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Happy Thursday, Langley!
The fog that's been blanketing Metro Vancouver should finally lift this afternoon, giving way to mainly cloudy skies and a high near 5°C. Drive safe if you're heading out early.
Today's roundup covers a mix of local rebuilding efforts, community opportunities, and corporate accountability stories.
Fire-damaged housing in Langley City is finally taking shape after months of reconstruction work, while the Parks Foundation grapples with the growing gap between donation amounts and actual costs for trees and benches.
Vancouver tech company Hootsuite is back in the business of helping the U.S. deportation machine, and Vancouver council is exploring landlord licensing after hearing about illegal partitions and tenant harassment.
On the federal front, the Carney government's budget bill contains a troubling clause that could let ministers exempt corporations from Canadian law.
And in hockey news, four Vancouver Giants players will represent Team West at the WHL Prospects Game right here at Langley Events Centre next month, while the Canucks finally snapped their 11-game winless streak.
Fire-Damaged Langley City Building Taking Shape in Multi-Year Reconstruction
Work is officially underway to rebuild a residential building in Langley City that suffered significant fire damage.
The reconstruction project is expected to take more than a year to complete, marking a long road ahead for both contractors and displaced residents. Video footage from the site shows crews actively working on the structure, implementing new safety standards and building codes during the rebuild.
The original fire caused extensive damage that required a complete gutting of several units. City officials are monitoring the progress closely to ensure all reconstruction meets current municipal requirements.
Open mic night at Bez Arts Hub in Langley tonight
Bez Arts Hub hosts its weekly community stage open mic tonight starting at 7:30pm, with sign-up at 7:15pm.
The intimate venue welcomes performers in an atmosphere known for great sound and close audience engagement.
Bez also offers dance classes for all levels, acting workshops, songwriting instruction, and post-secondary arts training programs.
Tonight's open mic is free to attend and open to performers of all experience levels.
Langley City Parks Foundation Grapples with Rising Costs for Tree and Bench Donations
The Langley City Parks Foundation held its annual general meeting this week, and the news wasn't entirely rosy for those hoping to donate park amenities.
The foundation, which has enabled residents to donate trees, benches, and picnic tables to city parks since 1979, is facing a significant gap between suggested donation amounts and actual costs.
In 2025, the foundation received just three donations—funding two trees for Sendall Gardens and one for Douglas Park—but the economics of park donations have become increasingly challenging.
For example, planting and maintaining a tree for 10 years now costs the city $3,290, while the suggested donation is only $1,000, and a wooden bench costs $5,030 to install and maintain versus a suggested donation of $2,220.
Foundation members discussed increasing donation prices in 2027, though they agreed the city should continue subsidizing some costs rather than pursuing full cost recovery, maintaining the balance between accessibility and sustainability for community park enhancement.
Vancouver's Hootsuite returns to serving US deportation machine
Vancouver tech company Hootsuite is back working with fascist immigration enforcement.
The company recently signed contracts worth $2.8 million with the United States Department of Homeland Security, the agency overseeing mass deportations and ICE officers.
This comes just five years after Hootsuite cancelled a similar deal following employee protests.
The contracts run through 2029 and provide social media tools to agencies that have detained over 670,000 people under Trump's crackdown.
Businesses using Hootsuite's platform should ask themselves if they want their money supporting a company that partners with fascist deportation forces.
Vancouver explores landlord licensing after tenant abuse complaints
Vancouver city council unanimously voted to study new tenant protections, including an annual business licence for multi-unit landlords, after hearing complaints about illegal room partitions, surveillance cameras, and aggressive evictions.
Green Party Councillor Pete Fry's motion highlights a growing problem with corporate landlords exploiting gaps between provincial and municipal oversight, with tenants reporting fire hazards from flammable partitions and deteriorating building security.
The rare bipartisan support comes as Vancouver grapples with unethical practices by companies managing thousands of rental units, though tenant advocates warn that enforcement tools like licence revocation could backfire by displacing residents.
Carney's budget bill would let ministers exempt corporations from federal laws
Buried in the federal government's omnibus budget implementation bill is a provision allowing cabinet ministers to exempt any corporation from nearly all Canadian laws if deemed "in the public interest" or beneficial to "innovation, competitiveness or economic growth."
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who holds $9 million in corporate stock options and met with business lobbyists 83 times in his first nine months (more than double Trudeau's rate), sits at the center of Canada's corporate elite network with connections to 59 heads of major corporations.
