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.
It's a soggy Thursday here in Langley, with periods of rain expected throughout the day and temperatures hovering around 10°C.
(Has anyone noticed that we haven't had a proper snowstorm yet this year, and it's almost February? That's fine, right? It's fine. Everything's fine!)
Today's roundup covers some significant developments across the region. Langley City Council is moving forward on a BC Builds affordable housing project that will require 91 below-market rental units. BC Premier David Eby is standing firm against a new oil pipeline, warning of the devastating consequences a bitumen spill could have on the north coast economy.
Meanwhile, BC Conservative leadership candidate Yuri Fulmer is facing backlash after attacking Coastal First Nations as a "foreign-funded advocacy group."
On the labour front, BC paramedics are preparing for a strike vote next month amid stalled negotiations with the province. And closer to home, a former equestrian facility in Aldergrove has been rezoned for film production.
Aldergrove Equestrian Facility Transforms into Film Studio with Rezoning Approval
A former equestrian building in Aldergrove has officially received the green light to become a film production facility.
The rezoning approval marks a significant shift for the property, which will now serve as a filming location for various productions. This conversion adds to the growing film industry presence in the Fraser Valley region, providing local opportunities for production work and potentially bringing more entertainment industry activity to the Aldergrove area.
The facility's transformation from horse stables to sound stages represents an interesting adaptive reuse of existing infrastructure.
Langley City Council Advances BC Builds Affordable Housing Agreement
Langley City Council has moved forward with securing affordable rental units as part of a major housing project.
The BC Builds project at 19991 49 Avenue, 19990 50 Avenue, and 4951-4975 & 4991 200 Street received first, second, and third readings for a binding housing agreement.
This agreement requires that 30% of the units—91 in total—be rented at 20% below Langley City market rates for the life of the building. The below-market units will be restricted to those meeting BC Housing's Middle Income Limit, with at least 10% being three-bedroom units and 10% being two-bedroom units.
Council also gave initial approvals for the Langley Senior Resource & Recreation Centre to update its zoning to allow for a permanent liquor primary license, streamlining operations for their growing catering and hall rental business.
BC Conservative candidate attacks Coastal First Nations as 'foreign-funded advocacy group'
BC Conservative leadership candidate Yuri Fulmer is facing condemnation from Coastal First Nations after calling the Indigenous alliance "just an advocacy organization" funded by "left-wing American and international foundations."
President Marilyn Slett rejected Fulmer's claims as "disinformation," emphasizing that the alliance is a coalition of nine north coast First Nations governed by elected and hereditary leaders who make all decisions independently of donors.
Fulmer's video juxtaposed images of flag-burning and pro-Palestinian protests with Coastal First Nations leaders, despite his own investment firm donating to the organization's Great Bear Rainforest Carbon Project.
Slett warned that such attacks "sow division between First Nations and other British Columbians" and have already resulted in online harassment and doxxing attempts against her members.
B.C. Paramedics Preparing for Strike Vote Next Month
Emergency medical workers across British Columbia are gearing up for a crucial labour action vote.
The union representing paramedics has announced a strike vote will take place over a two-week period in February, citing a lack of progress in negotiations with the provincial government.
According to the union, "no positive progress" has been made in discussions with B.C. officials.
The potential for job action comes at a critical time for emergency services, and could impact response times and ambulance availability throughout the province if paramedics vote in favour of striking and eventually walk off the job.
Eby stands firm against Alberta pipeline push as Carney sides with oil industry
BC Premier David Eby maintained his opposition to a new oil pipeline during a Wednesday meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.
The pair continue pushing their November pipeline agreement despite excluding BC from initial negotiations.
Eby warned that a bitumen spill would "decimate the north coast economy, causing billions of dollars in damage" along treacherous coastal waters.
Smith pledged to deliver her pipeline proposal by June with Carney's backing, prioritizing fossil fuel expansion over coastal protection and climate action.
Federal government spends $6.8 million on botched ostrich farm standoff
The federal government racked up nearly $6.8 million in costs executing a mass cull of over 300 ostriches at Edgewood's Universal Ostrich Farm, with RCMP spending alone exceeding $3.8 million.
The extraordinary expense included $124,241 for office security at CFIA facilities nationwide after the farm owners' resistance sparked threats against federal employees, plus hundreds of thousands in legal fees, biocontainment measures, and even recreational vehicle rentals.
Despite the massive public cost stemming from the farm's refusal to comply with disease control protocols, Universal Ostrich Farm received only a $10,000 fine while taxpayers absorbed millions in expenses that could have funded community services across British Columbia.
NDP leadership race enters final stretch with little national media attention
The NDP's five-candidate leadership race has generated significant activity within progressive circles but remains largely invisible in mainstream media despite Wednesday marking the final day for membership sign-ups.
Frontrunners Avi Lewis, Heather McPherson, and Rob Ashton are competing in a ranked-ballot process, with Lewis emphasizing bold economic policy and public sector expansion, McPherson highlighting her parliamentary experience as the only sitting MP in the race, and Ashton positioning himself as the sole blue-collar worker running to return the party to its working-class roots.
The winner will be announced at a national convention in late March, with Vancouver Island councillor Tanille Johnston and Ontario farmer Tony McQuail rounding out the field in what observers say has become a three-way contest among the frontrunners.
Minnesota Frost dominate Vancouver Goldeneyes 4-1 before Olympic break
The Minnesota Frost jumped to a three-goal first period lead and never looked back, defeating the Vancouver Goldeneyes 4-1 Wednesday night in St. Paul.
Rookie Kendall Cooper scored her first PWHL goal while Britta Curl-Salemme added two goals for the Frost, who climbed to second place in the standings.
Vancouver's Michelle Karvinen scored the lone goal for the Goldeneyes, who dropped to sixth place and remain winless on the road at opponents' home venues.
The PWHL now pauses until March 1 for the Olympic Winter Games, with 61 players from both teams heading to Milano Cortina to represent eight countries.
Vancouver FC signs two local defenders for 2026 season
Vancouver FC has added two homegrown talents to its roster, signing Delta's Kian Proctor and Surrey's Matheus de Souza.
Proctor, a standout defender from Simon Fraser University who scored eight goals in 33 NCAA appearances, joins the club through 2026 with options extending to 2028.
De Souza, selected fifth overall in the CPL-U SPORTS Draft from the University of the Fraser Valley, will compete in Vancouver FC's first Concacaf Champions Cup campaign against Cruz Azul.
What did you think?
Help us improve! Take a quick 60-second survey to share your thoughts on this article.
Take the Survey