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Good afternoon, Langley! Today's roundup carries some heavy news. The BC Coroners Service reports that 14 people in Langley died from toxic drug poisoning in the first four months of this year, a devastating toll that reflects years of underinvestment in safe supply, treatment, and housing.
There's progress to report, too. Bailey's Law cleared the Senate, strengthening Canada's legal response to intimate partner violence.
Closer to home, the 264 Street bridge at 64 Avenue is closed until further notice, and Township council is redirecting road funds after the 216th Street project stalled.
On the sports desk, the Bandits fell just short against Scarborough, and the Langley-based Giants made a trade that could leave them loaded with first-round picks. We've also got the fallout from the B.C. forests minister's caribou remarks. Read on.
Drug Toxicity Deaths Continue to Climb in Langley
Fourteen people in Langley died from toxic drug poisoning in the first four months of the year, according to the BC Coroners Service, a grim reminder that the poisoned drug supply crisis continues to devastate this community.
These deaths are not inevitable. They are the predictable result of a toxic, unregulated supply and years of inadequate investment in harm reduction, treatment, and housing supports.
Each number represents a person with family, friends, and a life in this community. Behind the statistics are systemic failures: insufficient safe supply programs, a lack of accessible services, and ongoing stigma that keeps people from seeking help.
Residents who use substances or know someone who does can access naloxone kits and overdose prevention resources through Fraser Health.
264 Street Bridge at 64 Avenue Closed Until Further Notice
The bridge at 264 Street and 64 Avenue, which crosses the Southern Railway tracks, is closed to all traffic effective immediately. The Township of Langley says the closure will remain in place until further notice.
A detour route is available for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians needing to navigate around the closure.
Residents in the area should plan for extra travel time and check the Township's website for updates on when the bridge may reopen.
Township Council Shifts Road Funds as 216th Street Project Stalls
Langley Township council is redirecting infrastructure dollars toward upgrading 80th Avenue after a project on 216th Street hit delays.
The decision reflects a practical pivot: rather than let funds sit idle, council will move them to a project that can be completed sooner. For residents dealing with congestion and road conditions on 80th Avenue, the news may come as a relief.
Details on what caused the slowdown on the 216th Street project, and when it might resume, remain to be seen.
Road infrastructure in the Township has struggled to keep pace with the rapid development approvals that have reshaped communities like Willoughby and Brookswood in recent years.
Bailey's Law on Intimate Partner Violence Passes Senate
Bill C-225, known as Bailey's Law, has passed third reading in the Senate and is set to receive Royal Assent, marking a significant step forward in Canada's legal response to intimate partner violence.
The legislation addresses gaps in the system that have left survivors and their families without adequate protection. Its passage is the result of years of advocacy from survivors and organizations demanding that the justice system treat intimate partner violence with the seriousness it demands.
Intimate partner violence remains one of the most pervasive and underreported forms of harm in Canadian communities, and the new law signals a commitment to structural change over symbolic gestures.
BC Forests minister's caribou comments spark outrage
B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar is facing backlash for calling caribou "not the smartest animal."
He made the comment during a June 9 visit to Revelstoke, where he toured local mills and spoke about old-growth forests and wildfires.
Parmar suggested the animals are foolish for fleeing when logging disturbs them, and he blamed wildfires as the main cause of their habitat loss.
A Black Press Media fact-check found his claims were inaccurate. Provincial data shows logging, not fire, is the biggest threat to southern B.C. herds, and that caribou spent thousands of years adapting to survive in old-growth forests.
Environmental groups like the Wilderness Committee and Wildsight have condemned the remarks, pointing out that eight of the province's 18 southern mountain caribou herds are already gone.
Creek shines but Bandits fall to Scarborough 108-105
The Vancouver Bandits came up just short in a 108-105 loss to the Scarborough Shooting Stars on Monday night.
Mitchell Creek lit up the court in his season debut, scoring 29 points with seven rebounds and four assists.
The Bandits fell behind by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, but Creek helped spark a comeback that pulled them within a single point.
The rally ran out of steam in the final moments, and Scarborough held on for the win. Vancouver played without two key starters, Tyrese Samuel and Dre Davis.
The Bandits, now 7-3, hit the road to face the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Thursday before returning home to play the Brampton Honey Badgers on Saturday.
Giants Land Conditional First-Round Pick in Trade with Winterhawks
The Vancouver Giants have traded the playing rights to 2007-born forward Mason West to the Portland Winterhawks in exchange for a conditional first-round pick in 2028 and a seventh-round pick in 2030.
West, from Edina, Minnesota, played last season with the Fargo Force in the USHL and is committed to Michigan State University. He was added to the Giants' protected list during the 2024-25 season.
The deal gives the Langley-based Giants potentially four first-round picks in 2028: their own, plus selections from Kelowna, Seattle, and Portland. That is a serious stockpile for a franchise building toward the future.
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