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Yesterday's Roundup article contained a claim that newly elected Township councilor Blair Whitmarsh was forming a coalition with three other members of council. This does not appear to be true.
While Whitmarsh has said that he will work with the other councilors, they will not be forming an official coalition.
Thanks to our readers for pointing out this discrepancy. Please continue to raise flags about errors as you see them.
Good morning, friends!
It's a mostly cloudy Wednesday in Langley with temperatures around 12°C and a 30% chance of showers throughout the day, so you might want to keep an umbrella handy (or at least bring a coat).
Today's roundup brings important updates on Indigenous land rights, local sports achievements, community cultural celebrations, and concerns about the region's agricultural sector.
We've got Conservative politicians weaponizing a land rights case in Richmond, the Vancouver Bandits earning their second consecutive community champion award, Métis students celebrating their heritage at Aldergrove Secondary, and troubling avian flu outbreaks hitting Fraser Valley farms.
Langley City Council Pushes for Federal Support to Create Canada-First Food Tech Hub
Langley City Council is on a mission to transform the community into a recognized food technology powerhouse, complete with federal backing.
During their recent advocacy trip to Ottawa, city councillors met with senior officials from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to pitch their vision.
The timing couldn't be better, as federal officials confirmed there's growing recognition that BC and the Fraser Valley deserve more attention in the food tech sector, which has traditionally focused on prairie provinces.
Langley City is already an unofficial food tech hub, housing major players like Bimbo Canada's BC bakery (which likely made your last loaf of bread), CKF Inc.'s massive food packaging operation (responsible for most egg cartons in Canada), and KPU's highly regarded School of Horticulture and Brewing programs.
The city's strategy involves leveraging these existing assets while partnering with Kwantlen Polytechnic University to formalize the hub and attract federal investment for a Canada-first food supply chain.
The federal meetings yielded promising results, with staff from both ministries expressing interest in joining future strategy discussions.
However, success will require coordination between federal ministries, provincial government support, and private sector alignment – a complex puzzle that could pay dividends for local economic growth.
Vancouver Giants' Ryan Lin Makes Team CHL Roster for Elite Prospects Challenge
A local hockey star is heading to the big stage as Vancouver Giants defenceman Ryan Lin has been named to Team CHL for the prestigious 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge.
The Richmond, BC native joins 21 other elite prospects for what amounts to a showcase of the top 2026 NHL Draft-eligible players from across Canada's three major junior leagues. Lin was one of the first three players selected after being identified by NHL Central Scouting, earning an "A" rating that marks him as a projected first-round draft candidate.
The two-game series will pit Team CHL against the U.S. National Under-18 Team on November 25 in Calgary and November 26 in Lethbridge, with both games broadcast live on TSN and RDS. Lin's selection continues his impressive international resume – he helped Canada capture gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship and earned bronze at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
This prestigious event has proven to be a launching pad for NHL careers, with 16 of 22 Team CHL players from last year's inaugural event being selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. For Giants fans, it's another sign that their blueline star is destined for hockey's biggest stage.
Vancouver Bandits Win Community Champion Award for Second Consecutive Year
The Vancouver Bandits have been named the 2025 CEBL Community Champion for the second consecutive season, recognizing their extensive community work across British Columbia.
The Langley-based professional basketball team launched the Bandits Community Foundation this year, overseeing programs including scholarships, Indigenous basketball initiatives, and youth coaching clinics.
Notable achievements include becoming the first CEBL team to wear a Filipino Heritage jersey, refurbishing Grays Park in South Vancouver, and hosting three cultural heritage theme games that drew some of their largest crowds.
The team also secured a bid to host the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament, one of Canada's largest youth basketball events.
For a team that calls Langley home, this recognition reflects well on the community's values and the organization's commitment to being more than just an entertainment entity.
Local Métis Students Celebrate Heritage Through Cultural Workshops and Sashing Ceremony
Over 25 Métis students from grades 9 to 12 gathered at Aldergrove Community Secondary on October 21 for a cultural celebration organized by the Waceya Métis Society Langley.
