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Good morning, friends!
Langley's looking at a mix of sun and cloud today with highs around 8°C, perfect weather to catch up on this week's community news.
This edition brings encouraging progress on accessible infrastructure in the Township, important updates on budget priorities and flood prevention failures, plus a reminder that nomination season is open for celebrating diversity across the Fraser Valley.
We've also got coverage of TransLink's creative winter prep, federal AI spending that's raising red flags, and the Whitecaps' high-stakes playoff showdown.
Langley Township Votes to Remove Baffle Gates That Block Accessibility
Township council approved $135,000 to replace 25 baffle gates with bollards along the Perry-Evans Trail between 202 and 212 Streets.
The staggered barriers block cars but create obstacles for wheelchair users, people with strollers, mobility scooters, cyclists, and anyone with bike trailers.
Councillor Michael Pratt championed the pilot project after recognizing how these supposedly safety-focused gates actually make public paths less accessible for many residents.
Township staff identified 447 baffle gates across Langley, and this project represents a first step toward designing infrastructure that works for everyone, not just able-bodied pedestrians.
Community Rallies for Annual Christmas Wish Breakfast Supporting Local Families
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 26, 2025—Langley's beloved Christmas Wish Breakfast is back and expecting huge crowds.
This annual fundraiser brings the community together to support the local Christmas Bureau, which provides gifts and essentials to families in need during the holiday season. The event has become a Langley tradition, with residents, businesses, and community leaders gathering for breakfast while raising crucial funds for those who might otherwise go without during the holidays. Organizers are anticipating one of their largest turnouts yet, reflecting the community's generous spirit and commitment to ensuring every local family can experience the joy of Christmas. The funds raised will directly support the Christmas Bureau's efforts to provide toys, food hampers, and other necessities to families facing financial hardship.
Langley City Budget Proposes Boost for Public Safety and Pool Operations
Langley City Council has given first and second reading to a 2026 budget that puts public safety front and center—along with a welcome extension for swimmers.
The proposed financial plan includes funding for two additional firefighters ($400,000) and two more RCMP officers ($320,000), addressing growing concerns about emergency response times as the city's population expands.
In a nod to recreation, the budget also allocates $68,900 to extend the Al Anderson Pool's operating season, opening it earlier on April 13th. Additionally, $224,000 will be directed toward capital projects to maintain and improve city infrastructure.
These service enhancements total $944,000, contributing to an overall property tax increase of 5.82% or $2.54 million. Council members emphasize this is a bare-bones budget focused on essential services and public safety, with residents invited to provide feedback through the Let's Chat, Langley City platform before the formal public hearing.
Fraser Valley Celebrates Diversity: Nominations Open for 2026 Awards
It's time to shine a spotlight on those building bridges across the Fraser Valley—nominations are now open for the 23rd Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards.
Since 2003, these prestigious awards have recognized organizations and leaders in Abbotsford, Mission, Langley, Chilliwack, and Hope who actively foster inclusion and celebrate diversity.
Categories include Innovative Initiative, Inclusive Environment, Intercultural Arts, Culture and Events, and Champion of Diversity (for both youth and adult nominees). Archway Community Services presents the event in partnership with Mission and Chilliwack Community Services and the Langley New Directions English Language School.
The awards ceremony will take place on March 4th, 2026, at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre in Abbotsford.
Nominations can be submitted online at DiversityAwards.ca, giving community members the opportunity to recognize those businesses, schools, programs, and individuals who make the Fraser Valley a more welcoming and equitable place for everyone.
Four Years After 2021 Floods, Federal and Provincial Governments Still Haven't Delivered on Prevention Promises
Both Ottawa and Victoria talked big about prevention after the 2021 atmospheric river devastated BC communities, but key commitments remain unfulfilled four years later.
StĂł:lĹŤ Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil says he's seen "little to no steps" on the province's flood strategy despite helping craft it, while Hope waited 18 months for updated flood maps that mysteriously arrived just days before council planned to publicly criticize the delay.
Abbotsford, Merritt, and Princeton all had federal funding applications denied for major flood mitigation projects, leaving Mayor Ross Siemens frustrated as he continues advocating for the $1.6 billion needed to protect Sumas Prairie and critical infrastructure like the Trans-Canada Highway.
Tyler Olsen has written an excellent deep dive into these broken promises and the communities left vulnerable, and we encourage readers to visit The Tyee to read his full investigation.
TransLink Gets Winter-Ready with Upgraded Tires and Hockey Sticks (Yes, Really)
TransLink is gearing up for winter with an arsenal that includes better bus tires—and hockey sticks for clearing ice.
The transit authority has unveiled its cold-weather strategy, which combines high-tech solutions with surprisingly low-tech tools to keep buses running smoothly when snow and ice hit the Lower Mainland.
The improved tire technology provides better traction on slippery roads, while the hockey sticks (no joke) are used by drivers and maintenance staff to clear ice from hard-to-reach places on vehicles.
TransLink is also touting improved communication systems at its Surrey hub, which will help coordinate responses to weather-related delays and keep passengers better informed.
The preparations come as the region braces for another winter season, with officials promising minimal service disruptions even when Mother Nature doesn't cooperate.
Canada's AI Spending Follows the Fossil Fuel Playbook: Big Subsidies, Zero Accountability
Ottawa is pouring $925.6 million into AI infrastructure over five years while spending just $25 million to study its impacts.
The pattern mirrors fossil fuel subsidies exactly: industry lobbyists flood government offices, corporations get billions in public money without environmental reviews, and communities bear the costs while profits concentrate in private hands.
The same PR firm that ran Andrew Scheer's campaign and worked for Alberta's Energy War Room is now orchestrating Facebook astroturf campaigns for AI data centers, using identical tactics to manufacture consent.
Meanwhile, AI facilities are already devastating vulnerable communities in the US with water shortages, air pollution, and skyrocketing utility rates, while Canadian environmental groups warn we're repeating every mistake we made with Big Oil.
Whitecaps Eye Playoff Glory Against Bitter Rivals Los Angeles FC
Ryan Gauld and the Vancouver Whitecaps find themselves in familiar—and somewhat bitter—territory: preparing for another playoff showdown with Los Angeles FC.
This Western Conference semifinal represents more than just another game for the Whitecaps; it's a chance to settle scores with a perennial rival that has ended their playoff dreams before.
LAFC has become something of a nemesis for Vancouver, making this matchup particularly charged with competitive tension. The Whitecaps are hoping their regular-season form and home-field advantage will make the difference this time around.
Gauld, the team's creative force in midfield, will be key to unlocking LAFC's typically stout defense. Fans are already buzzing about what promises to be an intense battle between two teams that know each other perhaps too well, with a spot in the conference finals hanging in the balance.
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