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Good morning, Langley!
Tuesday brings some light rain with a high of 8°C as approach the end of the month.
Today's roundup covers significant local and national stories, from Blair Whitmarsh's byelection victory and his new council coalition to Alberta's controversial back-to-work legislation sparking potential general strikes across the country.
We also highlight far-right attacks on residential school truth and reconciliation, Langley City's push to lift building height restrictions for more affordable housing, and rumored changes to Canada's electric vehicle tariff policy.
Plus, local sports news as the Vancouver Giants notch another win!
Blair Whitmarsh Returns to Langley Township Council, Announces Four-Member Coalition
Former Langley Township councillor Blair Whitmarsh decisively won Saturday's byelection with more than half the vote, capturing 3,107 of 5,904 ballots cast to return to the seat he held from 2014 to 2022.
Whitmarsh immediately announced he will form a coalition with councillors Margaret Kunst, Barb Martens, and Kim Richter, promising to question the Woodward-led council majority on spending and municipal debt while supporting responsible infrastructure growth.
Former federal Liberal MP John Aldag finished second with 1,638 votes in a race with dismal turnout, as fewer than 6,000 of the Township's 96,000 eligible voters participated in the byelection.
Township Tackles Sunday Water Main Emergency on Woodland Drive
A water main break at 2808 Woodland Drive caused significant disruption for local residents on Sunday evening.
The Township of Langley crews worked diligently to repair the damaged infrastructure, with the road remaining closed to traffic while emergency repairs were underway. By 5:20 PM, officials confirmed that the water main had been successfully repaired and properly flushed, allowing normal traffic flow to resume.
Properties affected by the water main break are being advised to run their cold water taps for approximately 20 minutes to ensure water quality returns to normal. Normal water pressure is expected to be fully restored shortly as the system stabilizes following the repair work.
Langley Cyclist Svein Tuft Earns Prestigious Hall of Fame Honor
Langley's own cycling legend Svein Tuft has been inducted into the Canadian Cycling Hall of Fame, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the sport.
The honor celebrates what officials describe as "a career defined by grit, endurance, and excellence," highlighting Tuft's remarkable achievements both domestically and internationally. Tuft's professional cycling career spanned over a decade, during which he became known for his exceptional time trial abilities and his role as a dependable domestique for world-class teams.
His induction represents not only personal recognition but also puts Langley on the map as home to one of Canada's most accomplished cyclists. The Hall of Fame recognition cements his legacy as an inspiration for future generations of Canadian cyclists, particularly those from the Fraser Valley region.
Paddlers From Across BC Compete in Fort Langley Canoe Club's Season-Ending Fraser River Race
Nearly 50 paddlers gathered at Derby Reach Regional Park on October 25 for the Fort Langley Canoe Club's final competition of the season, with racers competing in surfskis, outrigger canoes, and stand-up paddleboards over 8 km and 12 km courses on the Fraser River.
Local FLCC members made up a third of the field, including four first-time racers, with Susan Hillier and Robert Gutjahr earning top finishes in their age categories.
The club, established in 1994 and based on Bedford Channel, hosts several major regattas throughout the year and is home to competitive athletes who race at provincial, national, and international levels.
WorkSafe BC Hits Langley Builder with Second Fine This Year
A prominent Langley construction company has been slapped with its second WorkSafe BC penalty in 2025, raising questions about workplace safety practices.
Baydo, described as a large construction firm with operations spanning three provinces, has now faced multiple safety violations within a single calendar year. The company's repeat infractions suggest ongoing challenges in maintaining proper safety protocols across their various job sites and projects.
WorkSafe BC's enforcement actions highlight the importance of consistent safety compliance in the construction industry, particularly for larger firms that handle multiple complex projects simultaneously. The repeated fines may indicate systemic issues that require comprehensive review and remediation to protect worker safety.
Langley City Councillors Push Ottawa to Lift Height Restrictions Near Future SkyTrain Stations
Langley City councillors recently traveled to Ottawa to advocate for changes to airport-imposed building height restrictions that currently limit most construction in the city to 15 storeys.
The delegation met with federal officials to argue that allowing taller buildings near the future Willowbrook SkyTrain station would enable more affordable housing by spreading construction costs across more units.
Parliamentary Secretary Mike Kelloway offered to help navigate the regulatory process with Nav Canada and Transport Canada.
The council's secondary focus was growing Langley City's food tech sector in partnership with KPU and local businesses.