Researchers Sophie Elias-Pinsonnault and Silas Xuereb argue this clause represents a dangerous power grab that could allow large corporations to bypass environmental regulations, conflict of interest laws, and other democratic protections simply by gaining one minister's approval.
Prime Minister Carney Convenes Cabinet in Quebec City for Economic Strategy Session
Prime Minister Mark Carney has gathered his cabinet in Quebec City today for a two-day meeting focused on pressing national priorities.
The gathering will concentrate on the economy, affordability challenges facing Canadians, and national security concerns in an increasingly complex global environment.
Cabinet retreats like this provide ministers with an opportunity to discuss long-term strategy away from the day-to-day pressures of Parliament Hill.
The choice of Quebec City as the venue signals the government's attention to issues important to the province and francophone Canadians more broadly.
Key outcomes and policy directions are expected to be announced following the conclusion of the meetings.
Chinese Ambassador Pushes Ottawa to Rapidly Implement Beijing Trade Agreements
China's ambassador to Canada is turning up the pressure on the federal government to move quickly on agreements signed during recent high-level meetings in Beijing.
The diplomatic push comes as both countries attempt to rebuild their economic relationship after years of tension and strained diplomatic relations.
The ambassador is urging Canadian officials to demonstrate progress on specific areas of collaboration that were agreed upon during the Beijing talks, suggesting that swift action is necessary to build momentum.
The agreements reportedly cover multiple sectors including trade, climate cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
Canada is walking a delicate line between economic engagement with China and addressing ongoing concerns about human rights and national security that have complicated the bilateral relationship in recent years.
First Nations Leaders Slam Federal Pipeline Deal That Omits Water Protection
Indigenous chiefs across Canada are demanding answers from Ottawa after discovering a glaring omission in a federal pipeline agreement with Alberta.
The controversial deal makes no mention of water protection measures, a shocking oversight given that water security is paramount to First Nations communities along pipeline routes.
Chiefs argue that any pipeline agreement must include robust safeguards for water sources, which are both culturally sacred and essential for community survival.
The federal government's failure to include water protection provisions in the agreement suggests a lack of meaningful consultation with Indigenous leaders, despite Ottawa's repeated commitments to reconciliation and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
First Nations leaders are now calling for the agreement to be renegotiated to include comprehensive water protection guarantees before any pipeline work proceeds.
Langley Events Centre to Host Elite Junior Hockey Showcase with Four Players from Vancouver Giants
The Langley Events Centre will be the center of the junior hockey universe on February 18 when it hosts the 2026 WHL Prospects Game.
Four Vancouver Giants players, defenceman Ryan Lin and forwards Mathis Preston, Joe Iginla, and Brett Olson, have been named to Team West for this showcase of NHL Draft-eligible talent.
The game will feature 44 top prospects selected based on NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Rankings, with all 23 WHL clubs represented by at least one player. Giants General Manager Hnat Domenichelli expressed pride in having four players recognized, noting they've all earned the opportunity through their stellar play this season.
This marks the first all-WHL event of its kind since 2000, giving NHL scouts a winner-take-all environment to evaluate the 2026 draft class, and tickets are available now for fans eager to witness the future stars of professional hockey.
Vancouver Canucks Finally Break Through, Snapping 11-Game Winless Streak Against Capitals
The Vancouver Canucks have finally ended their nightmare slump, defeating the Washington Capitals 4-3 in a much-needed victory.
The win snapped an excruciating 11-game winless streak that had fans and management alike questioning the team's direction this season. Brock Boeser led the way with a goal and an assist, providing the offensive spark the Canucks desperately needed to break their funk. The victory came just two nights after head coach Adam Foote called out the team's veteran players for their lack of production, and those same veterans responded with their best performance in weeks. The win provides a glimmer of hope that the Canucks can salvage their season and potentially make a push for a playoff spot if they can build momentum from this breakthrough performance.
Abbotsford Canucks Split Series with Laval in Overtime Thriller and Shootout
The Abbotsford Canucks had a weekend of mixed results against the visiting Laval Rocket, earning a split in their two-game series.
The farm team managed to secure a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory in one contest, demonstrating resilience and clutch performance when it mattered most. However, they couldn't maintain the momentum in the second game, falling 4-3 in regulation to their Quebec-based rivals.
The series provided valuable experience for developing players within the Vancouver Canucks organization as they continue to hone their skills at the AHL level.
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