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It's a grey, cloudy Wednesday in Langley with temperatures hovering around 8°C, and if forecasters are right, we should get used to this kind of weather for a while.
In today's roundup, Aldergrove residents are asking why a $1.1 million park upgrade still won't fix the one thing everyone wants fixed: a real bathroom.
The BC government greenlit a mine expansion over the objections of the Similkameen First Nations, and Langley City is pushing ahead on a Food Tech Hub vision tied to KPU.
On a lighter note, the Langley Animal Protection Society's Kennel Breakout raised over $32,000, and Vancouver FC is bringing open trials to Willoughby next month for players chasing a shot at a professional contract.
LAPS fundraiser locks in community leaders, raises $32,000
The Langley Animal Protection Society's fourth annual Kennel Breakout raised more than $32,000 on Saturday, surpassing its $30,000 goal.
Participants including a Township councillor, an RCMP officer, and a radio host spent hours locked in kennels alongside shelter dogs and cats, fundraising their way out.
The event drew a wide cross-section of community supporters, from local politicians to business owners, all united around the link between animal welfare and community health.
A few participants earned a pie in the face for their trouble, but the real reward was raising awareness for vulnerable animals in Langley's care.
Aldergrove soccer families say $1.1 million park upgrade misses the most urgent need: a real bathroom
Aldergrove Athletic Park is getting $1.1 million in upgrades, including new LED lighting, drainage improvements, and landscaping, but local soccer organizers say the project sidesteps the park's most pressing problem.
A single wooden pit toilet serves the turf fields, and coaches say the smell is overwhelming in summer, the nearest clubhouse washrooms are a 10-minute walk away, and parents have left with their children mid-game rather than use the facility.
Mayor Eric Woodward publicly acknowledged the problem at an October 2025 town hall, admitting he was "embarrassed and frustrated" by the delays, and warned that sewer installation challenges could push a real fix to 2027.
With hundreds of kids cycling through the park on busy Saturdays, and a large adult tournament planned for late March, community members say no amount of tree planting makes up for a park that doesn't have a working toilet.
Langley City Council Advances Food Tech Hub Vision and Approves Liquor License for Seniors Resource Centre
Langley City Council is pushing forward on an ambitious Food Tech Hub plan, built around Kwantlen Polytechnic University, after a recent advocacy trip to Ottawa seeking federal support.
Business licenses in the city are up 5% over the past year, with food and beverage licenses jumping 15%, signalling real momentum behind the city's economic strategy.
Council also approved a liquor service license for the Langley Senior Resource and Recreation Centre to support its catering and hall rental work, and passed a new bylaw requiring radio amplification equipment in concrete structures so first responders can communicate in underground spaces.
In a small but meaningful step toward accessibility, council directed staff to explore improved closed captioning for both recorded and live council meetings.
BC could see a slow, soggy spring before a sudden summer flip, forecasters warn
The Weather Network is predicting a sluggish and stormy start to spring across much of Canada, with BC's south coast expected to stay cooler and wetter than normal through March and April.
Western Canada is the most likely region to see a sharp flip to hot, dry conditions in May, which forecasters say could raise wildfire concerns similar to 2023, Canada's worst wildfire season on record.
Mountain snowpack could build through the cool early season, then release rapidly if temperatures spike, raising flood risks in lower elevations.
Climate change is reshaping what "normal" spring even means in Canada, with average spring temperatures now about 2.1 degrees warmer than in the mid-20th century.
B.C. Government Plans $400 Million Investment Fund for Major Infrastructure Projects
The BC government is introducing a $400 million Strategic Initiative Fund that would let the province invest directly in major projects, including defence and critical minerals, rather than simply handing out grants.
The move is designed to take advantage of the federal Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to grow domestic defence production over the next decade.
Premier David Eby says projects will need solid business plans and strong partnerships to qualify, and that the province expects to profit alongside companies through equity stakes, loans, and profit-sharing agreements.
BC joins Ontario, Quebec, and the federal government in having this kind of investment flexibility, closing a gap that had previously limited the province's ability to compete for major economic opportunities.
BC approves Copper Mountain Mine expansion over Similkameen First Nations' objections
The BC government approved the New Ingerbelle pit expansion at Copper Mountain Mine on Feb. 20, despite the Upper and Lower Similkameen Indian Bands making clear they had never given their consent to the project.
The bands, whose territory surrounds the mine, say the province acted unilaterally and are now reviewing all available options to protect the Similkameen River and their lands, which the expanded pit will approach to within 50 metres.
The expansion will push mining operations below the river's level for the first time ever, raise a tailings dam by the equivalent of 19 storeys, and extend the mine's life by 15 to 20 years, while the mine has already racked up six environmental fines in 2024 alone.
The bands put it plainly: the profits will leave the valley in a generation, but the smÉ™lqmÃx people will be living with the consequences forever.
Canada Falling Behind on Cervical Cancer Prevention Despite It Being Almost Completely Preventable
Here's a troubling paradox: cervical cancer is both the fastest-growing type of cancer in Canada and one that medical experts say is almost completely preventable.
Doctors and health advocacy groups are calling for urgent action as Canada lags behind other developed nations in cervical cancer prevention efforts.
The disease can be largely prevented through HPV vaccination and regular screening, yet Canada's rates continue to climb while other countries have successfully reduced their cases.
Advocates are gathering to push for improved vaccination programs, better access to screening, and increased public awareness about prevention methods.
The situation is particularly frustrating for healthcare professionals who have the tools to stop this cancer but are watching it grow due to gaps in public health strategy and implementation.
Vancouver FC open trials coming to Willoughby this March
Vancouver FC is holding open trials at Willoughby Community Park from March 11 to 13, giving local players a shot at professional contracts and academy pathways.
The trials run from 2 to 5 p.m. each day and will be evaluated by VFC First Team and Academy staff alongside Langley United, the reigning BCPL champions.
Players born between 2008 and 2010 are eligible for Academy Pathway opportunities, and over the past three years the program has produced seven professional contracts and more than 30 invite-only training stints.
Registration is $315 and the deadline to sign up is March 4 at midnight.
Contact memberservices@vancouverfc.com for details, including discounted hotel rates at the Sheraton Guildford for out-of-town trialists.
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