Violence Escalates in Abbotsford with Three Shootings in Three Days
The community of Abbotsford is grappling with a troubling surge in gun violence after experiencing three separate shooting incidents in less than 72 hours.
The most recent incident resulted in a 41-year-old victim being airlifted to hospital with serious gunshot wounds, highlighting the severity of the ongoing violence. The rapid succession of shootings has prompted increased police presence and community concern about public safety in what has traditionally been considered a relatively peaceful Fraser Valley community.
Local law enforcement is investigating whether these incidents are connected and working to identify suspects involved in the shootings.
The violence represents a significant escalation in criminal activity for Abbotsford, prompting calls for enhanced community safety measures and police resources to address the growing concerns.
Fraser Valley Businesses Celebrated at Inclusive Employment Awards
Five Fraser Valley businesses were honored at the 7th annual Inclusive Employer Excellence Awards, recognizing their commitment to hiring and supporting people with disabilities.
Over 200 attendees gathered to celebrate companies including Andre James Maintenance Services Ltd., Coast Capital Savings, DME Investments Inc. (McDonald's Abbotsford), HelloFresh Canada, and Fronya x SARA for Women. The event, held at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Centre, featured keynote speaker Marco Pasqua, who lives with Cerebral Palsy and advocates for disability rights in the workplace.
The awards recognize employers who go beyond compliance to create truly inclusive workplaces through creative accommodations, mentorship programs, and barrier removal initiatives.
The celebration was organized by multiple community partners including Archway Community Services, Bethesda Christian Association, and WorkBC, demonstrating the collaborative approach to promoting inclusive employment across Abbotsford and Mission.
Far-Right Activists Deploy "Flooding the Zone" Strategy to Spread Residential School Denialism
Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie's recent "zero bodies" comments about the Kamloops residential school site represent a deliberate far-right strategy called "flooding the zone."
The tactic aims to erode public confidence in truth and reconciliation by overwhelming discourse with misinformation.
Brodie and other denialists exploit public confusion about ground-penetrating radar investigations to falsely claim residential school deaths are exaggerated.
This ignores over 4,000 confirmed child deaths at residential schools and recent investigations uncovering death rates three times higher than previously reported.
University of Manitoba professor Sean Carleton warns that this denialism strategy uses technically narrow claims stripped of context to shake public confidence in the genocidal nature of the residential school system.
The best response is education about what Nations are actually saying in their ongoing investigations and recognizing these attacks as coordinated attempts by far-right media outlets (like Rebel News and the Frontier Centre for Public Policy) to undermine Indigenous rights.
Canada Rumored to Drop Tariffs on Chinese EVs as Carney Meets Xi This Week
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit in South Korea this week, sparking rumors that Canada will soon eliminate 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
The move would reverse last year's short-sighted policy that primarily benefited the US auto industry before President Trump turned hostile on Canadian trade and shut down negotiations over Ontario's anti-tariff ads.
Tesla would be an immediate winner, resuming Model 3 and Model Y deliveries from Shanghai to address supply shortages.
The deal could eventually bring affordable Chinese EVs to Canadian consumers starved for options after incentives were paused and US tariffs increased.
Alberta Teachers' Association and Labour Groups Condemn Back-to-Work Legislation as Attack on Democracy
Teachers and union leaders erupted in anger Monday as the Alberta government introduced Bill 2 forcing educators back to work, with protesters shouting "Shame, Ignorance, Tomfoolery" from the legislature gallery before being ejected.
Premier Danielle Smith was absent from the chamber, having left for Saudi Arabia before the vote, prompting Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi to criticize her for abandoning responsibility as the first Alberta premier to violate the Charter of Rights.
Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan warned that his Common Front Coalition of 350,000 workers will announce an "unprecedented" response Wednesday, refusing to rule out a general strike in what he called a "full-frontal assault on worker rights and democracy."
Labour experts warn the move sets a dangerous precedent that undermines collective bargaining across all sectors, as the legislation imposes the exact contract that teachers overwhelmingly rejected.
Vancouver Giants Rally From Two Goals Down to Beat Kamloops Blazers 5-3
The Vancouver Giants erased a 3-1 second-period deficit to defeat the Kamloops Blazers 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at Langley Events Centre, extending their hot streak to 5-1-0-1 in their last seven games.
Draft-eligible forward Tyus Sparks scored twice while Cameron Schmidt extended his point streak to seven games with the go-ahead power play goal midway through the third period.
Burke Hood made 22 saves for his sixth win of the season as the Giants improved to 7-7-0-1 overall, showing impressive character in their third game in three nights.
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