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Hello, friends!
Langley's seeing partly cloudy skies with a high of 12°C today as we round up the latest news from around the City, the Township, and beyond.
Today's headlines bring sobering health statistics from the ongoing opioid crisis, championship glory for local student athletes, and meaningful progress on accessibility and environmental initiatives in Langley City.
We've also got sports highlights including the Canucks' overtime thriller and a historic rugby upset, plus important developments in Indigenous-led renewable energy and federal politics worth your attention.
Langley's Opioid Crisis Claims 36 Lives Through September
The devastating toll of the drug crisis continues to mount in Langley, with the Coroners Service reporting 36 deaths in the community through September of this year.
The figures underscore the ongoing public health emergency that has gripped British Columbia and local communities for years.
These deaths represent families torn apart and lives cut short by a crisis that shows no signs of abating.
Local health authorities and community organizations continue to work on harm reduction strategies and support services, but the numbers reveal the magnitude of the challenge facing the region.
Walnut Grove Gators Strike Gold at Peace Arch Classic
The Walnut Grove Gators Senior Girls team has secured the championship title at the Peace Arch Classic Tournament, bringing home the gold medal in impressive fashion.
The victory represents months of hard work, dedication, and teamwork from these young athletes who competed against other top teams in the region.
The Peace Arch Classic is a prestigious tournament that draws competitive teams from across the Lower Mainland, making this win particularly sweet for the Gators program.
The championship adds another banner to the school's athletic achievements and gives the team significant momentum as they head deeper into their season.
Langley City Council Approves Accessible Communication Boards for Parks
Langley City is taking a significant step toward accessibility with plans to install Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) boards at local parks.
Developed by Accessibility Advisory Committee member Andrea Castro, these innovative boards will allow people with limited or no verbal communication abilities to express themselves using pictures.
Originally designed for individuals with autism, PECS boards can benefit anyone who faces communication challenges.
Council has approved applying for a grant to install the first board at either Douglas Park or City Park.
The initiative represents a thoughtful approach to making public spaces more inclusive for all residents, ensuring that everyone can participate in community activities regardless of their communication abilities.
Langley City Moves Forward with Zero Waste Strategy for Community Events
Langley City's Environmental Sustainability Committee has successfully convinced Council to develop a phased Zero Waste Strategy for all events held within city limits.
The first phase will focus on large City-run events like Community Day, which already features waste sorting stations to help attendees properly dispose of their trash, recycling, and compost.
The zero waste hierarchy prioritizes preventing waste generation in the first place, followed by reducing, reusing, recycling, and energy recovery—with landfill disposal as the absolute last resort.
Future phases could expand the program to other community events, gradually transforming how the city manages waste at public gatherings and setting an example for environmentally responsible event planning.
Endangered Orca Calf Missing, Feared Dead Off B.C. Coast
The newest member of B.C.'s endangered orca population has gone missing and is now presumed dead, turning celebration into heartbreak for marine conservationists.
The calf was first spotted in mid-September, bringing hope to researchers and advocates working to save the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. Every birth is significant for these struggling orcas, whose numbers have dwindled due to prey scarcity, pollution, and vessel traffic.
The loss of even a single calf represents a devastating blow to recovery efforts.
The disappearance highlights the precarious situation facing these iconic marine mammals and the urgent need for continued conservation efforts along the British Columbia coast.
Abbotsford Canucks Hit Rock Bottom with Franchise-Record Eight-Game Skid
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Abbotsford Canucks, who have now established a dubious new franchise record with eight consecutive losses.
The latest setbacks came against the Henderson Silver Knights, extending a losing streak that has the team and its fans searching for answers. This marks the longest drought in the franchise's history—a milestone no team wants to achieve.
The struggling AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks will need to regroup quickly and find a way to break this cycle before the losses start to seriously impact their playoff positioning.
Sometimes a fresh approach or lineup shake-up is needed to snap a team out of such a funk.
UBC Thunderbirds Snatch Rugby Championship in Dramatic Final Moments
The UBC Thunderbirds women's rugby team pulled off a stunning upset, scoring in the dying moments to edge the University of Victoria and capture the national championship title.
The victory was particularly sweet—and surprising—given that UVic hadn't lost a single game all season and had defeated UBC three times during regular play.
But when it mattered most, the Thunderbirds found a way to break through Victoria's previously impenetrable defense.
The dramatic finish will be remembered as one of the most thrilling conclusions in Canadian university rugby history.
Nlaka'pamux Nation builds B.C.'s first major solar project after 14-year struggle
The Nlaka'pamux Nation has completed B.C.'s first grid-scale solar project near Logan Lake after fighting through 14 years of provincial delays and tax barriers.
The quA-ymn Solar Facility's 39,000 panels can power 2,400 homes annually and sits on reclaimed mine land, but it almost never happened because of a tax policy that would have made the project financially impossible.
The District of Logan Lake had to lobby the province for a workaround, and even that is only a temporary 10-year fix.
Now the nation is building an even larger solar facility seven times the size of quA-ymn, showing what's possible when Indigenous communities lead energy development on their own terms.
Federal Budget Day Arrives Amid Political Uncertainty
The Liberal government is set to unveil its highly anticipated federal budget today—the first under Prime Minister Mark Carney and the first fiscal update in nearly a year.
Carney has been billing this budget as "generational," suggesting major policy initiatives and spending programs that could reshape Canada's economic landscape.
The budget presentation comes at a precarious political moment, with the minority government requiring opposition support to avoid triggering what could become a Christmas election. Federal politicians from all parties are publicly stating they don't want an election, but nobody's ruling it out either—making this budget vote a potential powder keg.
The stakes couldn't be higher as Canadians anxiously await details on how the government plans to address economic challenges, affordability concerns, and long-term prosperity.
Analysis: Tech bro Carney rushes Canada into AI with little regard for the risks
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government is pushing hard on artificial intelligence while ignoring widespread public concern about the technology's dangers to jobs, democracy, and critical thinking.
New AI Minister Evan Solomon promised companies won't face too much regulation and launched a 30-day public consultation he called a "national sprint," even as 85 percent of Canadians say AI needs government oversight.
The government's AI task force is stacked with tech industry insiders pushing to replace public servants with automation, cut social programs, and integrate AI across federal agencies within six months, all while studies show the technology gives wrong answers much of the time and companies see no return on their investments.
Brock Boeser Plays Overtime Hero as Canucks Outlast Predators 5-4
Brock Boeser delivered when it mattered most, scoring 4:58 into overtime to give the Vancouver Canucks a thrilling 5-4 victory over the Nashville Predators.
The star forward actually potted two goals on the night, proving to be the difference-maker in a high-scoring affair that had fans on the edge of their seats. After a back-and-forth battle that saw both teams trade goals, Boeser's overtime heroics sealed the win and sent the Canucks home happy.
The Canucks return to Vancouver on Wednesday to host the Chicago Blackhawks, looking to build on this momentum. These are exactly the kinds of games that Boeser was brought in to win—and he's delivering in spades.
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