Grab a jacket for the morning. Langley starts Tuesday at a crisp 4°C, then warms to a lovely 17°C under mostly sunny skies. Wednesday looks much the same. Enjoy it while it lasts: rain rolls in Thursday, and highs drop to around 12°C through Friday.
The Township has a new mayor. Jay Lundgren and the Langley Strong slate swept into power as voter turnout climbed past 31 per cent. Next up is Saturday's provincial election, so there's a quick guide to voting in Langley's three ridings below.
Also in this roundup: Abbotsford's homeless count drops for the first time since 2011, and economists question the B.C. Conservatives' rosy math. Vancouver's new council leans left, and Alberta voters firmly reject separation.
Langley News
📋 How to Vote in Langley This Saturday
Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, and you can still register at your polling place. Langley is split into three ridings: Langley-Walnut Grove, Langley-Willowbrook (which includes Langley City), and Langley-Abbotsford (which includes Murrayville, Aldergrove and rural Langley). Working a long shift? You have a legal right to up to four hours off to vote, and Elections BC offers curbside voting and translation help. (via Langley Advance Times)
Fraser Valley & Lower Mainland
⏰ B.C. Advance Voting Dips, but Two Days Remain
About 440,000 people voted early from Friday to Sunday, down from nearly 480,000 at the same point in 2024. Advance polls stay open today and Wednesday until 8 p.m. If Saturday is busy, now is a good time to skip the line. (via Fraser Valley Today)
🏠 Abbotsford Homeless Count Drops for First Time Since 2011
Abbotsford counted 521 people experiencing homelessness on Oct. 7, which is 133 fewer than last year. The city credits BC Housing and the closure of several encampments, but 248 people are still sleeping outside. Clearing a camp only counts as progress if people land in stable, lasting homes, so the real test is where they are a year from now. (via Langley Advance Times)
🧮 Economists Question B.C. Conservatives' Rosy Growth Math
The Conservative platform counts on 3.2 per cent growth by 2029, far above the roughly one per cent a UBC Okanagan economist expects. That optimism has to pay for a $1,000 income tax cut, ending CleanBC, and a new Massey bridge in place of the planned tunnel. Hopeful math doesn't fund hospitals, and the NDP warns the gap points to hidden health-care cuts. (via Langley Advance Times)
🏙️ Pete Fry Takes Vancouver's Top Job, With COPE at the Table
Green Party candidate Pete Fry is Vancouver's next mayor, and COPE holds four seats on a council that leans progressive. That mix could push harder on renter protections and housing people can actually afford. Expect lively debates at city hall. (via The Tyee)
National News
🍁 Alberta Rejects Separation but Splits on Immigration Questions
About 76 per cent of Alberta voters chose to stay in Canada. Results were much closer on Premier Danielle Smith's nine other questions, including five on immigration that floated fees for some newcomers to access health care and education. Critics, including Edmonton's mayor, called those questions anti-immigrant, and Smith's government spent $4 million on ads urging a yes vote. (via Fraser Valley Today)
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