The event featured workshops on education funding, job placements, and leadership programs, along with a sashing ceremony that allowed many students to connect with their heritage for the first time.
Waceya Métis Society president Anthony Wingham emphasized the significance of the sash as a tangible link to 300 to 400 years of Métis history and ancestors.
The society, which represents over 920 members, plans to bring similar programs to other high schools in the region to ensure Métis youth feel seen, supported, and connected to their community.
Fraser Valley Farms Battle Multiple Avian Flu Outbreaks This Month
The Fraser Valley's agricultural sector is facing a serious challenge as multiple avian flu outbreaks sweep through the region's poultry operations.
At least 10 confirmed outbreaks have been reported in Abbotsford and Chilliwack during October alone, putting significant strain on local farmers and the broader agricultural economy.
The concentration of cases in these two communities is particularly concerning given their importance to British Columbia's poultry industry.
Avian influenza outbreaks typically require immediate quarantine measures, culling of affected flocks, and extensive biosecurity protocols that can devastate farm operations financially. The rapid spread suggests either highly contagious conditions or multiple introduction points for the virus.
These outbreaks could have ripple effects throughout the region's food supply chain, potentially affecting everything from local grocery prices to restaurant menus as the industry works to contain the spread.
Richmond Meeting Amplifies Fear-Mongering Over Indigenous Land Rights
Conservative politicians are weaponizing a landmark Indigenous land rights case to stoke fears about private property on what are objectively stolen, unceded lands.
At a Richmond engagement session on Tuesday, Conservative Leader John Rustad called the Cowichan Tribes court decision "the most significant court case in modern history" and demanded the province halt all First Nations negotiations.
The case centers on lands forcibly taken from the Cowichan between 1871 and 1914 and given to settlers while Indigenous people were confined to reserves.
The Cowichan Tribes directly rebuked Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Premier David Eby for making "misleading" and "deliberately inflammatory" statements that misrepresent their suit.
The Tribes have been clear that their case does not erase private property or challenge the validity of existing titles, but rather seeks to reconcile overlapping rights on lands that were never legally ceded.
The conservative fear-mongering reveals a deeper opposition to Indigenous sovereignty and the uncomfortable questions reconciliation raises about property built on colonial theft.
Vancouver FC's Rising Star Bah Nominated for Top U21 Canadian Award
Vancouver FC has reason to celebrate as one of their young talents has earned recognition on the national stage for excellence in Canadian soccer.
The player, known simply as Bah, has been nominated for the prestigious U21 Canadian of the Year award, highlighting both individual achievement and the club's success in developing young Canadian talent.
The nomination process involves league officials identifying standout performers who have made significant contributions to Canadian soccer.
This type of recognition is particularly valuable for a relatively new club like Vancouver FC, as it demonstrates their ability to compete with more established organizations in player development. Having a player nominated for such a prestigious national award also raises the profile of the entire Vancouver soccer program.
The award nomination represents not just individual achievement but also validation of Vancouver FC's approach to nurturing young Canadian soccer talent in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Squamish Youth Connect to Ancestral Lands Through Annual Rez Ride
Seventeen Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) youth pedaled through their nation's villages on October 5 during the second annual Rez Ride, stopping at Wíwḵ'em, Siyich'em, Kaw̓tín, and Yékw'apsem to visit relatives and receive teachings from Elders.
The Menmen tl'a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh mountain bike team, founded in 2019 by coach Matthew Van Oostdam, has grown from a handful of riders to 17 youth aged six and up, supported by $40,000 annually from the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association to remove all barriers to the costly sport.
At each village, families greeted the riders with snacks and guidance, including stories about how the McKenna-McBride Commission allowed the Pacific Great Eastern Railway to carve through Yékw'apsem in 1913, shrinking what was once the largest Sḵwx̱wú7mesh village to the smallest.
The day ended at the Squamish Adventure Centre with sushi, bannock, and awards celebrating courage and connection to land.
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