday to face the New York Sirens at Pacific Coliseum at 12 p.m. PT.
Vancouver Giants Acquire Promising Young Centre Colton Gerrior from Seattle
The Vancouver Giants have made a move to bolster their future lineup, acquiring 17-year-old centre Colton Gerrior and a 2026 seventh-round pick from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2028 fourth-round pick.
Gerrior, a Williams Lake, B.C. native, brings size and skill to the Giants at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. The right-shot centre is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft due to his October birthday, giving the Giants a prospect with significant developmental runway ahead of him.
Giants General Manager Hnat Domenichelli expressed excitement about adding Gerrior, highlighting his combination of size, skill, and development potential. The young forward has already shown he can compete at the WHL level, having played full-time as a 16-year-old last season with Seattle, where he recorded 11 points in 51 games.
Before joining the WHL, Gerrior demonstrated elite offensive production at lower levels, leading the JPHL U15 division in scoring with 71 points in 28 games and later finishing fifth in CSSHL U17 Prep scoring with 59 points. The Giants are betting that his impressive junior credentials will translate into WHL success as he continues to develop his game in Vancouver.