Happy Pride, Langley! Pride Month opens under cloudy skies and a mild 24°C, with rain holding off until later in the week.
To every 2SLGBTQ+ reader: you belong here, and this community is better because you are in it. That message lands with extra weight today, because BC Conservatives just elected Kerry-Lynne Findlay as their new leader, and she campaigned squarely against the queer and trans community.
Findlay promised to dismantle BC's SOGI inclusive education guidelines, which affirm 2SLGBTQ+ students in classrooms across the province. She paired that pledge with transphobic talking points about "keeping men out of girls' locker rooms" and "putting parents back in charge." Her federal voting record once leaned more moderate on queer rights, but her path to the BC Conservative leadership ran straight through anti-SOGI activism.
Findlay's win anchors today's roundup, alongside a proposed 211-unit seniors building for Willoughby that finally leans toward walkable density, Stage 3 water restrictions on the way in early June, Food Banks Canada calling out a broken EI system, postal workers awaiting word on a tentative deal, a long-line pony ride day at an Aldergrove therapy charity, an invitation to lace up for next Sunday's Seamus' Stroll, and a fourth straight win for the Vancouver Bandits.
Stage 3 water restrictions coming to Langley Township
Langley Township residents should brace for Stage 3 water restrictions in early June.
Stage 2 rules are already in force, including a ban on lawn watering.
Stage 3 will allow only hand watering or drip irrigation for trees, shrubs, and flowers, while pools, hot tubs, and most vehicle washing will be off limits.
Vegetable gardens stay exempt, and updates are posted at tol.ca/waterwise.
Lace up for Seamus' Stroll at Campbell Valley June 7 (Next Sunday)
Mike Gee is inviting Langley to lace up for the fifth annual Seamus' Stroll next Sunday, June 7.
The roughly 3 km walk at Campbell Valley Regional Park honours Mike's son Seamus, who died at 16, and raises money for Foundry Langley along with trades bursaries and scholarships for local students.
In-person registration starts at 10:15 a.m. at the Old Orchard Picnic Shelter, with the walk kicking off at 11 a.m. and a hot dog barbecue by donation to follow.
New this year, supporters who can't make it can still register, build teams, and collect pledges online at zeffy.com/en-CA/peer-to-peer/seamus-stroll.
Langley Township property taxes due July 2
Langley Township property tax statements have hit mailboxes and inboxes.
Payments are due Thursday, July 2, and utility fees now arrive on a separate bill.
Owners can pay online, by mail, at a bank, or at the Civic Facility on 65 Avenue.
Eligible homeowners must reapply for the Home Owner Grant each year at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant to receive the tax reduction.
211-unit seniors building proposed for Willoughby
A developer has proposed a 211-unit seniors housing complex for Willoughby.
The six-storey building would rise on 208 Street near Smith Athletic Park, with a central dining area and a second-floor rooftop courtyard.
With just 69 parking spaces for 211 apartments, the project leans toward walkable density rather than car-first design.
It still needs a Smith Neighbourhood Plan amendment and a rezoning before Langley Township gives the green light.
Long lines for pony rides at Aldergrove therapy charity
An Aldergrove equestrian charity welcomed the community through its gates over the weekend, drawing lengthy lineups for pony rides and a chance to connect with the organization's work.
The event gave families a low-cost outing in a season when affordable activities are increasingly hard to come by.
The charity, rooted in the local equestrian community, uses events like these to fund its ongoing programming and outreach.
By all accounts, the biggest challenge of the day was patience: the pony ride queue stretched long, but spirits stayed high.
Food Banks Canada: Employment Insurance Is Failing Gig and Part-Time Workers
Food Banks Canada is sounding the alarm that the country's employment insurance system no longer serves the modern workforce, particularly the growing number of people in gig work and part-time positions.
As precarious employment becomes the norm rather than the exception, the EI program's eligibility rules continue to leave out the workers who need it most.
This is not a new problem, but it is a deepening one. Across the Fraser Valley, food bank usage has surged in recent years, driven in part by exactly the kind of income instability that a functional safety net should address.
The organization is calling on Ottawa to modernize the system, a demand that labour advocates and anti-poverty groups have echoed for years with little meaningful action from successive federal governments.
Canada Post Workers Await Word on Tentative Deal After Two Years of Labour Strife
Postal workers across the country are set to learn whether more than two years of labour conflict with Canada Post may finally be nearing resolution, as the union prepares to vote on a potential tentative agreement.
The prolonged dispute has tested the patience of workers who have fought for fair wages and working conditions against a Crown corporation that has repeatedly cited financial pressures.
For communities across the Fraser Valley that depend on reliable mail service, particularly seniors and rural residents, the stakes of this vote extend well beyond the bargaining table.
A strong deal here would be a signal that public sector workers can still win meaningful gains through collective action. A weak one would raise serious questions about whether the federal government is willing to invest in the public infrastructure Canadians rely on.
BC Conservatives lurch hard right with Findlay's win
Kerry-Lynne Findlay has won the BC Conservative leadership and pulled the party even further right.
The former federal cabinet minister beat front-runner Caroline Elliott despite accusations of racism, including a moment where Findlay suggested a rival was compromised because his wife is Indigenous.
Without a seat in the legislature, Findlay must now find an MLA willing to step aside while she works to hold a fractured caucus together.
Tyee analysis notes Premier David Eby's BC NDP is vulnerable on cost of living and housing, but Findlay's combative populism could limit her reach beyond the conservative base.
Bandits hand Honey Badgers their first loss of the season
The Vancouver Bandits became the first team to beat the Brampton Honey Badgers this season.
Saturday's 93-87 win extended Vancouver's unbeaten run to four games.
Jaelen House led the way with 23 points and 12 assists, while Coquitlam's Dominic Parolin chipped in a career-high 19 points off the bench.
The Bandits travel to Ottawa to face the Blackjacks on Tuesday.
Rise FC defeat Montreal Roses on the road
Vancouver Rise FC handed Montreal Roses FC their first loss of the season with a 3-2 win in Laval on Saturday.
Jessica De Filippo grabbed the winner in the 86th minute, after Anna Bout and Josie Longhurst had also scored for Rise.
The result extended Vancouver's winning streak to three games.
Rise FC return home to Swangard Stadium to host Ottawa Rapid FC on Sunday, June 14, with kickoff at 2 p.m.
What did you think?
Help us improve! Take a quick 60-second survey to share your thoughts on this article.
Take the Survey