Table of Contents
The best way to help The Langley Union grow is simple: share this newsletter. Forward it to a friend, mention it to your family, or post it on social media and encourage others to subscribe.
Happy Tuesday, Langley!
We're looking at mostly cloudy skies today with a high around 13°C.
In today's roundup, cross-border traffic at the Aldergrove-Lynden crossing remains down 25 per cent a full year after declines began, raising questions about lasting shifts in travel patterns.
The Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) is hosting free webinars this month on everything from why dog poop needs scooping to river restoration.
We also have updates on young Abbotsford filmmakers winning big at an awards show, Canada's continued delays for Palestinian student visas, and why Alberta's push for a new oil pipeline doesn't quite add up.
On the sports front, the Canucks fell 6-2 to Utah before the Olympic break, while the Vancouver Bandits have secured the return of forward Tyrese Samuel for another season.
Border Traffic Still Down 25% at Aldergrove-Lynden Crossing One Year Later
Travel between Canada and the United States at the Aldergrove-Lynden border crossing remains significantly reduced a full year after initial declines began.
New figures reveal a substantial 25 per cent reduction in cross-border traffic at this local crossing point. The decrease continues to impact businesses and travelers who regularly use this route between Langley and Washington state.
The prolonged reduction suggests more than just temporary travel pattern changes, indicating potentially lasting shifts in how people move between the two countries at this particular border point.
Poop, Citizen Science, and Clean Water: LEPS Brings Environmental Education to Your Screen
The Langley Environmental Partners Society is offering free public webinars this month on topics including animal waste management, citizen science technology, and river restoration.
LEPS field technician Marcel Sachse will explain why dog poop needs scooping while coyote droppings don't, and how different manures work in farming.
The sessions run throughout February with registration available through water@leps.bc.ca.
Abbotsford Young Filmmakers Claim Top Prize at Youth Movie Awards
A talented team of young filmmakers from Abbotsford brought home Best Picture honors at the Young Moviemakers awards with their creative production "Ring of the Nerds."
What makes this achievement even more impressive is that the entire team consisted of kids aged 14 and younger.
The young creators demonstrated remarkable skill in storytelling, production, and collaboration to produce a film that stood out among competition from across the region. Their success highlights the growing opportunities for youth in film and media arts, as well as the exceptional talent emerging from Fraser Valley communities.
The award-winning project showcases what young people can accomplish when given the tools and support to explore their creative passions.
White Rock Senior June Young Receives National Volunteer Recognition
June Young of White Rock has been honored with the prestigious Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers in recognition of her decades of dedicated community service.
The national award celebrates Young's exceptional and sustained volunteer contributions that have made a meaningful difference in her community. The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers is one of the highest honors a volunteer can receive in Canada, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to helping others. Young's decades-long commitment to volunteering exemplifies the spirit of service that strengthens communities throughout British Columbia, inspiring others to give back and make positive impacts in their own neighborhoods.
Alberta's push for a new West Coast pipeline doesn't add up
Alberta wants a new oil pipeline to the West Coast, but the Trans Mountain expansion is only running at 82 percent capacity and no company has offered to build one.
Existing pipelines already have room for all the oil Alberta produces, and planned expansions could add another million barrels per day without new routes.
Premier Danielle Smith's government has budgeted $14 million to promote a pipeline that would likely require massive public subsidies while competing with the taxpayer-funded Trans Mountain system that cost $34 billion to build.
Canada blocks 100+ Gaza students despite university acceptances
More than 100 Palestinian students accepted to Canadian graduate programs have been waiting over a year for visa approvals while applications from other countries process in weeks.
Immigration officials claim biometric requirements cause delays, but advocates point out that 30 students who provided biometrics in Egypt still face the same obstacles.
While the UK, Ireland, and Italy have created pathways for Gaza students, Canada has refused to waive requirements or expedite applications, with immigration officials telling advocates that Palestinian students are "not a priority" despite a UN report concluding Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
Junior Hockey Community Mourns After Tragic Alberta Crash Claims Three Players
The junior hockey world across Western Canada is grieving following a devastating vehicle collision in southern Alberta that took the lives of three young players.
The fatal crash occurred near Stavely, Alberta, when a passenger vehicle carrying junior hockey players collided with a semi-truck. All three occupants of the passenger vehicle were declared dead at the scene, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit hockey community.
RCMP are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. The tragedy has united hockey communities across the region in mourning, as teams, coaches, families and fans process the heartbreaking loss of young athletes whose promising futures were cut short.
Vancouver Canucks Lose to Utah Mammoth 6-2
Nick Schmaltz delivered a dominant three-goal performance as the Utah Mammoth cruised to a convincing 6-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks in their final game before the Olympic break.
Schmaltz's hat trick was the highlight of a strong team effort that saw Utah control the game from start to finish.
The Canucks, who will play their last game before the Olympic break versus Vegas on Wednesday, struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure against a disciplined Mammoth defense.
The loss comes at an inopportune time for Vancouver as they head into the break needing to regroup and reassess their game plan. Utah, meanwhile, enters the Olympic pause riding high with momentum from this impressive road victory.
Tyrese Samuel Returns to Vancouver Bandits for Second Season
The Vancouver Bandits have secured the return of forward Tyrese Samuel for a second season with the basketball club, a move that has head coach Kyle Julius singing his praises.
Julius didn't hold back in his assessment, calling Samuel "one of the best Canadians to ever play in our league." The forward's combination of skill, basketball IQ, and work ethic made him a standout performer in his first season with the Bandits. Samuel's return provides continuity and veteran leadership for a team looking to build on last season's success.
His presence in the lineup gives Vancouver a proven scorer and playmaker who understands the system and can mentor younger players as they develop their games.
What did you think?
Help us improve! Take a quick 60-second survey to share your thoughts on this article.
Take the Survey