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Happy Friday, friends!
Today we've got a lot of rain with temperatures topping out around 8°C.
Today's roundup covers everything from innovative park designs and environmental initiatives to provincial political upheaval and weekend hockey action.
Notable developments include the Township's creative dual-use infrastructure proposal for Willoughby, Langley City Council's fight to maintain construction oversight powers, and the B.C. Conservatives' leadership crisis following John Rustad's departure.
New Smith Reservoir Park Design Unveiled for Willoughby Neighbourhood
The Township of Langley is seeking community feedback on an innovative design concept that would transform the roof deck of a new water distribution reservoir into a public park.
The proposed Smith Reservoir Park in the Willoughby neighbourhood represents a creative approach to dual-use infrastructure, turning what would typically be utilitarian space into valuable community amenity. The design concept includes plans for the surrounding landscape as well, aiming to create a cohesive public open space for residents.
This represents an opportunity for neighbours to have their say on what could become a unique recreational space in the growing Willoughby area. The project demonstrates how municipalities can maximize land use by combining essential infrastructure with community gathering spaces.
Sustainable Christmas Tree Disposal Options Available for Langley Residents
As the holiday decorations come down, Langley residents have eco-friendly alternatives to sending their Christmas trees to the landfill.
The Township is promoting tree chipping as a sustainable method of disposal, keeping organic material out of landfills where it would produce methane as it decomposes.
This environmentally responsible option allows trees to be recycled into useful mulch or compost rather than taking up valuable landfill space.
With the holiday season wrapping up, this initiative gives residents a guilt-free way to say goodbye to their festive firs.
Langley City Council Tackles Safety Concerns, Gender-Based Violence Awareness, and Budget Matters
Langley City Council took on several significant issues at their December 1st meeting, including opposition to a provincial bill that could threaten public safety.
Council is fighting back against Bill M216 (Professional Reliance Act), which would strip municipalities of the ability to require peer reviews of construction designs—a power that became crucial after two parkade cave-ins in Langley City in recent years.
The city learned the hard way that accepting certified designs without independent verification can lead to dangerous construction failures, and this bill would eliminate their ability to protect residents through additional oversight.
The council also approved incorporating gender-based violence awareness into the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6th, with an event planned at McBurney Plaza.
Additionally, council passed updates to water utility fees, with average detached homeowners seeing their bills increase to $754.80 annually (an 8% increase), while various other municipal fees were adjusted for inflation.
The water fee increases reflect rising costs of infrastructure maintenance and operations, though the flat base fee of $75 remains unchanged.
Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford Steps Into B.C. Conservative Leadership Role
Trevor Halford, the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Surrey-White Rock, has assumed the role of interim leader for the B.C. Conservative Party.
In accepting the position, Halford made clear his intentions to hold the governing NDP accountable, stating "I'm going to be holding the NDP accountable every single day." The leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for the provincial Conservative party as it positions itself as the primary opposition voice in the legislature.
Halford's appointment brings a Fraser Valley perspective to the party's leadership, with the Surrey-White Rock region being a key battleground in provincial politics.
His focus on accountability suggests an aggressive opposition strategy heading into future legislative sessions.
Similkameen River Runs Black as Indigenous and Municipal Leaders Unite for Water Protection
The Similkameen River has run black for a month, and Chief Keith Crow of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band says mining is destroying the waterway that his people are named after.
Elder Rob Edward told regional leaders he hasn't been able to fish the river since 1982, blaming the decline on Copper Mountain Mine, which is now seeking provincial approval to expand operations until 2037 despite the Lower Similkameen Indian Band's refusal to consent.
At a recent meeting of the Okanagan Similkameen Collaborative Leadership Table, Indigenous leaders and municipal officials established working groups to develop a 250-year watershed protection plan with immediate focus on water quality monitoring and challenging industrial practices.
The urgency is clear: where Chief Crow once swam in water deep enough to go over his head, the river now barely reaches his knees.
BC Conservatives Face Even More Chaos as Rustad Exits and Leadership Race Looms
John Rustad is out as BC Conservative leader, but the party's troubles are just beginning.
The Conservatives aren't a cohesive political party with shared values.
They're a patchwork coalition held together by a backroom deal that saw BC United collapse into their ranks last fall.
With only about 9,000 members and deep rifts between mainstream conservatives and far-right social conservatives, the upcoming leadership race could tear the party apart over divisive issues like trans rights instead of kitchen-table concerns like housing and healthcare.
All of this spells good news for Premier David Eby's NDP, as the opposition remains too fractured to mount an effective challenge heading into 2028.
Abbotsford Canucks Hosting Teddy Bear Toss and Celebrate Milestone Anniversary
The Abbotsford Canucks are gearing up for a special weekend of hockey as they host their annual Teddy Bear Toss game while also celebrating a franchise anniversary.
The team welcomes the Coachella Valley Firebirds for back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday, with fans encouraged to bring stuffed animals to toss onto the ice after the first Canucks goal. The tradition has become a beloved annual event, with thousands of teddy bears collected for donation to local children's charities during the holiday season.
The weekend also marks a significant anniversary for the Abbotsford Canucks franchise, adding extra celebration to what promises to be a festive atmosphere. These games represent more than just hockey—they're community events that bring together sports and charitable giving during the holiday season.
Vancouver Giants Ready for Friday Night Showdown with Portland Winterhawks
The Vancouver Giants are riding a two-game winning streak as they prepare to host the Portland Winterhawks at Langley Events Centre for a 7 p.m. puck drop on Friday.
The Giants are coming off impressive back-to-back victories, including a shootout win against Penticton where goaltender Kelton Pyne made a career-high 46 saves, followed by Burke Hood's franchise-record-tying 55-save performance in a 4-3 win over league-leading Everett. The team will be looking to make it three straight wins against a Portland squad that's been hot lately with a 6-1 record in their last seven games.
This marks the second meeting of the season between these Western Conference rivals, with Portland having won the first matchup 6-5 back in October. The Giants will need their goaltending to remain stellar against a Winterhawks offense that's been firing on all cylinders, having scored 14 goals in their last two games.
The teams will face each other twice this weekend, with a rematch scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Portland.
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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